The Debtford Frolic; OR, A Hue and Cry after the Shag-Breeches.  
Young Women all, both great and small,  
That handleth Pot or Pail,  
For some I hear, and greatly fear,  
Do oft play with their Tayl.  
Tune of, The fair One let me in.  
 
 

ONe night when blustering winds blue  
and dusky was the Sky  
Tho' I was feeble weak and old,  
a watching then went I:  
But cruel fate did prove unkind.  
my grief did then begin;  
And quite contrary to my mind,  

a stranger he got in.    

Two Keys unto my door I had,  
as I did think it fit.  
But now it makes me almost mad  
I had so little wit;  
For when a watching I was gone  
my sorrow did begin;  
A wanton and a lascivious man  

unknown to me got in.    

Into the bed straightway he went,  
and hugged my loving Wife,  
Who used to give me hearts content,  
I loved her as my life,  
And grieve to think she should commit  
so foul and gross a sin,  
And let him do what was not fit,  

when she had let him in.    
 

As they in sweet embraces lay  
I chanced to return,  
And spoiled the Game which they did play,  
for which my wife did mourn  
She told me she was wondrous ill,  
and thus she did begin  
With shrieks & groans she made her moans  

cause she had let him in.    

I willing was to go to bed  
and off my breeches threw  
She told me she was almost dead,  
and knew not what to do:  
Dear love (quoth she) a Cordial get,  
my pains, my pains afresh begin:  
I little thought she was so naught  

to let another in.    

Away went I most willingly  
for my dear Spouses sake,  
A pair of breeches on put I  
which proved a mistake;  
I to the Apothecaries went  
thinking her love to win.  
A Cordial brave I asked to have,  

not thinking who got in.    

A Cordial was prepared for me  
then thus I did reply:  
At present I cannot pay thee,  
but yet assuredly  
To morrow I will come and pay;  
my Pocket I felt in,  
And there behold was store of Gold  

the youngster had brought in.    

The Apothecary he did view  
the Breeches I had on,  
And them he said full well he knew  
then him I stared upon  
How I by these Shag-Breeches came  
to pause then did begin  
At last thought I assuredly  

she let some Gallant in.    

Away went I most furiously  
this trick to think upon,  
But when I came with grief and sham●  
the youngster he was gone  
I had his Watch and money too,  
and I the horns did win;  
But I am mad and monstruous sad  

that she had let him in.    

Take warning, all both great and small  
in women ne'er confide,  
For some pretend to their lives end  
they constant will abide  
Past all relief unto my grief,  
I know they are prone to sin  
And when you're gone some other men  

sometimes may happen in.     

Printed for P. Brooksby at the Golden Ball in Pie-corner.