The Great Boobee.
To a pleasant New Tune: Or, Sallengers Round.
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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 Cattel, 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 haste,
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did set me to the Plow,
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And for to lash the Horse about,
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indeed I knew not how:
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My Father took his Whip in his hand,
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and soundly lashed me,
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He calld me Fool and Country Clown,
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and 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 Vashions for to see,
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When I came there they calld 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 hand,
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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 did I 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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Methought 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 did I meet,
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methought they were very gay:
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I blew my Nose, and pist my Hose,
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some people 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 taste,
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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 Smithfield 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 profferd me a pint of Wine,
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methought she was 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 calld for Wine good store,
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Before the reckoning was brought in,
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my Cousin provd 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 people laught, and calld me Fool,
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and 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 stout 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 Bear-heard went to save me then,
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the people flockt about,
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I told the Bear-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 calld me witless Fool and Ass,
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and great Boobee.
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Then ore the Water did I 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 thus did say to me,
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Tis not thy fortune to be drownd,
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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 Liscence get,
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to play before the Bears:
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Twill 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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