The Trappan'd Maultster;
OR,
The Crafty Ale-Wife.
Plainly shewing how a Maultster in the County of Harford , did earnestly solicit an honest A le-Wife
who being a good comely woman that she would consent to his will, which she often refused,
but seeing he was the more urgent, she at last seemingly consented, and appointed the time
when he might come, which at length proved contrary to his expectation, as you may find by
these following Lines.
To the Tune of, A Fig for France.
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D Raw near and here attend a while,
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This pleasant jest will make you sime,
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The truth of it you need not fear,
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Twas lately done in Harford-shire :
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A lusty Maultster there did dwell
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That lov'd a handsome woman well:
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But now attend I pray and mind,
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How he was fitted in his kind.
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An Ale-house keeper living near,
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That bought his Mault, & brew'd his beer,
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This Maultster he was kind and free,
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[?] trusted him most willingly
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With twenty pounds in Mault and more,
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He let him have upon the score,
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But Moultsters pray you have a care
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For fear they Catch you in a snare
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Upon a day it chanced so,
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The Maultster to his house did go,
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It seems it was his full design,
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Expecting to receive some Coin:
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The Hostis beautiful and fair,
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The Maultsters sences did insnare,
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His very heart it did surprize,
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He see sweet Babies in her eyes.
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O then he soon did move his Suit,
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And giving her a kind salute,
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Saying, if thoul'e be kind to me,
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I'le be a constant friend to thee,
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Then prithee do not me deny,
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Be free and willingly comply,
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Thy very sences I will drown'd.
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In mutial joys that shall abound.
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Your promises are all in vain,
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My credit I will never stain,
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Nor be by any fancies fed,
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Thus to defile my marriage bed,
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Quoth, he thou [nee]d'st not fear disgeace,
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There's none but thee and I in place,
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She hearing him so earnestly,
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Quoth she i'le fit you by and by.
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And now she makes it all her care,
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How she might trap him in a snare,
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If I must to your will give way,
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Then listen now to what I say,
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Next day my husband must ride out,
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Then prithre come, and without doubt,
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Till then pray set sour heart at rest,
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The Maulster chought he had been blest.
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The Maulster then went home we find,
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And with a sweet cintented mind,
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To him he thought she would be true,
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But she was chast and modest too,
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Shee to her husband then did call,
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And telling him the truth of all,
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And then said she, be rul'd by me,
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We'l trounce him for his Villany.
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A cunning Plot she did invent,
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To which her husband gave consent,
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Next day with joy the Maulster came,
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For to imbrace this comely dame:
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Shee to her Chamber did repair,
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As if he had been welcome there:
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The Maulster strips of all his Cloaths
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And strait into the Bed he goes.
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He thought she'd a came to him
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But she intended no such thing,
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The Maulster said sweet come to bed,
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We'l hornifie thy husbands head:
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These words no sooner had been soid,
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But he rush't in, he was betray'd,
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Quoth he thou slave whet makes the here,
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For this i'le make you pay full dear.
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By head and ears he pulled him out,
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And giving him a total rout,
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But seeing then how he way fool'd,
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The Maulsters courage then was cool'd,
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He bang'd him then from side to side,
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Thou slave must I br hornifi'd
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Some of my fury thou shalt know,
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e're you out of this room do go.
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Said he, I now will Geld you here,
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Which put the Maulster in great fear,
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He down upon his knees did fall,
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And drd to him for mercy call;
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O pardon me and let me go,
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I will forgive you all you owe,
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O that is twenty pound you know,
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Pray do not seek my overthrow.
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Well since you beg so heartily,
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I now will quit and set you free,
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By falling on your marrow bones,
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I do protest you have sav'd your stones,
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Your promises are very large,
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Come write me now a full discharge,
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And for the time that doth remain,
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Let me not catch you here again.
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And thus they quitted all the score,
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And turn'd the M aulster out of door,
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And thus alas he was decoy'd,
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And pay'd for what he ne'r injoy'd,
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You Maulsters all both far and near,
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That does this dreadful story hear,
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Strive to amend your wicked lives,
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And be you honest to your Wives.
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