The STAFFORDSHIRE MAID.
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COme all ye young Gallants, and listen awhile,
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Ill tell you a story will make you to smile:
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It is of a bold young Staffordshire Maid,
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Her part with a rogue of a Tinker she playd.
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At Yarmouth this Damsel did live, as we hear,
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Along with the farmer the space of a year;
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But being desirous her parents to see,
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She gave her master warning for to go away.
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Her master in wages paid her four pound,
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She put it in her box, with head-cloaths and gown,
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And having a box for to hold her cloaths,
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With it on her head from her master she goes.
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She had not been gone from the town half a mile,
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Before a bold Tinker met her at a stile;
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When smiling in her face, unto her he said,
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Where are you gaing, my charming fair maid?
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I am going to Hurley, where my parents do dwell,
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Then replyd the Tinker, I know them full well;
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But be ruled by me, The Tinker did say,
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Youll surely be robbd if you go the highway,
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If you turn to the right it will be same,
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Then be ruled by me, and go strait down the lane,
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Tis round about, yet better he said,
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Then for to be robbed, my charming fair maid.
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She thanked the Tinker, and went on her way,
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But he soon calld to her, and bid her to stay;
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Im going down this lane the space of a mile,
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But little she thought that he would her beguile.
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Down the lane the Maid and the Tinker did walk,
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Diverting each other with innocent talk,
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Until they came to a lonesome place,
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Then the Tinker he lookd her so sly in the face.
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What is in your box? come tell unto me,
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And taking it from her demanded the key:
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She said she had lost it, with tears in her eyes,
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A long pike staff, the Tinker lay bye;
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And while she was busy in opening the lock,
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With the same she gave him a very great knock;
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The knock that she gave let him to know,
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Her staff it was ready to give tother blow,
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Another she gave him on the side of the head,
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The blood it run down, she left him for dead,
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And said, Lie there villain, and rogue in thy heart,
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Thy traiterous actions have met their desert.
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So taking her box on her head once again,
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Away she went walking down the lane,
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There she met a Gentleman, who did her entreat,
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And askd her the favour to open the gate.
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To open the gate, that his horse might go thro,
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And as the Gentleman near to her drew,
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He said, To whom doth the box on your head belong?
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To master or mistress, or have you done wrong
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No, Ive done no wrong, but a crime thats as ill,
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For I do believe a man I have killd.
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Come shew me the man, he strait to her said,
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And I will protect you from danger, fair maid.
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She shewd him the place where the Tinker lay desd,
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Along stream of blood was run down from his head;
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In his budget were pistols, with powder and ball,
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And likewise a whistle his companions to call,
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Also a hanger he had by his side,
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And a large pair of spurs if occasion to ride;
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He said, Fair damsel, you might have been abusd,
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These are odd sort of tools for a Tinker to use.
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He said fair maid have you courage to stand,
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To fire a pistol when dangers at hand?
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She said I have, and never will start,
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When dangers at hand I will soon play my part.
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Then he took the whistle, and gave such a blow,
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As made the groves to ring and the thieves to crow:
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In a few minutes the thieves did appear,
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And seeing what was done, began for to swear,
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They would be revenged; when the maid without dread,
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She cocked her pistol, and killd one stone dead;
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Another bold villain the gentleman shot,
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Who fell to the ground, stone dead on the spot
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Another bold villain seeing what was done,
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He took to his heels, and away he did run;
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The gentleman pursud him, and brought him to town,
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Where the truth of the matter was quickly made known
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The gentleman to the assizes is come, it is said,
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And for this brave girl shall have money paid;
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Full fifty bright Guineas she made, it appears,
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Besides the effects in the budget we hear;
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Now all the brave Lads were in a strife,
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Who should gain this fair Girl for a wife;
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But none of them was ordained so right,
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As he who made her a Lady so bright.
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