The Fame, Wit, and glory of the West,
Here in this Song shall fully be exprest.
A Caveat for young men wherein they may behold,
how a youngster gave away his Mistris and his Gold;
And Maids likewise may here a lesson learn,
wherein good from bad they may discern;
Learn but this damsels, wit, and then youl finde,
a way to fit all suters in their kind.
To a pleasant new Tune, Called the glory of the West.
|
A Faire and comly creature,
|
as ere was fram'd by nature,
|
Lived in the west and the glory of the same;
|
Her maiden life and carriage,
|
Untill her day of marriage;
|
I of it needs must wright unto her lasting fame,
|
Most galants did admire,
|
her beauty with desire,
|
To injoy her company,
|
and her vertues for to try;
|
But alas poore fooles their labour was in vain,
|
the glory of the west, they never yet could stain;
|
Your courting, and your complements she'd say,
|
is not the way to win me, I longer mean to stay.
|
Perhaps you may admire,
|
and have a great desire,
|
To know why she was call'd the glory of the west;
|
then give but time and leasure,
|
And to fulfill your pleasure;
|
her vertues here shall fully be exprest,
|
She was proper tall and comly,
|
no parts about her homely,
|
She had not rowling eye,
|
nor never used uncivility,
|
But an amorous sweet and lovly piersing sight,
|
her cheeks and her lips was pure red and white,
|
Her other parts can better be exprest,
|
by him that now injoyes the glory of the west.
|
So rare she was and witty,
|
they call'd her famous Betty;
|
Not far from Bristow this gallant spark did live;
|
her Father was a Cavalier,
|
And lost his life in service there,
|
her mother was grown poor, & no portion could her give
|
Which made those gallants think that she
|
would soon yeeld up her honesty,
|
Quoth they wee'll venture,
|
her royall fort to enter,
|
But all their time they spent, alas it was in vain,
|
the glory of the west, they never yet could stain,
|
Quoth she you are deceiv'd tis not my poverty,
|
shall ever make'me yeeld to your uncivility.
|
My vergins life ile keep quoth she,
|
untill such time that man I see,
|
Which I can affect and chuse him for my mate;
|
when that gallant once I find,
|
That to vertues is inclin'd
|
and I can but fancy him, I care not for estate;
|
If a royall heart he bear,
|
and can love a Cavelier;
|
That same promise he must make,
|
for my noble fathers sake,
|
Which lost his life and fortunes in the field,
|
and to no other side my maidenhead I'le yeeld,
|
If that he be a Cavalier, tho he be neer so poor,
|
I'le love him, I'le serve him, and honour him the more
|
GIve eare and listen to my Song,
|
and I shall tell you ere be long,
|
How she hath obtaind a husband to her mind;
|
a usurer that liv'd hard by,
|
Left his Son when he did dye,
|
Great sums of money, with goods and lands behind;
|
That youngster hearing of this girle,
|
vow'd if either gold or pearle,
|
Would this damsels favour win,
|
then he weigh'd it not a pinne.
|
Hang money quoth he, my Gold I will let flye,
|
my father he is dead, I have enough lye by,
|
A conceit I have now comes into my breast,
|
which I hope shall obtain the glory of the west.
|
A kinsman poor I have quoth he
|
shall make up this same match for me,
|
And a hundred pounds on him I will bestow,
|
he is a comly youth and young,
|
And knows well how to use his tongue
|
and he will obtain her for me I do know;
|
So forth he set this youngster brave,
|
with money and what else hee'd have,
|
For to try his utmost skill,
|
to obtain this maids good will;
|
Spare not quoth he tis no matter what you spend,
|
doe the best you can, and be faithfull to your friend;
|
That I will sayes he, but mark now the Jest,
|
he cousened his kinsman of the glory of the west.
|
When first he came unto this Maid,
|
with courteous words he to her said,
|
Faire damsell I must court you in my kinsmans name;
|
his father being of his life bereft,
|
Great means behind him he hath left,
|
and now this youngster injoyeth all the same;
|
Which on you he will bestow,
|
if you please it shall be so;
|
Sir you have spoke enough quoth she,
|
he's but a foole I plainly see.
