Line |
Morrice Dancers at Revesby - 1779 |
A Christmas Play [Broughton, Lincs.] - Text A - 1824 |
1. |
you gentle lords of honour |
|
2. |
of high and low i say |
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3. |
we all desire your favour |
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4. |
for to see our pleasant play |
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5. |
our play it is the best kind sirs |
|
6. |
that you would like to know |
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7. |
and we will do our best sirs |
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8. |
and think it well bestowd |
|
9. |
tho some of us be little |
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10. |
and some of a middle sort |
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11. |
we all desire your favour |
|
12. |
to see our pleasant sport |
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13. |
you must not look on our actions |
|
14. |
our wits they are all to seek |
|
15. |
so i pray take no exceptions |
|
16. |
at what i am agoing to speak |
|
17. |
we are come over mire and moss |
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18. |
we dance an hobby horse |
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19. |
a dragon you shall see |
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20. |
and a wild worm for to flee |
|
21. |
still we are all brave jovial boys |
|
22. |
and takes delight in christmas toys |
|
23. |
we are come both for bread and beer |
|
24. |
and hope for better cheer |
|
25. |
and something out of your purse sir |
|
26. |
which i hope you will be never the worse sir |
|
27. |
still we are all brave jovial boys |
|
28. |
and takes delight in christmas toys |
|
29. |
come now mr musick man play me my delight |
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30. |
what is that old father |
|
31. |
ah boy times is hard |
|
32. |
i love to have money in both pockets |
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33. |
you shall have it old father |
|
34. |
let me see it |
|
35. |
come now you mr allspice |
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36. |
come in come in thou hobby horse |
|
37. |
and bring thy old fool at thy arse |
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38. |
sing tanterday sing tanterday |
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39. |
sing heigh down down with a derry down a |
|
40. |
come in come in thou bonny wild worm |
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41. |
for thou hast ta en many a lucky turn |
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42. |
sing tanteraday sing tanteraday |
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43. |
sing heigh down down with a derry down |
|
44. |
come in come in thou dragon stout |
|
45. |
and take thy compass round about |
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46. |
sing tanteraday sing tanteraday |
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47. |
sing heigh down down with a derry down |
|
48. |
now you shall see a full fair fight |
|
49. |
betwixt our old fool and his right |
|
50. |
sing tanteraday sing tanteraday |
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51. |
sing heigh down down with a derry down |
|
52. |
now our scrimage is almost done |
|
53. |
then you shall see more sport soon |
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54. |
sing tanteraday sing tanteraday |
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55. |
sing heigh down down with a derry down |
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56. |
up well hark and up well hind |
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57. |
let every man then to his own kind |
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58. |
sing tanteraday sing tanteraday |
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59. |
sing heigh down down with a derry down |
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60. |
come follow me merry men all |
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61. |
tho we have made bold for to call |
|
62. |
it is only once by the year |
|
63. |
that we are so merry here |
|
64. |
still we are all brave jovial boys |
|
65. |
and takes delight in christmas toys |
|
66. |
what is the matter now father |
|
67. |
why i tell the what pickle herring |
|
68. |
as i was alooking round about me |
|
69. |
through my wooden spectacles |
|
70. |
made of a great huge little tiney bit of leather |
|
71. |
placed right behind me even before me |
|
72. |
i thought i saw a feat thing |
|
73. |
you thought you saw a feat thing |
|
74. |
what might this feat thing be think you father |
|
75. |
how can i tell boy except i see it again |
|
76. |
would you know it if you see it again |
|
77. |
i cannot tell the boy let me get it looked at |
|
78. |
is this it father |
|
79. |
why i protest pickle herring the very same thing |
|
80. |
but what might thou call this very pretty thing |
|
81. |
what might you call it you are older than i am |
|
82. |
how can that be boy when i was born before you |
|
83. |
that is the reason that makes you older |
|
84. |
well what dost thou call this very pretty thing |
|
85. |
why i call it a fine large looking glass |
|
86. |
let me see what i can see in this fine large looking glass |
|
87. |
here s a hole though it i see i see and i see |
|
88. |
you see and you see and what do you see |
|
89. |
marry e en a fool just like the |
|
90. |
it is only your own face in the glass |
|
91. |
why a fool may be mistain sometimes pickle herring |
|
92. |
but what might this fine large looking glass cost the |
|
93. |
that fine large looking glass cost me a guinea |
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94. |
a guinea boy |
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95. |
why i could have bought as good a one at my own door for three half pence |
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96. |
why fools and cuckholds has always the best luck |
|
97. |
that is a much to say thy father is one |
