A Godly WARNING for all MAIDENS,
by the Example of GOD's Judgement shewed on Jermans Wife
of Clifton, in the County of Nottingham, who, lying in Child-bed
was born away, and never heard of after.
To the Tune of, The Lady's Fall, etc.
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YOu dainty Dames so finely fram'd,
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of Beauty's chiefest mould,
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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 learn'd,
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a Lesson in my mind,
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For such as will prove false in love,
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and bear a faithless 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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for beauty without Peer;
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Her cheeks were 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 Dame she was belov'd
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of many in that place,
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And many sought in marriage-bed
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her body to imbrace:
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At last a proper handsome Youth,
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young Bateman call'd 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 there was found,
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that he from all the rest,
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Had stol'n away the Maiden's heart,
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and she did love him best;
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Then plighted Promise secretly
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did pass between them two,
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That nothing could but Death itself,
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this true love's knot undo.
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He brake a piece of Gold in twain,
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one half to her he gave,
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'The other as a Pledge, quoth he,
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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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seen at all to thrive.
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This passed on for two months space,
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and then this Maid began
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To settle love and liking too
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upon another Man:
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One Jerman who a Widower 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 lately made,
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to Bateman she deny'd;
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And in dispight of him and his
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she utterly defi'd:
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'Well then, quoth he, if it be so,
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you will me forsake,
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'And like a false and forsworn Wretch
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Husband take:
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'Thou shalt not live one quiet hour,
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surely I will have
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'Thee either now alive or dead,
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I am laid in grave;
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'Thy faithless mind thou shalt repent,
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be well assur'd,
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'When for thy sake thou hear'st report,
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torments I endur'd.
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But mark how Bateman dy'd for love,
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and finesht up his life,
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That very day she married was,
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und 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 hang'd himself in desperate sort,
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before the Bride's own door.
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Whereat such sorrow pierc'd 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 day of comfort find;
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And wheresoever she did go,
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her fancy did surmise,
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Young Batemans pale and ghastly Ghost
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appear'd before her eyes.
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When she in bed at night did lye,
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betwixt her Husband's 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 and 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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will not be deney'd.
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But she then being big with Child,
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was for the Infant's sake,
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Preserved from the Spirit's 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 Mother's body from the Fiend
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that sought her overthrow.
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But being of her burden eas'd,
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and safely brought to bed,
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Her care and grief began anew,
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and further sorrow bred.
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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 the bed, quoth she, this night,
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shall be born away.
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'Here comes the spirit of my Love,
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pale and gastly face,
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'Who till he bear me hence away
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not depart this place
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'Alive or dead I am his right,
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he will surely have,
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'In spight of me and all the World,
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I by Promise gave.
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'O watch with me this night I pray,
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see you do not sleep,
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'No longer then you be awake,
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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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In middle of the night to keep,
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sad slumber from their eyes.
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So being all full fast asleep,
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to them unknown which way,
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The Child-bed-woman that woful night
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from thence was born away:
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And 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 Maidens that desire to love,
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and would good Husbands chuse,
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To him that you do vow 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 dreadful Vengeance take,
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On such that of a wilful Vow
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do slender reckoning make.
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