The Gossips Feast:
Or, A merry meeting
Of women kinde each other greeting.
Which by a fire with spiced Ale,
Told many a pleasant Christmas tale.
To a delicate Northerne tune: Or, There was an old man sate piping.
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OF late within an evening tide
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it was my chance to be
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Close placed by a good fireside
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with a merry company
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Of kind good women, whose intent
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was for to doe no wrong,
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But onely for to drink their drinke,
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and this was all their song.
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This ale goes merrily downe, downe,
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this ale goes merrily downe,
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Since here we be good company
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let each wife drinke her round.
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Their names indeed I cannot tell,
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nor doe I rightly know
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The places where that they doe dwell,
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yet will I partly shew
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What tradesmens wifes these women were,
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which drove the time along,
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With telling many a Gossips tale,
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and this was still their song,
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This ale goes merrily downe, etc.
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And first bespoke a Coblers wife,
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since we are met together,
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Let's drink, carouse, & merrily bowse,
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a fig for rainy weather:
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My husband he is kind to me,
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as I to you may say,
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He gives me for to drinke good ale
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full three pence every day.
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This ale goes merrily downe, downe,
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this ale goes merrily downe,
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Since here we be good company,
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let each wife drinke her round.
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Alack then said the Taylors wife,
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my husband keepes me in,
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And gives me nothing but small beere
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that is both cold and thin:
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Yet thus much now I make a vow,
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when I am once broke loose,
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Rather then I will sit adry,
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I meane to pawne his goose.
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This ale goes merrily downe, downe,
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this ale goes merrily downe,
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Since here we be good company,
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let each wife drinke her round.
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Then said the joviall Saylors wife,
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my heart is not at ease,
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To thinke upon the blustring stormes
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my husband hath at seas;
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Yet will I to great Neptune pray,
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to send him safe to me.
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Meanetime weel drink all care away,
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sweet Gossip here's to thee.
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This ale goes merrily downe, etc.
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Then quoth bold buff the Souldiers wife
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I speak with all my heart,
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Here is a cup of stinging ale,
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then fill's the other quart.
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What though my hand & foot goe bare,
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my back and side goe cold,
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My belly shall not want strong ale,
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as much as it will hold.
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This ale goes merrily downe downe,
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this ale goes merrily downe,
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Since here we be good company,
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let each wife drinke her round.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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THen said old smug the blacksmiths wife
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my husband is unkind,
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He allows me nothing but small beere,
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contrary to my mind.
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But verily before that I
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will pocket up these wrongs,
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Ile make his vice and h[am]mer fly,
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and pawne his Iron tonges.
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This ale goes merrily downe, downe,
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This ale goes merrily downe,
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Since here we be good company
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let each wife drinke her round.
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My husband said the Fidlers wife,
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each week doth daily pay
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Seven groats for ale which I do drink
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that is a groat a day:
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The money he gets merrily
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for to discharge the score,
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And merrily I will let it fly,
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let him goe fiddle for more.
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This ale goes merrily downe, etc.
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Kind neighbours said the Tanners wife.
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be rul'd by mine advice,
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Call for the other cup of ale,
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and I will give you spice:
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For this I see assuredly,
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a cup of barly broth.
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Is better far in my conceit,
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then meat and drink and cloth.
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This ale goes merrily downe, downe,
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this ale goes merrily downe,
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S[i]nce here we be good company
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let each wife drink her round.
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Sure Gossip said the Glovers wife,
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we two are of one mind,
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A pot of ale that is strong and stale,
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as I by proof do find,
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Strengthens the brains and beats the veins
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a morning when you rise,
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The other quart take next your heart
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it is good to cleere your eyes.
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This ale goes merrily downe, etc.
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The P[?]ters wife came in great hast,
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but could not long time stay,
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But onely for to wash her throat,
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and so to part away:
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Whereby they broke up company,
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each to her severall home,
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And left me for to sing this song,
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onely myselfe alone.
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This ale goes merrily downe, etc.
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Now will I here conclude in haste,
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for feare I should offend,
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But yet I trust none will dislike
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with that which here is penn'd:
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If anyone desires to know,
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and would the Author prove,
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You may know by his nose, as I sup-pose
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what pottage he doth love.
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This ale goes merrily downe, downe,
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this ale goes merrily downe.
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Since here we be good company,
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let each wife drinke her round.
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