The Birds Noats on May day last,
WHEREIN
Many prety passages was discovered about London in the fields be-
tween Young Men and Maids, Lovers and their Sweethearts, Lords
and Ladys, Men and their Mistresses.
These birds doth spie the City round,
Their noats ther's many true hath found;
Keep close your tongues wheresoever you walk,
For fear some Birds should hear you take.
To the tune of Down in a Meadow.
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IN the mery month of May,
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When prety Birds do sing
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With chirping and with sugared noats
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To welcome in the Spring:
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It was my chance to walk abroad
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Into the fields so gay,
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Where many a prety Lad and Lass
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Was then gathering May.
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John met with Besse betimes,
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Before the break of day
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And hand in hand to Lambeth fields
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They nimbly took their way:
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The grass being somthing slippery then,
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This couple down they fell,
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But what they did before they Rise,
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O the prety Lark can tell.
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William and Sarah living
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In Pater-noster-Row,
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They like to faithful Lovers
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A Maying they must go:
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To Newington they walked then,
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The Blackbird witness can
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That Sarah's peticoat flew up,
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The wind so high was then.
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Richard met with Rachel,
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And needs she must go see,
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Neer to the Pinder of Wakefeild
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What pleasant fields there be,
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Upon a bank of Primroses
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He triped up her toes,
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And there she got a green gown;
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And that the Raven knows.
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Robert met with Nan next,
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Which lovers old had been,
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And for to tumble on the grass,
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They thought it was no sin:
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They Custards, Cakes, and good Ale had,
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This was at Bednal-green,
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Then thinking for to sport a while
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Was by a Jack-daw seen.
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The second part to the same Tune.
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SAmuel met with Susan,
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She gathered him some May,
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Which he took very kindly,
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And thus to her did say,
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Sweet heart I know your meaning well
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By this your gift quoth he,
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Here's time if you'l accept of it,
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Make use of it quoth she.
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Her lape full of Primroses
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He gathered her with speed;
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Then lovingly together
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It seems they both agreed,
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At Highgate then they merry were:
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The Magpie this doth know,
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But what they did all in the fields,
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Tis time will make the shew.
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A prety hansome Butcher
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That lived neer the Strand,
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Must with his masters daughter
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Needs prove himself a man:
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They coming late from Hackney town,
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This Butchers skill he tri'd,
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And shew'd her what a Maigame was
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This the twailing Swallow spi'd.
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A Mistris and her Journeyman,
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By water they must go
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Unto Barnelms a Maying,
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Her husband must not know;
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And there they very mery were
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With spice Cakes, and with Ale,
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He there tript up his Mistris heels
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The Coockow told this tale.
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A yong Lord shall be namelefs,
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A Maying to he went,
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A prety Lady with him,
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But what was their intent,
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Indeed I must be silent;
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Spring Garden was their walks,
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But it would make you laugh to hear,
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What there the Paret talks.
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If any of these parties named,
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Perchance do hear this song.
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I'd wish them to be silent,
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For I have done no wrong,
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And if you will be angry, then
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Pray blame the Birds for me,
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Ther's many Girls will finde it true
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Erre fourty weeks youl see.
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You Country Lads and Lasses,
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You think for to go free,
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You have more twatling Birds I'm sure
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Then near the City be,
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You gather May as well as we,
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And Time you have also
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To tumble on the grass so green,
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And this the Birds doth know.
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