A proper new Ballad, shewing a merrie iest of one Ieamie of Woodicock Hill, and his wife, how he espied through a doore, one making of him Cuckold, and how that for lucre of money, he was well contented therewith.
To be sung to a new tune, called Woodicocks Hill.
ONe Iemie there was that dwelt in a towne,
as proper a man as proper might be:
A wife he had would scold and frowne,
and euermore call him noddie noddie.
A wife he had would scold and frowne,
and euermore calt him noddie, noddie.
This Iemie did rise betime in the morne,
and forth of his doores he hasted truly:
But before he came home he was crownd with a horn
for his wife did vse her hei nonnie nonnie.
But before he came, &c.
Iemie did put his lambs to field,
thinking good shéepe that they would be,
But all his lambs were turnd to rams,
and the hornes they fell to Iemie, Iemie.
But all his, &c.
Iemie he hied to woodicock hill,
for there his businesse lay truly:
In which time an other did worke his will,
and tickled his wiues hei nonnie nonnie.
In which, &c.
Now god a mercie said Iemies wife,
euermore welcome shalt thou be:
Ile loue thée [...]
because thou hast p [...]a [...] [...]. &c.
Ile loue thée, &c.
Iemie at length came home with spéed,
and stept to the doore so closely:
And through the key hole he spied indéed,
how one there did tickle his, &c.
And through the, &c
Zounds quoth Iemie, and then he sweares,
is this possible for to be?
Come open the doore, Ile haue him by the eares,
for playing the rogue with my, &c.
Come, &c.
Thou knaue (quoth Iemie) Ile make thée rue,
that euer thou didst come héere truly:
Ile send for the Constable, Ile tell thée true,
and haue thée plagued most mightily.
Ile send, &c.
Ile cause you both be whipped sure,
throughout the towne most shamefully:
Repent it you shall while your liues endure,
for playing the knaue and the whore truly.
Repent, &c.
Then said the man this Iemie too:
I pray you now contented be:
Ile giue you fiue pounds, make no more adoo,
because I haue tickled your, &c,
Ile giue you, &c.
Wilt thou (qd. Iemie) this match then Ile make,
if that fiue pound thou wilt giue me:
My wife for euer thou shalt forsake,
and neuer more meddle with her, &c.
My wife, &c.
But when shall I this money receiue,
the which you promised haue to me?
At Michelmas next I wil it thée giue,
if that thou so contented be.
At &c.
Then (quoth Iemie) for that which is past,
vpon thy faire promise I wil thée forgiue:
Then Ile not come neare thy wife by two stones cast,
so long as we both togither shal liue.
Then, &c.
Now friends, what thinke you this Iemie of?
that for lucre of money contented was he,
To put vp Cuckold? it made me to laugh:
so I tooke vp my pen, and wr [...]t noddie noddie.
To put vp, &c.
And euermore after this Iemie he,
grew vp to promotion euerie day:
Knight of the Forked Order truly:
from that time forth was counted alway.
Knight, &c.
Farewell friend Iemie, looke wel to thy charge,
thy name shal neuer be knowne for me:
Looke wel to thy wife, let her not run at large,
but let it alway be a warning to thée.
Looke, &c.
Would I were as sure of an hundred pounds,
as this same Iemie doth thinke truly:
How some other besides himselfe in the towne,
sometimes wil meddle with his hey, &c.
How some, &c.
And so to conclude, I am loath to be long,
I pray thée Iemie take it not heauily:
I pray giue me some béere for singing this song,
and so I pray God make you all merrie, merrie.
I pray, &c.
FINIS.