CONSTANCE and ANTHONY.
Or, An admirable New Northern Story.
Of two constant Lovers, as I understand,
Were born near Appleby, in Westmoreland,
The Lads Name Anthony, Constance the Lass;
To Sea they went both, and great Danger did p[a]ss:
How they sufferd Shipwrack on the Coast of Spain,
For two Years divided, and then met again!
By wonderful Fortune, and Care accident,
And now both live at Home in Joy and Content,
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TWo Lovers in the North,
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Constance and Anthony,
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Of them I will set forth,
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A gallant History.
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They lovd exceeding well,
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As plainly doth appear,
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But that which I shall tell:
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The like you neer did hear.
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Still she crys Anthony,
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My bonny Anthony,
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Gang thou by Land or Sea,
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Ill wind along with thee.
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Anthony must go to Sea,
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His Calling did him bind,
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My Constance dear quoth he,
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I must leave thee behind:
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I prithee do not grieve,
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Thy tears will not prevail:
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Ill think on thee my sweet,
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When the ship is under sail.
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But still she cries Anthoney etc.
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How many that be? said he,
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Consider well the Case;
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Quoth she sweet Anthony,
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Ill not bide in this place;
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If thoult gang so will I,
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Of the means do not doubt,
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Womans Policy;
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Great Matters may find out.
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My bonny. etc.
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I would be very glad,
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But prithee tell me how,
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Ill dress me like a Lad,
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What sayst thou to me now,
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The Sea tho canst not brook
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Yes very well quoth she,
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Ill Scullion to the Cook,
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For thy sweet Company.
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My boney etc.
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Anthoneys leave she had,
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And drest in Mans Array,
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She seemd the blithest Lad,
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Seen on a Summers Day,
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O see what Love can do,
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At Home she will not abide,
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With her true Love shell go,
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Let Weal or Woe betide,
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My dearest etc.
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In the Ship twas her Lot,
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To be the under Cook,
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And at the Fire hot,
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Wonderful pains she took;
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She served every one,
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Fitting to their degree,
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And now and then alone,
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She kissed Anthony.
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My bonny etc.
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Alack and well a day,
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By Tempest on the Main,
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Their Ship was cast away,
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Upon the Coast of Spain,
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To the Mercy of the Waves,
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They all committed were,
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Constance her own self saves,
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Then she cryd for her dear.
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My bonny. etc.
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Swimming upon a Plank,
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At Bilboa she got ashore:
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First she did heaven thank,
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Then she lamented sore.
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O woe is me said she,
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The saddest Lass alive,
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My dearest Anthony,
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Now on the Seas doth drive,
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My bonny etc.
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What shall become of me,
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Why do I strive for store,
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Si th my sweet Anthony,
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I never shall see him more.
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Fair Constance do not grieve
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The same good providence,
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Hath savd thy Lover sweet
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But he is far from hence.
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Still she etc.
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A Spanish Merchant rich,
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Saw this fair seeming Lad,
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That did lament so much,
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And was so grievous sad.
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He had in England been,
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And English understood:
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He having heard and seen,
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He in Amazement stood.
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Still she etc.
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The Merchant asked her,
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What was that Anthony,
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Quoth she my Brother Sir,
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Who came from thence with me
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He did her entertain,
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Thinking she was a Boy,
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Two Years she did remain,
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Before she met her joy.
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Still she etc.
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Anthony up was tane
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By an English runagade,
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With whom he did remain,
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At the Sea roving Trade;
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I th Nature of a Slave,
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He did I th Galley row;
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Thus he his Life did save,
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But Constance did not know,
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Now mark what came to pass,
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See how the Fates did work,
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A Ship that her Masters was,
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Surprised this English Turk.
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And into Bilboa brought,
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All that aboard her were,
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Constance full little thought,
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Anthony was no near.
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Still she cries Anthony, etc.
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When they came on shore,
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Anthony and the rest;
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She who was sad before,
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Was now with Joy possest.
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The Merchant much did muse,
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At this so sudden Change;
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He did demand the News,
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Which unto him was strange.
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Still she cries Anthony, etc.
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Upon her Knees she fell,
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Unto her Master kind,
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And all the Truth did tell,
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Nothing she kept-behind.
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At which he did admire,
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And in a Ship of Spain,
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Now paying for their hire,
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He sent them home again.
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Still she cries Anthony, etc.
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The Spanish Merchant rich,
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Did ofs own Bounty give,
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A sum of Gold on which
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They now most bravely live.
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And now in Westmoreland,
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Constance and Anthony,
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Were joyned Hand in Hand,
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And livd in Mirth and Joy,
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Still she cries Anthony,
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My bony Anthony,
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Good Providence I see,
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Both guarded Thee and Me.
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