%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A Constant wife and a kind wife, / A loving wife and a fine wife, / Which gives content unto mans life. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1658-1658 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 02/29/2012 31702

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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

R174229 1 Locks and Bolts do hinder Lie Lulling Beyond Thee Locks and Bolts do hinder YOng=men and Maids lend me your aids / to speak of my dear sweeting, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 41 A Constant wife and a kind wife, / A loving wife and a fine wife, / Which gives content unto mans life. A Constant wife and a kind wife, A loving wife and a fine wife, Which gives content unto mans life. A Constant wife and a kind wife, A loving wife and a fine wife, Which gives content unto man's life. 1658-1658 F. Coles, T, Vere and W, Gilbertson

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas 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 groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 2/29/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America advice class clothing/ appearance love marriage Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 2/29/2012 3:17:16 PM XBallad Lee, Jennifer J Created XML Version of Ballad 2/29/2012 3:17:16 PM Transcription Supervisor Murphy, Jessica Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/29/2012 3:17:16 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Jiminez-Justiniano, Jose Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/29/2012 3:17:16 PM Transcriptionist Two Naler, Erin Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/29/2012 3:17:16 PM Transcriptionist One Reese, Ryan Transcription of ballad manuscript 9/6/2011 Checker Jonathan Forbes Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/19/2011 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
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YOng-men and Maids lend me your aids to speak of my dear sweeting, It shews how fortune hath betrayd, and often spoyld our meeting She likely was for to be rich, and I a man but meanly, Wherefore her friedns at me do grudge, and use me most unkindly. Her constancy I will declare, wherein she proves Loyall, But few that will with her compare, when they are put to Tryall. Her frinds against her did contend, because she lent me favour, They said I quickly all would spend, if that I might but have her. They did convey her from my sight, because she should exempt me. I could not find my hearts delight, which sore did discontent me. I travelld over craggy Rocks ore Mountaines Hills and Vallyes, But she was kept from me with locks only through spight and mallice. But love that conquers Kings and Queens herein did shew us favour, I brought to passe and wrought the meanes in what place I could have her: She had an Uncle did detain, and keep her person from me, Which I had very like thave slain, because he did so wrong me.
I bouldly came where she did dwell, and asked for my sweeting, They said of her they could not tell, which was to me sad greeting. But presently she heard my voyce, and cald me at her winder, O I would come to thee my love, but doors and locks do hinder, Whereat amazed I did stand, to hear her make that answer, I drew my sword into my hand, as straight the house did enter, And then I made the locks to fly, and doors in peeces shatter, I vowd to have her company, and quickly I came at her. Her Uncle and some of his men, did after presant follow, Who said I nere should out again, but in my blood should wallow. But with some hurt done on both sides, I got my sweetheart from them, Young men to get your selves such brides fight for to overcome them. Then joynd we hands in Hymens bands, to love and live together, She lovd me not for house or Lands, for I had none of either, Her love was pure and doth endure, and so shall mine forever, Till death do us so much enjure, as part us from each other.
WIth hand and heart I will impart the praise of my dear sweeting, Now welcome joyes and face well smart, blest be the time of meeting. With my sweet-heart and only dear, in whom is all my pleasure, The like of her doth not appear, she is so blest a creature. O happy is that time and hour, that ere I saw thy feature Sure heavens bliss o[n] me did showre, to send me such a creature. She is so pleasing to my eye, the like was never any, Shes vertuous wife and very kind, she far surpasseth many. Her comely feature may compare, with any in Town or City. For courtesie she to most rare, likewise shes full of pity. No Vertue that can give consent, in all that hear her praises. But God to her the same hath lent, whereby her glory raises. Her golden locks like threads of gold, her eyes like stars do glister. Her cheeks the Rose and Lillyes sold, she may be Venus sister. She hath a dimple in her chin. her neck shines like the chrystall, The like hath seldome times been seen, she seemeth so celestiall.
Her armes and shoulders are compleat, her brest like Alablaster, Her wast and middle is so neat, theres none that ere surpast her. Her Eloquence gives such content, in all that hear her prases, That freely theyl give their consent, to yeeld her earthly praises. Her Lilly hands are at command, to do me any service, And quickly she will understand, a matter what so ere tis. If I bid go, she will not stay, to work me a displeasure, But presently she goes away, and is not this a treasure. Her parts below Ile not descry, for they are very neat ones. A dainty foot, a leg and Thigh, as can be made of flesh and bones. She is so perfect in her parts, that many were inflamed, On her they wholly set their hearts, and at her fully aimed. Thus to conclude and end my Song, I wish well to the Feamale, Or else I should do them much wrong, and prove my self a Tell-tale, Youngmen adieu prove not untrue, unto your only sweeting, Observe your time you need not rue, nor curse the time of meeting.
Printed for F. Coles, T, Vere and W, Gilbertson.