News from Ostend, Or the Soldier's loving Letter to his Sweetheart in London With her kind Answer to the same.  
With kind expressions he his Love doth cheer  
And bids her for to hope, and not to fear,  
But he in time may cross the Ocean Main  
And come to see his dearest love again.  
To which she doth an Answer kind return  
That while he absent is, she'll sigh and mourn.  

Tune of, The Seaman's adieu to his Dear, Or, i'll go to the Captain, etc. With Allowance.  
 

MY Dearest this Letter unto thee I send  
Hoping that in health 'twill thee find,  
To let thee to know I'm got safe to Ostend  
And to tell thee a piece of my mind.   

The dangers o'th' Ocean we all did escape  
Although that the Billows did roar,  
And waves high as ●ountai●s upon us did gape  
Yet we safely are landed on shore   

Our King and our Country to serve we are bend,  
Whilst blood we have any to spend,  
And therefore my dearest I pray be content  
For I often unto thee will send.   

Our foes wanted courage our welcome to give:  
They were not for dealing of blows  
Since we were as free for to die as to live  
As Mounsieur he very well knows.   

Our Flags of defiance we now have displayed  
To dare them to Battle to come,  
It is not the French that can make us afraid  
Whilst we March by the beat of the Drum.   

And now my own dearest lay sorrow aside  
Although that I from thee did part,  
And in a strange Country a while must abide▪  
Yet thou only enjoyest my heart.   

Thou know'st what I promised thee when I come o'er  
It still doth remain in my mind,  
Which I will perform & a hundred times more  
If I see thou art loving and kind.   

Then let me engage thee most constant to prove  
Whilst absent I from thee remain,  
For be thou assured my own dearest Love  
That I hope for to see thee again.   

The love of a stranger do not entertain▪  
Remember thy promise to me,  
And if I do live to come over the Main  
Thou shalt find me both loving and free.   

The vows i'll perform which I oft did propound  
If that the Lord lend me my life  
That once I do land upon English ground  
I will make thee my own wedded wife.   

Then in the mean time my own dear do not grieve  
Endeavour thy heart for to cheer  
And for all thy sorrows i'll bring a Reprieve  
When I come to embrace my own dear.   

This Token my Dearest I pray thee accept  
Although that the value be small,  
And so far thee well, & the Lord thee protect,  
For I now must be ready at call.    

The Maids Kind Answer.  

Thy Letter my Love I received with joy  
To hear of thy health & welfare,  
For fear that the Tempests my dear should destroy  
I was filled with sorrow and care.   

But now it reviveth my heart for to hear  
That there thou didst safely arrive,  
And fairly escaped all dangers so clear  
When the waves and the Billows did drive.   

And now my own dearest I beg at thy hand  
Remember my Love that is true.  
And whilst thou art absent, & under Command  
Let thy daily affections renew.   

Be constant and faithful to me thy own choice,  
That so thou mayst prosper and thrive,  
And for my own part I shall freely rejoice  
If I ever receive thee alive.   

Let no fond delusions what ever they be  
A means for to draw thee aside,  
But still in thy mirth be thou mindful of me  
And how much for thy Love I abide.   

No Maidens heart ever was fuller of woe  
For parting with so dear a friend,  
Therefore let thy Love and thy pity be so  
Much the more to remain to the end.   

Mean time I with patience must strive to forbear  
So sadly to grieve and to mourn,  
In hopes that ere long I shall see my own dear  
In health and in safety return.   

And so for the present adieu my dear friend  
I for thy good fortune will pray,  
In hopes to enjoy thee my love in the end  
When all sorrows shall vanish away.     

London, Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, I. Wright, and I. Clark.