THE
Mournful Maid of Berkshire:
CONTAINING
Her Woeful Lamentation for her dearly beloved Maiden-head,
which she unfortunately lost upon the Wheat-mow, with lusty Dick
the Dung-man. To the Tune of, The Jealous Lover. Licensd.
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ATtend you Friends and Parents dear,
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Unto this sad Relation here,
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Which to the World I here unfold,
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A greater Truth cannot be told:
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When Men to Wickedness are bent,
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And Parents gives their joynt-consent,
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To the Commision of their Crimes,
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Well may we say, Sad is the times.
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Friends ought for to instruct them so,
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That they the Laws of God might know;
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But some are of another mind,
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As by this Sequel you shall find:
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Their lives a Woman in Berk-shire,
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Who has one lubey Son we hear,
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And he endeavourd night and day,
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A modest Damosel to betray,
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That lived with his Mother then;
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She could not be at quiet, when
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He found her all alone, for still
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He prest to gain her kind good will.
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The modest Damosel often cryd,
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His wanton suit must be denyd;
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Yet neer the less, this would not do,
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For still he did his ends pursue.
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Sometimes hed to her Chamber creep,
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When she perhaps was fast a sleep,
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Thinking he might acceptance find,
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But she was of another mind:
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And would not yield to his Request,
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Yet hed not let her be at rest,
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Swearing that he himself would kill,
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If he of her had not his will.
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Say what you will, tis all in vain,
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My Reputation ill not stain;
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Forbear your importunity,
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Why should you strive to ruin me.
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If you do not your suit forbear,
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Then do I solemnly declare,
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Your Mother, she the truth shall know,
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How you would seek my overthrow.
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He never valud what she said,
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So that at length this modest Maid,
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Informd his Mother out of hand,
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Who gave the Lass, this Repremand,
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Why Houswife, Houswife, she replyd
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Why must my Son be thus denyd,
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Let him enjoy his Hearts Delight,
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Perhaps he may your love requite:
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For if by him with Child you prove,
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My Son I will in kindness move
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To take you for his lawful Wife,
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Then will you lead a happy life.
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The Maid was loath to trust to this,
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But said, I pray sweet Mistress,
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Let me go seek some other place,
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For fear he brings me to disgrace.
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Her Dame replyd, As I am true,
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I cant, nor will not part with you;
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Therefore pray set your heart at ease,
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And see my Son you strive to please.
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Soon after this, he chancd to meet
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The Damosel on a Mow of Wheat,
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Whom he with vows soon over came,
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And reapt what I forbear to name.
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Now when the Damosel provd with Child,
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She then was bitterly revild,
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Both by the Mother and the Son,
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They from their former vows did run.
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The Damosel then in sad distress,
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With grief of heart and heaviness,
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Cryd out, Behold my wretched state,
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A Creature most unfortunate.
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Would I the Wretch had never known,
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For here in bitter tears of moan,
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I do my Lamentation make,
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This heart of mine with grief will break.
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Ye youthful Damsels, fair and young,
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Take care that no deluding tongue;
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Does eer insnare you for youll find,
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Men most unconstant, like the wind.
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They seldom value what they swear,
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Therefore young Damsels all beware;
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Least at the last you weep like me,
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In tears of sad extremity.
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