The Politick Maid,
or,
A dainty new ditty,
Both pleasant and witty,
Wherein you may see
The maide's policie.
1 There was a knight was wine-drunke,
As he rode on the way,
And there he spide a bonny lasse,
Among the cocks of hay.
Sing loud, whistle in the winde,
Blow merry, merry,
Up and down in yonder dale,
With hey tro, nonney, nonney.
2 This gallant knight unto the lasse
Did present take his way,
But it seemd he had a shame-face,
He did not court and play.
3 When he came to this bonny lasse,
He found she was not coy;
His courtesie she did imbrace,
And did not say him nay.
4 If we should sit us downe here,
Upon the grasse so greene,
Here's neither sheet nor covering,
To keep our cloathing cleane.
5 'And if we should sit downe,' quoth he,
'Among the cockes of hay,
Then would come forth the king's pinder,
And take our steedes away.'
6 'I have rings on my fingers,
Made of the purest gold,
That will release our steedes againe
Out of the king's pinfold.
7 'Sir knight, if you will goe with me
Into my father's bowers,
There you may sit and talke with me
This three or foure houres.'
8 When she came to her father's bowers,
They were moted round about;
Then she slipt in at a wicket,
And left sir knight without.
9 'Now I am here, a maide, within,
And you, sir knight, without;
You may lay straw under your feete,
To keepe you from the gout.