RE "Watkins Ale" I have looked up the botes on the York Waits CD "1588 - Music from the Time of the Spanish Armada"
This says "Mother Watkins was a brothel keeper and "Watkins Ale" was a euphemism for her merchandise. A critic of 1592 was surpised that anyone ' would bee so impudent to print such odious and lascivious ribaldrie, as Watkins Ale'. The words are very funny if rather rude." I have the music but have not yet come across the words. Gerald