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98. |
why you pass for one |
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99. |
why was thou such a ninnee boy |
|
100. |
to go to ware a guinea |
|
101. |
to look for thy beauty |
|
102. |
where it never was |
|
103. |
but i will shew the boy |
|
104. |
how foolish thou hast wared a deal of good money |
|
105. |
father father you are so merylly disposed this good time |
|
106. |
there is no talking to you |
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107. |
here is very bad news |
|
108. |
very good news i am glad to hear it |
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109. |
i do not hear good news every day |
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110. |
it is very bad news |
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111. |
why what is the matter now boy |
|
112. |
we have all concluded to cut off your head |
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113. |
be mercyfull to me a sinner |
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114. |
if you sh d do as you have said |
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115. |
there is no such thing |
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116. |
i w d not lose my son pickle herring for fifty pounds |
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117. |
it is your son pickle herring that must lose you |
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118. |
it is your head we desire to take off |
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119. |
my head |
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120. |
i never had my head taken off in all my life |
|
121. |
you both must and shall |
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122. |
hold hold boy thou seem st to be in good earnest |
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123. |
but i ll tell the where i ll be buryed |
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124. |
why where will you be buried but in the church yard |
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125. |
where other people are buried |
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126. |
church yard i never was buried there in all my life |
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127. |
why where will you be buried |
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128. |
ah boy i am often dry |
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129. |
i will be buried in mr mirfin s ale celler |
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130. |
it is such a place as i never heard talk off in all my life |
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131. |
no nor nobody else boy |
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132. |
what is your fancy to be buried there |
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133. |
ah boy i am oftens dry |
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134. |
and when they come to fill the quart i ll drink it off |
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135. |
and they will wonder what is the matter |
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136. |
how can you do so when you will be dead |
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137. |
we shall take your head from your body |
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138. |
and you will be dead |
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139. |
if i must die i will dye with my face to the light for all you |
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140. |
now gentlemen you see how ungrateful my children is grown |
|
141. |
when i had them all at home |
|
142. |
small about as big as i am |
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143. |
i put them out to good learning |
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144. |
i put them to coxcomb colledge |
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145. |
and to the university of loggerheads |
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146. |
and i took them home again this good time of christmas |
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147. |
and i examin d them one by one altogether for shortness |
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148. |
and now they are grown so proud and so presumptious |
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149. |
they are a going to kill their old father for his little means |
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150. |
so i must dye for all this |
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151. |
you must dye father |
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152. |
and i will die for all the tother |
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153. |
but i have a little something |
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154. |
i will give it amongst you as far as it goes |
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155. |
and then i shall dye quietly |
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156. |
i hope you will |
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157. |
so to my first son pickle herring |
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158. |
i ll give him the roaned nag |
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159. |
and that will make the rogue brag |
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160. |
and to my second son |
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161. |
i ll give him the brindled cow |
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162. |
and to my third son |
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163. |
i ll give him the sanded sow |
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164. |
and hope i shall please you all enow |
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165. |
and to my fourth son |
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166. |
i give him the great ruff dog |
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167. |
