The Maidens sad Complaint for want of a Husband  

Wherein she briefly doth declare,  
The want of a Mate makes her despair:  
She hath her portion all in Household goods  
Yet none of those that wear scarves and Hoods.  
For she commends herself to any man,  
That will but please her all the best he can.   
To the new Westcountry Tune: Or Hogh when shall I be married?  by L. W. 
 
 

O When shall I be married,  
hongh be married?  
My beauty gins to decay:  
'Tis time to find out somebody,  
hogh some body,  
Before it is quite gone away.   

My Father hath forty good shillings,  
hogh good shillings.  
And never a daughter but I:  
My mother is also willing,  
hogh so willing  
That I shall have all if she die,   

I have gotten some money about me  
hogh about me  
For to help me in time of need:  
Five shillings pray do not flout, me  
hogh not flout me  
For I will be married with speed.   

My Father did give me a dish,  
hogh and a spoon.  
And a Table made of an old board:  
Some young men will for me with stored,  
hogh will wish  
When they hear how bravely I'm   
 
 

My Mother she gave me a Ladle  
hogh a Ladle  
And that for the present lies by,  
My aunt she hath promis● a cradle  
hogh a cradle  
When any man with me does lie.   

A pipain my Uncle he gave me  
hogh he gave me  
And milk porridge in it to make:  
And I'll let them burn too so bravely,  
hogh so bravely  
To show that a flut I do hate.   

I have got two sp●…ns & a trencher,  
hogh a trencher  
With por●●●… 〈◊〉 made of clay:  
Some squires 〈…〉 is a wencher,  
hough a wencher  
I wish he would fetch me away.   

I have got a soft bed to lie on  
hough to lie on  
With fearchers an all long I say  
But the most of all my sorrow  
hough my sorrow  
Is for want of Bachelor's play.   

Fine piggins & noggins my cousin  
hogh my cousin  
Has gave me that are so good:  
With taps and ●●●●ets a dozen  
hogh a dozen  
And a chamber pot made of wood.   

Thus young men I have declared  
hogh declared  
My household stuff which do lie by:  
These seven years I have despaired  
hogh despaired  
For fear I a maiden should die.   

If any young man will have me  
hough will have me  
And no other maiden estéem  
I will maintain him bravely  
hogh so bravely  
And feast him with curds & cream.   

For I'm a girl that's willing  
hogh is willing  
To 〈◊〉 my maiden name:  
So with me he will be billing  
hogh he billing  
I don't care from whence he came.   

Then Thomas, Robin or Willy,  
hogh or Willy  
Come any that is a man:  
Let be Ralph, or Jarvis silly  
hogh wise or silly  
Come love me as well as you can.   

If any one will me marry,  
hogh me marry  
I'll love him wondrous well:  
For if longer I should tarry,  
hogh should tarry  
I fear I should lead Apes in tell    

Printed for F. Cole, T. Vere, J. Wright and J. Clark.