The honest Maiden's loyalty  
OR, The young man's faithful constancy.  
He vows to endure the Wrack and the 〈◊〉  
And suffer dearly for his true love's sake.  
To a pretty new Tune, Or, wert thou more fairer.  

 
 

MOst early in a morning fair  
a young man sung this solemn choir  
Where his dear sweeting did use to lie,  
and thus lamenting he did cry,  

Farewell sweet heart, for I must be gone,  
but i'll have my love, or i'll have none.    

Set forty thousand all a-row  
there's none can make so fair a show  
For in the Palace of her twinkling eyes,  
I see how amorous Cupid flies.  

As for my part I have chosen one,  
And i'll have my love, or i'll have none.    

No rack nor stack with tortures great  
that shall my love entire defeat,  
I do not waver like the turning wind,  
but bare a lovers constant mind.  

As for my part, etc.    

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can love so true as I,  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so sick yet cannot die.  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 kiss can 〈◊〉 heart 〈◊〉  
and make a lovesick man alive.  

As by experience is well known,  
And i'll have etc.    

A Lady in her highdegrée,  
her lofty mind cannot fanc y me:  
For many are ambitious in there ways,  
but maiden's chaste young men should praise.  

I will be faithful to mine own  
For i'll have etc.    

Your City Dames with mincing feats  
have many tricks, and fine conceits:  
But my true love is virtuous, chaste and wise  
and like an Angel in my eyes.  

As for my &c.    

Into some far Country i'll go,  
confine myself to care and woe.  
Till fickle fortune do please to smile,  
that has so loured all this while.  

As for my part I have chose one,  
And i'll have my love 〈◊〉 i'll have none.     

The second part,  
to the same tune.  
 

But mark how Bateman died for love▪  
he finished up his life,  
The very day she married was,  
and made old Jermans' Wife.  
For with a strangling Cord, God wots,  
great moan was made there fore.  
He hanged himself in desperate sort,  
before the Brides own door.   

Whereat such sorrow pierced her heart  
and troubled sore her mind  
That she could never after that,  
one day of comfort find:  
For wheresoever that she went,  
her fancy did surmise,  
Young Bateman pale and ghastly ghost,  
appeared before her eyes.   

When she in bed a nights did lie,  
between her Husband's arms,  
In hope thereby to sleep and rest,  
in safety without harms:  
great cries & grievous groans she heard  
a voice that sometimes said,  
O thou art she that I must have,  
and must not be denied.   

But she then being big with Child,  
was for the Infant's sake  
Preserved from the Spirits power,  
no vengeance could it take:  
The Babe unborn did safely keep,  
as God appointed so  
His Mother's body from the Fiend,  
that sought her overthrow.   

But being of her burden eased,  
and safely brought to bed,  
Her cares and griefs began anew,  
and further sorrows bred:  
And of her friends she cid increase,  
desiring them to s●ay,  
Out of my bed quoth she this night  
I shall be borne away.   

Here comes the Spirit of my Love,  
with pale and ghastly face  
Who till he takes me hence with him,  
will not departed this place:  
Alive or dead I am his right,  
and he will surely have,  
In spite of me and all the World,  
What I by promise gave.   

O watch with me this night I pray,  
and see you do not sleep,  
No longer that you be awake  
my body can you keep:  
All promised to do the best,  
yet nothing could suffice,  
At middle of the night to ke●pe  
sad slumber from their eyes,   

So being all full fast asleep,  
to them unknown which ways  
The Childbed Wife that woeful night,  
from thence was borne away:  
But to what place no creature knew,  
nor to this day can tell,  
As strange a thing as ever yet  
in any age befell   

You Maidens that desire to love,  
and would good Husbands choose,  
To him that you have vowed your love.  
by no means do refuse:  
For God that hears all secret Oaths  
Will dreadful vengeance take  
On such as of a 〈◊〉 Vow  
do slender reckoning make,    
Finis.   

London, Printed for W. G. dwelling in Gilt-spur-street.