Rocke the Cradle John:
OR,
Children after the rate of twenty foure in a yeere,
Thats two every moneth as plaine doth appeare,
Let no man at this strange story wonder.
It goes to the tune of, Over and under.
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THere was a country Gallant,
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That wasted had his talent,
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Not dreading what would fall ont,
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would needs a woing ride:
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Unto a Lasse of the City,
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That courteous was and pritty,
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This Damsell neat and witty,
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hee would goe make his Bride:
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This Lasse she had of wealth good store,
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Her stocke was threescore pound and more
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Though some supposed her to be poore,
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the same hath late beene tride.
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Rocke the Cradle, rocke the Cradle,
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rocke the Cradle John,
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Theres many a man rockes the Cradle,
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when the Childs none of his owne.
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Unto this Lasse incontinent,
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The Youngman went with good intent,
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His love was fixed and firmely bent,
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to take her to his wife;
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Quoth he, my sweet, while life doth last,
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My heart is in thy bosome placd,
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Let not my suit be now disgracd,
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I love thee as my life;
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Said shee, your suit I must deny,
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For I have vowed a Maid to dye,
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If I lose my virginity,
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it sure will breed much strife.
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Rocke the Cradle, etc.
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I have been wooed by Harry,
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But I indeed will tarry,
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I never meane to marry,
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while I on earth remaine,
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Sweet William and young Thomas too,
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And Richard hath made much adoe,
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And Ned with teares did often woe,
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but Humphrey did complaine,
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All these brave gallants I forsake,
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I prethee John no more words make,
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But to some other course betake,
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I doe thy suit disdaine.
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Goe rocke the Cradle, etc.
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The man no whit dismaid
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At that which she had said,
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But with his Sweet-heart stayed,
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and did request her still:
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He did intreat her favour,
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twas all that he did crave her,
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That hee might onely have her,
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his fancy to fulfill:
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My heart doth fry in Cupids fire,
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Thy beauty I doe much admire,
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Then yeeld my love to my desire,
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or else a man you kill.
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Rocke the Cradle, etc.
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When she her selfe did understand,
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She had a foole caught by the hand,
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Her ship she knew was soundly mand,
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her belly wondrous round:
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Thought she, this is a friend of mine,
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Its best make hay while sun doth shine,
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Yet to some thing I will him joyne
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before my fault be found,
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Said she, if I be made thy wife,
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Thou must me humour all thy life,
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And carefull be for feare of strife;
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like to a Prentice bound.
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Rocke the Cradle, etc.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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IN the morning if I thee desire,
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Then must rise up and make a fire,
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And other things I shall require,
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which thou must undertake:
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My breakefast thou must dr[e]sse also,
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That I from bed to it may goe,
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All these hard taskes and many more
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thou must not then forsake,
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To brush my Gowne and set my band,
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Make cleane my shooes at my command,
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Thy businesse thou must understand
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if I the word but speake.
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Rocke the Cradle, etc.
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And when wee chance to have a child,
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Thou must like to a Father mild,
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Unto the same be reconcild,
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and dance it on thy knee;
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Or if the infant cry for pap,
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Thou then must take it in thy lap;
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And feed it well what ever hap,
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if John will marry mee;
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Thou must take paines as thou art able,
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To make the bed and serve at Table,
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And lay the young one in the Cradle,
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whilest I sing merrily.
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Rocke the Cradle, etc.
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Sweet-heart, quoth he, to please thee,
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Ile doe all things to ease thee,
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I will not once disease thee,
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nor yet my love offend.
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My hands under your feet Ile lay,
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The wind shall not my love annoy,
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So thou wilt be mine ownely joy,
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Ile love thee to the end,
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Ile make the bed, the house Ile sweep,
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And lull the Baby fast asleepe.
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What you command my selfe will keepe,
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and will my humour bend,
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Rocke the Cradle, etc.
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To this they both agreed,
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And married were with speed,
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For shee had wondrous need,
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as you shall heare hereafter;
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The same day month that they were wed,
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The married man was fairely sped,
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His wife was safely brought to bed,
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and had both sonne and daughter,
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Which by the Midwife in was brought,
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Quod she, you have a st[r]ange thing wrought.
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Two children in a moneth begot.
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and so tooke up a laughter.
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Rocke the Cradle, etc.
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He kist the Girle and lovd the Boy,
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Said he, you are your fathers joy,
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Theres many are in great annoy,
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because they have no child:
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I knew a Lord and Lady faire,
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That did desire to have an heire,
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Now I my selfe have got a pair[r],
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and they are both beguild,
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My wife is fruitfull now I see,
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And will some great increase bring mee:
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They are your awne assuredly,
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then said the Midwife mild.
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Rocke the Cradle, etc.
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See here the Boy is like the Dad,
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Which well may make your heart ful glad
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Cheere up your selfe and be not sad,
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for that which here is done:
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His ruby lips doe plaine disclose,
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His cherry cheekes and dads owne nose,
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For twenty pound I will not lose,
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quoth he, my little sonne,
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So well content this foole was found,
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He leapt for joy above the ground,
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Old sorrow shall, quoth he, be drownd,
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since new are fresh begun;
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Rocke the Cradle, Jog the Cradle,
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thus Ile have it knowne,
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I love to rocke the Cradle,
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the children be mine owne.
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All you which now have heard this ditty,
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Take heed, with wives how you doe fit ye
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For if you come to London City,
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you quickly may be sped,
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As here you see this Country Lad,
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Within a moneth was made a Dad,
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Though he but little share int had,
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his wife was brought to bed,
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And now this simple woodcocke,
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The Cradle is constraind to rocke,
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His neighbours doe deride and mocke,
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cause he is so bestead,
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They shout and cry and to him say,
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still the children John,
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Tis e[n]ough to make the man,
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to thinke they be none of his owne.
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