%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Taunton Maids delight, / OR, / Hey for the honest Woosted-Comber. / In Taunton Town a Maid doth dwell, / Who loves a Woosted-Comber very well, / In the praise of him she doth declare, / No other Tradesman can with him compare. / All Sweethearts that doth come she does refuse, / Only a Woosted-Comber she doth chuse, / To him she wisheth good prosperity, / For 'tis a Comber must her Husband be. Lanfiere, Thomas 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 04/01/2016 35365

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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

R227388 YOu pretty Maids where e're you are, / come listen unto me, Then hey for the Woosted-Comber brave, / I love him as my life, / If ever I a Husband have, / I will be a Comber's wife. [with variation] Houghton Library 25242.67 Editor none none none none Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 2: 176 The Taunton Maids delight, / OR, / Hey for the honest Woosted-Comber. / In Taunton Town a Maid doth dwell, / Who loves a Woosted-Comber very well, / In the praise of him she doth declare, / No other Tradesman can with him compare. / All Sweethearts that doth come she does refuse, / Only a Woosted-Comber she doth chuse, / To him she wisheth good prosperity, / For 'tis a Comber must her Husband be. The Taunton Maids delight, OR, Hey for the honest Woosted-Comber. In Taunton Town a Maid doth dwell, Who loves a Woosted-Comber very well, In the praise of him she doth declare, No other Tradesman can with him compare. All Sweethearts that doth come she does refuse, Only a Woosted-Comber she doth chuse, To him she wisheth good prosperity, For ‘tis a Comber must her Husband be. The Taunton Maid's delight, OR, Hey for the honest Woosted-Comber. In Taunton Town a Maid doth dwell, Who loves a Woosted-Comber very well, In the praise of him she doth declare, No other Tradesman can with him compare. All Sweethearts that doth come she does refuse, Only a Woosted-Comber she doth choose, To him she wishes good prosperity, For 'tis a Comber must her Husband be. Lanfiere, Thomas ?-? P. Brooksby

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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 4/1/2016 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/1/2016 2:34:20 PM XBallad King, Joyce Created XML Version of Ballad 4/1/2016 2:34:20 PM Transcription Supervisor Palmer, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/1/2016 2:34:20 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Bell, Erik Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/1/2016 2:34:20 PM Transcriptionist Two Chung, Daniella Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/1/2016 2:34:20 PM Transcriptionist One McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/18/2016 Checker Erik Bell Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/5/2015 Bibliographer Rachel LevinsonEmley Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
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YOu pretty Maids where e're you are, come listen unto me, And briefly to you I'l declare in every degree, My choi[c]e in choosing of a mate to you I will unfould, A Woosted-Comber is the man that I love better than Gold: Then hey for the Woosted-Comber brave, I love him as my life, [If] ever I a Husband have, I will be a Comber-wife. Many young men to me doth resort, that of several callings be, With Sugered words they doth me court, to gaine true love of me: But I don't regard what they do say, of them I make but a jest, No man shall steale my heart away from him whom I love best. Then hey for etc.
Now a true description you shall have concerning of my sweethearts, And how I fitted them most brave according to their deserts, Although they strived with might and main yet I lay at per due, There's never a one shall me constrain to change an old Love for a new. Then hey for the Woosted-Comber brave I love him as my life If ever I a Husband have I will be a Comber's wife. The first that to me did make suit, it was a Barbor brave, He gave unto me a kind salute, and said 'twas my love he did crave: But I made to him this reply, I will not be marryed yet, Your Rayzer and Washing-balls truly for my Bason is not fit. Then hey for etc.
THen came a Miller unto me, that was both strong and stout, He swore that I his wife must be, but I gave him the rout: Quoth I, be gone Mr. Loggerhead, and take this answer in briefe, When 'tis my fortune for to wedd, it shall not be with a Thief. Then hey for the Woosted-Comber brave I love him as my life, If ever I a Husband have I will be a Comber's wife. Then came a Smith that was cole-black, and askt me if I would wedd, He said that a good wife he did lack, at night to warm his bed: But I answered him presently with words plain and downright, A Blacksmith's hammer never shall upon my Anvill smight. Then hey etc. A prick-louse Taylor he came in, with his Bodkin, Sheares, and Thimble, To complement he did begin, with speeches quick and nimble; He said if I would be his mate bravely maintain'd I should be, But I told him that Cabbage I did hate, with my body 'twould not agree. Then hey etc. Then came a cold Shooemaker that was both neat and trim, He ask't if I could find in my heart to love and fancy him; Quoth I, march off with Sir Hugh's bones, your suite it is in vain, For it is not a Shooemaker that shall my love obtain. Then hey etc. An honest Weaver came at last, and said he'd constant prove, He said he would maintain me brave, if I would be his love: He was a handsome proper Lad, exceeding all the rest, Of all the six Suitors I had the Weaver was the best, Except the Woosted-Comber brave, etc.
Of all sorts of Tradesmen that are dwelling in Taunton town, None with a Comber can compare, for valour and renown: He is both couragious and stout, in Battel to sight he is free, To his enemy he'l face about, he scornes a Coward to be, Then hey etc. When he with his Comrades doth meet, his money he'l freely spend, With good strong Beer his heart he'l cheer, to the Ale-wife he's a good friend: And when he hath spent an hour or twain in merry company, At the Come-pot again with might & maine, his work he then doth ply. Then hey etc, Sometimes in the fields with his true-love a progress he doth take, With kisses sweet he doth her greet, and much of her doth make: On the green grass the time they pass in sweet felicity, With heart and mind their loves they bind, ne'r parted sor to be. Then hey etc. And thus the Woosted-Comber's praise I have declared to you, In every part is his desert, I have described true, He is the man that I esteem, above Rubies or Pearle, I'de rather chuse to lie by him then by a Lord or Earle. Then hey etc. God bless the Combers and Weavers both that in Taunton doth dwell, Unto them all both great and small I heartily wish well; To those in Milverton so brave I also do commend, Good Trading I wish they still may have, and so I make an end. Then hey for the Woosted-Comber brave I love him as my life, If ever I a Husband have I will be a Comber's wife.
Printed for P. Brooksby at the golden Ball in West- Smithfield.