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EBBA 21772

Magdalene College - Pepys
Ballad XSLT Template
THE
West-Country Wedding.
Betwixt Roger the Plowman, and Ellin the Dary-Maid.
With the Sorrowful moan of twenty or thirty forsaken Damosels, whereof fifteen being with-
Child, sounded forth their sorrowful Lamentations on Rogers Wedding-day.
To the Tune of, The Crafty Miss, Or, Moggies Jealousie.

NOw listen and be not mistaken,
attend unto what I shall tell,
Of thirty fair Damsels forsaken,
when Roger he Marry'd with Nell:
Young Lasses delightful and pretty
in person both proper and tall,
Attend and give ear to my ditty,
I'le tell you the truth of it all.

Young Nell was a Lass for the Dary,
and Roger a lad for the Plow,
They went to the Fair to be merry,
where they then contracted a vow;

With her he was truly delighted,
for she was both bonny and gay,
Their friends they were also invited,
and Nelly appointed the day.

Her friends they had freely consented,
that Roger should marry with Nell
Thus they being truly contented,
the matter was carry'd on well:
The Bride she rejoycing did simper,
as she passed into the Church.
But then his old sweet-heart did wimper
to see they were left in the Lurch.

Full twenty or thirty he courted,
and promised marriage to all,
But yet it is truly reported,
that they are in pittiful thrall:
They make a most sad lamentation,
both Dorothy, Maudlin, and Win,
The rest sounding forth their relation,
how loving and kind they had been.

Quoth Bridget his bands I have starched
and made him as neat as my nail
To many a fair we have marched,
and yet all this would not prevail;
Ah who would have thought it quod Dolly
how little of this did we dream,
When he was so jocound and jolly,
we fed him with Curds & with Cream.

Was ever poor Maidens so slighted,
by one that they loved so dear,
How often has he been invited,
by us, to the best of good cheer;
And many a sweet Sillibub,
we have given him warm from the Cow,
And yet he hath gave us the rub,
and also has broken his vow.

Quoth Maudlin with kind invitations,
I walked with him to next Town
And there by his fair protestations,
he gave me indeed a green-gown.

And Custards with Cheese-Cakes and kisses
my senses he soon did betray,
And then to the fountain of blisses,
he found out the ready right way.

A shame of his head he was dirty,
poor innocent Maids to beguile,
He courted but twenty or thirty,
and fifteen of them are with-Child;
Now from us he's clearly departed,
and leaves us to sigh and complain,
His Cheese-Cakes were all hollow-hearted
Ah! he is Villain in grain.

Quoth Betty, he often concluded,
to make me as bad as the rest,
But yet I would ne'r be deluded,
to any uncivil request;
I found him a slivery fellow,
a cunning and crafty young Elf,
Ah! then bespake fair Isabella,
I would I had done to my self.

Young Jenny, and Susan, and Sarah,
was never so wanton and wild,
Nor Margery, Nanny, nor Mary,
this blade he could never beguile;
But those that was wanton and willing,
now mournfully hang down their ears,
Their Courting and kissing and billing,
is turned to showers of tears.


Printed for J. Deacon at the Angel in Guilt-Spur-Street, without Newgate.

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