The Famous Flower of SERVINGMEN. OR The Lady turned SERVINGMAN;  
Her Lord being slain, her Father dead,  
Her Bower robbed, her Servants fled,  
She dressed herself in Man's attire,  
She trimmed her Locks, she changed her Hair,  
And thereupon she changed her name,  
From fair Elise to Sweet William.  

To a delicate new tune, or, Flora farewel, Summer time, or, Loves tie.  
 

YOu beauteous Ladies great and small,  
I write unto you one and all:  
Whereby that you may understand,  
What I have suffered in this Land.   

I was by birth a Lady fair,  
My Father's chief and only Heir.  
But when my good old Father died,  
Then was I made a young Knight's bride.   

And then my Love built me a bower,  
Bedecked with many a fragrant flower,  
A braver bower you never did see,  
Than my true Love did build for me.   

But there came thives late in the night,  
They robbed my bower and flew my Knight:  
And after that my Knight was slain,  
I could no longer there remain.   

 
My Servants all from me did fly,  
In the midst of my extremity;  
And left me by myself alone,  
With a heart more cold than any stone   

Yet though my heart was full of care  
Heaven would not suffer me to despair  
Wherefore in hast I changed my name  
From fair Elise to sweet William.   

And therewithal I cut my hair,  
And dressed myself in man's attire:  
My Doublet, Hose, and Bever-hat,  
And a golden Band about my Neck.   

With a silver Rapier by my side,  
So like a gellant I did ride,  
The thing that I delighted on,  
Was for to be a Servingman.    

The second Part  
to the same tune.  

THus in my sumptuous man's array,  
I braurly road along the way:  
And at the last it chanced so,  
That I unto the King's Court did go.   

Then to the King I bowed full low,  
My love and duty for to show:  
And so much favour I did crave,  
That I a Servingman's place might have.   

Stand up brave youth the King replied,  
Thy service shall not be denied:  
But tell me first what thou canst do,  
Thou shalt be fitted thereunto.   

Wilt thou be Usher of my Hall,  
To wait upon my Nobles all?  
Or wilt thou be taster of my wine,  
To wait on me when I shall dine?   

Or wilt thou be my Chamberlain,  
To make my bed both soft and fine?  
Or wilt thou be one of my Guard?  
And I will give thee thy reward.   

Sweet William with a smiling face,  
Said to the King, if 't please your Grace,  
To show such favour unto me,  
Your Chamberlain I fain would be.   

The King then did his Nobles call,  
To ask the counsel of them all:  
Who gave consent sweet William he  
The King's own Chamberlain should be.   

Now mark what strange things came to pass  
As the King one day a hunting was:  
With all his Lords and Noble train,  
Sweet William did at home remain.   

Sweet William had no company than,  
With him at home, but an old man:  
And when he saw the coast was clear,  
He took a Lute which he had there.   

Upon the Lute sweet William played,  
And to the same he sung and said:  
With a pleasaut and most noble voice,  
Which made the old man to rejoice.   

Sweet William's Song.  
MY Father was as brave a Lord,  
As ever Europe did afford:  
My Mother was a Lady bright,  
My Husband was a valiant Knight.   

And I myself a Lady gay,  
Bedecked with gorgeous rich array,  
The bravest Lady in the Land,  
Had not more pleasures to command,   

I had my Music every day,  
Harmonious Lessons for to play,  
I had my Virgins fair and free,  
Continually to wait on   

But now alas my Husband's dead,  
And all my friends are from me fled:  
My former joys are past and gone,  
For now I am a Servingman.  
The End of sweet William's Song.   

At last the King from Hunting came,  
And presently upon the same:  
He called for the good old man,  
And thus to speak the King began.   

What news, what news old man quoth  
What news hast thou to tell to me:  
Brave news the old man he did say,  
Sweet William is a Lady gay,   

If this be true thou tellest me,  
I'll make thee a Lord of high degree;  
But if thy words do prove ally,  
Thou shalt be hanged up presently.   

But when the King the truth had found,  
His joys did more and more abound:  
According as the old man did say,  
Sweet William was a Lady gay.   

Therefore the King without delay,  
Put on eer glorious rich array:  
And upon her head a Crown of Gold,  
Which was most famous to behold.   

And then for fear of further strife,  
He took sweet William for his wife:  
The like before was never seen,  
A Servingman to be a Queen.   
Finis.    

London, Printed for Eliz. Andrews in little St, Bartholemews Court in West-smithfield.