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EBBA 35325

Houghton Library - 25242.67
Ballad XSLT Template
The merry Maid of Middlesex.
OR,
A pretty Song made by a pretty Maid,
Which had seven Suitors, she herself so said,
And yet (poor soul) she hath been strangely crost,
And through her Mothers means, her Sweet.heart's lost:
But yet she is resolved in this Sonnet,
To have a Husband, whatsoer'e comes on it.
To a dilicate Northern Tune: Or, The Maid that lost her way.

IT was not long agone
since Cupid with his Dart,
Shot through my tender skin,
and prickt my love-sick heart
And since that desprate time,
I am so love-sick grown,
I neither can nor will
no longer lye alone:
Let Father angry be
let mother brawl, and chide,
A Husband I will have,
whatever me betide,

It is well known that I
am fifteen years of oge,
Yet live as weary a life,
as a Bird pen'd in a Cage.
Therefore Young-men I pray,
give eare unto my Song,
And you shall know in what,
my Parents did me wrong:
But now let Father frown, etc.

Seven Suitors in one day,
unto me came a wooing,
And every one of them would
fain with me be doing:
First Will the Weaver came
with Silks & Ribonds brave,
And out of his pure love,
these Tokens to me gave,
Let Father fret and frown, etc.

Full many a honied kisse
the Weaver did me give,
Which was enough to make
a dying Maid to live:
But yet my Parents would
not give me their consent,
That I should marry with him,
which makes me to lament.
But now let Father frown,
let Mother brawl, and chide,
A Husband I will have
whatever me betide.

The second part, to the same Tune.

NExe Tom the Taylor trim,
he brought me a brave new gown
And would have gave it me
for to have laid me down,
My Mother standind by,
would not thereto agree,
whereby I did both lose my gown
and sweet-heart, woe is me.
But now let Father frown,
let Mother brawl and chide:
A Husband I will have,
whatever me betide,

Then Sam the Shoo-maker
brought me a pair of shooes
To fit my pretty feet
as he did often use:
But at the drawing on
his hand by chance did slip,
Which made my Mother vex,
and sorely bite the Lip,
But now let Father greive, etc.

George Glover he gave me
a pair of dainty Gloves,
Such as your bravest Batchlors
do use to give their Loves;
And therewithal kind heart,
he kist me tenderly:
And then my Mother she did soon
break up our company.
But now let Father angery be, etc.

There came a bonny Lad,
a Vintner neat and fine,
And in his hand he brought
a bottle of Muskadine,
And bad me for to drink
as long as I could pull:
For he had an intent
to fill my belly full:
At which my Mother she
began to frown and chide,
Yet I will have a Husband
whatever me betide.

A nimble Tapster next
gave me a gay gold Ring,
And promised to bestow
on me a better thing:
But in the bringing he
had wondrous ill luck,
My Mother she did chance to see
and would not let us truck.
But now let Father frown, etc.

Then came a noble Spark,
a Souldier stout and bold,
And quickly cast into mp lap
full sevenscore pound in gold
O he was a brave Young-man,
I lov'd him as my life:
& yet my Mother she would not
now let me be his Wife.
But now let Father frown, etc.

The Cobler he poor fool,
fell sick and needs must dye,
Except my Love would grant
him love, as a remedy:
Cobler my Mother said,
you have of late been dipt,
Before you shall my Daughter have
Ile see you soundly whipt.
But now let Father frown, etc.

A Maiden-head it is a load
too heavy for me to carry;
Therefore I will make all the speed
that ever I can to marry,
No matter for his wealth
nor Trade, whater'e it be,
For I will dearly love the Man
if he could fancy me.
So now you know my mind,
although my Mother chide,
A Husband I must have,
whatever me betide.


FINIS.
London, Printed by E. Crowch, for
F. Coles, T. Vere, & J. Wright.

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