A good warning for all Maidens,
By the Example of Gods judgment shewd upon one Jermans wife of Clifton
in the County of Nottingham, who lying in childbed was born away and
never heard of after. The Tune is, The Ladies fall.
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YOu daintie dames so finelie framd
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of beauties cheefest mold,
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And you that trip it up and down
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like Lambs in Cupids fold.
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Here is a lesson to be learnd,
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a lesson in my mind,
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For such as wil prove false in love,
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and bear a faithlesse mind.
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Not far from Nottingham of late,
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in Clifton as I hear,
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There dwelt a fair and comely Dame
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of beautie without peer.
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Her cheeks wer like the crimson Rose,
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yet as you may perceive,
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The fairest face the falsest heart,
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and soonest will deceive.
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This gallant Damsell was belovd
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of manie in that place,
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And manie sought in marriage bed,
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her bodie to imbrace.
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At last a proper handsome youth,
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young Bateman calld by name,
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In hope to make a married wife
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unto this Maiden came.
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Such love and liking soon he foun,
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that he from all the rest,
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Had stollen away this maidens heart,
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and she did love him best.
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Then plighted promise secretly,
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did passe between them two,
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That nothing could but death itself
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these True lovers knot undo.
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He broke a piece of Gold in twain;
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one halfe to her he gave,
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The other as a pledge quoth he
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dear heart myself will have,
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If I do break my vow quoth she,
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while I remain alive,
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May never thing I take in hand
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be seen at all to thrive.
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This passed on for two months space,
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and than this Maid began
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To settle love liking and too
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upn another man.
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One Jermane who a widdower was,
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her husband needs must be,
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Because he was of greater wealth
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and better in degree.
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Her vows and promise latelie made
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to Bateman she ventd,
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And in despight of him and his,
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she utterlie defid.
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Well then quoth he if it be so
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that thou wilt me forsake,
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And like a false and forsworn wretch
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another husband take.
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Thou shall not live one quiet daie,
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for surelie I will have
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Thee either now alive or dead,
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when I am laid in grave.
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Thy faithlesse mind thou shalt repent,
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therefore be well assurd,
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When for my sske thou hearest report,
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what torments I indurd,
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BUt mark how Baeeman did for love,
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he finisht up his life,
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The very day she married was,
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and made old Jermans wife.
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For with a strangling cord God wot,
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great moan was made therefore,
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He hangd himself in desperate sort
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before the brides own door.
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Whereat such sorrow piercd her heart,
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and troubled sore her mind,
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That she could never after that
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one daie of comfort find;
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For wheresoever she did go,
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her fancy did surmize,
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Young Batemans pale and gastly ghost
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appeard before her eies.
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When she in bed a nights did lie
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between her husbands arms,
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In hope thereby to sleep and rest
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in safety without harms.
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Great cries & grievous groans she heard,
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a voice that sometimes said,
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O thou art she that I must have,
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and will not be denyd.
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Tut she then being big with child,
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was for the infants sake
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Preserved the Spirits power,
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no vengeance could it take.
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The babe unborn did safely keep,
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as God appointed so;
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His mothers body from the fiend,
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hat sought her overthrow.
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But being of her burthen easd,
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and safely brought to bed,
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Her cares and griefes began anew,
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and further sorrow bread:
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And of her friends she did intreat,
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desiring them to stay,
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Out of my bed quoth she this night,
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I shall be born away.
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Here comes the Sirit of my love,
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with pale and gastly face,
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Who till he bears me hence away,
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will not depart this place,
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Alive or dead I am his right,
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and he will surely have,
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In spight of me and all the world,
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what I by promise gave.
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O watch with me this night I pray,
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and see you do not sleep,
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No longer then you be awake,
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my body can you keep
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All promised to do their best,
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yet nothing could suffice.
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At middle of the night to keep
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sad slumber from their eyes.
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So being all ful fast asleep,
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to them unknown which way,
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The child bed bed that wofull night
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from thence was born away,
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But to what place no creature knew,
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nor to this day can tell;
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As strange a thing as ever yet
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in any age befel.
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You maids that do desire to love
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and would good husbands chuse,
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To him that you have vowd to love,
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by no means do refuse;
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For God that hears all secret oaths,
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will dreadfull vengeance take;
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And such that of a wilfull vow
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do slender reckoning make.
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