The lovely Northerne Lasse
Who in this ditty here complaining, shewes
What harme she got milking her dadyes Ewes.
To a pleasant Scotch tune, called, The broome of Cowdon knowes.
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THrough Liddersdale as lately I went
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I musing on did passe,
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I heard a Maid was discontent:
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she sighd and said alas,
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All maids that ever deceived was,
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beare a part of these my woes,
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For once I was a bonny Lasse,
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when I milkt my dadyes Ewes.
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With O the broome, the bonny broome,
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the broome of Cowdon knowes,
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Faine would I be in the North Countrey
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to milke my dadyes Ewes.
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My love into the fields did come,
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when my dady was at home,
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Sugred words he gave me there,
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praisd me for such a one,
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His honey breath and lips so soft,
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and his alluring eye,
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And tempting tong hath wood me oft,
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now forces me to cry,
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All Maids etc.
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He joyed me with his pretty chat.
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so well discourse could he,
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Talking of this thing and of that,
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which greatly liked me.
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I was so greatly taken with his speech,
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and with his comely making,
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He used all the meanes could be,
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to inchant me with his speaking,
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All Maids etc.
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In Danby Forrest I was borne,
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my beauty did excell,
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My parents dearely loved me,
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till my belly began to swell,
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I might have beene a princes peere,
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when I came over the knoes,
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Till the shepherds boy beguiled me,
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milking my dadyes Ewes.
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All maides etc.
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When once I felt my belly swell,
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no longer might I abide,
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My mother put me out of doores,
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and bangd me backe and side
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Then did I range the world so wide,
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wandering about the knoes,
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Cursing the Boy that helped me,
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to fold my dadyes Ewes.
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All Maides etc.
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Who would a thought a boy so yong,
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would have usd a Maiden so,
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As to allu[r]e her with his tongue,
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and then from her to goe?
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Which hath alas procured my woe,
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to credit his faire she[o]es,
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Which now too late repent I doe,
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the milking of the Ewes.
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All Maids etc.
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I often since have wisht that I,
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had never seene his face,
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I needed not thus mournefully,
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have sighd and said alas,
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I might have matched with the best,
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as all the Countrey knowes.
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Had I escapd the Shepherds boy
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helpt me to fold my Ewes.
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All Maids etc.
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The second part To the same tune
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ALL Maidens faire then have a care,
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when you a milking goe:
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Trust not to young mens tempting tongues,
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that will deceive you so,
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Them you shall finde to be unkinde,
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and glory in your woes,
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For the shepheards boy beguiled mee,
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folding my dadyes Ewes.
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All maids, etc.
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If you your virgin honours keepe,
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esteeming of them deare,
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You need not then to waile and weepe
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or your parents anger feare:
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As I have said, of them beware,
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would glory in your woes,
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You then may sing with merry cheere,
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milking your Dadyes Ewes.
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All maids, etc.
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A young man hearing her complaint,
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did pity this her case,
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Saying to her, sweet beautious saint,
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I grieve so faire a face
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Should sorrow so, then sweeting know,
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to ease thee of thy woes,
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Ile goe with thee to the North country,
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to milke thy dadyes Ewes.
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All maids, etc.
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Leander like I will remaine,
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still constant to thee ever:
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As Piramus, or Troyalus,
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till death our lives shall sever,
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Let me be hated evermore,
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of all men that me knowes,
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If false to thee, sweetheart I bee,
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milking thy dadyes Ewes.
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All maids, etc.
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Then modestly she did reply,
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might I so happy bee,
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Of you to finde a husband kinde,
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and for to marrie me,
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Then to you I would during life
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continue constant still,
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And be a true obedient wife,
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observing of your will.
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With O the broome, the bonny broome,
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the broome of Cowden knoes,
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Faine would I be in the North country,
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milking my dadyes Ewes.
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Thus with a gentle soft imbrace,
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he tooke her in his armes,
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And with a kisse he smiling said,
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Ile shield thee from all harmes,
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And instantly will marry thee,
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to ease thee of thy woes,
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And goe with thee to the North Countrey,
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to milke thy dadyes Ewes.
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With O the broome, the bonny broome,
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the broome of Cowdon knoes,
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Faine would I be in the North Country,
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to milke my dadyes Ewes.
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