Here is a text from 1656 which is a little closer to the modern form:

THE JOVIALL TINKER

There was a Lady in this Land,
She lov'd a Gentleman,
She could not tell what excuse to make
To have him now and then.

But writ a Letter to him,
And seal'd it with her hand,
Bid him become a Tinker,
To clout both pot and pan.

And when he had the Letter,
Full well he could it read,
His Brass and his Budget
Then strait did he provide.

His Hammer and his Pinsors,
And well they did agree,
With a long Club on his back.
And orderly came he.

And when he came to th'Ladies gates
He knocked most hastily,
Then who is there, the Porter sayes,
That knocks thus ruggedly?

I am a jovial Tinker,
And I work for gold and fee,
If you have any broken brasse,
Bring it here unto me.

I am the joviall'st tinker
Betwixt this town and London,
At mending of a pot or pan,
Or clouting of a Caldron.

My Brass is in my Budget,
And my Rivets under my Apron,
I pray you tell her Ladyship
I am come to clout her Caldron.

Madam yon is the strongest tinker
Betwixt this town and London,
He prayes me tell your Ladyship
He is come to clout your Caldron.

O go thy wayes good Porter,
And let the tinker in,
For I have work for him to do,
And many he may gain.

And when he came into the hall,
Upon him she did wink,
Sayes take him into the buttery,
And make the knave to drink.

Such meat as we do eat, she sayes,
And such drink as I use,
For it is not any Tinkers guise
Good liquor to refuse.

She took the Tinker by the hand,
Her work for him to show,
And down fast by the Caldron side
Laid he the Lady low.

And gave to her a hammer
All in her hand to knock--
That her own wedded Lord might think
The Tinker was at work.

She put her hand into her purse,
And pluckt out five good Mark,
Said, take thee this good Tinker,
And for thy good days work.

She took the Tinker by the hand,
Her wedded Lord to show,
Sayes, here is the joviall'st tinker
That ever I did know.

This is the joviall'st tinker,
And the dearest of his work,
For he'll not drive a nail to th' head
But he must have a Mark.

If you had been so wise Madam,
As I had thought you had bin,
Before you had set him on work
You would have agreed with him.

Pray hold your peace, good wedded Lord,
Think not of his work too dear,
For if you could do it but half so well.
'Twould save forty Mark a year.

And be thou not too long tinker,
And look not for my sending,
For if thou stay too long away
My Caldron will want mending.


"Wits Merriment: Or, Lusty Drollery." London, 1656. Pp. 108-11. This is in the classic ballad meter, with some familiar ballad phrases. In current versions, the porter has been replaced by a more modern "butler." This butler - along with the various other servants - is then attacked by the "tinker", in a less subtle development than the disguised gentlman's introduction and favorable comparison to the Lady's unsuspecting and cuckolded "wedded Lord."