They lov'd exceeding well,
as plainly doth appear;
But that which I shall tell,
the like you ne'er did hear.
Still she cries, Anthony,
my bonny Anthony,

Gang thou by Land or Sea,
I'll wend along with thee.

Anthony must to Sea,

his calling doth him bind, My Constance, Dear, quoth he, I must leave thee behind; I prithee do not grieve,

thy Tears will not prevail; I'll think on thee, my sweet, when the Ship's under sail. But still, &c.

How may that be, said he,
consider well the case;
Quoth she, Sweet Anthony,
I'll bide not in this Place;
If thou gang, so will I;

for the means do not doubt, A Woman's policy

great Matters may find out.
My bonny, &c.

I would be very glad,

but prithee tell me how? I'll dress me like a Lad,

what say'st thou to me now?

The Sea thou can'st not brook,
Yes, very well, quoth she,
I'll Scullion to the Cook,
for thy sweet Company.
My bonny, &c.

Anthony's leave she had,
and drest in Man's array,
She seem'd the blithest Lad,

seen on a Summer's day; O, see what Love can do,

at Home she will not bide ; With her true Love she'll go, let weal or woe betide. My dearest, &c.

In the Ship 'twas her lot to be the Under-Cook ; And at the Fire hot,

great Pains she had took; She serv'd ev'ry one

fitting to their degree; And now and then alone she kissed Anthony. My bonny, &c.

Alack and well-a-day,

by Tempest on the Main, Their Ship was cast away upon the Coast of Spain; To th' mercy of the Waves, they all committed were, Constance her own self saves, then she cries for her Dear.

My bonny, &c.

Swimming upon a Plank,

at Bilbo she got ashore;
First she did Heaven thank,
then she lamented sore;
O woe is me, said she,
the saddest Lass alive,
My dearest Anthony

now on the Sea doth drive.
My bonny, &c.

What shall become of me?
why do I strive for Shore,
Sith my sweet Anthony,

I never shall see thee more! Fair Constance, do not grieve, the same good Providence, Hath sav'd thy Lover sweet, but he is far from hence. Still she, &c.

A Spanish Merchant rich,
saw this fair seeming Lad,
That did lament so much,
and was so grievous sad;
He had in England been,
and English understood;
He, having heard and seen,
he, in Amazement stood.
Still she, &c.

The Merchant asked her
what was that Anthony?

Quoth she, My Brother, Sir,

who came from thence with me.

He did her entertain,

thinking she was a Boy, Two years she did remain, before she met her Joy. Still she, &c.

Anthony up was ta'en

by an English Runagade, With whom he did remain at the Sea-roving Trade; I' th' nature of a Slave,

he did i' th' Galley row, Thus he, his life did save, but Constance did not know. Still she, &c.

Now mark what came to pass, see how the Fates did work, A ship that her Master's was, surpriz'd this English-Turk: And into Bilbo brought

all that aboard her were, Constance full little thought, Anthony was so near. Still she, &c.

When they were come on Shore, Anthony and the rest, She, who was sad before, was now with Joy possest. The Merchant much did muse at this so sudden change; He did demand the News, which unto him was strange

Now she, &c.

Upon her Knees she fell,
unto her Master kind,
And all the truth did tell,
nothing she kept behind :
At which he did admire,
and in a ship of Spain,
Not paying for their hire,
he sent them home again.
Now she, &c.

The Spanish Merchant rich
did of his own Bounty give,
A Sum of Gold, on which
they now do bravely live:
And now in Westmorland,
they were joyn'd hand in hand,
Constance and Anthony,

they live in Mirth and Glee.
Still she cries, Anthony,

my bonny Anthony,
Good Providence we see,

both guarded thee and me.

LXXXV

The Gallant Seaman's Return from the

Indies;

or, The Happy Meeting of two Faithful

Lovers

I AM a stout Seaman, newly come on shore,
I have been a long voyage, where I nere was before;
But now I am returned, I'me resolved to see
My own dearest honey, whose name is Betty.