THERE 1 was a Lady in this Land | |
| That loved a Gentleman, | |
| And could not have him secretly, | |
| As she would now and then, | |
| Till she devised to dress him like | 5 |
| A Tinker in Vocation: | |
| And thus, disguised, she bid him say, | |
| He came to clout her Cauldron. | |
| |
| His face full fair she smothers black | |
| That he might not be known, | 10 |
| A leather Jerkin on his back, | |
| His breeches rent and torn; | |
| With speed he passed to the place, | |
| To knock he did not spare: | |
| Who’s that, quoth the lady[’s Porter] then, | 15 |
| That raps so rashly there. | |
| |
| I am a Tinker, then quoth he, | |
| That worketh for my Fee, | |
| If you have Vessels for to mend, | |
| Then bring them unto me: | 20 |
| For I have brass within my bag, | |
| And target in my Apron, | |
| And with my skill I can well clout, | |
| And mend a broken Cauldron. | |
| |
| Quoth she, our Cauldron hath most need, | 25 |
| At it we will begin, | |
| For it will hold you half an hour | |
| To trim it out and in: | |
| But first give me a glass of drink, | |
| The best that we do use, | 30 |
| For why it is a Tinker’s guise | |
| No good drink to refuse. | |
| |
| Then to the Brew-house hyed they fast, | |
| This broken piece to mend, | |
| He said he would no company, | 35 |
| His Craft should not be kend, | |
| But only to your self, he said, | |
| That must pay me my Fee: | |
| I am no common Tinker, | |
| But work most curiously. | 40 |
| |
| And I also have made a Vow, | |
| I’ll keep it if I may, | |
| There shall no mankind see my work, | |
| That I may stop or stay: | |
| Then barred he the Brew-house door, | 45 |
| The place was very dark, | |
| He cast his Budget from his back, | |
| And frankly fell to work. | |
| |
| And whilst he played and made her sport, | |
| Their craft the more to hide, | 50 |
| She with his hammer stroke full hard | |
| Against the Cauldron side: | |
| Which made them all to think, and say, | |
| The Tinker wrought apace, | |
| And so be sure he did indeed, | 55 |
| But in another place. | |
| |
| The Porter went into the house, | |
| Where Servants used to dine, | |
| Telling his Lady, at the Gate | |
| There stayed a Tinker fine: | 60 |
| Quoth he, much Brass he wears about, | |
| And Target in his Apron, | |
| Saying, that he hath perfect skill | |
| To mend your broken Cauldron. | |
| |
| Quoth she, of him we have great need, | 65 |
| Go Porter, let him in, | |
| If he be cunning in his Craft | |
| He shall much money win: | |
| But wisely wist she who he was, | |
| Though nothing she did say, | 70 |
| For in that sort she pointed him | |
| To come that very day. | |
| |
| When he before the Lady came, | |
| Disguised stood he there, | |
| He blinked blithly, and did say, | 75 |
| God save you Mistris fair; | |
| Thou’rt welcome, Tinker, unto me, | |
| Thou seem’st a man of skill, | |
| All broken Vessels for to mend, | |
| Though they be ne’er so ill; | 80 |
| I am the best man of my Trade, | |
| Quoth he, in all this Town, | |
| For any Kettle, Pot, or Pan, | |
| Or clouting of a Cauldron. | |
| |
| Quoth he, fair Lady, unto her, | 85 |
| My business I have ended, | |
| Go quickly now, and tell your Lord | |
| The Cauldron I have mended: | |
| As for the Price, that I refer | |
| Whatsoever he do say, | 90 |
| Then come again with diligence, | |
| I would I were away. | |
| |
| The Lady went unto her Lord, | |
| Where he walked up and down, | |
| Sir, I have with the Tinker been, | 95 |
| The best in all the Town: | |
| His work he doth exceeding well, | |
| Though he be wondrous dear, | |
| He asks no less than half a Mark | |
| For that he hath done here. | 100 |
| |
| Quoth he, that Target is full dear, | |
| I swear by God’s good Mother: | |
| Quoth she, my Lord, I dare protest, | |
| ’Tis worth five-hundred other; | |
| He strook it in the special place, | 105 |
| Where greatest need was found, | |
| Spending his brass and target both, | |
| To make it safe and sound. | |
| |
| Before all Tinkers in the Land, | |
| That travels up and down, | 110 |
| Ere they should earn a Groat of mine, | |
| This man should earn a Crown: | |
| Or were you of his Craft so good, | |
| And none but I it kend, | |
| Then would it save me many a Mark, | 115 |
| Which I am fain to spend. | |
| |
| The Lady to her Coffer went, | |
| And took a hundred Mark, | |
| And gave the Tinker for his pains, | |
| That did so well his work; | 120 |
| Tinker, said she, take here thy fee, | |
| Sith here you’ll not remain, | |
| But I must have my Cauldron now | |
| Once scoured o’er again. | |
| |
| Then to the former work they went, | 125 |
| No man could them deny; | |
| The Lady said, good Tinker call | |
| The next time thou com’st by: | |
| For why, thou dost thy work so well, | |
| And with so good invention, | 130 |
| If still thou hold thy hand alike, | |
| Take here a yearly Pension. | |
| |
| And ev’ry quarter of the year | |
| Our Cauldron thou shalt view; | |
| Nay, by my faith, her Lord gan say, | 135 |
| I’d rather buy a new; | |
| Then did the Tinker take his leave | |
| Both of the Lord and Lady; | |
| And said, such work as I can do, | |
| To you I will be ready. | 140 |
| From all such Tinkers of the trade | |
| God keep my Wife, I pray, | |
| That comes to clout her Cauldron so, | |
| I’ll swing him if I may. | |
