[A Courtly new ballad] of the princely wooing of the fair Maid of London, by King Edward.
The Tune is, Bonny sweet Robin.
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FAir Angel of England thy beauty most bright,
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Is all my hearts pleasure, my joy and delight,
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Then goant me swett Lady thy true love to be,
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That I may say welcome good fortune to me.
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The Turtle so chast and true in her love,
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By gentle perswasions her fancy will move,
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Then be not intreated fair Lady in vain,
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For nature requireth what I should obtain.
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The phone[i]x so famous that liveth alone,
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Is vowed to chastity to being but one,
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But be not my darli[n]g so ch[a]st in desire,
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Lest thou like the phoenix dost penance in fire.
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But alas gentle L[a]dy I pitty thy state,
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In being resolved to live without Mate,
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For if of our courti[n]g the pleasure thou knew,
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You would have a liking the same to ensue.
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Long time I have sued the same to obtain,
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Yet I am requited with scornful disdain,
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But if you will grant your good will unto me,
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You shall be advanced to Princely degree:
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Promotions and honour may often entice,
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The chastest that liveth though never so nice,
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What woman so worthy but could be content
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To live in a Palace where Princes frequent.
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To brides young and princely to church I have led
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Two Ladies now lately h[a]ve decked my bed,
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Yet hath thy love taken more root in my heart,
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Then all their contentments whereof I have part.
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Your gentle heart cannot mens tears much abide,
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And women least angry when most they do chide,
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Then yield to me kindly and say that at length
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Men do want mercy and poor women strength.
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I grant that fair Ladies may poor men resist,
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And Princes may conquer and Love who they list
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A King may comand her to lye by his side,
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Whose feature deserveth to be Kings bride.
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In granting your love you shall purchase renown,
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your head shal be deckd with Englands fair crown
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thy garments most gallant of gold shall be rought,
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If true love with treasure with thee may be boght
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Great Ladies of honour shall tend on thy train,
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Most richly attired with Scarlet in grain,
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My Chamber most princely thy person shall keep,
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Where Virgins with musick shall rock thee asleep.
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If any more pleasures thy heart can invent,
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Command them sweet Lady thy mind to content,
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For Kings gallant courts where princes do dwell
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Affords such sweet pastime as Ladies love well.
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Then be not resolved to dye a true M[a]id,
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But print in thy bosome the words I have said,
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And grant a King favour thy true love to be.
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That I may say welcome sweet Virgin to me.
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The Fair maid of Londons answer to King Edwards wanton Love.
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OH wanton King Edward thy labour is vain,
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To follow the pleasure thou canst not attain,
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With getting thou loosest, and having dost wast it,
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the which if thou purchast is spoild if thou hast it.
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But if thou obtainest it thou nothing hast won,
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And I loosing nothing yet quite am undone,
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But if of that jewel a King do deceive me,
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No K can restore though a Kingdom he give me.
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My colour is changed since you saw me last,
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My favour is vanisht my beauty is past,
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The Rose red blushes that sat in my cheeks,
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To paleness is turned which all men dislikes.
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I pass not what Princes for love do protest,
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The name of a Virgin contenteth me best,
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I have not deserved to sleep by thy side,
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Nor yet to be counted for King Edwards bride.
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The name of a Princess I never did crave.
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No such tipe of honour thy hand-maid will have,
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My breast shall not harbour so lofty a thought,
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Nor be with rich proffers to wantonness brought.
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If wild wanton Rosamond one of our sort,
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Had neved frequented K. Henries brave Court,
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Such heaps of deep sorrow she never had seen,
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Nor tasted the rage of so jealous a Queen.
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All Men have their freedom to show their intent,
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They win not a woman except she consent;
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Who then can impute to them any fault?
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Who still go upright until Men do hault.
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Tis counted a kindness in men for to try,
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And vertue in women the same to deny,
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For women unconstant can never be provd
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Until by their betters therein they be movd.
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If women and modesty once do but sever
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Then farewel good name and credit for ever,
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And Royal King Edward let me be exil[]d,
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Ere any Man knows my bodys defild.
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If women and modesty once do but sever,
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Too deep an impression within my heart bears,
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Nor shall his bright honour that blot by me have,
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To bring his gray hairs with grief to the grave.
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The heavens forbid that when I shall dye,
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That any such sin upon my soul should lye,
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If I hhve thus kept me from doing this sin,
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My heart shall not yield with a Prince to begin.
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Come rather with pitty and weep on my tomb,
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Then for my birth curse my dear mothers womb,
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That brought forth a blossom that stained the tree,
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With wanton desires to shame her and me.
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Leave me most noble King tempt not in vain,
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My m[i]lk-white affection with lewdness to stain,
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Though England will give me no comfort at [all,]
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Yet England will give me a sad [burial.]
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