A Warning for Maides- Richard Crimsal (Lon) c.1636
[A broadside "printed at London for John Wright, the younger, dwelling at the upper end of the Old-Bayley," dated circa 1636. Full title: A Warning for Maides, Or, The False Dissembling, Cogging, Cunning, Cozening Young Man, who Long Did Try and Use His Skill, to Woo a Coy Young Maid to His Will and when He Had Obtain'd Her Love, to Her He Very False Did Prove" by Richard Crimsal (Climsall- Roxburghe). "To A DAINTY New TUNE, CALLED No, no, not I."
This is my B version, about the same age as A. It's attributed to Richard Crimsal and was taken from The Roxburghe Ballads, Volume 3, edited by William Chappell, 1880, p. 41. The original spelling is kept.
R. Matteson 2017]
"A Warning for Maides," by Richard Crimsal printed in London about 1636.
All in a May morning, in the merry month of May,
Into the green meddowes I did take my way;
There I heard a young man to his love make reply;
But she answered him scornfully, "No, no, not I."
"Sweet heart," quoth this young man, "my love is intire,
My heart is inflamèd with Cupid's hot fire:
Your love I intreat, why should you deny?"
But she answered him scornfully, "'No, no, not I."
"O sweet, 'tis thy love that I doe so much crave,
And I will maintain you still gallant and brave;
Faire mistresse, for your love I certain shall die."
Quoth she, "Away! foolish man, I care not, I."
"Will you seeke to wrong a man in such a case?
If I die for love, it will be your disgrace;
I hope you will yeeld me some other reply."
But she answered him scornfully, "No, no, not I."
"Sweet, have you no more regard of a young man,
I will strive to doe thee all the good [that] I can ;
Methinks you should yeeld unto me by and by."
But she answered him scornfully, "No no, not I."
"And if that all maids should be of your mind,
Then what would or should become of us mankind
Sweet, let you and I now try our destiny."
But she answered him scornfully, "No, no, not I."
"Pray, what is the reason, I am young and faire;
Besides you doe know I am my father's heire:
Sweet, let me intreat your love and courtesie."
But she answered him scornfully, "No, no, not I."
"For vaulting or leaping, or such exercises,
For dancing or skipping, I still win the prizes;
Come, grant me thy favour, my pretty pigsnie[1]."
But she answered him scornfully, "No, no, not I."
"I am in all parts most compleat like a man,
And I can do as much as any [man] can:
Then, prethee, sweet heart, doe not my love deny."
Now she answered him kindly, "Sweet love, not I."
"If gold will content thee, why gold thou shalt have,
Or any thing else that thou canst wish or crave:
'Tis onely on thy love that I doe rely."
Now she had forgot to say, "No, no, not I."
1. An Elizabethan term of endearment; darling