1.
This winter’s weather it waxeth cold,
And frost it freezeth on every hill,
And Boreas blows his blast so bold
That all our cattle are like to spill.
Bell, my wife, she loves no strife;
She said unto me quietly:
‘Rise up and save cow Crumbock’s life!
Man! put thine old cloak about thee!’
2.
‘O Bell, my wife! why dost thou flyte?
Thou kens my cloak is very thin.
It is so sore over worn;
A cricket thereon cannot run.
I’ll go find the court within;
I’ll no longer lend nor borrow;
I’ll go find the court within,
For I’ll have a new cloak about me.’
3.
‘Cow Crumbock is a very good cow;
She has been always good to the pail;
She has helped us to butter and cheese, I trow,
And other things she will not fail.
For I would be loth to see her pine,
Therefore, good husband, follow my counsel now:
Forsake the court and follow the plough;
Man! take thine old coat about thee!’
4.
‘My cloak it was a very good cloak;
It hath been always good to the wear;
It hath cost me many a groat;
I have had it this four and forty year.
Sometime it was of cloth in grain;
It is now but a sigh clout, as you may see;
It will neither hold out wind nor rain,
And I’ll have a new cloak about me.’
5.
‘It is four and forty years ago
Since the one of us the other did ken,
And we have had betwixt us both
Children either nine or ten.
We have brought them up to women and men;
In the fear of God I trow they be,
And why wilt thou thyself misken?
Man! take thine old cloak about thee!’
6.
‘O Bell, my wife, why dost thou flyte?
Now is now, and then was then;
Seek all the world now throughout;
Thou kens not clowns from gentlemen;
They are clad in black, green, yellow and blue,
So far above their own degree;
Once in my life I’ll take a vow,
For I’ll have a new cloak about me.’
7.
‘King Harry was a very good King;
I trow his hose cost but a crown;
He thought them twelvepence over too dear,
Therefore he called the tailor clown.
He was a king and wore the crown,
And thou’s but of a low degree.
It’s pride that puts this country down;
Man! put thine old cloak about thee!’
8.
‘O Bell my wife! why dost thou flyte?
Now is now and then was then;
We will live now obedient life;
Thou the woman and I the man.
It’s not for a man with a woman to threap
Unless he first give over the plea;
We will live now as we began,
And I’ll have mine old cloak about me.’