A good throw for three Maiden-heads.
Some say that mayden-heads are of high price,
But here are three maids that have lost theirs at dice.
To the Tune, Of Over and Under.
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THree maides did make a meeting,
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With one young man of late,
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Where they had such a greeting,
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As passes Peg and Kate.
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They talke of many matters,
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Not fitting to be told:
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Also they dranke strong waters,
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To heat their stomacks cold
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and when they had,
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drunke with the Lad,
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Untill they were merry all:
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betweene them three,
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they did agree,
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Into discourse to fall.
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Concerning husbands getting,
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The question did arise,
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And each of them their sitting,
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Some reason did devise.
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One was a milkemaid bonny,
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The other Ile not name,
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And shee did get much mony,
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By selling of the same,
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her name is Jone,
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as is well knowne,
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I hope tis no offence:
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to tell what they,
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did on that day,
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Before they went from thence.
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They all did love this young man
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And each for him did strive,
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It seemes he was a strong man,
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That could his worke contrive.
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Now which of them should have him,
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They neither of them knew,
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But each of them did crave him,
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As her owne proper due.
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now meeting,
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and greeting,
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As maids and young men use,
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with them he dranke,
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his money was franke,
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Indeed hee could not chuse.
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And either of them telling,
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Her mind in full to him,
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Meane while the rest were filling,
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Their cupps up to thee brim.
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Because in either of them,
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It seemes he had a share,
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Unlesse he meant to scoffe them,
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He now must choose his ware.
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and therefore they,
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without delay,
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Being on the merry pinne:
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with good advice,
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did throw the dice,
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Who should the young man win?
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The young man was contented,
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And so the dice were brought.
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The maids that this invented,
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Their lessons were well taught:
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For the youngman all lusted,
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And by this fine device,
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They severally all trusted,
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To win him by the dice.
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but harke now,
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and marke now,
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The manner of their play,
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in their behalfe,
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I know youle laugh,
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Before you goe away.
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The second part, To the same tune,
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IF any of the lasses,
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Doe overthrow the rest,
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On her the verdict passes,
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None should with her contest,
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But she should have her lover,
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Cleane from the other twaine,
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If even not above her,
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Then they must throw againe.
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but if hee,
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all them three,
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Did win by throwing most:
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their mayden-heads all,
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to him must fall,
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Without any paine or cost.
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To this they all replied,
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They joyntly were agreed,
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What words had testifyed,
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Should be perform'd indeed.
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The first maid threw, tray cater ace,
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Which is in all but eight,
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She hop'd from all the maids in place,
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To win the lad by right,
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The second I thinke,
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threw tray dewce cinque,
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There's ten (quoth she) for me
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the first was quell'd,
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for this excel'd
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Full sorely vext was she.
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The third with courage lusty,
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Did take the dice in hand,
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Now dice if you be trusty,
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Quoth she, this cast shall stand,
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For I resolve for better for worse
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As fortune shall dispose,
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That either now ile win the horse
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Or else the Saddle lose.
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she tooke them,
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and she shooke them,
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And threw without feare or wit,
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tray cater sice,
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gramercy dice,
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Quoth she, for that is it.
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She thought herselfe most certain
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The young man now to have,
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But false deluding fortune,
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No such great favour gave.
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The young man tooke the dice up
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Quoth he now have at all,
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He threw sincke cater sice up,
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Which made her courage fall,
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who threw the last,
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for t'was surpast,
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How now my girles, quoth hee,
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You must resigne,
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for they are mine,
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Your maiden-heads to me.
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For I have fairely wonne them,
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As you your selves can tell,
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The lots were cast upon them,
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Which you all liked well.
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The maydens all confessed,
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That what he said was true,
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And that they were distressed,
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Should he exact his due.
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we hope sir,
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some scope sir,
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You unto us will give.
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if that we pay,
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whats lost by play,
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Twere pitty we should live.
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Quoth he, Ile have them all three,
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For they by right are mine,
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Or else in troth, they shall bee,
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All painted on my signe.
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The signe of the one maiden-head,
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Hath oftentines bin seene,
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But ile have three caus't shall be sed
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The like hath never beene.
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now whether this lad,
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his winnings had,
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I cannot nor will not say:
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but likely tis,
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he would not mis,
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What was won by faire play.
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They thought they had bin privat
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Where none had hard their doing
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But one did so contrive it,
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That he heard all this woeing.
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Thought he I have heard many hold,
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Their maiden-heads at high price,
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But now hereafter it may be told,
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How three were wonne at dice.
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this man ere long,
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did cause this song,
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To be made on the same,
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that maidens faire,
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might have a care,
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And play at no such game.
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