Choice of Inventions, Or 
Several sorts of the figure of three,  
That are newly composed as here you may see,  
Then lend your attention you shall hear anon  
It goes to the tune of Rock the Cradle sweet john.   
 


THere were three men of Gotam,  
as I have heard men say,  
That needs would ride a hunting  
upon Saint David's day,  
Though all the day they hunting were,  
yet no sport could they see,  
Until they spied an Owl  
as she sat in a tree:  
The first man said it 'twas a Goose,  
the second man said nay,  
The third man said it was a Hawk,  
but his Bells were fall'n away.  
There was an Ewe had three Lambs,  
and one of them was black,  
There was a man had three sons,  
jeffery, james and jack,  
The one was hanged, the other drowned,  
The third was lost and never found,  
The old man he fell in a sound,  
come fill us a cup of Sack.   

There were three London Lasses  
did love a bonny Lad,  
And either of these Wenches thought  
this young man to have had,  
These Damsels all together met,  
and wrought a strange device,  
That she should have the man that could  
throw most upon three Dice,  
Their maidenheads must be the stake,  
now mark what did befall,  
The young man threw the greatest cast  
and bravely won them all.  
There was an Ewe, etc.   

There were three good old women,  
that would not be controlled,  
And each of them must take her cup  
to keep them from the cold,  
The one of them a Tailor's wife,  
the other was a Weaver,  
The third a merry Cobbler's wife,  
that prayed for dirty weather:  
To sit and chat of this and that  
it was then their hearts desire,  
So long they stayed till two were drunk,  
the third fell in the fire.  
There was an Ewe, etc.   

The Piper piped his wife a dance,  
and there sprung up a Rose,  
The Cobbler drunk strong ale so long  
till he had wronged his Nose:  
His wife came with a Broomstaffe,  
and struck him on the head,  
That every one did surely think  
the Cobbler had been dead,  
But being to his senses come,  
sweet wife said he be quiet,  
This twelve months' day I'll take small Beer,  
or water for my diet.  
There was an Ewe, etc.   

A man that hath a sluttish wife,  
is in a beastly taking,  
And he that hath a cleanly wife  
is of another making:  
He that hath a dogged wife,  
my fancy cannot brook,  
But he that hath a virtuous wife  
hath far more better luck:  
He that hath a drunken wife  
that spends all at the Alehouse,  
Were better take a Cord in hand,  
and hang himself at the Gallows.  
There was a Ewe had three Lambs,  
the one of them was black,  
There was a man had three sons,  
jeffery, james and jack,  
The one was han●'d, the other drowned,  
The third was lost and never found,  
The old man he fell in a sound,  
come fill us a cup of Sack.    

The second part To the same tune.  
 

THere was a ●●sse had three Lovers  
the one of them a Tailor,  
●he second was a moneyed man,  
the third a jovial Sailor,  
The Tailor gave his Love a Gown,  
in love and kind good will,  
The Usurer with his money bags  
her purse did often fill,  
The Sailor in the Evening came  
unto his heart's delight,  
And bravely carried the wench away,  
the child and all by night.  
There was a Ewe had three Lambs,  
and one of them was black,  
There was a man had three sons,  
jeffery, james and jack,  
The one was hanged, the other drowned,  
The third was lost and never found,  
The old man he fell in a sound,  
come fill us a cup of Sack.   

There were three roaring Fiddlers  
came lately out of France,  
That light and nimbly can  
‛ teach maidens how to dance:  
In Turnbull-stréet and Clarkenwell,  
Pickt-hatch and fair Bloomsberry,  
These fiddlers taught their scholar there  
to sing, dance and be merry:  
Yet bid all Fiddlers have a care  
of dancing in this kind,  
Lest they from Tyburn chance to fall,  
and leave their Crowd behind.  
There was, etc.   

A man that hath a sign at his door,  
and kéeps good Ale to sell,  
A comely wife to please his guests,  
may thrive exceeding well,  
But he that hath a scolding wife,  
his fortune is the worse,  
For she'll not only brawl and chide '  
but pick her husband's purse,  
And he that hath a fool to his wife,  
her neighbours oft will ●lout her,  
But he that hath a Whore to his wife,  
were better be without her.  
There was, etc.   

There were three lusty soldiers  
went through a town of late,  
The one loved Bess, the other Sisse,  
the third loved bouncing Kate,  
These maidens were three Laundresses,  
to wash men shirts and bands,  
And for their pains these soldiers gave  
them wages in their hands:  
The Gallants are to Sweathland gone  
all this is truth I tell ye,  
And left these Lasses for to cry,  
woe and alas my belly.  
There was, etc.   

Three Gallants in a Tavern  
did bravely call for Wine,  
But he that loves those dainty Cates  
is sure no friend of mine:  
Give me a cup of Barley broth,  
for this of truth is spoke,  
These gallants drunk so hard that each  
was forced to pawn his Cloak:  
The oil of Barley never did  
such injury do to none,  
So that they drink what may suffice,  
and afterwards be gone.  
There was a Ewe had three Lambs,  
and one of them was black,  
Th●re was a man had three sons,  
jeffery, james and jack.  
The one was hanged, the other drowned,  
The third was lost and never found,  
The old man he fell in a sound,  
come fill us a cup of Sack.     

Printed at London for F. Coles.