Prides fall: Or, A warning for all English Women.
By the Example of a strange Monster born of late in Germany, by a Mercha [...]t [...] to proud Wife in Geneva.
The Tune is, All you that love good Fellows.
TB
ENglands fair dainty Dames,
sée here the fall of Pride,
Wantonness leave in time,
that God may be your guide;
I was a Dutch-land Vrow,
shining in beauty bright,
And a brave Merchants wife,
in whom he took delight.
All things I had at will,
my heart could with or crave
My dyet dainty fare,
my garments rich and brave:
No wife in Germany,
where I in pleasure dwel'd,
For Golden bravery,
my person so excel'd.
My Coaches richly wrought,
and deckt with pearl and gold
Carried me up and down,
whereas my pleasure would:
The earth I déem'd too base,
my féet to tread upon,
My blooming crimson chéeks,
felt neither wind nor sun.
My beauty made me think
my self an Angel bright,
Framed of heavenly mold,
and not an earthly Wight:
For my souls happiness,
Gods holy Bible book,
I had my Looking-glass,
where I most pleasure took.
There was no fashion found
that might advance my pride,
But in my Looking-glass
my fancy soon espy'd:
Every vain foolish toy,
changeth my wanton mind,
And they best pleased me,
that could new fashions find.
Yet all those earthly joys,
yielded me small content,
In that Dame nature had
ne'r a child to me sent:
That makes my heart to bléed,
for which offence to God,
He therefore grievously
scourged me with his Rod.
And in my tender womb,
of so pure flesh and blood,
Created he, strange to sée,
a most deformed brood:
That women of wanton pride,
may take example by,
Now they in fashion fond,
offend the Lord on high.
When the babe came to light,
and I brought to my bed,
No cost was spar'd that night,
to stand me in my stéed:
Ny Nurses young and fair,
fit for a Royal Quéen,
Gave all attendance there,
as it was daily seen.
Never had Merchants wife,
of Ladies such a train,
That came in gentle sort,
at the hour of my pain:
But when my swelling womb,
yeilded up natures due,
Such a strange monster then
never man hardly knew.
The second part,
to the same Tune.
FOr it affrighted so
all the whole company,
That e'r one said in heart,
vengeance now draweth nigh
It had two faces strang,
and two heads painted fair,
On the brows curled locks,
such as our wantons ware.
One hand held right the shape
of a fair looking-glass,
In which I took delight,
how my vain beauty was;
Right the shape of a Rod,
scourging me for my Sin,
The other séem'd to have,
perfectly seen therein.
These womens wantonness,
and their vain foolish minds,
Never contentented are
with that thing God assigns;
Look to it London Dantes,
God kéepeth Plagues in store,
And now the second part
of this Song sheweth more,
Grief and care kills my heart,
where God offended is,
As the poor Merchants wife,
did worldly comfort miss:
Strange were the miseries,
that she so long endur'd,
No ease by womens help,
could be as then procur'd.
Hereupon speaks the child,
with a voice fearfully,
Mother your wanton pride,
bring this your misery;
Let your life soon amend,
or else the mighty God,
Will scourge your wantonness
with a more sharper Rod,
About his neck a flaunting Ruff
it had now gallantly,
Starched with white and blew,
seeming unto the eyr.
With laces long and broad,
as now are womens bands,
Thus heavy wanton Pride,
first in Gods anger stands.
The brest was plated ore,
as still the Merchants be,
Now as lew'd women wear,
to hide Adultery:
Every part, every limb,
had not true natures frame,
But to shew to the world,
this my great sin and shame.
From the head to the foot,
monster like was it born,
Every part had the shape
of fashions daily worn:
On the feet pinked shooes,
insteps had Roses red,
Which in silk now is us'd,
so vainly are we fed.
Thus hath my flesh and blood,
nourisht now near my heart,
Puts me now in mind of Sin,
and bids me now convert;
O let us women then
take heed of wanton pride,
Angels have faln from Heaven
and for that sin have dy'd.
No sooner brought to light.
was this fruit of my youth,
But to the Councel-house
it was brought for a truth;
Where to the Magistrates
in a most fearful sort,
Began aloud to speak,
and these words did report.
I am a messenger,
now sent from God on high,
To bid you all repent,
Christ comming draweth nigh,
Repent you all with speed,
this is a message sure,
The world seems at an end,
and cannot long endure.
Pride is the Prince of sin,
Which is our chief delight,
Mankind repent with speed,
before the Lord do smite,
This is my last adieu,
repentance soon provide,
These were his latest words,
and so the monster dy'd.
Great was the fear of those,
that these same spéeches heard
God grant all Christians may
have their minds well prepar'd
With true repentance,
Gods mercy to implore,
That never woman-kind,
may bring such fruit forth more
And you fair English dames,
that in pride do excell,
This woful misery,
in your hearts print full well:
Let not Pride be your guide,
for Pride will have a fall,
Maid and Wife, let my life,
be warning to you all.
Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright.