A pleasant new Song, if youle heare it, you may,
Of a North-country-Lasse that had lost her way.
To a new Court tune.
WIthin the North countrey,
as true report doth yeeld▪
There stands an ancient country towne,
is called mery Wakefield.
Within this Country towne,
a liuely lasse doth dwell,
She goes vnto the market place
her huswifery to sell.
And walking all alone
vpon a certaine day,
For to be short, it so fell out
this faire maid lost her way.
So wandring all alone
vpon the hill so high,
At last it was her luckly chance
a Shepheard for to spye.
Was sitting all alone▪
vpon the mountaine top,
Singing brauely vnder a bush,
and viewing of his flocke.
To him this fayre maid hyed,
and ouer the hils crost:
That he might put her in the way,
which she so long had lost.
So walking thus apace,
at length she came him nie,
Whereas he sate vnder a bush,
and did him curtesie.
God spéed Shepheard she said,
mery day to thée God send,
I am vndon [...] our Shepheard she said,
if you stand not my fri [...]nd.
I going am quoth she,
vnto yon market towne,
But by mischance haue lost my way
vpon this hilly downe.
I wandring here haue bee [...]e,
ere since twas breake of day:
Yet could I neuer finde which was
to mée the nearest way,
The Shepheard then replyde▪
faire maid sit downe a while,
And Ile shew you the nearest way,
at least by halfe a mile.
O no Shepheard she said,
if I should stay here long.
I should not reach they market towne,
till all the market's done.
Feare not the Shepheard said,
but sit thou on this grasse.
For thou shalt heare my Bag-pipes goe
before thou further passe.
So downe the Maiden sate,
the Shepheard sate here by,
And then he pluckt his bag-pipes forth
and plaid melodiously.
The second part.
To the same tune.
HE plased her such a fit.
it made her brauely sing:
The musicke of his Bag-pipes sound
made all the vallyes ring.
When that his winde was spent,
and he grew somewhat weary:
He told her which way she should goe,
and passe ouer no ferry.
Shepheard▪ Shepheard, she said,
if reason may permit,
Come play that lesson once [...]gaine,
I may it not forget.
Then at the Maids request,
although it grieu'd him sore,
He plaid it ouer twice as long
as he had done before.
Then did she take her leaue,
yet loath she was to part,
Although I goe, Shepherd she said,
Ile leaue with thée my heart.
Faire well Shepheard she said,
adew, nay twice adew▪
If ere I chance to lose my way,
Ile come againe to you.
The Shepheard then replyde,
O no, O no not so
You shall taste some of my browne béere,
ere that you further goe.
And some of my white loafe,
and some of my gréene chéese,
If I should stay▪ the maid replide,
the market I should léese.
And then my Dame quoth shée,
will storme, and swear and frowne,
If I sell not my huswifery
before that I come home.
What is your huswifery,
faire maiden shew to me:
Two payre of stockings she replyde:
Come buy them now of me.
What is the price quoth he,
of this you huswifery?
Halfe a crowne the maiden said.
Hold take here is thy money.
The lasse she was so glad,
her huswifery was sold,
To stay longer Shepheard she said,
I dare be somewhat bold.
So downe she sate againe,
vntill the day was spent:
And he had folded vp his Shéepe,
then both together went.
Each to his seuerall home.
where what became of them,
I doe not know, and therefore now
here will I stay my pen.
FINIS.
Printed at London for. H. Gosson.