A Lovesick maid's song, lately beguiled, By a runaway Lover that left her with Child.  
To the tune of, In Melton on a day.  

ALas and well away,  
that ere I trod on ground  
To see this happiness day,  
wherein such griefs abound.  
Alas I cannot sleep,  
my joys are clean exiled:  
I cannot choose but weep,  
because I was beguiled.   

When I oshuld take the meat,  
that should my life sustain:  
There is nothing that I eat,  
but aggravates my pain,  
Oh, fie on him whose deed  
doth cause me thus complain  
My heart within doth bleed,  
with sorrow grief and pain.   

Ah, evil might he thrive,  
that spoiled me of my health:  
The cruelest wretch alive,  
hath me undone by stealth.  
For where I lived a maid,  
a maiden in good fame,  
He hath me now betrayed,  
and brought me unto shame.   

My maidenhead is lost,  
oh, cursed be the hour:  
When he that loved me most:  
should seek me to deflower.  
Now am I great with child,  
as great as I may go:  
He that hath me beguiled,  
a way is gone me fro.   

And left me here alone,  
within this desert place:  
To wail and make my moan,  
O most distressed case.  
What shall of me betide,  
none but the Lord doth know:  
He that should be my guide,  
hath left me here in woe.   

Ye winds resound my cries,  
within the Miser's ears:  
That he with watery eyes,  
may shed his brinish tears.  
To wail the late done deed.  
that he committed have:  
Or else to come with speed,  
my babe and me to save.   

The trees can witness well,  
my privy grief and pain:  
These Rocks and stones can tell  
the sorrows I substaine  
My meat is haws and hips,  
my drink is water clear:  
Nought else my tender lips,  
have tasted this half year.   

O whelp of Tiger's brood,  
couldst thou find in thy hart,  
With her that did thee good,  
to play so lewd a part.  
Woe worth me poor woman,  
that did thee always help,  
And cursed be the Dam,  
brought forth so bad a whelp.   

Thou hadst me at thy call,  
as hawks are at the lure:  
Myself, my goods and all,  
and what I might procure.  
Thou hadst it at thy need,  
I never said thee nay,  
To stand thee aught in steed,  
or help thee any way.   

And now thou dost requite,  
this love I bear to thee:  
With deadly deep despite,  
as now I plainly see.  
To leave me comfortless,  
my luklesse state to rue:  
Thou canst not say no less,  
but thou hast beu vatrue.   

Woe worth the time that I  
gave credit to thy words:  
For now I platnely try,  
thou bushes giv'st for birds.  
Woe worth those feigned tears,  
which thou hast often spent:  
They brought me in the dryers  
which make me now lament.   

O would to God I had  
not known thy perjured face:  
I might have then been glad,  
where now I reap alas.  
For I did never offend,  
before that time with thee:  
Nor never did intend,  
to spot my chastity.   

But sith no words will serve,  
to countervail thine act:  
And that thou dost deserve,  
hell torments for thy fact.  
I will hold me contont,  
till that I breathe my last:  
I cannot now brivent,  
the thing is done and passed.   

Ye maids be warned by me,  
let no such cogging mates,  
Spot your virginity,  
by any subtle feats.  
Lest in the end you say,  
and sing as now I do:  
Alas and well away,  
we are beguiled too.   

Consider words are wind,  
or of small force at least:  
And men are most unkind,  
I speak probatum est.  
There is no truoch in men,  
the best is all to had:  
Who trusts their dealings then  
I hold them worse than mad.   

Who trusts to rotten boughs  
shall fall ere they bewares:  
Who credits feigned vows:  
are soonest brought to care.  
Myself may justly say.  
I proved it to my pain:  
I never saw the day,  
but words & deeds were twain   

And thus to end my song,  
I wish you all beware,  
And of the flattering tongue,  
to have a special care.  
Keep well your honest name,  
as the apple of your eye,  
So shall your lasting fame.  
remain eternally.   
FINIS   

Printed at London for I. W.