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EBBA 31141

British Library - Roxburghe
Ballad XSLT Template
The Westminster Frolick:
Or, The Cuckold of his own procuring.
Being a true Relation of a Vintener, who for a considerable quantity of Guienies
undertook to perswade his Servant Maid to prostitute her self to a young Spark,
pretending to her that it was no other but himself; whereupon she seemingly
complying, discovered it to her Mistriss, who supplying her place, grafted her
Husbands Head.
Thus may we see how scurvy ill-Stard fate
Does cross some men, nay how they do create
Their own misfortunes, yet for to be bold
The Vintener got his Horns well tipt with Gold.
Tune of, Hey boys up go we.

A Frolick strange Ile to you tell,
the like you ner did hear:
A Vintener at Westminster
(as it will plain appear)
A handsome servant Maid did keep,
which makes him now to rue,
For by mistake his head was Hornd;
this story it is true.

This beautious maid inflamd a Spark
both comely, rich, and gay,
Who her in vain solicited
with him to go astray,
And offerd her great store of Gold
but all that would not do,
[S]he would not yield to Lawless Love:
[this story it is true.]

Which he perceiving, was the more
desirous of his will;
And many waies he cast about
his purpose to fulfill:
At length he thought her Master might
oblige her to come to,
Tho by it he did Horn his head:
this story it is true.

To him he then reveald his mind
with promises of Wealth;
If that he could his Maid perswade
to yield him love by stealth.
After some pause and Gold in hand
he undertook to do
The thing that after Hornd his pate:
[the story it is true.]

Then kindly to his Maid he spoke,
and often on her smild,
That she the better by such means
might quickly be beguild;
Watching his time he undertakes
then for himself to wooe,
By which design he Hornd his pate:
this story it is true:

At first she mighty strange did seem,
as coy as coy could be;
But after many tempting words
he seemed to agree:
But what he did it was resolvd
in darkness he should do;
And there alas he Horned was:
the story it is true.

For whilst he to the Gallant went
to tell him how he sped,
The Crafty Lass her Mistriss told
what proffers he had made;
Who highly did commend her fort,
and undertook to do
The thing which hornd her husbands head
the story it is true.

The Room appointed private was,
and made exceeding dark,
When at the hour appointed came
the over-joyful Spark
His long-wisht joys for to possess,
and pleasure to pursue;
But by mistake the Vintener Hornd;
the story it is true.

For why? The Mistriss was conveyed
upon the bed there placed;
And feigned the Virgins voice so well,
that kindly he embracd
His supposd lovely Charmer fast,
and sport did oft renew,
He bravely Horned the Vinteners head,
the story it is true.

Whilst in one corner of the Room
the Virgin she did stand
And heard what past, the Vintener eke
was ready there at hand
To keep the door but little thought
what after he did rue;
Which was the Horning of his pate:
the story it is true.

For why? with oft embraces tired,
at last they taking rest,
The Lady who had sported long
her self in words exprest:
I plainly see, said she aloud,
you if you list can do
The feats of love, though not with me:
the story it is true.

I find you can; ungrateful man,
see how you are deceivd:
You thought your Maid was in your arms
when you so closely cleavd,
But your mistaken it is plain;
at this the Gallant knew
That he the Vintener Horned had:
the story it is true.

When between pleasd and vexd he calld
him straitway in to see
How he had finely foold himself
in such a high degree;
At which Horn-mad he curst and swore
and much distracted grew,
Because he by mistake was hornd
the story it is true.

But seeing that his Horns were tipt
he rested satisfied,
And pocketed them instantly
his infamy to hide:
And vowed hed never more procure,
what ever he did do,
Since by his own procurement Horns
upon his Forehead grew.


[Printed for J. Wright W. Thackery & T. Passenger]

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