%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Skilfull Doctor of Glocester-shire;/ OR,/ A New way to take Physick./ This Ditty doth concern a Country Farmer,/ Who lay with his maid, not thinking to harm her,/ But she, poor Wench, was by her master vild,/ First tempt to sin, and after got with Child:/ But by the Doctors skill, her honest Dame,/ Excus'd her Husband, and sav'd her maid from blame;/ The Doctor he hath medicines in store,/ To Cure all sorts of folks, both rich and poor. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1684-1686 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 05/04/2008 20253

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

1.530-531 R234220 1 The Beds Making The Bed's Making A Country Farmer, as 'tis said,/ That had a pritty handsome Maid, Pepys 1.530-531 Wing S3940A; Rollins (2) 2462 (Mch. 12, 1656, ii, 34, Fran. Grove); Rollins (2) 2463 (Mch. 1, 1675, ii, 498). Woodblock 2: second 1/2 sheet, above column 1: A small cut shows a portly man in high riding boots with spurs, standing facing the right of the cut. He has is left hand extended, and his right hand at his hip. A sword is visible behind his short coat.: 50 x 40 Woodblock 3: second 1/2 sheet, above columns 1 and 2: A well-dressed woman stands facing the left of the cut. She holds a large feather fan in her right hand, and rests her left hand at her waist. She wears along collar or short shawl, and patterned sleeves and cuffs. She has a long skirt with vertical lines or pleats, and a small hat with a plume. Her hair is pulled back. Her facial expression is unclear. : 50 x 38 Woodblock 4: second 1/2 sheet, above column 3: A small cut shows a man or boy in a wide brimmed hat with a plume, standing facing forward. He wears a white collar, black shirt, and short pantaloons with hose. he rests his right hand on his balderick and his left hand on his hip. The point of his sword is visible behing him. : 52 x 37 Woodblock 1: first 1/2 sheet, below title, above columns 1 and 2, to left of column 3: Two captions: "Husband here is help." and "Cox bodkins/ thy husbands/ with-child"; To the right side of the cut, a man (presumably the doctor) stands behind a table. He holds a vial or flask in his right hand, and rests his left hand on the table. He wears a brimmed hat and a striped shirt. A woman in a simple hat and dress stands to his right with her hands extended, reaching for the flask. On the table is an open book, and an additional flask. Above them is a window, and a curved door to their left divides the cut. On the far side of the cut is a small tent or outbuilding, with a face showing at its opening. Two women look at this face. A table stands in the foreground.: 72 x 115 Woodblock 5: second 1/2 sheet, above columns 3 and 4: A faded cut shows a well-dressed woman standing his her left hand raised and holding a flower. Her right hand is at her waist, in front of her, and holds a folded fan. Her hair is pulled back, and her dress is off her shoulders and has a trail. The upper corners of the cut appear to be ornamented.: 50 x 37 Woodblock 6: second 1/2 sheet, above column 4: A3/4 view of a young man with long hair in a laced doublet with long sleeves. He holds his left hand up, holding an object which may be a mirror. He appears to be smiling: 47 x 38 Pepys Library The Pepys ballads : facsimile volume Editor W.G. Day D.S. Brewer Cambridge [England] 1987 Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 530 The Skilfull Doctor of Glocester-shire;/ OR,/ A New way to take Physick./ This Ditty doth concern a Country Farmer,/ Who lay with his maid, not thinking to harm her,/ But she, poor Wench, was by her master vild,/ First tempt to sin, and after got with Child:/ But by the Doctors skill, her honest Dame,/ Excus'd her Husband, and sav'd her maid from blame;/ The Doctor he hath medicines in store,/ To Cure all sorts of folks, both rich and poor. The Skilfull Doctor of Glocester-shire; OR, A New way to take Physick. This Ditty doth concern a Country Farmer, Who lay with his maid, not thinking to harm her, But she, poor Wench, was by her master vild, First tempt to sin, and after got with Child: But by the Doctors skill, her honest Dame, Excus'd her Husband, and sav'd her maid from blame; The Doctor he hath medicines in store, To Cure all sorts of folks, both rich and poor. The Skillful Doctor of Gloucestershire; or, a New Way to Take Physick. This Ditty Doth Concern a Country Farmer, Who Lay With His Maid, Not Thinking to Harm Her, but She, Poor Wench, Was by Her Master Viled, First Tempt to Sin, and After Got With Child: but by the Doctor's Skill, Her Honest Dame, Excused Her Husband, and Saved Her Maid From Blame; the Doctor He Hath Medicines in Store, to Cure All Sorts of Folks, Both Rich and Poor. single sheet oblong folio, pasted across 2 pages, 260 x 335 damaged surface, uneven inking 1684-1686 Printed for I. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger J. Clarke, W.Thackeray, T. Pasinger Blagden

