The Gossips Meeting, Or The merry Market-Women of Taunton.  
The Gossips being in a merry vein,  
Each one doth of her Husband sore complain,  
Declaring how they can them neatly cozen,  
And drink off Pots of Nappy Ale a Dozen.  
Tune of, The Parliament of Women: Or, Digbies Farewell.  

 

COme all my kind neighbours, & hear me a while,  
I'll sing you a song that will make you to smile;  
Of a parcel of Women of late I did hear,  
In an Alehouse a drinking good Ale and strong béer,  
They talked of their Husbands an ain every one,  
Both Margot and Sarah, Rebecka, and Joan;  
And they were resolved to have another's pot,  
Concluding their Husbands at home should not know't.   

Quoth one, I will tell you the thing I do fear,  
My child it doth cry at home whilst I am here;  
But if that my husband doth give me a blow,  
Be sure he shall find me no less than a Shrew:  
To compass my ends I will bring it about,  
And tell him my money it would not hold out,  
For all things so dear in the Market row be,  
Let him go himself and the same he shall see.   

I needs must confess of my husband, said Joan,  
That he is a man who loves to stay at home,  
And hard he doth work for to maintain his charge,  
And seldom doth chide me, although I spend large;  
But if that he knew of the Pots I do drink,  
He would keep me sho●ter of money I think:  
But I will be cunninng enough for him still,  
For I will be sure of a groat at my will.   

Quoth the Widow if I match as I do intend,  
My husband shall ne'er know what money I spend;  
There be many ways for to cozen a man,  
Though he watch his Wise even as close as he can.  
If he gives me money to buy meat to roast,  
Be sure I will reckon him more than it cost;  
And so you may live with your husband's most brave  
And they ne'er the wiser what money you have.    

The Second Part,  
To the same Tune.  
 

SAith Sarah my husband is of such a mind,  
He calls me to reckon what money's behind;  
When I bring it home, he will take't in his hand,  
And then he will ask me in what it doth stand:  
Then I make a lie, and tell him something more,  
Or else this cross Knave would beat me out of door  
For he I not allow me a penny to spend,  
But I care not for two pence if I meet a friend.   

Why should we be curbed so, hang care, let us drink,  
We'll have t'other pot what e'er our husbands think  
If when we come home they upon us do frown,  
we'll give them good words & bring their anger down  
Pretending our Burdens hath tired us sore,  
As if we were ready to fall on the Flore:  
And so by that means they will patient remain,  
And pity us too, when they hear us complain.   

Quoth Margaret your simple to think of such fears,  
If my husband scold I will pull him by the ears,  
I am no such fool as to cringe to a man,  
If that he strikes me, I will strike him again;  
Besides i'm with child, which to me is a joy,  
If that I do box him he thinks I but toy;  
Poor fool he is fearful to breed any brawl,  
For fear I should wrong that I go withal.   

Then qd. Mother prittle prattle, with all my hear●  
We'll have another's Tankard before we five part;  
Come let us sit down and we'll talk of our woes,  
We'll have a full glass in despite of our foes;  
Do not fear your Husbands what ever they be,  
For I my own self have been married to three;  
Although we at noon have had a scolding bout,  
At night I have pleased him when as he came too●   

Methinks Gossip Joan you have a lusty man,  
I hope he doth give you content now and than,  
I'll warrant you're merry enough when I'm sad,  
I'm sure that I want what I formerly had:  
My husband doth sit like a Mome all the day,  
And at night in the bed he is cold as the clay;  
I had rather he would go and drink a Pot or two,  
And come home at night and do what he should do   

But now Gossips all it is time to be gone,  
For I must haste home to my silly old man,  
And then I will tell him a tale in his ear,  
That every thing in the Market is dear;  
How ofsten I travelled about and about,  
And all for to find some good pennyworth out;  
He'll never mistrust I his money did spend,  
And so farewel Gossips, for I'll make an end.     

Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke.