Hodge of the mill, or, An old woman clothed in grey/Hodge of the Mill, or, An Old Woman Clothed in Grey

An old WOMAN clothed in GREY.

An old woman clothed in grey,
had a daughter was charming & young,
But she was deluded astray
by Roger's false flatteriug tongue ;

With whom she often had been,
abroad in the meadows and fields ;
Her belly grew up to her chin
her spirit sunk down to her heels.

At length she began for to puke,
her mother possessed with fear :
She gave her a gentle rebuke,
and cry'd, daughter a word in your ear :

I doubt you'vo been playing the fool,
which many call(illegible text)ding a ding,
Why did you not follow my rule,
and tie your two toes in a string.

O Mother! your(illegible text)I took
but yet I was never the near :
he won my heart with a false look,
and his words so enchanted mine ear,

That your precepts I soon did forget,
he on me and would have his scope,
O it is but a folly to fret,
'tis done, and for it there’s no help.

Then who is the father of it(illegible text)
come tell me without more delay
For now I am just in the fit,
to go and hear what he will say.

It is Roger, the damsel reply'd,
he call’d me his own pretty bird,
And said that I should be his bride,
but he was not so good as his word

What! Roger, that lives in the mill?
yes, verily, Mother, the same :
What! Roger, that lives in the mill?
I'll hop to him tho' I am lame.

Go fetch me my crutches with speed,
and bring me my spectacles too,
A lecture to him I will read,
shall ring in his ears thro' and thro'

With that she went hoping away,
and went to young Hodge of the mill,
On him she her crutches did lay,
and cry'd, You have ruin'd my Girl,

By getting her dear maidenhead,
'tis true, you can no ways deny,
Therefore I advise you to wed,
and make her as honest as I.

Then what will you give me? quoth Hodge
if I take your Daughter by hand!
Will you make me the heir of your lodge
your houses, your money, and land?

With all your barns and ploughs,
your cattle and money also?
If so I will make her my spouse.
speak up, Are you willing or no?

Then Goody took Hodge by the hand,
let it be for to have and to hold ;
I will make you the heir of my land,
my houses, my silver and gold.

Make her but your honoured wife;
and you shall be Lord of my store,
Whene’er I surrender my life,
in case it were forty times more.

The bargain was presently struck
they wedded; and this being done,
The old woman wished them good luck,
being proud of, her Daughter and Son,

Then Hey for a Girl or a Boy ;
young Peg look’d as big as a Duchess,
The Old Woman caper’d for joy.
and danc’d up a jig in her crutches.