The Subtile Damosel:
Or, Good Counsel for Maids.
Wherein she shews to every Maiden fair,
To take heed of false young men wherever they are:
For Frummety Dick doth love well the Kettle,
And porrige pot Will is a man of great mettle.
To the Tune of, the new made Gentlewoman,
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I Once had a Servant,
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as other Maids have
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That pretended to love me
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but he proved a knave:
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He thought by his tricks
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to overcome me,
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But I was as cunning
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and crafty as he.
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His tongue was so tipt
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with temptations that I
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Out of his presence or sight
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could not lie;
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He call'd me his hony,
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his duck and his dear:
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But now his words to me
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he doth them forswear.
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But now I am free from him,
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I'm glad in my heart:
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Its never be said, I will mourn
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when we part:
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But unto all Maids now
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the truth I will show,
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To take heed of false young men
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wherever they go.
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I' th' first place take heed,
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and beware what I say?
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For when you are bound,
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they'l force you to obey:
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Nere trust a man
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that hath a red Nose,
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Before he'l want his liquor
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he'l pawn your best cloaths:
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There's Dick came and Harry,
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both Robin and Will
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Have showed themselves clowns,
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and so they'l be still:
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For Peter at dancing
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he put them all down
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But John kist the best of all
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men in the Town.
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But though I did promise him
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and count him the best
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Yet he can dissemble
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as well as the rest:
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From eighteen to thirty
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these young men I mind
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Loves a wench in a corner,
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if they can them find
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For this Im resolved,
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and so I say still,
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There's not one amongst twenty
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but he doth prove ill:
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Search every City
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and Town you shan't see
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A man that proves constant
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and faithful to be
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Though John of good mettle,
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and counted so civil,
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At a Frummety Kettle
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he'l fight with the Devil:
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Or at long spoon and custard
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he's a right honest man:
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But I have forsook him
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then love him who can.
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There's Bob a good fellow
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to give him his due:
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Such a young man again
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I think there is but few:
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Yet with one disease he is
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troubled I smell,
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If he meet with a wench,
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he can't kiss her but tell.
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Also came the Taylor
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and the Weaver I discern,
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The one is for Shreds,
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the others for Yarn:
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These two boon Companion
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work hard I do see,
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And they'r striving which of them
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the best thief will be,
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Last Valentines day
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I met with my Dear,
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He took me by the hand,
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and lead me to the Fair:
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He gave me fine fairings,
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to kiss me was bold:
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But at last I do give him
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the dog for to hold,
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His eloquent speeches
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could do him no good,
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I can give him fair words,
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and then leave i' th' mud:
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He talkt of deep learning,
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but I did him tell
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That he went to school
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in some bottomless well.
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The world now adaies
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it is come to that pass,
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That every Boy now
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doth look for a Lass:
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Theres Bacon-fac'd Harry
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as short as rny thumb,
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All arse and no body. Sing
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come pudding come.
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These young men & more of them
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which I could name,
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To wrong pretty Maidens
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they think it no shame.
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But what shou'd we speak on't?
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it oft has been tri'd,
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That honest young men
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they cannot abide,
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Thus Maids have I told you
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some part of my mind,
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How 'tis very heard a good
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Husband to find.
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Though my Love hath left me,
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to grieve I ne[']er shall:
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If the rest prove no better,
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old Nick take them all
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