 | Early Modern Center English Ballad Archive, 1500 - 1800 |
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The Constant Wife of Sussex, Unto you here I will declare, A story wonderfull and rare, Of a wife to prevent her husbands shame, Upon her selfe tooke all the blame. To the tune of, I have for all good wives a song. |
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LIst to my dity Country men, I will decipher with my pen, A story strange and yet most true give eare to that which will insue, No forraigne newes I have to tell, but of a jest which late befell. A wealthy Yeoman liv's of late, a man that was of good estate: Within the County of Sussex faire his wife and he had never an heire Yet at the last as may appeare the got two Children in one year. As on a day the good mans wife, whom he did love as his owne life Unto her husband thus spake she, I must a neighbours wife goe see. That lies in Child-bed, therefore John, I meane to visit her anon. The good wife being parted so, the man unto his maid did goe: These words in curtesie he said unto Elizabeth his maid, You labour hard and take great paine, but other follies have all the gaine. Now note the words that I shall say, thy Dame is gone out of the way Therefore to helpe thee worke Ile do Ile dresse the house and sweepe it too, To make the bed I will not faile, milke thou the Cow ile hold the paile. Unto the same the maid agreed and so to worke they went with speed Before her Dame that she came home, they never a chare had left undone How blest am I the good wife said, that have so good a working maid, But time that tempereth every thing, did to this house contentment bring, Ere fortie weekes were gone and past the man had his desire at last Then marke the sequell while I tell how every thing in order fell. For first of all the good wife mild was safe delivered of a child Old mother midnight and the rest their duties every one exprest And by the first with Cakes and Ale, each neighbour told a merry tale. One told a tale of John-a-Ree. another of great Cloudeslee, The third spake much of Robbin-hood all this did Besse the maid no good: For though poor soule her belly did ake yet never a word she durst to speake. The midwife brought to good effect the thing that she did most expect, Each neighbour went unto her home and left the midwife there alone, To dresse & trim the good mans daugh-ter but note the jest that followes after Poore Besse bewailes her desteny within a Cock-loft grievously Which in her Masters eare did sound, her griefe that time did so abound That he desired the mid-wifes love, so much that then she would go prove The second part. To the same tune. HOw al things stood with Besse the maid, who came with speed and to her said, What cheare my girle how'ist with thee the truth of all declare to me: Who answered her with speeches mild I by my Master am with Child. But to be short the mid-wife kind, began to ponder in her mind How to contrive there businesses so, no partie of the same should know, Save onely foure which here is said, her selfe, the master, dame, and maid. Lucina lent a helping hand, as you may plainly understand Who brought to light a chopping boy, judge was not this a happie day, The man in the morning had a daughter, by chance ere night a sonne came after. Which by the midwife was brought downe, the strangest thing that hath beene knowne This hundred yeare, is brought to light said she performed is this night: And [being] of most gentle speech, shee did the woman then besech. To take this boy as for her owne quoth she if this thing should be showne T'will be to your discredit both therefore sweet neighbour be not loth To nurse this child and keepe it warme poore boy it thinkes no creature harme. The good wife seemed well content and furthermore she gave free consent To find it meat and drinke and cloth and therewithall she made and oath, The Infant it should never lacke when she a coat had to her backe This done the midwife tooke her way, pointing to come oth Chirstning day And spend in mirth an hower or tow, and so should all her neighbours doe, The time being come the gossips all together met both great and smal. Then said the midwife to the rest give eare and you shal heare exprest, When you were gone what hap befel, unto you I will briefly tel: A girle you know came first in sight, but God sent us a boy ere night. This made the people wonder sore, as wel they might, for never before They heard the like: so now in hast one thing ile speake and end my Jest, Each creatures heart did leap for joy, they cried Lord love this little boy. This Besse was then to London sent, her Dame and Master wel content, Where she had but a smal time stayed, but to a gallant she was mary'd: The proverbe is fulfilld therby, the blind of time doth eat the flie. But for the woman which did save, her husbands credit I do crave, Good fortune on her may attend and guide her to her later end: And unto every constant wife I wish long dayes and happie life. FINIS. London printed for Fr. Coles |