The Worcestershire Garland;

Compos’d of three excellent New Songs. I. The Constant Lover of Worcestershire. II. The Shoolmaster’s Advice about choosing of a Wife. III. The Downfal of Piracy; being a full and true Account of a desperate and bloody Sea-fight between Lieutenant Maynard, and that noted Pirate Captain Teach, commonly call’d by the Name of Black-Beard; Maynard had fifty men, thirty five of which where kill’d and wounded in the Action: Teach had twenty one, most of which were kill’d, and the rest carried to Virginia, in order to take their Tryal.

The Constant Lovers of Worcestershire.

A Man of mean Directions,
Of late in Worcestershire,
Was guided by Affection,
To Court a Lady fair.
Whose Eyes shin’d like the Morning Dew,
Upon a Lilly bright;
She had Grace in her Face,
Was pleasing to the sight.
She was an only Heir
Unto a Gentleman,
And all her Father’s Care,
Was to match her unto one:
But the Farmer’s son being handsome,
To gain the Lady’s Heart,
In so far that no Ransome,
Could ease a Lover’s Smart.
But when her Father came to hear,
And understand the Thing;
Then said he, I will free,
My fine Daughter in the Spring;
The Spring time being come and gone,
There did a Press begin;
And all her Father’s Care,
Was to press the Farmer’s Son.
No Money shall be taken,
Said she, if it be so,
For I will never tarry here,
But along with him will go.
on the twenty third of April,
She writ a Surgeon’s Part.
With Bagle and with Instrument,
To all true loyal Heart.

With Bagle and with Instrument,
A Surgeon’s Part to try,
Then said she, I will be
Where the Cannon Bullets fly:
On the twenty third of May,
Then did the Fight begin;
In the Forefront of the Battle,
There stood the Farmer’s Son.
Who did a Wound receive,
in thick part of his Thigh,
In his Veins near his Reins,
There it pierc’d something nigh;
Then to the Surgeon’s care,
He was commanded straight,
The first that he saw there
Was the Surgeon’s Mate.
And when that he had seen her,
And view’d her in every part;
Then said he, one like thee,
Once was the Mistress of my Heart;
If she be dead, I ne’re will wed,
But stay with thee for ever;
And we will love, like a Dove,
And we’ll live and die together.
I’ll go to thy Commander,
If he’ll set thee at large
Ten Guineas I’ll surrender,
To purchase thy Discharge;
So they went both together,
And in a little space,
She met with his Commander,
And to him told her Case.
He pleased with the Gold,
Soon set the Farmer free;
And she brought him to England,
Over the raging Sea;
And when she came to her Father’s Gate,
And there had knock’d a while,
Then out came her Father,
Who said, here stands my Child.
Which long Time hath been missing,
I thought to see no more;
Then said she, I’ve been seeking,
For him that you sent o’re;
And since that I have found him,
And brought him safe to shore,
I’ll spend my Days in England,
And cross the seas no more.
Oh Daughter, I am sorry,
For the thing that I’ve done;
Oh Daughter I am willing,
That he shall be my Son;
Oh, then they were married,
without any more delay,
And now the Farmer’s son,
does enjoy his Lady gay.

*Transcriber’s note: Dugaw’s catalogue contains multiple variants of this ballad; this is the first of the variants listed. To review other variants of this ballad, please consult the Dugaw catalogue.

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ESTC Citation Number: T52706