Crafty KATE of Colchester;
OR, THE
False-hearted Clothier frighted into good Manners.
Tune of, The Languishing Lover.
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YOU that in Merriment delight,
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Pray listen now to what I write,
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Then will you Satisfaction find,
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To cure a melancholly Mind.
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A Damsel livd in Colchester,
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And there a Clothier courted her,
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For two Months space both Night and Day,
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And yet the Damsel said him nay.
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The Clothier, he then replyd,
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If you refuse to be my Bride,
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It soon will prove my overthrow,
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Then dearest do not answer no.
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Said she, Were I to Love inclind,
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Perhaps you soon woud change your Mind,
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And court some other Damsel fair,
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For Men are false I do declare.
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By all thats good my dearest Love,
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I never will unfaithful prove;
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Then grant me what I do request,
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So shall we both be ever blest.
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He many Protestations made,
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And like a loyal Lover said,
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Theres none but thee shall be my Wife,
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The Joy and Comfort of my Life.
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This said, at length she gave consent
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To marry him, likewise they went
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Unto her Friends and Parents, who
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Did grant her love and liking too.
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But see the Fruits of cursed Gold,
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He left his loyal Love behold,
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With Grief and Sorrow compassd round,
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When he a greater Fortune found.
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A Lawyers Daughter fair and bright,
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Her Parents joy and Hearts delight,
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He was resolvd to make his Spouse,
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Denying all his former Vows.
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Now when the Damsel came to hear,
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That she must lose her only Dear,
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And for the Lawyers Daughters sake,
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Thought she some sport with him Ill make.
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She knew that every Night he came,
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From his new Love, Nancy by Name,
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Sometimes at Ten oClock or more,
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Kate to a Tanner went therefore.
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She borrowed there an old Cow-hide,
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With crooked Horns both large and wide,
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And having wrapt herself therein,
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She did her new Intreague begin.
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She in a lonesome Field did stay,
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The Clothier came at length that Way.
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Where he was sorely scard by her,
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She lookd so like old Lucifer.
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A hairy Hide, Horns on her Head,
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Which full three Foot asunder spread,
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Besides he see a long black Tail,
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He strove to run, but his Feet did fail,
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She quickly seizd him by the Coat,
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Then with a grim and dreadful Note,
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She cryd, You leave poor Kate, I hear,
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And wooe the Lawyers Daughter dear.
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Since you have been so false to her,
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You perjured Knave of Colchester,
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You shall whether you will or no,
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Unto my gloomy Region go.
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This Voice did so affrighten him,
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That there he trembled every Limb,
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Sweet Master Devil spare me now,
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And Ill perform my former Vow:
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Ill make young Kate my lawful Bride,
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Well see you do, the Devil cryd,
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Or you shall hear from me again,
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If Kate against you do complain.
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Then home he went, tho very late,
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He neer imagind this was Kate,
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That put him into such a fright,
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Therefore next Day by Morning light,
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He went to Kate and marryd her,
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For fear of this old Lucifer:
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Her Friends and Parents thought it strange,
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There should be such a sudden change.
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Kate did not let her Parents know;
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Nor any other Friend or Foe,
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Till she a Year had marryd been,
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Then told it at her Gossiping.
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It pleasd the Women to the Heart,
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Who said, she bravely playd her part;
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Her Husband laughd as well as they,
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This was a jovial merry Day.
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