My coach, drawn with four Flanders mares,
Each day attends my pleasure,
The watermen will leave their fares,
To wait upon my leisure,

Two lackies labor every where,

And at my word run far and near, Though I have but a mark a year, And that my mother gave me.

In the pleasantest place the suburbs yield,
My lodging is prepared,

I can walk forth into the fields,
Where beauties oft are aired:
When gentlemen do spy me there,
Some compliments I'm sure to hear,
Though I have but a mark a year,
And that my mother gave me.

And if my friends were living still,
I would them all abandon,
Though I confess they loved me well,
Yet I so like of London:

That farewell Dad and Mammy dear,
And all my friends in Worcestershire,

I live well with a mark a year,
Which my old mother gave me.

I would my sister Sue at home,
Knew how I live in fashion,
That she might up to London come,
To learn this occupation :

For I live like a lady here,

I wear good clothes and eat good cheer, Yet I have but a mark a year,

And that my mother gave me.

Now blessed be that happy day,
That I came to the city,
And for the carrier will I pray,

Before I end my ditty.

You maidens that this, ditty hear,

Though means be short yet never fear,

For I live with a mark year,

Which my old mother gave me.

IX.

"THE COUNTREY LASSE.

To a daintie new note, which if you can hit,
There's another tune will as well fit."

To the tune of, the mother beguild the daughter.

[From a black letter copy printed for the Assigns of Symcocke.]

ALTHOUGH I am a country lass,

A lofty mind I bear—a,
I think myself as good as those

That gay apparell wear-a,
My coat is made of comely gray,
Yet is my skin as soft-a,

As those that with the chiefest wines-a,
Do bathe their bodies oft-a,
Down, down derry, dery down,
Heigh down a down a down a,

A dery, dery, dery, dery down,
High down a down a dery.

What, though I keep my father's sheep,
A thing that must be done—a,

A garland of the fairest flowers

Shall shroud me from the sun-a,

And when I see them feeding be,
Where grass and flowers spring,
Close by a crystal fountain side,
I sit me down and sing-a.

Dame Nature crowns us with delight,
Surpassing court or city,

We pleasures take from morn to night,
In sports and pastimes pretty:
Your city dames in coaches ride
Abroad for recreation,

We country lasses hate their pride,
And keep the country fashion.

Your city wives lead wanton lives,
And if they come in the country,
They are so proud, that each one strives
For to outbrave our gentry.

We country lasses homely be,

For seat nor wall we strive not, We are content with our degree, Our debtors we deprive not.

I care not for the fan or mask,
When Titan's heat reflecteth,

A homely hat is all I ask,

Which well my face protecteth,

Yet I am in my country guise,
Esteemed lass as pretty,

As those that every day devise,
New shapes in court or city.

In every season of the year
I undergo my labour,

No shower, nor wind, at all I fear,
My limbs I do not favour,
If summer's heat, my beauty stain,
It makes me ne'er the sicker,
Sith I can wash it off again

With a cup of Christmas liquor.

SECOND PART.

At Christmas time in mirth and glee
I dance with young men neatly,
And who in the city like to me,
Shall surely taste completely,
No sport, but pride and luxury

In the city can be found then,

But bounteous hospitality

In the country doth abound then.

In the spring my labour yields delight, To walk in the merry morning, When Flora is (to please my sight)

The ground with flowers adorning :