London 'prentice, or, The wanton mistress/London 'prentice, or, The wanton mistress

The LONDON ’PRENTICE.

YOu wanton dames who want to range,
the country round about;
Both night and day, to seek and search,
and find young gallants out,

Your wanton fancies for to please,
betime give ear to me.
For here’s a song I really think
will fit you to a tee.

’Tis of a merchant in the Strand,
that had a handsome wife,
And she loved the change of men,
as dear’s she lov’d her life.

That merchant had a young ’prentice,
that was at man’s estate,
And as I understand his wife,
this 'prentice she did hate.

The life he with his mistress liv’d,
caus'd him shed floods of tears,
She oftentimes would call him names,
and lug him by the ears:

This sort of life with her he liv’d,
almost his first three years;
But now you’ll know through policy,
he fitted her as appears.

One day in costly rich array,
she then abroad did go,
And to find out the gaming kane,
the ’prentice lov’d to know.

Where’er she went, he did her dog,
near to Salisbury-court;
There to a Crack-shop she went in,
to act her wanton sport.

To fit her for her former tricks,
now mark well his design;
He borrow’d a new suit of clothes,
both costly, fresh and fine:

With beaver-hat, and knotted wig,
sword by his side, and all;
Then to the Crack-shop he did go,
for a private room did call

He saw his mistress and one more,
a topping miss of the town,
With painted face and curled hair,
a walking up and down.

Now after he had sat a while,
a knock or two he gave,
The drawer straightway came to him,
to know what he would have.

His answer was I want a miss,
the drawer straight reply’d;
Sir, you shall have one by and by,
to sit down by your side.

Two pictures to him then was brought,
for him to choose his miss:
One was his mistresses picture,
He said, I will have this.

Then in short time, with impudence,
she came into the room;
And for to sit down by his side,
this thing she did presume:

With kisses sweet and pleasant talk,
they pass’d the time away;
At length two games at Frisky-huff,
he with her then did play.

As they were playing at the game,
Bow-bells did sweetly ring;
She said to him, methinks, to me,
it is a pleasant thing.

To hear how sweet Bow-bells do ring,
and how merrily they go;
His answer was to her again,
I love to hear them too.

O then of her he took his leave,
and did return his clothes,
To him that was the right owner,
and homeward straight he goes:

He had been at home for hours two,
before that she came in,
But little she did think or dream,
he knew where she had been.

So this did pass on but one day,
she thus began to scold,
And for to lug him by the ears,
he said, Pray mistress hold

Your peace, and do not make a noise,
Bow-bells they merrily go,
I love to hear them with all my heart,
and so do you also.

Sirrah, then these words, she said,
what mean you thus to say?
His answer was, have you forgot,
mistress, the other day,

When you in Salisbury-court did play,
there at your wanton game,
Bow-bells they then rang merrily,
have you forgot the same?

Why Sirrah, who was there? she said,
He said, both you and me;
And since it was my lot that time,
your wanton tricks to see:

If e’er you beat me any more,
while I with you do dwell,
For you playing at Frisky-huff,
I will my master tell.

A cursed blank, quoth she, it is
that I should be trapaned so,
I would not for five hundred pounds,
my husband should it know.

If he then of my tricks should know,
it would make him wond’rous sad,
’Twould fill his heart with jealousy,
and make him run horn mad.

Then instead of kicks and blows,
a kiss to him she gave,
And a guinea, saying, When this is done,
thou more of me shalt have.

If thou wilt not thy master tell,
so keep it close, you shall
Have money off me, when thou wilt,
and I'll be at thy call.