The contented Couckould,
Or a pleasant new Songe of a New-Castle man
whose wife being gon from him, shewing how he came to London to
her, & when he found her carried her backe againe to New-Castle Towne.
To a very pleasant new Tune.
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COm hither thou seaman brave
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sir what do you require,
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I prethee tell mee if thou can
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the thing that I desire,
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Seest thou not my true Love,
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seest not my Lover go downe,
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And seest thou not my true lover then
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com thorough New-Castle Towne.
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And metest thou not my true Love
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by the way as you came
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How should I know your true Love,
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that have met many a one,
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She is neyther whit nor black
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but as the heavens faire
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Her lookes are very beautifull,
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none may with her compare,
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She hath falsied her word
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and left me heere a lone
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And seest thou not my true lover then,
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go thorough New-Castle Towne:
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She hath left me heere alone,
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alone heere as you see,
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And seest thou not my true lover then,
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since she hath forsaken mee,
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Sure I saw your true love,
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or else I saw such a on
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In a gown and peticoat gay,
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go through New-Castle Towne.
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She went toward the sea
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O thither ward did she bend
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And with a very brave Coale shipe
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to London she is wende
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For when she went abor[de]
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she mickle was and merry,
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Sure I did wish then verily
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she had bene in my wherye,
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Tis now just two dayes since
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that the ship went away,
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That now a very great way of,
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the'ir fleeting on the sea,
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O that was my true love,
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O that was my lover true
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Though she hath now forsaken me,
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and change me for a new
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I never gave her cause,
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why she should me forsake
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But now alas she is gone to sea,
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and an other corse doth take.
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But sure the winds and fates
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did both togeather agree
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Thus to cary a way my love
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that hath forsaken me
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But though the winds,
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did with the fates agree
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Yet will I never forsake my love,
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though she hath forsaken me.
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why hath she left you alone,
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an other for to take
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That sometimes did love you so d[e]are
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and her joy did you make,
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I loved her all my youth
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But now am old you see,
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Love liketh not the falling fruit
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nor yet the Withered tree.
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She is like a careles child
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forgets her promise paste
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She's blind, she's death, when as she l[ist]
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and in faith never fast,
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Her desires is fickel found
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and a trustles joy,
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I won her with a world of cares
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and lost her with a toy.
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But since I have her love
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I vowe her for to follow,
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Be it by land or else by sea
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or yet through dep or shallow,
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And if I do her find
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Ile count her for min owne,
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O then ill bring her back againe
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unto New-Castle Towne,
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The Second part. To the same Tune.
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THe saylor rige thy shipe,
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and thy tacles do provide
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I tell you true that I do meane,
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for to go the next tide,
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Spread forth your sayles abroad,
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and drive into the mayn,
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I pray you for to make great hast,
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wey anchor thou Jolly boat swayn.
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For I think every hower,
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for to be seaven yeare,
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Untill that I do find my love,
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I shall be in great feare,
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For I [d]o her for to seeke,
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I know not which way nor wheather,
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But I would the windes and fates,
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would graple our shipes togeather.
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For many a boystrous blast,
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here do I abid for thee
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Tossing and tumbling on the sea,
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though thou hast forsaken me:
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Yea greater paines I will,
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five hundred times indure,
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So I may win thy love againe,
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and therof be made sure.
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But when that thou doest heare,
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the paines that I doe take,
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For to finde thee out againe,
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thou wilt never me forsake,
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And now to see the seas,
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how smooth they are and plaine,
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Sure they do Calculat that I,
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shall find my love againe.
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And now at Gravsend towne,
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wee ar arived at last
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Let us with harty prayers to God,
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give thankes for dangers past,
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Now farewell seamen all,
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adew, nay twis adew,
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And if I chance to finde my love,
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Ile carry her back with you.
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For I will go down this tide,
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allthough that it be late,
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Where all the way he slept untill,
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he came to Billinggate,
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But ere that he came their,
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twas early in the morning,
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Then he went up and down the streat,
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as on that was forlorne.
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First went he into Cheapside,
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thinking his lover to finde,
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And after that to London-ston,
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to satifie his minde,
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So strayt thorough tower street,
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he pased all along,
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Wher it was his chance to met,
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his love with a seafringman.
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But when the man espied
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her husband was so nye,
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Then he made no more adow,
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but run away presently,
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Which when her husband spied,
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unto his wife he came,
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And kist her their most lovingly,
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who blusht for very shame.
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Il that you will me forgive,
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and count me for your owne,
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I would go backe againe with you,
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unto New-Castle Towne,
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At which words he was full glad,
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that she so soone was wone,
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Then prethee swet go back againe,
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unto New-Castle Towne.
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Thus were they both a greed,
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to go togeather home,
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where wee will leave them for a while,
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going to New-Castle Towne.
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Thus was the poore man glad,
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that he had got his wife home,
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But he for a cockold ever went,
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in faire New-Castle Towne.
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