%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The West-country Wonder: / OR, / William the Serving-man's good Fortune in the Marriage of an ancient Lady, whom / he got with Child when she was threescore and six or seven Years of Age, tho' she had ne'er / been with Child before, to the Joy of her, and the Admiration of others. 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 03/03/2016 35069

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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

R228656 ATtend to this Relation, / Which I in kindness bring you, For Will, has prov'd himself a Man of Skill. Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 1 The West-country Wonder: / OR, / William the Serving-man's good Fortune in the Marriage of an ancient Lady, whom / he got with Child when she was threescore and six or seven Years of Age, tho' she had ne'er / been with Child before, to the Joy of her, and the Admiration of others. The West-country Wonder: OR, William the Serving-man’s good Fortune in the Marriage of an ancient Lady, whom he got with Child when she was threescore and six or seven Years of Age, tho’ she had ne’er been with Child before, to the Joy of her, and the Admiration of others. The West-country Wonder: OR, William the Serving-man's good Fortune in the Marriage of an ancient Lady, whom he got with Child when she was threescore and six or seven Years of Age, tho' she had ne'er been with Child before, to the Joy of her, and the Admiration of others. ?-? J. Blare

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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 3/3/2016 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America economics/ commerce love marriage procreation youth/ age Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 3/3/2016 3:42:44 PM XBallad Bell, Erik Created XML Version of Ballad 3/3/2016 3:42:44 PM Transcription Supervisor Palmer, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/3/2016 3:42:44 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/3/2016 3:42:44 PM Transcriptionist Two Champagne, Ashley Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/3/2016 3:42:44 PM Transcriptionist One Chung, Daniella Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/11/2015 Checker Kristen McCants Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/29/2016 Checker Katie Adkison Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/16/2015 Checker Rachel LevinsonEmley Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/6/2015 Bibliographer Rachel LevinsonEmley Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The West-country Wonder:</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">OR,</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">William</hi> the Serving-man's good Fortune in the Marriage of an ancient Lady, whom</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">he got with Child when she was threescore and six or seven Years of Age, tho' she had ne'er</hi></seg> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">been with Child before, to the Joy of her, and the Admiration of others.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="6" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the Tune of, <hi rend="bold">The Guinnea wins her. Licensed according to Order.</hi></hi></seg>
ATtend to this Relation, Which I in kindness bring you, The Wonder of the Nation, My loving Friends, I sing you; The like was never known before, There's a Lady that exceeds Threescore, By six or seven Years, This of a Truth appears, That now this very day, She is with Child, and may, Have two or three, they say, For Will, has prov'd himself a Man of Skill. This was an ancient Lady, Who had both Gold and Treasure,
In Bags and Coffers ready; Yet wanted youtful Pleasure; The Knight her Husband being dead, With her Servant William she did wed, A proper Man indeed, Who at a time of need, Could please a Woman well; And now the Truth to tell, He thousands does excel, For Will, has prov'd himself a Man of Skill. Altho' near Sixty seven, She makes as fair a figure, Of one scarce twice eleven, Few Women being bigger;
And joyfully she does declare, That she hopes to have a Son and Heir, She having none before, Tho' six above Threescore; Thus we may see in Truth, The sweet effects of Youth, She had a Coultish-tooth, And Will, has prov'd himself a Man of Skill. Raising so sweet a Flower, From such decays of Nature, It shows a manly Power, Of one that would not bait her An ace of what's a Woman's due; Such a brawny Lad you never knew, Both Proper, Straight and Tall, And lusty Limbs withal, Oh, such a Man behold, If he was to be sold, He's worth his weight in Gold, Thus Will, has prov'd himself a Man of Skill. When at the Lady's Table, He as Servant waited, She little though him able To do what is reloted; Yet when her Knight was laid in Grave, None alive but William would she have; She made him out of hand, The Lord of all her Land; Which kindness to requite, He yields her the delight And pleasant joys of night, For Will, has prov'd himself a Man of Skill. His Years is two and twenty, The Lady's thrice as many, Yet having Wealth in plenty, He loves her best of any, And she likewise does him adore, Having never any Child before; And since the deed is done, If it should prove a Son, We shall great Triumph see, For Lords of high Degree, Will at the Christning be, Since Will, has prov'd himself a Man [o]f Skill.
Printed for J. Blare on London-bridge.