THE
Gelding of the DEVIL.
The prettiest Jest that ever was known,
The Bakers Wife her Skill has shown;
Then listen awhile, and the news Ill tell,
Betwixt a Baker and the Devil of Hell.
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A Pretty Jest I will you tell,
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Of the Gelding of the Devil of Hell;
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There was a Baker of Mansfield Town,
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To Nottingham Market he was bound,
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And riding under the willow clear,
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The Baker sung with a merry cheer.
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And riding, etc.
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The Bakers horse was lusty and sound,
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Well worth in Judgment full ten pound
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His skin was smooth, his flesh was fat.
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His master was well pleasd at that;
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Which made him sing most merrily,
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As he was riding along the way,
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Which, etc.
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But as he rid over the hill,
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O there he met with the Devil of Hell:
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O Baker! Baker! then cryd he,
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How came thy horse so fat to be?
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These be the words the Baker did say,
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Because his stones are cut away.
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These be, etc.
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Then said the Devil it may be so,
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Thou shalt geld me before thou dost go,
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First tie thy horse to yonder tree,
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And with thy knife come and geld me:
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The Baker had a knife for the nounce,
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Wherewith he cut out the Devils stones.
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The Baker, etc.
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The Baker as it came to pass.
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In haste alighted from his horse;
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And the Devil on his back he lay,
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While the Baker cut his stones away;
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Which put the Devil to great pain,
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And made him to cry out amain.
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Which put, etc.
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O said the Devil, beshrew thy heart;
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Thou dost not feel how I do smart,
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And for the deed that thou hast done,
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Ill be revengd on thee anon,
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And underneath this greenwood tree,
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Next market day I will Geld thee,
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And underneath, etc.
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The Baker then but little said,
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Yet in his heart was sore afraid,
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He durst no longer then to stay,
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But he rode home another way?
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And coming home to his wife did tell,
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How he had gelded the Devil of Hell.
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And coming, etc.
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Moreover to his wife he told,
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A tale as made her heart run cold;
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How the Devil he did say,
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He would geld him next market day:
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O said the good wife without doubt,
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I had rather both thy eyes were out,
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O said, etc.
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For then all people far and near,
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As know thee will both mock and jeer,
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And good wives they will rail and bawl,
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And stoneless Gelding will thee call:
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Then hold, content, and be thou wise,
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And Ill some pretty trick devise,
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Then hold, etc.
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Ill maks the Devil changs his note,
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Give me my hat, my band and coat,
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Thy hose and doublet eke also,
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And I like to a man will go
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Ill warrant thee next market day,
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Ill fright the Devil quite away.
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Ill warrant. etc
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When the Bakers wife she was so drest,
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With all the bread upon the beast,
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Unto Nottingham Market that fine town,
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To sell her bread both white and brown;
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And riding merrily over the hill,
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O there she espyd two Devils of Hell.
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And riding, etc.
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A little Devil and another,
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As they were playing both together;
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O quoth the Devil then right fain,
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Here comes the Baker riding amain;
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Now be thou well, or be thou woe,
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I will geld thee before thou dost go.
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I will geld, etc.
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The Bakers Wife to the Devil did say,
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Sir, I was gelded yesterday;
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O quoth the Devil I mean to see,
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And pulling her coats up to her knee,
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And looking upwards from the ground,
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O there I espyd a terrible wound.
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And so looking, etc.
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O quoth the Devil now I see,
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He was not cunning that gelded thee:
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For when he had cut out thy stones,
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He should have closed up the wounds;
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But if youll stay some little space.
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Ill fetch some salve to heal the place.
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But if youll, etc.
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She had not rid but a little way,
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But up her belly crept a flea,
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The little Devil seeing that,
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He up with his hand and gave it a pat,
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Which made the good wife for to start,
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With that she let a rouzing fart.
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Which made, etc.
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O said the Devil thy lifes not long,
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Thy breath it smells so horribly strong;
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Therefore go thy way and make thy will,
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Thy wounds are past all human Skill,
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Be gone, be gone, make no delay,
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For here thou shalt no longer stay,
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Be gone, etc.
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The good wife of this news was glad,
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So she left the Devil almost mad,
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And when she to her husband came,
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With joyful heart she told the same:
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The story pleasd him wondrous well,
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How she had couzend the Devil of Hell.
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How she had, etc.
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