A new Ballad of the Soldier and Peggy  
To a new Northern Tune.  

 
 

IT was a brave Soldier  
that long lived in wars,  
He would into England,  
to try his affairs,  
A brave gallant Creature,  
enchanted his eye:  
It is for thy love Peggy,  
I die, I die.   

She had a good Husband  
that loved Her well,  
For Gold and for money,  
none did her excel.  
Yet Peggy would listen  
to the Soldiers cry,  
It is for thy love Peggy,  
I die, I die.   

O pretty Peggy,  
let sorrows remove,  
And grant me a kiss  
in token of love:  
O take thee a thousand,  
on's but a few,  
I'll leave my own husband,  
to travel with you.   

O pretty Peggy,  
if thou wilt be mine,  
All the gold that I get,  
it shall be thine:  
Father and Mother,  
thouse never so mere,  
If thou wilt go over Sea  
with a Soldier.   

She took the keys from her side,  
to her chest she's gone,  
All the gold that she hath,  
with her she'ath ta'en:  
She left the Babe Motherless,  
and the bed bare,  
And she is gone over sea  
with a Soldier.   

As Peggy and the Soldier,  
went over a plain,  
He twinked at her,  
she smiled again:  
He courted her bravely,  
as Young men should do,  
And ever said Peggy,  
I love none but you.   

As Peggy went up the street,  
so did she down,  
All that did meet her  
asked whither she was bound:  
She answered them quickly,  
she could not tell where,  
For she must go ever sea  
with a soldier.   

Her Husband came home  
so late in the night,  
He asked for Peggy  
his joy and delight,  
They answer him quickly,  
they could not tell where,  
For she was gone over sea  
with a Soldier.    

The second part,  
to the same Tune.  
 
 

HE saddled his horse  
and road to the shore,  
Thinking to take Peggy,  
before she got over:  
He asked for Peggy,  
but she was not there,  
For she was gone over sea,  
with a Soldier.   

I pray thee good nurse  
be good to my child,  
And thouse have thy wages,  
at every month's end:  
Thouse nether want money,  
wine nor good cheer,  
Though Peggy be over sea,  
with a Soldier.   

He cursed the Carpenter  
that made the ship,  
And eke the Plumber,  
for plumming so deep:  
He banned the wind  
and the water so clear,  
That carried her over sea  
with a soldier   

She had not been over sea,  
passing months three,  
Ere she would come home again,  
if it might be,  
To speak with her husband,  
this matter to clear,  
Because she had been over sea  
with a soldier.   

This wanton lewd woman,  
is come home again,  
When all her pleasure,  
and coin it was spent:  
She could no longer,  
in Ireland stay,  
For she had no gold  
nor money to pay.   

I pray you sweet husband,  
will you forgive me,  
And all that's amiss,  
amended shall be:  
I'll live with my husband,  
and Baby so dear,  
And I'll never go, again,  
with a soldier.   

Come hither sweet Peggy,  
thou art welcome to me,  
So all that's amiss  
amended may be.  
I pray God forgive my sins,  
and I'll forgive thee,  
If thou'lt live at home,  
with thy Baby and me.   

All you good wives,  
that hear this my song,  
Live at home with your husbands  
and do them no wrong:  
For youth it is wanton,  
and will have a fling,  
And Peggy is at home  
with her husband again.   

And thus of my song,  
I will make an end,  
Praying for God's favour,  
for women and men,  
Desiring them all  
in their Country to stay,  
And never to wander  
so vainly away    
FINIS.   

Printed at London for F. Coules dwelling in the Old-Baily.