Whom naked nature, not the aydes

Of arte made to excell,
The good man's daughter sturres to see

That all were feat and well;
The earle did marke her, and admire

Such beautie there to dwell.

Yet fals he to their homely fare,

And held him at a feast: But as his hunger slaked, so

An amorous heat increast.

When this repast was past, and thanks,

And welcome too; he sayd Unto his host and hostesse, in

The hearing of the mayd :

Yee know, quoth he, that I am lord

Of this, and many townes;
I also know that

you
be

poore,
And I can spare you pownes.

Soe will I, so yee will consent,

That yonder lasse and I
May bargaine for her love; at least,

Doe give me leave to trye.
Who needs to know it? nay who dares

Into my doings pry?
First they mislike, yet at the length

For lucre were misled;
And then the gamesome earle did wowe

The damsell for his bed.

He took her in his armes, as yet

So coyish to be kist, As mayds that know themselves belov'd,

And yieldingly resist.

In few, his offers were so large

She lastly did consent;
With whom he lodged all that night,

And early home he went.
He tooke occasion oftentimes

In such a sort to hunt.
Whom when his lady often mist,

Contrary to his wont,
And lastly was informed of

His amorous haunt elsewhere;
It greev'd her not a little, though

She seem'd it well to beare.

And thus she reasons with herselfe,

Some fault perhaps in me;
Somewhat is done, that so he doth:

Alas! what may it be?
How
may

I winne him to myself?
He is a man, and men
Have imperfections; it behooves

Me pardon nature then.
To checke him were to make him checke, *

Although hee now were chaste:
A man controuled of his wife,

To her makes lesser haste.
If duty then, or daliance may

Prevayle to alter him;
I will be dutifull, and make

My selfe for daliance trim.
So was she, and so lovingly

Did entertaine her lord,

* To check is a term in falconry, applied when a hawk stops and turns away from his proper pursuit: to check also signifies to reprove or chide. It is in this verse used in both senses.

As fairer, or more faultles none

Could be for bed or bord,

Yet still he loves his leiman, and

Did still pursue that game,
Suspecting nothing less, than that

His lady knew the same:
Wherefore to make him know she knew,

She this devise did frame:
When long she had been wrong'd, and sought

The foresayd ineanes in vaine,
She rideth to the simple graunge

But with a slender traine.
She lighteth, entreth greets them well,

And then did looke about her :
The guiltie houshold knowing her,

Did wish themselves without her; Yet, for she looked merily,

The lesse they did misdoubt her. When she had seen the beauteous wench

(Than blushing fairnes fairer) Such beauty made the countesse hold

Them both excus'd the rather.
Who would not bite at such a bait?

Thought she: and who (though loth)
So poore a wench, but gold might tempt?

Sweet errors lead them both.
Scarse one in twenty that had bragg'd

Of proffer'd gold denieil,
Or of such yeelding beautie baulkt,

But, tenne to one, had lied.
Thus thought she: and she thus declares

Her cause of coming thether;
My lord, oft hunting in these partes,

Through travel, night or wether,

Hath often lodged in your house;

I thanke you for the same; For why? it doth him jolly ease To lie so neare his

game,
But, for you have not furniture

Beseeming such a guest,
I bring his owne, and come myselfe

To see his lodging drest.
With that two sumpters were discharg'd,

In which were hangings brave, Silke coverings, curtens, carpets, plate,

And all such turn should have.

When all was handsomly dispos’d,

She prayes them to have care That nothing hap in their default,

That might his health impair:
And, Damsell, quoth shee, for it seemes

This houshold is but three,
And for thy parents age, that this

Shall chiefely rest on thee;
Do me that good, else would to God

He hither come no more.
So tooke she horse, and eer she went

Bestowed gould good store.

Full little thought the countie that

His countesse had done so;
Who now return'd from far affaires

Did to his sweet-heart go.

No sooner sat he foote within

The late deformed cote,
But that the formall change of things
His wondring eies did note.

But when he knew those goods to be

His proper goods; though late,
Scarce taking leave, he home returnes

The matter to debate.

The countesse was a-bed, and he

With her his lodging tooke;
Sir, welcome home (quoth shee;) this night

For you I did not looke.
Then did he question her of such

His stuffe bestowed soe.
Forsooth, quoth she, because I did

Your love and lodging knowe:
Your love to be a proper wench,

Your lodging nothing lesse ;
I held it for your health, the house

More decently to dresse.
Well wot I, notwithstanding her,

Your lordship loveth me;
And
greater hope to hold

you

such
By quiet, then brawles, you see.
Then for my duty, your delight,

And to retaine your favour,
All done I did, and patiently

Expect your wonted 'haviour.
Her patience, witte and answer wrought

His gentle teares to fall:
When (kissing her a score of times)

Amend, sweet wife, I shall:
He said, and did it; (so each wife

• Her husband may' recall.

This Ballad is only an extract from “ Albion's England, or a historical map of the same island,” written by William Warner, an attorney of the common pleas in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and which, though now