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 Taxonomy used by Pepys to Organize Ballads in Albums A Small Promiscuous Supplement Devotion & Morality Drinking & Good Fellowship History - True & Fabulous Humour, Frollicks &c Love Pleasant Love Pleasant and Unfortunate Love Unfortunate Marriage Sea State & Times Tragedy Various Subjects Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/health alcohol animals/nature appearance Bible/biblical figures buildings/architecture catastrophe children class clothing/fashion country/nation crime death economics/trade entertainment family/procreation folklore gender historical figures & events holidays/seasons infidelity law London love maritime marriage military/war monstrosity mythology/Classical world news nobility/court politics/government punishment religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/sexuality supernatural/magic The New World travel trickery/deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/crass humor Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 5/4/2008 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America A Small Promiscuous Supplement affliction/health family/procreation sex/sexuality trickery/deceit vulgarities/crasshumor Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 05/04/2008 Checker Patrick Ludolph checked transcription, metadata added, xml created 08/16/2006 Checker Catherine Zusky checked transcription unknown Checker Jessica Murphy checked transcription 07/18/2006 Transcriber Eric Nebeker original transcription 07/29/2004 Bibliographer Simone Chess Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Skillful Doctor of <hi rend="bold">Glocester-shire;</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">OR,</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">A New way to take Physick.</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">This Ditty doth concern a Country Farmer,</hi></seg> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Who lay with his maid, not thinking to harm her:</hi></seg> <seg n="6" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">But she, poor Wench, was by her master vild,</hi></seg> <seg n="7" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">First tempt to sin, and after got with Child:</hi></seg> <seg n="8" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">But by the Doctors skill, her honest Dame,</hi></seg> <seg n="9" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Excus'd her Husband, and sav'd her maid from blame;</hi></seg> <seg n="10" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Doctor he hath medicines in store,</hi></seg> <seg n="11" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To Cure all sorts of folks, both rich and poor.</hi></seg> <seg n="12" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Tune is,</hi> The Beds making.</seg>
A Country Farmer, as 'tis said, That had a pritty handsome Maid, He askt her a question secretly, To which she answered, by and by: And being kindly reconcil'd, The Farmer got his Maid with-Child. And after he had done the deed, His heart poort man did almost bleed; With inward grief and trembling fear, Doubting his Wife should of it hear: The Maid did likewise sigh and groan, And to her Master made great moan. Wherefore all dangers to prevent, Unto a poor young-man he went, Saying, ten pounds he would him give, And be a friend while he did live: So thou wilt finish up my st[r]ife, And take my Maid to by thy Wife. The young-man thus to him reply'd, Your suit to me must be deny'd; For I will neither Reap nor Mow The Bastard-seed that you did sow: Get a work-man where you can, quoth he, For I your Hireling will not be. The Farmer being thus den'd, Another practice he soon try'd There was a Doctor he knew well,
That three miles from his house did dwell Unto this Doctor he told all, That did of late to him befall. The Doctor answered him, and told, If you'l give me ten pounds in Gold, I'le teach you such a pritty trick, I'm sure you never heard the like: To save your Maid and you from blame, And your Wife shall yield unto the same To this the Farmer soon agreed, And down he laid ten pounds with speed. The Money pleas'd the Doctor well, Who straight his Money began to tell: Mark well what I shall say, quoth he, And learn this Counsel now of me. With speed run home and tell your wife, That you shall surely lose your life, By reason of a grievous pain, That in your belly doth remain: There is no way but you must dye, Unless you seek some remedy. Pray her with all the speed may be, To bring your Water unto me, And when she comes, let me alone, I'le shew such skill as ne'r was shown: Such stories to her i'le unfold, The like strange news was never told.
