Taylor's garland

THE

TAYLOR's

GARLAND.

In Five PARTS.

Part I. Shewing a Talor’s Courtship to a young Lady who often denied him and abused him before she gave consent and how her parents threatened her.

Part II. How her parents sent her to London to stay with a friend where she wrote home for the Taylor.

Part III. How the Taylor went to London married her privately and got her with child and then returned home without her.

Part IV. How her father sent for the Taylor when he knew she was with child, hired him to take her and be the child’s father.

Part V. Shewing when the Taylor had got the money, and his marriage over told her father how he had tricked him.

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Printed by J. Chalmers & Co. CastleStreet Aberdeen

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THE TAYLOR’s GARLAND.

To the tune of, king William and his Forresters

You pretty young maids that has mourn’d many years
Come chear up your hearts and dry up your tears
Let not your grief and sorrows take birth;
For here I have bought you a garland of mirth.

A Garland of pleasure a garland of love,
How a young man did happen to prove
Successful in all his adventures of late;
When he in pursuit of his beautiful Kate.

He met with some difficult points by the way,
But nevertheless has he gained the day;
It crown’d him with honour and happiness too,
It made him amend for the storms he went thro’

Richard of Reading a taylor by trade;
Who courted a fair and a young beautiful maid;
Whose parents were wealthy and therefore behold
He gained her love with abundance of gold.

the taylor came often to measure her waist
At length with soft kisses her love he imbrac’d
He told her a thousand fine stories likewise,
But she at the first did his calling despise.

You are a bold impudent fellow quoth Kate,
How dare you presume to talk at this rate?
Be gone from my presence I tell you in brief,
I never intend to marry a thief.

I am no such person the Taylor reply’d,
Therefore in these terms I'll not be deny'd
My trade is sufficient a wife to maintain
What need I to pilfer for profit or gain?

It is a great folly to brag of your trade,
You know I have a fortune and richly array’d;
Then how do’st thou think to maintain me, I pray,
By working for sixpence or twelve pence a day?

Then love do not treat me with scorn and disdain;
I'll make no great question, but you I’ll maintain,
My jewel, and thou shalt be richly array’d,
By help of thy fortune I’ll set up my trade.

But does thou imagine my friends will bestow
Their daughter on you, they very well know,
Your slender condition so poor as you are,
In certain they will not and therefore forbear.

Will not, nor cannot, be clearly deny'd,
You must be my jewel, my joy, and my bride,
And as for your parents I’ll make them agree,
(illegible text)ar joy if thou wilt be ruled by me.

When kisses had softened her innocent heart,
When every glance did some favour Impart,
Without more disputing she yielded true love,
And this was kept private three months and above.

Her father he came for to hear at the last;
(illegible text) all that in private between them had past;
Wherefore in a desperate passion he fell,
And said, you must bid your Taylor farewell.

Or else I'll disown you for ever he cry'd,
A gentlemans son I mind to provide,
And three hundred pounds in portion I'll give,
That so you may flourish so long as you live.

But true love so deep an impression hath made;
Upon her poor heart that in sorrow she said,
I cannot forget him for being my spouse,
For he his my dear jewel by sacred vows.

PART II.

The very next time she met with her dear,
she told him her parents were sharp and severe
Had solemnly vowed they’ll not be reconcil'd,
But clearly disowns me for being their child.

And if that I offer to marry with you
And therefore henceforth I bid you adieu,
Wishing you good fortune wherever you go,
Then tears like a fountain from her eyes did flow.

I pray thee be chearful my dearest he said,
Aitho' they forsake thee my hands shall provide,
For thee, my dear jewel, while life does remain,
I hope you shall never have cause to complain.

At present I nothing enjoy but my trade,
But after the death of thy father he said,
I shall have a house and a parcel of land,
Whatever I have shall be at your command.

Whatever they now in their passion do say,
They cannot forget you perhaps we must stay,
A while till the height of their anger be o'er,
And then I'm sure they'll replenish your store.

Thus having discours’d with his love for a while,
He did both her grief and her sorrows beguile;
(illegible text) when she went home and as she entered in,
Her parents, declar’d with her love she had been.

She could not deny it therefore they agreed,
to send her away to fair London with speed,
To live with a cousin and hoped that she might
Forget him when long she had been from his sight.

