%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The BERKSHIRE Lady / In FOUR PARTS. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 06/19/2014 32965

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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

BAtchelors of e'ery Station, / Mark this strange but true Relation, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 163 The BERKSHIRE Lady / In FOUR PARTS. The BERKSHIRE Lady In FOUR PARTS. The Berkshire Lady, In Four Parts ?-?

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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 Featured 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 6/19/2014 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America class clothing/ appearance law love marriage trickery/ deceit Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 6/19/2014 1:19:47 PM XBallad Doran, Thomas Created XML Version of Ballad 6/19/2014 1:19:47 PM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/19/2014 1:19:47 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/19/2014 1:19:47 PM Transcriptionist Two Way-Henthorne, Zane Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/19/2014 1:19:47 PM Transcriptionist One Rendt, Ariel Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/19/2013 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 12/6/2012 Checker William Hildalgo Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/18/2012 Bibliographer William Hildalgo Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 10/18/2012 Checker William Hildalgo Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The BERKSHIRE Lady</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">In FOUR PARTS.</hi></seg>
PART I. BAtchelors of e'ery Station, Mark this strange but true Relation, Which in brief to you I bring, Never was a stranger Thing. You shall find it worth your Hearing, Loyal Love is most endearing, When it takes the deepest Root, Yielding Gold and Charms to boot. Some will wed for Store of Treasure; But the greatest Joy and Pleasure Is in faithful Love, you'll find, Graced with a noble Mind. Such a noble Disposition Had the Lady, with Submission, Of whom I this Sonnet write: Store of Wealth, and Beauty bright. She had left by an old Grannum Full five thousand Pounds per Annum, Which she held without Conrroul: Thus she did in Riches roll. Tho' she had vast Store of Riches, Which some Persons much bewitches; Yet she bore a courteous Mind, Not in the least to Pride inclin'd. Many noble Persons courted This young Lady, 'tis reported; But their Labour prov'd in vain: They could not her Love obtain.
Tho' she made a strong Resistance, Yet by Cupid's kind Assistance She was conquer'd after all. How it was, declare I shall. Being at a noble Wedding, Near the famous Town of Reading: A young Gentleman she saw, Who belonged to the Law. As she view'd his sweet Behaviour. Every courteous Carriage gave her New Addition to her Grief, Forc'd she was to seek Relief. Privately she then enquir'd About him she so admir'd, Both his Name and where he dwelt, Such were the hot Flames she felt. Then at Night this youthful Lady Call'd her Coach, which being ready Homewards then she did return, But her Heart with Flames did burn.
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Night and Morning for a Season, In her Closet she would reason With herself, and often said, He has my poor Heart betray'd. I that have so many slighted, Am at length as well requited, For my Griefs are not a few. Now I find what Love can do.
He that has my Heart in Keeping, Tho' I for his Sake lie weeping. Little knows what Grief I feel, But I'll try it out with Steel. For I will a Challenge send him, And appoint where I'll attend him: In a Grove without Delay. By the Dawning of the Day. He shan't in the least discover, That I am a wounded Lover: By the Challenge which I send, But for Justice I contend. He has caused such Distraction, And I will have Satisfaction. Which if he denies to give, One of us shall cease to live. Having thus her Mind revealed, She a Letter sign'd and sealed; Which when it came to his Hand, The young Man was at a stand. In the Letter she conjur'd him, For to meet, and well assur'd him, Recompence he must afford, Or dispute it with his Sword. Having read this strange Relation, He was in a Consternation; But advising with a Friend, He persuades him to attend. Be of Courage, and make ready, Faint Heart never won fair Lady, In regard it must be so, I along with you will go.
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Early on a Summer's Morning When bright Phoebus was adorning. Every Bower with his Beams: This young Lady came it seems. At the Bottom of a Mountain, Near a pleasant crystal Fountain, There she left her gilded Coach, While she did the Grove approach. Cover'd with a Mask, and walking, There she met her Lover talking, With a Friend that he had brought. So she asked whom he sought. I am challeng'd by a Gallant, And resolve to shew my Talent, Who he is I cannot say. But resolve to shew him play. (Lady) It was I that did invite you, You shall wed me, or I'll fight you, Underneath these spreading Trees, Therefore choose you which you please.
You shall find I do not vapour, For I have a trusty Rapier, So now take your Choice said she, Either fight or marry me. Said he, Madam, pray what mean ye? In my Life I ne'er have seen ye, Pray unmask, your Visage show, Then I'll tell you ay or no. (Lady) I will not my Face uncover, Till the Marriage-Rites are over. Therefore take you which you will, Wed me, Sir, or try your Skill. Step within this pleasant Bower, With your Friend one single Hour, Strive your Mind to reconcile, I will wander here the while. While the beauteous Lady waited, The young Batchelor debated, What was best for to be done, Said his Friend, the Hazard run. If my Judgement may be trusted, Wed her, Sir, you can't be worsted, If she's rich, you rise to Fame, If she's poor, you're the same. He consented to be Married, All three in a Coach were carried, Unto the Church without Delay, Where he weds the Lady gay. Those sweet little Cupids hover'd, Round her Eyes, her Face was cover'd with a Mask. He took her thus Just for better or for worse. With a courteous kind Behaviour, She presents his Friend a Favour. Then she did dismiss him strait, That he might no longer wait.
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As the gilded Coach stood ready, The young Lawyer and the Lady. Rode together till they came, Unto a House of State and Fame. Which appeared like a Castle, Where you might behold a parcel Of young Cedars tall and strait Just before the Palace Gate. Hand-in-Hand they walk'd together, To a Hall, or Parlour rather, Which was beautiful and fair, All alone she left him there. Two long Hours there he waited Her return, at length he fretted, And began to grieve at last, For he had not broke his Fast.
Still he sat like one amazed, Round a spacious Room he gazed, Which was richly beautify'd. But alas! he'd lost his Bride. There was peeping, laughing, fleering. All within the Lawyer's Hearing, But his Bride he could not see, Wou'd I were at Home, said he. While his Heart was Melancholy, Said the Steward brisk and jolly. Shew me Friend, how came you here? You've some bad Design I fear. He reply'd, dear loving Master, You shall meet with no Disaster, Thro' my Means, in any Case. Madam brought me to this Place. Then the Steward did retlre, Saying, now I will enquire, Whether this is true or no; Never was Lover hamper'd so. Now the Lady that had fill'd him With this Fear, full oft beheld him, From a window as she drest, Pleased at the merry Jest. When she had herself attir'd, In rich Robes to be admir'd. Like a moving Angel bright She appear'd in his Sight. (Lady) Sir my Servants have related, How some Hours you have waited In my Parlour, tell we who In my House you ever knew. Madam, if I have offended, It is more than I intended; A young Lady brought me here, That is true, said she, my Dear. I will be no longer cruel To my Joy and only Jewel; Thou art mine, and I am thine, Hand and Heart I will resign. Once I was a wounded Lover But now all those Fears are cleanly over, By receiving what I gave, Thou art Lord of all I have. Beauty, Honour, Love and Treasure, A rich Golden Stream of Pleasure, With his Love he now enjoys Thanks to Cupid's kind Decoys. Now he's cloath'd in rich Attire, Not inferior to a Squire, Beauty, Honour, Riches store. What can a Man desire more?
Printed and Sold at the Printing-Office in Bow-Church-Yard, London.