My wife will be my Master. Or, The Married-man's Complaint against his unruly Wife.  
The Tune is, A Tailor is a man.  
 

AS I was walking forth of late,  
I heard a Man complaining,  
●ith that I drew me near to him,  
〈◊〉 know the cause and meaning  
〈◊〉 this his sorrow, pain and grief,  
●●ich bred him such disaster.  
●●●s, quoth he, what sh●ll I do,  
●y wife will be my Master.   

●●t if ever I am a Widower,  
●●d another wife do marry,  
〈◊〉 ●ean to keep her poor and bare,  
●nd the purse I mean to carry.   

●f I should give her forty pound,  
within her apron ●●lding,  
〈◊〉 longer than she's telling out,  
her tongue would ne'er leave scolding,  
〈◊〉 Eso●s Dog barked at the Moon,  
●●●king for to distaste her,  
〈◊〉 doth my wife scold without cause,  
●nd strives to be my Master;   

〈◊〉 if ever, etc.   

Were I so strong as Hercules,  
or wiser than Apollo,  
Or had I Icarus wings to fly,  
my wife would after follow.  
Or should I live as many years,  
as ever did King Nestor,  
Yet I do greatly stand in fear,  
my wife would be my Master.   

But if ever, etc.   

I know no cause nor reason why,  
that she with me should jangle,  
I never gave her cause at all,  
to make her with me wrangle;  
I please her still in what I may,  
and do no jot distaste her,  
Yet she doth strive both night and day,  
always to be my Master,   

But if ever I am a Widower,  
and another wife do marry.  
I mean to keep her poor and bare,  
and the purse I mean to carry.   

My wife is my, etc.   
 

I Every morning make a fire,  
all which is done to ease her,  
I get a Nutmeg, make a toast,  
in hope therewith to please her;  
Of a cup of nappy ale and spice,  
of which she is first taster,  
And yet this cros-grained quean will scold  
and strive to be my master.   

But if ever, etc.   

I wash the dishes, wash the house,  
I dress her wholesome diet,  
I humour her in every thing,  
because I would be quiet:  
Of every several dish of meat,  
she'll surely be first taster,  
And I am glad to pick the bones,  
she is so much my master:   

But if ever, etc.   

Sometimes she'll sit while day gives light  
in company with good fellows,  
In Taverns and in bousing ken,  
or in some pimping Alehouse;  
& when she comes home drunk at night,  
though I do not distaste her,  
She'll fling she'll throw, she'll scratch and bite  
and strive to be my Master.   

But if ever, etc.   

Her bed I make both soft and fine,  
and put on shoes completely,  
Her shoes and stockings I pull off,  
and lay her down most neatly:  
I cover her and keep her warm,  
for fear I should distaste her,  
I hug her kindly in my arms,  
yet still she'll be my master:   

But if ever, etc.   

And when I am with her in bed,  
she doth not use me well sir,  
She'll wring my nose, and pull my ears,  
a pitiful case to tell sir:  
And when I am with her in bed,  
not meaning to molest her,  
She'll kick me out at the bed's feet,  
and so become my master:   

But if ever, etc.   

And thus you hear how cruelly  
my wife doth still abuse me;  
At bed at board, at noon and night,  
she always doth misuse me:  
But if I were a lusty Man,  
and able for to baste her,  
Then would I surely use some means,  
that she should not be my master.   

But if ever, etc.   

You Bachelors that sweethearts have,  
when as you are a Wooing,  
Be sure you look before you leap,  
for fear of your undoing:  
The after wit is not the best,  
and he that weds in haste s; it,  
May like to me bewail his case,  
if his wife do prove his Master:   

But if ever, etc.   

You Married Men that have good wives  
I wish you deal well by them,  
For they more precious are then gold,  
if once you come to try them:  
A good wife makes a husband glad,  
then let him not distaste her,  
But a scold will make a Man run mad,  
if once she proves his Master,   

But if ever, etc.    

Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, I. Wright, and I. Clark.