A Merry Wedding:
OR,
O Brave ARTHUR of BRADLY.
To a pleasant new Tune, etc.
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SEe you not pierce the Piper,
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His cheeks as big as a myter,
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A piping among the Swain,
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That dance on yonder plain,
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Where Tib and Tom do trip it,
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And Youths to the horn-pipe nip it,
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With everyone his carriage,
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To go to yonders marriage,
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For the honour of Arthur of Bradly,
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O brave Arthur of Bradly.
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When Arthur had got him a Lass,
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A bonnier never was,
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The chiefest Youths in the Parish,
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Came dancing all in a morrice,
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Jumping with mickle pride,
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And each his Wench by his side,
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With Christmas gambals flouncing,
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And Country Wenches trouncing,
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They all were fine and gay,
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For the honour of Arthur of Bradly, etc.
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And when that Arthur was married,
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And his Wife home had carried,
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The Youngers they did wait,
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To help to carry up meat,
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Francis carried the furmaty,
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Michael carried the mince-pye,
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Bartholomew Beef and mustard,
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And Christopher carried the custard,
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Thus everyone in his array,
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For the honour of Arthur of Bradly, etc.
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And when that dinner was ended,
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The Maidens they were befriended,
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For out steps Dick the Draper,
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And he did strike up scraper,
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I'ts best to be dancing a little,
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And then to the tavern and tipple;
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He call'd for a horn-pipe,
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That went fine on the bag-pipe,
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Then forward Piper and play,
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For the honour of Arthur of Bradly, etc.
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Richard he did lead it,
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And Margery did tread it,
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Francis following then,
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And after courteous Jane;
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Thus every one after another,
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As if they had been Sister and Brother,
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That it was great joy to see,
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How well they did agree,
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And then they all did say,
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For the honour of Arthur of Bradly,
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O brave Arthur of Bradly.
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Then Miles in his motly breeches,
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And he the Piper beseeches,
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To play him haw-thorn-buds,
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That he and his Wench might trudge;
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But Lawrence liked not that,
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No more did lusty Kate,
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For she cry'd, Canst thou not hit it,
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To see how fine Thomas can trip it?
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For the honour of Arthur of Bradly, etc.
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When all the Swains did see,
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This mirth and merry glee,
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There's never a Man did flinch,
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But each one did kiss his Wench;
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But Giles was greedy of gain,
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For he would needs kiss twain;
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Her Lover seeing that,
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Did swap him over the pate,
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That he had nought to say,
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For the honour of Arthur of Bradly,
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O brave Arthur of Bradly.
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The Piper look'd a side,
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And there he spy'd the Bride,
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And he thought it a hard chance,
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That none would lead her a dance,
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But none was there durst touch her,
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Save only Bat the Butcher,
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He took her out by the hand,
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And he danced while he could stand,
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The Bride was fine and gay,
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For the honour of Arthur of Bradly, etc.
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Then out stept Will the Weaver,
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And he swore he'd not leave her,
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He hopp'd it all in one legg,
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For the honour of his Pegg;
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But Kester in his cambrick-ruff,
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He took that all in a snuff,
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For he against that day,
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Had made himself fine and gay,
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His ruff was whipt with blew,
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And he cry'd out, A new dance a new;
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Then strike up a round delay,
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For the honour of Arthur of Bradly,
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Then 'gan the sun decline,
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And every one thought it time
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To go unto his home,
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And leave the Bridegroom all alone:
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Tut, tut, says lusty Ned,
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I'll see them both in bed,
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For i'll gib at a joynt,
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But i'll have his codpis-poynt;
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Then forward Piper and play,
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For the honour of Arthur of Bradly, etc.
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And thus the day was spent,
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And no Man homeward went,
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There was such a crowding and thrusting,
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That some were in danger of bursting,
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To see them go to bed,
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For all the skill they had,
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He was got to his Bride,
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And lay close to her side;
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They got his points and his garters,
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And cut them in pieces like Martyrs
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And then they all did play,
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For the honour of Arthur of Bradly,
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O brave Arthur of Bradly.
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Then Will and his Sweetheart,
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Did call for, Loath to depart;
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And then they did foot it and toss it,
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Till the Cook brought the sack-posset
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The Bride-pye was brought forth,
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A thing of mickle worth,
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Then each at his bed's side,
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Took leave of Arthur and his Bride,
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And so went all away,
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From the wedding of Arthur of Bradly,
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O brave Arthur of Bradly.
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