Father a Child thats none of my own,
BEING
The SEAMANS Complaint,
Who took a Whore instead of a Saint.
Shewing, That whilst he was Trading Seven Years from Port to Port at Sea, and brought
home great Wealth; his Wife in the mean time by Trading in the Low Countries, got a
Mischance, fell down and broke her -----Elbow: above all praising the Innocence of a Coun-
try Life. To the Tune of, Cook Laurel: Or, Give me the Lass, etc.
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IF every Woman was servd in her kind,
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and every Man had his just desert,
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The Rooms in Bridewel would be so well lind,
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that a Coach could not pass in the street for a Cart.
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Full seven long years have I crossd the Seas,
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mean time Ive been crost as much on the Land,
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My Wife still at home did live at her ease,
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Im sure she had all things at her command.
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She needed not her fingers to wet,
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yet she keeps her Gallant, she was so high flown
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But sure I must lose by the Stake or the Bett,
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If I Father a Child that is none of my own.
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I that have scaped the Rocks and the Sand,
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& climed the Billows when storms they have blown
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At last am come to be Ship-wrackd on Land,
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To Father a Child that is none of my own.
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I Have Traded abroad to bring home some Wealth,
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from Port unto Port in far Countries unknown,
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Mean while my Wife has been trading by stealth,
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And got me a Child, though tis none of my own
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My Neighbours all they do laugh me to scorn,
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and point their fingers at me and my Joan,
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Saying, that I must drink out of a Horn,
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and Father a Child that is none of my own.
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Though I cannot Pocket my Horns as some can,
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by good Womens Tattles they are so ore-grown;
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Yet tis the hard case of many a Man,
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all you that hear me look home to your own.
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For Gallants are dainty and seek in the Throng,
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and love for to pick on another Mans Bone,
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So many an honest good Fellow has wrong,
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to Father a Child that is none of his own.
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In Cities and Towns of greatest request,
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this slye sort of Pilfering Trade is much known,
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If a man has a beautiful Wife he cant rest,
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for fear to keep Children thats none of his own.
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But well fare the Country, they live at their ease,
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their innocence all their Actions does Crown,
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they may go, they may stay, they may do what they please
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and fear not to keep any more than their own.
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The Plow-man that works far a Field [all the day,]
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and Shepherd that keepeth his Sheep [all alone,]
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At night when at home with their wives [they may play]
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and fear not to Father whats none [of their own]
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Now I must Rock the Cradle, beside
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dry Clouts on my Horns by the fire a[t home,]
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When I look abroad my Neighbours de[ride,]
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cause I Father a Child that is none [of my own.]
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And is not this most damnable strange,
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to be led by every Strumpets moan,
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I may sit and sell Horns at the Royal E[xchange,]
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when I Father a Child that is none [of my own.]
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A man may be made a Cuckold by chanc[e,]
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and put another mans Child to Nurse[,]
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And Hood-wink his Horns through Igno[rance,]
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but he thats a Wittal is ten times w[orse.]
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But ile never grieve, but let it all pass,
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by Woman theres many a Man over-[thrown,]
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Although Im an Ox, ile ner be an As[s,]
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to Father a Child that is none of my [own.]
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Neither did I spring out that Race,
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to call that my Seed which another hat[h sown,]
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Then ner let me look King Charles in [the face,]
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if I Father a Child that is none of my [own.]
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