A warning for married Women.
By the Example of Mrs. Jane Renalds, a West-Country Woman, born neer unto Ply-
mouth; who having plighted her troth to a Sea-man, was afterwards Married to
a Carpenter, and at last carried away by a Spirit: the manner how shall be pre-
sently recited.
To a gallant West-country tune, cald, The fair maid of Bristol; Or, Bateman, or, John True
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THere dwelt a fair Maid in the West,
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of worthy birth and Fame,
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Neer unto Plimouth stately Town,
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Jane Renalds was her name.
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This Damsel deerly was beloved
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by many a proper Youth,
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And what of her is to be said,
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is known for very truth.
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Amongst the rest a Sea-man brave
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unto her a wooing came;
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A comely proper Youth was he,
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Jame Harris was his name.
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This Maid and Youngman were well agreed
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as time did them allow:
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And to each other secretly,
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they made a solemn vow.
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That they would ever faithful be,
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whilst Heaven afforded life:
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He was to be her Husband kind,
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and she his loving Wife.
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A day appointed was also,
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when they were to be married:
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But before these things were brought to pass
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matters were strangely carried.
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All you that fatal Lovers be,
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give ear and hearken well;
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And what of them became at last,
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I will directly tell.
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The Young-man he was Prest to Sea,
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and forcd he was to go:
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His Sweet-heart she must stay behind,
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whether she would or no.
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And after she was from him gone,
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she three long years for him stayed,
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Expecting of his coming home again,
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and kept her self a Maid.
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At last came news that he was dead,
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within a Foreign Land,
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And how that he was buried,
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she well did understand.
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For whose sweet sake the Maiden she,
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lamented many a day,
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And never was she known at all
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the wanton for to play.
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A Carpenter that lived hard by,
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when he heard of the same,
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Like as the other had done before,
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to her a Wooing came.
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But when that he had gaind her love,
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they married were with speed;
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And four years space being man & wife
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they lovingly agreed.
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Three pretty Children in that time,
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this loving Couple had;
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Which made their Father heart rejoyce
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and Mother wondrous glad.
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BUt as occasion servd one time,
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the Good-man took his way,
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Some three days journy from his home
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intending for to stay.
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But whilst that he was gone away.
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a Spirit in the night,
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Came to the window of the house,
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and did her sorely fright.
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Which Spirit spake like to a man,
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and unto her did say.
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My dear and only love (quoth he)
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prepare and come away.
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Jame Harris is my name (quoth he)
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whom thou didst love so dear,
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And I have travelled for thy sake,
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at least this long seven year.
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And now I am returned again,
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to take thee to my wife;
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And thou with me shall go to Sea,
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to end all further strife.
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O tempt me not sweet James (she said)
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with thee away to go;
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If I should leave my Children small
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alas what should they do?
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My Husband is a Carpenter,
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and a Carpenter of great fame,
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I would not for five hundred pounds,
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that he should know the same.
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I might have had a Kings Daughter,
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and she would have married with me,
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But I forsook her golden crown,
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and all for love of thee.
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Therefore if thou wilt thy husband for sake,
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and thy children three also,
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I will forgive all that is past,
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if thou with me wilt go.
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If I forsake my Husband, and
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my little Children three,
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What means hast thou to bring me too,
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if I should go with thee.
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I have seven Ships upon the Sea,
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when they are come to Land,
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Both Marriners and Merchandize
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shall be at thy command.
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The Ship wherein my Love shall sail,
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so glorious to behold:
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The Sails shall be of finest Silk,
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and the Masts of shining Gold.
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When he had told her these fair tales,
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to love him she began:
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Because he was in humane shape,
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she thought he had bin a man.
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And so together away they went,
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from off the English shore,
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And since that time the woman kind,
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was never heard of more.
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But when her Husband he came home,
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and found his wife was gone,
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And left her sweet pretty Babes
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within the house alone.
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He beat his brest, he tore his hair,
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the tears fell from his eyes,
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And in the open streets he run,
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with heavy doleful cryes.
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And in this sad distracted case
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he hangd himself for woe,
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Upon a tree neer to that place,
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the truth of all is so.
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The Children now are fatherless,
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and left without a guide;
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But yet no doubt but heavenly powers,
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will for them well provide.
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