%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Merchant-man and the Fidlers wife:/ Discovering a pretty conceit how a Fidler, in hope of gain/ (and trusting too much to his Wifes honesty) was made a Cuckold by the/ Merchant; and lost his Fiddle to boot./ He laid his Fiddle to a Ship,/ In hopes for to be made/ But Peggy let the Merchant flip,/ and Robin he was betray'd P., J. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1678-1680 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 08/06/2007 21825

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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

4.163 R234646 1 A Pleasant Northern Tune The Rich Merchant Man A Pleasant Northern Tune IT was a Rich Merchant man,/ That had both ship and all, Pepys 4.163 Wing P56A; Rollins (2) 1706 (July 1, 1678, iii, 67, F.C., T.V., J.W., J.C.) 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. 4: 163 The Merchant-man and the Fidlers wife:/ Discovering a pretty conceit how a Fidler, in hope of gain/ (and trusting too much to his Wifes honesty) was made a Cuckold by the/ Merchant; and lost his Fiddle to boot./ He laid his Fiddle to a Ship,/ In hopes for to be made/ But Peggy let the Merchant flip,/ and Robin he was betray'd The Merchant-man and the Fidlers wife: Discovering a pretty conceit how a Fidler, in hope of gain (and trusting too much to his Wifes honesty) was made a Cuckold by the Merchant; and lost his Fiddle to boot. He laid his Fiddle to a Ship In hope for to be made But Peggy let the Merchant slip, And Robin he was betray'd. The Merchant Man and the Fiddler's Wife: Discovering a Pretty Conceit How a Fiddler, in Hope of Gain (and Trusting too Much to His Wife's Honesty) Was Made a Cuckold by the Merchant; and Lost His Fiddle to Boot. He Laid His Fiddle to a Ship in Hope for to Be Made but Peggy Let the Merchant Slip, and Robin He Was Betrayed. P., J. 1/2 sheet oblong folio, ?210 x 314 cropped left edge, uneven inking 1678-1680 Printed for Fr. Coles, Tho. Vere, J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, T. Passenger 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 8/6/2007 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Sea infidelity marriage sex/sexuality vice 08/06/2007 Checker Eugene Hart Entered into X-Ballad - ESTC R234646 11/07/2006 Transcriber Eric Hogenson Original Transcription 10/29/2004 Bibliographer Liberty Stanavage Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
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I T was a Rich Merchant man, That had both ship and all, And he would crosse the salt Seas, though his cunning it was but small. The Fidler and his wife, they being near at hand, Would needs go sail along with him, from Dover unto Scotland. The Fidlers wife lookt brisk, which made the merchant smile He made no doubt to bring it about, the Fidler to beguile, Is this thy wife the merchant, said, She looks like an honest Spouse, I that she is, the fidler said, that ever trod on Shooes,
Thy confidence, is very great, the merchant then did say, If thou a wager darest to bet, I'le tell thee what I will lay, Ile lay my Ship against thy Fiddle and all my venture too, So Peggy may gang along with me my Cabin for to view. If she continue one hour with me thy true and constant Wife, Then shalt thou have my Ship and be A Merchant all thy life. The Fidler was content, he danc'[d] and leapt for joy, And twang'd his Fiddle in merriment, For Peggy he thought was coy,
T Hen Peggy she went along, His Cabbin for to view, And after her the Merchant Man Did follow we found it true. When they were once together, The Fidler was afraid, For he crept near in piteous fear, And thus to Peggy he said, Hold out, sweet Peggy hold out For the space of two half hours, If thou hold out, I make no doubt But the ship and Goods are ours, O how can I hold out, he hath got me about the middle He's lusty and strong and hath laid me along O Robbin th' hast lost thy Fiddle, If I have lost my Fiddle, Then am I man undone, My Fiddle whereon I so often plaid, Away I needs must run. O stay, the Merchant said, And thou shalt keep thy place, And thou shalt have thy Fiddle again, But P eggy shall carry the case,
Poor Robbin hearing that He look't with a merry chear, His Wife she was pleas'd and the Merchant was eas'd And jolly and brisk they were. The Fidler he was mad, But valu'd it not a fig, Th[e]n Peggy unto her Husband said, Kind Robbin play us a jig, Then he took up his fiddle, And merrily he did play, The Scottish jig , and the Horn-pipe, And eke the Irish Hey, It was but in vain to grieve, The deed it was done and past, Poor Robbin was born to carry the horn, For Peggy could not be chaste. Then fidlers all beware Your Wives are kind you see, And he that is made for the fidling trade, Must never a Merchant be, For Peggy she knew right well although she was but a Woman That Gamesters Drink, and fidlers wives, They are ever Free and Common
FINIS. Printed for Fr. Coles, Tho. Vere, J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger,