The Fair Maids Choice. Or,
The Seamans Renown.
Being a pleasant Song made of a Saylor,
Who excells a Miller, Weaver, and a Taylor,
Likewise brave gallants that goes fine and rare,
None of them with a Seaman can compare.
To the Tune of, Shrowsbury for me.
By T.L.
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AS I through Sandwich town passed along,
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I heard a brave Damsel singing of this song,
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In the praise of a Saylor she sung gallantly,
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of all sorts of tradesmen a Seaman for me.
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I gave good attention unto her new ditty,
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My thoughts it was wondrous gallant & pretty,
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with a voice sweet & pleasant most neatly sung she
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of all sorts of tradesmen a Seaman for me.
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The fair Maids song in praise of a Seaman.
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COme all you fair maidens in country & town,
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Lend your attention to what is pen'd down;
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And [l]et your opinions with mine both agree,
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of all sorts of tradesmen a Seaman for me.
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The gallant brave Seaman God bless him I say,
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He is a great pains-taker both night and day,
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When he's on the Ocean so hard worketh he,
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then of all, etc.
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Of all sorts of Gallants so gaudy and fine,
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That with gold and silver so bravely doth shine,
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The Seaman doth out-pass them in each degree,
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then of all, etc.
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For a Seaman will venture his life and his blood,
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For the sake of his King and his countries good,
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He is valiant and gallant in every degree,
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then of all, etc.
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He ventures for traffique upon the salt seas,
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To pleasure our Gentry which lives at ease,
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Through many dangerous places pass he,
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then of all, etc.
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Amongst all your tradesmen & merchants so brave,
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I can't set my fancy none of them to have,
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But a Seaman I will have my husband to be,
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then of all sorts of tradesmen a Seaman for me.
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With a theevish Miller I never will deal,
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Because out of a bushel a peck he will steal,
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I will have no society with such knaves as he,
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but of all sorts of tradesmen a Seaman for me.
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Likewise a pimping Taylor, and a lowsie weaver,
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To steal cloath & yarn they'l do their endeavour,
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Such fellows are not for my company,
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but of all, etc.
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Also the Carpenter and the Shoomaker,
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The Blacksmith, the brewer, & likewise the baker,
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Some of them use Knavery, and some honesty,
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but of all, etc.
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For I love a Seaman as I love my life,
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And I am resolv'd to be a Seamans Wife,
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No man else in England my husband shall be,
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then of all, etc.
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Now i'le tell why I love a Seaman so dear,
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I have to my sweet-heart a Seaman most rare,
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He is a stout proper Lad as you shall see,
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then of all, etc.
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If that I were worth a whole ship-load of gold,
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My love should possess it, and with it make bold,
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I would make him master of every penny,
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then of all, etc.
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Through fire and Water I would go I swear,
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For the sake of my true love whom I love so dear,
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If I might have an Earl i'de forsake him for he;
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then of all, etc.
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Here's a health to my dear, come pledge me who please,
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To all gallant seamen that sail on the seas,
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Pray God bless & keep them from all dangers free
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so of all sorts of tradesmen a Seaman for me.
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