For Master Doctoure1
A most excellent olde songe, sette to a delectable tune, which said songe is to be sung by the said Master Doctoure, when his voice suiteth, fifteen minutes and a halfe after supper in gode companie.
A Physician who flourished 300 years ago, celebrated in the annals of that age for his convivial talents, and the sonorous intonation of his songs after supper which fame says was louder than a chorus of Trombones, double drums, and thunder. ↩
N.B. If the time of singing the foregoing song should be before the end of the yeare, then must the songe be sung as it is here put down; but if the time be after the new yeare has commenced then must the words “wind up” which do apply to the finishing or concluding of the olde yeare be changed to “wellcome” which best suiteth to the arrival or beginning of the new yeare; by which ingenious device the Author of the said songe has contrived to make it to fit both ends of the yeare; which deserveth much praise from all gode fellows with loud voices — and further N.B. that the more noise in the Chorus the better, as much noise greatly encreaseth mirth and gode fellowship as master Geoffrey Chaucer right wittingly sayeth. ↩