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EBBA 33813

National Library of Scotland - Crawford
Ballad XSLT Template
THE
Witty Maid of the West;
OR,
The Miller well thrashd by Robin the Plowman:
For which Service he received a Sum of Money, which bought a Ring and paid for the Marriage be-
twixt him and his beloved Nancy.
Tune of, Ladies of London.
This may be Printed, R.P.

WIlliam the Miller, who livd in the West,
A lusty stout Lad, brisk and ayry;
Now if you will but attend to the Jest,
I think it will make you all merry:
There was a Lass that used his Mill,
Her Name it was pretty facd Nancy;
He would be kissing and courting her still,
Theres no one but she he could fancy.

She was a beautifull Lass, I declare,
And one that was wonderfull witty;
There is not any with her can compare,
In Country Town or in City:
Nancy she did the Miller beguile,
She knew him a Knave by his learing;
Pray now have patience, and listen a while,
The Story is well worth your hearing.

Often he fain would have been at the sport,
if Nancy she would but be willing.
And as the Maiden herself did report,
he gave her full twenty good shilling;
She straight did yield, the case it was thus,
the Lass was resolved to cheat him,
The twenty Shillings she put in her purse,
and said at the Mill she would meet him.

Now for to study some joke she did aim,
that she in her fancy might glory,
Then to her true Love the Plowman she came,
and told him the sum of the story:
Robin replyd, my counsel is this,
we wont stand discoursing and arguing,
I in a Sack will be carryed as Grist,
because you shall stand to your bargain.

Nancy she laught and was pleasd at this thing
that she might go there without fear;
Robin to Mill in a Sack she did bring,
the Miller rejoycd to see her;
Then did he take the load off from Roan,
for this Maidens Horse was so named,
And he supposing they then was alone,
the Miller in love was inflamed.

Straight he invited her into the Mill,
for he had a mind to be at her;
Tho yet she would not submit to his will,
but told him it was no such matter:
Thus for a while his Patience was tryd,
be loving said he my sweet honey,
Stand to your bargain he often replyd,
for you have received my money.

When for his pleasures long time he had wood,
and she would not let him disgrace her;
William the Miller began to be rude,
and straight he began to embrace her:
Nancy cryd out, some help I do lack,
my Troth to another is plighted,
Robin at this rushed out of the Sack,
at which the poor Miller was frighted.

For he in wroth to the Miller did run,
stout bangs with a Cudgel he gave him;
Feeling his blows, he cryd out I am undone,
and Nancy did likewise beslave him:
Robin, said he, my Shoulders do ake,
I pray you no longer abuse me,
Heres twenty shillings to drink for my sake,
if you will be pleasd to excuse me.

Taking the money to Nancy he goes,
abroad I for labour will send thee,
Thrashing of Millers it is a good trade,
my Dear for thy wit I commend thee,
Since thou hast done so worthy a thing,
Ile Marry and bring thee to bedding,
This twenty shillings will buy thee a ring,
the other will pay for our Wedding.


FINIS.
Printed for J. Back, at the Black-Boy on Lon-
don-Bridge, near the Draw-Bridge.

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