The Taunton Maids delight, OR, hay for the honest Woosted-Comber.  

In Taunton Town a Maid doth dwell,  
Who loves a Woosted-Comber very well,  
In the praise of him she doth declare,  
No other Tradesman can with him compare.  
All Sweethearts that do'h come she does refuse,  
Only a Woosted-Comber she doth choose,  
To him she wisheth good prosperity,  
For 'tis a Comber must her Husband be.   
T. L.  
The Tune is, I have a good old Mother at home, etc.  
 
 

YOu pretty Maids where ere you are,  
come listen unto me,  
And briefly to you I'll declare  
in every degree,  
My choice in choosing of a mate  
to you I will unfold,  
A Woosted-Comber is the man  
that I love better than Gold:  
Then hay for the Woosted-Comber brave,  
I love him as my life,  
ever I a Husband have,  
I will be a Comber wife.   

Many young men to me doth resort,  
that of several callings be,  
With Sugared words they doth me court,  
to gain true love of me:  
But I don't regard what they do say,  
of them I make but a jest,  
No man shall steal my heart away  
from him whom I love best.  
Then hay for etc.   

Now a true description you shall have  
concerning of my sweet hearts,  
And how I fitted them most brave  
according to their deserts,  
Although they strove with might and main  
yet I lay at per due,  
There's never a one shall me constrain  
to change an old Love for a new.  
Then hay for the Woosted-Comber brave  
I love him as my life  
If ever I a Husband have  
I will be a Comber's wife.   

The first that to me did make suit,  
it was a Barber brave,  
He gave unto me a kind salute,  
and said 'twas my love he did crave:  
But I made to him this reply,  
I will not be married yet,  
Your Rayzer and Wishing b●lls truly  
for my Basin is not fit.  
Then hay for etc.   

Then came a Miller unto me,  
that was both strong and stout,  
He swore that I his wife must be,  
but I gave him the rout:  
Quoth I, be gone Mr. Loggerhead,  
and take this answer in brief,  
When 'tis my fortune for to wed,  
it shall not be with a Thief.  
Then hay for the Woosted-Comber brave  
I love him as my life,  
if ever I a Husband have  
I will be a Comber's wife.   

Then came a Smith that was coal-black,  
and asked me if I would wed,  
He said that a good wife he did lack,  
at night to warm his bed:  
But I answered him presently  
with words plain and downright,  
A Blacksmith's hammer never shall  
upon my Anvil smite.  
Then hay etc.   

A pricklouse Taylor he came in,  
with his Bodkin, Sheares, and Thimble,  
To compliment he did begin,  
with speeches quick and nimble;  
He said if I would be his mate  
bravely maintained I should be,  
But I told him that Cabbage I did hate,  
with my body 'twould not agree.  
Then hay etc.   

Then came a cold Shoemaker  
that was both neat and trim,  
He asked if I could find in my heart  
to love and fancy him;  
Quoth I, march off with Sir Hugh's bones,  
Your suit it is in vain,  
For it is not a Shoemaker  
that shall my love obtain.  
Then hay etc.   

An honest Weaver came at last,  
and said he'd constant prove,  
He said he would maintain me brave,  
if I would be his love:  
He was a handsome proper Lad,  
exceeding all the rest,  
Of all the six Suitors I had  
The Weaver was the best,  
Except the Woosted-Comber brave, etc.   

Of all sorts of Tradesmen that are  
dwelling in Taunton town,  
None with a Comber can compare,  
for valour and renown:  
He is both courageous and stout,  
in Battle to sight he is free,  
To his enemy he'll face about,  
he scorns a Coward so be,  
Then hay etc.   

When he with his Comrades doth meet,  
his money he'll freely spend,  
With good strong Beer his heart he'll cheer,  
to the Alewife he's a good friend:  
And when he hath spent an hour or twain  
in merry company,  
At the Come-pot again with might & main,  
his work he then ply.  
Then hay &c,   

Sometimes in the fields with his true-love  
a progress he doth take,  
With kisses sweet he doth her greet,  
and much of her doth make:  
On the green grass the time they pass  
in sweet felicity,  
With heart and mind their loves they bind,  
ne'er parted for to be.  
Then hay etc.   

And thus the Woosted-Comber's praise  
I have declared to you,  
In every part is his desert,  
I have described true,  
He is the man that I esteem,  
above Rubies or Pearl,  
I'd rather choose to lie by him  
then by a Lord or Earl.  
Then hay etc.   

God bless the Combers and Weavers both  
that in Taunton doth dwell,  
Unto them all both great and small  
I heartily with well;  
To those in Milverton so brave  
I also do commend,  
Good Trading I wish they still may have,  
and so I make an end.  
Then hay for the Woosted-Comber brave  
I love him as my life  
If ever I a Husband have  
I will be a Comber's wife.    

Printed for P. Brooksby at the golden Ball is West-smithfield.