The Countrey Lasses Good Counsel to all her Fellow-Maids.
Wherein she doth make it plain appear,
That of all, living a single life she loves most dear.
And wishes Maidens all a row,
To take heed of false tongues where ever they go.
To the Tune of, Shrewsbury for me. Or: The Seamans adieu to his dear
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COme all you young Damsels where ever you dwell,
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And listen unto my words very well,
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And I will shew you in every degree,
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Of all sorts of living, a Maids life for me.
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A maid whilest she's single doth live gallantly,
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With the money she gets fine Cloaths she may buy:
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But when she is marryed, O then she shall see.
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The case will be alter'd in every degree.
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Young men they will woe with words so pure,
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And tell you their love will constant endure:
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And how that to you they will ever be kind,
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But that you shall see when the Devil is blind.
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They'l promise you Bodkins, Thimbles and Gloves,
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And all is but for to gain a Maidens love:
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But not one in ten will prove true you shall find,
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He'l be as good as his word when the Devil is blind.
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They'l praise our Beauty, with our fingers long & small,
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Our Leggs and Feet, and our Bodies withal:
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And say that they are handsom in every degree,
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But for all their fine speeches, a Maidslife for me.
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When your marryed, then comes trouble and care,
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And for house-keeping you pinch and spare:
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You must work day and night with a world of pain,
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Only your poor Family for to maintain.
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Whilst we are single we can go where we please,
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We can do what we list; work or take our ease:
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When she that is marryed must work day and night,
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Whilst she that is single may take her delight.
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At Fairs when young-men and maids they do meet,
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There is nothing but courting and kissing so sweet
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They take you to the tavern & feast you with Cakes & wine
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But when you are marryed, O then you starve and pine.
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Some Men will crack and say they have house and land,
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But when they go fort upon other mens ground it doth stand,
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And all that they promise you true you shall find,
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But that you shall see when the Devil is blind,
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THerefore you young maidens both great and small,
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Takethismy Counsel before you get a fall:
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It is good to be wary in choosing a Mate,
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For fear you repent when it is too late.
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There is Sope and Candle you must provide;
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And also cloathing their nakedness to hide:
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With a 1000 more troubles in married life there wi[ll] [b]e
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Then every maid to her mind, a single life for me.
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And if that your husband be cross and unkind,
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It will vex your person, and trouble your mind:
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With much discomfort youl find night and day,
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Then for to live single, is the best way.
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And if he be a Drunkard, this you must know,
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To the Ale-house many times he will go:
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If you follow him, base jade he'l you call,
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And in his fury knock your head against the wall.
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And if he be a Gamester I tell you true,
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That base gaming will make your family rue:
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For I know them that has us'd it, I can make appear,
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That have consumed whole hundreds a year.
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And if that your husband be jealous likewise,
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It will cause great controversie betwixt you to rise,
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The he'l out with his purse, and call you Whore:
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And if you speak to him he'l beat you out of door.
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If he be a Glutton, I do tell you plain,
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He[']l eat more in one week, then in a month he will gain;
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And beside that you will always be poor,
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For a Glutton continually eats up his store.
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And if he be a Cotquean you sure shall find,
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You never can do any thing to please his mind:
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Tho to make ready your dyet, you use your best skill
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He'l have a finger in the Pye, or he'l want of his will.
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Moreover then this, he'l grope the Ducks and hens,
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And count all the Chickins that be in the Pens:
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When your Butter or Cheese you go for to make,
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He'l be sure then your part for to take.
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And now you pretty maidens where ever you be,
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To live a single life is the best you may see,
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For to find a good husband by night or by day:
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You had as good seek a Needle in a Bottle of hay.
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Concluding my ditty which here I have pen'd,
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I hope that my Sonnet will no one offend:
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Come buy every one, and then you shall see,
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Tis good to live single in every degree.
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