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EBBA 30772

British Library - Roxburghe
Ballad XSLT Template
THE
Loyal Soldier of Flanders:
OR,
The Faithless Lass of London.
To the Tune of How can I be merry and glad? Licensed according to Order.

YOung Thomas he was a proper Lad,
and lovd Elizabeth as his Life,
Four years and a half to serve he had,
eer he could make her his Lawful Wife.

When this his Master happend to know,
he labourd the Bonds of Love to break;
Then Thomas a Soldier he straight did go,
to venture his Life for his Loves sake.

Yet they in private often did meet,
their seeming hard Fortune to bemoan,
And with many Vows and Kisses sweet
they solemnly joynd their Hearts in one.

At length he taking her by the Hand,
said he, I must cross the Ocean main,
To venture my Life in a Foreign Land,
yet Loyal to thee I will still remain.

Remember your solemn Vows, she said,
by Letters my Mind to thee Ill tell,
Let no other Love thy Heart invade,
so long as I am alive and well.

Said she, by all the Powers above,
my Heart Ill give to no one but thee,
If eer I prove false unto my Love,
then let me a sad Example be.

Ill patiently wait for thy Return,
and pray that the Heavens may be my Guide,
The Watery Waves in Flames shall burn,
before I will break my Vow, she cryd.

He entred on Board and left his Dear,
the Winds did rise, and the Seas did roar,
Death did in sundry shapes appear,
until he arrivd at the Holland shore.

Then like a most true entire Friend,
after he had crossd the Ocean Main,
To her he did loving Letters send,
and she did return him the like again.

But oh! most unfaithful Wretch at last,
in little more than a Twelve-months space,
For all those Solemn Vows that were past,
another Lover she did embrace.

Now when he returnd and found it so,
he then was tormented in his mind,
He sighing said, Now full well I know,
no creature so false as Woman-kind.

He still from his Heart sad Sighs did fetch,
and often in Passion thus said he,
Thou false and forsworn Perjurd Wretch,
tis thou that alone hast ruind me.

What solemn Vows to me didst thou make,
when first I went from the English Shore?
But seeing thou art false, now for thy sake,
Ill never believe a Woman more,


Printed for P. Brooksby, J. Deacon, J. Blare
J. Back.

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