The Country Lass.  
To a dainty new Note, which if you can hit,  
There's another tune will as well fit.  
To the tune of, The mother beguiled daughter.  
 

ALthough I am a Country Lass,  
a lofty mind I bear a,  
I think myself as good as those  
that gay apparel wear a:  
My coat is made of comely Grace,  
yet is my skin as soft a,  
As those that with the chiefest Wines,  
do bathe their bodies oft a.  
Down, down dery, dery down,  
heigh down a down a down a,  
a dery dery dery dery down,  
heigh down a down a dery.   

What though I keep my Father's sheep,  
a thing that must be done a,  
A garland of the fairest flowers  
shall shrewd me from the Sun a:  
And when I see them feeding be,  
where grass and flowers spring a  
Close by a Crystal fountain side  
I sit me down, and sing a,  
Down etc.   

Dame nature crownes us with delight,  
surpassing Court or City,  
We pleasures take from morn to night  
in Sports and pastimes pretty:  
Your City Dames in Coaches ride  
abroad for recreation,  
We Country Lasses hate their pride,  
and keep the Country fashion.  
Down etc.   

Your City Wives lead wanton lives,  
and if they come i'th' Country,  
They are so proud, that each one strives  
for to outbrave our Gentry  
We country lasses homely be  
for seat nor wall we strive not,  
We are content with our degree,  
our debtors we deprive not,  
Down etc.   

I care not for the fane or Mask,  
when Titan's heat reflecteth,  
A homely Hat is all I ask,  
which well my face protecteth:  
Yet am I in my Country guise,  
esteemed Lass as pretty  
As those that every day devose  
new shapes in Court or City.  
Down etc.   

In every season of the year  
I undergo my labour  
No Shower nor Wind at all I fear,  
my Limbs I do not favour:  
If Summer's heat my beauty stain,  
it makes me near the sicker,  
Sith I can wash it off again  
with a Cup of Christmas Liquor.  
Down, down dery, dery down,  
heigh down a down a down a,  
a dery dery dery dery down,  
heigh down a down a dery.   

The second part.  
To the same tune,  
 

AT Christmas time in mirth and glee,  
I dance with young men neatly,  
And who i'the City like to me,  
shall surely taste completely:  
No Sport, but Pride and Luxury  
i'th' city can be found then,  
But bounteous Hospitality  
i'th' Country doth abound then,  
Down etc.   

I'the Spring my labour yields delight,  
to walk i'the merry Morning,  
When Flora is (to please my sight)  
the ground with flowers adorning:  
With merry Lads to make the Hay  
I go, and do not grumble,  
My work doth seem to be but play,  
when with young men I tumble.  
Down etc.   

The Lark & Thrush from Briar to Bush  
do leap, and skip, and sing a,  
And all this then to welcome in  
the long-and looked for Spring a▪  
We fear not Cupid's arrows keen,  
Dame Venus we defy a,  
Diana is our honoured Queen,  
and her we magnify a.  
Down etc.   

That which your City-Damsels scorn,  
we hold our chiefest jewel,  
Without, to work at Hay and Corn,  
within to Bake and Brew well,  
To keep the Dairy decently,  
and all things clean and neatly,  
Your Citie-Minions do defy,  
their scorn we weigh not greatly.  
Down etc.   

When we together a milking go,  
with pails upon our heads a,  
And walking over Woods and Fields,  
where Grass and Flowers spreads a,  
In honest pleasure we delight,  
which makes our labour sweet a,  
And Mirth exceeds on every side,  
when Lads and Lasses meet a.  
Down etc.   

Then do not scorn a Country Lass,  
though she be plain and meanly:  
Who takes the Country Wench to Wife,  
(that goeth neat and cleanly)  
Is better sped, then if he wed  
a fine one from the City,  
For than they are so nicely bred,  
they must not work for pity.  
Down etc.   

I speak not this to that intent,  
(as some may well conjecture)  
As though to Wooing I were bend,  
nor I ne'er learned Lover's Lectwe:  
But what I sing is in defence  
of all plain Country Lasses,  
Whose modest honest innocence  
all City Girls surpasses.  
Down, down dery, dery down, etc.    
FINIS.   

Printed by the Assigns of Thomas Symcocke.