%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Gelding of the Devil./ OR,/ The prittiest Jest that e're was known,/ For the Bakers wife her skill hath shown,/ Then listen a while, and I the news will tell,/ Betwixt the Baker and the Devil of Hell. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1674-1679 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 10/06/2007 22015

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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

4.351 R188110 1 The Gelding of the Devil: Or, the Card Players The Gelding of the Devil The Gelding of the Devil; the Card Players A Pretty jest I will you tell,/ Of the gelding of the Devil of Hell; [repeat last 2 lines of each stanza] uneven inking title: [H]ow the Bakers wife . . . Pepys 4.351 Wing G465; Rollins (2) 948 (March 299, 1656, ii, 43, Fran. Grove) 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: 351 The Gelding of the Devil./ OR,/ The prittiest Jest that e're was known,/ For the Bakers wife her skill hath shown,/ Then listen a while, and I the news will tell,/ Betwixt the Baker and the Devil of Hell. The Gelding of the Devil. OR, The prittiest Jest that e're was known, How the Bakers wife her skill hath shown, Then listen a while, and I the news will tell, Betwixt the Baker and the Devil of Hell. The Gelding of the Devil. Or, the Prettiest Jest that Ever Was Known, How the Baker's Wife Her Skill Has Shown, Then Listen a While, and I the News Will Tell, Between the Baker and the Devil of Hell. 1/2 sheet oblong folio, 202 x 327 cropped top and right edges, holed and damaged surface, uneven inking vertical rule and cast fleurons 1674-1679 Printed for F, Coles, T. Vere, I. Wright, and I, Clark. F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, J. Clark 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 10/6/2007 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Various Subjects gender sex/sexuality supernatural/magic trickery/deceit 10/6/2007 Checker Jessica C. Murphy rechecked transcription, metadata updated 07/23/07 Checker Rachel Mann Ballad Checked 11/07/06 Transcriber Cat Zusky Original Transcription 9/20/2004 Bibliographer Maggie Sloan Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Gelding of the <hi rend="bold">D</hi> evil.</hi> </seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">OR,</hi> </seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The prittiest Jest that e're was known,</hi> </seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">How the Bakers wife her skill hath shown,</hi> </seg> <lb/> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Then listen a while, and I the news will tell,</hi> </seg> <seg n="6" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Betwixt the Baker and the <hi rend="bold">D</hi> evil of Hell.</hi> </seg> <lb/> <seg n="7" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To a dainty new Tune called, The Gelding of the Devil: Or, the Card Players.</hi> </seg>
A Pretty jest I will you tell, Of the gelding of the Devil of Hell; There was a Baker of Mansfield Town, To Nottingham Market he was bound: And riding under the Willows clear, The Baker sung with a merry cheer; And riding under the willows clear, The Baker sung with a merry cheer. The Bakers Horse was lusty and sound, Well worth in Judgment full five pound; His skin was smooth and his flesh was fat, His Master was well pleas'd at that: Which made him sing so merrily, As he was passing on the way; Which made him sing, etc. But as he rode over the Hill, There met he with the Devil of Hell: O Baker, Baker, then cry'd he, How came thy horse so fat to be?
These be words the baker did say, B ecause his Stones be cut away; these be the words, etc. Thou shalt Geld me before thou dost go, Then (quoth the Devil) if it be so, First tye thy horse to yonder tree, And with thy Knife come and geld me: The baker had a Knife for the nonce, Wherewith to cut out the Devils stones. The Baker had a Knife for the nonce, Wherewith to cut out the Devils stones. The baker as it came to pass, In hast alighted from his horse, And the Devil on his back he lay, While the baker cut his stones away, Which put the Devil to great pain, And made him to cry out amain: Which put the Devil to great pain, And made him to cry out amain.
O H quoth the Devil, beshrew thy heart, Thou dost not feel how I do smart; And for the deed which thou hast done, I will revenged be agen: And underneath this green-wood tree, Next Market-day I will geld thee: And underneath this green-wood tree, Next market-day I will geld thee. The Baker then but little said, But as his heart was sore afraid: He durst no longer then to stay, But he rod home another way; And coming to his Wife did tell How he had gelt the Devil of Hell: And coming to his wife, etc. Moreover to his wife he told, A tale that made her heart full cold; How that the Devil did say, That he would geld him next Market-day: Oh, quoth the good-wife without doubt, I had rather both thy eyes were out: Oh, quoth the good-wife, etc. For then all the People far and near, That knows thee, will both mock and jear; And good-wives they will chide and brawl, And stoneless Gelding will thee call: Then hold content and be thou wise, And i'le some pritty trick devise; then hold, etc. I'le make the Devil change his Note, Give me thy Hat, thy Band and Coat; Thy Hose and Doublet eke also, And I like to a man will go: I'le warrant thee next Market-day, To fright the Devil quite away: I'le warrant thee, etc. When the Bakers wife she was so drest, With all her bread upon her beast, To Nottingham Market that brave Town, To sell her bread both white and brown: And riding merrily over the Hill, Oh there she spy'd two Devils of Hell: And riding, etc.
A little Devil and another, As they were playing both together; Oh, oh, quoth the Devil then right sain, Here comes the baker riding amain: Now be thou well or be thou woe, I will geld thee before thou dost go, Now be thou, etc. The bakers wife to the Devil did say, Sir I was gelded yesterday; Oh, quoth the Devil I mean to see, And pulling her Coats above knee her, And so looking-upward from the ground, Oh, there he spy'd a terrible wound, And so looking, etc. Oh, quoth the Devil, now I see, He was not cunning that gelded thee; For when he cut out thy Stones, He should have closed up thy wounds. But if thou'lt stay some little space, I'le fetch some Salve to cure the place, But if thou'lt stay, etc. He had not rid but little way, But up her belly crept a Flea, The little Devil seeing that, He up with his Paw and gave her a pat: Which made the good wife for to start, And with that she let go a Rowzing Fart, which made the, etc. Oh, oh, quoth the Devil, thy life is not long Thy breath it smells so horrible strong[;] Therefore go thy way and make thy will, Thy wounds are past all humane skill; Be gone, be gone, make no delay, For here thou shalt no longer stay: Be gone, be gone, etc. The good-wife with this news was glad, So she left the Devil almost mad; And when she to her Husband came, With joyful heart she told the same, How she had couzen'd the Devil of Hell, Which pleas'd her Husband wondrous well How she had couzen'd the Devil of H ell, which pleased her husband wondrous well
Printed for F, Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clark.