The Barkshire Lady's Garland: In Four Parts.
Cupid's Conquest over a Coy Lady of five thousand a Year, who having slighted many noble Offers, was compell'd by Cupid, to wed a poor Country Attorney.
The Lady's Letter of Challenge to fight her upon refusing to wed her in a Mask, without knowing who she was.
How they met by appointment in a Grove, where she oblig'd him to fight or wed her; he consented to the latter, took her for better or worse.
How they rid together in her Gilded Coach, to her noble Seat or Castle, where she plac'd him in a Room, an left him some Hours alone. And with other things worthy of Note.
Printed for J: Walter; at the hand and Pen in high-holbourn.
The Barkshire Lady's Garland,
The First Part.
Tune of, Slaves to London.
BAtchelers of e'ry Situtation,
Mark this strange and true Relation,
Which in brief to you I bring,
Never was a stranger thing:
You shall find it worth your hearing
Loyal Lvoe is most indearing,
when it takes the deepest Root,
Yielding Gold and Charms to Boot.
Some will wed for store of Treasure,
But the sweetest Joy and Pleasure,
Is in faithful Love you'll find,
Graced with a noble Mind.
Such a noble Disposition,
Had this Lady, with Submission;
Of whom I this Sonnet write,
Store of Wealth, and Beauty bright:
She had lest by a good Grannum,
Full five thousand Pound per Annum,
Which she hell'd without controle;
Thus did she in Riches roll,
Tho' she had vast store of Riches
Which some Persons much bewitches,
Yet she bore a courteous mind,
Not the least to pride inclin'd.
Many noble Persons courted,
This Young Lady 'tis reported:
But their Labour prov'd in vain,
They could not her Favour gain:
Yet by Cupid's true assistance,
She was conquer'd after all;
How it was, declare I shall:
Being at a noble Wedding,
Near the famous Town of Reading,
A young genteel Man she saw,
VVho belonged to the Law,
As she view'd his sweet Behaviour,
T'ry courteous Carriage gave her
New Addition to her Grief;
Force she was to seek Relief.
Privately she then enquir'd,
About him, so much admir'd,
Both his Name, and where he dwelt,
Such was the hot Flames she felt.
Thenat Night this youthful Lady,
Call'd her Coach, which being ready;
Homeward straight she did return,
But her Heart in Flames did burn.
Part Second.
NIght and Morning for a Season,
In her Closet vvou'd she Reason
VVith herself, and often said,
Why has my Love my Heart betray'd?
I that have so many slighted,
Am at length as well requited,
For my Griess are not a few;
Now I find what Love can do.
He that has my Heart in keeping,
Tho' I for his sqake lye weeping,
Little knows what Grief I feel;
But i'll try it out with Steel.
For I will a Challenge send him,
And appoint, where i'll attend him
In a Grove without delay,
By the Dawning of the Day.
He shall not the least discover,
That I am a Virgin Lover,
By the Challenge which I send,
But for Justice I contend.
He has caused sad Distraction.
And I come for Satisfaction,
Which if he denys to give,
One of us shall sease Relief.
Having thus her Mind revealed,
she Letter clos'd and sealed;
Nwo when it came to his Hand,
The young Man was at a stand.
In her Letter she conjur'd him,
For to meet, and well assur'd him,
Recompence he must afford,
Or dispute it with a Sword.
Having read this strange Relation,
He was in a Consternation;
Then advising with his Friend,
He persuades him to attend.
Be of Courage, and make ready,
Faint Heart never won fair Lady;
In regard it must be so,
I along with you will go.
Part Third.
EArly on a Summer's Morning,
While bright Phaebus was adorning
E'ry Bower, with his Beams,
A fair Lady came it seems,
At the bottom of a Mountain,
Near a pleasant christial Fountain,
There she left her gilded Coach,
While the Grover she did approach.
Cover'd with her Mask, and walking,
There she met her Lover talking
With a Friend, that he had brought,
Straight she ask'd him who he sought.
I am Challeng'd by a Gallant,
You resolve to try my Tallant;
What he is, I cannot say,
But I hope to show him play.
Lady.] It is I, that did invite you!
You shall Wed me, or i'll fight you
Ʋnderneath those spreading Trees,
Therefore chuse you, which you please
You shall find I do not Vaper,
I have brought my trusty Rapier;
Therefore take your choice, says she,
Either fight, or Marry me.
Said he, Madam, pray what mean ye,
In my Life I ne'r have seen ye:
Pray unmask, your Visage show,
Then i'll tell you, aye or no?
L.] I will not my Face uncover,
Till the Marriage rights are over;
Therefore chuse now which you will,
Wed me, Sir, or try your skill.
Step within that pleasant Bower,
With your Friend one single Hour,
Strive your Thoughts to reconcile,
And i'll wander here the while.
While the charming Lady waighted,
The young Batchelor debated,
Quoth his Friend The hazard run.
If my Judgment may be trusted,
Wea her, Sir, you can't be worsted:
If she's rich you'll rise to Fame;
If she's poor, why, you're the same.
He consented to be married,
In the Coach they all was carry'd,
To a Church without delay
Where he Weds the Lady gay,
Those sweet pretty Cupids hover'd
Round her Eyes; her face was cover'd
With a Mask, he took her thus,
Just for better, or for worse.
With a courteous kind Behaviour,
She presents his Friends a Favour;
And withal dismiss'd him straight,
That he might no longer wait.
Part Fourth.
AS the gilded Cocach stood ready,
The young Lawyer and his Lady,
Rid together till they came
To her House of state and same.
Which appeared like a Castle,
Where he might behold a parcel
Of young Ceaders tall and straight,
Just before her Palace-gate.
Hand in Hand they walk'd together,
To a Hall, or Parlour rather,
Which was Beautiful and fair,
All alone she left him there.
Two long Hours there he waited,
Her return, at length he fretted;
And began to grieve at last,
For he had not broke his fast,
Still he sat like one amazed,
Round a spacious Room he gazed,
Which was richly beautify'd,
But, alas, he'd lost his Bride.
There was peeping laughing, fleering,
All within the Lawyers hearing;
But his Bride he could not see,
Wou'd I was at home thought he.
While his Heart was melancholy,
Said, the Steward, brisk and jolly,
Tell me Friend, how came you here,
You have some design I fear?
He reply'd, Dear loving Master,
You shall meet with no Disaster,
Thro' my means in any case,
Madam, brought me to this place,
Then the Steward did retire,
Saying, That he would enquire
Wherthe it was true or no;
Ne'r was Lover hamper'd so
Now the Lady who had fill'd him
With those Fears, full well beheld him
From a Window, where she drest,
Pleased at the pleasant jest,
When she had herself attir'd,
In rich Robes to be admir'd;
Like a moving Anlge bright,
She appeared in his sight.
L.] Sir, my Servants have related
How you have some hours waited
In my Parlour, tell me who,
In my House you ever knew.
Madam, if I have offended,
It was more than I Intended;
A young Lady brought me here:
That is true, said she, my Dear,
I can be no longer cruel,
To my Joy and only Jewel;
Thou art mine, and I am thine,
Hand and Heart I do resigne.
Once I was thy wounded Lover,
Now those Fears are clearly over,
By receiving what I gave,
Thou art Lord of all have.
Beauty, honour, love and treasure,
A rich Golden stream of Pleasure,
VVith his Lady he enjoys,
Thanks to Cupid's kind decoys.
Now he's cloth'd in rich Attire,
Not Inferiour to a 'Squire;
Beauty, honour, riches store,
VVhat can Man desire more,
Enter acording to Order.