In Four Parts.

You lovers that know what to love doth belong.
Come draw near, and listen a while to my song,
What tho’ it is strange it is certainly true,
It will shew what dangers true lovers go thro’.
A noble brave merchant in London did dwell,
He had a daughter, whose beauty did excel
All other lasses that liv’d far and near,
Now of her misfortune you soon shall hear.
Many rich squires of honour and fame
A courting unto this lady came;
But their offers and proffers did prove in vain,
For none could the least of her favour obtain
But as it fell out, upon a certain day
A ship for her father was just come from sea,
With some young ladies on board she did go,
The ship and the rich cargo to view.
Then among some others she cast her eye
Upon a young sailor that was standing by.
Young Cupid that moves all with his keen dart,
Not only tickled, but wounded her heart.
Her cheeks, which before were like roses red,
Where on a sudden much heavier then lead;
With a soul on fire, she came back on shore,
Being struck with a pain she ne’er felt before.
To her chamber she goes, and with languishing pain
She sat herself down, and began to complain;
Oh! Heaven, said she what a torment is love?
Without speedy help it may ruin with prove.
She ask’d of her maid, and she did say,
Dear Betty, advise me this minute I pray.
The torment of love is more than I can bear,
Oh! tell me how I can get clear.
The maid with blushes to her mistress said,
Have courage madam, and be not afraid;
With all you trust me, I will prove true,
And ever be constant, madam, unto you.
Then take this letter, and go to my dear,
And say, there is one must speak to him here,
Oh! do not delay it, the lady did cry,
Be quick, let me see him, or else I must die.
The young man was brought and to her he came.
At the first sight her heart was in a flame?
She turned round, and said is he come?
The sailor answered, Yes, that I am
She said, Don’t you remember such a day,
That I came on board your ship to see?
Where I lost a diamond much better then gold,
And you have found it, as I am told.
The sailor seemed like one in amaze,
And she more stedfastly on him did gaze;
Cries, Madam, I hope you don’t mean as you say,
Then in discontent he was running away.
Then she flew to him and gave him a kiss,
And said I hope you don’t take it amiss,
My heart’s the diamond you got from me,
Then grant me love, or ruin’d I be.
He said, Great madam my fortune is poor,
And you have riches, wherefore I implore,
Don’t deride my poverty, madam, said he,
For mocking is catching, we often do see.
Cries she, No, dearest, I am in truth.
And since we are both in the prime of our youth.
What tho’ you are poor, and of mean degree.
Yet none in the world shall have me but thee.

PART II.

In love they remained. At last on a day,
The wind coming fair, he to sea must away;
And when they got to the port, we do hear,
He wrote a letter unto his dear.
But here’s the misfortune, as I understand,
The letter come unto her father’s hand;
Who reading the same, in a passion grew,
And in a rage to her chamber he flew.
He said, Good morrow, what are you there?
When did you hear from Jemmy your dear;
He’s now at Barbadoes, and fit to come home.
Then get yourself ready against his return.
Was there no one fitting your husband to be,
But you must take such a beggar as he.
In a violent rage and passion he swore,
That she should never behold him more.
A letter he wrote, and away it did send
Unto Barbados, which did command,
To drown the sailor in the foaming main.
And not bring him to Old England again.
But when the captain the letter receiv’d
It melted his heart, and much he griev’d,
The wind being fair, they to sea, set sail,
And here begins the tragical ditty again,
In many days sail to an anchor they came.
By command of the captain, as we understand
The ship was anchored under the land.
The captain goes to him with tears in his eyes,
And told him the story, to his sad surprize.
As soon as he heard it he fell on his knees,
Whilst tears down his cheek distilled like peas.
Dear captain, said he, take not my life away,
But set me on shore on this island, I pray,
O save but my life, noble captain, he cry’d,
And providence for me, I hope, will provide.
The captain called the company strait,
And as they came he thus to him said,
I have receiv’d five hundred pound.
Which was sent me this man to drown.
The money, he said, will do us no good,
Then stain not your hands in innocent blood;
So upon this island let’s set him with speed,
And leave him to fortune To this they agreed.
Then into the boat they immediately got.
And upon the island this young man was set;
With tears and hand shaking they bid him good-by
Then one of the mates he called aside.
Crying, If you go home, and my jewel see,
Give her this ring, and tell her from me,
All this for her sake I can patiently bear
Then he smote his breast, and tore his hair.
Then parted in tears, and on board they came
Leaving the sailor in tears, to complain,
And came to England, where we must relate
Concerning the lady, whose sorrow was great.
Now when this token she receiv’d from his hand,
And the true matter she did understand,
She cries, Cruel father, thou worst of men,
You have ruined me in what you have done.

