The Bonny Lass of BRISTOL :
Or, The Witty Wench of the WEST.
[S ]he many Suitors had who did Importune,
[B ]ut she in Ambush laid for a good Fortune;
And with Evasions shuffled off the rest,
Until she found the Person she lik'd best:
Who was much taken with her comely carriage,
So by consent they freely joyn'd in Marriage.
To the Tune of, Sawny will ne'r be my Love again.
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T Here was a Lass her name was Nell,
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and she was brought up in Bristol Town;
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And every Young-man lik'd her well,
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because she was of a lovely Brown:
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Of Courtship they were wondrous free,
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And every one cry'd Nelly 's for me,
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But yet to the Bargain she would not agree,
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For Nelly was loath for to lye with a man.
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Her Father was of good Report,
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although not with much Riches b[l]est,
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He with good persons did Consort,
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and bore it out amongst the best:
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His Nelly was his only joy,
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For he was Father of never a Boy,
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To get her a portion he'l do what he can,
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But Nelly was loath for to lye with a man.
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A brisk young Gallant to her came,
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and Courted Nelly to be his Bride,
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It seems he was a Cock of the Game,
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for he was all to get up and Ride:
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He gave her Bracelets and fine things,
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He gave her Gloves, and he gave her Rings,
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And he woo'd her to walk to the Silver Springs,
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But Nel [l ]y was loath for to lye with a man.
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A spruce young Taylor came to Wooe,
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and said her Beauty did him bewitch,
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But she with him had no mind to do,
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she told him he could not go through stitch:
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He cut such Capers in heat of Drink,
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To make the Coyn in his pockets Chink.
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But she fancy'd he did of Cabbadge stink:
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For Nelly was loath for to lye with a man.
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The Second part, To the same Tune.
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A late Disbanded Officer,
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came in with his Sword and perriwig,
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And he like a cunning Sophister,
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askt Nell if she would with a souldier ligg:
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She told him she thought his means was short,
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And something else that should shew her sport,
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And therefore he shou'd not storm her Fort,
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for Nelly was loath for to lye with a man.
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The next that came was a Man of Law,
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a Pettifogger they did him call,
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But in his plea she found a Flaw,
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for she did hear that he had spent all:
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He bid her not disdain his suit,
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For at her Bar he could not be mute,
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He hop'd e're long to have a Recruit,
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but Nelly was loath for to lye with a man.
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Then came a lusty Seaman bold,
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intending to Furl Nelly s Flagg,
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And in her Lap he flung good Gold,
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and of his Valour he much did brag:
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He shew'd her all his Wounds and scars,
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But those he had got Venus Wars,
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He kept to himself for fear of Jars,
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for Nelly was loath for to lye with a man.
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In came a man in a homely Weed,
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and he an Usurer seem'd to be,
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He thought with Nelly that he might speed,
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because he had Gold and Silver free:
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But he was stricken well in Age,
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Which made fair Nelly to presage,
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That she with the Palsie would not engage:
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for Nelly was loath for lye with a man.
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A Farmers Son came next in place,
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who thought young Nelly s ground to Till,
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But his Behaviour did him disgrace,
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he could not work her to his Will:
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He told her of his Sheep and Cows,
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Of Horses, Oxen, and of Plows,
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And of what more, the Lord God knows:
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but Nelly was loath to lye with a man .
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A Doctor came to give Nelly a Pill,
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with Complements he was prepar'd.
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But she like a cunning Gypsie still,
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securely stood upon the Guard:
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With many more too long to tell
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Who came to Court this Bonny Nell
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But she was for one that did Excell:
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but Nelly was loath to lye with a man.
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At length a Gallant of Renown,
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who was with Riches well possest,
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He with her Beauty was smitten down,
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and thought to have her he should be blest:
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She fancy'd him above all other,
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And with consent of Father and Mother,
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Shy yielded love which she could not smother
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For Nelly was willing to lye with a man.
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Now Nelly s made a Lady bright,
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and hath all things at her command,
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For she hath married a worthy Knight,
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with stately Buildings and good Land:
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You see she wanted not for Wit
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But every humour she could fit,
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Which made her a Fortune for to get
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Nelly was loath to lye with man.
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FINIS.
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