The Lamentation of a new married man, briefly declaring the sorrow and grief that comes by marrying a young wanton wife  
To the tune of, Where is my true Love,  

YOu Bachelors that brave it  
So gallant in the street,  
With Musk & with Risen water,  
Smelling all so sweet:  
With shoes of Spanish leather,  
So framely to your feet,  
Behold me a married man.   

Before that I was wedded,  
I lived in delight,  
I went unto the dancing school,  
I learnt at Fence to fight:  
With twenty other pleasures,  
That now are banished quite,  
I being a etc.   

When I lived single,  
I knew no cause of strife,  
I had my heart in quiet,  
I led a pleasant life-  
But now my chiefest study  
Is how to please my Wife,  
I being a married man.   

Quoth she, You do not love me,  
To leave me all alone,  
You must go a gadding,  
And I must bide at home,  
While you among your minions,  
Spend more than is your own:  
This life leads a etc.   

Do you think to keep me  
So like a drudge each day,  
To toil and moil so sadly  
And lame me every way?  
I'll have a Maid, by Lady,  
Shall work while I do play,  
This life &c,   

Then must I give attendance  
Upon my Mistress heels,  
I must wait before her,  
While she doth walk the Fields,  
Shee●l eat no meat but Lobsters,  
And pretty Girgs and Eeles,  
This life &c   

Then must I get her Cherries,  
And dainty Rathern Pears,  
And then longs for coddlings,  
She breedeth Child she swears  
When God knows 'tis a cushion  
That she about her bears,  
This life etc.   

She must have Rabbit suckers,  
Without spot or speck,  
I must buy her Peascods  
At sixteen groats the Peck  
She must have Eggs & white wine  
To wash her face and neck:  
This life etc.   

If once to pass it cometh,  
That she is brought to bed,  
Why then with many dainties  
She must be daily fed,  
A hundred toys and trifles  
Comes then within her head:  
This life etc.   

Against that she is churched,  
A new Gown she must have:  
A dainty fine Rebato  
About her neck so brave:  
French bondies, with a Farthingale  
She never linnes to crave  
This life etc.   

Abroad among her Gossips  
Then must she daily go:  
Requesting of this favour  
A man must not say no,  
Lest that an unkind quarrel  
About this matter grow  
This life etc.   

To offerings and to Weding:  
Abroad that she must prance,  
Whereas with lusty youngsters  
This gallant dame must dance:  
Her husband must say nothing,  
What hap soever chance:  
This life etc.   

And then there is no remedy,  
She must go to a play,  
To purge abounding Choler,  
And drive sad dumps away:  
She tarries out till midnight,  
She sweats she will not stay,  
This life etc.   

When home at last she cometh,  
To bed she gets her soon,  
And there she sleeps full sound,  
Till the next day at noon,  
Then must she eat a Caudle  
With a silver spoon  
This life etc.   

Therefore my friends be warned,  
You that unwedded be,  
The troubles of a married man  
You do most plainly see,  
Who likes not of his living,  
Would he would change with me,  
That now am a etc.   

Where I was wont full often  
Good company to keep.  
Now I must rock the Cradle,  
And hush the child asleep,  
I had no time nor leisure  
Out of my doors to peep.  
Since I was a married man,   

The Second part. To the same Tune.  
An answer sent to the young married man.  
Written most friendly by his gentle Wife Nan  

 
Alack wherefore lament you,  
your happy wedded state:  
Therein you show great folly,  
repentance come to late  
To make yourself a mocking stock  
with every scoffing mate  
Now you are a married young man.   

In youth, do well remember,  
Your mind was all on pride:  
Deceiving sport and pleasure,  
Your lavish thoughts did guide,  
'Tis time such foolish fancies  
should now be laid aside,  
Now you are &c,   

When you lived single,  
Your time, you vainly spent:  
Unto unlawful pastime.  
Your youngling wits were bend  
But now you must learn wisdom,  
discredit to prevent,  
Sith you are &c,   

An alas to estimation,  
Longs to a single life,  
What were you but skip jack,  
Before you had a wife,  
A ma●e for every madcap,  
a stirrer up of strife,  
Till you were &c,   

A Wife hath won you credit,  
A Wife makes you esteemed  
An honest man through marriage  
Now are you surely deemed.  
And you shall find at all times;  
A wife your dearest friend,  
Now you are etc.   

Then is it right and reason,  
Your wife should pleased be,  
It is a happy household  
Where couples do agree,  
It hath delight the Angels,  
such Concord for to see,  
Then blest is the etc.   

If I do blame your gadding  
It is for love, be sure,  
Bad company doth always  
Ill counsel still procure  
The man that will be thrifty,  
must at his work endure,  
While he is etc.   

This works his commendations  
Amongst the very best.  
The chief men of the Parish,  
his acquaintance will request,  
And then he shall be called  
To office with the rest  
When he is a etc.   

He shall be made a Headborough  
Unto his credit great,  
At what time all the neighbours,  
His friendship will entreat,  
And then it is most decent,  
he should go fine and neat.  
When he is a married young man,   

Then bareheaded unto him,  
A number daily flocks:  
To help him by his office,  
from many stumbling blocks:  
Then comes he to be Constable,  
and set knaves in the stocks:  
Thus riseth a etc.   

His wife shall then be seated  
in Church at her desire,  
Her husband he is sideman,  
and sits within the Choir,  
Then he is made Churchwarden  
and placed somewhat hire,  
Great joy to a etc.   

Then seeing all this credit  
by marriage you do find,  
Unto your wife 'tis reason,  
you should be good and kind  
And sometimes wait upon her  
according to her mind  
As best fits a etc.   

If friendly you go with her  
to walk out of the Town,  
Why then you may have pleasure.  
to give her a green Gown.  
To have so great a favour,  
some m●● would give a crown  
Which 〈◊〉 etc.   

As for the Pears and Apples,  
you give me in the street.  
The Cherries or the coddlings,  
for pretty women meet,  
At night I give you kindly  
a thousand kisses sweet  
Great joy to a etc.   

A hundred other pleasures.  
I do you then beside,  
In bringing forth your Children  
great sorrow I do bide.  
For twenty Gowns & Kirtles,  
the like would not be tried,  
By any fine young married men.   

Why should your scorn the Cradle  
I tell you sir most plain,  
There is not any pleasure.  
but sometimes breedeth pain,  
If you will not be troubled.  
why then good sir refrain  
to play like a married young man   
FINIS.    

Printed by the Assigns o● Thomas Symcock.