The Staffordshire Maid.
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COME all you young gallants, and listen awhile,
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I'll tell you a story shall make you to smile:
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It is of a bold young Staffordshire Maid,
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Her part with a rogue of a Tinker she play'd.
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At Yarmouth this Damsel did live, as we hear,
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Along with a Farmer the Space of a Year;
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But being desirous her Parents to see,
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She gave her master warning for to go away.
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Her master in wages paid her four pounds.
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She put it in her box, with her headcloaths and gown,
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And having a box for to hold her cloaths,
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With her box on her head from her master she goes
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She had not been got from town [h]alf a mile,
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Before a bold Tinker met her at a stile;
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When smiling in her face, unto her he said,
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Where are you going, my charming fair Maid?
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I am going to Hurley, where my parents do dwell.
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Then, reply'd the Tinker, I know them full well:
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But be ruled by me, the Tinker did say,
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You'll surely be robb'd if you go the highway.
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If you turn to the right, it will be the same,
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Then be ruled by me, and go strait down this lane;
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It is round about, yet better, he said,
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Than for to be robbed, my charming fair Maid.
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She thanked the Tinker, and went on her Way.
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He soon called to her, and bid her to stay:
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I am going down this lane the space of a mile.
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Poor girl, she little thought that he would her be-guile,
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Down the lane the Maid and the Tinker did walk,
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Diverting each other with innocent talk,
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Until they came to a lonesome place;
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Then the Tinker look'd her so sly in the face:
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What is in your box? come tell unto me,
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And, taking it from her, demanded the key:
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She said she had lost it, with tears in her eyes.
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A long pike-staff the Tinker laid by.
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And while he was busied in opening the lock,
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With the same she gave him a damnable knock:
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The knock that she gave him let him to know,
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Her staff it was ready to give t'other blow.
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Another she gave him on the side of the head,
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The blood it ran down: she left him for dead,
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And said, Lie there villain and rogue in thy heart,
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Thy traiterous actions have met their desert.
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So, taking the box on her head once again,
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And as she was walking down the long lane,
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There she met a gentleman, who did her intreat,
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And ask'd her the favour to open the gate.
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To open the gate, that his horse might go thro',
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And as the gentleman nigh to her drew,
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He said, To whom doth that box on your head now belong,
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To master, or mistress, or have you done wrong?
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No, I've done no wrong, but a crime that's as ill,
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For I do believe that a man I have kill'd:
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Come shew me the man, he strait to her said,
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And I will protect you from danger, fair maid.
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She shew'd him the place where the Tinker lay dead
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A long stream of blood was run down from his head
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In his budget were pistols with powder and ball,
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And likewise a whistle his companions to call.
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Likewise a hanger he had by his side;
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A large pair of spurs if occasion to ride.
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He said, Fair damsel, you might have been abus'd,
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These are odd sort of tools for a Tinker to use.
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He said, Fair maid, have you courage to stand
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To fire a pistol, when danger's at hand.
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She said, Sir, I have, and never will start,
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When danger's at hand I will soon play my part.
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Then he took the whistle, and gave such a blow,
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As made the groves to ring, and the thieves to crow
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In a few minutes the villains did appear,
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And seeing what was done, began for to swear,
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They would be reveng'd, then the maid without dread
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She cocked her pistol, and killed one stone dead;
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Another villain the gentleman shot,
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Who fell on the ground stone dead on the spot.
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Another bold villain, he seeing what was done,
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He took to his heels, and away he did run.
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The gentleman pursu'd him, and brought him to town,
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When the truth of the matter was quickly made known.
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The Jailer to the assizes is come, as 'tis said,
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And for this, money brave girl shall be paid,
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Full fifty bright guineas she made, it appears,
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Besides the effects in the budget, as we hear.
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Now all the brave lads they were at a strife,
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Who should gain this brave girl for a wife:
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But none of them was ordained so right,
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As he who made her a lady so bright.
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