The credit of Yorkeshire, or the Glory of the North,
Or,
A new way to pay the Malt man.
To the Tune of the right Glory of the West.
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OF late I heard a dity,
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was sung in Town and City,
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And it was cald the Glory of the West;
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of a pretty Cavelier,
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That song was made as I do hear;
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and in my conceit it proved a pretty jest,
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But if you please to list a while,
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this Dity sure will make you smile,
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Wherein I will declare the same,
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of a gallant Northern Dame;
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Whose vertuous life, her constant love and worth,
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makes me intitle her the Glory of the North,
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Her husband kept a Tavern and a noted Cavelier,
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for being in Pomfret Castle it cost his purse full dear.
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All the Gentry far and neare,
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resorted to this Cavelier,
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Some for love of him and others for his wife.
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Although content to all she gave,
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Yet so she would her credit save;
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her husband had no cause of jealousy nor strife.
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All sorts of Sexes thither came,
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for to view this comly Dame,
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And some in zeale would try her skill,
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to obtaine their wanton will,
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B[u]t if they were uncivell,
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she'd cast them forth this jear,
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I pray hands of sir, touch not a Cavelier.
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though Caveleers are poore yet honest wil bee
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And play our games so fairely we care not who do see.
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Looke what side soere you be,
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you're welcome here bee sure quoth she,
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And such content as my house can afford
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you shall have at your command,
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But ide have you understand,
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I shun your company & if you were a Lord
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If you seeke to wrong my Name,
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or my credit do defame
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By your base uncivelty,
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then I shun your company;
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For if you seeke to wrong my honour [s]o,
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be sure I then must take you for my husbands foe,
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Comming or going a kisse i'le not deny,
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but otherwise tis troblesome and I doe it defie.
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Thus her vertues and her fame,
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had gaind her such an honest Name,
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Most of all that Country that lived both far and near,
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that no Inne wheresoere they went,
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Could give the Gentry such content,
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as they could have with this Northern Caveleer.
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Thus her credit's long set forth,
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she's cald the glory of the North,
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For being such a vertuous wife,
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and leading such a civill life.
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But yet it cost her husbands purse full dear;
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for being in Pomfret Castell was prov'd a Caveleer
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It cost his wife all the money shee could gaine
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her husbands liberty and freedome to obtaine.
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All the meanes that shee could make,
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it being for her husbands sake,
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Shee thought it not too much that she did do,
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when her husband shee had gain'd,
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And his freedome had obtain'd,
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thus was her love so constant firm & true,
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Which brought them then in debt full sore,
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and chiefly on the Maltmans score,
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Who did on them no pity take,
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but thought a prize on him to make,
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Or on his wife; now marke this jest I pray,
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the man at last was deceived in his play,
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Her husband then in prison straight he cast,
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but this silly Malt-man did pay for't at last.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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HIs wife then hearing of the same,
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unto the Malt-man straight shee came,
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And did desire him some course that he would take,
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that her husband might be freed,
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Quoth hee, sweeteheart it is agreed,
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if that you'l consent to the bargain I wil make,
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So straight hee whisper'd in her eare,
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and told her that shee need not feare,
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For her husband hee would free,
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if to him shee would agree.
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That is quoth he to lodge with me one night
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I meane to keepe it secret and your courtesie requite,
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Your husband cannot know nor of it understand,
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grant but this request Love, & her's my heart & hand.
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Thus relating of his minde,
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she thought shee'd fit him in his kind,
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And out of prison her husband she would bring;
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to any motion i'le now constent,
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This knave, it seemes I must content,
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and nothing else will please him unlesse it be that thing.
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Quoth shee my wits i'le worke about,
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but sure i'le bring my husband out,
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And yet my credit I will save,
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but make of him a silly knave,
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Perhaps he thinks to make of mee his whore,
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but such a trick i'le show him shall pay a Maltmans score,
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And teach such knaves more wit, when once they heare,
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how this Maltman was served by an honest Caveleer.
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Then to this Maltman shee replid,
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good sir your suit is not denied,
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But which way I pray shall my husband sir be freed?
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quoth he, sweetheart I mean to make,
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A free acquittance for thy sake,
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grant but my request & it is done with speed.
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Then come at such a night quoth she,
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and drink a pint of wine with me,
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Then to my Chamber you shall goe,
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none of my servants shall it know.
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This bargin being made, shee to the prison went,
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and there she told her husband all her full intent,
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Quoth shee sweetheart come out with your keeper such a night
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Come up unto my Chamber love and there clame your right.
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The time being come the Maltman went,
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and thought to give this wife content:
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Then to her chamber hee straight way was conveyd,
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the quittance in his hand he brought,
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To reade it then shee him besought;
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but full little thought hee poore foole hee was betraid,
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With her he then began to play.
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but shee desired him for to stay;
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Ide have you go to bed quoth shee,
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if that y[o]u meane to sport with mee,
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And such content ere long to you i'le give,
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just cause youl have to think on me as long as you live
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He then puts off his cloths and into bed did go,
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this prity soule undrest her to, but now begins his woe.
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Her husband straight began to call
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quoth shee we are undone now all;
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The Maltman hearing that began to sigh for feare,
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quoth he where shall I go to hide?
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Here in this Chest quoth shee abide,
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for there is nothing in it but such cloths I weare.
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Then in he went, but little thought
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he to his shame should out be brought.
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Her husband straight came to the doore,
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what are you going to bed you whore,
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When I'm in prison cast and money want to spend,
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my keeper here wants money & is my speciall friend.
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Alas you know sweetheart that I have none quoth shee,
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i'le search al these coffers here, but i'le find some saith he.
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Shee opened all about the Rome,
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but that which was the Maltmans Tomb,
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Come open this quoth hee, for here the treasure lies,
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sweetheart quoth shee pray rest content.
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If this you see I shall be shent.
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the Maltman hearing this the teares ran downe his thighs.
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Before this Chest he opened,
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the Maltman lay like one stark dead.
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Quoth he here is a spirit here,
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but with my sword I will him reare.
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Keeper saith he, here is mine enemy,
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and i'le be revenged upon him by & by,
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If that you'l spare my life sweet sir, I humbly pray,
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from all your debts i'le clear you sir untill this present day.
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He then releast him of his debt,
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this Sparke was out of Prison let,
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And well contented to i'le warrant he was beside,
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tis thought the Maltman dearly payd,
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Because he had the Chest berayed.
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how happy is that man hath such an honest Bride
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Neere Pomfret doth this couple dwell,
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in London rode tis known full well,
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The Maltmans friends did me intreate,
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none of their Names I should relate.
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But to conclude and make an end my Song,
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consider of this jest you'l say the Maltman had wro[ng]
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When Caveliers are poor, they by their wits must [?]
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but let them still be honest like this Northern C[avelier]
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