THE
Fair MAID of the WEST;

Who fold her Maidenhead for a High-crown'd Hat.

I Pray attend unto this Jeſt,
A youthful Maiden in the Weſt,
She was gay and handſome too,
As I truth may tell to you,

And therefore now I pray attend,
Unto theſe lines which I have pen'd,
And if you do not ſay the fame,
I think you will be much to blame.

Upon a day it happened so,
That ſhe would to market go,
Taking her money great and small,
To buy a high-crown'd hat withal.

As soon as e'er ſhe did come there,
Unto a shop ſhe did repair;
Where ſoon a youthful batchelor,
Did fix his wanton eyes on her.

Kind Sir, ſaid ſhe, a hat I'd have,
And pray let me have what I crave,
One that is fine and light to wear;
He ſtrait did fit her to a hair.

What is the price? ſhe then reply'd,
Seven Shillings I have deny'd ;
I will fit you well he ſaid,
Becausc you are a hanſome Maid.

I'll let you have it for a crown,
If that you'll let me lay you down
Upon my ſoft and downy bed,
There to enjoy your Maidenhead.

She ſeem'd to blush and ſtand a while,
At length ſhe anſwered with a smile,
What Maidenhead and money too,
No, kind fir, that will not do.

He ſtrait did whifper in her ear,
I will beſtriend thee now my dear,
Let me enjoy my heart's delight,
And you ſhall have the Hat outright.

This maid ſhe did no longer ſtand,
But struck the bargain out of hand:
And having given the youth content,
She took her Hat and away ſhe went.

Now as ſhe paſt along the way,
She to herſelf theſe words did ſay,
With a fine Hat I now am ſped,
And all for a filly Maidenhead.

Then coming to her mother ſtrait,
This hopeful bargain to relate:
O Mother ! O mother ! as I'm true,
I have a Hat and Money too

Why Huffey, her Mother then reply'd,
How was the haberdather paid ?
He had my Maidenhead ſaid ſhe,
Which was a great plague unto me.

The good old wife flew in a rage,
And nothing could her wrath affluage,
Thruſtling her daughter out of doors,
And ſaid, ſhe'd never own her more.

If this fame Hat ſhe did not take,
And to the town again make haſte,
And give it him with whom ſhe had lain,
And bring her Maidenhead back again.

With ſights and tears ſhe did lament,
As to the market town ſhe went,
To tell the ſhopkeeper therefore,
He muſt her Mafdenhead reſtore.

For why, my mother won't agree,
That I ſhould part with it, ſaid ſhe.
Why then come in, I will freely part
With it to thee with all my heart.

As ſoon as ſhe did it receive,
Poor heart ſhe did no longer grieve,
But made a curſey to the ground,
Becausc ſhe had this kindneſs found.

Then home again this laſ did hie,
And told her mother prefently,
An honest man he ſeem'd to be,
For he reſtor'd it willingly.

Well daughter had it not been ſo,
It might have been your overſhow
But ſince he did it you reſtore,
See that you play the fool no more.

Printed and Sold in Aldermary Church-Yard, Bow Lane, London.