The cunning Age.  
OR  

A remarried Woman repenting her Marriage,  
Rehearsing her Husband's dishonest carriage.   
Being a pleasant Dialogue between a remarried Woman, a Widow, and a young Wife.  

To the Tune of The Wiving Age.  
 Widow. 

Good morrow, kind Gossip, why whither so fast?  
I pray stay a while, I know there's no haste,  
And let's chat a while o● some things that are past;  
I hear say y'are marrie● since I saw you last;  
O this is a hasty Age,  
O this is a hasty Age.   Mar. Woman. 

'Tis true, I am married, which hath been my bane,  
But if that I were now a Widow again,  
I so would continue; but grief is in vain,  
I must be contented to sing this sa● strain,  
Oh fie on this cozening Age,  
Oh fie on this etc.   Wid. 

Oh, do you so quickly your bargain repent  
And yet you th●ught long e'er about it you went?  
If marriage bring trouble in time I'll prevent  
All future unquietness, and be content  
To shun such a cozening Age,  
To shun etc.   Mar. Wo. 

Oh, woe is me, Gossip that e'er I was borne,  
I married a Boy, that now holds me in scorn,  
He rome's among Whores bo●●●u●ning and morn,  
While I sit at home, like a creature forlorn.  
Oh, this is a cozening Age,  
Oh, etc.   Wid. 

Oh, who would imagine that such a young Lad,  
That scarce was worth twelve pence with all that he had,  
Should wed a rich woman, and use her so bad?  
I trust I shall never be so doting mad,  
●o match in this cozening Age, etc.   Mar. Wo. 

The grief that I suffer can hardly be told,  
Among Whores and Knaves he consumeth my gold,  
And if I reprove him, he tells me I scold,  
I dare not dispose of mine own as I would.  
Oh fie on this doting Age,  
Oh fie on this doting Age.   Wid. 

Well, by your example I warning will take,  
With no S●ip-iacke boy a match I will make;  
Two Suitors I have, but I both will forsake,  
For some that are fond, as they brew let them bake;  
I'll take heed of this cunning Age,  
I'll take heed of this cunning Age.   Mar. Wo. 

Well, do so, good Gossip, and so Fare you well,  
〈◊〉 ●oo●ly new husband will curse me to hell:  
〈◊〉 john, (God be with him) my neighbours can tell,  
●id n●uer in's life gi●e me mouthful of ill.  
Oh fie on this doting Age,  
Oh fie on this doting Age.   Wid. 

There is an old Proverb. that oft hath been tried,  
Set a Beggar on horseback, toth' Gallows heel ●ide,  
So, 〈◊〉 a young Boy, he's so poft up with pride,  
They'll marry rich Widows, to scoff and 〈◊〉.  
Oh this is a cozening Age,  
O this is a cozening Age.   
FINIS.  
John Cart.   

The Second Part. To the same Tune.  
 Married Woman. 

BUt stay, who comes yonder? 'tis well that I tarried:  
My kinswoman Katherine, 〈◊〉 lately was married,  
She had better gone to the Church to be buried,  
With her 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉, things are otherwise carried,  
She curseth this cozening Age,  
She curseth this cozening Age.   Young Wife. 

What Cousin and neighbour, are you met together?  
'Tis well that I happened so luckily hither,  
I long have desired to talk with you either;  
Come, stand not i'th' street, let's go travel somewhither  
Oh fie on this cozening Age,  
Oh fie on this etc.   Both to the young Wife. 

Well, how dost thou like of thy Husband, good Kate?  
We hear of a certain thouart married of late  
With a wealthy old widower, to better thy state,  
Who loves thee as dear as the Tur●le his ma●e:  
That's rare in this cooz●ning Age,  
That's rare etc.   Young Wife. 

Oh woe's me, Cousin that ever 'twas done,  
A beggarly slave my affection hath won;  
He 〈◊〉 of his riches, whereof he had none,  
But five little Children, four Girls, and a Son,  
Oh fie on this coozennig Age,  
Oh fie on this etc.   

When he came a-wooing he borrowed a Cloak,  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his fingers, my love to provoke;  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word of his Children he spoke,  
But now we are married, I find that he's broke,  
Oh fie on this cozening Age,  
Oh fie on this etc.   

Besides, he's so jealous, that if I but look  
On any Youngman, he'll be sworn on a book,  
That I make him Cuckold by hook or by crook;  
This doting suspicion no woman can brook  
Oh fie on this doting Age, etc.   Mar. Wom. 

It seems then, good Kate, we are both alike sped.  
Ill fortune had we, with such Husbands to wed:  
For if all be true that here thou hast said,  
I would either we, or our Husbands were dead.  
Oh fie on this cozening Age,  
Oh fie on this cozening Age.   Wid. 

Your speeches will make me still willing to tarry,  
Sith UUiddowes and Bachelors both do miscarry  
Yet 'tis said in London, that when we do bu●y  
Our Husbands, next month we are ready to marry  
Oh this is a lying Age,  
Oh this is etc.   

Nay more, to abash us, the Poets o'th' times,  
Do blazon us forth in their Ballads and Rhymes,  
With 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 satirical lines,  
As though we ●a●●●●e some notorious crimes.  
Oh this is a scandalous Age.  
Oh this is etc.   

ay ●woul● 〈◊〉 Poet could get in my clutches,  
He were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ballads against the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
There is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that sorely us 〈◊〉,  
The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon Crutches,  
Doth roar out the Wiving Age,  
Doth ●oare out etc.   

But 'tis no great matter let Knaves say their word,  
●n● swe●l with 〈◊〉 envy until they do burst.  
I 〈◊〉 you so long, I shall make you be cursed,  
I could fin● in ●eart to stay still, if you durst:  
Oh now comes the parting Age,  
Oh now comes the parting Age.   
FINIS.    

Printed at London for john Trundle