A Godly Warning for all Maidens by the example of Gods Judgements shewed upon one Jermans wIfe of Clifton in the County of Nottingham, who lying in Child-bed, was born away and never heard of after.
The tune is, The Ladyes fall.
YOu dainty [...]ames so finely fram'd,
of beautyes chiefest mold,
And you that trip it up and down
like Lambs in Cupids Fold.
Here is a Lesson to be learn'd,
a Lesson in my mind,
For such as will prove false in love
and bear a faithlesse mind.
Not far from Nottingham of late
in Clifton as I hear,
There dwelt a fair and comely Dame
of beauty wi [...]hout péer:
Her chéeks were like the Crimson rose
yet as you may perceive,
The fairest face the falsest heart.
and soonest will deceive.
This gallant Dame she was belov'd
of many in that place
And many sought in marriage be [...]
h [...]r body to imbrace.
At last a proper handsome youth
young Bateman cal'd by name,
In hope to make a married wife
unto this Maiden came.
Such love and liking there was found,
that he from all the rest,
Had stole away this Maidens heart
and she did love him best.
Then plighted promise secretly,
did passe between them two,
That nothing could but death it self
this true Loves knot undo.
He broke a piece of gold in twain,
one half to her he gave,
The other as a pledge quoth he
Dear heart my self will have.
If I do break my vow quoth she
while I remain alive,
May never thing I take in hand
be seen at all to thrive.
This passed on for two moneths space,
and then this Maid began
To settle love and liking too
upon another man.
One Jerman who a widdower was,
her husband needs must be
Because he was of greater wealth,
and better in degrée.
Her vows and promise lately made
to Bateman she deny'd▪
And in despight of him and his
she utterly defi'd.
Well then quoth he if it be so
that you will me forsake,
And like a false and forsworn wretch
another husband take.
Then thou shalt not live one quiet hour
for surely I will have,
Thée either now alive or dead,
when I am laid in grave:
Thy faithlesse mind thou shalt repent
therefore be well assur'd,
When for thy sake thou bearest report,
what torments I indur'd.
BVt mark how Bateman dy'd for love
he finisht up his life,
The very day she married was
and made old Jermans wife,
For with a strangling Cord God wat
great moan was made therefore
He hang'd h [...]mself in desperate sort
before the Brides own door.
Whereat such sorrow pierc'd her heart
and troubled sore her mind
That she could never after that
one day of comfort find.
For wheresoever she did go,
her Fancy did surmise,
Young Batemans pale and gastly Ghost
appeard before her eyes,
When she in bed at night did lye
between her husbands arms,
In hope thereby to sléep and rest,
in safety without harms.
Great cries & grievous groans she heard
a voice that sometimes said,
O thou art she that I must have
and will not be denay'd.
But she then being big with Child
was for the Infants sake,
Preserved from the Spirits power
no vengeance could it take,
The Babe unborn did safely keep
as God appointed so,
His Mothers body from the Fiend
that sought her overthow.
But being of her burthen eas d,
and safely brought to bed,
Her care and grief began anew
and further sorrow bred.
And of her friends she did intreat
desiring them to stay,
Out of bed quoth she this night
I shall be bern away.
Here comes the spirit of my Love
with pale and gastly face,
Who till he bears me hence away
will not depart this place.
Alive or dead I am his right
and he will surely have,
In spight of me and all the world
what I by promise gave.
O watch with me this night I pray
and sée you do not sléep.
No longer then you be awake
my body can you kéep.
All promised to do their best.
yet nothing could suffice
In middle of the night to keop
sad slumber from their eyes.
So being all full fast asléep
to them unknown which way.
The child-bed-woman that wofull night
from thence was born away,
But to what place no creature knew
nor to this day can tell,
As strange a thing as ever yet
in any age befell.
You Maidens that desire to love
and would good husbands chuse
To him that you have vow'd to love
by no means do refuse.
For God that hears all secret Oaths
will dreadful vengeance take.
On such that of a wilful vow
do slender reckoning make.
Printed for F, Coles, Tho. Vere, and W. Gilbertson.