The Batchelour's GUIDE,
And the married Man's Comfort.
A good Wife she is the comfort of a Man,
If a Man be carefull to comfort her again;
For Love is so rare a thing to see,
Betwixt Man and Wife, if they do well agree:
But where Man and Wife do's live at the Debate,
They say the Curse of God do's lye at the Gate,
Therefore honest young Men and Maids have a care
I desire when you are married to live in God's fear:
And those that are Married and has been long wed,
To make much of there Wives both at Board & at Bed;
And let them be carefull they do not offend
But be true to their Husband to the latter end.
To the Tune of, The Sorrowfull Damsels Lamentation for want of a Husband.
This may be Printed, R.P.
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ALl Batchelors now, come hearken to me,
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Both Richard and Robert and Harry truly,
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When you are minded a wooing to goe,
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Observe but these words, is the best way to do so;
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I'll make it appear in what I declare,
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In Country and City it is everywhere,
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A Wife that is loving, we may say it again,
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You cannot love her too much, she deserves a good Man.
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A good Wife that is saving every way,
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Will ne'er wrong her Husband, nor let things goe astray
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When a Wife that is given to drink and to sot,
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Will then let flye all that her Husband hath got,
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Tho' he do take pains, she will spend all the gains,
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And junket about with other foul Queans:
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A Wife that is loving,
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But a Wife that is vertuous, and one that fears God,
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Will honour her Husband in deed and in word,
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She never will cross him not in the least thing,
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But will make all things well, if any anger begin,
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With fair Words she will labour his love for to win,
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She will be so obedient I say unto him:
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A Wife that is loving,
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But a Wife that's for Pride and a lazy life,
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She'll weary her Husband all the days of his Life;
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That Man that has her has something to doe,
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He needs go no further to find out a Foe:
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If a Man gets never so much, and might and strive,
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His Wife must give leave if ever he thrive:
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A Wife that is saving, we may say it again,
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You cannot love her too much, she deserves a good man.
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If a young couple have but little withal to begin
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if they love one another their Goods will increase,
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What he gets out of doors she will save within:
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if he be a angry Man, she will strive to make peace,
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When a careless Wife that is given to strife,
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Will weary her Husband quite out of his life:
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But a Wife of mild nature, may say it again,
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You cannot love her too much she deserves a good Man.
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Therefore honest young men take counsel by me,
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let not great Portions your hearts bewitch,
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For that will never make a good Housewife you see,
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it is not money altogether will make a Man rich;
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The reason for why, I'll tell you truly,
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a Girl with a great Portion looks to be maintain'd high:
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A good condition'd Wife let us say it again,
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Deserves a great praise, and a right honest Man.
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But he that has a good Wife is happy I say,
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if he takes pains to labour his Living to get,
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She'll not spend it abroad in an idle way,
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she'll work the Skin off her fingers to keep him out of debt
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She'll give him good counsell, if he will it receive,
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And set him at all times in a way for to live:
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That Woman is a Treasure and the life of a Man
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He cannot love her too much let him do what he can.
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But young men you'll say, how should a Man know
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which way for to choose a good Wife from a bad?
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Now I am resolved to lay out to your show,
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and give you directions to make your hearts glad.
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Take one of good carriage and one that is civil,
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for some are too cunning I think for the Devil:
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Then if you meet with an honest good Woman I swear
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You cannot love her too much nor think nothing too dear.
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Do not take a great Lyer, nor one that will swear,
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Nor one that will be Drunk, she'll never take care,
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Take one that is civil and modest withall,
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That gives no offence to great nor to small.
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There is difference in Women, young men you may see
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If you marry a good one be ruled by me:
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That will be loving and saving every way,
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She'll make much of her Husband by night & by day.
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If a Man he be minded to chuse him a Wife,
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Chuse one of good carriage to avoid evil strife,
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And let him be carefull of chusing a slut,
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In dressing his Dyet she may poyson his Gut;
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But a cleanly good Women that goes civil and neat
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A Man needs not fear any bad thing in his Meat:
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That Man that do's meet with so vertuous a Wife,
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Let him love her as dear as he loves his own life.
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Concluding my Ditty let all Men be wise,
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To make much of your Wives I do you advize,
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And let not your Children and them live in want,
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But work and take pains the same to prevent,
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That Man that does marry a good Woman indeed,
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She deserves have his love, then the better he'll speed:
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For whore love is wanting betwixt Man and Wife,
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It ne'er comes to good, but great sorrow and grief.
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