A Warning for Married Women.
Being an Example of Mrs. Jane Reynolds (a West-Country-Woman) born near
Plymouth, who having plighted her Troth to a Seaman, was afterwards married to a
Carpenter, and at last carried away by a Spirit, the manner how shall presently be reci-
ted. Tune of, Fair Maid of Bristol; or, John True.
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THere dwelt a fair Maid in the West,
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of worthy Birth and Fame,
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Near unto Plymouth stately Town,
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Jane Reynolds was her Name:
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This Damsel dearly was beloved
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by many a proper Youth;
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And what of her is to be said,
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is known of very Truth:
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Among the rest a Seaman brave,
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unto her a wooing came,
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A comly proper Youth he was
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James Harris call'd by name.
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The Maid and young Man was agreed,
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as Time did them allow;
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And to each other secretly
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they made a solemn Vow,
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That they would ever faithful be,
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whilst Heaven afforded Life;
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He was to be her Husband kind,
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and she his wedded wife,
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A Day appointed was also,
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when they were to be married,
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But before things was brought to pass,
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matters were strangely carry'd.
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All you that faithful Lovers be,
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give ear and hearken well,
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And what of them became at last,
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I will directly tell:
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The young Man he was prest to Sea
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and forced was to go,
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His Sweet-heart she must stay behind
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whether she would or no.
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And after he from her was gone,
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she three Years for kim staid
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Expecting of his coming home,
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and kept herself a Maid.
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At last News came that he was dead,
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within a foreign Land:
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And how that he was buried,
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she well did understand.
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For whose sweet sake the Maiden she
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lamented many a Day
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And never was she known at all
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the wanton for to play.
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A Carpenter that liv'd hard by,
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when he heard of the same,
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Like as the other had done before
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to her a wooing came.
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But when that he had gained her love,
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they married were with speed,
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And four year's space (being Man and Wife
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they lovingly agreed.
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Three pretty Children in this time
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this loving couple had,
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Which made their Father's heart rejoyce,
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and Mother wondrous glad.
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But as occasion served one time,
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the good Man took his way,
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Some three days Journey from his home,
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intending not to stay.
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But whilst that he was gone away,
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a Spirit in the night
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Came to the window to his wife
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and did her sorely fright.
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Which Spirit spake like to a Man,
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and unto her did say
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My Dear and only Love, quoth he,
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prepare and come away:
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James Harris is my name quoth he
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whom thou didst love so dear
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And I have travell'd for thy sake
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at least this seven Year;
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And now I am return'd again
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to take thee to my Wife
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And thou with me shalt go to Sea
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to end all further Strife.
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O tempt me not, sweet James (quoth she)
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with thee away to go:
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If I should leave my Children small,
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Alas, what would they do!
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My Husband is a Carpenter,
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a Carpentar of Fame,
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I should not for five hundred pounds
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that he should know the same.
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I might have had a Kings Daughter,
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and she would have married me,
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But I forsook her golden Crown,
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and for the love of thee.
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Therefore if thou'lt thy Husband forsake,
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and thy Children three also,
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I will forgive thee what is past,
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if thou wilt with me go.
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If I forsake my Husband, and
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my little Children three,
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What means hast thou to bring me to,
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if I should go along with thee?
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I have seven Ships upon the Sea,
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when they are come to land
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Both Mariners and Merchandize
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shall be at thy Command.
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The Ship wherein my Love shall sail
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is glorious to behold,
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The Sails shall be of finest Silk
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and the Mast of finest Gold.
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When he had told her these fair tales,
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to love him she began,
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Because he was in human Shape
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much like unto a Man.
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And so together away they went
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from off the English shore;
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And since that time the woman-kind
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was never seen no more.
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But when her Husband he came home,
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and found his wife was gone,
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And left her three sweet pretty Babes
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within the house alone.
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He beat his breast, he tore his hair,
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the tears fell from his Eyes,
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And in the open streets he ran
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with heavy doleful cries.
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And in this sad distracted case,
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he hang'd himself for woe,
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Upon a tree near to the place,
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the truth of all is so.
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The Children now are Fatherless,
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and left without a Guide,
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But yet no doubt the heavenly powers
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will for them well provide.
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