%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Skilful 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 the poor Wench, was by her Master vil'd, / 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 forts of folks, both rich and poor. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1663-1663 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 04/26/2011 30852

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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

R216146 1 Beds Making UNKNOWN Beds Making A Country farmer as 'tis said, / That had a pretty handsom Maid I Will perswade her thus, and say / Last time that you together lay, Roxburghe Ballads Editor None None None None Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 3: 206 3: 207 The Skilful 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 the poor Wench, was by her Master vil'd, / 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 forts of folks, both rich and poor. The Skilful Doctor of Glocestershire, 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 vil’d, 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 Physic. 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 defiled, First tempt to sin, and after got with Child: But by the Doctors 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. 1663-1663 F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright

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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 4/26/2011 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America affliction/ health family marriage sex/ sexuality trickery/ deceit Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/26/2011 4:44:25 PM XBallad Mellon, Gillian Created XML Version of Ballad 4/26/2011 4:44:25 PM Transcription Supervisor McAbee, Kristina, Nebeker, Eric Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/26/2011 4:44:25 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Zusky, Catherine Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/26/2011 4:44:25 PM Transcriptionist Two Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/26/2011 4:44:25 PM Transcriptionist One Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/17/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/9/2010 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/7/2009 Bibliographer Meghan Fadel Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 1/7/2009 Checker Meghan Fadel Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/7/2009 Checker Meghan Fadel Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
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A Country Farmer as tis said, That had a pretty handsom Maid Asked her a question secretly: To which she answered, by and by: And being kindly reconcild, The Farmer got his Maid with child. And after he had done the deed, His heart poor-man did almost bleed, With inward grief & trembling fear, Doubting his Wife should of it hear, The Maid did likewise sigh and groan And to her Master oft made moan. Wherefore all dangers to prevent, Unto a poor Young Man he went, Saying, ten pound he would him give, And be a Friend while he did live, So thou wilt finish up my strife, And take my Maid to be thy Wife. The Young man thus to him replyd, Your suit to me must be denyd; For I will neith[e]r Reap nor Mow, The Bastard Seed that you did sow, Get a workman where you can quod he, For I your Hireling will not be. The Farmer being thus denyd, Another practice soon he tryd: There was a Doctor he knew well.
That three Miles from his house did dwell, Unto the Doctor he told all, That did of late to him befall. The Doctor answered him and told, If youl give me ten pounds in Gold, Ile teach you such a pretty trick; I am sure you never heard the like, To save your Maid & you from blame And your Wife shall yeild unto the same. To this the Farmer soon agreed, And down he laid ten pound with speed, The money pleasd 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 & 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 die, 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, Ile shew such skill as ner was shown Such stories Ile to her 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 beguild, And so your Wife got you with Child. This bargain made, brought much con-tent 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 incumbred 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 rambling 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 please to have it so, Ile to him with your water go. Next morn with a good intent, The Good-wife to the Doctor went: And shews him her Husbands water, Now mark the jest & followeth after: Cox body, quoth the Doctor mild, Thy Husband surely is with Child. The woman she was much amazd, And on the Doctor strangely gazd, 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 all out. When Luna last was in the Clips, You with your Husband joyned lips, Then Jupiter being wrapt in thunder Turnd Venus up, while Mars lay under By which Conjunction well I wot, Your Husband then with child you got.
Alas! alas! then said his wife, Is there no means to save his life, I would not for a thousand 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, Ile give whatever you would have, No cost nor pains that I will spare, To save his life whom I love so dear. But first quoth he, Ile have you swear And also have special care, To tell no body whilst you live, What Physick he is to receive; She strait way bound it with an oath, Ile keep your Counsel by my troth. The Doctors potion of Physick. Then mark me well whats to be done Each night about setting of the Sun, His Supper then you must provide, Of Eggs and some choice meat beside, And for to strenthen his weak back, You must give him a Pint of Sack. Which being done put him to bed, And l[a]y 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 three Weeks take And then be sure that it will make The pain go from his back and side, The Maid the torment shall abide, And afterward in little space, She will bring forth a Babe of Grace.
And when your Maid is brought a bed Your self must lye down in her stead, And because nothing may be known, Folks must believe the Childs your own Be sure you take this said he, And so your Husband easd shall be. The woman having heard this news, Ran home in haste, how could she chuss Where she did see her Husband lie, Like one just ready for to dye: Then 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 lie with and keep her Master warm And said he should do her no harm; The Maid at first seemd loath to do, But at the last yielded thereunto. And as the Doctor did fore-tell, 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 burden easd, The Child at Nurse, & all are pleasd. You that these Verses hear or read, If of the Doctor you stand in need, Enquire him out where he doth dwell, And surely he will use you well, Hel give you Physick to your mind, So that your Purses be well lind.
Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright.