A London lad I was,

A merchants prentice bound,

My name George Barnwel, that did spend
My mafter many a pound.

Take heed of harlots then,

And their enticing trains;

For by that means I have been brought
To hang alive in chains.

As I, upon a day,

Was walking through the ftreet, About my mafters business,

I did a wanton meet.

A gallant dainty dame,

And fumptuous in attire.

With fmiling looks fhe greeted me,

And did my name require.

Which when I had delar'd,

She gave me then a kiss,

And faid, if I would come to her,
I fhould have more than this.

In faith, my boy, quoth fhe,
Such news I can you tell,
As fhall rejoice your very heart,
Then come where I do dwell.

Fair

Fair mistress, then faid I,

If I the place may know,

This evening I will be with you,

For I abroad must go,

To gather moneys in,

That is my mafters due:

And, ere that I do home return,
I'll come and visit you.

Good Barnwel, then quoth fhe,
Do thou to Shoreditch come,
And ask for mistress Milwood there,
Next door unto the Gun.

And trust me on my truth,

If thou keep touch with me,

For thy friends fake, and as my own heart,
Thou shalt right welcome be.

Thus parted we in peace,

And home I passed right;

Then went abroad and gathered in,

By fix o'clock at night,

An hundred pound and one :
With bag under my arm

I went to miftrefs Milwoods house,
And thought on little harm ;

VOL. II.

And

And knocking at the door,

Straightway herself came down ; Ruftling in moft brave attire,

Her hood and filken gown.

Who, through her beauty bright,
So gloriously did shine,

That the amaz'd my dazzling eyes,

She feemed fo divine.

She took me by the hand,

And with a modeft grace,

Welcome, fweet Barnwel, then quoth fhe,
Unto this homely place.

Welcome ten thousand times,

More welcome than my brother,

And better welcome, I protest,

Than any one or other.

And seeing I have thee found
As good as thy word to be,
A homely fupper, ere thou part,
Thou shalt take here with me.

O pardon me, quoth I,

Fair mistress I you pray;

For why, out of my mafters houfe

So long I dare not stay :

Alas,

This thing unto my fight

Was wond'rous rare and strange; And in my mind and inward thought It wrought a fudden change:

That I fo hardy was

To take her by the hand;

Saying, Sweet miftrefs, why do you

So fad and heavy stand?

Call me no mistress now,

But Sarah, thy true friend,

Thy fervant Sarah, honouring thee
Until her life doth end.

If thou would't here alledge,
Thou art in years a boy;

So was Adonis, yet was he
Fair Venus' love and joy.

Thus I, that ne'er before

Of woman found fuch grace, And seeing now so fair a dame Give me a kind embrace,

I fupp'd with her that night,
With joys that did abound;
And for the fame paid presently
In money twice three pound.

An