Any thing for a quiet life; Or the Married mans
bondage to a curst Wife. To the tune of Oh no, no, no, not yet;
or Ile never love thee more.
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A Ny thing for a quiet life
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a Yong man faine would do:
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To serve his Master out his time,
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and please his Mistris too:
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His bondage wisht for liberty,
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that he might have a wife
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At his owne will, for to doe still
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any thing for a quiet life.
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In haste he chose himselfe then one,
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and quickly was he wed:
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But crooked cares of houshold charge,
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molested much his head.
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His wedding shooes no sooner off,
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but his commanding wife
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Did make him pray, and often say,
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Any thing for a quiet life.
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His wife (yong Lasse) grew wanton sick,
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within a day or two:
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And long'd, she knew not well for what,
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as many women doe.
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The daintiest things that could be got,
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he gave unto his wife,
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And for her sake, did undertake
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any thing for a quiet life.
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With Plums, and Peares, & Cherries ripe,
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of twenty shillings a pound,
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With Pescods newly from the bloome,
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if any might be found.
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All which he must goe seeke forthwith,
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to please his longing wife:
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Thus married men doe now and then,
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to have a quiet life.
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Seven Holydayes in one weeke,
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she still desired to make,
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And every day to lye till noone,
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for feare her head should ake.
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For want of sleepe would trouble sore
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this his yong teeming wife,
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That would have dyed, if he denyed
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any thing for a quiet life.
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For breakefast in her bed she had
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a Cawdle of Muskadine:
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And then with Woodcocks and with Larks,
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she must rise up and dine:
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Where he kind-hearted married man,
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gives welcome to his wife:
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For doe but crave, quoth he, and have,
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any thing for a quiet life.
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At last her Child-bed time drew on,
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where money must be spent:
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In dainty Lawnes & Cambricks fine,
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or else no way content.
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Her house must be as well set out,
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as any Citie wife:
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Thus fill'd with care, he must not spare,
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any thing for a quiet life.
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Her Nurses weekely charge likewise,
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with many a Gossips feast:
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He well perceiv'd, when purse grew light,
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and emptied was his Chest.
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The Sugar Plums, & sweet Conserves
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to please his Child-bed wife:
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Both night and day, greev'd him to say,
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Any thing for a quiet life.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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T Hese Christning charges over-past,
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the Churching day came on:
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Against which time, her Taylor must
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her garded Gowne bring home.
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Her Petti-coat of Stammell red,
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new given unto his wife:
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Which charges paid, this Yong-man said,
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any thing for a quiet life.
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Thus after many a brave Carowse,
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upon her Churching day,
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Her tattling Gossips her perswade,
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in this her rich array,
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To take the comforts of the ayre,
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and pleasures of a wife:
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While he at home, sayes like a mome,
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any thing for a quiet life.
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Unto her Nurse-child then must she,
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in jollity and joy,
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Some ten miles distance for to see,
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the vsage of her Boy.
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Well mounted on an ambling Nagge,
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with some kinde neighbours wife,
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Whilst hee poore soule must sing in dole,
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any thing for a quiet life.
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Not any meeting in seven miles,
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where Gallants doe repayre:
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But she will brave it with the best,
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and for no charges spare.
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If fault her Husband finde therewith,
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she proves a frowning wife,
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And tyres him so, till he bestow[s,]
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any thing for a quiet life.
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His old acquaintance must he not
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at any time goe see:
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Except she grant, and give him leave,
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or there in presence be.
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And then his purse he must yeeld up
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to his commanding wife:
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While he must say, Good woman pay
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any thing for a quiet life.
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Thus yeere by yeere, he spent his dayes,
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in troubles and in cares:
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A warning fit for him which thus,
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himselfe to marriage snares.
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The onely hell upon this earth,
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to have an angry wife:
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To make us say both night and day,
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any thing for a quiet life.
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Let Yong-men all take heed by this,
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how they doe match and marry:
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He leads a life of libertie,
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that doth the longest tarry.
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It is the formost step to woe,
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to wed unto a wife,
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That will have still, at her owne will,
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any thing for a quiet life.
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FINIS.
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