The Valiant Virgin; Or, Phillip and Mary;
In a Description of a Young Gentlewoman of Worcestershire (a Rich Gentlemans
Daughter) being in love with a Farmers Son, which her Father despiseing, because
he was poore, causd him to be Prest to Sea; And how she Disguised herselfe in
Mans Apparel and followed him; where in the same Ship (she being very expert
in Surgery) was entertaind as Surgeons Mate, and how loving to him (and skill-
fully to others) she behaved herself in her Office; and he having got a Shot in the
Thigh, how deligent she was to dress him; she never discovering herself to him
untill they came both on Shore: Her Father Dyeing whilst she was at Sea, (He
having no more Children then she) they went into the Countrey to take Posses-
sion of her Estate, and to Marry; To the admiration of all that were at the Wedding.
To the Tune of, When the Stormy Winds do blow.
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TO every faithful Lover
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thats constant to her dear,
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This Ditty doth discover
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Affections pure and cleere;
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Affections and Afflictions too,
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do in this Story move,
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Where Youth, and truth,
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obtain the Crown of Love.
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A Man of mean Extraction,
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brought up in Worcester-shiere,
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Was guided by Affection
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to love a Lady dear,
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Whose eyes did shew like morning dew,
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that doth on Lillies lye;
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Her face, and grace,
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well mixt with Majesty.
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She was the only Heiress
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unto a Gentleman,
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And all her Fathers care is
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to marry her to one,
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Whose welth & wit, may fairly fit
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a Lady of such worth;
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But he, that she
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did Love, was poore by birth.
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A Farmers son being handsome,
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did catch this Ladies heart
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So fast in hold, no Ransome
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can free it from the Dart:
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The Gentleman, when he began
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to understand this thing,
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Quoth hee, Ile free,
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my fond daughter in the spring.
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The Spring came, & the Pressing
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was every where begun;
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Her Fathers fears increasing,
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did Press the Farmers Son,
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No money could Redeem him,
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thought she, if he must go,
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Ile nere, stay here,
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but Ile be a Seaman too.
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The Second Part, To the same Tune.
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THe Gentleman did Press him,
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and sent him to the slaughter,
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He thought fit to Press the Man
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that would have prest his daughter;
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His wit prevents, all her intents,
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for on her knees he brought her;
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But one, Love gone,
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straight the tother follows after.
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This Maid with Ingenuity
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had every Surgeons part,
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A Ladies hand, an Eagles eye,
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but yet a Lyons heart;
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She knew all tents, & instruments,
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Salves, Oyntments, Oyls & all,
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That they, imploy,
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in the fight when Souldiers fall.
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In mans Aparil she did
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resolve to try her Fate,
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And in the Ship where he rid,
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she went as Surgeons Mate;
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Sayes she, my souldier shall not be
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destroyd for want of Cure;
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Ile Dress, and Bless,
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whatsoever I endure.
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Their names Philip and Mary,
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who then were both at Sea;
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Phil. fought like old King Harry,
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but from the Enemy
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Poore Philip had receivd a shot,
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through that part of the thigh,
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Did joyn, tos groin,
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oh! that shot came somthing nigh.
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Into the Surgeons Cabbin,
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they did convay him straight,
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Where first, of all the wounded men.
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the pretty Surgens Mate,
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Though in this trim, unknown to him
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did bravely shew her Art,
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She drest, and kist,
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the woful wounded part.
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Which she did most mildly dress,
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and shed her teares upont;
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He observd, but could not guess,
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or find the meaning ont,
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Although he woud, in tears & blood
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oft times on Mary call,
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And pray, she may,
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be there at his Funeral.
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Fierce fights at Sea this Couple
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did valiantly indure,
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As fast as one did aime to kill,
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the tother strivd to cure;
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The Souldier, & the Surgens Mate
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did both imploy their parts,
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That they, each way,
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did win all the Seamens hearts.
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The Summer being ended,
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that they could fight no more,
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The Ship came to be mended,
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and all men went a shore;
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Stout Philip lovd the Surgeons Mate
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so much he could not be
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An houre, or more,
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out of his company.
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He often viewd her Feature,
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and gazd on every part;
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(Quoth Philip) such a Creature
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is Mistriss of my heart,
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If she be dead, Ile never wed,
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but be with thee for ever,
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Wel walk, and talk,
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Live, Lye, and Dye together.
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Poore Mary full of passion,
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to hear him prove so kind,
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Ore joyd with this Relation,
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could not conceale her mind,
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But fondly hangs about his neck,
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her tears did trickle down,
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Sayes she, Ile be,
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still thy true Companion.
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Since providence hath vanquishd
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the dangers of the Sea,
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Ile never marry whilst I live,
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unless it be with thee:
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No woman kind, shall ever find
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my heart to be so free,
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If thou, wilt vow,
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but to be as true to mee.
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Ere he could speak, she told h[im,]
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I am thy dearest dear,
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Thy Mary thou hast brought a sh[ore,]
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and now thou holdst her here
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This mans Atire, I did but h[ire,]
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when first I followed thee;
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Thy Dove, Ile prove,
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but no Surgeons Mate am I.
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He flung his arms about her,
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he wondred, kist, and wept;
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His Mary he did hold so fast,
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as if he would have crept
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Into her soul and body too;
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his eyes in joy did swimm,
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And she, as free,
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was as fully fond of him.
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They both rid towards Worcste[r,]
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to shew how they had sped;
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But upon the Road they heard
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her Father he was dead,
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Two months at least, after he pr[est,]
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the Farmers Son for slaughte[r,]
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In tears, appears,
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the sad duty of a Daughter.
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Philip having cheard her up,
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they rid directly home,
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Where (after many a bitter cup[),]
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the Marriage day was come,
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Which they in state, did Celebra[te,]
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the Gallants that were there,
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Were grave, and brave,
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all the best in Worcster-shire.
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Thus may you by this Couple s[ee,]
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what from true love doth sprin[g,]
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When Men love with fidelity
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their Mistriss; & their King:
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when maids shew men, true love age[n,]
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in spight of Fortunes frowns,
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Theyl wive, and thrive,
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for such crosses have their crowns.
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