Fowre wittie Gossips disposed to be merry
Refused muddy Ale, to drinke a cup of Sherrie.
Their Husbands did their Judgements spend
strong Ale was best who did intend
to try it.
Their Wives reply to every man
that Sacke is best and no man can
deny it
To the tune of the Mother beguilde the Daughter.
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THere was fowre pleasant wives of late,
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did purpose to be merry:
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And each for other laid in waite
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to drinke a cup of sherrie,
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The time was on a market day
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the place was at the feather,
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To drinke and passe the time away
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they all consent together,
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Wee will not depart,
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weell drinke a quart
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of Sacke to make us merry.
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Your Barlie broth fild up with froth,
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is nothing like old sherrie.
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Each one did in her basket bring
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a daintie bit to relish
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A cup of Sacke, which is a thing
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doth man and woman cherish:
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Our husbands made a match last night
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to tast the oyle of barlie,
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But now weell shew to them a sleight
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for going to bed so early,
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We will not depart, etc.
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Now let us call our liquor in,
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and bravely we will drinke it,
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In good old sacke we will beginne,
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a health whilst now we thinke it:
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Wee mean unto those drowsie sots,
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that love the oyle of Barlie:
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And all last night did tosse the pots,
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untill the morning early,
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Wee will not depart etc.
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But little does our husbands thinke,
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if that they bee awaking,
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That in good sack their healths to drinke
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what paines that wee are taking:
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And shee that pledges drinke it up
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to them that sleepeth soundly:
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Let every woman have her cup,
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of sacke and drinke it roundly,
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Wee will not depart,
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weele drinke a quart, etc.
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So let the health goe round about,
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this day weell take our pleasure:
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Our husbands were last night all out,
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and weell goe home by leasure?
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For sack and suger let us joyne,
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you see it is cold weather?
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And blithly let us spend our coine,
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wee seldome meet together,
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Wee will not depart etc.
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Our husbands home did make small hast,
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all night untill the morning:
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But if we had not all been chaste,
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they well might feare the horning:
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But why doe they this Ale commend,
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which being thicke is loathsome?
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But rather should their money spend
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in sack so pure and wholsome,
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Wee will not depart etc.
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Which being cleare, doth cleare the blood,
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and make old women merry:
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And sure their judgements are not good
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that discommends old sherrie,
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If our opinions doe not fayle?
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a quart twelve cups containeth,
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Its cheaper then adozen of ale,
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where froth and snuffes remaineth:
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Wee will not depart etc.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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THey are but Clownes and doe not know,
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the quintessence of Sherrie,
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Their judgements can no further goe,
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then Ale, or Beare, or Perry:
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These homebred guls cannot define
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from whence this wine proceedeth,
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Nor what is meant by Grapes or Wine
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their ignorance exceedeth.
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Wee will not depart etc.
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Such idle malt wormes do devoure,
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more corne in oyle of barlie,
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Then we in Sacke and ten times more
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though we drinke late and early:
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Our husbands have no wit to drinke
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good Wine, nor how to use it?
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But swill it up like beare they thinke
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or ale and so abuse it,
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Wee will not depart etc.
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Thus the day was almost spent
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in merriment and laughing:
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Their husbands to the Tavern sent
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yet could not find them quaffing,
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The younger wives did weep for feare
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their husbands would abuse them:
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Quoth mother Joane be of good cheere
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and said she would excuse them.
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wee will not depart etc.
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This old wife was somewhat stout
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and so also was Bridget?
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They sw[e]are two cups should goe about
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and every one should pledge it:
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This good old wench begun the round
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to many that was weeping
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Yet Mall did stoutly stand her ground,
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and drunke to Nel a sleeping,
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Wee will not depart, etc.
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Nel pledg'd the round almost awake
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the Sack shee much commended:
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Which unto Bridget she did take,
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and so the health was ended:
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Then to the Drawer they did call:
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to know what was the skore,
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Twelve shillings quoth he there is in all
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besides a quart before:
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Wee will not depart etc.
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Old Jane began the shot to take,
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each one lay downe their store,
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And just ten shillings they did make,
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and not one farding more:
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Here take your money said old Jane
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wee have no more about us:
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Gives one quart more, weell come againe
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you need not for to doubt us,
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Wee will not depart etc.
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Here is my girdle for a pawne
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and Mall leave you your Bodkin,
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And Bridget leave your peice of Lawen,
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weell pay him to a dodkin,
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And Nell her silver Thimble too,
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because weell goe together,
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To try what our good men will doe
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till wee meet at the feather,
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Thus will wee depart,
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with this last quart, etc.
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But men doe thinke they are all wit,
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yet some doe prove but noddies,
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That drinking ale all night doe sit,
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like wash-tubs makes their bodies:
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When they may drink Sacke pure and strong
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as cheape as oyle of barlie:
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And so we doe conclude this song,
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this morning very early,
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Wee will not depart
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weell drinke a quart,
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of Sack which makes us merry,
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Your Barlie broth fild up with froth,
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is nothing like your Sherrie.
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FINIS.
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