A pleasant Ditty, of a Maydens Vow,
That faine would Marry, and yet knew not how.
To the tune of, O no, no, no, not yet.
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THere was a lusty yo[ut]hfull Lad,
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that lovd a Countrey Lasse:
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And many a sweet discourse they had,
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as they alone did passe:
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This Young-man he was apt to woe,
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and well himselfe could carry,
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The Mayd was kinde of [will]ing minde,
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but yet she would not marry.
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This Young mans heart was set on fire,
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and still he did invent,
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How he might compasse his desire,
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and frustrate her intent:
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For still this Mayde said as before,
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from all thy hopes Ile barre thee:
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Therefore be gone, let me alone,
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in sooth I will not marry.
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This answer much dismayed him,
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and troubled so his minde,
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That he thereat lookd pale and grim,
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and no content could finde:
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This Mayden she was nothing movd,
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nor from her words would vary,
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But constantly shee did reply,
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Ile never yeeld to marry.
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My Love quoth he is so intire,
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and firme to thee my Deare,
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Whose love againe I much desire,
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with many a weeping teare:
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Therefore sweet heart be not unkinde,
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nor say that thou wilt tarry,
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But let me prove thy constant Love,
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and then consent to marry.
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Didst thou but know the inward griefe,
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I suffer for thy Love,
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Thy flinty heart would yeeld reliefe,
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or more obdurate prove:
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My legs are growne so weake, that they
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my body scarce can carry,
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Then yeeld reliefe to ease my griefe,
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and give consent to marry.
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No, no, quoth she thy flattring tongue,
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shall nere obtaine his sute,
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Thy tempting words have done me wrong,
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therefore I pray be mute:
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For I am fully purposed,
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henceforth to be more wary,
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Therefore away make no delay,
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for in sooth I will not marry.
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He asked her the reason why,
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shee should reject him so:
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She would not wed she did reply,
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for friend nor yet for foe:
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Quoth shee my yeares are yet but greene,
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I am young enough to tarry,
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This twelve-monthes day, therefore away
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tis time enough to marry.
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Quoth he it makes me halfe dispaire,
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and troubleth much my minde,
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That one so comely and so faire,
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should ere prove so unkinde:
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Therefore sweet heart tell me the cause,
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that thou so much dost vary,
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From all the mindes of Women kinde,
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as to refuse to marry.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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DIdst thou but know the sweet delights,
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that Marriage doth afford:
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And how faire Ladyes, Lords and Knights
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in marriage bed accord:
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Thou wouldst not fondly make reply,
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thart young enough to tarry,
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But be content and give consent,
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without delay to marry.
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He that sayes Love is vanity,
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shall nere perswade me to it,
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Nor yet deny a curtesie,
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if any one will doe it:
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For I have made a Vow quoth shee,
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and sworne by great King Harry,
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That till I have, the thing I crave,
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I will not yeeld to marry.
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If I had knowne the cause quoth hee,
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why thou didst make denyall,
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I quickly would have proferred thee,
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a sweet contenting tryall:
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Which would have made thee soone consent
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though thou wert nere so wary,
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And never more, say as before,
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Ile never yeeld to marry.
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Then use your wit the Mayde replyd,
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for now you know the cause,
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A Maydens no, proves often I,
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to yeeld to Hymens lawes:
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If you prove kinde, the Mayden said,
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consent and doe not tarry,
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And then I soone, will change this tune,
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and quickly yeeld to marry.
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With that the Youngman bad her, both
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keepe secret, and prove kinde,
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And he would verifie her Oath,
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and satisfie her minde:
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Quoth shee I shall be satisfied,
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if that thou dost not vary,
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But yet in troth, I am very loath,
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to give my grant to marry.
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With that they both concluded were,
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but wote you how she sped,
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By consequence it did appeare,
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that it her liking bred:
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For when her Oath was verified,
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that she swore by King Harry,
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She never stayde but quickly said,
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sweet heart now let us marry.
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This Youngmans love. was quickly colde,
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that heere betwixt them past,
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Quoth hee I will not be too bolde,
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least I repent at last:
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For he that weds too hastily,
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had need for to be wary,
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Least he repent he gave consent,
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without advice to marry.
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Faire Maydens all take good advice,
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before you give consent,
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Unto your Loves in any wise,
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these follyes to prevent:
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For shee that to performe her Vow,
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so long a time did tarry,
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Was brought to shame and much defame,
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before that she did marry.
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