The Great Boobee.
To a pleasant New Tune; Or, Sallengers Bound.
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MY Friend, if you will understand
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my Fortunes what they are,
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I once had Cattle, House, and Land,
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but now I am never the near,
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My Father left a good estate,
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as I may tell to thee,
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I couzned was of all I had,
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like a great Boobee.
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I went to School with a good intent
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and for to learn my Book,
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And all the day I went to play,
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in it I never did look,
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Full seven years, or very nigh,
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as I may tell to thee
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I could hardly say my Christ-Cross Row,
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like a great Boobee.
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My Father then in all the hast,
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did set me to the Plow,
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And for to lash to Horse about,
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indeed I knew not how:
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My Father took his Whip in hand,
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and soundly lashed me;
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He call'd me fool and-Country Clown,
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like a great Boobee.
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But I did from my Father run,
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for I will Plow no more,
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Because he had so slashed me,
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and made my sides so sore:
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But I will go to London Town,
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some [F]ashions for to see,
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When I came there they call'd me clown,
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and great Boobee.
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But as I went along the street,
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I carried my hat in my had,
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And to every one that I did meet,
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I bravely bust my hand:
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Some did laugh and some did scoff,
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and some did mock at me,
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And some did say I was a Woodcock,
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and a great Boobee.
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Then I did walk in hast to Pauls,
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the Steeple for to view,
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Because I heard some people say,
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it should be builded new.
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Then I got up unto the top,
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the City for to see,
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It was so high it made me cry,
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like a great Boobee.
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The Second Part, to the same Tune.
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FRom thence I went to Westminster,
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and for to see the Tombs,
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Oh, said I, what a house is here,
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with an infinite sight of Rooms?
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Sweetly the Abby Bells did ring,
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it was a fine sight to see,
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Methoughts I was going to heaven in a string
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like a great Boobee.
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But as I went along the street,
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the most part of the day,
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Many Gallants I did meet,
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methought they were very gay:
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I blew Nose, and pist my Hose,
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some peole did me see,
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They said I was a Beastly fool,
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and a great Boobee.
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Next day I through Pye-corner past,
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the Roast meat-on the Stall,
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Invited me to take a tast,
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my Money was but small:
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The meat I pickt, the Cook me kickt,
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as I may tell to thee;
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He beat me sore, and made me rore,
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like a great Boobee.
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As I through Smith-field lately walkt,
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a gallant Lass I met,
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Familiarly with me she talkt,
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which I cannot forget,
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She proffered me a pint of Wine,
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methoughts she was a wondrous free,
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To the Tavern then I went with her,
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like a great Boobee.
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She told me we were neer of Kin,
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and call'd for Wine good store.
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Before the reckoning was brought in,
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my Cousin prov'd a Whore:
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My purse she pickt, and went away,
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my Cousin couzned me,
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The Vintner kickt me out of door,
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like a great Boobee.
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At the Exchange when I came there,
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I saw most gallant things,
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I thought the Pictures living were
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of all our English Kings:
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I doft my hat and made a Leg,
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and kneeled on my knee;
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The peeple laught and call'd me Fool,
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and a great Boobee.
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To Paris-Garden then I went,
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where there is great resort,
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My pleasure was my punishment,
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I did not like the sport:
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The Garden Bull with his stone horns
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on high then tossed me,
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I did bewray my self with fear,
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like a great Boobee.
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The Bearheard went to save me then,
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the people flockt about,
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I told the Bekr-Garden-men,
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my guts were almost out:
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They said I stunk most grievously,
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no man would pitty me,
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They call'd me witless fool and ass,
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and great Boobee.
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Then o're the water I did pass,
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as you shall understand,
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I dropt into the Thames alas,
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before I came to Land.
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The Water-man did help me out,
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and thus did say to me,
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'Tis not thy fortune to be drown'd,
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like a great Boobee.
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But I have learned so much wit,
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shall shorten all my cares.
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If I can but a License get,
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to play before the Bears;
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'Twould be a gallant place indeed
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as I may tell to thee,
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Then who dares call me fool or ass,
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or great Boobee.
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