Mistris Susan

Good Mistris Bride, now we haue hard your speach In commendation of your Nuptiall choyse, Giue me a little favour I beseech, To speake vnto you with a Virgins voyce: Though diuers elder maydes in place there be, Yet ile begin, trusting they'le second me.

We are your fellows but to Church you say, As custome is that maydes, should bring the Bride And for no longer then the wedding day, You hould with vs, but turne to tother side: Boasting of Honour you affend vnto, And so goe forward making much adoe.

But this vnto you lustly I obiect, In the defence of each beloued mayde, Virginity, is life of chast respect, No worldly burden thereupon is layd: Our syngle life, all peace and quiet bringes, And we are free from carefull earthly things.

We may doe what we please, goe where we list, Without pray husband will you giue me leaue Our resolutions no man can resist, Our own's our owne, to giue or to receiue, We live not under this same word obay: Till Death depart us, at our dying day.

We may delight in fashion, weare the same, And chuse the stuffe of last devised sale: Take Taylors counsell in it free from blame, And cast it off assone as it growes stale: Goe out, come in, and at selfe pleasure liue, And kindly take, what kind youngmen do giue.

Wee have no checking churlish taunts to feare us, We have no grumbling at our purse expence: We seeke no misers favour to forbeare us, We use no houshold wranglings and offence: We have no cocke to over crowe our combe,