Great Boobee

2. I went to School with good intent,
And for to learn my book,
And all the day I went to play,
In it I never did look;
Full seven years, or very nigh,
As I may tell to thee,
I could hardly say my Christ-Cross-Row,
Like a great Boobee.

3. My father then all the haste,
did set me to the Plow,
And for to lash the horse about,
Indeed, I knew not how;
My father took his Whip in hand,
And soundly lashed me,
He call'd me Fool and Country Clown,
and a great Boobee.

4. But I did from my Vather run,
For I will plow no more,
Because he had so slashed me,
And made my sides so sore;
But I will go to London town,
Zome Vashions for to see;
When I came there, they call'd me Clown,
And a great Boobee.

5. But as I went along the street,
I carried my Hat in my hand,
And to every one that I did meet,
I bravely bus't my hand;
Some did laugh, and some did scoff,
And some did mock at me,
And some did say I was a Woodcock,
And a great Boobee.

6. Then I did walk in hast to Paul's,
The Steeple for to view,
Because I heard some people say,
It should be builded new;
Then I got up unto the top,
The City for to see:
I was so high it made me cry,
Like a great Boobee.

7. From thence I went to Westminster,
And for to see the Tombs,
Oh, said I, what a house is here,
With an infinite sight of rooms,
Sweetly the Abbey-Bells did ring,
It was a fine sight to see,
Methought I was going to Heaven in a string,
Like a great Boobee.

8. But as I went along the street,
The most part of the day,
Many Gallants did I meet,
Methought they were very gay;
I blew my nose, and befoul'd my hose,
Some people did me see,
They said I was a Beastly Fool,
And a great Boobee.

10. As I through Smithfield lately walkt,
A gallant Lass I met,
Familiarly with me she talkt,
Which I cannot forget;
She proffered me a pint of Wine,
Methought she was wonderous free,
To the Tavern I went with her,
Like a great Boobee.

11. She told me we were near of kin,
And call'd for Wine good store,
Before the reckoning was brought in,
My Cousin prov'd a Whore:
My purse she pickt, and went away,
My Cousin cozened me,
The Vintner kickt me out of door,
Like a great Boobee.

12. At the Exchange, when I came there,
I saw most gallant things,
I thought the pictures living
Were of all our English Kings;
I doft my Hat, and made a leg,
And kneeled on my knee,
The people laught, and call'd me Fool,
And a great Boobee.

13. To Paris-Garden then I went,
Where there was great resort,
My pleasure was my punishment,
I did not like the sport:
The Garden Bull, with his stout horns,
On high then tossed me;
I did bewray myself with fear,
Like a great Boobee.

14. The Bear-heard went to save me then,
The people flockt about,
I told all the Bear-garden-men
My guts were almost out;
They said I stunk most grievously,
No man would pitty me,
They call'd me witless Fool and Ass,
And a great Boobee.

15. Then o're the Water did I pass,
As you shall understand,
I dropt into the Thames, alas!
Before I came to land:
The Water-man did help me out,
And thus did say to me,
'Tis not thy fortune to be drown'd,
Thou great Boobee.

16. But I have learned so much wit,
Shall shorten all my cares,
If I can but a License get,
To play before the Bears;
'Twill be a gallant place indeed,
As I may to thee,
Then who dares call me Fool or Ass,
Or a great Boobee.