An excellent Ballad entitled, the unfortunate Love of a Lancashire Gentleman, and the hard Fortune of a fair young Bride.  
The tune is, Come follow my Love.  


 
Look you faithful Lovers,  
on my unhappy state,  
See my tears distilling  
but poured out too late,  
And buy not foolish fancy  
at so dear a rate,  
Alack for my Love i shall die.   

My Father is a Gentleman,  
well known of high degree,  
Tender of my why welfare  
evermore was he,  
He sought for Reputation,  
but all the worse for me,  
Alack &c.   

There was a proper maiden  
of favour sweet and fair,  
To whom in deep affection  
I closely did repair,  
In heart I dearly loved her  
Lo thus began my care,  
Alack, &c.   

For Nature had adorned her  
with qualities divine,  
Prudent in her actions,  
and in behaviour fine,  
Upon a sweeter Creature  
the Sun did never shine,  
Alack, &c.   

Nothing wanted in her,  
but this the grief of all,  
Of Birth she was but lowly,  
of substance very small;  
A simple hired Servant  
and subject to each call,  
Alack, &c.   

Yet she was my pleasure,  
my joy and hearts delight;  
More rich than any treasure,  
more precious in my sight:  
At length to one another  
our promise we did plight,  
Alack for my Love i shall die.   

And thus unto my Father  
the thing I did reveal;  
Desiring of his favour,  
nothing I did conceal,  
But he my dear affection  
regarded never a deal,  
Alack, &c.   

Quoth he thou graceless fellow.  
thou art my only heir,  
And for thy own preferment  
hast thou so little care?  
To marry with a beggar  
that is both poor and bare.  
Alack, &c.   

I charge thee on my blessing  
thou do her sight refrain,  
And that into her company  
you never come again,  
That you should be so married  
I take it in disdain.  
Alack, &c.   

Is there so many Gentlemen  
of worshipful degree,  
that have most honest Daughters  
of beauty fair and free;  
And can none but a beggar's brat  
content and pleasure thee.  
Alack, &c.   

By God that made all creatures  
this vow to thee I make;  
If thou do not this beggar  
refuse and quite forsake;  
From thee thy due Inheritance  
I wholly mean to take,  
Alack, &c.   

These his bitter speeches  
did sore torment my mind;  
Knowing well how greatly  
he was to wrath inclined,  
My heart was slain with sorrow  
no comfort could I find.  
  

Then did I write a Letter  
and sent it to my dear;  
Wherein my first affection  
all changed did appear,  
Which from her fair eyes forced  
the pearled water clear.  
Alack for my Love I shall die.   

For grief unto the Messenger  
one word she could not speak,  
Those doleful heavy tidings  
her gentle heart did break;  
Yet sought not by her speeches  
on me her heart to wreak.  
Alack, &c.   

This deed within my conscience,  
tormented me full sore,  
To think upon the promise  
I made her long before;  
And for the true performance  
how I most deeply swore.  
Alack, &c.   

I could not be in quiet  
till I to her did go,  
Who for my sake remained  
in deadly care and woe.  
And unto her in secret  
my full intent to show,  
Alack, &c.   

My sight rejoiced greatly,  
her sad perplexed heart,  
From both her eyes on sudden  
the trickling tears did start;  
And each in others bosom  
We breathed out our smart,  
Alack, &c.   

Unknown unto my Father,  
or any friend beside;  
Ourselves we closely married  
She was my only Bride:  
Yet still within her service  
I caused her to abide.  
Alack, &c.   

But never had two Lovers  
more sorrow care and grief,  
No means in our extremity  
we found for our relief;  
And now what further happened  
here followeth in brief  
   

The Second Part,  
To the same tune.  

NOw you loyal Lovers  
attend unto the rest,  
See by secret marriage  
how sore I am oppressed.  
For why my full misfortune  
herein shall be expressed.  
Alack for my Love I must die.   

My Father came unto me  
upon a certain day,  
And with a merry countenance,  
these words to me did say.  
My son quoth he come hither,  
and mark what I shall say.  
Alack, &c.   

Seeing you are disposed  
to lead a wedded life,  
I have unto thy credit  
provided thee a Wife;  
Where thou Mayst live delightful  
without all care and strife.  
Alack, &c.   

Master Senock's Daughter  
most beautiful and wise,  
Three hundred pound her portion  
may well thy mind suffice:  
And by her friends and kindred  
thou Mayst to credit rise.  
Alack, &c.   

This is my Son undoubted  
a match for thee most meet,  
She is a proper Maiden  
most delicate and sweet.  
Go woo her then and win her  
I should rejoice to see't.  
Alack, &c.   

Her friends and I have talked,  
and thereon have agreed,  
Then be not thou abashed  
but presently proceed.  
Thou shalt be entertained  
and have no doubt to speed.  
Alack, &c.   

O pardon me dear Father  
with bashful looks he said,  
To enter into marriage  
I sorely am afraid.  
A single life is lovely  
therein my mind is stayed.  
Alack, &c.   

When he heard my speeches  
his anger did arise,  
He drove me from his presence,  
my sight he did despise.  
And straight to disinherit me  
all means he did devise.  
Alack, &c.   

When I myself perceived  
in this ill case to stand,  
Most lewdly I consented  
unto his fond demand.  
And married with the other  
and all to save my Land.  
Alack, &c.   

And at this hapless marriage,  
great cost my friends did keep.  
They spared not their poultry,  
their Oxen nor their sheep.  
Whilst joyfully they dances  
I did in corners weep.  
Alack, &c.   

My conscience was tormented  
which did my joys deprive,  
Yet for to hide my sorrow  
my thoughts did always strive,  
Quoth I what shame will it be  
to have two wives alive.  
Alack, &c.   

O my sweetest Margaret,  
I did in sorrow say,  
Thou know'st not in thy service  
of this my marriage day;  
Though here my body resteth  
with thee my heart doth stay.  
Alack, &c.   

And my meditation  
came in my lovely Bride,  
With chains and Jewels trimmed  
and silken Rebes beside,  
Saying why doth my true Love,  
so sadly here abide.  
Alack, &c.   

Yea twenty lovely kisses  
she did on me bestow,  
And forth abroad a walking  
this lovely Maid did go,  
Yea arm in arm most friendly,  
with me that was her foe.  
Alack, &c.   

But when that I had brought her  
where nobody was near,  
I embraced her most falsely,  
with a most feigned cheer,  
Unto the heart I stabbed  
this Maiden fair and clear.  
Alack, &c.   

Myself in woeful manner  
I wounded with a knife,  
And laid myself down by her  
by this my married Wife:  
And said that thieves to rob us  
had wrought this deadly strife.  
Alack, &c.   

Great wailing and great sorrow  
was then upon each side,  
In woeful sor● they buried  
this fair and comely Bride.  
And my dissimulation  
in this was quickly tried:  
Alack, &c.   

And for this cruel murder  
to death that I am brought,  
For this my aged Father  
did end his days in thought,  
My Margaret at these tidings  
her own destruction wrought.  
Alack, &c.   

Lo here the doleful peril  
blind fancy brought me in,  
And mark what care and sorrow  
Forced marriage doth bring:  
All men by me be warned,  
and Lord forgive my sin.  
Alack, &c.   
FINIS.    

London, Printed for Francis Coles, T. Vere, and W. Gilbertson.