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<DATE>2008-09-02</DATE>
<RESPSTMT>
<NAME>tcpstaff</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
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<ITEM>Proofed and reviewed as part of batch B080848.pdcc.</ITEM>
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<EEBO>
<IDG S="marc" R="UM" ID="B04518">
<STC T="W">N1295</STC>
<BIBNO T="umi">99887252</BIBNO>
<VID>183498</VID>
</IDG>
<TEXT LANG="eng">
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<DIV1 TYPE="ballad">
<PB N="368" REF="1" MS="y"><!-- PDF PAGE 3 -->
<HEAD>The Northern Ladd: <HI>OR,</HI> The Fair Maids Choice.</HEAD>
<ARGUMENT>
<HEAD><HI>Who Refus'd all for a</HI> Plowman, <HI>counting her &s;elf therein mo&s;t Happy.</HI></HEAD>
<LG>
<L><HI>A Country La&s;s who many &s;uitors had,</HI></L>
<L><HI>Some good, &s;ome mean, the wor&s;t of them not bad;</HI></L>
<L><HI>A</HI> Weaver, Taylor, Shoo-maker, <HI>fir&s;t came,</HI></L>
<L><HI>VVith many more of ample note and fame:</HI></L>
<L><HI>A</HI> Barber, Baker, Miller, <HI>and the like,</HI></L>
<L><HI>Yet unto none of tho&s;e her Sails &s;he'd &s;trike:</HI></L>
<L><HI>But in a Ru&s;tick-&s;he is only pleas'd,</HI></L>
<L><HI>A</HI> Plowman <HI>only has her fancy eas'd.</HI></L>
</LG>
</ARGUMENT>
<OPENER>To the Tune of, <HI>There was a La&s;s in</HI> Cumberland, &amp;c.</OPENER>
<P><FIGURE>
</FIGURE></P>
<P><FIGURE>
</FIGURE></P>
<LG>
<L>I Am a La&s;s o'th North Country,</L>
<L>and I was born and bred a whome;</L>
<L>Many a Lad has Courted me,</L>
<L>and &s;wore that they to wooe me come:</L>
<L><HI>But to bed to me, to bed to me,</HI></L>
<L><HI>the Lad that gangs to bed with me;</HI></L>
<L><HI>A jovial Plowman mu&s;t he be,</HI></L>
<L><HI>the Lad that comes to bed to me.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The fir&s;t that came with Breeches trim,</L>
<L>a <HI>Weaver</HI> was mo&s;t neatly dre&s;t,</L>
<L>But I alas wou'd none of him,</L>
<L>whil&s;t <HI>Weavers</HI> on Sheep-heads do fea&s;t.</L>
<L><HI>But to bed to me, &amp;c.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>For Heads and Horns are wemi&s;h meat,</L>
<L>to &s;erve a La&s;s of my degree;</L>
<L>Who Beef and Bacon always eat,</L>
<L>therefore he is no meat for me:</L>
<L><HI>But to bed to me, &amp;c.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The next a Taylor was &s;o fine,</L>
<L>with Sla&s;h, and Slits, and Cap-a-pee,</L>
<L>Who &s;crap'd, &amp; cring'd, &amp; &s;aid he's mine,</L>
<L>and that he fain would ligg with me:</L>
<L><HI>But to bed to me, to bed to me,</HI></L>
<L><HI>the Lad that comes to bed to me,</HI></L>
<L><HI>A lu&s;ty Plowman may he be,</HI></L>
<L><HI>the Lad that bumps the bed with me.</HI></L>
</LG>
<P><FIGURE>
</FIGURE></P>
<LG>
<L>HE whi&s;pering told me he wou'd mend,</L>
<L>a &s;lit I had to my content,</L>
<L>But &s;aucy Prick-lou&s;e did offend,</L>
<L>&s;o to be &s;titch'd I'&s;e not con&s;ent:</L>
<L><HI>For to bed to me, to bed to me,</HI></L>
<L><HI>the Lad that gangs to bed to me,</HI></L>
<L><HI>A bonny Plowman mu&s;t he be,</HI></L>
<L><HI>the</HI> Lad <HI>that &s;hakes the Sheets with me.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A Shoo-marker came jumping in,</L>
<L>who plainly did his &s;uit declare,</L>
