Humour, Wit and Satire of the Seventeenth Century

1. Auflage 2016
ISBN: 978-3-7364-0629-2
Verlag: anboco
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 500 Seiten

Our forefathers delighted to call their country 'Merrie England;' and so, in very truth, it was. All sorts of sports and pastimes, such as no other nation can show, were then in use; and even the elders, in their hours of relaxation, were wont to exchange a merry jest with one another. Perhaps some of their jokes lacked the refinement of the present age, but they denoted a keen sense of humour. Many, nay most, cannot be reproduced at the present day, and much has this book suffered therefrom; and it is for this reason that the jest-books and ballads of this century are so little known. Some few have been printed in small editions, either privately, or for dilettante societies; but they are not fit for general perusal, and the public at large know nothing of them. This is specially the case with the ballad literature of the century, which is unusually rich. The Pepys, Roxburghe, Bagford, Luttrell, and other collections, are priceless treasures; but I know no publisher who would be bold enough to reproduce them, in their entirety, for the use of the general public. By this I do not wish to cast any slur, either on the modesty, or morality, of our ancestors; but their ways were not quite as ours.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Various

Leseproben

The

Unconscionable Batchelors of DARBY,

or the

Young Lasses Pawn'd by their Sweethearts, for a large
Reckoning, at Nottingham Goose Fair; where
poor Susan was forced to pay the Shot.

To the Tune of To thee, To thee &c.

[10.]You lovers of mirth attend a while,

a merry new ditty here I write,

I know it will make you laugh and smile,

for every line affords delight:

The Lasses of Darby with young Men,

they went to Goose Fair for recreation,

But how these Sparks did serve them then,

is truly worth your observation,

Truly, truly worth your observation,

therefore I pray observe this Ditty;

The Maids did complain they came there in vain

and was not, was not that a pity.

So soon as they came into the Fair,

The Batchelors made them conjues11 low,

And bid them a thousand welcomes there,

this done to a tippling school they go;

How pleasant was honest Kate and Sue,

believing they should be richly treated,

But, Neighbours and Friends, as I am true;

no Lasses ever was so cheated;

Cheated, cheated, very farely cheated,

as you may note by this new Ditty;

They were left alone, to make their moan,

and was not, was not that a pity?

The innocent Lasses fair and gay,

concluded the Men was kind and free,

Because they pass'd the time away,

a plenty of cakes and ale they see;

For sider and mead they then did call,

and whatever else the House afforded,

But Susan was forc'd to pay for all,

out of the mony she had hoarded,

Hoarded, hoarded, mony she had hoarded;

it made her sing a doleful Ditty,

And so did the rest with grief opprest,

and was not, was not that a pity?

Young Katy she seemed something Coy,

because she would make them eager grow,

As knowing thereby she might enjoy

what beautiful Damsels long to know,

On complements they did not stand,

nor did they admire their charming features;

For they had another game in hand,

which was to pawn these pretty creatures,

Creatures, creatures, loving, loving Creatures,

which was so charming, fair, and pretty;

The Men sneak'd away, and nothing did pay,

and was not, was not, that a pity?

Though out of the door they enter'd first,

and left them tipling there behind,

Those innocent Maids did not mistrust,

that Batchelors could be so unkind.

Quoth Susan, I know their gone to buy

the fairings which we did so require,

And they will return I know, for why,

they do our youthful charms admire;

Therefore, therefore, stay a little longer,

and I will sing you a pleasant Ditty,

But when they found they were catch'd in the pound,

they sigh'd and weep'd the more's the pity.

Now finding the Men return'd no more,

and that the good People would not trust,

They presently call'd to know the Score,

it chanc'd to be fifteen shilling just:

Poor Kate had but five pence in her purse,

but Sue had a crown besides a guinney;

And since the case had happen'd thus,

poor Soul she paid it e'ry penny,

Penny, Penny, e'ry, e'ry penny,

tho' with a sad and doleful Ditty

Said she, for this I had not a kiss,

and was not, was not that a pity?

Printed for J. Bissel,12 in West Smithfield.

