Page:Wandering young gentlewoman, or, Cat-skin's garland.pdf/4



HIS lady had a son both comely and tall,

Who oftentimes used to be at a ball,

A mile out of town in an evening tide,

To see the ball acted away he did ride.

Cat-skins, said to his mother, madam let me

Go after your son, this fine ball for to see,

With that in a passion, this lady she grew,

Struck her with a laddle, which she broke in two.

And being thus served, she then went away,

And with a rich garment, herself did array;

Then to see this ball with great speed did retire,

Where she danced so rarely, all did her admire.

The sport being done, the young ’squire did say,

Young lady, where do you live! tell me I pray,

Her answer was unto him, that I will tell,

At the sign of the broken laddle I dwell.

She being very nimble, got home first ’tis said.

And with her Cat-skin robes she soon was array’d,

And into the kitchen again she did go,

But where she had been, none of them did know.

Next day the young ’squire, himself to content,

To see the ball acted, away then he went,

She said, pray let me go, this ball for to see,

Then struck her with a skimmer & broke it in three.

Then out of doors she ran with heaviness,

And with her rich garments herself then did dress,

And to this ball she ran away with speed,

And to see her dancing, all wondered indeed.

The ball being ended, this young ’squire then,

Said, where is't you live? She answer’d again,

Sir, because you ask me, an account I will give,

At the sign of the broken skimmer I live.

Being dark, then she lost him, & homeward did hie

And with her Cat-skin robe, was drest presently,

And into the kitchen among them she went.

But where she had been they were all innocent.