home | background | illustrations | distribution | highlights | search & browse | resources | contact us |
Broadside entitled 'The Lamentation of the Butchers Wives in Musleburgh for Weighting of the Flesh' |
TranscriptionT H E LAMENTATION Of the Butchers Wives in Musleburgh Some Boutcher's Wives got a fine Soup. We keept a Babie off each Groat. In Fidlar Don's to wash our Throats; And our good Men was a deceived, And never kent what we received, But Since the Law to weight the Meat The noar a Bole can we Cheat, Twill even draw in our Apron Strings. And make us sell our bra Gold Rings. In Sundays Cloaths nane were so rise, And Mensesu as the Fleshers Wise. We scarce sit three Year at the Stand, But we were ready to buy Land. Out of an single Ox, I ve made Since first I kend the Flesher Trade, A Peck of Pearlings and a Plaid. Neither the Baikers nor the Brewars, Had such a lown Trafique as ours. But now they Tope, and were turn'd low, And waes my Heart it should be so: The Brewer makes the Tapster willing To height each nine an other Shilling, It's very far from being discreet, And Bakers pays small Rates for Wheat Whilst the poor Boutchers sighs and groans To give allowances for Bones. And sell the best Gear on the Ground, For poor three half Pennies the Pound. Really as the Proverb says, Ther's unco Chainge 'twixt Mercat Days. He that contriv'd this Law's been Glutton That lov'd to swallow Beef or Mutton, I wish the Flesher Tikes fall on him, And I my self shall help to Stone him, FINIS.
|
Probable date published:
1720- shelfmark: Ry.III.c.36(145)
|