A tryal of skill, performed by a poor decayed gentlewoman, who cheated a rich grasier of sevenscore pound, and left him a child to keep. If you will know, then listen a while, and you shall know that which will make you smile. The tune is, Ragged and torn.

A Tryal of skill, performed by a poor decayed Gentlewoman, Who cheated a rich Graſier of Sevenſcore pound, and left him a Child to keep. If you will know, then liſten a while, | And you shall know that which will make you ſmile.

The Tune is, Ragged-and Torn.

Kind Country-men lift to my Ditty, I pray you what ever you be, I know that my caſe you will pitty, I pray then take warning by me: Sevenſcore pounds I did loſe, beſides a fine Babe at Nurſe: My Sweet-heart ſhe did me abuſe, and left me no Coin in my Purſe: Take heed of bad women therefore, by women are men overthrown, And rich men are often made Poor, when as they keep more then their own. I brought ſome Cattel to Town, and ſold them for Sevenſcore pound; But money-leſs then I went home, with ſorrow encompaſſed round: A dainty fine Cloak-bag I had, within it my treaſure I laid, My fortune now maketh me ſad, to think how that I was betray'd Take heed &c. As through Cheapſide I did paſs, miſtruſting no manner of harm, I met with a proud decay'd Laſs, with a pretty fine Child in her arm: She ſeemed in habit, to be a Gentlewoman that was made poor, She asked releif then of me, then I thought to have made her my whore Quoth ſhe, pray yield ſome releif, theſe words then unto me ſhe ſaid, Unto a poor wretch full of grief, a poor Gentlewoman decay'd: Fair Miſtris quoth I, I do grieve, to ſee you ſo diſtreſſed be, But I all your wants will relieve. if you will be ruled by me; Take heed, &c. Go with me unto my Inn, and there you ſhall lye at your eaſe, You never was brought up to Spin, but Gentlemens humours to pleaſe: I'le tell them that you are my wife, and this is my Child that you have, 'Twas I that did bleed all the ſtrife, and with my ſelf plaid the Knave. Take heed, &c. She ſeemed to be over-joyd, and caſt a Sheeps eye upon me, She could not be better imploy'd, and ſo we did quickly agree: When unto the Inn I did come, her fingers did itch at my Pelf, I call'd for a large fair Room, for my Wife my Child and my ſelf: Take heed of bad women therefore, by women are men overthrown, And rich men are often made poor, when as they keep more then their own. A Dainty fine Supper we had, and brought up unto us with ſpeed But all the charge lay upon me, I paid for it ſoundly indeed: Now when ſhe had ſup'd I kiſt her, and ſhe was as willing as I, But would to God that I had miſt her, and her decay'd Gentility: Take heed of bad women therefore, by women are men overthrown, And rich men are often made Poor, when as they keep more then their own. Down ſtairs then ſoftly ſhe went, and call'for my Cloack-bag with ſpeed This Harlot was ſurely bent, for to undoe me with ſpeed, My night-cloaths are in it quoth ſhe, ſuch miſchief in Harlots are rife, He gave her my Cloak-bag moſt free, as thinking ſhe had been my wife: Take heed, &c. She cunningly ſlunk out of doors, when no body did her mind, I may bid a pot of all Whores, for leaving her Baſtard behind: Now farewell my ſevenſcore pound, Lul-a-by muſt be my Song, I'me left like a Horſe in the pound, 'tis I that muſt ſuffer the wrong: Take heed, &c. I call'd her to come unto bed, not thinking I had been undone, I lookt like a man had been dead, when as I perceiv'd ſhe was gone: I fretted, I fum'd, and ſwore, the Child had got a new Dad' And when I began for to rore, the people did think I was mad: Take heed, &c. The Chamberlain run up amain, ſir, what is the matter, quoth he, O call back that woman again, for ſhe hath quite ruined me: She leaveth her Baſtard behind her, on purpoſe to ſhorten my life, O prithee ſee if thou canſt find her, for why: ſhe is none of my wife: Take heed, &c. But where is my Cloak-bag I pray, for their in lies all my gains: I gave it your wife by my fay, then would you were hang'd for your pains You called your wife and your honey, why ſhould not your wife then be bold, To have the command of your money, your Cloak-bag, your Silver and Gold: Take heed, &c. The Child lay crying apace, and I lay ſwearing as faſt, To underſtand rightly my caſe, the Inn keeper came at the laſt: When he underſtood the matter, he ſaid he was glad 'twas no worſe, He told me that he would not flatter, for I muſt provide me a nurſe: Take heed, &c. I'm ſorry you met with this Varlet, the cauſe of your ſorrow and grief, But you would have made her your Harlot, if ſhe had not proved a Chief: You wanted a bit for your Cat, to purge out your mad mallencholly, I pray you think wiſely of that, for you have paid well for your folly: Take heed, &c. This was all the comfort he gave, I was never ſo beguil'd, The folks in the houſe did out-brave me, and bid me provide for my Child: I carried my Child unto Nurſe, to end all the trouble and ſtrife, With never a groat in my Purſe, I went unto my Wife: Take heed, &c. No wonder that meat is ſo dear, the Graſier ſo pincheth the Poor, But now it doth it doth plainly appear, the Graſier maintaineth a Whore: Since Wenches ſo chargable are, the Graſier had need to be witty, If ever it ſhould be his care, to fetch his loſs out of the City. Take heed of bad women therefore, &c. FINIS.