She had not been long in the city before
(illegible text)feat to her love, who her charms did adore,
A letter which dearly unfolded her mind,
And where he his amorous jewel might find.

(illegible text) which her whole heart he did understand,
And how they should privately seal up the band,
She kiss’d it and said, I’ll be soon with my dear;
But no friends I have of this blessing shall hear.

Well drest in apparel he posted away,
In London’s fair city, he waited each day,
(illegible text) fortunes kind favour affords him a sight
Of Kate his sweet jewel his joy and delight.

She freely went with him, and married they were,
And things were provided with industrious care,
And by her inventions she finds out a way,
Each night to her lodging her love to convey.

PART III.

Thus he being bound for fair Reading again,
⁠He said here in this city thou must still remain
If thou with child love shall happen to be,
Say nothing of marriage, say nothing of me.

Take courage and suffer the shame for a while,
Thy father and thy mother I’ll soon reconcile,
They’ll grant I shall have thee without all dispute
So shall we have love ay and money to boot;

Within four or five months she begins for to show
So large in the waist that her coats they did grow,
Nay too short before and her apron too;
Her friend cried cousin what’s the matter wi’ you

Alas! in the city thou hast done amiss,
Your parents we must make acquainted with this
I fear that they quickly distracted will turn,
When that we inform them of what ye have done.

Come tell with whom you the wanton have plaid,
For ye are with child, but still nothing she said,
But shew’d by her visage some small discontent,
Where to her friends these sad tidings they sent.

Her father by reading it bit his two thumbs,
And cry’d, oh my daughter; her mother she comes
And says what’s the matter? quoth he she’s wi’ child
My honoured family now is defiled.

Some spark in the city has led her astray,
And now to my sorrow, I rue this sad day,
That ever I sent her away from this place,
Dear wife, she has brought us to shame and disgrace

I wish the poor Taylor had her he said,
Nay if he be willing her folly to hide,
He shall have her too and I'll likewise be bound,
To give him a portion of two hundred pound.
Nay husband says she when he comes to know,
That she’s half gone and cousin’d him so,
He may be cross to her all days of his life,
I will not deceive him I’ll tell him sweet wife.

PART IV.

They sent for the Taylor and told him the news
⁠And said if my danghter ye will not refuse,
But freely will take her behold as I live,
Here’s two hundred pounds as a portion I’ll give.

I will not take her with such trifles as that,
For I must both foster and father the brat,
And be at the charge of a midwife and nurse,
And twenty things more to pillage my purse.

Her dear loving mother she instantly cry’d,
Come take her and make her your honoured bride,
And I'll freely pay for the first lying in,
Before to the world ye discover her sin.

Then four hundred pound with your daughter I'll have,
And then I'll maintain her right gallant and brave,
No less than that fortune I tell you will do,
For she is with child and ye know not by who.

Her father reply’d I will make it up three,
Then do not stand screwing and squeezing of me,
It is a great portion you cannot deny,
Now therefore be willing and free to comply,
I will have that sum if your daughter I take,
And herein before you this promise I make,
To shew you wherein I deserve what I name,
And if that I do not I shall be to blame.
Here’s one hundred pound to bring up the child,
The second I’ll have because she’s defil’d,
The other is to cloath her and comfort herself,
The fourth I will have for my love and good will.
It’s very well said I will grant your request,
Let all be provided and inform the priest,
And finish the work and the word need not know,
But that ye were married a twelve month ago.

PART V.

For privity sake for his daughter he sent,
⁠And they to the church immediately went,
Where they being married her fathered I not fail,
To pay him down four hundred pound on the nail
When Richard had plac’d his money secure,
He says to her father and mother I’m sure,
The job is well done for I married her twice,
She has not been guilty of folly nor vice.
She’s clear and unspotted from folly or shame,
For when to the city of London I came,
I married my jewel about six months ago,
Yet no friend I have of this wedding did know.
Her father and mother were pleas’d to the heart,
To hear how wisely he acted his part,
Says they be but loving and kind to our child,
Now all is forgiv’n we are reconcil’d.
Her father he invites all the friends far and near,
To feast them with sumptuous delicate chear,
Who laugh’d at the frolick that Richard had play'd
And now near the city he sets up his trade.

FINIS.

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Printed by J. Chalmers & Co. Castlestreet Aberdeen.