[Roxburghe Collection, II. 154, 155.]

The Faithful Farmer:

Or,

The Down-right Wooing betwirt Robin and Nancy.

When he had told her of his store,
she could not him deng;

Alas, what could she wish for more,
than Goods and Loyalty.

This may be Printed; R[ichard] P[ocock].
TO THE TUNE OF, O Mother, Roger [with his kisses].

The Down-right Wooing of Robin and Nancy.

"Give me thy Love, or else an Answer,
thou art she whom I adore ;

Did not you know my good old Grandsir,
he has left me all his store ?

Love, I do protest and vow,1
I have got a Cart and Plow,
Seven Pigs, besides a Sow,
Dearest, can you love me now?

Then prithee make no more ado,
If thou can'st love me, tell me true.

"I have not told you half my treasure,
love, my portion is not small;

I have riches out of measure,

thou shalt be the Dame of all:
There's a Coffer cram'd with Gold,
Besides Silver still untold,
Also Sheep and Lambs in fold,
Most delightful to behold;

If thou to love art now inclin'd,
I prithee let me know thy mind.

"He loved me his darling Robin,
making me his only heir,
Likewise left me Roan and Dobbin,
with his little bob-tail Mare:
When my Grandsir dy'd in peace,
Here he left me ten years' lease,
With a flock of Ducks and Geese,
Which does daily still increase ;

And therefore now, before you go,
If thou can'st love me, tell me so.

"Besides, this is not all my Riches,
there's his good old Coat of Buff,
Mounteer Cap,2 and Buff-skin Breeches,
besides all his Household-stuff:

1 Compare the fragmentary Scotch Song in Herd's Collection, 1776:

I hae laid three Herrin' in saut,

Lass, gin ye'll tak me tell me now;

I hae brew'n three pickles o' maut,

And I canna come ilka day to woo.

:

373

20

30

40

2 Montero Cap. For a later use of which, by Corporal Trim, see Tristram Shandy, vol. vi. chap. 24: it was of scarlet Spanish-cloth, faced with blue, mounted with fur, and embroidery. How the Farmer's grandsire got one is not told.

Pots and Pans, with Piggans' too,
All I have i'le give to you.

Let us make no more ado,

For I han't much time to wooe:
And therefore now, before I go,
If thou can'st love me, tell me so."

[Nancy replies:]

"But Robin, wherefore should you settle
love upon so mean a Bride?

Here you talk of Corn and Cattle,
and of twenty things beside:

Therefore when your friends shall know
That you do your self bestow

On a fortune mean and low,
They will seek my overthrow.

I'de rather be a poor man's wife,
Then live a discontented life."

[Robin continues:

"Sweet love, my Father and my Mother

they to this will now agree,

For they say, above all other,

thou wilt make a Wife for me:

Therefore, dearest, be not coy,
Let me now thy love enjoy,

As I am an honest Boy,

There is none shall thee annoy.

I'le tender thee both day and night,

50

60

And thou shalt have thy heart's delight. 70

"I prithee, Nancy, don't deny me,

If

why are you so mild and mute ?

you are resolv'd to try me,

let us make no more dispute;

Love, though I have this Estate,

As I freely do relate,

If thou wilt but be my Mate,

I'le forsake both Jone and Kate;

Though they have House and Land withal,
Yet thou art more to me then all."

80

'Piggan, properly Piggin, a small bucket or tub, with one stave longer than the others, to serve as a handle: used often as a milking pail for a single cow.

More Down-right Wooing of Robin and Nancy. 375

Printed for J. Blare, at the Sign of the Looking-Glass on London-Bridge. [Black-letter. Three Woodcuts: the third being on p. 385 R. Date 1685-88.]

2.-Doubtful Robin and Constant Nanny.

"When in doubt, and press'd hard, put an end to your dumps

By playing trump-card, if you've one.

differences

Hearts are Trumps!"

-Hoyle, on Troubled Waters.

union for this "Doubtful Robin" and "The Faithful Farmer" Robin, which preceded it in time. We bring them all together. The confusion among them will not be greater than what used to be at Martinmas time, in Manchester old church (before it was afflicted with Fraser), where fifty or a hundred couples were "spliced" wholesale, and some grumbled at having "gotten t' wrong Lass!" Whereupon, unless he has been sorely belied, the Clerk would reply, "Naw then, you chaps! no brawling in t' Church! Yo's awl married: ivry-one o' ye! Be off, and sort yoursen outbye."

[Roxburghe Collection, II. 116; Douce, I. 61.]

Doubtful Robin ;

Constant Pannp. A New Ballad.

TUNE OF, Wou'd you be a Man of Fashion; or, [The] Doubting Virgin [see our pp. 288, 353 and 345].

"DE

Earest Nanny, prithee tell me, be so just as tell me true, What hard fate was that befell me, to be slighted so by you?

I, that thought your vows so lasting, did imagine no deceit; But I find all your protesting to be nothing but a cheat; But I find all your protesting to be nothing but a cheat.

10

"Tell me, then, thou faithless Woman, why thou dost so ill with me?

Thou, that did protest that no man ever was so dear to thee. Tho' in vain I should perswade thee once thy promise to renew, Yet I pitty to upbraid thee, that thou art so much untrue: Yet [I pitty to upbraid thee, that thou art so much untrue."]