The poem was printed by Richard Lant sometime in 1550 and presents what many would consider disgusting images of rural drinking and drunkenness. For all its gritty description, Skelton has modeled the poem on Church liturgy of that time. The verse form itself closely resembles a liturgical chant.
The poem was published by Richard Lant around 1550 and portrays unappealing scenes of rural merriment and intoxication. In contrast, Skelton has adapted the poem to conform to the liturgical traditions of the time, resulting in a work that shares similarities with a traditional chant.