for he always lives like a hog |
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168. |
and to my fifth son |
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169. |
i ll give him the ram |
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170. |
and i ll die like a lamb |
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171. |
how now father |
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172. |
how now there boy |
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173. |
i have another squeak for my life |
|
174. |
you have a many |
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175. |
so i must dye |
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176. |
you must dye father |
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177. |
hold i have yet a little something more to leave amongst you |
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178. |
and then i hope i shall dye quietly |
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179. |
so to my first son pickle herring |
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180. |
i ll give him my cap and my coat |
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181. |
a very good sute boy |
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182. |
and to my second son |
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183. |
i ll give him my purse and apparel |
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184. |
but be sure boys you do not quarrel |
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185. |
as to my other three |
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186. |
my executors they shall be |
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187. |
hold hold boy now i submit my soul to god |
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188. |
a very good thought old father |
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189. |
mareham church yard i hope shall have my bones |
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190. |
heigh old father |
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191. |
why boy since i have been out this troublesome world |
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192. |
i have heard so much musick of fiddles playing and bells ringing |
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193. |
that i have a great fancy to go away singing |
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194. |
so prithee pickle herring let me have one of thy best songs |
|
195. |
you shall have it old father |
|
196. |
let me see it |
|
197. |
good people all i pray you now behold |
|
198. |
our old fool s bracelet is not made of gold |
|
199. |
but it is made of iron and good steel |
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200. |
and unto death we ll make this old fool yield |
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201. |
i pray forbear my children small |
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202. |
for as i am lost as parent to you all |
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203. |
o let me live a while your sport for to advance |
|
204. |
that i may rise again and with you have a dance |
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205. |
now old father you now know our will |
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206. |
that for your estate we do your body kill |
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207. |
soon after death the bell for you shall toll |
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208. |
and wish the lord he may receive your soul |
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209. |
good people all you see what we have done |
|
210. |
we have cut down our father like ye evening sun |
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211. |
and here he lies in all his purple gore |
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212. |
and we are afraid he never will dance more |
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213. |
no no my children by chance you are all mistain |
|
214. |
for here i find myself i am not slain |
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215. |
but i will rise your sport then to advance |
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216. |
and with you all brave boys i ll have a dance |
|
217. |
hear you do you please to hear the sport of a fool |
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218. |
a fool for why |
|
219. |
because i can neither leap skip nor dance |
|
220. |
but cut a caper thus high |
|
221. |
sound musick i must be gon
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sound music sound i m just agoing row de dow
|
222. |
the lord of pool draws nigh |
|
223. |
i am the lord of pool |
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224. |
and here begins my measure |
|
225. |
and after me a fool |
|
226. |
to dance a while for pleasure |
|
227. |
in cupids school |
|
228. |
a fool a fool a fool |
|
229. |
a fool i heard thou say |
|
230. |
but more the other way |
|
231. |
for here i have a tool |
|
232. |
will make a maid to play |
|
233. |
although in cupids school |
|
234. |
come all away |
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235. |
i am the knight of lee |
|
236. |
and here i have a dagger |
|
237. |
offended not to be |
|
238. |
come in thou needy beggar |
|
239. |
and follow me |
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240. |
behold behold behold |
|
241. |
a man of poor estate |
|
242. |
not one penny to infold |
|
243. |
my money is out at use or else i would |
|
244. |
with a hack a hack a hack |
|
245. |
see how i will skip and dance |
|
246. |
for joys that we have found |
|
247. |
let each man take his chance |
|
248. |
and we will all dance around |
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249. |
here comes i that never come yet |
|
250. |
since last time lovy |
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251. |
i have a great head but little wit |
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252. |
