The Gallant She-Souldier; Or, A brief Relation of a faithful-hearted Woman,

Who for the Love that she bore to her Husband, attired her selfe in Man’s Apparell and so became a Souldier, and marcht along with him through Ireland, France, and Spain, and never was known to be a Woman till at the last she being quartered neere unto Tower-hill, in London, where she brought forth a gallant Man-Child, to the wonder of all her fellow-Souldiers. Of her valiant actions, honest carriage, and excellent behavior: You shall presently heare (if you please).

You noble-minded Souldiers all, that faithful are and true,
This Ditty I have written for love I beare to you;
Concerning of a Woman that was upright and just,
Honest in her actions, and true unto her trust.
Seek England, Scotland, and all the world about,
There’s hardly such another to be found out.

Her Husband was a Souldier, and to the wars did goe,
And she would be his Comrade, the truth of all is so.
She put on Man’s apparel, and bore him company,
As many in the Army for truth can testify. Seek, &c.

With Musket on her Shouldier, her part she acted then,
And every one supposed that she had been a Man;
Her Bandeleers about her neck, and sword hang’d by her side:
In many brave adventures her valour have been try’d.

She oft have crost the Ocean, and travelled over the maine,
And she have been in Ireland, in famous France and Spaine;
And now of late returned to lovely London towne,
And bore her Armes most stoutly, with credit and renowne.

For exercising of her Armes, good skill indeed had she,
And knowne to be as active as any one could be;
For firing of a Musket, or beating of a Drum,
She might compare assuredly with any one that come.

For other manly practices she gain’d the love of all,
For Leaping and for Running, or Wrestling of a fall;
For Cudgells or for Cuffing, if that occasion were,
There’s hardly one of ten Men that might with her compare.

Yet civill in her carriage, and modest still was she,
But with her fellow Souldiers she oft would merry by;
She would Drink and take Tobacco, and spend her money too,
When as occasion served, that she had nothing else to do.

But now behold with wonder what hap’ned at the last,
After much time in merriment she had in London past,
She found by several passages her selfe to be with cild;
‘Twas by her honest Husband, she could not be beguil’d.

Yet secretly she kep it, so long as ever she could,
Till such time a Commander her be[teeming] did behold;
What is the reason, Tom, quoth he, that you are grown so fatt?
‘Tis strong Beere and Tobacco, Sir, which is the cause of that.

But when her painefull houre was come, that she must delivered
be,
The Women flockt about her, her grievances to see;
Her Breeches then were pulled off, and there began the wonder,
For in a short time after she was fallen quite in sunder.

The sixteenth day of July, as true reports do say,
The Souldier was delivered of lusty chopping Boy;
The people that heares of this newes, each day do flock dnd
run,
To see the Woman-Souldier and her little pretty Son.

Some gives her beds and blankets, her Baby for to Nurse,
Some gives her wholesome dyet, and money in her purse,
All them that comes to see her their bounty doth bestow:
Indeed it is but fitting that they should all doe so.

To draw to a conclusion, I wish in heart and mind
That Women to their Husbands were every one so kind,
As she was to her Sweet-heart, her love to him was so,
That she forsooke all others, along with him to goe.

Whereby we may perceive and see, and very well approve,
There’s nothing in ye world can be compar’d to faithfull Love;
The Hammer will breake Marble, and Hunger breake stone-wall,
But LOVE is sole Commander, and Conqueror of all.
Seeke England, Scotland, and all the world about,
There’s hardly such another to be found out.

All that are desirous to see the yound Souldier and his Mother,
let them repair to the sign of the Black-Smith’s-Armes, in East
Smithfield, neer unto Towerhill, in London, and inquire for Mr.
Clarke, for that was the Womans’ name.

EBBA ID Number: 37219

EEBO Proquest ID Number: G174B

ESTC Citation Number: R177470