The Sea Man's Farewel to his Mistress, and her An-
swer unto him.
To its own proper Tune.
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AS I went earlie in the Spring,
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Aboard a Ship to serve our King,
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I left my dearest dear behind,
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Who said for e'er her Heart was mine,
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Her love appeared true to me,
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And she aboard did go with me,
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She went with me to the Boyo'th Nore,
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And then returned back to shore,
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Oft did I hug her in my Arms,
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I thought she had Ten Thousand Charms,
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Our Vows we bound with Kisses sweet,
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And manie a night time we did weep.
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A Golden Chain I did present,
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She seemed verie well content,
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These Sighs and Sobs did break mine Heart
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To think my Love and I should part,
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As I was sailing on the Sea,
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I took an Opportunitie,
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To write a Letter to my Dear!
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But word from her could I never hear,
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As we were Bombing of a Town,
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Where Cannon Balls flew up and down,
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In midst of all these dangers there,
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My Heart remain'd still on my Dear,
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But now I am returned home,
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And here my Love to wait upon.
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Who liv'd in Wapping now of late,
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Though it's proven unfortunate,
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When I unto her Father came
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I call'd for my Love by her Name,
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Her Father Churlishlie did say,
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Sir, all your Love she doth defy,
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Kind Sir, said I, what's mean'd by this,
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To tell you true she wedded is
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On a rich Old Man for all her Life,
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Sir, you may look for another wife,
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A curse on all false loves said I,
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A curse on all such perjurie,
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A curse upon them that do make
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A vow and break't for riches sake
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A curse on Gold and Silver too,
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A curse upon that miser too,
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Who caused his Daughter change her Minde
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But Womans words are like the wind,
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Adieu the comforts of my Life,
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Adieu the pleasures of a Wife.
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Id rather be where Bullets flie
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Than in such Womens Companie,
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I'll range the Seas untill I die,
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Where Waves do toss like Mountains high
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Adieu all false Hearts now a shore,
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For I will ne're see England more.
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Her Reply.
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IN everie street I heard them sing,
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My loves complaint that serv'd the King
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I went with him to the Boyoth Nore
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And would have gone all the world o're,
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A Golden chain I had of him,
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Which freelie I'le return again,
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As for these Kisses when we did part
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Was from the bottom of my Heart,
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As for the Letter you sent me,
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I here declare I ne'er did see.
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But my Father bade me be at rest,
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For thy true Love was slain at Brest,
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And he perswaded me to wed,
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A rich Old Man who's almost dead,
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And now Im Married and a Wife,
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Would I had liv'd single all my Life,
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Now as for Gold and Silver too:
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I freelie curse as well as you.
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Had't not been that had caus'd the strife
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You and I had been Man and Wife,
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Therefore I pray return my Dear,
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For there are manie Women here,
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That are more beautiful than I,
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I pray thee look where beautie lie
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'T will be the comfort of my Life.
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To see thee have a loving Wife.
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Once did I love a Seaman brave,
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And was in hopes him for to have
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But now I'm Married and a Wife,
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Would I liv'd single all my Life.
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