A web-based edition of early seventeenth-century political poetry from manuscript sources. It brings into the public domain over 350 poems, many of which have never before been published.
E5 Well met Jockie whether away
Notes. This undated verse is one of two satirical attacks on the Scots’ alleged consumption of English wealth that focuses on the sartorial transformation of beggarly Scotsmen into finely dressed courtiers.
Well met Jockie1 whether away
Shall we two have a worde or tway2
Thow was so lousie the other day
How the devill comes thow so gay
Ha ha ha by sweet St. An3
5Jockie is growne a gentle man.
Thy shoes that thou worst when thow went’st to plow
Were made of the hyde of a Scottish cow
They are turnd into Spanish leather now
Bedeckt with roses4 I now not how.
10Ha ha ha &c.
Thy stockings that were of a northerne blew
That cost not past 12d5 when they were new
Are turnd into a silken hew
Most gloriouslye to all mens vew
15Ha ha ha &c
Thy belt that was made of a white leather thonge
Which thow & thy father ware so longe
Are turn’d to hangers6 of velvet stronge
With golde & pearle embroydred amonge
20Ha ha ha
Thy garters that were of the Spanish say7
Which from the taylor thow stollst away
Are now quite turnd to silke they say
With great broad laces fayre & gay
25Ha ha ha.
Thy doublet & breech that were so playne
On which a louse could scarce remayne
Are turnd to sattin god a mercie brayne
That thow by begging couldst this obtayne
30Ha ha ha
Thy cloake which was made of a home spun thread
Which thow wast wonte to flinge on thy bed
Is turnd into a skarlet red
With golden laces aboute thee spread
35Ha ha ha.
Thy bonnet of blew which thow wor’st hether
To keep thy skonce8 from winde & wether
Is throwne away the devill knowes whether
And turn’d to a bever hat & feather.
40Ha ha ha.
Westminster hall was coverd with lead
And so was St. John9 many a day
The Scotchmen have begd it to buy them bread
The devill take all such Jockies away.
45Ha ha ha.
Source. V&A MS D25.F.39, fols. 88v-89r
Other known sources. PRO SP 14/191/6
E5
1 Jockie: diminutive of John (Jack)—as in the 1604 libel on John Whitgift “The prelats pope”—and, in this case, an ethnic nickname for a Scotsman. <back>
3 St. An: St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland. <back>
4 roses: a knotted, rose-shaped ribbon worn on the shoe. <back>
5 12d: twelve pence (or one shilling). <back>
6 hangers: loops on which a sword would hang from a belt. <back>
7 say: a fine-textured woollen cloth. <back>
9 Westminster hall...St. John: these lines possibly refer to an actual case involving the selling off of lead from London buildings. The identity of St. John’s is unclear; however, it could be an allusion to the Priory Church of St. John of Jerusalem in Clerkenwell, that had been dismantled in stages since the dissolution of its monastic order in the sixteenth century. <back>
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