The West-Countrey Cheat upon Cheat;
OR,
No Jest like a True Jest.
Here in this Song you may behold and see,
What base deceit in chusing Mates there be,
Young-men and Maidens all henceforth be wary,
Stand fast to them you do intend to marry:
For in my mind, it seems strange and unkind,
That Lovers now should turn with every wind:
Butcher and Barber, both, pray live in peace,
And with your Wives let unity increase.
The Tune is, Hy, ho, my Honey. With Allowance.
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BRave West-Country blades come listen,
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i'le sing you a harmless Song,
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In troth it was not written,
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to do any one wrong.
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'Tis of a Wanton Barber,
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that courted a handsome Maid,
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With Complements, Gloves and Ribbins,
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he woo'd her, as 'tis said:
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But the Butcher he cheated the Barber,
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and the Barber couzen'd his Brother:
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Then was this handsomely done,
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for one man to cheat the other?
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The Girl show'd love to the Barber,
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and friends gave their consent:
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The Wedding-day was appointed,
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to be kept in merriment.
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Both Horse and Foot was invited,
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to meet'th Bride-groom and Bride:
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And the Wedding-dinner provided,
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this cannot be deny'd.
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But the Butcher, etc.
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Upon the appointed day,
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the guess came all to Town:
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'Twas pritty for to see
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how they rid up and down.
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But a pox upon ill luck,
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the Barber had lost his Mate,
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For the Laundress of his Towels,
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was turn'd to Butchers meat:
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So the Butcher, etc.
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The second part, to the same tune.
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When the Barber he perceived
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the Butcher had stolen his Bride:
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He threw by his Sizzers and Rayzers,
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and readily thus reply'd:
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I wish the Butcher no harm,
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but would I were in the Stocks:
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So the Butcher he had horns,
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as large as ever had Oxe.
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For the Butcher, etc.
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The people that came to the wedding,
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went home just as they came:
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And all about the Countrey,
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this news they did proclaim:
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How that they was deceived,
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and made it forth in a word:
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That the Barber had beaten the bush,
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but the Butcher he catcht the Bird.
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So the Butcher, etc.
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Next day the Barber he,
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finding himself not well:
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Did promise faithfully,
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to marry Coffee Nell.
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But she was not good food,
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nor could him satisfie:
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He had rather feed upon
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a good fat Chicken-Pye.
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But the Butcher, etc.
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The Barber shakes off Nell
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and makes suit to another:
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As he was cheated before,
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he needs would cheat his Brother:
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Then was this handsomely done?
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to court his Brothers Bride,
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I wish that he hereafter,
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the Wooden-horse may ride.
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So the Butcher, etc.
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Now Butcher and Barber together,
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I give you this advice:
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Beware of the Bulls feather,
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for it comes in a trice:
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One thing I had forgotten,
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which here my song doth lack,
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That is, I prethee Sam,
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lye closer to my back:
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But the Butcher, etc.
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More of the matter is,
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then my song will contain:
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Yet would I not have ye think,
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I any man disdain.
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Although the Proverbs so,
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the truth it may be blam'd:
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But this ye all do know,
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speak truth, it can't be sham'd.
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But the Butcher, etc.
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At Charde also a Miller,
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a Maiden there did court,
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Which now had made himself
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a laughing-stock of sport:
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He had no silver for her,
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nor had he any gold:
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But instead of leaving her the Bag,
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he left his Cloak to hold:
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But the Butcher, etc.
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God bless the fine town of Taunton,
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the Glory of the West,
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For in or near that place,
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was acted this pritty jest:
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So to conclude my song,
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I pray let it be so,
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Come Brother let's shake hands,
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and sing Cuckolds all a row
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For the Butcher cheated the Barber,
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the Barber couzened his Brother,
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Then was this handsomely done,
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for one man to cheat the other?
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