%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A Tryal of skill, performed by a poor decay'd Gentlewoman. / VVho Cheated a rich Grasier of Sevenscore pound, and left him a Child to keep. / If you will know, then listen a while, / And you shall know that which will make you smile. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 06/24/2014 33399

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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

R216018 1 Ragged and Torn Old Simon the King Ragged and Torn KInd Country=men list to my Ditty, / I pray you what ever you be, Take heed of bad women therefore, / by women are men overthrown, / And rich men are often made Poor, / when as they keep more then their own. Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 733 A Tryal of skill, performed by a poor decay'd Gentlewoman. / VVho Cheated a rich Grasier of Sevenscore pound, and left him a Child to keep. / If you will know, then listen a while, / And you shall know that which will make you smile. A Tryal of skill, performed by a poor decay’d Gentlewoman. Who Cheated a rich Grasier of Sevenscore pound, and left him a Child to keep. If you will know, then listen a while, And you shall know that which will make you smile. A Trial of skill, performed by a poor decayed Gentlewoman. Who Cheated a rich Grazier of Sevenscore pound, and left him a Child to keep. If you will know, then listen a while, And you shall know that which will make you smile. ?-? F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke

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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 Featured 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 6/24/2014 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America advice infidelity sex/ sexuality trickery/ deceit Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 6/24/2014 1:38:03 PM XBallad Chow, Jeremy Created XML Version of Ballad 6/24/2014 1:38:03 PM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/24/2014 1:38:03 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/24/2014 1:38:03 PM Transcriptionist Two Moss, Benjamin Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/24/2014 1:38:03 PM Transcriptionist One Yuen, Pui Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/28/2013 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/13/2013 Checker William Hildalgo Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/5/2012 Bibliographer Olivia Miller Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
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KInd Country-men list to my Ditty, I pray you whatever you be, I know that my case you will pitty, I pray then take warning by me: Sevenscore pounds I did lose, besides a fine Babe at Nurse, My Sweet-heart she did me abuse, and left me no Coin in my Purse: Take heed of bad women therefore, by women are men overthrown, And rich men are often made poor, when as they keep more then their own. I brought some Cattel to Town, and sold them for Sevenscore pound, But money-less then I went home, with sorrow incompassed round: A dainty fine Cloak-bag I had, within it my treasure I laid, My fortune now maketh me sad, to think how that I was betray'd. Take heed, etc. As through Cheapside I did pass, mistrusting no manner of harm, I met with a poor decay'd Lass, with a pritty fine Child in her arm: She seemed in habit, to be a Gentlewoman that was made poor, She asked relief then of me, then I thought to have made her my whore Take heed, etc.
Quoth she, pray yield some relief, these words then unto me she said, Unto a poor wretch full of grief, a poor Gentlewoman decay'd: Fair Mistris, quoth I, I do grieve, to see you distressed to be, But I all your wants will relieve, if you will be ruled by me: Take heed, etc. Go with me unto my Inn, and there you shall lye at your ease, You never was brought up to Spin, but Gentlemens humours to please: I'le tell them that you are my wife, and this is my Child that you have, 'Twas I that did breed all the strife, and with myself plaid the Knave. Take heed, etc. She seemed to be over-joy'd, and cast a Sheeps-eye upon me, She could not be better imploy'd, and so we did quickly agree: When unto the Inn I did come, her fingers did itch at my Pelf, I call'd for a large fair Room, for my Wife, my Child, and myself: Take heed of bad Women therefore, by women are men overthrown, And rich men are often made poor, when as they keep more then their own.
A Dainty fine Supper we had, and brought up unto us with speed, But all the charge lay upon me, I paid for it soundly indeed: Now when we had sup'd I kist her, and she was as willing as I, But would to God that I had mist her, and her decay'd Gentility: Take heed of bad women therefore, by women are men overthrown, And rich men are often made poor, when as they keep more then their own. Down stairs then softly she went, and call'd for my Cloak-bag with speed, This Harlot was surely bent, for to undoe me with speed: My Night-cloaths are in it, quoth she, such mischief in Harlots are rife, He gave her my Cloak-bag most free, as thinking she had been my wife: Take heed, etc. She cunningly slunk out of doors, when nobody did her mind, I may bid a pox of all Whores, for leaving her Bastard behind: Now farewel my sevenscore pound, Lul-a-by must be my Song, I'me left like a Horse in the pound, I that must suffer the wrong: Take heed, etc. I call'd her to come unto bed, not thinking I had been undone, I lookt like a man had been dead, when as I perceiv'd she was gone: I fretted, I fum'd, I swore, the Child had got a new Dad, And when I began for to rore, the people did think I was mad: Take heed etc. The Chamberlain run up amain, sir, what is the matter (quoth he) O call back that woman again, for she hath quite ruined me: She leaveth her Bastard behind her, on purpose to shorten my life, O prethee see if thou canst find her, for why? she is none of my Wife: Take heed, etc.
But where is my Cloak-bag I pray, for therein lies all my gains? I gave it your wife by my fay, then would you were hang'd for your pains You call'd her your wife and your honey, why should not your wife then be bold, To have the command of your money, your Cloak-bag, your Silver and Gold: Take heed, etc. The Child lay crying apace, and I lay swearing as fast, To understand rightly my case, the Inn-keeper came at the last: When he understood the matter, he said he was glad 'twas no worse, He told me that he would not flatter, for I must provide me a Nurse: Take heed, etc. I'm sorry you met with this Varlet, the cause of your sorrow and grief, But you would have made her your Harlot, if she had not proved a Thief: You wanted a bit for your Cat, to purge out your mad mellancholly, I pray you think wisely of that, for you have paid well for your folly: Take heed, etc. This was all the comfort he gave, I was never before so beguil'd, The folks in the house did out-brave me, and bid me provide for my Child: I carried my Child unto Nurse, to end all the trouble and strife, With never a groat in my Purse, I went home unto my Wife: Take heed, etc. No wonder that Meat is so dear, the Grasier so pincheth the poor, But now it doth plainly appear, the Grasier maintaineth a Whore Since Wenches so chargeable are, the Grasier had need to be witty, If ever it should be his care, to fetch his loss out of the City. Take heed of bad women therefore, etc.
FINIS. Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke.