The Low-Country SOLDIER turned BURGOMASTER.

<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">The Low-Country</hi></hi> <hi rend="italic">SOLDIER <hi rend="bold">turned</hi> BURGOMASTER.</hi></seg>

HERE you may see the turns of fate, From woe to joy, from poor t[o] great; A mark of fortunes special love, Who did a soldiers grief remove. One who in former days, tis told, Had trudgd thro weather hot and cold, Till he was poor and pennyless, You would have laughd to have seen the dress. His shoes with trudging up and down No sole they had; a hat no crown; His coat no sleeves, his shirt the same, But by his side a sword of fame. Without a scabbard good or bad, Nor was there any to be had; His coat and breeches would not come, [I]n depth to cover half his bum. Now being weary of his trade, One day he to his captain said, Pray now give me a full discharge, That I my fortune may enlarge. I am persuaded I shall be A burgomaster, sir, said he. To Venice, if youll let me go. His captain smiling answerd, No. With you, said he, I will not part. Then, thought the soldier, Ill desert My colours, let what will befal: And soon he went for good and all. Now as he marchd with all his might, A coachman and his worthy knight, Upon the road he chancd to find. And askd to borrow full five pound. At this the knight laughd out amain, And said, When will you pay it again, H answerd, Sir, you shall be paid

When I am burgomaster made. Of Venice, which will be my lot, The noble knight away he got. And laughd to see him in that trim, But still the coachman lent it him. This being done, away he went To Venice, where some time he spent, To view the palace rich and gay, And then to Burgos took his way. Who kept a house to entertain All kind of guest. He calld amain For wine and other liquors free, Tho in a wretched garb was he. THIS soldier was a gallant blade, And while in pleasure there he stayd; Behold a squire living near, Courted the burgos daughter dear, Now as he kept her company, One day the soldier sitting by, Feigning asleep, he overheard This private talk as it appeared. Part of the private talk was this, My dear sweet love the charming bliss, Let me enjoy this self-same night. The damsel told him that he might. If he would to her chamber creep, When all the house was fast asleep, About the hour of twelve oclock She would the door for him unlock. The soldier heard the whole design, Thought he, The pleasure shall be mine, And thereupon he went before To the young ladys chamber-door. He knockd, and soon she let him in. A pleasant game did then begin

And ere an hours time was past Her love the squire came at last. He knockd, Whos there, the lady cryd? The soldier lying by her side Said, It is the ragged fellow sure, Who seemd as if he slept secure. He heard us, and is come to have That pleasure which our love did crave; But its in vain, I will arise And dash the piss-pot in his eyes. Accordingly, in woeful case, He dashd it in the squires face; Away he goes, and nothing said, Supposing it had been the maid. She laughed at the pleasant jest, And gave him then among the rest A diamond ring with kisses sweet, But did not understand the cheat. Then he arose and went his way. Behold on the succeeding day, Upon his right-hand the ring she espyd. Pray where had you the same, she cryd? He answerd then, and thus he said, Pray be not in the least dismay; For you was loving, kind and free, Last night, and gave the same to me. O bless me! did I lie with you? Since it is so, I pray be true; And do not let the same be told, So thou shalt never want for gold. He vowd he would conceal the same, Soon after this the squire came, Saying, Why was you so unkind? The piss pot made me almost blind. The youthful damsel answerd thus, Tis good enough if it were worse: Because you thought to ruin me, My honour and my chastity. IN part the third we must return, Unto a mighty great concern; Conststing of some thousand pounds, Which the poor soldiers fortune crowns. Behold her wealthy father he, Did send four mighty ships to sea. Laden with glorious merchandize, Rich silks and other wares likewise. They had been gone full seven year, No tale or tiding they could hear Of them; at length he gave them oer, And never thought to see them more. At length there was a letter brought, The ships were safe with riches frought:

Near to the borders of the land, Which news came to his daughters hand. Then having viewd and read the same, She to the ragged soldier came; Crying, My dear, be true to me, You shall a Burgomaster be. My father thinks his ships are lost, Which now are on the Venice coast; And ere he does the tidings hear, Go buy his right in them, my dear. And when thou hast the bargain bought, Of four large ships richly fraughr; Be what it will, of me you shall Have money to pay for it all. Then on her father he did wait, And struck a bargain with him strait; For the four ships four hundred pound, Whether the same be lost or found, No sooner was the bargain made, And that small sum of money paid; But he heard the ships were come. Their burden was a mighty sum. Then did the Burgomaster fret, Cause he with such a loss had met; But since it could not better be, He with the soldier did agree. To take the daughter for a bride, With all my heart, he then replyd; Then out of hand they married were, The soldier and the lady fair. No sooner were they man and wife, But strait her father left this life, And when he in his grave was laid, The son was Burgomaster made. He that had travelld many miles Was now by fortunes special smiles Made mighty, powerful and great, And knew no end of his estate. NOW mind the latter part I pray, I make no question but youll say, Still as you read the story out, The things were strangely brought about. While he was Burgomaster we hear, His former captain did repair Unto his house by chance to dine, With other brave cammanders fine. The Burgomaster seeing that, He strait put on his no crownd hat; With all his ragged cloaths, And so into the room he goes. The captain then began to swear, Lieutenant, pray see who is there My ragged Burgomaster, who In private from his colours flew. Strait from the presence of his good

He stepd away, himself he drest In sumptuous robes he drest amain. And then returnd to them again. The captain said, Right worthy sir Here is a foolish ragged cur: Endud with neither wit nor sense, Ill hang him eer I go from henee He from his colours did desert. The Burgo said, Be not so tart. In presence of these gentlemen, Write his discharge, heres guineas ten. He wrote the same, and took the gold The Burgomaster said, Behold, I am the man, and now at last What once I said is come to pass. The captain then began to fume, And told his gallants in the room, If he had known as much before, It should have cost him ten times more. And then within a month or less, The knight whom once he did address, To lend him five pounds on the road, Come there to take up his abode. The Burgomaster as before, Put on his robes both rent and tore; So that the knight might know him strait, As he did on his worship wait, He to his coachman turnd him round, And said, Theres one owes you five pounds When do you think the same to get, He is not Burgomaster yet. The coachman said, as I do live, I freely do the same forgive; Because I to my sorrow see, He still remains in poverty. For some short time he went away And drest himself in rich array; In feathers fine, and rich perfume, And so returnd into the room. Having discoursd with them awhile, He told the coachman with a smile. As he helpd him in time of need, He would return it now indeed. He gave him then five thousand pound Likewise a match for him he found, A sweet young lady fair and clear, Daughter to a renowned peer. The knight was vexed to the heart, That he must with his servant part? But let him grieve, it must be so, Whether his lordship will or no. Thus he who once was mean and poor, At length enjoys a happy store; W[h]ich fortune unto him did send, And he provd grateful to his frind