John Ashton

To a pleasant New Tune or Sallenger's Round.

The Great Boobee

[28.]My Friend, if you will understand

my Fortunes what they are,

I once had Cattell, House and Land,

but now I am never the near;

My Father left a good estate,

as I may tell to thee,

I couzned was of all I had,

like a great Boobee.

I went to School with a good intent,

and for to learn my Book,

And all the day I went to play,

in it I never did look:

Full seven years, or very nigh,

as I may tell to thee,

I could hardly say my Christ Cross Row,⁵⁴

like a great Boobee.

My Father then in all the haste,

did set me to the Plow,

And for to lash the Horse about,

indeed I knew not how:

My Father took his Whip in his hand,

and soundly lashed me,

He call'd me Fool and Country Clown,

and great Boobee.

But I did from my Father run,

for I will plow no more,

Because he so had slashed me,

and made my sides so sore:

But I will go to London Town

some Vashions for to see,

When I came there, they call'd me Clown

and great Boobee.

But as I went along the street,

I carried my Hat in my hand,

And to every one that I did meet,

I bravely bust⁵⁵ my hand:

Some did laugh, and some did scoff,

and some did mock at me,

And some did say I was a Woodcock,

and a great Boobee.

Then did I walk in hast to Paul's

the Steeple for to view,

Because I heard some people say,

it must be builded new;

Then I got up unto the top,

the City for to see,

It was so high, it made me Cry

like a great Boobee.

From thence I went to Westminster

and for to see the Tombs,

Ah, said I, what a house is here,

with an infinite sight of Rooms?

Sweetly the Abby bells did ring,

it was a fine sight to see,

Methought I was going to Heaven in a string

like a great Boobee.

But as I went along the Street

the most part of the day,

Many gallants did I meet

methought they were very gay:

I blew my Nose and foul'd my Hose,

some people did me see,

They said I was a Beastly Fool,

and a great Boobee.

Next day I through Pye Corner past

the roast meat on the Stall

Invited me to take a taste

my Money was but small:

The Meat I pickt, the Cook me kickt

as I may tell to thee,

He beat me sore, and made me rore,

like a great Boobee.

As I through Smithfield lately walkt

a gallant Lass I met

Familiarly with me she talkt,

which I cannot forget:

She proferr'd me a pint of Wine,

methought she was wondrous free,

To the Tavern then I went with her,

like a great Boobee.

She told me we were neer of kin,

and call'd for Wine good store,

Before the reckoning was brought in

my Cousin proved a ——:

My Purse she pickt, and went away,

my Cousin couzned me,

The Vintner kickt me out of door,

like a great Boobee.

At the Exchange when I came there,

I saw most gallant things,

I thought the Pictures living were

of all our English Kings:

I doft my Hat, and made a Leg,

and kneeled on my knee,

The people laught, and call'd me Fool,

and great Boobee.

To Paris Garden⁵⁶ then I went,

where there is great resort,

My pleasure was my punishment,

I did not like the sport:

The Garden Bull with his stout horns

on high then tossed me,

I did bewray myself with fear,

like a great Boobee.

Then o're the Water did I pass,

as you shall understand,

I dropt into the Thames alas

before I came to Land:

The Water-man did help me out,

and thus did say to me,

Tis not thy fortune to be drown'd

like a great Boobee.

But I have learned so much wit,

shall shorten all my cares,

If I can but a License get

to play before the Bears:

'Twill be a gallant place indeed,

as I may tell to thee

Then who dare call me Fool or Ass

or great Boobee.

Printed for F. Coles,⁵⁷ in Wine Street, on Saffron Hill near Hatton Garden.

⁵³ For tune see Appendix.

⁵⁴ The alphabet, so called because in the old Horn books the letters, which were of course in a row, commenced with a Cross. In Morley's Introduction to Practical Music (printed 1597) is the following: "Christes Crosse be my speed, in all vertue to proceede A. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s. and t. double u. v. with y, ezod & per se, con per se, tittle, tittle est. Amen. When you have done begin again, begin again!"

⁵⁵ Kissed (bussed).

⁵⁶ A place at Bankside, Southwark, famous for bull and bear baiting.

⁵⁷ Francis Coles published between 1646 and 1674.

[18.] A pleasant Fancy of an Italian by name Trivelino, Who falling asleep one Day, with his Horse's Bridle twisted in his Arm, another came who unbridled his Horse and got away. Trivelino being awaked, and missing his Horse began to feel himself about, saying Either I am Trivelino, or not: If I am Trivelino my Horse is lost; If not, I have got a Bridle, but know not how.

