The gelding of the devil. Or, The prettiest jest that e're was known, how the bakers wife her skill hath shown, then listen a while, and I the news will tell, betwixt the baker and the devil of hell. To a dainty new tune called, The gelding of the devil: or, The card players.

The Gelding of the Devil.

OR, The prittiesst Jest that e're was known, How the Bakers wife her skill hath shown, Then listen a while, and I the news will tell, Betwixt the Baker and the Devil of Hell.

To a dainty new Tune called, The Gelding of the Devil: Or, the Card Players.

[illustration]

A Pretty jest I will you tell, Of the gelding of the Devil of Hell; There was a Baker of Mansfield Town, To Nottingham Market he was bound: And riding under the Willows clear, The Baker sung with a merry cheer;

And riding under the willows clear,

The Bakers Horse was lusty and sound, Well worth in Iudgment full five pound; His skin was smooth and his flesh was fat, His Master was well pleas'd at that: VVhich made him sing so merrily, As he was passing on the way; Which made him sing, &c.

But as he rode over the Hill, There met he with the Devil of Hell: O Baker, Baker, then cry'd he, How came thy horse so fat to be? These be the words the baker did say, Because his Stones be cut away; these be the words, &c.

Thou shalt Geld me before thou dost go, Then (quoth the Devil) if it be so, First tye thy horse to yonder tree, And with thy Knife come and geld me: The baker had a Knife for the nonce, VVherewith to cut out the Devils stones.

The Baker had a Knife for the nonce,

The baker as it came to pass, In hast alighted from his horse, And the Devil on his back he lay, VVhile the baker cut his stones away, VVhich put the Devil to great pain, And made him to cry out amain:

Which put the Devil to great pain,

OH quoth the Devil, be shrew thy heart, Thou dost not feel how I do smart; And for the deed which thou hast done, I will revenged be agen: And underneath this green-wood tree, Next Market-day I will geld thee:

And underneath this green-wood tree, Next market-day I will geld thee.

The Baker then but little said, But at his heart was sore afraid: He durst no longer then to stay, But he rod home another way; And coming to his Wife did tell How he had gelt the Devil of Hell:

And coming to his wife, &c.

Moreover to his wife he told, A tale that made her heart full cold; How that the Devil did say, That he would geld him next Market-day: Oh, quoth the good-wife without doubt, I had rather both thy eyes were out:

Oh, quoth the good-wife, &c.

For then all the People far and near, That knows thee, will both mock and fear; And good-wives they will chide and brawl; And stoneless Gelding will thee call: Then hold content and be thou wise, And i'le some pritty trick devise; then hold, &c.

I'le make the Devil change his Note, Give me thy Hat, thy Band and Coat; Thy Hose and Doublet eke also, And I like to a man will go: I'le warrant thee next Market-day, To fright the Devil quite away: I'le warrant thee, &c.

When the Bakers wife she was so drest, With all her bread upon her beast, To Nottingham Market that brave Town, To sell her bread both white and brown: And riding merrily over the Hill, Oh there she spy'd two Devils of Hell: And riding, &c.

A little Devil and an 〈…〉〈…〉 As they were playing both together; Oh, oh, quoth the Devil then right fain, Here comes the baker riding amain: Now be thou well or be thou woe, I will geld thee before thou dost go, Now be thou, &c.

The bakers wife to the Devil did say, Sir I was gelded yesterday; Oh, quoth the Devil I mean to see, And pulling her Coats above knee her, And so looking upward from the ground, Oh, there he spy'd a terrible wound, And so looking, &c.

Oh, quoth the Devil, now I see, He was not cunning that gelded thee; For when he had cut out thy Stones, He should have closed up thy wounds But if thou'lt stay some little space, I'le fetch some Salve to cure the place, But if thou'lt stay, &c.

He had not rid but a little way, But up her belly crept a Flea, The little Devil seeing that, He up with his Paw and gave her a pat: Which made the good wife for to start, And with that she let go a Rowzing Fart, which made the, &c.

Oh, oh, quoth the Devil, thy life is not long Thy breath it smells so horrible strong; Therefore go thy way and make thy will, Thy wounds are past all humane skill; Be gone, be gone, make no delay, For here thou shalt no longer stay: Be gone, be gone, &c.

The good-wife with this news was glad, So she left the Devil almost mad; And when she to her Husband came, With joyful heart she told the same, How she had couzen'd the Devil of Hell, Which pleas'd her Husband wondrous well

How she had couzen'd the Devil of Hell which pleased her husband wondrous wel••