The Masterpiece of Lovesongs:  
A Dialogue betwixt a bold KEEPER and a LADY gay,  
He Wooed his LORD's Daughter, and carried the day;  
But soon after Marriage was forced for to fight,  
With his Lord and six Gentlemen, for his own Right;  
He cut them, and hewed them, and paid them with blows,  
And made them his Friends, that before were his Foes.  
To the Tune of, The Week before Easter, the Day's long and clear, etc.  
 

IT was a bold keeper  
that chased the deer,  
Of a stouter bold spirit  
you never did hear,  
And he loved a Lady  
of beauty most clear.  
And now you shall hear of his wooing:   Keeper.] 
O pity fair Lady,  
the suit which I move,  
For I'm deep in affection,  
and tossed in love;  
For you are the Lady,  
the curdle, and dove,  
What 〈◊〉 I have cast my affection.  Lady.] 
O Keeper forbear,  
I shall thus answer thee,  
I am a match for a Lord  
of a high degree;  
For my birth and yours  
they not equal be,  
Therefore Keeper forbear your wooing.  K] 
This repulse it maketh  
me sadly to grieve;  
And true 'tis we all came  
from Adam and Eve,  
One loving word to my life  
is a reprieve,  
Tho I am linked fast in Cupid's prison.  L.] 
O why should you say  
you're a prisoner to me;  
O hold, forbear Keeper,  
for that may not be:  
We both may have matches  
fitter for each degree;  
Then forbear, and take this for an answer,  K.] 
No, not for an answer,  
that I shall it take,  
And yet this denial  
makes my heart to ache;  
And I shall lay down  
my life at the stake,  
T'obtain the favour of my Lady.  L.] 
It is a mere madness  
your life to lay down,  
What will people say?  
‛ There▪ s an end of a clown,  
‛ That passed many dangers  
till fortune did frown,  
And now died a petended lover.  K.] 
The name of a clown  
in my heart I do scorn,  
Being nobly descended,  
and a gentleman born:  
Yet I am a Keeper  
that must be forlorn,  
Except you can love me fair Lady.  L.] 
Well Keeper, I perceive  
t●ou baste a good heart,  
Well thou art come  
pa●●ed in every part:  
If my Lord did know,  
we should both suffer smart  
My father would be so offended.  K.] 
Lady if you will consent  
to be my bride,  
I will gird my sword  
and buckler by my side,  
And then to the Church  
in private we'll ride,  
Where we will be married fair Lady.  

She than gave consent,  
and away they did ride,  
The valiant bold Keeper,  
and his lovely bride,  
Not fearing of danger  
what ever betid,  
For she was a vallien young Lady.   

Being married, he returned  
back speedily,  
And riding along  
her father did espy:  
Alack, quoth the Lady,  
one or both shall die.  
Fear nothing, quoth the Keeper, fair Lady.   

The Lord he came posting  
so fast as he could high;  
And six lusty gentlemen  
for company:  
Quoth he to the Keeper,  
Villain thou shalt die,  
For deluding away my fair daughter.   

Come on quoth the Keeper,  
●is no time to prattle,  
I see by your swords  
you're prepared for battle:  
With his sword and buckler  
he made them to rattle:  
The Lady did hold the horse for the Keeper.   

He cut them and hewed them  
on the place he did stand:  
O then, quoth the Lord,  
bold Keeper hold thy hand.  
If you'll give your daughter  
thirty thousand in land  
You shall not die by the hand of the Keeper.   

Keeper, quoth the Lady,  
'tis too small a portion.  
Peace, quoth the Lord, daughter  
let your will be done;  
I will love thy husband,  
and thee ever own.  
Thus a Keeper gained a fair Lady.   

Licenced and Entered.    

LONDON: Printed for A. M. W O. and Tho. Thackeray at the Angevin Duck-lane.