|
Do you present his person, and let him keep his Gold,
|
now you have your answer, that Riddle pray unfold;
|
Your Riddle faire Mistris. I quickly understand,
|
my person and my service shall be at your command.
|
This gallant damsell faire and bright,
|
in whom so many took delight;
|
With this prodigals kinsman was taken so in love,
|
which when he did perceive and see,
|
He slipt no opportunity,
|
but couzened his cozen as afterwards did prove;
|
Sweetheart quoth he I am poor indeed,
|
which made me fearfull to proceed;
|
But what I want in wealth faire maid,
|
shall be in love and service paid;
|
Speak no more quoth she, few words I like the best,
|
if you can love a Cavalier, no more shall be exprest,
|
Sweet soule saith he tis known both farre and neer,
|
I have lost all I had, for being a Cavalier.
|
These lovers being united,
|
his kinsman was invited;
|
Over to her house, and he thought to get the lasse,
|
but sure a foole he needs must be,
|
When once he did the Mistresse see;
|
to marry with her maid as after comes to passe,
|
Quoth she unto this prodigall,
|
now you have obtained all;
|
By your kinsmans meanes quoth she,
|
pray sweetheart tell to me,
|
What you will bestow upon him for his pain,
|
my maid he would marry if a portion he could gain;
|
He hearing of her words, drew forth a purse of Gold.
|
and said sweetheart content him as long as it will hold.
|
Five hundred pound is in't sayes he,
|
the rest I freely give to thee;
|
A Ring likewise he bought her, and a fam[?]
|
one thing of you quoth she I crave,
|
Our loves so secret I would have;
|
I would not have it blaz'd abroad about t[?]
|
So for that time he went away,
|
untill the appointed marriage day,
|
Where in private they did meet,
|
at a Church in Bristow street;
|
And there his kinsman served him like a clo[?]
|
the Mrs. wore the maids clothes, the m[?]
|
The Mistresse had her Maiden bravely dres[?]
|
this foole he did take her for the glory of the [west.]
|
They vales before their faces had,
|
so eager was this simple lad;
|
In all the haste he marri'd needs must be[?]
|
which being done his kinsman led,
|
His Mistresse and unto him sed,
|
this maid you must give me which he did
|
His Gold he freely gave away,
|
and his Mistresse too I say,
|
But yet he had enough beside,
|
his Ring, his gown, likewise a bride;
|
It was too much for such a foole as he,
|
for to maintain a kinsman his suter for to be,
|
The clown got the Bride that was so bravely d[?]
|
but his kinsman bore away the glory of the w[est.]
|
So from the Church away they went,
|
this clown at first was well content;
|
Thinking he had married with the glory of the we[st]
|
so homewards then he went apace,
|
He never look't upon her face,
|
but took her for her Mistresse, she was bravely [?]
|
His kinsman and his pritty mate,
|
went smiling after in conseit,
|
Thinking what the foole would say,
|
when their vales were tooke away,
|
Tis no matter what he said, they had his money[?]
|
the maid and the gown, it seems fell to his lot;
|
I ne'er before did hear of such a pretty Jest,
|
as here was brought about by the Glory of the w[est]
|
Brave gallants went to meet her,
|
and kindly they did greet her;
|
But thinking to salute the glory of the west,
|
they were struck with admiration,
|
To see such alteration;
|
but pluking off ther vales, they soon perceiv'd t[?]
|
This youngster when he did behold,
|
he had lost his Mistresse and his Gold;
|
Faith I might a looke quoth he,
|
before that I had leapt so free;
|
But now the proverb you may plainly see,
|
marriage and hanging goes by destiny;
|
Thus unto you I freely have exprest,
|
The wit and behaviour of the glory of the west.
|
This Song a warning well may be,
|
to young men when they do it see
|
If once they goe a wooing not to trust another,
|
and maids if they this Song will learn,
|
Good from bad they may discern,
|
and this girls behaviour they may chuse above all oth[er]
|
This couple lives most brave they say,
|
In Bristow at this present day;
|
Ever since they did agree,
|
both in peace and unity;
|
She never yet would give him cause of strife,
|
I doe wish that every man could say so by his wife;
|
Young men and maids, this Song I [?]sent [?]p
|
so the glory of the west now bids you [?]
|
|
|
|
|
|