A Fayre Portion for a Fayre Mayd

Now all my Friends are dead and gone,
alas what shall betide me,
For I poore maid am left alone
without a house to hide me:
Yet still Ile be of merry chéere,
and haue kind welcome euery where
Though I haue but a Marke a yeare,
And that my mother gaue me.

I scorne to thinke of pouerty,
or wanting food or cloathing,
Ile be maintayned gallantly,
and all my life-want nothing;
A frolicke minde Ile alwayes beare,
my pouerty shall not appeare,
Though I haue but a marke a yeare,
And that my mother gaue me.

Though I am but a silly Wench
of countrey education,
Yet I am woo'd by Dutch and French,
and almost euery nation:
Both Spaniards and Italians sweare
that with their hearts they loue me deare,
Yet I haue but a Marke a yeare,
And that my mother gaue me.

The Welch the Irish and the Scot,
since I came to the Citie,
In loue to me are wondrous hot,
they tell me I am pretty:
Therefore to liue I will not feare,
for I am sought with many a teare,
Yet I haue but a Marke a yeare,
And that my mother gaue me.

This London is a gallant place
to raise a Lasses fortune;
For I that came of simple race,
braue Roarers doe importune:
I little thought in Wostersheere
to find such high preferment here,
For I haue but a Marke a yeare,
and that my mother gaue me.

One giues to me perfumed Gloues,
the best that he can buy me,
Liue where I will I haue the loues
of all that doe liue nigh me:
If any new toyes I will weare,
I haue them cost they ne'rs so deare,
And this is for a marke a yeare,
And that my mother gaue me.

My fashions with the Moone I change,
as though I were a Lady
All quaint conceits, both new and strange,
Ile haue as soone as may be;
Your courtly Ladies I can féere,
In cloaths but few to me come neare,
Yet I haue but a Marke a yeare,
And that my mother gaue me.

French gownes with sléeues like pudding-bags
I haue at my requesting:
Now I forget my countrey rags,
and scorne such plaine inuesting:
My old acquaintance I cashéere,
and of my kin I hate to heare,
Though I haue but a marke a yeare,
And that my mother gaue me.

My Petty-coats of Scarlet braue,
of Veluet, silke and Sattine:
Some students oft my loue doe craue,
that speake both Gréeke and Latine,
The Souldiers for me dominéere,
and put the rest into great feare,
All this is for a marke a yeare,
And that my mother gaue me.

The Precisian sincerely woes,
and doth protest he loues me,
Ho tires me out with Ies and noes,
and to impatience moues me:
Although an oath he will not sweare,
to lye at no time he doth feare,
All this is for a Marke a yeare,
And that my mother gaue me

My Coach drawne with foure Flanders mares
each day attends my pleasure,
The Water-men will leaue their fares
to waite vpon my leasure:
Two Lackies labour euery where,
and at my word run farre and néere,
Though I haue but a marke a yeare,
And that my mother gaue me.

I'th pleasant'st place the Suburbs yéelds,
my lodging is prepared:
I can walke forth into the fields,
where beauties oft are aired;
When Gentlemen doe spy me there,
some complements I'me sure to heare,
Though I haue but a marke a yeare,
And that my mother gaue me.

Now if my friends were liuing still,
I would them all abandon,
Though I confesse they lou'd me well,
yet I so like of London,
That farewell Dad and Mammy deare,
and all my friends in Worstershire:
I liue well with a Marke a yeare,
Which my old mother gaue me.

I would my sister Sue at home,
knew how I liue in fashion,
That she might vp to London come
to learne this occupation:
For I liue like a Lady here,
I weare good cloaths and eate good cheare
Yet I haue but a Marke a yeare,
And that my mother gaue me.

Now blessed be that happy day
that I came to the Citie:
And for the Carrier will I pray,
before I end my Ditty.
You Maidens that this Ditty heare,
though meanes be short, yet neuer feare,
For I liue with a Marke a yeare,
Which my old mother gaue me.