Robin and Kate: or,  
A bad husband converted by a good wife, in a dialogue between Robin and Kate.  
To the tune of Blue Cap.  

 
Fare in the North Country (as I have heard tell)  
there lines a blithe couple caved Robin and Kate:  
This Robin doth love nappy liquor so well,  
that he'll be at th'Alehouse both early and late  
The wife to her husband  
i'th' morning doth say,  
I prithee sweet Robin  
at home with me stay,  
Thou wastest thy time,  
and spendest thy chink,  
Turn back again Robin,  
and ga' not to drink  Man. 
I prithee sweet honey be patient and quiet,  
I'm sure thou want'st nothing that's fit for thy state,  
Thou lackest neither money, apparell, nor diet,  
if any thou dost, do but speak and thou'st ha'te:  
Thou hast all the good  
that a wife can desire,  
thou'st servant's to ' tend thee,  
and I pay their hire:  
Then for my good-fellowship  
do not thou prate,  
For I must and I will  
have my humour sweet Kate.  Wife. 
'tis chiefly thy company that I do want,  
beside, though we now have sufficient to live,  
Yet if thou the Alehoule thus daily do haunt,  
we may become fitter to take than to give:  
Sweet husband consider  
and take my advice,  
Let not thy companions  
thus lewdly entice  
Thy heart from thy Kate,  
but upon my words think,  
Turn back again Robin,  
and ga' not to drink.  
Out, out, hold thy twattle and do not thus preach,  
I'll not be ruled by thee whatever thou say,  
Seek not by perswastons my mind to overreach,  
for I'll to the Alehouse as fast as I may▪  
If thither thou follow,  
thou welcome shalt be,  
So thou wilt be quiet  
and pleasant with me,  
Stay here or ga with me,  
'tis both of a rate,  
But I must, and I will  
have my humour sweet Kate.  Wife. 
Waes' me bonny Robin, that ere I was marrids,  
unto sick a husband that seeks my undoing,  
I would with my mother at home I had tarryde,  
or thought upon this when thou first cam'st a wooing▪  
I think in my conscience,  
(and I have cause why,)  
That thou lov'st some other,  
far better than I:  
Thou hat'st to stay with me,  
than what may I think,  
Turn back again Robin  
and ga' not to drink.  Man. 
Nay now I find Kate whereabout thy shoe wrings,  
by this I perceive that of me thou art jealous,  
But I for my part never dream of sick things,  
I seek not for wenches, but honest good fellows:  
A pipe of Tobacco,  
a Pot or a jugg,  
These are the sweet honeys  
that I kiss and hug:  
All wenching delights  
are with me out of date,  
But I must and I will  
have my humour sweet Kate.   

The second part  
To the same tune.  
 Wife 
I Prithee my joy do not take at the worst  
the words that I speak in the heat of affection,  
No evil conceit in my bosom is nursed,  
I de have thee be ruled by my loving direction:  
It think thou art honest  
to me in thy heart,  
But company ill  
may draw thee apart:  
To wasteful expenses  
thy mind do not link:  
Turn back again Robin,  
and ga' not to drink.  Man. 
Good wife be persuaded, and let me alone,  
forall thy vain prattle will prove but mere folly,  
I tell thee my heart will be cold as a stone,  
if I stay at home I shall be melancholy  
I'll make myself merry  
as long as I've store  
Tush Kate never think on't  
wee'st never be poor:  
Shall I stay at home  
on thy fancy to wait,  
No I must and I will  
have my humour sweet Kate.  Wife. 
Why Robin when first thou didst marry with me,  
thou thoughtst thyself best when thou ●●…idst with me longest,  
How comes the case thus to be altered with thee,  
true love by much usage will grow to be strongest:  
But now thou art weary  
of my company,  
And canst not be merry,  
I prithee Love why?  
Thou giv'st me occasion  
strange matters to think,  
Turn back again Robin,  
and ga' not to drink.  Man. 
Oh who would be troubled thus with a fool,  
I prithee swéetheart take one word for thy learning,  
I scorn that my wife over me should bear rule:  
why Kate, do I sp●nd any thing of thy earning?  
I love thee as well  
as I did the first day,  
And yet when I list  
I will go or I'll stay,  
To be at command  
of my wife, I do hate,  
For I must and I will,  
have my humour sweet Kate.  Wife 
Alas my dear Lui● thou mistakest me much,  
I do not command thee, that's not my intention,  
For my humble duty unto thee is such,  
that one word of anger to thee I'll not mention  
Examine thy heart,  
and thou shalt understand  
I give thee good counsel,  
I do not command:  
Then with due discretion,  
upon my words think,  
Turn back again Robin,  
and ga' not to drink.  Man. 
Ah now my sweet Kate I perceive very well,  
thy words do proceed from a hearty affection,  
Now all my delight in thy bosom▪ shall dwell,  
I'll ever be ordered by thy direction  
My former ill husbandry,  
I will repent,  
And in thy sweet company,  
rest well content:  
Strong Liquor no more,  
shall impair my estate,  
Now I'll stay at home  
with my bonny sweet Kate.   
M. P.  
FINIS.   

London Printed for Thomas L 〈…〉