Anonymous

“ Who longtime had courted, but nothing of wedding,
At length this fair maiden was pleased to say,
Come tell to me plain. what do you mean?
For of wooing I'm weary,
Resolved to marry,
Or else from your company I will refrain.
I needs must confess I love you dearly,
And you are the choice of the whole world beside,
The one that I marry I'll tell you plainly,
That I will forsake your sweet company quite:
For when a man's wed, his joys are all fled,
He is bound from all liberty,
Tied down to slavery,
So I will be free and bid you good night. ”

“ Her belly's turn'd big, and her face pale and wan,
She's fallen with child to her own servant man.
This beautiful Lady with tears in her eyes,
I'm ruin'd for ever, with sorrow she cries;
My credit is broke, and my honour is gone,
And what will I say when my good.Lord comes home?
Delude! by falsehood, I soon did comply,
For it was my footman that with 'me did ly;
To shew himself guilty, like a cruel knave,
He's fled from his country his life for to save. ”

“ But this unfortunate Lady she's turned away.
This sorrowful Lady being turned away,
Laments her misfortunes by night and by day,
Crying, Ye Ladies of honour, take warning me,
Be chaste to your husbands in every degree. ”