tho my head be great and my wits be small |
|
253. |
i can play the fool for a while as well as best of you all |
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254. |
my name is noble anthony
|
my name is noble anthony
|
255. |
i am as meloncholly as a mantle tree
|
and as melancholy as that mantletree
|
256. |
i am come to show you a little sport and activity |
|
257. |
and soon too |
|
258. |
make room for noble anthony
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make room for noble anthony
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259. |
and all his good company
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and all his jovial company
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260. |
drive out all these proud rogues |
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261. |
and let my lady and i have a parl |
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262. |
o ye clown what makes you drive out my men so soon |
|
263. |
o pardon madam pardon |
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264. |
and i will never offend you more |
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265. |
i will make your men come in as fast |
|
266. |
as ever they did before |
|
267. |
i pray you at my sight and drive it not till night |
|
268. |
that i may see them dance once more so lovely i my sight |
|
269. |
a faith madam and so i will i will play the man |
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270. |
and make them come in as fast as ever i can |
|
271. |
but hold gip mrs clagarse how do you sell geese |
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272. |
go look mister midgecock twelve pence apiece |
|
273. |
oh the pretty pardon |
|
274. |
a gip for a frown |
|
275. |
an ale wife for an apparitor |
|
276. |
a rope for a clown |
|
277. |
why all the devise in the country |
|
278. |
cannot pull this down |
|
279. |
i am a valiant knight just come from the seas
|
i m a valiant knight just come from sea
|
280. |
you do know me do you
|
you never heard talk of me before did ye
|
281. |
i can kill ten thousd tho they be but fleas |
|
282. |
i can kill you a man for an ounce of mustard
|
i kill d ten men with a mess of mustard
|
283. |
or i can kill you ten thousand for a good custard
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ten thousand with my bright sword
|
284. |
i have an old sheep skin
|
i have a sheep skin
|
285. |
and i lap it well in
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to lap them in
|
286. |
sword and buckler by my side all ready for to fight |
|
287. |
come out you whores and gluttons all |
|
288. |
for had it not been in this country
|
had i been aman in this country known
|
289. |
i shd not have shewen my valour amongst you
|
and my valour had been shown
|
290. |
but sound musick for i must be gone
|
sound music sound i m just agoing row de dow
|
291. |
in first and formost do i come |
|
292. |
all for to lead this race |
|
293. |
seeking the country far and near |
|
294. |
so fair a lady to embrace |
|
295. |
so fair a lady did i never see |
|
296. |
so comely in my sight |
|
297. |
drest in her gaudy gold |
|
298. |
and silver shining bright |
|
299. |
she has fingers long and rings of honor of beaten gold
|
her fingers long with rings upon all made of pure gold
|
300. |
my masters all behold |
|
301. |
it is now for some pretty dancing time |
|
302. |
and we will foot it fine |
|
303. |
i am a youth of jollitree |
|
304. |
where is there one like unto me |
|
305. |
my hair is bush d very thick |
|
306. |
my body is like an hasel stick |
|
307. |
my legs they quaver like an eel |
|
308. |
my arms become my body weel |
|
309. |
my fingers they are long and small |
|
310. |
am not i a jolly youth proper and tall |
|
311. |
therefore mister musick man |
|
312. |
whatsoever may be my chance |
|
313. |
it is for my ladies love and mine |
|
314. |
strike up the morris dance |
|
315. |
i am a jolly young man of flesh blood and bone |
|
316. |
give ear my masters all each one |
|
317. |
and especially you my lady dear |
|
318. |
i hope you like me well |
|
319. |
of all the gallants here |
|
320. |
it is i that doth so well |
|
321. |
therefore mister musick man |
|
322. |
whatsoever may be my chance |
|
323. |
it is for my ladie s love and mine |
|
324. |
strike up the morris dance |
|
325. |
i am my fathers eldest son and heir of all his land
|
i am my fathers eldest son and heir to all his lands
|
326. |
and in a short time i hope it will fall into my hands
|
and hope in a short time it will all fall in my hands
|
327. |
i was brought up at lindsey court all the days of my life
|
i was brought up at linsecourt all the days of my life
|
328. |
here stands a fair lady i wish she was my wife
|
i m walking with this lady fair i wish she were my wife
|
329. |
i love her at my heart |
|
330. |
and from her i will never start |
|
331. |
therefore mr musick man play up my part |
|
332. |
and mine too |
|
333. |
sweet ciss if thou wilt be my love |
|
334. |
a thousand pounds i will give thee |
|
335. |
no you re too old sir and i am too young |
|
336. |
and alas old man that must not be |
|
337. |
i ll buy the a gown of violet blue |
|
338. |
a petticoat imbroadered to thy knee |
|
339. |
likewise my love to thee shall be true |
|
340. |
but alas old man that must not be |
|
341. |
thou shalt walk at thy pleasure love all the day |
|
342. |
if at night thou will but come home to me |
|
343. |
and in my house bear all the sway |
|
344. |
your children they ll find fault with me |
|
345. |
i ll turn my children out of doors |
|
346. |
and so i fear you will do me |
|
347. |
nay then sweet ciss ne er trust me more |
|
348. |
for i never loved lass like the before |
|
349. |
no nor behind neither |
|
350. |
well met sweet ciss well over ta en |
|
351. |
you are kindly wellcome sir to me |
|
352. |
i will wipe my eyes and i ll look again |
|
353. |
me thinks sweet ciss i now the see |
|
354. |
why this my dear i will give the |
|
355. |
and all i have it shall be thine |
|
356. |
kind sir i thank you heartelly |
|
357. |
