It is bad Jesting with a Halter.
A Merry Jest to you I'le make appeare.
That happened lately unto London neere,
Where as good-fellowes were together drinking:
One of them in a jeering manner thinking
To scape shot-free, this fellow was in hope,
His shot to pay, by jeasting with a Rope:
Which jeasting might have proved to his paine,
But hee'le be advis'd how he jeasts so againe.
To the tune of There was a Ewe had three Lambes.
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THree Joviall sparkes together,
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merry they did make,
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The coldnesse of the weather,
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made them their liquor take:
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Their coyne they freely spent it,
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and quaft it merily,
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And all as one consented
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merry for to bee:
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One he for Tobacco cal'd,
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another cal'd for beere,
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Another cal'd what have you not
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some faggots bring us heere:
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They were three lusty souldiers,
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had serv'd in France and Spaine,
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Germany and Italy,
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and were come home againe,
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One in Warres had lost an eye,
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another shot quite through the thigh,
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the third in Turkish slavery.
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endured had much paine.
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There were no Maunding souldiers,
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maunding up and downe,
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With knap-sakes on their shoulders
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that trudge from Towne to Towne,
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And by their Rooking cunning
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poore Ale-[w]ines oft d[e]ceive:
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For meate and drinke, and lodging,
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and doe their charges save:
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These were no such they would keepe tutch,
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& pay their shot though ne'r so much,
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To pa[use] the love of poore and rich,
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[their] [favour] [st]ill to have.
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They were three lusty Souldiers, etc.
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Also three joviall Saylers,
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unto these Soldiers came,
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And brought with them two Taylors,
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but none of them Ile name:
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And brought with them a fellow,
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a Butcher and a Baker,
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But all this time to make them even
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did want the neat shooe-maker:
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Quoth one of them I have a friend,
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and he dwells here fast by,
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A shooe-maker lets for him send
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he is good company,
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They were three lusty Souldiers, etc.
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He will sing and be merry,
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drinke and pay his share,
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We wish then said his neighbors all
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that now we had him here:
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They for him sent, incontinent,
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he came and gave them good content,
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And was so full of merriment,
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he pleas'd them all were there.
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They were three lusty Souldiers, etc.
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For nothing there was wanting
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that might give them content,
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They merry were, and made good cheere
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and liberally they spent,
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Still calling on the Tapster,
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of Beere, to bring the best:
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Then silent be, and list to me,
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for now beginnes the Jest,
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This fellow he, most Jovially,
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did for Tobacco call:
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And sayes my noble Joviall blades
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a health unto you all.
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They were three lusty Souldiers,
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had serv'd in France, and Spaine,
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Germany and Italy,
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and were come home, etc.
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The Second Part To the same tune.
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THus beeing blith together,
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unto their hearts desire
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Sayes he here is cold weather,
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lets have a better fire,
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And bring us more Tobacco,
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and of your Beere the best,
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For whilst I stay, my part Ile pay,
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and be a Joviall guest.
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Hang money it is but an Asse,
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for meanes I cannot lacke,
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Then fill the other dozen in,
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let sorrow and care goe packe.
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They were three lusty Souldiers
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and serv'd in France and Spaine,
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Germany, and Italy,
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and were come home againe, etc.
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So calling for the Tapster,
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to know what was to pay,
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Sayes he I have no money,
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but if you please to stay,
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And drinke the tother dozen
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whlst the Faggots burne,
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I scorne you for to cozen
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but presently returne:
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And money bring: then may I sing,
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a Flye, a figge for care,
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Ile hast away, and make no stay,
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but come and pay my share.
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They were three lusty Souldiers, etc.
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So presently returning,
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they all were in good hope,
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That he some money then had brought
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till pulling out a Rope,
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Which he had in his breeches,
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on termes he did not stand,
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But askt if anyone were there
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would buy a Carelesse-Band:
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A neate one a feate one,
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that was both strong and new,
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And nere was worne, I dare be sworne,
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beleeve me it is true.
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They were three lusty Souldiers, etc.
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The company then smiling
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for to be Jeered so,
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One of them to him calling,
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the price of it to know:
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Is this a Carelesse-Band sayes he,
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I must commend thy wit:
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Then presently, I mean to try
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how it thy necke will fit:
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The Rope then, he tooke then,
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of trueth as I heard say,
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And with a twitch his necke did stretch
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untill he gasping lay.
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They were three lusty Souldiers, etc.
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But when he did recover,
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and to his sences came,
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Saith he I must acknowledge
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that I was much too blame,
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In such a foolish manner
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my betters so to Jeere:
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That here I should have breath'd my last
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it put me in a feare:
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Your gentle favours craving,
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and briefely to be plaine,
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It shall to me a warning bee,
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for Jesting so againe,
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They were three lusty Souldiers, etc.
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Thus all the City over,
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by rumour it was spread,
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E're he could well recover
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that surely he was dead:
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And that for trueth of certaine,
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he like a wretched Elfe,
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Had by some dire misfortune
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untimely hang'd himselfe:
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This song therefore it written was,
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to cleare all doubts of it,
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That all may know, it is not so,
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he is not dead as yet:
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But hopes to live, content to give,
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and so continue by care to thrive,
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Ne'r in that perill for to come
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of such a hanging fit.
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They were three lusty Souldiers, etc.
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