Rocke the Babie Joane:
OR,
John his Petition to his loving Wife Joane,
To suckle the Babe that was none of her owne.
To the Tune of, Under and over.
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A Young man in our Parish,
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His wife was somewhat currish.
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For she refus'd to nourish
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a child which he brought home:
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He got it on an other,
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And death had tane the mother,
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The truth he could not smother,
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all out at last did come:
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Suckle the Baby,
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huggle the Baby,
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Rocke the Baby Jone.
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I scorne to suckle the Baby,
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Unlesse it were mine owne.
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His wife cry'd out on one day,
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I thinke it was on Sunday,
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The next day being Munday,
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his Wench in sunder fell:
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The Dad on't shee descryed,
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Which having done, shee dyed,
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This could not be denyed,
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alas he knew't too well.
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Suckle the Baby, etc.
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The Parish him inforced
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To see the Infant nursed,
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He being but lightly pursed,
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desir'd to save that charge:
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He brought it to his owne wife,
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Whom he lov'd as his owne life:
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To her the case was knowne rife,
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he told her all at large.
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Suckle the Baby, etc.
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Quoth he my Jone my deerest,
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Thy love to mee is neerest,
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Thy vertue will shine clearest,
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in doing this good deed:
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This Infant young is left heere,
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Unable to make shift heere,
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Twill be of life bereft heere,
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unlesse thou doe it feed.
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Suckle the Baby, etc.
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Away thou false Deceiver,
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Quoth shee farewell for ever,
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I am resolved never
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To love thee as I did:
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Alas quoth hee my honny,
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I would not for any money,
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By thee my sweetest conny,
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to be so shrewdly chid.
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Suckle the Baby, etc.
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Although I lov'd his mother,
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Ile vow to love none other,
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What needst thou keepe this pother,
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since shee (poore wretch) is dead:
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No more she can thee trouble,
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And 'twould be charges double,
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If every moneth a Noble
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I pay for milke and bread.
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Suckle the Baby,
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Huggle the Baby,
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Rocke the Babie Jone.
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I scorne to suckle the Baby,
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Unlesse it were mine owne.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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TWould be to my discredit,
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Should I both board and bed it,
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For never woman did it
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to a Bastard in this kind.
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O Jone leave off this fashion,
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Twill be thy commendation
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To take commiseration,
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let not the child be pind.
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Suckle the Baby, etc.
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What if the brat be starved?
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Experience hath observed
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It should not bee preserved
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by her that is thy wife.
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Thy patience will appeare more,
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O take it Juggie therefore,
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Beare with my fault, for wherefore
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should we continue strife?
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Suckle the Baby, etc.
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I doubt I shall be forced,
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From thee to bee divorced,
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Thy brood shall nere be nursed,
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by me nor by my cost.
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O wife be not so cruell,
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Thou knowst thou art my Jewell,
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Be certaine if thou doe well,
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thy labour is not lost.
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Suckle the Baby, etc.
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My neighbours will deride me,
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And none that dwell beside me
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Will evermore abide me
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for such a President.
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No Jone thou art mistaken,
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Twill other wives awaken,
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Then let some course be taken
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for the childs nourishment.
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Suckle the Baby, etc.
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Let patient Grissels storie,
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Be still in thy memorie,
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Who wonne a lasting glory,
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through patience in like sort:
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Although it touch thee neerely,
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This Barne that lookes so cheerely,
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Shall binde me still more deerely,
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to love thee better for't.
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Suckle the Baby, etc.
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Well John thy intercession
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Hath chang'd my disposition,
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And now upon condition
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thou'lt goe no more astray:
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Ile entertaine thy Baby,
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And love it as well as may be.
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Doe so (sweet Jugge) I pray thee;
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then this is a joyfull day.
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Suckle the Baby,
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Huggle the Baby,
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Rocke the Baby Jone:
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I prethee Jugge love my Baby,
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And count it to be thine owne.
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I have a Girle, I bore it
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But just a day before it,
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Although we be but poore yet,
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these two we will maintaine:
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Ile suckle it, and dandle it,
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And very choycely handle it,
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And thou shalt sope and candle get:
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and thus betweene us twaine,
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Weele suckle the Baby,
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And huggle the Baby.
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Gramercy honest Jone.
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O John Ile rocke thy Baby,
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As well as 'twere mine owne.
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