A New little Northern Song called, 
Under and over, over and under,  
Or a pretty new jest, and yet no wonder,  
Or a maiden mistaken, as many now be,  
View well this glass, and you may plainly see.   
To a pretty new Northern tune.  

 

AS I abroad was walking,  
I heard two lovers talking:  
One to the other spoke,  
of love's constancy:  
I o'er a meadow turning,  
upon a Summer's morning:  
I heard these Lover's mourning,  
cause of love's cruelty.  

For under and over, over and under,  
under and over again,  
quoth she sweet heart I love thee,  
as maidens should love men.    

The youngman he replied,  
and not her love denied,  
Quoth he I am affyed:  
in constancy to thee,  
Then cast all sorrows from thee:  
for I will never wrong thee,  
Sweet pleasures shall o'rethrong thee  
so thou been true to me.  

For under and over, over and under,  
under, and over again,  
I mean sweet heart to love thee,  
as maids are loved of men.    

(Quoth she) my only sweeting,  
men fail oft in their meeting,  
Let me have faithful greeting,  
or else departed for aye:  
O say not so may jewel,  
for than you are to cruel,  
Yield Cupid's fire more fuel,  
let not true love decay.  

For under and over, over etc.  
I love thee mine own sweeting,  
as maids are loved of men.    

Said she, you men can flatter,  
(quote he) sweet no such matter,  
With that amain fling at her:  
and the began to play,  
Such kisses sweet he gave her,  
and often time did crave her,  
That he in love might have her:  
to sport with him all day.  

At under and over, over etc.  
yield thou to sport with me sweet  
as maids do sport with men.    

He by the white hand took her,  
and then in kindness shaken her,  
Swearing he had mistook her:  
if now she proved unkind,  
Oh, yield my sweet unto me,  
or else you will undo me,  
If thou no love wilt show me,  
to grief I am assigned.  

Then under and over, over etc.  
come sport with me my sweeting.  
as maids do sport with men.    

At length this Lass consented,  
they both were well contented,  
And often times frequented,  
the lovely meadow green,  
To gather lovely daisies,  
or sport in Cupid's mazes,  
I speak it to their praises:  
they merry there have been.  

With under and over, over etc.  
These two did sport together,  
as women sport with men.    

 forty weeks expired,  
this bonny Lass was tired,  
Her heart with love was fired:  
and grown so round before,  
This young man from her wanders,  
to France or else to Flaunders:  
Thus was she served with Flanders,  
her heart then waxed sore.  

With under and over, over etc.  
this maid was wronged in earnest  
as maids are wronged by men.     

The second part  
To the same tune.  
 

THen she began to prattle,  
like one of Cupid's cattle,  
And daily would she tattle,  
That her love was too unkind:  
Thus in distress to leave her,  
and by his words deceive her,  
Which did of joys bereave her,  
that she was left behind.  

With under and over, over and under,  
under and over again,  
she railed against her sweet heart,  
as women rail 'gainst men.    

Then she unto her mother,  
complained before another,  
This fault she could not smother,  
her belly was so round:  
Quoth she) some comfort yield me,  
and from all shame pray shield me,  
For sorrow's Tide hath filled me,  
that I am like to sound.  

With under and over, over and under,  
under and over again,  
she 'gainst her love complained,  
as maids complain 'gainst men.    

Her mother strait perceived,  
her daughter was deceived,  
Which very much her grieved,  
but now for help she seeks,  
How to keep her daughter  
from shame should follow after,  
And this same shameless matter,  
in private close she keeps.  

With under and over, over and under,  
under and over again,  
she says unto her daughter  
these are the tricks of men▪    

In brief she was delivered,  
the Carrier he was hired.  
And she from thence was carried  
to London with all speed:  
No one could be demurer,  
nor seem a Virgin purer,  
Her carriage now did sure her,  
to be a maid indeed.  

With under and over, over and under  
she vows never to sport that way,  
that maidens use with men.    

Then in short time came to her.  
a Tailor and did woe her,  
He never could part fro her,  
till she was made his wife:  
He for a maid did take her,  
and vowed ne'er to forsake her  
But still be her partaker,  
And love her as his life.  

With under and over, over etc.  
She vowed ever to love him still,  
as women do love men.    

Thus were her griefs converted,  
and she was now light hearted,  
Being so well supported,  
by her new wedded mate,  
She now was freed from mourning,  
her grief to joys were turning,  
She now lived void of scorning,  
dissension and debate.  

With under and over, over and under,  
she vowed ever to love him still,  
as women do love men.     
FINIS,   

Lon●on Printed for H. G.