A Bachelors Resolution. OR  
Have among you now, Widows or Maids,  
For I come a wooing as Fancy persuades.  
I must have a Wife, be she Older or Younger,  
For I cannot, nor will not lie alone any longer.  
To the tune of, The Blazing Torch.  
 

A Bachelor I have been long,  
and had no mind to marry,  
But now I find it did me wrong  
that I so long did tarry,  
Therefore I will a wooing ride,  
there's many married younger,  
Where shall I go to s●ke a Bride?  
I'll lie alone no longer.   

So many sins are incident  
unto a single life,  
That I all danger to preuent  
with speed will seek a Wife;  
If I with Women chance to drink  
I'm called a muttonmonger,  
But now I'll stop their mouths I think  
And lie alone no longer.   

O Fate send me a handsome Lass  
that I can fancy well,  
For Portion I'll not greatly pass,  
though Money hears the bell▪  
Love now adays with Gold is bought  
but I'm no Money-monger.  
Give me a Wife, though she's worth nought  
I'll lie alone no longer.   

Yet if she chance to prove a Slut,  
a Scold, or else a Whore,  
That could not choose but be a cut,  
and 〈◊〉 me very sore,  
A Slut would make me loathe my meat  
were I half dead with hunger,  
But I must leave this fond conceit,  
And lie alone no longer.   

What if she should a Wanton be,  
a 〈…〉 ache my forehead ache?  
Oh that would be a grief to me,  
such wrongs few men will take,  
For jealousy is of such force,  
no passion can be stronger,  
But be she better, be she worse,  
I'll lie alone no longer.   

If jealous she shall be of me,  
that were as great a spite,  
Then should we seldom quiet be,  
but quarrel day and night,  
She'd think my love from her did range  
though I ne'er meant to wrong her,  
Yet this shall not my humour change,  
I'll lie alone no longer.   

What shall I do to choose a wife  
in every thing complete?  
Should I in searching spend my life,  
i'would prove a task to great,  
No Man can find a Woman so,  
the older nor the younger,  
I'll take my chance as others do,  
And lie alone no longer.   

Yet will I choose the best I can,  
●oue send me luck in choosing,  
And crave the counsel of some man  
whose counsels worth the using:  
If she prove good I shall be glad,  
and vow I'll never wrong her,  
Yet am resolved good or bad  
To lie alone no longer.   

The second Part. To the same tune.  
 

I●e be contented with my lot,  
How ever it befall,  
Yet if she prove a drunken sot,  
●●●ill grieve me worst of all,  
Then I myself must drink small-béere,  
and she must drink the stronger,  
Though't cost me twenty pounds a year,  
I'll lie alone no longer.   

This is the only time I know,  
for Youngmen to get Wives,  
Thou say that Maids and Widows now  
fo● Husbands daily strives,  
Therefore I shall be quickly sped,  
sith both for Husband's hunger,  
with any man th●yle quickly wed,  
They'll lie alone no longer.   

Be she a widow or a Maiyde,  
I do not greatly pass,  
A withered Crone whose bla●d's decayed,  
or a young li●ely Lass:  
One that is rich or one that's poor,  
a feeble, or a stronger:  
An honest woman or a whore,  
I'll lie alone no longer.   

But ye● if I 〈◊〉 choice may have  
a Maid ●ould b● my wife,  
I would not be a Widow's slave,  
I'd rather lose my life:  
If I should wed a Widow old,  
I ●ad better take a younger,  
For Widows will not be controlled,  
Yet I can stay no longer.   

If she should have a stinking breath  
I never should abide her,  
For tha● to me is worse than death,  
I had rather touch a Spider:  
But that's a fault may soon be smelled,  
s●e Aiax smells no stronger:  
●efore I●e take one with such fault,  
〈◊〉 lie alone yet longer   

If she chance to prove a Scold,  
her tongue will breed my strife,  
Then I must look to be controlled,  
and kerbed by my Wife:  
A Scold of women is the worst,  
she'll force a man to wrong her:  
Therefore I'll try all humours first,  
And lie alone no longer.   

Some men perhaps may wonder, why  
my mind runs so on Marriage,  
To him that asks me, I reply,  
'tis for my honest carriage:  
For live a young man ne'er so chaste,  
he's counted a Whoremonger:  
Therefore I'll get a Wife in haste,  
And lie alone no longer.   

Although my Wife be none o'th' best,  
yet I must be content:  
I shall as well speed as the rest,  
which 'bout this action went:  
I am not first that matched ill,  
therefore it is no wonder:  
I'll keep my resolution still,  
And lie alone no longer.   

I trust I shall with one be sped,  
that doth deserve my love:  
If I with such a Woman wed,  
I swear by mighty love,  
That ere she any thing should 〈◊〉  
I'll suffer cold and hunger:  
Though she had scant clothes  
I'd lie alone no longer.   

You that my resolution hear  
judge whether I deserve  
To have a Wife that love  
and would my will observe  
Were she a Widow or a 〈◊〉  
an Elder, or a Younger  
My Wedding should not be