A Fairing for Maids.  

Being the honest Maids council to all other,  
Better then she had given her by her Mother,  
She wishes Maides in time for to be wary  
And with what Young-men they intend to mary,  
A single life is gallant she doth say  
For being bound perforce they must obey.   
To the Tune of, He that has most money, &c.  
 woodcut of a man  woodcut of a woman  

ALl you brave Damsels come lend your attention,  
I a brave Fairing unto you will sand  
The council is honest of which I make mention  
the Verses are witty which here I have penned  
Some young-men are honest, and some are deceitful  
and some with fair speeches will led you away.  
Then choose not a young-man the which is ungrateful  
for when you are bound, then you needs must obey.   

First I advice you all that hear this Ditty  
with due admonishion in time to be ruled  
For young men are cunning in Country and City  
then see that by policy you be not fooled  
Some will speak you most fair, thinking to ensnare you  
and many cunning baits for you will lay.  
But I wish all Maidens in time to be wary  
for when you are bound, then you needs must obey   

You that are single and in hast would mary  
thinking you have stayed your time over-long  
Let me advice you forthwith to be wary,  
for hasty marriages oft produceth wrong,  
When you are wedded then comes care and trouble  
then farewell single life and Maidens joy  
If Husbands be dogged then woes do redouble  
for when you are bound, then you needs must obey   

What if they promise and vow they do love you,  
yet ne'er the sooner do you them believe  
For it is but policy some ways to prove you  
or by some flattering ways you to deceive  
Some are so skilful and crafty in wooing,  
that they will follow you both night and day,  
But when they have gained you it proves your undoing  
for when you are bound, you needs must obey.   

Some young-men are civil and wooe so demure  
butter would not melt in their mouths you would think  
But when they have won you they are crabed& sour  
and from their old promises strait they will shrink  
He that looks most civill as often is spoken  
when he weds a Maiden her bones he will pay,  
Then let this to maidens be still a true token  
for when you are bound, then you needs must obey   

The second part to the same tune.  
 woodcut of a man  woodcut of a woman  

Ther's many will promise you shal live most gallant  
until they have brought you unto their own bow  
But when they have gained you they will spend your talent  
this by experinece some maidens do know  
Some do not wooe for love nor for beauty,  
but seek after riches as much as they may  
Then maidens near yield unto such men in duty  
for when you are bound, then you needs must obey.   

Whilst you are single there's none to kerb you,  
go to bed quietly and take your ease  
Early or late there's none to disturb you  
w●lk abroad where you and when you please  
A single life is free from all danger,  
then maids embrace it as long as you may,,  
And never yield to neighbour nor stranger  
for when you are bound, then you needs must obey.   

When you are wedded then farewell all pleasure  
And lest your Husband be loving and kind,  
marry in hast, you will repent at leisure,  
this by experience too many do find  
Children proceeding must have clothes and diet  
and Nurses wages oft times you must pay  
When Maids from such Taxes do stil live at quiet  
for when you are bound, then you needs must obey   

Yet I will not any Maiden disparaged  
if she a constant Youth chance for to find  
Then let her join with him in lawful marriage  
if he unto her be loving and kind,  
Where love remaineth it is a great blessing  
but if men be froward and sullen I say  
There the womans woe is always increasing  
for when they are bound, then they needs must obey   

Now in love I wish all Maids to consider,  
These witty Verses which here I have penned.  
Though the gift be small yet except of the giver  
this Fairing through all parts to maidens I sand,  
And so for to end with my old Resolution  
the which is both honest and true I dare safe  
All Maidens be ruled by this Song in conclusion  
for when you are bound, then you needs must obey    
FINIS.  
J. P.   

London Printed for Fra. Grove on Snow-hill.