[Page]A Pleasant new Ballad you here may behold, How the Devill, though subde, was guld by a Scold.
To the tune of, The Seminary Priest.
GIve eare, my loving Countrey-men,
that still desire newes,
Nor passe not while you heare it sung,
or also the song peruse.
For ere you heare it, I must tell
my newes, it is not common,
But, Ile unfold a trueth betwixt
a Devill and a woman.
Tom Thumb is not my subiect,
Whom Fairies oft did aide,
Nor that mad spirit Robin
that plagues both wife and maid,
Nor is my song satyricke like,
invented against no man,
But onely of a pranke betwixt
a Devill and a woman.
Then widdowes, wives and maids,
give eare as well as men,
And by this woman learne
to gull the world agen:
You may by this turne artists,
or masters of your Art,
And when the Devill comes for you,
you need not cars a fart.
A woman well in yeares,
liv'd with a husband kinde,
Who had a great desits
to live content in minde.
But twas a thing unpossible
to compasse his desire,
For night and day with scolding
she did her husband tire.
With toughish, lowtish clowne,
despight thee Ile be wilde,
Doast thou think I marryed thee
to use thee like a childe,
And set thee on my lap,
or humour what your speake?
Before Ile be so fond,
thy very heart Ile breake.
Why loving wife, quoth he,
Ile never doe thee wrong,
So thoul't be rul'd by me,
and onely hold thy tongue,
And when I come from worke.
wilt please at bord and bed.
Doe this my loving wife,
and take all being dead.
Marke well quoth she, my words,
what ere you speak me to,
By faire meanes or by foule,
the contrary Ile doe.
According to her speech,
this man led such a life,
That oft he wish't the Devill
to come and fetch his wife.
Had he bid her goe homely,
why then she would goe brave,
Had he'cal'd her good wise.
she cal'd him rogue and slave:
Bade he, wife goe to Church,
and take the fairest pew,
Shee'd goe unto an Alehouse,
and drinke, lye downe and spew.
The Devill being merry
with laughing at this mirth,
Would needs from hell come trotting
to fetch her from the earth,
And coming like a horse,
to tell this man his minde,
Saying, Set her but astride my backe,
Ile [...]rry her through the winde.
The second part, To the same tune.
KInde Devill quoth the man,
if thou a while wilt wait,
Ile bid her doe that thing
shall make her backe thee straight.
And here Ile make a vow,
for all she is my wife,
Ile never send for her againe
whilest I have breath or life.
Content the Devill cry'd,
then to his wife goes he,
Good wife goe leade that horse
so black and fair you see.
Goe lea [...]e, sir knave, quoth she?
and wherefore not goe ride?
She took the Devill by the reines,
and up she goes affride.
The Devill neighed lowd,
and threw his heeles i'th ayre,
Kick in the Devills name, quoth she,
a shrew doth never fear.
Away to hell he went.
with this most wicked scold,
But she did curbe him with the bit,
and would not loose her hold.
The more he cry'd, Give way,
the more she kept him in,
And kicke him so with both her heeles,
that both his sl [...]es were thin.
Alight the Devill cry'd,
and quicke the bridle loose.
No, I will ride (quoth she)
whiles thou hast breath or shooes.
Againe she kickt and prickt,
and sate so stiffe and well,
The Devill was not so plagu'd,
a hundred yeares in hell.
For pitty light (quoth he)
thou put'st me to much paine,
I will not light (quoth she)
till I come home againe.
The Devill shew'd her all
the paines within that place,
And told her that they were
ordain'd for Scolds so base.
Being bereft of breath,
for scolding tis my due,
But whilest I live on earth,
Ile be reveng'd on you.
Then did she draw her knife,
and gave his eare a slit,
The Devill never felt
the like from mortall yet.
So fearing further danger,
he to his heeles did take,
And faster th [...]n he came,
he poast hast home did make.
Here take her (quoth the Devill)
to keep her here be bold,
For hell will not be troubled
with such an earthly scold.
When I come home, I may
to all my fellowes tell,
I lost my labour and my bloud,
to bring a scold to hell.
The man halfe dead did stand,
away the Devill byde.
Then since the world nor hell
can well a scold abide:
To make a saile of ships
let husbands fall to worke,
And give their free consent [...]
to send them to the Turke.
Then honest wives and maides,
and widdowes of each sort,
Might live in peace and rest,
and Silence keep her court.
Nor would I have a scold
one penny here bestow,
But honest men and wives
buy these before you goe.
FINIS.
Printed at London for Henry Gosson dwelling upon London-Bridge neare to the Gate.