PART III.

Then in man’s attire she drest her with speed,
For her passage she with a captain agreed,
With a resolution to search the world round
And they we hear, to Virginia was bound.
But mark, when many leagues from the shore,
Where waves did beat and, the billows did roar,
Against wind and weather a long time they strove,
At last toward the coast of Jamica they drove.
For want of fresh water they were like to die;
But as it happened most fortunately,
They went with there boats some water to get,
Into the island where the young man was set.
This young man was there nine months or more,
And that afternoon came down to the shore.
To see for some fish washed up by the tide.
Where to his great joy this cock boat he spy’d.
He came running down but before he got there
The sailors beheld him with a great fear,
Their boat they got off, and were in amaze,
And like frighted souls at each other did gaze.
Then he held up his hat, and fell on his knees,
And said, Take me up for God’s sake, if you please,
I am a poor sailor, just starved to death;
Which, when they heard, they began to take breath.
They put to the boat, and with speed took him in,
And to their ship strait launched again.
The captain examin’d how he came there alone,
And strait the matter he soon did make known.

PART IV.

When the lady heard, she made no reply,
But strait to his arms did immediately fly,
Cries she, I have found thee whom I do adore,
None but cruel Death shall part us once more.
O what showers of tears between them were shed!
Quoth she, Art thou living whom I thought dead;
Cries he, Yes I am, and yet loyal and true.
My dear, See what I have suffer’d for loving of you
They strait came to England without delay,
And arriv’d at Plymouth in the ship straitway.
Where the next morning, you soon shall hear
A comical story which I shall declare.
Drest up like a sailor she, the very next morn,
With a letter in hand to her father’s house came.
It was wrote in the letter, Dear father, says she,
I am now in Jamaica, and likely to die.
I never expect to see you again;
But I forgive you for what is done:
Then wishing you well, pray God bless you all
Then kissing the letter, the tears down did fall.
Crying, What would I give my child to see?
Where had you the letter pray young man, tell me?
She said, Last Candlemas from Jamaica I came,
From the hand of your child I received the same.
He said, If you’ll give it me under your hand,
If you can persuade her once more to return.
And bring her to England, as I have life,
I’ll freely consent to make her thy wife,
Cries she, If you’ll give it me under your hand,
Or if to your word I thought you would stand.
He said, Yes, I will, and for your courtesy,
Here are forty bright guineas for thee.
She fell on her knees, while tears poured down,
And said, Honour’d father, to you be it known,
I am your own, whom you forced away.
For give me, dear father, as I forgive you.
The father on his weeping daughter did gaze,
Not one word could speak, but stood in amaze:
He said, Dear child, your are welcome to me
Then about her neck he wept bitterly.
He said, For joy that in health you are come,
(And asked pardon for what she had done)
I freely for give thee, dear daughter, said he,
And ask what thou wilt it shall be granted thee.
Dear honoured father the damsel reply’d,
That very young man, whom at first you deny’d
Let him be my husband, To which he agreed.
Then the young sailor was sent for with speed.
Then they were married on the same day,
And the father for joy gave the daughter away
And since thou art loyal and true to thy love,
Thou a thousand pounds to thy portion shalt have.
See! they that upon the ocean were toss’d,
And by the hand of fortune so sorely were cross’d
Yet to the last moment were loyal and true,
Such lovers in England there are but few.

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BBO Roud Number: 11495

ECCO Gale Document Number: CW3311076609

ESTC Citation Number: N10020