A Warning for Married Women.
Being an Example of Mrs. Jane Reynolds (a west-country-Woman) born neer Plimouth
who having plighted her troth to a Seaman, was afterwards married to a Carpenter,
and at last carried away by a Spirit, the manner how shall presently be recited.
To a west-country Tune, called, The fair maid of Bristol: Bateman, or, John True.
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THere dwelt a fair Maid in the West,
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of worthy Birth and Fame,
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Neer unto Plimouth stately Town
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Jane Reynolds was her name.
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This Damsel dearly was belov'd,
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by many a proper youth:
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And what of her is to be said,
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is known for very truth:
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Among the rest a Seaman brave,
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unto her a wooing came,
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A comely proper youth he was,
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James Harris call'd by Name.
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The Maid and Young-man was agreed
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as time did them allow,
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And to each other secretly,
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they made a solemn vow
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That they would ever faithful be,
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whilst Heaven afforded life,
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He was to be her Husband kind,
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and she his faithful Wife.
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A day appointed was also,
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when they were to be married,
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But before these things were brought to pass
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matters were strangely carried.
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All you that faithful Lovers be,
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give ear and hearken well,
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And what of them became at last,
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I will directly tell.
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The Young man he was prest to Sea,
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and forced was to go,
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His sweet-heart she must stay behind
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whether she would or no.
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And after he was from her gone,
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she three years for him staid,
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Expecting of his coming home,
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and kept her self a Maid.
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At last news came that he was dead,
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within a Forraign Land,
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And how that he was buried,
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she well did understand.
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For whose sweet sake the maiden she,
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lamented many a day:
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And never was she known at all,
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the wanton for to play.
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A Carpenter that liv'd hard by,
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when he heard of the same,
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Like as the other had done before,
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to her a wooing came.
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BUt when that he had gain'd her love,
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they married were with speed,
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[A]nd four years space (being man & wife)
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they lovingly agreed.
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Three pritty Children in this time,
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this lovely couple had,
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Which made their Fathers heart rejoyce
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and Mother wondrous glad.
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But as occasion serv'd one time,
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the good man took his way,
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Some three days journey from his home
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intending not to stay.
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But whilst that he was gone away,
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a spirit in the night,
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Came to the window of his Wife,
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and did her sorely fright.
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Which Spirit spake like to a man,
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and unto her did say,
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My dear and onely love (quoth he)
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prepare and come away.
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James Harris is my name (quoth he)
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whom thou didst love so dear,
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And I have travel'st for thy sake,
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at least this seven year.
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And now I am return'd again,
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to take thee to my wife,
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And thou with me shalt go to Sea,
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to end all f[?] her strife.
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O tempt me not sweet James (quoth she)
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with thee away to go,
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If I should leave my children small,
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alas what would they do?
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My Husband is a Carpenter,
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a Carpenter of great fame,
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I wou'd not for five hundred pounds,
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that he should know the same.
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I might have had a Kings Daughte,
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and she would have married me,
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But [I] forsook her Golden Crown
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and for the love of thee.
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Therefore if thou'lt thy husband forsake
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and thy children three also
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I will forgive thee what is past
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if thou wilt with me go.
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If I forsake my husband, and
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my little Children three,
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What means hast thou to bring me to,
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if I should go with thee.
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I have seaven Ships upon the Sea,
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when they are come to Land,
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Both Marriners and Merchandize,
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shall be at thy command.
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The Ship wherein my love shal[l] sail,
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is glorious to behold,
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The sails shall be of finest silk,
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and the mast of shining gold.
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When he had told her these fair tales,
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to love him she began,
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Because he was in humane shape,
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much like unto a man.
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And so together away they went,
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from off the English shore,
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And since that time the Woman-kind,
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was never seen no more.
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But when her Husband he came home,
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and found his Wife was gone,
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And left her three sweet pr[i]tty babes,
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within the house alone.
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He beat hi[s] breast, he tore his hair,
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the tears fell from his eyes,
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And in the open streets he run,
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with heavy doleful cries.
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And in this sad distracted case,
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he Hang'd himself for Woe,
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Upon a tree, near to the place,
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the truth of all is so.
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The children now are fatherless,
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and left without a guide,
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But yet no doubt the heavenly powers,
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will for them well provide.
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