Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910.

The Healths

Patrick Cary (fl. 1651)

SOME, faith, since I’m parting, and that God knows when

The walls of sweet Wickham I shall see again;

Let’s e’en have a frolic, and drink like tall men,

Till heads with healths go round.

And first to Sir William, I’ll take ’t on my knee

He well doth deserve that a brimmer it be:

More brave entertainments none ere gave than he;

Then let his health go round.

Next to his chaste lady, who loves him alife;

And whilst we are drinking to so good a wife,

The poor of the parish will pray for her life;

Be sure her health go round.

And then to young Will, the heir of this place;

He’ll make a brave man, you may see’t in his face;

I only could wish we had more of the race;

At least let his health go round.

To well-graced Victoria the next room we owe;

As virtuous she’ll prove as her mother, I trow,

And somewhat in housewifery more she will know;

O let her health go round!

To plump Bess, her sister, I drink down this cup;

Birlackins (my masters) each man must take’t up;

’Tis foul play (I bar it) to simper and sup,

When such a health goes round.

And now helter-skelter to th’ rest of the house,

The most are good fellows, and love to carouse;

Who’s not, may go sneak-up; he’s not worth a louse,

That stops a health i’ th’ round.

To th’ clerk, so he’ll learn to drink in the morn;

To Heynous, that stares when he has quaft up his horn;

To Philip, by whom good ale ne’er was forlorn;

These lads can drink a round.

John Chandler! come on, here’s some warm beer for you;

A health to the man that this liquor did brew;

Why, Hewet! there’s for thee; nay, take’t, ’tis thy due,

But see that it go round.

Hot Coles is on fire, and fain would be quench’d;

As well as his horses the groom must be drench’d;

Who’s else? let him speak, if his thirst he’d have stench’d

Or have his health go round.

And now to the women, who must not be coy.

A glass, Mistress Cary, you know’s but a toy;

Come, come, Mistress Sculler, no pardonnez moy,

It must, it must go round.

Dame Nell, so you’ll drink, we’ll allow you a sop.

Up with’t, Mary Smith; in your draught never stop.

Law! there now, Nan German has left ne’er a drop,

And so must all the round.

Jane, Joan, Goody Lee, great Meg, and the less,

Ye must not be squeamish, but do as did Bess:

How th’ others are named, If I could but guess,

I’d call them to the round.

And now, for my farewell, I drink up this quart;

To you, lads and lasses, e’en with all my heart:

May I find ye ever, as now when we part,

Each health still going round.