THE BONELACE WEAVERS
SONG
(Here is myrthe and melody)
I am a maid new
com to towne,
But lounge I
will not tarry.
I have but two
years for to stay,
and then I
thinke to marry.
But if a briske
younge man com in,
and that is no
decever,
to corte him
then I will begin,
Like a bone-lace
weaver.
If that he be a
gentellman,
and vowes he’ll
love me kindly,
then for him
I’le doe what I can,
and strive to
please him finely.
Of if he be a
yoman good,
and to me no
decever,
then I will
strive to pleas his mood,
Like a bone-lace
weaver.
We get our
living with our handes,
having our wits
about us.
We hope to
purches hous & lands,
tho young men
the doe flout us.
But let them all
say what y can,
Wee’l trust no decever,
Wee’l sing you
songs of peg and nan,
Like a bone-lace
weaver.
We keepe out
hands both whit and neat,
our pritty lace
to handle.
We sing our
sonits all compleat,
By daylight or a
candell.
And when out
Task we ended have,
Our Mistris
shews such fancy,
We sport ans
sing, that all doth ring,
O Brave
Bone-lace weaver.
And thus we
leade most merry lives,
We heed no young
mens saying.
We scorne for to
be married wives,
Wee’l keepe our
fingers playing.
Wee’l weare
brave laces on our heads,
We scorne as
yeat a beaver,
Wee’l worke a
pace, Brave flanders lace,
O Brave
Bone-lace weaver.
http://lacenews.net/page/4/ http://posy.typepad.com/posy/2006/03/lace_making.html