Playford's Progeny

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====== NEAL VERSES for several tunes ======

**BARTHOLOMEW FAIR** (six or more verses)\\
William Chappell. from Pills. 1699\\
Adzooks! che's went the other day to London Town.\\
In Smithtown such gazing, such thrusting and Squeezing. was never known,\\
A zitty of wood! some volks do call it Bartledom Fair, \\
But che’s zure nought but kings and queens live there.\\

**COLLYER'S DAUGHTER**\\
Air: “The collier’s bonnie lassie” Verse: Robert Burns (3 verses)\\
0 saw ye bonnie Lesley | As she gaed owre the border?\\
She's gane, like Alexander [To spread her conquests farther.\\
To see her is to love her / And love but her forever;\\
For nature made her what she is | And never made anither!\\

**DUSTY MILLER**\\
Herd MS, 1776\\
O the Dusty Miller, O the Dusty Miller,\\
Dusty was his coat and Dusty was his colour,\\
Dusty was the kiss that I got from the miller!\\
0 the Dusty Miller with the Dusty Coat,\\
He will spend a shilling ere he win a groat.\\


**EXCUSE ME**\\
First Booke of Songes 1597. John Dowland (2 of 6 verses)\\
Can she excuse my wrongs with virtues cloake:\\
Shall I call her good when she proves unkind.\\
Are those clear fires which vanish into smoke:\\
Must I praise her leaves when no fruit I find.\\
No no where shadows do for bodies stand,\\
Thou maist be abused if thy sight be dim.\\
Cold love is like to words written on sand.\\
Or to bubbles which on the water swim.\\


**THE FREE MASONS (c. 1735)**\\
Come, let us prepare, We brothers that are met together on merry occasion.\\
Let us drink, laugh and sing, Our wine has a spring,\\
‘Tis a health to an accepted Mason.\\

**LASS OF PETTY'S MILL**\\
“The Lass o’ Patie’s Mill” (3 verses) Verses; Allan Ramsay\\
The lass o’ Patie’s Mill, Sae bonnie, blithe, and gay,\\
In spite of all my skill, She stole my heart away.\\
When tedding o’ the hay, Bare-headed on the green,\\
Love midst her locks did play, And wantoned in her e'en.\\


**MOGGY LAUGHTER**\\
New Scottish Orpheus: Air: “Maggie Lauder” (5 verses)\\
Wha wouldna be in love Wi’ bonnie Maggie Lauder?\\
A piper met her gaun to Fife An’ spiered (asked) what was’t they ca'd her.\\
Right scornfully she answer’d him “Begone ye hallanshaker!\\
Jog on your gate, ye bladderskate, My name is Maggie Lauder.”\\
(described in the verses as a fine dancer: “brawly could she frisk it"\\


**ORE BOGGY**\\
Simpson, from a broadside c. 1708 (also called: Ore Scroggy, o’re Boggy)\\
I'll o’re Bogie we my love. I'll 0’re Bogie we him.\\
And all my Kine had sworn and said I'll o’re Bogie we him\\

**RICHMOND BALL (Mr. Lane’s Maggot, or The Rambles)**\\
“A Song made by Mr. Tho. D'Urfey upon a new County Dance at Richmond”\\
Strike up, drowsy Gut-scrapers / Gallants, be ready / Each with his Lady;\\
Foot it about / Till the night be run out, / Let no one’s humour pall.\\
Brisk lads, now cut your Capers, | Put your legs to’t, / and shew you can do't:\\
Frisk, frisk it away / Till break of day, / And hey for Richmond Ball. \\
(More verse follows, as do dance directions in verse! )\\

**THOMAS I CANNOT**\\
William Chappell, 1859, from “History of the Stage”, 1749\\
My scandalous neighbors of Portugal Street, Come listen a while to my ditty\\
I'll sing you a song though my voice be not sweet, and that you will say is a pity\\
As merry a sonnet as times can afford, Of Eglington, Walker, Jack Hall and my Lord\\
If you doubt what | say, To confirm ev'ry word, \\
I'll call as a witness Will Thomas, Will Thomas, I'll call as a witness Will Thomas\\


**A YOUNG VIRGIN OF I5 YEARS**\\
William Chappell, 1859, from “ The Generous Freemason”, 1731\\
When you court a young virgin of sixteen years,\\
You may banish your sorrows, your griefs and cares:\\
Your whining and pining will never, never,\\
Steer you to harbour, Then cease your fears.\\
Pleasure and joy let your face adorn, Be lively and gay as a summer's morn.\\
Push home your affairs or you ever, ever Justly will earn the fair one’s scorn\\