Our King must have seamen and souldiers most stout, His enemies’ heart for to fear, And I for my honour will venture about, And I must bid adieu to my dear. MAID. O tell me not so, mine own dearest, I pray; For love’s sake take pitty on me; I’le do my endeavour to please thee alway If that I may have my love free. ’Tis far better staying with me on the shore, Where pleasures and joys do abound, Than for [you] to venture where cannons do roar, In the depth of the seas to be drown’d. O be not so cruel, my love, for to fight, But tarry, my dearest, with me; We’l find out a way in Love’s war for to fight, And I’le strive for to set my love free. MAN. All that thou canst do, my love, will not procure My freedom, I sorely do fear; But I must the hardship of service endure, And I must bid adieu to my dear. My captain by no means will let me go free, He likes me so well, I do hear; Therefore it’s in vain to beg my liberty, For I must bid adieu to my dear. MAID. I’le go to thy captain and fall on my knee; Perhaps he’l take pitty on me; If five pounds or ten pounds will buy thy discharge He shall have it to set my love free. THE CAPTAIN’S ANSWER. Not ten pounds nor twenty will buy his discharge, Fair maid, you must patiently bear; He shall go to sea for his King to ingage, And he must bid adieu to his dear. I’le have him to serve me upon the salt main, In battel with foes for to fight; Then cease, pritty maiden, and do not complain, For the wars is a souldier’s delight. MAID. Behold, noble captain, the sorrowful tears, That down my cheeks trickle amain, To move your hard heart to release me of fear And to grant me my love once again. No maiden’s heart ever was so full of woe, Then, good sir, take pitty on me; And let him no further into the wars go, But be pleased to set my love free. CAPTAIN. O cease thy suit, damsel, and be not so sad, Let reason thy mind now aswage; Ten thousand such seamen must e’re long be had, All against the proud foes to engage. MAN. My dearest, why dost thou the captain offend? Thou seest he by no means will yield; And I am resolved my blood for to spend Upon the salt sea or in field. Therefore be contented, and cease thy sad moan, Take comfort, and do thou not fear; If fortune befriend me, when as I am gone, I shall once again see mine own dear. MAID. My dearest, since thou must be parted from me, And here must no longer remain, The thought of thy love all my comfort shall be Until I do see thee again.