Who at her death for thee did pray,
And wisht thee many happy days,
I would my love but would love me,
E'en half so well as she lov'd thee.

Fair maidens will example take,

Young men will curse thee for her sake, They'll stop their ears unto our plaints, And call us devils seeming saints, They'll say to-day that we are kind, To-morrow in another mind.

XV.

"THE TRUE MAYDE OF THE SOUTH,

OR,

A rare example of a maide dwelling at Rie in Sussex, who for the love of a young man of Lester-shire, went beyond sea in the habit of a page, and after, to their hearts content were both marryed at Magrum in Germany, and now dwelling at Rye aforesaid.”

To the tune of "Come, come my sweet and bonny one.”

From a black letter copy printed for F. Coules.

WITHI

ITHIN the haven town of Rye,

That stands in Sussex fair,

There dwelt a maid whose constancy

Transcendeth all compare:

This turtle dove

Did dearly love

A youth, who did appear

In mind and face,

To be the grace

And pride of Leycestershire.

This young man with a noble peer,
Who lik't his service well,

Went from his native Leicestershire,
In Sussex for to dwell:

Where living nigh

The town of Rye,

This pretty maid did hear
Of his good parents,
Who by deserts,

Were pride of Leycestershire.

For coming once into that town,
It was at first his chance,

To meet with her whose brave renown
All Sussex did advance:

And she likewise

In his fair eyes,

When once she came him near,

Did plainly see

That none but he

Was pride of Leycestershire.

Then little Cupid, God of Love,

Began to play his part,

And on the sudden from above,

He shot his golden dart,

Which did constrain

These lovers twain

To prize each other dear,
Sweet Margery

Lov'd Anthony,

The pride of Leycestershire.

Thus with concordant sympathy
These lovers were combin'd,

One lov'd the other heartily,
Yet neither told their mind:

She long'd to speak

Her mind to break,

Unto her lover dear,

She durst not tell,

Though she lov'd well,

The pride of Leycestershire.

Within short time it came to pass To sea the young man went, And left this young and pretty lass In woe and discontent:

SECOND PART.

It was his hap that time to go

To travel with his lord,

Which to his heart did breed much woe,

Yet could he not afford

A remedy

To 's misery,

But needs he must leave here

His Madge behind,

Who griev'd in mind

For the pride of Leycestershire.

She being then bereaved clean
Of hope, yet did invent
By her rare policy a mean
To work her heart's content:

In garments strange

She straight did change
Herself, rejecting fear,
To go with him

Whom she did deem

The pride of Leycestershire.

And in the habit of a page

She did entreat his lord, That being a boy of tender age He would this grace afford,