The Taunton Maids delight,
OR,
Hey for the honest Woosted-Comber.
In Taunton Town a Maid doth dwell,
Who loves a Woosted-Comber very well,
In the praise of him she doth declare,
No other Tradesman can with him compare.
All Sweethearts that doth come she does refuse,
Only a Woosted-Comber she doth chuse,
To him she wisheth good prosperity,
For 'tis a Comber must her Husband be.
The Tune is, I have a good old Mother at home, etc.
T. L.
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YOu pretty Maids where e're you are,
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come listen unto me,
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And briefly to you I'l declare
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in every degree,
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My choice in choosing of a mate
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to you I will unfould,
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A Woosted-Comber is the man
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that I love better than Gold:
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Then hey for the Woosted-Comber brave,
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I love him as my life,
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ever I a Husband have,
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I will be a Comber wife.
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Many youngmen to me doth resort,
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that of several callings be,
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With Sugered words they doth me court,
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to gaine true love of me:
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But I don't regard what they do say,
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of them I make but a jest,
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No man shall steale my heart away
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from him whom I love best.
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Then hey for etc.
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Now a true description you shall have.
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concerning of my sweet hearts,
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And how I fitted them most brave
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according to their deserts,
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Although they strived with might and main
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yet I lay at per due,
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There's never a one shall me constrain
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to change an old Love for a new.
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Then hey for the Woosted-Comber brave
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I love him as my life
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If ever I a Husband have
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I will be a Comber's wife.
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The first that to me did make suit,
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it was a Barbor brave,
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He gave unto me a kind salute,
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and said 'twas my love he did crave:
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But I made to him this reply,
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I will not be marryed yet,
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Your Rayzer and Washing-bells truly
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for my Bason is not fit.
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Then hey for etc.
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THen came a Miller unto me,
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that was both strong and stout,
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He swore that I his wife must be,
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but I gave him the rout:
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Quoth I, be gone Mr. Loggerhead,
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and take this answer in briefe,
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When 'tis my fortune for to wedd,
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it shall not be with a Thief.
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Then hey for the Woosted-Comber brave
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I love him as my life,
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If ever I a Husband have
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I will be a Comber's wife.
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Then came a Smith that was cole-black,
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and askt me if I would wedd,
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He said that a good wife he did lack,
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at night to warm his bed:
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But I answered him presently
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with words plain and downright,
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A Blacksmith's hammer never shall
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upon my Anvill smight.
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Then hey etc.
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A prick-louse Taylor he came in,
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with his Bodkin, Sheares, and Thimble,
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To complement he did begin,
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with speeches quick and nimble;
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He said if I would be his mate
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bravely maintain'd I should be,
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But I told him that Cabbage I did hate,
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with my body 'twould not agree.
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Then hey etc.
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Then came a cold Shooemaker
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that was both neat and trim,
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He ask't if I could find in my heart
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to love and fancy him;
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Quoth I, march off with Sir Hugh's bones,
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your suite it is in vain,
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For it is not a Shooemaker
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that shall my love obtain.
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Then hey etc.
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An honest Weaver came at last,
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and said he'd constant prove,
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He said he would maintain me brave,
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if I would be his love:
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He was a handsome proper Lad,
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exceeding all the rest,
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Of all the six Suitors I had
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the Weaver was the best,
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Except the Woosted-Comber brave, etc.
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Of all sorts of Tradesmen that are
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dwelling in Taunton town,
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None with a Comber can compare,
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for valour and renown:
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He is both couragious and stout,
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in Battel to fight he is free,
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To his enemy he'l face about,
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he scornes a Coward to be,
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Then hey etc.
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When he with his Comrades doth meet,
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his money he'l freely spend,
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With good strong Beer his heart he'l cheer,
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to the Ale-wife he's a good friend:
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And when he hath spent an hour or twain
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in merry company,
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At the Come-pot again with might & maine,
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his work he then doth ply.
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Then hey etc,
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Sometimes in the fields with his true-love
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a progress he doth take,
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With kisses sweet he doth her greet,
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and much of her doth make:
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On the green grass the time they pass
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in sweet felicity,
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With heart and mind their loves they bind,
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ne'r parted for to be.
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Then hey etc.
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And thus the Woosted-Comber's praise
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I have declared to you,
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In every part is his desert,
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I have described true,
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He is the man that I esteem,
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above Rubies or Pearle,
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I'de rather chuse to lie by him
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then by a Lord or Earle.
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Then hey etc.
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God bless the Combers and Weavers both
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that in Taunton doth dwell,
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Unto them all both great and small
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I heartily wish well;
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To those in Milverton so brave
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I also do commend,
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Good Trading I wish they still may have,
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and so I make an end.
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Then hey for the Woosted-Comber brave
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I love him as my life,
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If ever I a Husband have
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I will be a Comber's wife.
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