%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The West-Country Wonder: / OR, / William the Serving-man's good Fortune in the Mar- / riage of an Ancient Lady, whom he got with Child when she / was threescore and six or seven Years of Age, tho' she had / ne'er been with Child before, to the Joy of her, and the Admi- / ration of others. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1664-1703 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 03/04/2008 22070

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

5.235 R234504 1 The Ginea wins her The Guinea Wins Her The Guinea Wins Her ATtend to this Relation, / Which I in kindness bring you, For Will, has prov'd himself a Man of Skill. [with variations] imprint unclear: [Lon]don: Printed for J. Blare, at the Looking-glass on London-bridge. Pepys 5.235 Wing W1409 Pepys Library The Pepys ballads : facsimile volume Editor W.G. Day D.S. Brewer Cambridge [England] 1987 Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 5: 235 The West-Country Wonder: / OR, / William the Serving-man's good Fortune in the Mar- / riage of an Ancient Lady, whom he got with Child when she / was threescore and six or seven Years of Age, tho' she had / ne'er been with Child before, to the Joy of her, and the Admi- / ration of others. The West-Country Wonder: OR, William the Serving-man's good Fortune in the Mar-riage of an Ancient Lady, whom he got with Child when she was threescore and six or seven Years of Age, tho' she had ne'er been with Child before, to the Joy of her, and the Admi-ration of others. The West Country Wonder: or, William the Serving Man's Good Fortune in the Marriage of an Ancient Lady, Whom He Got with Child When She Was Threescore and Six or Seven Years of Age, Though She Had Never Been with Child Before, to the Joy of Her, and the Admiration of Others. 1/2 sheet folio, 238 x 146 cropped left and bottom edges, uneven inking 1664-1703 London: Printed for J. Blare, at the Looking-glass on London-bridge. J. Blare BBTI

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 Taxonomy used by Pepys to Organize Ballads in Albums A Small Promiscuous Supplement Devotion & Morality Drinking & Good Fellowship History - True & Fabulous Humour, Frollicks &c Love Pleasant Love Pleasant and Unfortunate Love Unfortunate Marriage Sea State & Times Tragedy Various Subjects Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/health alcohol animals/nature appearance Bible/biblical figures buildings/architecture catastrophe children class clothing/fashion country/nation crime death economics/trade entertainment family/procreation folklore gender historical figures & events holidays/seasons infidelity law London love maritime marriage military/war monstrosity mythology/Classical world news nobility/court politics/government punishment religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/sexuality supernatural/magic The New World travel trickery/deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/crass humor Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 3/4/2008 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Love Pleasant appearance economics/trade family/procreation love marriage 03/04/08 Checker Rachel Mann Metadata updated, xml created 07/23/07 Checker Summer Star Ballad checked 08/2006 Transcriber Liberty Stanavage Original transcription 9/21/2004 Bibliographer Margaret K. Sloan Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
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ATtend to this Relation, Which I in kindness bring you, The Wonder of the Nation, My loving Friends, I sing you; The like was never known before, There's a Lady that exceeds Threescore, By six or seven Years, This of a Truth appers, That now this very day, She is with Child, and may Have two or three, they say, For Will, has prov'd himself a Man of Skill. This was an ancient Lady, Who had both Gold and Treasure, In Bags and Coffers ready, Yet wanted youthful Pleasure; The Knight her Husband being dead, With her servant William she did wed, A proper man indeed, Who at time of need, Could please a Woman well; And now the Truth to tell, He thousands does excel, For Will, has prov'd himself a Mon of Skill. Altho' near Sixty seven, She makes as fair a figure, Of one scarce twice eleven, Few Women being bigger; And joyfully she does declare, That she hopes to have a Son and Heir, She having none before, Tho' six above Threescore; Thus we may see in Truth, The sweet effects of youth, She had a Coultish-tooth, And Will, has prov'd himself a Man of Skill.
Raising so sweet a flower, From such decays of Nature, It shows a manly Power, Of one that would not bait her An ace of what's a Woman's due; Such a brawny Lad you never knew, Both Proper, Straight and Tall, And lusty Limbs withal, Oh, such a Man behold, If he was to be sold, He's worth his Weight in Gold. This Will, has prov'd h[i]mself a Man of Skill. When at the Lady's Table, He as Servant waited, She little thought him Able, To do what is related; Yet when her Knight was laid in Grave, None alive but William would she have, She made him out of hand, The Lord of all her Land; Which kindness to requite, He yields her the delight And pleasant joys of night, For Will, has prov'd himself a Man of Skill. His years is two and twenty, The Lady's thrice as many, Yet having Wealth in Plenty, He loves her best of any, And she likewise does him adore, Having never any Child before; And since the deed is done, If it should prove a Son, We shall great Triumph see, For Lords of high Degree, Will at the Christning be, Since Will, has prov'd hims[e]lf a Man of Skill.
London: Printed for J. Blare, at the Looking-glass on London-bridge.