The Countrey Lasse.
To a daintie new Note, which if you can hit,
Theres another tune will as well fit.
To the tune of, The mother beguild daughter.
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ALthough I am a Countrey Lasse,
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a loftie minde I beare a,
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I thinke my selfe as good as those
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that gay apparrell weare a:
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My coate is made of comely Gray,
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yet is my skin as soft a,
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As those that with the chiefest Wines,
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do bathe their bodies oft a.
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Downe, downe dery, dery downe,
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heigh downe a downe a downe a,
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a dery dery dery dery downe,
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heigh downe a downe a dery.
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What though I keepe my Fathers sheep,
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a thing that must be done a,
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A garland of the fairest flowers
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shall shrewd me from the Sunne a:
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And when I see them feeding be,
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where grasse and flowers spring a
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Close by a Crystall fountaine side
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I sit me downe, and sing a,
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Downe etc.
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Dame nature crownes us with delight,
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surpassing Court or Citie,
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We pleasures take from morne to night
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in Sports and pastimes pretty:
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Your City Dames in Coaches ride
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abroad for recreation,
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We Countrey Lasses hate their pride,
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and keepe the Countrey fashion.
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Downe etc.
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Your City Wives lead wanton lives,
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and if they come ith Countrey,
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They are so proud, that each one strives
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for to outbrave our Gentry
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We countrey lasses homely be
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for seat nor wall we strive not,
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We are content with our degree,
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our debtors we deprive not,
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Downe etc.
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I care not for the fane or Maske,
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when Titans heat reflecteth,
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A homely Hat is all I aske,
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which well my face protecteth:
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Yet am I in my Countrey guise,
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esteemd Lasse as pretty
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As those that every day devise
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new shapes in Court or City.
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Downe etc.
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In every season of the yeare
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I under-goe my labour
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No Showre nor Winde at all I feare,
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my Limbes I do not favour:
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If Summers heat my beauty staine,
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it makes me nere the sicker,
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Sith I can wash it off againe
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with a Cup of Christmas Liquor.
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Downe, downe dery, dery downe,
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heigh downe a downe a downe a,
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a dery dery dery dery downe,
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heigh downe a downe a dery.
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The second part. To the same tune,
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AT Christmas time in mirth and glee,
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I dance with young men neatly,
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And who ithe City like to me,
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shall surely taste compleately;
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No Sport, but Pride and Luxury
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ith city can be found then,
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But bounteous Hospitality
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ith Countrey doth abound then,
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Downe etc.
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I the Spring my labour yeelds delight,
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to walke i the merry Morning,
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When Flora is (to please my sight)
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the ground with flowres adorning:
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With merry Lads to make the Hay
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I goe, and doe not grumble,
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My worke doth seeme to be but play,
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when with young men I tumble.
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Downe etc.
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The Larke & Thrush from Bryar to Bush
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do leape, and skip, and sing a,
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And all this then to welcome in
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the long and lookt for Spring a:
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We feare not Cupids arrowes keene,
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Dame Venus we defie a,
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Diana is our honored Queene,
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and her we magnifie a.
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Downe etc.
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That which your City-Damsels scorne,
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we hold our chiefest Jewell,
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Without, to worke at Hay and Corne,
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within to Bake and Brew well,
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To keepe the Dayrie decently,
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and all things cleane and neatly,
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Your Citie-Minions do defie,
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their scorne we weigh not greatly.
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Downe etc.
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When we together a milking go,
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with pailes upon our heads a,
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And walking over Woods and Fields,
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where Grasse and Flowers spreds a,
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In honest pleasure we delight,
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which makes our labour sweet a,
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And Mirth exceeds on every side,
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when Lads and Lasses meete a.
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Downe etc.
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Then do not scorne a Countrey Lasse,
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though she be plaine and meanely:
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Who takes the Countrey Wench to Wife,
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(that goeth neat and cleanely)
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Is better sped, then if he wed
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a fine one from the Citty,
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For then they are so nicely bred,
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they must not worke for pitie.
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Downe etc.
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I speake not this to that intent,
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(as some may well conjecture)
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As though to Wooing I were bent,
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nor I nere learnd Lovers Lectuue:
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But what I sing is in defence
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of all plaine Countrey Lasses,
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Whose modest honest innocence
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all City Girles surpasses.
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Downe, downe dery, dery downe, etc.
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