I have been absent from her full many a day,
But yet I was constant in every way;
Though many a beautiful Dame I did see,
Yet none pleased me so well as pretty Betty.
Now I am intended, whatever betide,
For to go and see her, and make her my bride; If that she and I can together agree,
I never will love none but pretty Betty.
The gallant Seaman's Song at his meeting of Betty
Well met, pretty Betty, my joy and my dear,
I now am returned thy heart for to chear;
Though long I have been absent, yet I thought on
thee,
O my heart it was alwayes with pretty Betty.
Then come, my own dearest, to the Tavern let's go, Whereas wee'll be merry for an hour or two; Lovingly together we both will agree,
And I'le drink a good health to my pretty Betty.
And when we have done, to the Church we will hy,
Whereas wee'l be joyned in Matrymony;
And alwayes I'le be a kind husband to thee,
If that thou wilt be my wife, pretty Betty.
I will kiss thee, and hug thee all night in my arms,
I'le be careful of thee, and keep thee from harms;
I will love thee dearly in every degree,
For my heart it is fixed on pretty Betty.
For thee I will rove and sail far and near,
The dangerous rough sea shall not put me in fear
If I do get treasure, I'le bring it to thee,
And I'le venture my life for my pretty Betty.
And more then all this, I'le tell thee, my Dear,
I will bring thee home rich Jewels for to wear;
And many new fashions I will provide thee,
So that none shall compare unto pretty Betty.
Then come, mine own Dearest, and grant me thy
Love,
Both loyal and constant to thee I will prove;
If that thou wilt put trust and beleif in me,
I vow nere to love none but pretty Betty.
Betty's reply, wherein she shews her Love,
Promising him alwayes constant to prove.
O welcome, my Dearest, welcome to the shore,
Thy absence so long hath troubled me sore;
But since thou art returned, this I'le assure thee,
It is thou art the man that my Husband shall be.
Although that some Maids, now
Yet I'le never change my old Love for a new;
My promise I'le keep while life remains in me,
For tis thou art the man that my Husband shall be.
I have been courted by many a proper youth,
If thou wilt beleive me, I'le tell you the truth;
But all my affections I have set on thee,
For thou art the man that my Husband shall be.
Then, Dearest, be not discontented in mind,
For to thee I'le alwayes prove loving and kind;
No Lord nor Knight I'le have, if they would
have me,
For tis thou art the man that my Husband shall be.
If that I might gain a whole Ship-load of money,
I would not forsake my true Love and Honey:
No wealth, nor yet riches shall force or tempt me,
To forsake him who ever my true Love shall be.
This lusty brave Seaman and his dearest Dear,
Was married full speedily as I did hear;
Now they both together do live happily,
And he vows to love his pretty Betty.
He is overjoy'd now he has gain'd his mate,
They do love and live without strife or debate ;
He is kind unto her in every degree,
So I wish him well to enjoy pretty Betty.
All you young men and maidens pray learn by my song,
To be true to your sweethearts and do them no wrong;
Prove constant and just, and not false-hearted be,
And so I will now conclude my new Ditty.
T(HOMAS) L(ANFIERE).
LXXXVI
The Sailor Boy
THE sailing trade is a weary life,
It's robb'd me of my heart's delight,
And left me here in tears to mourn,
Still waiting for my love's return.
Like one distracted this fair maid ran,
For pen and paper to write her song,
And at ev'ry line she drop't a tear,
Crying alas! for Billy my dear.
Thousands, thousands all in a room,
My love he carries the brightest bloom,
He surely is some chosen one,
I will have him, or else have none.
The grass doth grow on every lea,
The leaf doth fall from every tree,
How happy that small bird doth cry,
That her true love doth by her lie.
The colour of amber is my true love's hair,
His red rosy cheeks doth my heart ensnare,
His ruby lips are soft, and with charms,
I'd fain lay a night in his lovely arms.
Father, father, build me a boat,
That on the ocean I may float,
And every ship that doth pass by,
I may enquire for my sailor boy.
She had not sail'd long upon the deep,
Till a man of war she chanc'd to meet :
O, sailor, sailor, send me word,
If my true love William be on board.
Your true love William is not here,
For he is kill'd and so I fear,
For the other day as we pass'd by,
We see'd him last in the Victory.
She wrung her hands and tore her hair,
Crying, alas! my dearest dear,
And overboard her body threw,
Bidding all worldly things adieu.
As I walked out one night, it being dark all over,
The moon did show no light I could discover,
Down by a river side where ships were sailing,
A lonely maid I spied weeping and bewailing.
I boldly stept up to her, and ask'd her what griev'd her,
She made me this reply, None could relieve her,
For my love is pressed, she cried, to cross the ocean,
My mind is like the Sea, always in motion.
He said, my pretty fair maid, mark well my story,
For your true love and I fought for England's glory,
By one unlucky shot we both got parted,
And by the wounds he got, I'm broken hearted.
He told me before he died his heart was broken,
He gave me this gold ring, take it for a token,
Take this unto my dear, there is no one fairer,
Tell her to be kind and love the bearer.
Soon as these words he spoke she run distracted, Not knowing what she did, nor how she acted, She run ashore, her hair showing her anger,
Young man, you've come too late, for I'll wed no stranger.
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