An excellent Ballad of the Mercers sonne of Midhurst, and the Clothiers Daughter of Guilford. To the tune of, Daintie come thou to me.
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T Here was a wealthy man,
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in Sussex he did dwell,
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A Mercer by his trade,
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as many yet can tell:
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he had a youthfull sonne,
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whom fancie so did move,
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he cried night and day
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alacke I die for love.
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Alacke I die for love,
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beautie disdaineth me:
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the Clothiers daughter deare,
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workes my extremitie.
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She hath my heart in hold,
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that did most cruell prove:
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Thus cried he night and day,
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alacke I die for love.
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Alacke I die for love,
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fortune so sore doth frowne:
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The Jewell of my heart
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dwelleth in Guilford Towne.
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Ther lyes the Lamp of life,
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for whom this paine I prove,
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Faire Phillis pittie me,
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alcake I die for love.
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Alacke I die for love,
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and can no comfort finde:
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The Clothiers daughter deare
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beareth so high a minde.
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Sweet beauties paragon,
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faire Venus silver dove:
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Sweet Phillis pitty me,
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alacke I die for love.
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Alacke I die for love,
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while thou dost laugh and smile
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Let not thy pleasure be
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true love for to beguile:
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My life lyes in thy hands,
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then as it doth behove
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Slay not the Mercers sonne,
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alacke I die for love.
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If that my beautie bright
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doth grieve thy sight quoth she,
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Then let the Mercers sonne,
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turne still his face from me.
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I doe no man disdaine,
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nor can I cruell prove,
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My tongue must still say nay,
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where my heart cannot love.
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Where my heart cannot love,
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lovers oft I must shun:
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The Clothiers daughter thus
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answers the Mercers sonne.
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I beare no loftie minde,
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yet pittie cannot move
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My minde to fancie him,
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where my heart cannot love.
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Where my heart cannot love,
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I must his suit denie,
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For though I laugh and smile,
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yet falshood I defie.
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Thou art too fond a man
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lifes danger thus to prove,
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Ile not wed good friend John ,
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where my heart cannot love.
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What good can there befall
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to that now married wife,
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Where goods & wealth is small?
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want causeth daily strife:
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But where is wealth at will,
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experience plaine doth prove,
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Though love at first be small
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yet goods increaseth love:
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Yet goods increaseth love,
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and I will never wed,
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But where a key of gold
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open the doores to bed.
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For she may merry be,
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what chance soever hap,
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Where bags of money come
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tumbling within her lap.
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Tumbling within her lap,
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while she her gold doth tell,
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With such a husband, Sir,
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I doe delight to dwell.
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Were he young, were he old,
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deformed, or faire in show,
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My pleasure still should be
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where treasure still doth flow.
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Where treasure still doth flow,
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is that our mind quoth he?
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My father will bestow
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as much as comes to thee,
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Hadst thou five hundred pounds,
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five hundred pound beside,
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My father will afford,
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if thou wilt be my bride.
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If thou wilt be my bride,
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thus much I understand,
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My Father will give me
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his house and eke his Land.
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So that while he doe live,
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with us he may remaine:
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What sayes my hearts delight,
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this is a bargaine plaine.
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This is a bargaine plaine,
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quoth she, I am content,
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So he performe this thing,
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I give thee my consent,
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And I will merry be,
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my minde shall not remove
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Thou shalt be my sweet heart,
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Ile be thine owne true love.
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Ile be thine owne true love,
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then use no more delay,
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I greatly long to see
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our happy marriage day,
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To Midhurst all in haste
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goeth the Mercers sonne,
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He told his father deare,
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his true love he hath won.
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The old man hearing this,
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conveyed out of hand,
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Assurance to his sonne,
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of all his house and land:
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When he had done this deed,
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he wept full bitterly,
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Saying, my owne deare sonne
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thou must be good to me.
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Well worth two hundred pound
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this morning I was knowne,
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But the clothes to my backe,
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nothing now is mine owne,
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And all this I have done
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deare sonne to pleasure thee,
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Think on thy fathers love,
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and deale thou well with me.
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Dear father, (quoth the sonne)
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if I doe not doe so,
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God powre upon my head
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hot vengeance, griefe and woe.
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The young man wedded was
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to his fair lovely bride,
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But wondrous griefe and care
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thereof there did betide.
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As after you shall heare,
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in the old mans complaint,
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A tale of greater griefe,
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cannot your hearts attaint:
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A warning by this thing,
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all men shall understand,
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Lest they doe come to live
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under their childrens hand.
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