OLD SONG: THE CUCKOLD'S CAP.

The following song I never saw in print. I knew an old lady, who fifty years ago used to sing it. Is it known?

Near Reading there lived a buxom young dame,

The wife of a miller, and Joan was her name;

And she had a hen of a wondrous size,

The like you never beheld with your eyes:

It had a red head, gay wings, yellow legs,

And every year laid her a bushel of eggs,

Which made her resolve for to set it with speed,

Because she'd a mind to have more of the breed.

Now as she was setting her hen on a day,

A shepherd came by, and thus he did say:

"Oh, what are you doing?" She answered him then,

"I'm going to set my miraculous hen."

"O, Joan," said the shepherd, "to keep your eggs warm,

And that they may prosper and come to no harm,

You must set them all in a large cuckold's cap,

And then all your chickens will come to good hap."

"O, I have no cuckold's cap, shepherd," said she,

"But nevertheless I'll be ruled by thee;

For this very moment I'll trudge up and down,

And borrow one, if there be one in the town."

So she went to the baker's, and thus she did say:

"O, lend me a cuckold's cap, neighbour, I pray,

For I'm going to set my miraculous hen,

And when that I've done with't, I'll bring it again."

The baker's wife answered, and thus she replied:

"Had I got such a thing, you should not be denied;

But these nineteen or twenty years I have been wed,

And my husband ne'er had such a cap to his head.

But go to my cousin, who lives at the mill,

I know she had one, and she may have it still;

Tell her I sent you, she'll lend it, I know."

"Thank ye," says Joan, and away she did go.

So, straight to the house of the miller she went,

And told her that she by her cousin was sent,

To borrow a thing which was wondrous rare,

'Twas a large cuckold's cap, which her husband did wear.

"I do not dispute but such things there may be;

But why should my cousin, pray, send you to me?

For these nineteen or twenty years I've been a wife,

And my husband ne'er had such a cap in his life.

"But go to the quaker who lives at the Swan,

I know she had one, and if 'tisn't gone,

Tell her to lend it to you for my sake,

Which I the same for a great favour shall take."

So she went to the house of old Yea and Nay,

And said to his wife, who was buxom and gay,

"I'm come for to borrow, if that you will lend,

A large cuckold's cap: I was sent by a friend."

The quaker's wife answered and said, with a frown,

"Why, I've no such thing, if thou'dst give me a crown;

Besides, I'd not lend it, friend Joan, if I had,

For fear it should make my old husband run mad.

In town there are many young damsels, perhaps,

Who may be ingenious in making these caps,

But as for their names, I really can't say,

So, therefore, friend Joan, excuse me, I pray."

Now Joan being tired and weary withal,

She said, "I've had no good fortune at all.

I find that it is the beginning of sorrow,

To trudge up and down among neighbours to borrow.

A large cuckold's cap I wanted indeed,

A thing of small value, and yet couldn't speed:

But, as I'm a woman, believe me," says Joan,

"Before it be long, I'll have one of my own."

J. R. R ELTON.