A Warning for Maidens or young Bateman.
To the Tune of, The Ladies fall.
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YOu daintie Dames so finelie framd
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in beauties chiefest mold.
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[A]nd you that trip it up and down,
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like lambs in Cupids fold;
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Here is a lesson to be learnd,
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a lesson in my mind,
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For such as will prove false in love,
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and bear a faithless mind.
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Not far from Notingham of late,
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in Clifton as I hear,
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There dwelt a fair and comelie maid,
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for beautie without peer;
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Her cheeks were like the Crimson rose,
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yet well we may perceive,
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The fairest Dame the falsest heart,
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and soonest will deceive.
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This gallant Damsel was belovd,
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by manie in that place;
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And manie sought in marriage bed,
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her bodie to embrace;
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At last a comelie proper youth,
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young Bateman calld by name,
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In hope to have a married wife,
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unto this maiden came.
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Such love and liking soon he found,
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that he from all the rest,
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Had stoln awaie the Damsels heart,
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and she did like him best;
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Then plighted promise secretlie,
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did pass between them two;
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That nothing could but death it self,
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their true loves knot undo.
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A piece of gold he brake in twain,
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one half to her he gave;
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The other as a pledge quoth he,
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dear heart my self shall have;
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And if I break my vow, quoth she,
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while I remain alive,
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May never thing I take in hand,
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be seen at all to thrive.
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This passed one for two months space,
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and then this maid began,
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To setle love and liking too,
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upon another man.
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Old Jerman who a widower was.
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he husband needs must be,
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Because he was of greater wealth,
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and better of degree.
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Her vowe and promise latelie past
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to Bateman she denyd,
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And in despight both him and his,
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she utterlie defyd.
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Well then quoth he if it be so,
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that thou wilt me forsake,
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And like a false and forsworn wretch,
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another husband take.
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Thou shalt not live one quiet day,
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for surelie I will have
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Thee either now alive or dead,
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when I am laid in grave,
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Thy faithlesse mind thou shalt repent,
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therefore be well assurd,
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When for thy sake thou hearst report,
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what torments I endurd.
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But mark how Bateman died for love,
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he finisht up his life,
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The verie day she married was,
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and made old Jermans wife;
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For with a strangling cord, God wote,
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(great moan was made therefore)
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He hangd himself in desperat sort
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before the brides own door.
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At which, such sorrow piercd her heart,
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and troubled sore her mind,
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That she could never after that,
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one hour of comfort find;
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For wheresoever that she went,
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her fancy did surmize,
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Young Batemans pale and gashlie ghost,
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appeard before her eyes.
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When she in bed at night did lie,
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betwixt her husbands arms,
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In hope therein to sleep and rest,
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in safetie without harms;
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Great cries & grievous groans she heard,
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a voice that sometime said,
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O thou art she that I must have,
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and will not be denid.
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But she as then being with child,
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was for the infants sake
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Preserved from the spirits power,
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no vengeance could it take;
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The Babe unborn did safelie shield,
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(as God appointed so)
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His mothers bodie from the Fiend,
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that sought her overthrow.
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But being of her burthen easd,
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and safelie brought to bed:
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Her cares and gri[e]fs began anew,
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and fresh her sorrows bred,
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And hereupon she calld her friends,
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desiring them to staie;
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This night quoth she, out of my bed,
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I shall be born awaie.
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Here comes the spirit of my love,
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with pale and gashlie face,
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Who, till he take me hence with him,
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will not depart this place;
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Alive or dead I am his right,
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and he will surelie have,
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In spight of me and all the world,
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what I by promise gave.
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O watch with me all night, dear friends
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but see ye do not sleep;
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No longer then ye be awake,
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my bodie can ye keep:
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All promised to do their best;
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yet nothing could suffice,
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In middle of the night to keep,
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sad slumber from their eyes.
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And being all full fast on sleep,
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as all unkown which waie:
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This child-bed wife, that woful wight
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from thence was born awaie:
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But to what place no creature knew,
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nor to this daie can tell:
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As strange a thing as ever yet,
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in anie age befell.
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Ye Maidens that desire to love,
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and will good husbands choose,
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To him that ye have vowd your love,
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by no means do refuse:
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For God that hears all secret oaths,
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wil dreadful vengeance take,
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On such as on a wilful vow,
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do slender reckning make.
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