Vi

The clapper dugeon lies in the skipper, He dares not come out for shame, But when he binges out he dus budg to the gigger, Tip in my skew good dame.

[1: good woman, tramp] [2: sheet] [3: cloak; shirt; beg] [4: purse; money; rings] [5: good man] [6: wife] [7: gone to her longhome] [8: tramp and beg] [9: Notes] [10: find out] [11: thieves; congregate; get money] [12: sold the swag] [13: go to the alehouse] [14: called the "Robin Hood."] [15: arrested?] [16: cheat and steal] [17: magistrate] [18: Newgate] [19: Hold your jaw! hide, and say no more] [20: Notes] [21: hanging; pick a purse] [22: rob; whore; hang] [23: Notes] [24: Notes] [25: beggar; barn] [26: comes out; goes to people's doors--"Put something in my wallet."]

"A GAGE OF BEN ROM-BOUSE" [Notes] [1611]

[By MIDDLETON and DEKKER in "The Roaring Girl" V, 1. Sung by Moll-Cut-purse and Tearcat a bullying rogue.]

Moll. Come you rogue, sing with me:--

A gage of ben Rom-bouse, In a bousing-ken of Rom-vile

Tearcat. Is benar than a Caster, Peck, pennam, lap, or popler, Which we mill in deuse a vile.

Moll. Oh, I wud lib all the lightmans, Oh, I woud lib all the darkemans, By the Salomon, under the Ruffemans By the Salomon in the Hartmans

Tearcat. And scoure the queer cramp ring And couch till a palliard dock'd my dell, So my bousy nab might skew rome bouse well Avast to the pad, let us bing; Avast to the pad, let us bing.

[1 A pot of strong ale (or wine)] [2 London ale-house] [3 better than a cloak] [4 meat, bread, drink, or porridge] [5 steal on the country-side.] [6 lie all day] [7 night] [8 By the mass! in the woods] [9 stocks] [10 in fetters] [11 Notes] [12 addle-pate may swill strong drink] [13 Let us be off on the road.]

"BING OUT, BIEN MORTS" [Notes] [1612]

[From O per se O, by THOMAS DEKKER].

Bing out, bien Morts, and toure, and toure, bing out, bien Morts, and toure; For all your Duds are bingd awaste, the bien coue hath the loure.

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