[12.]A simple Fellow lookt

On a dish that was cookt,

Wherein was a Calves Head by name;

One told him, 'twas so clear,

If he lookt very near,

He might see his face in the same.

[24.]I sing the furious battails of the Sphoeres

Acted in eight and twenty fathom deep,

And from that (a) time, reckon so many yeares

You'l find (b) Endimion fell fast asleep.

a. There began the Utopian accompt of years. Mor: Lib 1. circa finem.

b. Endimion was a handsome young Welshman, whom one Luce Moone lov'd for his sweet breath; and would never hang off his lips; but he not caring for her, eat abundance of toasted cheese, purposely to make his breath unsavory; upon which she left him presently, and ever since 'tis proverbially spoken (as inconstant as Luce Moone). The Vatican coppy of Hesiod reades her name Mohun, but contractedly it is Moone. Hesiod. lib 4. tom. 3.

c. For all the Orbes make Musick in their motion. Berosus de Sphera, lib 3.

d. Atlas was a Porter in Mauritania, and because by reason of his strength, he bore burthens of stupendious weight, the Poets fain'd that he carried the Heavens on his shoulders. Cicero de nat Deorum. lib. 7.

e. There were two others of this name. Aldermen of Rome. Tit. Liv. hist. lib. 28.

f. Æmathia is a very faire Common in Northampton shire. Strabo. lib 321.

g. These Myrmidons were Cornish-men and sent by Bladud, sometime king of this Realme, to ayd Pompey. CÆsar de bello. civili. lib. 14.

h. It seemes not to be meant by Count Henry but his brother Maurice, by comparing his picture to the thing here spoken of. Jansen, de prÆd. lib 22.

i. Pheander was so modest, that he was called the Maiden Knight; and yet so valiant, that a French Cavaleer wrote his life, and called his book Pheander the Maiden Knight. Hon. d'Urfee. Tom 45.

k. This seems not to be that king that was Son of Amintas, and king of Macedon; but one who it seems was very lascivious.

l. Bacchus was a drunken yeoman of the Guard to Queen Elizabeth and a great Archer; so that it seems the Authour mistooke his halbert for a forke.

m. This was Long-Megg⁵⁸ of Westminster, who after this conflict with Phillip followed him in all his warres. Justinian. lib 35.

n. These were Lancashire-men and sent by King Gorbadug (for this war seemes to have been in the time of the Heptarchy in England) to the aide of CÆsar. CÆsar. lib. citat. prope finem.

o. Apollo was CÆsars Page, and a Monomapatan by birth, whose name by inversion was Ollopa: which in the old language of that Country, signifies as much as faire youth: but EuphoniÆ Gratia, called Apollo. Gor. Bec. lib. 46.

p. Styropes was a lame Smith's-man dwelling in St. John's Street; but how he was called Bright I know not, except it were by reason of the Luster of his eyes.

q. Holla, mistaken for Apollo.

r. Cervisia (apud Medicos, vinum hordeaceum) potus est Anglis longÈ charismus; Inventum Ferrarii Londinensis, Cui nomen Smuggo. Polydor. Virgil. de Invent. rerum. lib. 2.

s. Impp. GermaniÆ, antiquitus solebant, statis temporibus, adire Basingstochium; ubi, de more, Jusjurandum solenne prÆstabant, de non viro propinando, prÆsente muliere. Hic Mos, jamdudum apud Anglos, pene vim legis obtinuit; quippe gens illa, longe humanissima morem istum, in hodiernum usque diem, magna Curiositate, pari Comitate conjuncta, usurpant. Pancirol. utriusque imperii. lib. 6. cap 5.

t. It seems this was a great battail, both by the furie of it, and the aydes of each side; but hereof read more in Cornel. Tacit. lib. de moribus German.

u. This is an imitation of Lucan. "Signis Signa & pila" &c. Pharsalia. lib. 1. in principio.

⁵⁸ A virago who lived temp. Henry VIII.

Of Treason.

[18.] 'Tis said of one who well remembred what he had lent, but forgot what he had borrowed, that he had lost one half of his Memory.

On the word intollerable.

[26.] A Gentleman coming drunk to Bed over night, in the morning could not find his breeches: then he knock'd for the Chamberlain: Sir, says he, if you are sure you brought them in with you, you had best search your pockets for them, for you lost all your Money last Night out of your Pockets, it may be your Breeches are got in there.