THE
Countrey Lasses good Fortune;
Who after Feasting King William and his Nobles, obtained the love of the Young-Men far
and near; and at length Marry'd a Yeoman to her hearts content.
To the Tune of, Let Cesar live Long. Licensed according to order.
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KIng William was pleased at a Farmers to Dine
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On good Eggs and Bacon; and instead of Wine,
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Stout nappy March Liquor did serve them that day,
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For which good King William the Damsel did pay:
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Ten Guinies he gave her it seems, for the same,
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Which Money did make her a Person of Fame.
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So soon as this Feasting was over, we hear,
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The honest young Batchelors both far and near,
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Came daily a Wooing, her Love to obtain,
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Some for pure Affection, and others for Gain:
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Her Fame through all Cities and Counties did ring,
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As having the Honour to wait on the King.
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'Twas the luckiest Money that ever was known:
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The Age of this Damsel was Twenty and one;
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Yet never had she a true Lover before,
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But now has the choice of full twenty and more:
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Her Fame through all Cities and Counties did ring,
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As having the Honour to wait on the King.
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For this very reason they came night and day,
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And each Man endeavour'd to bear her away;
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Nay Robert, young Richard, and Ralph at the Mill,
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Yet neither of these cou'd obtain her Good-will:
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Her Fame through all Cities and Counties did ring,
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As having the Honour to wait on the King.
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Udszookers, quoth Robin, I'll mount upon Roan,
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And if I can meet with this Damsel alone,
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I make no great question but she'll be my Bride
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But when he came there he was straightways deny'd
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Her Fame through all Counties and Cities did ring,
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As having the Honour to wait on the King.
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Altho' she had never a Love in her life,
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Yet now they came flocking to make her their Wife;
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Each Country Plowman concluding, that he
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Shou[l]d then be as Great as a Lord in Degree:
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Her Fame through all Counties and Cities did ring,
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As having the Honour to wait on the King.
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Young Roger he told his Old Mother one night,
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That whoe're obtain'd her the King would requite
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Her honest poor Husband for that Loyal Feast,
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He'd make him a Knight or a Squire at least:
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Her Fame through all Counties and Cities did ring,
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As having the Honour to wait on the King.
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Why son, quoth the Mother, I'de have thee to go,
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See if she will have a poor Thresher or no;
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And then if the King he shou'd make thee a Lord,
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In troth I shall count it a special Reward:
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Her Fame through all Counties and Cities did ring,
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As having the Honour to wait on the King.
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Next morning he put on the best of his Cloaths,
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His Hat, Shoes, and likewise his Hoilday Hose
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But yet notwithstanding he thus did appear,
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Poor Roger the Thresher was never the near;
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Her Fame through all Counties and Cities did ring,
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As having the Honour, etc.
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At length came a Yeoman his Love to reveal,
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Her heart from all others he straightways did steal
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And then did he Marry this Lass out of hand,
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And likewise endows her with Houses and Land:
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Her Fame through all Counties and Cities did ring,
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As having the Honour to wait on the King.
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FINIS.
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