%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Merry Cuckold. / Who frolickly taking what chance doth befall, / Is very well pleased with Wife, Hornes and all. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1619-1619 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 04/18/2011 30182

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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

S116070 2 The Merry Cuckold UNKNOWN The Merry Cuckold the same Tune UNKNOWN The Same Tune YOu married men / whom Fate hath assign'd I By experience, / rightly do know: Roxburghe Ballads Editor None None None None Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 256 1: 257 The Merry Cuckold. / Who frolickly taking what chance doth befall, / Is very well pleased with Wife, Hornes and all. The Merry Cuckold. Who frolickly taking what chance doth befall, Is very well pleased with Wife, Hornes and all. The Merry Cuckold. Who frolicly taking what chance doth befall, Is very well pleased with Wife, Horns and all. Printer the Assignes of Thomas Symcock. 1619-1619

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity 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 youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 4/18/2011 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America economics/ commerce infidelity marriage Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/18/2011 4:54:44 PM XBallad Doss, MacKenzie Created XML Version of Ballad 4/18/2011 4:54:44 PM Transcription Supervisor McAbee, Kristina, Nebeker, Eric Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/18/2011 4:54:44 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Mann, Rachel Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/18/2011 4:54:44 PM Transcriptionist Two Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/18/2011 4:54:44 PM Transcriptionist One Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/10/2008 Bibliographer Giles Bergel Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 11/5/2008 Checker Meghan Fadel Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/22/2010 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/27/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/27/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Merry Cuckold.</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Who frolickly taking what chance doth befall,</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Is very well pleased with Wife, Hornes and all.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the tune of, The merry Cuckold.</hi></seg>
YOu married men whom Fate hath assignd, To marry with them that are too much kind, Learn as I do, to beare with your wives, All you that doe so, shall live merry lives. I have a Wife so wanton and so free, That she as her life, loves one besides me, What if she doe, I care not a pin, Abroad I will goe, when my rivall comes in. I can be merry and drinke away care, With Claret and Sherry and delicate fare. My Wife has a Trade, that will maintain me, What though it be said, that a Cuckold I be. While she at home is taking her pleasure, Abroad I do rome, consuming her treasure. Of all that she gets. I share a good share, She payes all my debts, then for what should I care.
She keepes me brave, and gallant in cloathing, All things I have, I do want for nothing. Therefore I connive, and winke at her faults, And daily I strive, against jealous assaults While for small gaines: my neighhours worke hard, I live (by her meanes) and never regard, The troubles and cares, that belong to this life, I spend what few dares: gramercy good Wife. Should I be jealous, as other men are, My breath like to bellowes, the fire of care Would blow and augment, therefore I thinke it best. To be well content, though I were Vulcans crest. Many a time upbraided I am, Some say I must dine, at the Bull or the Ramme: Those that do jeere cannot do as I may, In Wine, Ale and Beere, spend a noble a day,
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Second part. To the same Tune.</hi></seg>
I By experience, rightly do know: That no strife or variance, (causes of woe) Can make a wife so bent to live chast, Thou in stead of strife, let patience be plact, If a man had all Argus his eyes, A wife that is bad, will something devise, To gull him tos face, then what boores mistrust, The hornes to disgrace, though weare it I must. Ile be content with this my hard chance, And in merryment my head Ile advance. Wishing I were but as rich as some men, Whose wives chast appeare, yet theyl kisse now and then. One trying to me, a great comfort is, Still quiet is she though I do amisse, She dares do no other, because she knowes well, That gently I smoother, what most men would tell.
If I should rave, her minde would not alter Her swing she will have. thought be in a halter. Then sith that I get good gaines by her vice, I will not her let, but take share of the price. Why should I vexe, and pine in dispaire, I know that her sexe, are all brittle ware, And he that gets one who canstant abides, Obtaines that which none, or but few have besides. Yet will I not, accuse my wife. For nothing is got, by railing, but strife. I act mine owne sence. intending no wrong, No Cuckold nor Queane will care for this song. But a merry Wife, thats honest I know it, As deare as her life, will sure love the Poets And he thats no Cuckold in Countrey or City, However if lucke hold, will buy this our Ditty.
Printed by the Assignes of Thomas Symcock. FINIS.