Thomas you cannott. [Page 521 of MS.] THE very attractive air to which the following ballad was sung is to be found in Popular Music of the Olden Time, i. 337, but the words seem to exist only in this Manuscript. Their date cannot be much later than the commencement of James the First's reign, since one of the ballads against the Roman Catholics, written after the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot, was to be sung "to the tune of Thomas, you cannot;" also because the air bears the same name in several collections of music for the virginals of corresponding, if not earlier, date.-W. C. THOMAS: vntyed his points1 apace, & kindly hee beseeches that shee wold giue him time & space ffor to vntye 2 his breeches. "Content, Content, Content!" shee cryes. he downe with his breeches imedyatlye, & ouer her belly he Cast his thye. But then shee Cryes "Thomas! you Cannott, you 3 Cannott! O Thomas, O Thomas, you Canott!" Thomas, like a liuely ladd, lay close downe by her side: he had the worst Courage that euer had man1; in conscience, the pore ffoole Cryed. 1 Point, a tagged lace, used in tying any part of the dress. Nares.-F. 2 The e has a tag as if for s.-F. 3 MS. camot.-F. ? man had.-W. C. 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 But then he gott some Courage againe, & he crept vpon her belly amaine, & thought to haue hitt her in the right vaine; But then shee &c. This maid was discontented in mind, & angry was with Thomas, that he the time soe long had space,1 & cold nott performe his promise. he promised her a thing, 2 handfull att least, Thomas went to Venus, the goddesse of loue, & hartily he did pray, that this ffaire maid might constant proue in hart & mind they both wee[r]e content; but ere he came att her, his courage was spent, & angry was with Thomas, with Thomas, & angry was with Thomas. Vulcan & venus, with Mars & Apollo, they all 4 swore they wold ayd him ; Mars lent him his buckler & vulcan h[is hammer,2] & downe by her side he laid him.3 & then shee Cryes f.. Tho[mas] 1 so long had time and space.-W. C. 2 MS. torn away.-F. She got angry. He prayed to Venus for help. She and 3 Gods promised to aid him, and did so effectually, End of MS. page 521.-F. I Can any one tell what I ayle? Come all you wanton wenches Come in, Tom longtayle, come short hose & round Last night I thought my true loue I caught. Men that more to the yard northe church Now ffye on dreames & ffond delights PAGE . 101 O Holly Robin, hold thy hande Off all the seas thats cominge Panders, come away See the building which whilest my Mistress liued in That god that dyed for vs all (Fryar and Boye) |