The willy, witty, neat, and pritty, Damsell:
Which to a Souldier often made this answer,
I dare not doe no more nor the back of your hand Sir,
To the tune of, The Oyle of Barly.
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NOt long agone,
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Walking a[l]one,
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Abroad to take the aire,
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Under a shaid,
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I spyd a Maid,
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Both beautifull and faire
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S[?]e[?]th[?]a[?]t quoth I,
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In courticy,
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To make me somthing boulder,
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Exchange a kisse,
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And do not misse,
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With me that am a Souldier,
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Which she deni'd,
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And thus repli'd,
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Being ready with her answer,
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Forbeare to woe,
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For I dare not doe,
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No more nor the back of your hand Sir.
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What is the cause
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My bony Lasse,
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That thou shouldst now deny mee
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I in my Love
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Will constant prove,
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If thou'lt be pleas'd to try mee
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Then about the wast,
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I her embrast,
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And in plaine termes I told her,
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I would her beed,
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And also weed,
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If she would love a Souldier,
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Which she deni'd etc.
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Ile give thee Rings,
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And costly things,
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Fine braslets of rich amber,
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If that my will,
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Thou wilt fullfill,
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And walke into my chamber,
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There may we prove.
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The tricks of Love,
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And I shall be more bolder,
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When as I see,
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Thou wilt agree,
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To Love a valiant Souldier,
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Which she, etc.
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Ile deck thee brave
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And thou shalt have,
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Bo[t]h danty faire and clothing,
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My love to thee,
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Shall be so free,
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Ile let thee want for nothing,
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In garments gay,
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Each holy day,
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Thou shalt both pearle & Gold were
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Like Loves faire Queene,
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Thou shall be seene,
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If thou wilt wed a Souldier,
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Which she etc.
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A Bever hat,
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Be sure of that,
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Ile for a faring give thee,
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A Silken gowne,
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With Lace lade downe,
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Sweetheart thou maist believe me
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Warme Muffes, new Ruffes,
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Bone lece and Cuffes,
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Most gorgious to behold sure,
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If thouls love mee,
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As ice love thee,
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Belive me as Souldier,
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Which she etc.
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The second part, To the same Tune.
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A Souldiers wife
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Lives a merry life.
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And 'tis a type of honour,
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In every place,
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To have the grace,
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Of Mistris put upon her.
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Which honour brave,
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Thyselfe shall have,
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Then prethy Love be bolder,
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Be not so coy,
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Let me injoy,
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Thy love and be a Souldier,
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Which she denied,
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And thus replied
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Being ready with his answer,
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Forbare to woe,
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For I dare not doe,
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No more nor the back of your hand Sir.
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If I puoth she,
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Should weed with thee,
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We both might faile in carrage,
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My age is greene,
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I'me scarce fifteene,
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a little to young for marrage,
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Without delay,
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I meane to stay,
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Tell I am somthing older,
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I find as yet,
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I am unfit,
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To meddle with a Souldier,
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Therefore away. etc,
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There are young men,
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Both now and then,
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Whose wits are very nimble,
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They'le cog they'le lie,
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They'le falcyfie,
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They'le flatter and desemble,
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Untell they have.
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What they do crave,
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And afterwards they care not,
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Therefore be still,
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I'ft be your will,
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To trust you Sir I dare not,
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Forbeare quoth she,
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I pray let be,
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Take this word for an answer,
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Although you woe
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I will not doe,
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No more nor the back of your hand Sir.
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I in some part:
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Could find in heart,
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To leave for thee my dear,
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My maden-head,
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Which I have kept,
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Almost this fifteene yeare,
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But if with shame,
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Yould staine my name,
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It would be my undoing
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Wherefore kind Sir,
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I pray stand farre,
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And leave your desprat wo[?]
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Pish fie be gone,
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Let me alone,
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Take this word for an answe[r]
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Forbeare to woe,
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For I dare not doe,
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No more nor the back of your hand [Sir.]
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I knew a Maid,
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That wat betraid,
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Her name was pritty Nelly,
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A young man staid,
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And with her plaid,
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Till he got up her belly,
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Which being done,
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Away he rune,
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He being but a stranger,
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Which makes me say,
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As well I may,
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Much trusting breeds much danger
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Therefore etc.
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When I had beene,
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So long and seene,
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This Damsells disposion,
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We both departed,
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Merry hearted,
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She having made condision,
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For me to stay,
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Untell the day,
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That I returne from Gloster,
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To end all strife,
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Shee'le be my wife,
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She sayes whatere it cost her,
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And thus the jeast,
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I have exprect, etc.
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