<L>And did my foot to &s;queeze begin,</L>
<L>and on them pre&s;s'd of Shoon a pair:</L>
<L><HI>But to bed to me, &amp;c.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>He tickled me about the Knee,</L>
<L>and told me it was his reque&s;t,</L>
<L>To live, to love, and wa'd with me,</L>
<L>and I'&s;e &s;hou'd be of wealth po&s;&s;e&s;t:</L>
<L><HI>But to bed to me, &amp;c.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But the&s;e fine toys did not prevail,</L>
<L>tho' &s;pruce and fine with powder'd Locks</L>
<L>Nay, tho' he Two-pence &s;pent in Ale,</L>
<L>he cou'd no catch me in his &s;tocks;</L>
<L><HI>For to bed to me, &amp;c.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A <HI>Barber-Surgeon</HI> came to me,</L>
<L>whom I did take in great disdain,</L>
<L>He &s;aid his art I &s;oon &s;hould &s;ee,</L>
<L>for he would prick my ma&s;ter-Vein:</L>
<L><HI>But to bed to me, &amp;c.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But I repell'd his rude addre&s;s,</L>
<L>and told him 'twas my greate&s;t cares,</L>
<L>If wa'd a low&s;ie A-Snip, alas,</L>
<L>when he's incens'd &s;hould keep my ea<GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="1 letter"></L>
<L><HI>But to bed to me, to bed to me,</HI></L>
<L><HI>the man that comes bed to me,</HI></L>
<L><HI>An hone&s;t Plowman mu&s;t he be,</HI></L>
<L><HI>the</HI> Lad <HI>that is embrac'd by me.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A <HI>Baker</HI> next-who call'd me Cozen,</L>
<L>did beg for one &s;alute of me,</L>
<L>Pre&s;enting &s;traight <HI>French</HI> Roals a dozen,</L>
<L>but's Neck was warp'd with Pillory:</L>
<L><HI>Oh! to bed to me, &amp;c.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And then a Miller who for cogging,</L>
<L>for thieving and &s;uch like with's Bowl</L>
<L>Vpon his Hor&s;e came &s;oftly jogging,</L>
<L>who lighting &s;traight demanded Tole.</L>
<L><HI>But to bed to me, &amp;c.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>He told me I was his by right,</L>
<L>whereat I &s;mil'd disdainfully;</L>
<L>Your Stones &s;aid I are ruin'd quite,</L>
<L>therefore expect no more of me.</L>
<L><HI>But to bed to me, &amp;c.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A <HI>Plowman</HI> is the jovial Lad,</L>
<L>who &s;till de&s;pi&s;es grief and care,</L>
<L>With him content and plea&s;ure's had,</L>
<L>with him a Ru&s;tick life I'le &s;hare:</L>
<L><HI>'Tis he &s;hall came to bed to me, &amp;c.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>I'&s;e gra&s;p him in my arms all night,</L>
<L>and when the &s;hades &s;hall di&s;appear,</L>
<L>In plea&s;ing Groves we'l take delight,</L>
<L>and with &s;weet Songs each other chear</L>
<L><HI>Oh to bed to me, &amp;c.</HI></L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Come my dear when <HI>Nelly</HI> calls,</L>
<L>O let us in this &s;hady Grove,</L>
<L>Now venture on what e're befalls,</L>
<L>and quench the pa&s;&s;ion of my Love:</L>
<L><HI>Oh! to bed to me, to bed to me,</HI></L>
<L><HI>when thou art come to bed to me,</HI></L>
<L><HI>How happy then will <HI>Nelly</HI> be,</HI></L>
<L>when thou art come to bed to &s;he.</L>
</LG>
<TRAILER>FINIs.</TRAILER>
</DIV1>
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