Gelding of the Devil, The

DESCRIPTION: The devil admires a baker's horse. The baker explains it is far "Because his Stones be cut away." The devil request the same operation -- then vows revenge when the baker does the task. The baker's wife disguises herself and pretends to have been gelded
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1720 (Pills to Purge Melancholy); the title is in the Stationer's Register for 1656
LONG DESCRIPTION: "There was a Baker of Mansfield Town, To Nottingham Market he was bound." The devil admires his horse. The devil wonders why the horse is so fat. The baker says, "Because his Stones be cut away." The devil request the same operation -- causing the devil great pain and anger. He vows to do the same to the baker. He tells his wife. Not wanting to lose his... services, she offers to disguise herself as him, and pretend already to have been gelded. The trick works
KEYWORDS: horse devil humorous clothes cross-dressing injury trick husband wife
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Simpson-TheBritishBroadsideBallad, pp. 248-250, "The Gelding of the Devil" (2 tunes)
Roud #9312
File: SBBB248

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