%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A VVomans Birth, / OR / A perfect relation more witty then common, / Set forth to declare the descent of a VVoman. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1638-1638 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 04/25/2011 30313

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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

S101182 2 a pleasant new tune UNKNOWN A Pleasant New Tune the same tune UNKNOWN The Same Tune THere is a certaine kinde of idle Creature, / The which by foolish name, we call a woman: THus qualified, into the world was brought, / This strang & uncought piece of earth call'd woman, Roxburghe Ballads Editor None None None None Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 466 1: 467 A VVomans Birth, / OR / A perfect relation more witty then common, / Set forth to declare the descent of a VVoman. A Womans Birth, OR A perfect relation more witty then common, Set forth to declare the descent of a Woman. A Woman's Birth, OR A perfect relation more witty than common, Set forth to declare the descent of a Woman. 1638-1638 Francis Grove

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity 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 youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 4/25/2011 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America gender mythology/ Classical Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/25/2011 2:02:09 PM XBallad Doss, MacKenzie Created XML Version of Ballad 4/25/2011 2:02:09 PM Transcription Supervisor McAbee, Kristina, Nebeker, Eric Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/25/2011 2:02:09 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/25/2011 2:02:09 PM Transcriptionist Two Hehmeyer, Paxton Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/25/2011 2:02:09 PM Transcriptionist One Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/18/2008 Bibliographer Giles Bergel Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 2/16/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/5/2008 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/15/2010 Checker Danielle Davey Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">A Womans Birth,</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">OR</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">A perfect relation more witty then common,</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Set forth to declare the descent of a Woman.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To a pleasant new tune.</hi></seg>
THere is a certaine kind of idle Creature, The which by foolish name, we call a woman: I could fall out and rayle upon dame Nature, That ere she framd such creatures to undoe man, Many have wondered how it came to passe, But note, and I will tell you how it was. When Nature first brought forth her son and heire, The Gods came all one day to gossip with her, Her husband Hymen glad to see them there, Dranke healths apace to bid them welcome thither, Till drunke, to bed he went, and in that fit, He got the second birth a femall chit. The privy Counsell of the heavens and Planets, Whose Counsell governes all affaires on earth: They held a consultation in their Senats, What should become of this prodigious birth: These strange effects, and correspondent qualities, Which are brought forth by course, & by formalities. Saturne gave Sullennesse, Jove Soveraignty, Mars suddaine Wrath, and unappeased hate, Phoebus a garish looke and wandring Eye,
Venus Desire, and Lust insatiate, Mercury Craft, and deep dissembling gave her, Luna unconstant Thoughts, still apt to waver. Juno the wife of Jove, gave Jealousie, A pettish Anger, and revengefull spirit, In which she will persist perpetually, As if her soule could boast no other merit: Though Love at first beare rule in her supremely, Wanting her wil thers none hates more extremely. Flora bestowd upon her cheeke, a hue Of red and white, to make her feature pleasant, That she the easier might the heart subdue, Of King, Prince, Courtier, Cittizen or Peasant, But he that trusts her faith, it is so slacke, Her red and white to willow turnes, and blacke. Scornefull Diana did her mind inspire With cruell Coynesse, and obdurate Passions, That man might thinke her soule had most desire, Still to live single, without alterations, When heaven knows tis but her pride of mind, That thinkes none good enough to court her kind.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The second part, to the same tune.</hi></seg>
THus qualified, into the world was brought, This strang & uncought piece of earth calld wo-man, Nature afraid her husband should have thought That she had plaid the whore, or beene too common, Besought Lucina from old Hymens sight, Close to convey it unto Venus bright. Where being brought by Venus she did learne To use loose gestures with her hand and eye, With fained sighs, false teares, not to discerne, And divers such loose tricks of Levity, Lisping of kisses, smilings, and such fits, As well might drive a kind man from his wits. Venus well skilld and apt to make escape, Sent it to be brought up among the Fayries, Thus finding it to prove a pretty Ape, Wanton and merry, full of mad fegaries, She brought it home and gave it to her son, To be his playmate and companion. Mulciber envying that his wife had got, A nurcery contrary to his mind, He calld the Cyclopes, and with fire hot They forgd her heart (just to its proper kind) Of steele, ith fashion of an Anvill hard, That should no fire nor stroakes a whit regard.
Phaeton that while assuming Phoebus seate, Ith time ofs Raigne, imparted to this brat, Mischievous fancies and a proud conceit, That should desire to doe she knows not what, And that donation did her so inspire, If wishes might prevayle, the world shed fire. The winged Child no sooner did espy her, But he enamourd of her feature grew, The god of Love himselfe was set on fire, And needs would change his mother for a new: If she on Lovs great power can worke such rape, How shall his subjects with their weaknesse scape? He prankt it up in Fardingals and Muffs, In Masks, Rebatos Shapperowns, and Wyers, In paintings, powdrings, Perriwigs and Cuffes, In Dutch, Italian, Spanish, French attires: Thus was it born brought forth & made Loves baby, And this is that which now we call a Lady. But you yong men to whom she may be sent, Take some advisement ere you entertaine her, Pray use her kindly for her high descent, Courting and kissing is the way to gaine her, If she love true, Ile speake this in her praise, Each houre sheele blesse the number of your dayes.
Printed at London for Francis Grove, dwelling upon Snow-hill. Philo-balladus. Finis.