The Great Boobee.
To a pleasant new Tune; Or, Salengers Round
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MY Friends 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 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 cozened 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 Vather run,
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for I will plow no more,
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Because he hath so slashed me,
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and made my side 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 haste 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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From thence I went to Westminst
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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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Me thoughts I was going to heaven in a strip
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like a great Boobee.
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The second part, To the same Tune
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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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methoughts 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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[N]ext day I through Pie-corner past,
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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 proffered me a pint of wine
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me thought 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 near 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 a way
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my Cousin cozened 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 daft 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 was 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 myself 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 to 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 I did pass
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as you shall understand,
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I dropt into the Thames alasse
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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 did say to me,
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Tis not thy fortune to be drownd
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thou 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 license 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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