The Valiant Virgin; Or, Phillip And Mary;

In a Description of a Young Gentlewoman of Worcestershire (a
Rich Gentlemans Daughter) being in love with a Farmers Son, which
her Father despiseing, because he was poore, caus’d him to be prest
to Sea; And how she Disguised herselfe in Man’s Apparel and followed him; where in the same ship (she being very expert in surgery) was entertain’d as Sugeons Mate, and how loving to him (and skillfully to others) she behaved herself in her Office; and he having got a Shot in the Thigh, how deligent she was to dress him; she never discovering herself to him untill they came both on Shore: Her Father Dyeing whilst she was at Sea, (He having no more Children then she) they went into the Countrey to take Possession of her Estate, and to Marry; To the admiration of all that were at the Wedding.

To every faithful Lover
that’s constant to her dear,
This Ditty doth discover
Affections pure and cleare;
Affections and afflictions too,
do in this Story move,
Where Youth, and truth,
obtain the Crown of Love.
A Man of mean extraction,
brought up in Worc’ster-shire,
Was guided by Affection
to love a Lady dear,
Whose eyes did shew like morning dew,
that doth on Lillies lye;
Her face, and grace,
well mixt with Majesty.
She was the only Heiress
unto a Gentleman,
And all her Fathers care is
to marry her to one,
Whose welth and with, may fairly fit
a Lady of such worth;
But he, that she did Love,
was poore by birth.
A farmers son being handsome,
did catch this Ladies heart
So fast in hold, no ransome
can free it from the Dart:
The gentleman, when he began
to understand this thing,
Quoth hee, I’le free,
my fond daughter in the spring.
The Spring came, and the Pressing
was every where begun;
Fierce fights at Sea this Couple
did valiantly indure,
As fast as one did aime to kill,
the other striv’d to cure;
The Souldier and the Surgens Mate
did both imploy their parts,
That they, each way,
did win all the seamens hearts.
The Summer being ended,
that they could fight no more,
The ship came to be mended,
and all men went a shore;
Stout Philip lov’d the Surgeons Mate
so much he could not be
An houre, or more,
out of his company.
He often view’d her feature,
and gaz’d on every part;
(Quoth Philip) such a Creature
is Mistress of my heart,
If she be dead, I’le never wed,
But be with thee for ever,
We’l walk, and talk,
Live, Lye, and Dye together.
Poore Mary full of passion,
to hear him prove so kind,
Orejoy’d with this Relation,
could not conceale her mind,
But fondly hangs about his neck,
her tears did trickle down,
Says she, I’le be
still thy true Companion.
Since providence hath vanquish’d
the dangers of the Sea,
I’le never marry whilst I live
unless it be with thee;
No womankind, shall ever find
my heart to be so free,
If thou wilt vow
but to be as true to mee.
E’re he could speak, she told him,
I am thy dearest dear,
Thy Mary thou hast brought a shore
and now thou holdst her here,
This man’s attire, I did but hire,
when first I followed thee;
Thy Love, I’le prove,
but no Surgeons Mate am I.
He flung his arms about her
he wondred, kist and wept;
His Mary he did hold so fast,
as if he would have crept
Into her soul and body too;
his eyes in joy did swimm,
And she, as free,
was as fully fond of him.
Her Fathers fears increasing,
did Press the Farmers Son,
No money could Redeem him
thought she, if he must go,
I’le ne’re stay here,
but I’le be a Seaman too.

The Second Part,

The Gentleman did Press him,
and sent him to the slaughter,
He thought fit to Press the Man
and would have prest his daughter;
His wit prevents all her intents,
for on her knees he brought her;
But one, Love gone,
straight the other follows after.
This Maid with ingenuity
had every Surgeons part,
A Ladies hand, and Eagles eye,
but yet a Lyons heart;
She knew all tents, and instruments
Salves, Oyntments, Oyls and all,
That they imploy,
in the fight when Souldiers fall.
In mans Aparil she did resolve to try her fate,
And in the Ship where he rid,
she went as Surgeons Mate;
Sayes she, my souldier shall not be
destroy’d for want of Cure,
I’le Dress, and Bless,
whatsoever I endure.
Their names Philip and Mary,
who then were both at Sea;
Phil fought like old king Harry,
but from the Enemy
Poore Philip had receiv’d a shot,
through that part of the thigh,
Did joyn to’s groin,
oh! that shot came something nigh.
Into the Surgeons Cabbin,
they did convay him straight,
Where first of all ye wounded men,
the pretty Surgens Mate,
Though in this trim, unknown to him
did bravely shew her Art,
She drest, and kist,
the woful wounded part.
Which she did most mildly dress,
and shed her teares upon’t;
He observ’d, but could not guess,
or find the meaning on’t,
Although he wou’d in tears and blood
oft times on Mary call,
And pray, she may
be there at his funeral.
They both rid towards Worc’ster,
to shew how they had sped;
But upon the Road they heard
her Father he was dead,
Two months at least after he prest
the Farmers son for slaughter;
In tears, appears
the sad duty of a Daughter.
Philip having chear’d her up,
they rid directly home,
Where after many a bitter cup
the Marriage day was come,
Which they in state did Celebrate
the Gallants that were there,
were grave, and brave,
all the best in Worc’ster-shire.
Thus may you by this Couple see,
what from true love doth spring
When Men love with fidelity
their Mistress and their king:
When maids shew men, true love agen
in spight of fortunes frowns,
They’l wive, and thrive,
for such crosses have their crowne.

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