Sure my Nurse was a witch,
OR,
The merry Night-wench.
Who when her child doth cry, merry to make him,
Doth sing unto it, Come take him beggar, take him.
To the tune of See the golding , or Watton townes end .
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I N Londons Citty faire,
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a merry Nurse doth dwell,
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The which for singing rarely
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all others doth excell.
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For alwaies she is merry,
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unto her baby young,
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Shee day and night, doth take delight
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in singing of this song,
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Come take him beggar, take him,
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here take him beggar, take him,
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He cryes and will not quiet be,
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then take him beggar take him.
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The bowsing pot companion
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that alwayes would be drinking;
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His credit nere respecting,
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but from all grace is shrinking,
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And apt unto all villany
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most wretched that can make him,
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If he will not reformed be
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come take him beggar, take him.
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O take him beggar, take him,
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here take him beggar, take him,
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Thus still she sings unto her child,
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come take him beggar, take him.
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The slothfull lazy sluggard
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that painefull labour hates,
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And loves for to be night and day,
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amongst his idle mates,
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Good counsell despising
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should from his sinnes awake him,
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If he will not reformed be
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come take him beggar, take him.
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O take him beggar, take him,
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here take him beggar, take him:
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Thus still she sings unto her childe,
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come take him beggar, take him.
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The rooking bragging Rorer,
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that's in the Mercers bookes,
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Let him not thinke to pay his debts,
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with his lofty lookes.
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For if a Sergeant unawares
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should by the shoulders shake him,
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It quickly would increase his cares,
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come take him beggar, take him.
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O take him beggar, take him,
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here take him beggar, take him,
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Thus still she sings unto her child,
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come take him beggar, take him.
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Th[e] [Gall]ant that's adicted
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to d[?] womens beauty,
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In serving [?] Creator
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it makes him slack in duty:
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For being given to Venery,
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unlesse that grace awake him,
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It is the way to penury,
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come take him beggar take him.
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O take him beggar, take him,
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here take him beggar, take him,
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Thus still she sings unto her child,
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come take him beggar, take him.
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The foolish swearing Gamester,
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he in that cursed vice
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Delights to play, still night and day
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at Tables, Cards, and Dice:
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In cursing, and in swearing.
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which makes his friends forsake him,
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And when al's lost, to jeere him.
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come take him beggar, take him.
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O take him beggar, take him,
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here take him beggar, take him,
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Thus still she sings unto her child,
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come take him beggar, take him.
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The second part. To the same Tune.
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T He giddy headed Shopkeeper
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loves gadding here, and there,
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And of his businesse at home
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hath no respect and care:
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Still wasting, and consuming
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it quickly poore will make him
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If once he counter tenor sing,
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come take him beggar, take him.
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O take him beggar, take him,
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here take him beggar, take him,
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Thus still she singes unto her child,
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come take him beggar, take him.
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The young fantasticke scholler,
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so passing full of wit,
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Bred in the University
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and knowledge there did get:
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If so conceited proud he be
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as make his friends forsake him,
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And given unto ebriety.
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come take him begger take him.
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O take him beggar, take him,
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here take him beggar, take him,
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Thus still she sings unto her child,
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come take him beggar take him.
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The spruce and handsome Taylor,
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new fashions doth invent
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For making clothes, is paid with oathes
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which breeds his discontent:
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Great is his charge, and house-rent,
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which is the cause doth make him
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Be forc'd to breake, the truth to speake.
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come take him beggar, take him.
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O take him beggar, take him,
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here take him beggar, take him,
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Thus still she sings unto her child,
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come take him beggar, take him,
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The joviall neate Shooe-maker
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is on the Tanners score
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By giving rust to galnts,
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a meanes to make him poore;
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And when he can no longer trust,
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unkindly they forsake him,
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Which grieves his heart, and breeds his smart,
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come take him beggar, take him.
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O take him beggar, take him,
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here take him beggar, take him,
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Thus still she sings unto her child,
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come take him beggar, take him.
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The nimble faire tongu'd Tapster,
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that cryes anon I come,
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By coring, and by scoring
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and trusting Jack and Tom ,
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Dick , Daniel , Hodge , and Humphry ,
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who kindly faire did speake him
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Till Brewer swore to trust no more,
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come take him beggar, take him,
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O take him beggar, take him,
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here take him beggar, take him,
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Thus still she sings unto her child,
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come take him beggar, take him.
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If ever I doe marry
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Ile have a yeoman man,
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To be his wife the country life
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my mind is bent upon;
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No other I can fancy,
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my husband for to make him
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A Tradesman he, is not for me;
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come take him beggar, take him.
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O take him beggar, take him,
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here take him beggar, take him,
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Thus still she sings unto her child,
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come take him beggar, take him.
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