A WARNING for Married Women.
Being an Example of Mrs. Jane Reynolds (a West-country Woman) born near Plimouth,
who having plighted her Troth to a Seaman, was afterwards married to a Carpenter,
and at last carried away by a Spirit, the manner how shall presently be recited.
To a west-country Tune, call'd, The fair Maid of Bristol: or, John True.
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THere dwelt a fair Maid in the West,
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of worthy birth and fame,
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Near unto Plimouth stately town,
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Jane Reynolds was her name.
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This damsel dearly was belov'd,
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by many a proper youth:
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And what of her is to be said,
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is known for very truth:
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Among the rest a Seaman brave
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unto her a wooing came,
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A comely proper youth he was,
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James Harris call'd by name.
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The maid and young man was agreed,
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as time did them allow,
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And to each other secretly
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they made a solemn vow.
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That they would ever faithful be,
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whilst Heaven afforded life,
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He was to be her Husband kind,
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and she his faithful Wife.
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A day appointed was also,
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when they were to be married,
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But before these things were brought to pass,
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matters were strangely carried.
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All you that faithful Lovers be,
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give ear and hearken well,
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And what of them became at last
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I will directly tell:
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The young man he was prest to Sea,
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and forced was to go,
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His sweet-heart she must stay behind
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whether she would or no.
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And after he was from her gone,
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she three years for him staid,
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Expecting of his coming home,
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and kept herself a maid.
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At last news came that he was dead
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within a Foraign Land,
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And how that he was buried,
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she well did understand.
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For whose sweet sake the maiden she
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lamented many a day:
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And never was she known at all
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the wanton for to play.
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A Carpenter that liv'd hard by,
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when he heard of the same,
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Like as the other had done before,
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to her a wooing came.
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But when that he had gain'd her love,
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they married were with speed,
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And four years space (being man and wife)
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they lovingly agreed.
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Three pritty children in this time,
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this lovely couple had,
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Which made their father's heart rejoyce,
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and mother wondrous glad.
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But as occasion serv'd one time,
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the good man took his way
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Some three days journey from his Home,
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intending not to stay.
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But whilst that he was gone away,
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a spirit in the night,
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Came to the window to his wife,
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and did her sorely fright.
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Which Spirit spake like to a man,
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and unto her did say:
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My dear and only love, quoth he,
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prepare and come away.
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James Harris is my name, quoth he,
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whom thou didst love so dear,
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And I have travell'd for thy sake,
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at least this seven year.
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And now I am return'd again,
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to take thee to my wife,
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And thou with me shalt go to Sea,
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to end all further strife.
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O tempt me not, sweet James (quoth she)
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with thee away to go,
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If I should leave my children small,
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alas, what would they do?
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My husband is a Carpenter,
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a Carpenter of great fame,
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I would not for five hundred pounds
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that he should know the same.
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I might have had a King's Daughter,
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and she would have married me,
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But I forsook her golden crown,
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and for the love of thee.
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'Therefore if thou'lt thy husband forsak[e,]
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and thy children three also,
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'I will forgive thee what is past,
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thou wilt with me go.
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If I forsake my husband and
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my little children three,
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What means hast thou to bring me to,
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if I should go with thee?
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'I have seven ships upon the sea,
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they are come to Land,
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'Both Marriners and Merchandize
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be at thy command.
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The ship wherein my love shall sail,
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is glorious to behold,
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The sails shall be of finest silk,
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and the mast of shining gold.
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When he had told her these fair tails,
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to love him she began,
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Because he was in humane shape,
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much like unto a man.
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And so together away they went,
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from off the English shore,
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And since that time the woman kind,
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was never seen no more.
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But when her Husband he came home,
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and found his Wife was gone,
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And left her three sweet pretty Babes
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within the house alone.
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He beat his breast, he tore his hair,
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the tears fell from his eyes,
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And in the open Streets he run,
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with heavy doleful cries.
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And in this sad distracted case,
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he hang'd himself for woe,
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Upon a Tree, near to the place,
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the truth of all is so.
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The children now are fatherless,
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and left without a Guide,
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But yet no doubt the heavenly Powers
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will for them well provide.
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