%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A Portion for an Apothecary, / Or, The Apothecaryes portion, / This ditty doth Concern a matter Rare, / Ther's few or none may with the same Compare, / It may be term'd a Net, a Snare, or Iin / That's only set to catch young Wood-cocks in / Then let no silly bird here at be Ieering, / For when 'tis Sung you'l say 'tis worth the hearing. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1644-1644 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 03/06/2012 31893

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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

R181976 OF a gallant Apothecary / a story I will tell, He was witty in his speeches / and of qualities most rare, / Yet he like to a Wood-cock / was caught at unaware. [with variation] Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 279 A Portion for an Apothecary, / Or, The Apothecaryes portion, / This ditty doth Concern a matter Rare, / Ther's few or none may with the same Compare, / It may be term'd a Net, a Snare, or Iin / That's only set to catch young Wood-cocks in / Then let no silly bird here at be Ieering, / For when 'tis Sung you'l say 'tis worth the hearing. A Portion for an Apothecary, Or, The Apothecaryes portion, This ditty doth Concern a matter Rare, Ther's few or none may with the same Compare, It may be term'd a Net, a Snare, or Jin That's only set to catch young Wood-cocks in Then let no silly bird here at be Jeering, For when 'tis Sung you'l say 'tis worth the hearing. A Portion for an Apothecary, Or, The Apothecary's portion, This ditty doth Concern a matter Rare, There's few or none may with the same Compare, It may be termed a Net, a Snare, or Jin That's only set to catch young Wood-cocks in Then let no silly bird here at be Jeering, For when it is Sung you'll say it is worth the hearing. 1644-1644 Tho. Vere.

