[Rocke the cradle John, or]
Children after the rate of 24 in a yeare,
Thats 2 every month as plaine doth appeare,
Let no man at this strang story wonder.
It goes to the tune, of Over and Under.
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T Here was a country gallant,
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that wasted had his tallent,
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Not dreading what would fall out,
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would needs a wooing ride;
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Unto a lasse of the citty,
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that courteous was and pritty,
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This damsell neat and witty;
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hee would goe make his Bride:
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This lasse she had of wealth good store,
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her stacke was threscore pound and more,
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Though some supposed her to be poore,
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the same hath late been tried.
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Rocke the Cradle, rocke the Cradle,
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rocke the cradle John,
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Ther's many a man rockes the cradle,
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when the childs none of his owne.
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Unto this lasse, incontinent,
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the young-man went with good intent,
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His love was fixed and firmely bent,
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to take her to his wife:
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Quoth he my sweet, while life doth last,
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my heart is in thy bosome placed,
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Let not my sute be now disgraced,
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Ile love thee as my life:
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Said she your suit I must deny,
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for I have vowed a maid to dye,
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If I lose my virginity,
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it sure will breed much strife.
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Rocke the cradle, etc.
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I have beene wooed by Harry,
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but I indeed will tarry,
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I do not meane to marry,
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while I on earth remaine:
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Sweet William and young Thomas too,
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and Richard hath made much adoe,
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And Ned with teares did often woe,
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but Humphry did complaine,
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All these brave gallants I forsake,
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I prethee John no more words make,
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But to some other course betake,
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I doe thy sute disdayne:
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Goe rocke the cradle, etc.
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The man no whit dismayed,
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at that which she had said.
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But with his sweet heart stayed,
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and did request her still:
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He did intreat her favour,
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twas all that hee did crave her,
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That he might onely have her,
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his fancy to fulfill:
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My heart doth fry in Cupids fire,
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thy beauty I doe much admire,
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Then yeild my love to my desire,
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or else a man you kil:
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Rocke the cradle, etc.
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When she her selfe did understand,
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she had a foole caught by the hand,
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Her ship she knew was soundly maned,
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her belly wondrous round:
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Thought she this is a friend of mine,
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its best make hay while sunne doth shine,
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Yet to some thing I will him joyne,
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before my fault be found,
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Said she if I be made thy wife,
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thou must me humour all thy life,
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And carefull be for feare of strife,
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like to a prentise bound,
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Rocke the cradle, etc.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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I N the morning if I thee desire,
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thou must rise up and make a fire,
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And other things I shall require,
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which thou must undertake:
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My breakefast thou must dresse also,
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that I from bed to it may goe,
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All these hard tasks and many more,
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thou must not then forsake,
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To brush my gowne and set my band,
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make cleane my shooes at my command,
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Thy businesse thou must understand,
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if I the word but speake.
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Rocke the cradle, etc.
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And when we chance to have a child,
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thou must like to a father milde,
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Unto the same be reconciled,
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and daunce it on thy knee:
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Or if the infant cry for pap,
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thou then must take it in thy lap,
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And feed it well what ever hap,
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if John will marry mee:
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Thou must take pains as thou art able,
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to make the bed and serve at table,
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And lay the young one in the cradle,
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whilst I sing merrily.
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Rocke the cradle, etc.
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Sweet heart quoth he to please thee,
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Ile doe all things to ease thee,
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I will not once disease thee,
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nor yet my love offend thee,
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My hands under your feete Ile lay,
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the winde shall not my love annoy,
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Soe thou wilt be mine onely joy,
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Ile love the to the end,
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Ile make the bed the house ile sweep,
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and lull thee baby fast asleepe,
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What you command my selfe will keepe,
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and will my humour bend:
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Rocke the cradle, etc.
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To this they both agreed,
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and marryed were with speed,
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For she had wondrous need,
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as you shall heare hereafter:
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The same day moneth that they were wedde
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the married man was finely spedde,
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His wife was safely brought to bed,
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and had both sonne and daughter,
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Which by the midwife in was brought,
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quoth she you have a strange thing wroght
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Two children in a month begot,
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and so tooke up a laughter,
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Rocke the cradle, rocke the cradle,
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rocke the cradle John,
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Said hee the children I will rocke,
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for why they be mine owne.
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He kist the girle and loved the boy,
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said he you are your fathers Joy,
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Thers many are in great annoy,
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because they have no childe:
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I knew a Lord and Lady faire,
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that did desire to have an heire,
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Now I my selfe have got a paire,
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and they are both beguild,
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My wife is frutefull now I see,
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and will some great increase bring mee,
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They are your owne assuredly,
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then said the mid-wife milde,
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Rocke the cradle, etc.
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See here the boy is like the dad,
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which well may make your heart ful glad
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Cheere up your selfe and be not sad,
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for that which here is done:
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His ruby lips doe plaine disclose,
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his cherry cheeks and dads owne nose,
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For twenty pound, I will not lose,
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quoth he my little sonne:
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Soe well content this foole was found,
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he leapt for joy above the ground,
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Did sorrowes shall quoth he be dround,
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since new are fresh begun:
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Rocke the cradle, Jog the cradle,
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thus Ile have it knowne,
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I love to rocke the cradle,
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the children be mine owne.
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Al you which now have heard this dittie,
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take heed with wives how you doe sit ye,
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For if you came to London city,
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you quickely may be sped
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As here you see this country Lad,
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within one Moneth was made a Dad
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Though he but little share int had,
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his wife was brought to bed,
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And now this simple woodkocke,
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the cradle is constrained to rocke,
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His neighbours doth deride and mocke,
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cause he is so bestead,
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They shoute and cry, and to him say,
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still the Children John,
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Tis enough to make the man,
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to thinke they be none of his owne.
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FINIS. Lau. Price
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