The Wanton Virgins Frighten'd
with the spy's Downfall from the
Tree Top to the Pond Bottom;
OR THE
Old Man strangely Surprized and Bugbear'd by the
Black Bandileers and Buff Coats.
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YOU that delight in a jocular song,
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Come listen unto me a while sir,
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I will engage you shall not tarry long,
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Before it will make you to smile sir.
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Near to the town there liv'd an old man,
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Had three pretty maids to his daughters,
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Of whom I shall tell such a story anon,
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Will tickle your fancy with laughter.
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The old man he had in his garden a pond,
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in fine summer weather.
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The daughters one night, they were all fond
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To go and bathe in it together.
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Which they all agreed, but happan'd to be,
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Espy'd by a youth in the house, sir,
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Who got in the garden, & climb'd up a tree
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And there lay as still as a mouse, sir.
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The branch where he sat it hung over the
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pond.
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And each puff of wind made it totter;
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Pleas'd with the thoughts he sit so abscond,
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And see them go into the water.
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When the old man was safe in his bed,
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The daughters then to the pond went, sir,
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One to the other two laughing she said,
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As high as our breasts we'll venture.
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Upon the tender green grass they sat down,
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And they all were of delicate feature?
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Each pull'd off her petticoats, smock, and
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gown,
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No sight could ever be sweeter.
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Into the pond then they dabbling went,
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So clean that they needed no washing,
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But they were all so unluckily bent,
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Like boys they began to be dashing.
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If any should chance to see us says one,
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They'd think we were guilty of evils,
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And from the sight of us would quickly run,
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To avoid so many white devils.
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This put the youth into such a merry pin,
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He let go his hold thro' laughter,
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And as it fell out, he fell tumbling in,
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And Scar'd them all out of the water.
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The old man by this time a noise had heard,
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And rose out of bed in a fright, sir,
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And came to the door with a rusty old sword
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There stood in a posture to fight, sir.
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The daughters they all came tumbling in,
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And over their dad they did blunder?
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Who cry'd out aloud, mercy good gentlemen
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And thought they were theives come to
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plunder.
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The noise by this time the neighbourhood
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hears,
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Who came with long clubs to assist him:
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He said, three sturdy rogues ran up stairs,
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He dar'd by no means to resist' em,
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For they were cloathed all in buff,
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He see as they shov'd in their shoulders,
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And black bandileers hung before like a ruff
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Which made him think they were soldiers.
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The virgins their cloaths in the garden had
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left,
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And keys of their trunks in their pocket,
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To put on the sheet they were fain to make
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shift,
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Their chest they could not unlock it.
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At last ventur'd up these valiant men,
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Tho' arm'd with courage undaunted,
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But took them for spirits and run back again,
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And swore that the house it was haunted.
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As they retreated the young men they met,
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Come shivering in at the door, sir,
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Who look'd like a rat his cloaths dripping
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wet,
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No rogue that was pump'd could look worser.
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All were amazed to see him come in,
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And ask'd of him what was the matter?
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He told them the story where he had been,
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Which made them burst into a laughter.
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Quoth the old dad, I was in a huff,
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And recken'd to cut them asunder,
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Thinking they had been three soldiers in buff
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And came there to rifle and plunder.
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But they are my daughters whom I do adore,
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All frighted from private diversion.
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Therefore I'll put up my rusty old sword,
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For why should I be in a passion.
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