11 Congées, low bows.

12 James Bissel lived at the Bible and Harp, by the Hospital Gate, and published between 1685 and 1695.

[1.]   There was a Priest in the Country, which had christned a Child; and when he had christned it, he and the clark were bidden to the drinking that should be there, and thither they went with other people, and being there, the Priest drunk and made so merry that he was quite foxed,13 and thought to go home before he laid him down to sleep; but having gone a little way, he grew so drowsie, that he could go no further, but laid him down by a ditch side, so that his feet did hang in the water, and lying on his back, the Moon shined in his face: thus he lay till the rest of the Company came from drinking, who as they came home found the Priest lying as aforesaid, and they thought to get him away, but do what they could he would not rise, but said, Do not meddle with me, for I lie very well, I will not stir hence before morning, but I pray you lay some more cloathes on my feet, and blow out the Candle, and let me lie and take my rest.

13 Drunk.

In Getam.

[5.]Geta from wool and weaving first began,

Swelling and Swelling to a gentleman;

When he was gentleman, and bravely dight,

He left not swelling till he was a knight;

At last forgetting what he was at first,

He swole to be a Lord  . . .  and then he burst.

On Button a Sexton making a grave.

[5.]Ye powers above, and heavenly poles,

Are graves become but Button Holes.

[4.]   Two Sparks standing together in the Cloysters, seeing a pretty Lady pass by, says one of them, There goes the handsomest Lady that I ever saw in my Life; She hearing him, turned back, and seeing him very ugly, said, Sir I would I could in way of Requital say as much of you. Faith, says he, so you may, and Lye as I did.

On Jack Wiseman.

[3.]Jack Wiseman brags his very name,

Proclaims his wit, he's much to blame,

To doe the Proverb so much wrong,

Which sayes he's wise that holds his tongue;

Which makes me contradict the Scooles,

And apt to thinke the wise men fools,

Yet pardon Jack, I hear that now

Thou'rt wed, and must thy wit allow,

That by a strange œnigma can,

Make a light Woman a Wiseman.

Of a Woman's Kindnesse to her Husband.

[6.]One that had lived long by lewdest shifts,

Brought to the Court that Corne from Cockle14 sifts

Adiudged, first to lye a yeere in fetters,

Then burned in his forhead with two letters,

And to disparage him with more disgrace,

To slit his nose, the figure of his face.

The prisoners wife with no dishonest mind,

To shew herselfe unto her husband kind,

Sued humbly to the Lords, and would not cease,

Some part of this sharp rigour to release.

He was a man (she said) had serv'd in Warre,

What mercy would a Souldiers face so marre.

Thus much said she, but gravely they replied,

It was great mercy that he thus was tried:

His crimes deserve he should have lost his life,

And hang in chaines; Alas, reply'd the wife,

If you disgrace him thus, you quite undo him,

Good my Lords, hang him, pray be good unto him.

14 The Agrostemna githago, Linn.

[1.]   There were once too men that were both masterless and moneyless, & one said to the other, What remedy canst thou now find out, that we may either get some meat or money? By my troth (qd. the other) I do know a very fine shift, (& being very early in the morning they espyed a man coming with Hogs). Lo, yonder cometh a man with Hogs, and I will tell him that they be sheep, and I will cause him to lay a Wager with me, whether they be Sheep or Hogs: & I will cause the matter to be judged by the next man that cometh, but then thou must go another way & meet with us; when we demand of thee whether they be sheep or hogs, thou must say that they be sheep. Then they separated themselves the one from the other, and the one went to meet the man that had the Swine, bidding him good morrow; the man doing the like to him again. Then he said to the old man, Father, where had you your fair sheep. What sheep qd the man; these sheep that you drive before you: Why, qd the old man, they are swine. What (qd. the other) will you make me a fool? think you I know not Sheep from Swine? Marry (qd. the old man) I will lay one of my Swine against what thou wilt, that they be no Sheep. I hold thee my coat against one of thy sheep qd. the other. I am content qd the old man, by whom shall we be tryed? By the next man that meets us. Content, said the old man; and then they perceived the man coming being the fellow of the young man. And when he came to them the old man requested him to tel them what beasts those were? Why (qd. he) they be sheep, do you not know sheep? I told him so (qd. the other young man) but he would not believe me, so I laid my Coat upon a Wager that they were sheep, and he laid me one of his sheep against my Coat that they were Swine; and I won it have I not? Yea (qd. the old man,) but God help me, I bought them for Swine. And then...