A Penny-worth of good Counsell.
To Widdowes, and to Maides,
this Counsell I send free;
And let them looke before they leape,
or, that they married bee.
To the tune of Dulcima.
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OF late it was my chance to walke
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for recreation in the Spring,
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Where as the fethered Quiristers,
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melodiously aloud did sing;
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and at that tide,
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I there espide,
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A woman faire, her hands sate wringing;
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shee wept apace,
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and cryd, alas;
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My Husband hath no fore-cast in him.
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Quoth she, when as I was a Mayden,
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I had store of Suters brave,
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And I most coyly did reject them,
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to take the man that now I have;
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but woe is me,
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that ere I see
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The face of him, makes me thus singing,
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most heavily
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I sing, and cry,
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My Husband hath no fore-cast in him.
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His flattering tongue it did bewitch me,
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faire promises to me he gave,
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And said I should have all things plenty,
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but no such thing Im sure I have;
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his purse is light,
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nothing is right,
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Although a portion I did bring him;
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aye me poore soule,
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thus to condole,
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My Husband hath no fore-cast in him.
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Hees not the man I tooke him for,
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alas, who would be so much tyde?
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I tell you friends now seriously,
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my Husband he doth nought but chide:
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his lookes are sowre,
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and he doth lowre;
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For Nature no good parts hath gin him:
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For which I grieve,
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You may believe,
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My Husband hath no fore-cast in him.
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When as he was a Batcheler,
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then who but he amongst the Maids?
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He went most neat in his apparell;
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but now I finde his glory fades:
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so spruce he went,
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would give content,
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To any Maiden that could win him,
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heed dance, and sing,
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wrestle and ring;
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But now he hath no fore-cast in him.
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Some Men unto their Wives are loving,
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and all content to them doe give;
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But mine is lumpish sad and heavy,
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which is the cause wherefore I grieve:
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if I prove kind,
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some fault heel finde,
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And sayes he knowes where his shooe wrings him;
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in darke, or light,
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by day or night,
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My Husband hath no fore-cast in him.
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The second Part, To the same tune.
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HE keepes me short of every thing,
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no money he will give or lend;
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Tis fitting sometimes that a woman
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should with a friend some money spend:
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I must sit heere,
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with heavy cheere,
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Although that I did something bring him;
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which makes me thus
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to cry, alas,
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My Husband hath no fore-cast in him.
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He doth not use me like a Woman,
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and doth not care what clothes I have.
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When other mens wives weare each fashion,
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and are maintained rich and brave:
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thus to the wall,
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I may condole,
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Although that this same song I sing him:
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some counsell give,
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me to relieve;
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My Husband hath no fore-cast in him.
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Eringo-roots I doe provide him,
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which Cawdles made of Muscadine,
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Yea, Marrow-bones and Oyster-pyes,
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which all are dishes good and fine:
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and Lobsters great,
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for him to eat,
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And yolks of Eggs; these have I gin him:
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doe what I can,
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yet this same man
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By no meanes will have fore-cast in him.
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He will not have me goe abroad,
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yet seldome is himselfe at home;
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He saith that I must be a House-dove,
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I must not flye abroad and rome:
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when other Wives,
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doe lead brave lives,
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Theyl goe to Playes, heare Fidlers singing,
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and spend their Coyne,
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at Ale or Wine;
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My Husband hath no fore-cast in him.
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Thus like the Turtle I sit mourning,
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because I have an unkind Mate;
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And fickle Fortune on me frowneth,
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it is my destiny and fate:
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I hope heel mend,
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and be more kinde,
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With sweet embraces I will cling him;
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Ile speake him faire
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to have more care;
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That he may have more fore-cast in him.
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But if I see hee will not mend,
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come tell me Widdow, Maid, or Wife;
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What shall I doe in this same woe?
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for I am weary of this life:
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my tongue Ile tune,
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It shall chime noone,
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And in his eares a peale Ile ring him;
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I am put toot
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and I will doot,
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Because he hath no fore-cast in him.
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