The merry Maid of Middlesex.  
OR,  

A pretty Song made by a pretty Maid,  
Which had seven Suitors, she herself so said,  
And yet (poor soul) she hath been strangely crossed,  
And through her Mother's means, her Sweet. heart's lost:  
But yet she is resolved in this Sonnet,  
To have a Husband, whatsoever comes on it.   
To a delicate Northern Tune: Or, The Maid that lost her way.  

 
 

IT was not long agone  
since Cupid with his Dart,  
Shot through my tender skin,  
and pricked my lovesick heart  
And since that desperate time,  
I am so lovesick grown,  
I neither can nor will  
no longer lie alone:  
Let Father angry be▪  
let mother brawl, and chide,  
A Husband I will have,  
what ever me betid,   

It is well known that I  
am fifteen years of age,  
Yet live as weary a life,  
as a Bird penned in a Cage.  
Therefore Youngmen I pray,  
give ear unto my Song,  
And you shall know in what,  
my Parents did me wrong:  
But now let Father frown, etc.   

Seven Suitors in one day,  
unto me came a wooing,  
And every one of them would  
fain with me be doing:  
First Will the Weaver came  
with Silks & Ribonds brave,  
And out of his pure love,  
these Tokens to me gave,  
Let Father fret and frown, etc.   

Full many a honeyed kiss  
the Weaver did me give,  
Which was enough to make  
a dying Maid to live:  
But yet my Parents would  
not give me their consent,  
That I should marry with him,  
which makes me to lament.  
But now let Father frown,  
let Mother brawl, and chide,  
A Husband I will have  
what ever me betid.    

The▪ second part,  
to the same Tune.  
 
 
 

NOexe Tom the Tailor trim,  
he brought me a brave new gown  
And would have gave it me  
for to have laid me down,  
My Mother▪ standind by,  
would not thereto agree,  
whereby I did both lose my gown  
and swéet-heart, woe is me.  
But now let Father frown,  
let Mother brawl and chide:  
A Husband I will have,  
what ever me betid,   

Then Sam the Shoemaker  
brought me a pair of shoes  
To sit my pretty feet  
as he did often use:  
But at the drawing on  
his hand by chance did slip,  
Which made my Mother vex,  
and sorely bite the Lip,  
But now let Father grieve, etc.   

George Glover he gave me  
a pair of dainty Gloves,  
Such as your bravest Batchlors  
do use to give their Loves;  
And therewithal kind heart,  
he kissed me tenderly:  
And then my Mother she did soon  
break up our company.  
But now let Father angry be, etc.   

There came a bonny Lad,  
a Vintner neat and fine,  
And in his hand he brought  
a bottle of Muskadine,  
And bade me for to drink  
as long as I could pull:  
For he had an intent  
to fill my belly full:  
At which my Mother she  
began to frown and chide,  
Yet I will have a Husband  
what ever me betid.   

A nimble Tapster next  
gave me a gay gold Ring,  
And promised to bestow  
on me a better thing:  
But in the bringing he  
had wondrous ill luck,  
My Mother she did chance to see  
and would not let us truck.  
But now let Father frown, etc.   

Then came a noble Spark,  
a Soldier stout and bold,  
And quickly cast into my lap  
full sevenscore pound in gold  
O he was a brave Youngman,  
I loved him as my life:  
& yet my Mother she would not  
now let me be his Wife.  
But now let Father frown, etc.   

The Cobbler he poor fool,  
fell sick and needs must die,  
Except my Love would grant  
him love, as a remedy:  
Cobbler my Mother said,  
you have of late been dipped,  
Before you shall my Daughter have  
I'll see you sound whipped.  
But now let Father frown, etc.   

A Maidenhead it is a load  
too heavy for me to carry;  
Therefore I will make all the speed  
that ever I can to marry,  
No matter for his wealth  
nor Trade, what ere it be,  
For I will dearly love the Man  
if he could fancy me.  
So now you know my mind,  
although my Mother chide,  
A Husband I must have,  
what ever me betid.    
FINIS.   

London, Printed by E. Crouch, for F. Coles, T. Vere, & J. Wright.