VI.
VII.
VIII.
The ballad entitled the Merry Hoastess is probably of an earlier date than 1664. It bears the initials T. R., and was, perhaps, composed by Thomas Randal. The tune to which it was sung is a capital one, and is to be found in Mr. William Chappell’s Popular Music. This ballad is in the first volume of the Roxburghe Collection.
THE MERRY HOASTESS
or
A pretty new Ditty, compos’d by an Hoastess that lives in the City,
To wrong such an Hoastess it were a great Pitty, By reason she caused this pretty new Ditty.
To the tune of Buffcoat has no fellow.
Come all that loves good company, and hearken to my ditty, ’Tis of a lovely Hoastess fine, that lives in London City; Which sells good ale, nappy and stale, and alwayes thus sings she, My ale was tunn’d, when I was young, and a little above my knee.
Her ale is lively, strong and stout, if you please but to taste; It is well brew’d you need not fear, but I pray you make no waste: It is lovely brown, the best in town, and alwayes thus sings she, My ale was tunn’d when I was young, and a little above my knee.