YOUNG WOMAN

¶ Oh my Husband, as Pleasant as Honnye. ¶ How vehement, how strong a thing love is? How many smyrkes, and dulsome kysses? ¶ What tickling: what toyinge, What dalyenge, what ioyenge? ¶ When they two drink, they drink together They never eat, but one with another. ¶ Sometimes they ride into the Country Passing the time with mirth and sport, And when with their Friends, they have been merry Home to their own house they do resort. ¶ Sometimes to the Church, they do repair To here the Sermon that shall be made: Though it to remember, they have small care, For why? they be now, but few of that trade. ¶ And as for us wife's, occasions do moan, Sometimes with our Gossyppes to make good cheer Or else we did not, as did us behoove, For certain days and weeks in the years. ¶ Wives can not choose, but love earnestly If that their Husbands do all things well Or eyes my sweet heart, we shall espy, That in quietness they can not dwell. ¶ I trust that with neither hand or foot, You shall see any occasion by me: But that I love you even from the heart root And during my life so intend to be, ¶ Who will not with Herocles playntly confess, That Mankind to Society is wholly adjoining And in this Society nevertheless: Of worthy Wedlock took the beginning. Without the which, no City can stand Nor Household be perfect in any land. ¶ yea what can be more according to kind Then a man to a woman him self to bind? ¶ But what is he that comes yonder, Do you not think it is our man? Somewhat there is that he hastes hither, For he makes asmuch speed as he can. WHere is my Husband, was he not here? I marvel much whither he is gone Than I perceive I am much the never, But lo , where he comes hither alone. Wot you what Husband, from day to day, With dainty dishes, our bodies have be filled: What meat to morrow next shall we assay? Whereby we may then be both refresihed. ¶ But that I know Husband, it lies us in hand Of things to come to have a consideration I would not ones will you to understand About such business my careful provision: It is needful therefore to work we make hast That to get both our livings we may know the cast. ¶ What trouble for thee? what kind of vexation? Have I to disquiet thee, caused at this present? My only mind is, thou make expedycion To seek for our profit as is convenient. Wherefore to thee I say ones again, Because to take pains thou art so loath, By Christ it were best, with might and main To fallen to some work, I swear a great oath. ¶ Wilt thou have us then through hunger he starved: ¶ Then I say then, this gear go about, And look that thou labour diligently: Or else thou shalt shortly prove without doubt, Thy sluggysshnes will not please me greatly. ¶ What words have we here thou misbegotten, Is there not already enough to the spoken? ¶ I see my continued ̄ maundement can take no place, Thou shalt aby therefore, I swear by the Mass. ¶ Say these Faggottes man upon thy shoulder And carry this wood from street to street: To fell the same, that we both together, Our living may get, as is most meet. Hence Nidiot hence, without more delay What meanest thou thus, to stagger and stay? ¶ Why thou Lout, thou fool, thou horson folte, Is this thy wood money, thou peuisshe Dolte? Thou shalt smart for this gear, I make God a vow Thou knowest no more to fell wood, then does the sow ¶ Why dost thou rise against me Villain? Take heed I scrache not out thy eyes twain. ¶ Slay me with thy knife, thou shytten Dastard? Dost thou think to find me such a Dissarde? By Cox bones I will make thy skin to rattell, And the brains in thy S ull more deeply to sattell. ¶ Go to foolish Calf, go to, and uprise, And put up thy knife, I the advise. ¶ Hence away then, and fill this with water. ¶ What I say what means this weeping? What aileth the to make all this crying? ¶ No, nor thou Wilt not, if thou haste any wye, It is not thy weeping, that can ought avail, And therefore this matter no longer be wail. Come of I say, and run to the River And wash these clothes in the water. ¶ Yet I advise the, thou Cullyon make hast. ¶ Thou thief, thou caytyfe, why is not this place, Washed as fair as all the rest, Thou shalt for this gear now smoke apase By gys I swear, thou brutish Beast. ¶ Well I perceive, the rhyme will away And into the Country to go I have promised Look therefore thou go not from hence to days Till home again I am returned. Take heed I say, this House thee retain, And stir not for any thing out of my door: Until that I come hither again, As thou Wilt be rewarded therefore. ¶ I never harden in all my life a better, More pleasmante, more meet for the matter, Now let us go then, the Morning is nigh gone We can not any longer here remain: Farewell good Master's eueryechone, Till from the Church we come again. Sirs, by my truth it is a world to see, The exceeding negligence of every one. Even from the highest to the lowest degree, Both goodness and conscience is clean gone. There is a youge gentleman in this town, Who this same day now must be married: Yet though I would bestow a Crown, That knave the Clarke can not be spied. For he is safe if that in the Alehouse, He may fit typlyng of Nut brown Ale: That oft be comes forth as drunk as Mouse, With a nose of his own not greatly pale, And this is not once, but every day, Almost of my faith, through out the whole year, That he these tricks does use to play, Without all shame, dreable and fear. He knoweh him self that yester Night, The said young gentleman came to me, And then desired, that he might This Morning beiymes married be. But now I doubt it will be hie noon, Ere that this bufynes be quite ended: Unless the knauys she fool come very soon, That this same thing may be dispatched, And therefore since that this naughty pache, Hath at this present me thus served. He is Like hence forward my good will to lack Orels b wyss I might be judged. I am taught hereafter, how such a one to trust, In day matter concerning the Church, For if I should, I perceive that I must, Of my e own honesty lose very much. And yet for all this, from week to week, For his stypende and wages he never cryeth, And for the same continually does seek, As from time to time plainly appears, But whither his wages he hath deserved, Unto you all I do me report, Since that his duty he hath not fulfilled, Nor to the Church will scant resort. That many a time and oft, I am fain To play the Priest, Clarke, and all Though thus to do, it is great pain, And mire ward but very small, Wherefore (God Willing) I will such order take, Before thou I be many days elder, That he shall be glad this town to forsake And learn evermore to please his better. And in such wise all they shall be used, Which in this pacysshe intend to be Clerks, Great pit e it were, the Church should be disordered Because that such Swylbowles do not their works. And to say truth, in many a place, And other great towns beside this same, The Priests and Parishioners be in the like case, Which to the Church wardens may be a shame. Haw should the Priest his office fulfil, Accordingly as in deed he ought? When that the Clarke will have a self will And always in Service time must be sought? Notwithstanding at this present there is no remedy But to take time, as it does fallen, Wherefore I will go hence and make me ready For it helpeth not to chafe or brall. ¶ Whereas you ask me concerning my love I well assure you, it does daily augment: Nothing can make me start or move You only to love is mine intent. ¶ Your will to accomplish I am as ready, As any woman, believe me truly. ¶ With a pure pretence your pledge I take gladly For a Sign of our love, faith and fydelytie. ¶ Well than I pray you let us be married For me think from it we have long tarried. ¶ There would this day be very good there That every one his vealy may fill. And three or four Minstrelles would be here That none in the house fit idle or Still. Where before then (I pray you) shall we go to our Inn, And look that every thing be made ready, Or else all is not worth a Brass pynne, Such hast is required in matry money. WHere is my sweetynge, whom I do seek He promised me to have met me here Till I speak with him, I think it a week For he is my Joy, he is my cheer. There is no night, there is no day But that my thoughts be all of him I have no delight if he be away, Such toys in my head do euerswym. But behold at the last, where he does come For whom my heart desired long, Now shall I know all a some, Orels I would say, I had great wrong ¶ Do you ask and my Love be fast a sleep? Oh if a womon may utter her mind, My love had almost made me to weep Because that even now I did not you find I thought it surely a whole hundred year, Till in this place I saw you here.