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 sweethe [sic] arts that doth come she does refuse, only a woosted-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, &c. / T.L.

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 sweethe [sic] arts that doth come she does refuse, only a woosted-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, &c. / T.L.

Table of contents

The Taunton Maids delight, OR, Hey for the honest Woosted-Comber.

§

[Page]

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 do'h come she does refuse,

Only a Woosted-Comber she doth chuse,

To him she wisheth good prosperity,

For 'tis a Comber must her Husband be.

T. L.

The Tune is, I have a good old Mother at home, &c.

[figure]

[figure]

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 &c.

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 Wishing b [...]lls truly

for my Bason is not fit.

Then hey for &c.

[Page]

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 brief,

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 &c.

A prick-louse Taylor he came in,

with his Bodkin, 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 &c.

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 suit it is in vain,

For it is not a Shooemaker

that shall my love obtain.

Then hey &c.

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, &c.

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 so be,

Then hey &c.

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 ply.

Then hey &c,

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 &c.

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 &c.

God bless the Combers and Weavers both

that in Taunton doth dwell,

Vnto them all both great and small

I heartily with 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.

§

§

Printed for P. Brooksby at the golden Ball is VVest-Smithfield.

Information about this book

Title statement

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 sweethe [sic] arts that doth come she does refuse, only a woosted-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, &c. / T.L.

Lanfiere, Thomas.

Edition statement

1680-1685?

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2009-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

B04280

ID [STC]

Wing L361

ID [STC]

Interim Tract Supplement Guide EBB65H[100]

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99887306

ID [PROQUEST]

ocm99887306

ID [VID]

182017

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. B04280)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 182017)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books; Tract supplement ; A2:4[100])

Source

— 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 sweethe [sic] arts that doth come she does refuse, only a woosted-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, &c. / T.L., Lanfiere, Thomas..

Extent

1 sheet ([1] p.) : ill. (woodcuts).

Printed for P[hilip]. Brooksby at the golden Ball in VVest- Smithfield,. [London] :: [between 1680-1685]. (Verse: "You pretty maids where e're you are ...") (Date, place of publication and publisher's name from Wing.) (Reproduction of original in the Harvard University, Houghton Library.)

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