stand back stand back thou silly old swain |
|
358. |
this girl shall go with none but me |
|
359. |
i will not |
|
360. |
stand back stand back or i ll cleave thy brain |
|
361. |
o now sweet ciss i am come to thee |
|
362. |
you are as wellcome as the rest |
|
363. |
wherein you brag so lustilly |
|
364. |
for a thousand pounds she loves me best |
|
365. |
i can see by the twinkling of her ee |
|
366. |
i have store of gold whereon i boast |
|
367. |
likewise my sword love shall fight for the |
|
368. |
when all is done love i ll scour the coast |
|
369. |
and bring in gold for thee and me |
|
370. |
your gold may gain as good as i |
|
371. |
but by no means it shall tempt me |
|
372. |
for youthfull years and frozen age |
|
373. |
cannot in any wise agree |
|
374. |
sweet mistress be advised by me |
|
375. |
do not let this old man be denyed |
|
376. |
but love him for his gold in store |
|
377. |
himself may serve for a cloak beside |
|
378. |
yes sir but you are not in the right |
|
379. |
stand back stand back and do not council me |
|
380. |
for i love a lad that will make me laugh |
|
381. |
in a secret place to pleasure me |
|
382. |
good wench |
|
383. |
love i have a beard as white as milk |
|
384. |
ne er better for that thou silly old man |
|
385. |
besides my skin love is soft as silk |
|
386. |
and thy face shines like a dripping pan |
|
387. |
rafe what has thou to pleasure her |
|
388. |
why a great deal more boy than there s in the |
|
389. |
nay then old rogue i thee defye |
|
390. |
pray dear friends fall not out for me |
|
391. |
once i could skip leap dance and sing |
|
392. |
why will not you give place to me |
|
393. |
nay then old rogue i thee defye |
|
394. |
for thy nose stands like a maypole tree |
|
395. |
sweet mistress mind what this man doth say |
|
396. |
for he speaks nothing but the truth |
|
397. |
look on the soldier now i pray |
|
398. |
see is not he a handsome youth |
|
399. |
sir i am engaged to one i love |
|
400. |
and ever constant i will be |
|
401. |
there is nothing that i prize above |
|
402. |
for a thousand pounds she s gone from me |
|
403. |
thou may lay two |
|
404. |
old father for your reverend years |
|
405. |
stand you the next man unto me |
|
406. |
then he that doth the weapon bear |
|
407. |
for i will have the hind man of the three |
|
408. |
old father a fig for your old gold |
|
409. |
the solder he shall bear no sway |
|
410. |
but you shall see and so shall we
|
you may all behold and see
|
411. |
tis i that carries the lass away
|
t is the fool that leads away the fair ladie
|
412. |
a story it is true be it known unto you |
|
413. |
i have lately fallen heir to some land |
|
414. |
some little time ago i was very poor and low |
|
415. |
but have all things now at command |
|
416. |
with my hawk and my hound and my gelding for to ride |
|
417. |
my servants to wait and run by my side |
|
418. |
which is the biggest pleasure fortune can provide |
|
419. |
i have rents coming in twice a year |
|
420. |
i am a man behold that has got great store of gold |
|
421. |
and your tennant i am willing to be |
|
422. |
if you ll let me your land sir i ll take it here s my hand sir |
|
423. |
and a farmer i ll venture to be |
|
424. |
and all that doth against the land befall |
|
425. |
taxes and town charges you shall pay them all |
|
426. |
and all other repairs whether they be great or small |
|
427. |
then your rent you shall have twice a year |
|
428. |
us landlords live at ease eats and drinks what we please |
|
429. |
which is the greatest pleasure that can a man befall |
|
430. |
we sit down by the fire drest in rich attire |
|
431. |
we have our servants to wait when we call |
|
432. |
i walk up and down in my chamber and my room |
|
433. |
likewise in my closet amongst my rich perfume |
|
434. |
there are few unto me come or indeed dare presume |
|
435. |
for i have rents coming in twice a year |
|
436. |
to the market i do ride with my hanger by my side |
|
437. |
which is the biggest pleasure that can a man befall |
|
438. |
if a bargain i do see that will beneficial me |
|
439. |
i have money to pay for it all |
|
440. |
then streight into the alehouse my chapman for to pay |
|
441. |
my servants follow after to drive my goods away |
|
442. |
i have no need to put them up to feed on coin and hay |
|
443. |
for to pay you your rent twice a year |
|
444. |
you bear an outward shew how it is i do not know |
|
445. |
but of late full of money you are grown |
|
446. |
you drink you drive a trade many bargains you have made |
|
447. |
so pray you mr tennant give some leave to speak |
|
448. |
i am very much afraid many such as you will break |
|
449. |
whilst we honest landlords our rents we may go seek |
|
450. |
that should be coming in twice a year |
|
451. |
kind sir i do perceive and i beg you ll give me leave |
|
452. |
and i ll answer you as well as i can |
|
453. |
many landlords there be by their bad husbandry |
|
454. |
are forced to sell off their land |
|
455. |
and when the land is sold the landlord cannot work |
|
456. |
then streight into the army he s forced for to lurk |
|
457. |
whilst we poor honest tennants must work like a turk |
|
458. |
for to pay you your rents twice a year |
|
459. |
go go you saucy blade and do not me degrade |
|
460. |
nor tell me of selling my land |
|
461. |
you have done well with speaking tell me no more of breaking |
|
462. |
and i will obey your command |
|
463. |
a lawyer or a landlord i am resolved to be |
|
464. |
then you should let your land sir to such a one as me |
|
465. |
what care i for thee is not another as good as thee |
|
466. |
that will pay me my rents twice a year |
|
467. |
kind sir i do think fit that you i should submit |
|
468. |
and you shall have the upper hand |
|
469. |
well said if you can do it i will never turn you out |
|
470. |
you shall rent some part of my land |
|
471. |
i like a loving landlord and him i mean to pay |
|
472. |
i like a loving tennant sometime of him i ll say |
|
473. |
this is to let you know you tennants must obey |
|
474. |
and pay landlords their rents twice a year |
|