Gammer Gurton's Garland Part 7

Taffy was a Welchman, Taffy was a thief; Taffy came to my house, And stole a piece of beef:

I went to Taffy's house, Taffy wasn't at home, Taffy came to my house, And stole a marrow-bone.

I had a little husband, No bigger than my thumb, I put him in a pint pot, And there I bade him drum; I bridled him and saddled him, And sent him out of town; I gave him a pair of garters To garter up his hose, And a little silk handkerchief, To wipe his snotty nose.

Old father Greybeard, Without tooth or tongue, If you'll give me your finger, I'll give you my thumb.

I will tell my own daddy when he comes home, What little good work my mammy has done.

She has earnt a penny, spent a groat, And burnt a hole in the child's new coat.

I had a little moppet, I put it in my pocket, And fed it with corn and hay; There came a proud beggar, And swore he would have her.

And stole my little moppet away.

Up hill and down dale; b.u.t.ter is made in every vale; And if that Nancy c.o.c.k Is a good girl, She shall have a spouse, And make b.u.t.ter anon, Before her old grandmother Grows a young man.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

PART III.

THE MERRY BELLS OF LONDON.

Gay go up and gay go down, To ring the bells of London Town.

Bull's eyes and targets, Say the bells of St. Marg'ret's.

Brick-bats and tiles, Say the bells of St. Giles.

Halfpence and farthings, Say the bells of St. Martin's.

Oranges and lemons, Say the bells of St. Clement's.

Pancakes and fritters, Say the bells at St. Peter's.

Two sticks and an apple, Say the bells at Whitechapel.

Old Father Baldpate, Say the slow bells at Aldgate.

You owe me ten s.h.i.+llings, Say the bells at St. Helen's.

When will you pay me?

Say the bells at Old Bailey.

When I shall grow rich, Say the bells at Sh.o.r.editch.

Pray, when will that be?

Say the bells at Stepney.

I am sure I don't know, Says the great bell at Bow.

THE GAY LADY THAT WENT TO CHURCH.

There was a lady all skin and bone; Sure such a lady was never known: It happen'd upon a certain day, This lady went to church to pray.

When she came to the church stile, There she did rest a little while; When she came to the churchyard, There the bells so loud she heard.

When she came to the church door, She stopt to rest a little more; When she came the church within, The parson pray'd 'gainst pride and sin.

On looking up, on looking down, She saw a dead man on the ground; And from his nose unto his chin, The worms crawl'd out, the worms crawl'd in.[E]

Then she unto the parson said, Shall I be so when I am dead: O yes! O yes, the parson said, You will be so when you are dead.

_Here the lady screams._

[E] This line has been adopted in the modern ballad of _Alonzo and Fair Imogene_.

ARITHMETICK.

One, two, Buckle my shoe; Three, four, Lay down lower; Five, six, Pick up sticks; Seven, eight, Lay them straight; Nine, ten, A good fat hen; Eleven, twelve, Who will delve?

Thirteen, fourteen, Maids a-courting; Fifteen, sixteen, Maids a-kissing; Seventeen, eighteen, Maids a-waiting; Nineteen, twenty, My belly's empty.