%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A constant wife, 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 English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 04/21/2015 35006

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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

1 Locks and Bolts doe hinder. Lie Lulling Beyond Thee Locks and Bolts do hinder. YOung Men and Maids, lend me your aids, / to speake of my deare Sweeting, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 1 A constant wife, a kind wife, / A loving wife, and a fine wife, / Which gives content unto mans life. A constant wife, a kind wife, A loving wife, and a fine wife, Which gives content unto man's life. Printer E.P. ?-? F. Coles

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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 4/21/2015 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America advice class clothing/ appearance love marriage Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/21/2015 12:18:11 PM XBallad McCants, Kristen Created XML Version of Ballad 4/21/2015 12:18:11 PM Transcription Supervisor Palmer Browne, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/21/2015 12:18:11 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Palmer Browne, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/21/2015 12:18:11 PM Transcriptionist Two Levinson-Emley, Rachel Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/21/2015 12:18:11 PM Transcriptionist One McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/21/2015 Checker Megan Palmer Browne Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 4/21/2015 Checker Megan Palmer Browne Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 3/9/2015 Checker Rachel LevinsonEmley Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 12/15/2014 Bibliographer Erik Bell Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 12/15/2014 Checker Erik Bell Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 12/15/2014 Checker Erik Bell Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">A constant wife, a kind wife,</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">A</hi> loving wife, and a fine wife,</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Which gives content unto mans life.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the tune of, Locks and Bolts doe hinder.</hi></seg>
YOung Men and Maids, lend me your aids, to speake of my deare Sweeting, It shewes how fortune hath betrayd, and often spoyld our meeting: She likely was for to be rich, and I a man but meanly, Wherefore her friends at me doe grutch, and use me most unkindly. Her constancy I will declare, wherein she proved loyall, But few with her that will compare, when they are put to tryall: Her friends 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 travel'd over craggy Rocks, ore moutaines, hills, and vallies, But she was kept from me with locks. onely through spight and malice, But love that conquers Kings and Queenes, herein did shew us favour, I brought to passe and wrought the meanes, in what place I should have her: She had an Uncle did detaine, and keepe her presence from me, Whom I was very like 't have slaine, because he did so wrong me.
I boldly 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 cal'd me at her window, O I would come to thee my Love, but doores and locks doe hinder. Whereat amazed I did stand, to heare her make that answer, I drew my sword into my hand, and straight the house did enter: And then I made the locks to flye, and doores in peeces shatter. I vow'd to have her company, and quickly I came at her. Her Uncle and some of his men, did after present follow, Who said I ne're should out againe, but in my blood should wallow: But with some hurt done on both sides, I brought my Sweet-heart from them Yung Men to win yourselves such Brides, fight for to overcome them. Then joyn'd wee hands in Hymens bands to love and live together, She lov'd 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 so much doe us injure, as part us from each other.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Second Part, to the same <hi rend="bold">T</hi>une.</hi></seg>
WIth hand and heart I will impart, the praises of my Sweeting, Now welcome joyes and farewell smart, blest be the time of meeting: With my Sweet-heart and onely deare, in whome is all my pleasure, The like of her doth not appeare, she is so blest a creature. O happy be the time and houre, that ere I saw her feature, Sure Heavens blisse on me did shoure, to send me such a creature; She is so pleasing to mine eye, the like was never any, She's vertuous, wise, and very kind, she far surpasseth any. Her comely feature may compare, with any in Towne or City, For curtesie she is most rare, likewise she is full of pitty; No vertue that can give consent, to any earthly creature, But God to her the same hath lent, to please the will of nature. Her golden locks like threeds of gold, her eyes like stars doe glister, Her cheeks like Rose, and Lillies told, she may be Venus Sister; She hath a dimpled chin, her neck shines like the Christall, Her like hath seldome times beene seene, she seemeth so celestiall.
Her armes and shoulders are compleat, her breast like Alabaster, Her wast and middle is so neat, there's none that ere surpast hsr: Her eloquence gives such content, in all that heare her phrases, That freely theyl yeeld their consent, to yeeld her earthly praises. Her Lilly hand is at command, to doe me any service, And quickly she will understand a matter whatsoere 'tis: If I bid goe she will not stay, to worke me a displeasure, But presently she goes away, and is not this a treasure. Her parts below Ile not descry, but they are very neat ones, A dainty foot, and 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 ther hearts, and at her fully aimed, Thus to conclude and end my Song, I wish well to the Female, Or else I sure should doe them wrong, and prove myselfe a tell-tale: Young Men adieu, prove not unkind unto your onely Sweeting, Observe your time, you need not rue, nor curse the houre of meeting.
FINIS. London Printed by E.P. for F. Coles, in the Old-bailey.