%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A Constant Wife, and a Kind Wife, / A Loving VVife, and a Fine VVife, / VVhich 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 03/19/2016 35265

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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

R30922 1 Locks and Bolts do hinder Lie Lulling Beyond Thee Locks and Bolts do hinder YOung=men and Maids, lend me your (aids / to speak of my dear Sweeting HEr Uncle and some of his Men, / did after present follow, Houghton Library 25242.67 Editor none none none none Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 19 A Constant Wife, and a Kind Wife, / A Loving VVife, and a Fine VVife, / VVhich 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. ?-? F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke

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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 3/19/2016 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 3/19/2016 6:45:43 PM XBallad King, Joyce Created XML Version of Ballad 3/19/2016 6:45:43 PM Transcription Supervisor Palmer, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/19/2016 6:45:43 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Adkison, Katie Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/19/2016 6:45:43 PM Transcriptionist Two Bell, Erik Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/19/2016 6:45:43 PM Transcriptionist One McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/15/2016 Checker Katie Adkison Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/28/2015 Bibliographer Rachel LevinsonEmley Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
A Constant Wife, and a Kind Wife, A Loving Wife, and a Fine Wife, Which gives content unto mans life. To the Tune of, Locks and Bolts do hinder.
YOung-men and Maids, lend me your aids to speak of my dear Sweeting It shews how Fortune hath betray'd, and often spoyl'd our meeting: She likely was for to be rich; and I a man but meanly, Wherefore her friends at me do grutch, and use me most unkindly. Her constancy I will declare, wherein she proved loyal, But few that will with her compare, when they are put to tryal, 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, o're Mountains, Hills, and Valleys, But she was kept from me with locks, onely through spight and malice.
But Love that conquers Kings & Queens, herein did shew us favour, I brought to pass, and wrought the means, in what place I could have her: She had an Uncle did detain, and kept her person from me, Which I had very like to have slain, 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 voice, and call'd me at her Window, 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, and straight the House did enter: And then I made the Locks to fly, and Doors in pieces shatter, I vow'd to have her company, and quickly I came at her.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The second Part, to the same tune.</hi></seg>
HEr Uncle and some of his Men, did after present follow, Who said I ne'r should out again, but in my blood should wallow; But with some hurt done on both sides, I got my Sweet-heart from them: Young-men to get yourselves such brides, fight for to overcome them. Then joyn'd we 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 indure, and so shall mine forever, Till death doth us so much injure, to part us from each other. With hand and heart, I will impart, the praise of my dear Sweeting, Now welcome joys, and farewel 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 e'r I saw thy feature, Such heavens bliss on me did shour, to send me such a Creature; She is so pleasing to my Eye, the like was never any, She's vertuous, wise, and very kind, she far surpasseth many. Her comely Feature may compare, with any in Town or City, For courtesie she is most rare, likewise she's full of pitty: No vertue that can give content, 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 Lilly fold, she may be Venus Sister: She hath a dimple in her Chin, her neck shines like the Chrystal, The like hath seldom times been seen, she seemeth so Celestial. Her Arms and Shoulders are compleat, her brest like Alabaster, Her Wast and Middle is so neat, there's none that can surpass her, Her Eloquents gives such content in all that hear her praises, That freely they'l give their consent, and yield her Earthly praises. Her Lilly hands are at command, to do me any service, And quickly she will understand, a matter whatsoe'r it is: 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 i'le 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 enflamed; On her they wholly set their hearts, and at her fully aimed. Thus to conclude and end my Song, I wish well to the Female, Or else I should do them much wrong, and prove myself a tell-tale. Young-men adieu, prove not untrue, unto your onely Sweeting; Observe your time, you need not rue, nor curse the time of meeting.
Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke.