The Countrey Lasse.
To a dainty new note, Which if you cannot hit,
There's another tune which doth as well fit.
That's the Mother beguiles the Daughter,
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ALthough I am a Countrey Lasse,
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a lofty mind I beare a,
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I thinke my selfe as good as those,
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that gay apparell weare a:
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My coate is made of homely gray,
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yet is my skin as soft a,
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As those that with the chiefest wines
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doe bath their bodies oft a.
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Downe, downe, derry, derry downe,
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hey downe a downe a downe a,
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A derry, dery dery, dery, downe,
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heigh downe a downe a derry.
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What though I keepe my fathers sheepe,
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a thing that must be done a,
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A Garland of the fairest flowers,
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shall shrowd me from the Sun a,
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And when I see they feeding be,
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where grasse and flowers spring a,
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Close by a chrystall fountaine side,
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I sit me downe and sing a,
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Downe downe etc:
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Dame Nature crownes us with delight,
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surpassing Court or City,
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Wee pleasures take from morne to night,
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in sport and pastimes pretty:
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Your Courtly Dames in Coaches ride
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abroad for recreation;
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We Countrey Lasses hate their pride,
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and keepe the Countrey fashion :
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Downe, downe, etc.
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Your City Wives lead wanton lives,
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and if they come i'th Countrey,
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They are so proud, that each one strives,
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for to out-brave our Gentry:
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We Countrey Lasses homely be,
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for seate nor wall we strive not,
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We are content with our degree,
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our debtors we deprive not:
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Downe, downe, etc.
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I care not for a fanne nor Maske,
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when [T]ytans heate reflecteth,
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A homely Hat is all I aske,
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which well my face protecteth,
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Yet am I in my Countrey guise
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esteemed a Lasse as pretty,
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As those that every day devise
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new shapes in Court and City:
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Downe, etc.
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In every season on the yeere,
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I undergoe my labour,
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Nor showre nor wind at all I feare,
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my limmes I doe not favour:
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If Summers heate my beauty staine,
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it makes me nere the sicker,
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Sith I can wash it off againe
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with a cup of Christmas liquor:
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Downe, downe derry derry downe,
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heigh downe a downe a downe a,
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A derry derry, derry derry downe,
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heigh downe a downe a derry.
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The second part. To the same Tune.
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AT Christmas time in mirth and glee,
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I dance with young men neatly
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And who i'th City like to me,
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shall pleasure tast compleatly,
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No sport but pride and luxury
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i'th City can be found then,
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But bounteous hospitality,
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i'th Countrey doth abound then,
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Downe, downe, etc.
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I'th Spring my labour yeelds delight,
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to walke i'th merry morning,
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When Flora is to please my sight,
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the ground with Flowers adorning,
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With merry Lads to make the Hay,
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I goe and doe not grumble,
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My worke doth seeme to me but play,
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when with young men I tumble.
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Downe, etc.
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The Larke & Thrush from bryar to bush
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doe leape and skip and sing a,
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And all is then to welcome in
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the long and lookt-for Sping a:
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We feare not Cupids arrowes keene,
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Dame Venus we desire a,
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Diana is our honoured Queene,
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and her wee magnifie a.
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Downe, etc.
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That which your City Damsells scorne,
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we hold our chiefest Jewell,
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Without, to worke at Hay and corne,
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within, to bake and brew well:
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To keepe the Dayry decently,
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and all things cleane and neatly,
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Your city Minions doe defie,
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their scorne we weigh not greatly:
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Downe, etc.
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When we together a milking goe,
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with payles upon our heads a,
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And walking over woods and fields,
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where grasse and flowers spreds a,
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In honest pleasure we delight,
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which makes our labour sweet a,
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And mirth exceeds on every side,
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when Lads and Lasses meet a:
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Downe, etc.
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Then doe not scorne a countrey Lasse,
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though shee be plaine and meanely:
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Who takes the countrey Wench to wife
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(that goeth neate and cleanely)
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Is better sped, then if hee wed
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a fine one from the city,
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For there they are so nicely bred,
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they must not worke for pitty.
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Downe, etc.
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I speake not this to that intent,
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(as some may well conjecture)
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As though to wooing I were bent,
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no I nere learn'd Loves Lecture:
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But what I sing is in defence
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of all plaine countrey Lasses,
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Whose modest, honest innocence,
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all city Girles surpasses,
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Downe, downe, derry derry downe,
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heigh downe a downe a downe a,
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A derry derry derry derry downe,
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heigh downe a downe a derry.
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