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.
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.
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.