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 daughter.
ALthough I am a Countrey Lasse,
a loftie minde I beare a,
I thinke my selfe as good as those
that gay apparrell weare a:
My coate is made of comely Gray,
yet is my skin as soft a,
As those that with the chiefest Wines,
do bathe their bodies oft a.
Downe, downe dery, dery downe,
heigh downe a downe a downe a,
a dery dery dery dery downe,
heigh downe a downe a dery.
What though I keepe my Fathers shéep,
a thing that must be done a,
A garland of the fairest flowers
shall shrewd me from the Sunne a:
And when I see them feeding be,
where grasse and flowers spring a
Close by a Crystall fountaine side
I sit me downe, and sing a,
Downe &c.
Dame nature crownes us with delight,
surpassing Court or Citie,
We pleasures take from morne to night
in Sports and pastimes pretty:
Your City Dames in Coaches ride
abroad for recreation,
We Countrey Lasses hate their pride,
and keepe the Countrey fashion.
Downe &c.
Your City Wiues lead wanton liues,
and if they come i'th Countrey,
They are so proud, that each one striues
for to outbraue our Gentry
We countrey lasses homely be
for seat nor wall we striue not,
We are content with our degree,
our debtors we depriue not,
Downe &c.
I care not for the fane or Maske,
when Titans heat reflecteth,
A homely Hat is all I aske,
which well my face protecteth:
Yet am I in my Countrey guise,
estéem'd Lasse as pretty
As those that euery day deuise
new shapes in Court or City.
Downe &c.
In euery season of the yeare
I vnder-goe my labour
No Showre nor Winde at all I feare,
my Limbes I do not fauour:
If Summers heat my beauty staine,
it makes me nere the sicker,
Sith I can wash it off againe
with a Cup of Christmas Liquor.
Downe, downe dery, dery downe,
heigh downe a downe a downe a,
a dery dery dery dery downe,
heigh downe a downe a dery.
The second part.
To the same tune,
AT Christmas time in mirth and glee,
I dance with young men neatly,
And who i'the City like to me,
shall surely taste compleately:
No Sport, but Pride and Luxury
i'th city can be found then,
But bounteous Hospitality
i'th Countrey doth abound then,
Downe &c.
I'the Spring my labour yeelds delight,
to walke i'the merry Morning,
When Flora is (to please my sight)
the ground with flowres adorning:
With merry Lads to make the Hay
I goe, and doe not grumble,
My worke doth seeme to be but play,
when with young men I tumble.
Downe &c.
The Larke & Thrush from Bryar to Bush
do leape, and skip, and sing a,
And all this then to welcome in
the long-and lookt for Spring a▪
We feare not Cupids arrowes keene,
Dame Venus we defie a,
Diana is our honored Queene,
and her we magnifie a.
Downe &c.
That which your City-Damsels scorne,
we hold our chiefest Iewell,
Without, to worke at Hay and Corne,
within to Bake and Brew well,
To keepe the Dayrie decently,
and all things cleane and neatly,
Your Citie-Minions do defie,
their scorne we weigh not greatly.
Downe &c.
When we together a milking go,
with pailes upon our heads a,
And walking ouer Woods and Fields,
where Grasse and Flowers spreds a,
In honest pleasure we delight,
which makes our labour sweet a,
And Mirth exceeds on euery side,
when Lads and Lasses meete a.
Downe &c.
Then do not scorne a Countrey Lasse,
though she be plaine and meanely:
Who takes the Countrey Wench to Wife,
(that goeth neat and cleanely)
Is better sped, then if he wed
a fine one from the Citty,
For then they are so nicely bred,
they must not worke for pitie.
Downe &c.
I speake not this to that intent,
(as some may well coniecture)
As though to Wooing I were bent,
nor I nere learn'd Louers Lectuue:
But what I sing is in defence
of all plaine Countrey Lasses,
Whose modest honest innocence
all City Girles surpasses.
Downe, downe dery, dery downe, &c.
FINIS.
Printed by the Assignes of Thomas Symcocke.