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