A fayre portion for a fayre mayd: or, The thriftie mayd of Worstersheere who liues at London for a marke a yeare; this marke was her old mothers gift, shee teacheth all mayds how to shift. To the tune of, Gramercy penny.

A fayre portion for a fayre mayd: or, The thriftie mayd of Worstersheere who liues at London for a marke a yeare; this marke was her old mothers gift, shee teacheth all mayds how to shift. To the tune of, Gramercy penny.

Table of contents

A Fayre Portion for a Fayre Mayd: OR,

1

The second Part

§

[Page]

A Fayre Portion for a Fayre Mayd: OR,

The thriftie Mayd of Worstersheere,

Who liues at London for a Marke a yeare;

This Marke was her old Mothers gift,

Shee teacheth all Mayds how to shift.

To the tune of, Gramercy penny,

1

[figure]

[figure]

NOw all my Friends are dead and gone,

alas what shall betide me,

For I poore maid am left alone

without a house to hide me:

Yet still Ile be of merry chéere,

and haue kind welcome euery where

Though I haue but a Marke a yeare,

And that my mother gaue me.

I scorne to thinke of pouerty,

or wanting food or cloathing,

Ile be maintayned gallantly,

and all my life-want nothing;

A frolicke minde Ile alwayes beare,

my pouerty shall not appeare,

Though I haue but a marke a yeare,

And that my mother gaue me.

Though I am but a silly Wench

of countrey education,

Yet I am woo'd by Dutch and French,

and almost euery nation:

Both Spaniards and Italians sweare

that with their hearts they loue me deare,

Yet I haue but a Marke a yeare,

And that my mother gaue me.

The Welch the Irish and the Scot,

since I came to the Citie,

In loue to me are wondrous hot,

they tell me I am pretty:

Therefore to liue I will not feare,

for I am sought with many a teare,

Yet I haue but a Marke a yeare,

And that my mother gaue me.

This London is a gallant place

to raise a Lasses fortune;

For I that came of simple race,

braue Roarers doe importune:

I little thought in Wostersheere

to find such high preferment here,

For I haue but a Marke a yeare,

and that my mother gaue me.

One giues to me perfumed Gloues,

the best that he can buy me,

Liue where I will I haue the loues

of all that doe liue nigh me:

If any new toyes I will weare,

I haue them cost they ne'rs so deare,

And this is for a marke a yeare,

And that my mother gaue me.

My fashions with the Moone I change,

as though I were a Lady▪

All quaint conceits, both new and strange,

Ile haue as soone as may be;

Your courtly Ladies I can féere,

In cloaths but few to me come neare,

Yet I haue but a Marke a yeare,

And that my mother gaue me.

[Page]

The second Part

To the same Tune.

[figure]

[figure]

FRench gownes with sléeues like pudding-bags

I haue at my requesting:

Now I forget my countrey rags,

and scorne such plaine inuesting:

My old acquaintance I cashéere,

and of my kin I hate to heare,

Though I haue but a marke a yeare,

And that my mother gaue me.

My Petty-coats of Scarlet braue,

of Veluet, silke and Sattine:

Some students oft my loue doe craue,

that speake both Gréeke and Latine,

The Souldiers for me dominéere,

and put the rest into great feare,

All this is for a marke a yeare,

And that my mother gaue me.

The Precisian sincerely woes,

and doth protest he loues me,

Ho tires me out with Ies and noes,

and to impatience moues me:

Although an oath he will not sweare,

to lye at no time he doth feare,

All this is for a Marke a yeare,

And that my mother gaue me

My Coach drawne with foure Flanders mares

each day attends my pleasure,

The Water-men will leaue their fares

to waite vpon my leasure:

Two Lackies labour euery where,

and at my word run farre and néere,

Though I haue but a marke a yeare,

And that my mother gaue me.

I'th pleasant'st place the Suburbs yéelds,

my lodging is prepared:

I can walke forth into the fields,

where beauties oft are aired;

When Gentlemen doe spy me there,

some complements I'me sure to heare,

Though I haue but a marke a yeare,

And that my mother gaue me.

Now if my friends were liuing still,

I would them all abandon,

Though I confesse they lou'd me well,

yet I so like of London,

That farewell Dad and Mammy deare,

and all my friends in Worstershire:

I liue well with a Marke a yeare,

Which my old mother gaue me.

I would my sister Sue at home,

knew how I liue in fashion,

That she might vp to London come

to learne this occupation:

For I liue like a Lady here,

I weare good cloaths and eate good cheare

Yet I haue but a Marke a yeare,

And that my mother gaue me.

Now blessed be that happy day

that I came to the Citie:

And for the Carrier will I pray,

before I end my Ditty.

You Maidens that this Ditty heare,

though meanes be short, yet neuer feare,

For I liue with a Marke a yeare,

Which my old mother gaue me.

M. P.

FINIS.

§

§

London Printed for F. G.

Information about this book

Title statement

A fayre portion for a fayre mayd: or, The thriftie mayd of Worstersheere who liues at London for a marke a yeare; this marke was her old mothers gift, shee teacheth all mayds how to shift. To the tune of, Gramercy penny.

M. P. (Martin Parker), d. 1656?

Edition statement

1633

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A08954

ID [STC]

STC 19233

ID [STC]

ESTC S119368

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99854575

ID [PROQUEST]

99854575

ID [VID]

20002

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A08954)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 20002)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1607:15)

Source

— A fayre portion for a fayre mayd: or, The thriftie mayd of Worstersheere who liues at London for a marke a yeare; this marke was her old mothers gift, shee teacheth all mayds how to shift. To the tune of, Gramercy penny., M. P. (Martin Parker), d. 1656?.

Extent

1 sheet ([1] p.) : ill.

printed for F. G[rove],. London :: [1633]. (Signed: M. P., i.e. Martin Parker.) (In two parts; woodcuts at head of each part.) (Printer's name and publication date from STC.) (Verse - "Now all my friends are dead and gone,".) (Reproductions of the original in the British Library.)

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