THE
Merry Maid of Shoreditch,
Her Resolution and Good Counsel to all her Fellow Maids;
And says that she will never tye herself to a Crab-Tree so long as she has a whole Wood to
Range in.
The Tune is, I have a Mistris of my own: Or, Hold Buckle and Thong together.
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YOu young Maids all, where e're you be,
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I pray you now come hear this ditty,
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And I hope you will agree,
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you cannot say but it is pretty:
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I've lived a Maid these twenty years,
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and never was no Young-mans Debtor,
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Men are so full of Lyes and jears,
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that a single Life it is the better.
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A Young-man will wooe a pretty Maid,
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and Swear, and Lye, and say he'l have her,
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Until he hath her heart betray'd,
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to get his will and so to leave her:
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But young Maids you must be very wise,
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for young-men they will you infetter,
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They strive to make of you a prize,
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but a single Life it is the better.
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For whilst a Maid doth keep unwedd,
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young men will give to her great honour,
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But if she chance to bring a Knave to her Bed,
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then he'l not care what does come on her:
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But get her Children year by year,
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and cross and vex, and strive to fret her,
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For a Married Wife's ne'r out of care,
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a single Life it is the better.
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While a Maid lives a single life,
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she may sit and talk with any stranger,
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But after she is made a Wife
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if she do the like there is great danger;
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So maids if you can be content,
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be not drawn into a young-mans fetter,
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Least afterwards you do repent,
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then to live single it is better.
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THere is many a Maid that hath been wed,
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both in Country, Town and City,
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To careless Husbands, I am afraid,
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which grieves their wives, the more's the pitty
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Therefore young Maids let's have a care,
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and believe no lyes that young-men flatter,
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They spare no words they can devise,
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but a single Life it is the better.
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Young-men will shew great store of Love,
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and have young maids drink wine and sherry,
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And their hearts do within as rotten prove,
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to give you drink to overcome you:
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The Devil himself is not so false
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as some men be, I will not Flatter,
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To bring a maiden to their Bow,
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but a single Life it is the better.
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So Maidens that do live i' th row,
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you must be careful of this matter,
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I'de have you all for to do so,
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and believe no young-men when they Flatter,
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Besides they sweeten you up so brave,
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with sugered kisses that will fetter,
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And another thing if you will it have,
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but a single Life it is more better.
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There's scarce a young-man that is in ten,
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that will prove Loyal to a Maiden,
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But will prate and lye, and cogg and feign;
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as though his heart with Love was laden;
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But will dissemble more or less,
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for to stand him when he charged,
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And so undoes that silly Lass,
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and then her trouble is enlarged.
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Young Maidens all look too't in time,
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when as you go for to Marry,
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Be sure to chuse an honest man,
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or else you'd better longer tarry;
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For an honest man will ne'r you wrong,
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but a Knave will be to you a fretter,
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It is quickly done, and long thought on,
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for to live single you had better.
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