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas 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 groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 3/6/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America advice economics/ commerce London sex/ sexuality trickery/ deceit Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 3/6/2012 11:39:43 AM XBallad Lee, Jennifer J Created XML Version of Ballad 3/6/2012 11:39:43 AM Transcription Supervisor Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/6/2012 11:39:43 AM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Palmer Browne, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/6/2012 11:39:43 AM Transcriptionist Two Lee, Jennifer J Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/6/2012 11:39:43 AM Transcriptionist One Persico, Eryn Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/3/2011 Bibliographer Charlotte Becker Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 2/22/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/22/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/22/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/28/2011 Checker Megan Palmer Browne Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">A Potion for an Apothecary,</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Or, The Apothecaryes portion,</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">This ditty doth Concern a matter Rare,</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Thers few or none may with the same Compare,</hi></seg> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">It may be termd a Net, a Snare, or Jin</hi></seg> <seg n="6" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Thats only set to catch young Wood-cocks in</hi></seg> <seg n="7" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Then let no silly bird here at be Jeering,</hi></seg> <seg n="8" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Forwhen tis Sung youl say tis worth the hearing.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="9" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the tune of Old flesh.</hi></seg>
OF a gallant Apothecary a story I will tell, His carriage and behaviour and what of him befell: He was no silly Coxcomb nor he was no Country clown, But he lived in famous London, a place of high renowne, He was active in his practise, and skillfull of his trade, And some women did suppose him to be a Bil-bow-blade, He was witty in his speeches and of qualities most rare, Yet he like to a Wood-cock was caught at unaware. This brave young Pothecary ha lived void of strife, He stood in need of nothing, but he wanted a rich wife: And for that only purpose he many plots have laid To marry with some rich Widow: or some wealthy Country Maid, His pate it was more subtile then any crafty Fox But in the last conclusion he was herned like an Oxe; Now marke what followed after, and you shall quickly heare. How he like to a Wood-cock was caught at un-aware. A Punck that livd in London which had of wealth no store, For all that she had got was by playing of the Whore She like a cunning Gypsie, consulted with her Baud This brave Apothecary to cozen and defraud: Like a brave young Gentlewoman that was in the Country borne In habit and attire she did her selfe adorne
Her Baud like to a servant, did waite as may appeare, And they caught the witty Wood-cock, before he was aware. And being so provided, as true reports have said, The Punck she was the Mistrisse, and the Baud her waiting Maid, They then tooke up their lodging as it is known full well Neere to the very place where this brave young spark did dwell, The mistris faind her selfe to be sick with cold and Tissick And sent to the Pothecary cause he should give her Physick, Who every day imployd her with Pils, and such like geare, But he like to a Wood-cock, was caught at un-aware. The Apothecary often, to the Gentlewoman came, Who beholding of her favour, saw she was a handsome dame, His heart within his belly, with love was set on fire But he knew not how nor which way to compasse his desire: And therefore in close secret, to the Maid he told his mind, Desiring of her favour that she would be so kind To speake a good word for him, unto her Mistris deare, And he would well reward her as you shall after heare. The Maid replyd unto him, there is no way to win her, Unlesse you doe invite her, on Sunday next to dinner: Whereby to make her merry, and cast away all care And feast her corps with Junkets with Wine and with good Cheere.
And when you all are frolick, I will a question move So that you thereby may know whither she will hate or love: These words of hers or joyd him, as it doth well appeare, And at last the witty Wood-cock, was caught in his own snare. A dinner was provided at the appointed day And the Gentlewoman sent for who came without delay, In all her gay apparell in such a stately manner As if she were a Lady with her Maid to waite upon her; And being sat at dinner in all her gallant bravery The youngman nere mistrusted of any poynt of knavery: They eate, drank, and were merry having plenty of good cheere But that same Sundaies dinner cost the Apothecary deare. whilst they were inmidst of pleasure a man that was but poore, Came on a hasty message, and knocked at the doore He brought with him a Letter forth of the Country Which to the Gentlewoman must needs delivered be When as she had received it the messenger she paid And gave the Apothecary the letter for to read Which letter provd his baine as you presently shall heare And how this witty Wood-cock was caught in his own snare. The words that were written in the counterfeit Letter, as if they came from her Brother out of the Country were as followeth.
SWeet Sister I desire you to be patient and content, Though I this dolefull Letter and Messenger have sent Whereby to give you notice your Fathers dead and gone, And how he hath bestowed his Goods to every one Of us that are his Children. which doth alive remaine, Note well what here is set down, the case is very plaine: He hath made me his Executor, as you may understand, And I am in possesion of all my Fathers Land. To my second Brother Henry a Farm he did give. which is enough to maintain him and his whilst he doth live, And to my Brother Edward, as plainly may appeare, He gave him for continuance two hundred pound a Yeare: And you have for your Portion of Silver and of Gold, Fifteen hundred pound of Money as good as ere was told: Wherefore I pray good Sister come home and take your own, That ones part from another amongst us may be known. Your Loving Brother, When as this Gentle-woman had heard the Letter read. Now that her aged Father was dead and buried, She sighed and she sobbed, she wept and made great moan Her Maid that waited on her fetcht many a heavy groan: The Apothecary seeing such floods of sorrowes rise,
Like a kind hen-hearted coxcomb, the teares fell from his eyes, Now mark the last conclusion, and you shall quickly heare, How that this witty Wood-cock was caught at un-aware. When sorrowes were past over, and mirth did fresh revive, They that were almost kild then became to be alive, The Apothecary having a plodding cunning pate, He thought for to be doing before it was too late: If he could wed the woman, these were his antick fetches, He was sure for to be Master of all her Gold and Riches: And therewithall he wood her. without all wit or feare, And so this witlesse Wood-cock was caught in his owne snare. But to be briefe in plain termes; the matter so was carryed, That they agreed together, and suddenly were married. And for a little season they lived free from strife, For she likt well of her Husband and he likt of his Wife: But in a short time after strange matters came to passe, And a sudden alteration betwixt this couple was. He married her for lucre of riches as you heare, And so the simple Wood-cock was caught in his own snare. When they had livd together three weeks or something moe, This Gallant did provide ith Country for to goe,
To see his wivs best friend there, that was his chiefest motion, And to receive the mony which was left her for her portion: And for his solid Journy so well he did provide, He bought new Boots & borrowed a Horse whereon to ride, A Sword & Horse-mans-Coat too he borrowed as I heare, And so into the Country he rid without wit or feare. And thinking that his Wife had bin honest, true, and just, Al that which was his own Goods with her he left in trust, so he comming to the place where his brother in law should dwel, Of such a manner of person there was never a one could tell: And as for the old man which was said to be dead and gone, In all the Parish over of that name was never a one: Wherefore he back returned to London as I heare, With a purse that held no mony, and a heart fild ful of care. But when he came to London no Wide that he could find, Which was a greater crosse, and a trouble to his mind, For she was run away with the Baud which she cald her maid. And with a Pimp of hers which their heads together laid. Wherefore the Apothecary in rage most deepely swore, That he was basely cozed by an old Baud & a young Whore: And now his fellow Neighbors doth at him scoffe and jeere, Cause he like to a Woodcock was caught at un-aware. You Widowers and Batchelors if single men you be, Be warnd by the Apothecary and be ruld awhile by me. Chuse a Wife thats truly honest though she be nere so poore, Tis better then a rich Wife, if she love to play the Whore: The Lord wil give a blessing to Truth and Honesty when theevs, whores, bauds & pan-ders may at Tyborn chance to dye. Be heedfull in your chusing, and have a speciall care, Lest like to silly Wood-cocks you be caught at un-aware.
London Printed for Tho. Vere.