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Perjur'd Steward's Cruelty:
OR, THE
Forsaken Maiden's Lamentation; being a Relation of a young Steward
of a Man of War, who after Contract of Marriage, and a Voyage to Cales,
with his Sweet-heart, treacherously forsook her; with the Steward's sor-
rowful Lamentation. To the Tune of, Russel's Farewell.
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IN Wapping there did dwelt of late,
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a Maiden fair and clear,
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But she was most unfortunate,
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as to you I'll declare;
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For on a time it chanced so,
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that she engaged was
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Unto a Steward, brisk and gay,
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but mark what came to pass:
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A piece of Mony then he broke,
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a Ring to her he gave,
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The Matrimony it was read,
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then she was made a Slave;
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Unto his false deluding Tongue,
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she then did lend and Ear,
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When Vows he'd made that he'd grove true
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unto his only Dear.
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All in the Bay of Cales she dwelt,
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for two months space or more,
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Then he sail'd up into the Straights,
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she came to English shore;
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But he had bound her fast indeed,
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while he was on the Sea,
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Which makes me now set forth with speed
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his cruel Perjury.
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His piece of Mony he did crave,
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in February last,
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Because the Captain he would please,
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his Steward to remain,
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Which makes me to lament and say,
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Farewell false-hearted Man.
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But mark what hapned unto them,
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as they were home-wards bound,
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For the false Oaths he'd made to her,
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the Carile-ship was dround;
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For in the Downs near Bradsin call'd,
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they were got safely in,
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But for the Steward's sake alone,
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God caus'd this to be done.
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He must expect where-e're he goes,
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her Prayers for to have,
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Which is that he may ne'r return,
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but always be a Slave,
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Until his Heart it does relent,
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and he her pardon crave,
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For being so unjust to her,
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whom he has made a Slave.
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The Ship is called the Content,
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which you have made your choice,
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Because the name of it sounds well,
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and you think to rejoyce
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In it, but do not fancy so,
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for sure your Life will be
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Inthrawl'd sore with grief and woe,
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for all your Perjury.
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Go out of Harbour when you will,
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you shall not happy be,
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The roring Seas shall you devour,
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for all your Perjury,
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Which you have done for luker sake
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to please your Master kind,
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But you'll repent when its too late,
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my Vision you will find.
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You must believe that in this World,
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I cannot long remain,
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And it is for your sake alone,
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that I do thus complain,
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Now in the blossom of my youth,
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pale Death is all I crave,
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But be assur'd my Ghost you'll see,
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when I am laid in Grave.
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Dear Hannah, I confess indeed,
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I have been false to you,
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But it is through my Captain's means,
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that I did break my Vow;
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He urged me both night and day,
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no rest then could I take,
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I yielded have unto his will,
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but now myself I hate.
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It was two Years agone when I
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your Face did first behold,
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And she appeared unto me,
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more glorious then Gold,
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Which glitters fine & tempts Mens hearts,
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as I with grief now tell,
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O cursed Gold that hath wrought this,
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and made me to rebel.
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When first on board our Ship he came,
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she was my chief delight,
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And in her favour for to get,
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I strove both day and night,
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With bended knees I kist her hand,
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and fingers long and fine,
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And often did I sigh and wish
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that with her I might joyn.
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Then did I straight ingage myself
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with Gold and Silver too,
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Witness I called at that time,
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I would be just and true:
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O wretched Man as hear I am,
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my Perjury I rue,
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But it was through my Captains's means,
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that I did prove untrue.
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When we got in the Town of Cal[e]s,
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I would have marry'd been,
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Unto a Chaplin I did speak,
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and then I bought a Ring;
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With bended knees I did intreat
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that she would be my Bride,
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But all my labour was in vain,
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for still she me deny'd.
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She said that she never would wed,
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till England she did see,
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And if please God I did return,
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my wedded Wife she'd be;
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But then I made the Proverb true,
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when she from me was gone,
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I changed my old Love for a new,
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my dear Hannah I mourn.
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Young Men, young Men where-e're you be,
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come listen unto me,
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Before you never break your Vows,
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when you do go to Sea;
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Be constant in your promises,
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least afterwards you rue,
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As I here cry, My misery
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is great, what shall I do?
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