I Will perswade her thus, and say, Last time that you together lay, The Moon it was Eclipsed strange, And nature did her courses change; Mars by Dame Venus was beguil'd, And so your wife got you with Child. This bargain made, brought much content Home in all haste the Farmer went; And told his Wife so strange a tale, As made her countenance look pale: Dear wife, quoth he, I am perplext, Never was man before so vext. I am incumbered with great pains, From top to toe, through all my veins; My back and sides grieve me so sore, Such pains I never felt before: But yet the greatest pain I tell ye, Lies rumbling up and down my belly. Husband, quoth she, I can you tell, Of one that soon can make you well He cures, as I do understand, All diseases that he takes in hand; And if you ple[ase t]o have it so, I'le to him wi[th yo]ur Water go. Next morning [wit]h a good intent, The good-wife to the Doctor went; And shews to him her Husbands water, Now mark the jest that follows after: Cox-body, quoth the Doctor mild, Thy Husband surely is with-Child. The woman she was much amaz'd, And on the Docter strangely gaz'd; Good Sir, in kindness now tell me, How such things in a Man may be? I will, quoth he, make you no doubt, And time at last will bring it out. When Luna last was in the Eclipse, You with your Husband joyned Lips; Then Jupiter being wrapt in thunder, Turn'd Venus up, while Mars lay under By which Con[j]unction well I wot, Your Husband then with-Child was got.
Alas, alas, then said his wife, IIs there no means to save his life? I would not for a thouand pound. My husband he should fall toth' ground; Faith, quoth the Doctor, there is none, No ways to save his life but one. Kind loving Sir, then answered she, If you will be so good to me, To tell how I his life may save, I'le give whatever you will have: No cost nor pains that I will spare, To save his life whom I love so dear: But first, quoth he, i'le have you swear, And also have a special care, To let no body konw while you live, What Phisick he is to receive; She straightway bound it with an Oath, I'le keep your counsel by my troth. The Doctor's Potion of Physick. Then mark me well what's to be done, Each night 'bout setting of the Sun, His Supper then you must provide, Of Eggs, and some choice Meats beside: And for to strenghen his weak back You must give him a pint of Sack. Which being done, put him to bed, And lay soft Pillows under his head; Then make for him a Posset fine, With Sugar and sweet Muskadine; Commixt with Cinnamon and Mace, And let him swallow it down apace. When he hath slept an hour or twain, Then you must come to him again, And bring with you a lusty Maid, Which to his Belly must be laid: So let them merrily sleep together, And lovingly embrace each other. This course you must for 3 weeks take, And then besure that it will make The pain to go from his back and side, The Maid the torment shall abide; And afterwards in little space, She will bring forth a Babe of Grace.
And when your Maid is brought to Bed, Your self must lye down in her stead; And because nothing must be known, Folks must believe the Child's your own; Besure you take this course said he, And so your Husband eas'd shall be. The woman having heard this news, Ran home in haste, how could she chuse Where she did see her Husband lye, Like one just ready for to dye: The presently she did unfold, All that the Doctor had her told. Alas, quoth he, such pangs I have, There is no means my life to save; Unless you do a Posset make, To cure my belly of the ake: Wherefore the woman out of hand, Did as the Doctor did command. A Supper of most dainty meat, She made him ready for to eat, And because he should no Physick lack, She after Supper gave him Sack: Then kept him warm within his bed And with sweet Posset she him fed. This being done, with Cupids aid, She got the good will of her Maid, To lye and keep her Master warm, And said, he should do her no harm; The Maid at first seem'd loath to do, But at the last yielded thereto. And as the Doctor did foretell, So every thing in order fell, The Maid in time was brought to bed, The good wife lay down in her stead: The man was of his burthen eas'd, The Child at Nurse, and all are pleas'd. You that these verses hear or Read, If of this Doctor you stand in need, Enquire him out where he dath dwell, And surely he will use you well; He'l give you Physick to your mind, So that your purses be well lin'd.
Printed for J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger.