From the Bodleian broadside collection, Harding B 11(632):


THE COCKNEY AND PLOUGH BOY.

I'll tell you a story of a Londoner of late,
Who roved in the country to seek for his mate.
He put in his pocket three hands full of gold,
With his sword by his side to make him look bold.

He rode till he came to fair Beverley town,
Where there he alighted and put up at the Crown.
A beautiful damsel appeared to his eye,
Which caused him to stay all night for to lie.

He says, my dearest jewel, if thou will be mine,
All the gold and the silver I have shall be thine.
O no, kind sir, now your passion do assuage,
For to toy with the plough boy I'm deeply engaged.

The plough boy standing by and hearing her say so,
O now, says the plough boy, I know what I know,
For she is the girl which ought for to be mine,
But if thou can but gain her then she shall be thine.

Come, come, you saucy fellow, what makes you for to prate?
Stand from under my weapons or I'll break your pate.
You're some country bumpkin sprung from the plough tail,
That never handled a weapon but a whip or a flail.

Come, come, my brave fellow. Let's go to yonder field.
We will never give it up until one of us yield,
So it never shall be said upon any hard pinch,
That the plough boy's afraid for to fight for a wench.

They fought for half an hour before the company could say,
Which of these heroes had won the day,
Till at length the young plough boy gave cockney such a fall,
Saying now mister cockney, you shall pay for all.

Here's my gold and my bags. It's all that I have.
I'll freely give it to you my life for to save,
But do not let me in this strange country die,
But O carry me to London and there let me lie.

So the plough boy with his gold and his bags by his side,
He went to his fair maid & he made her his bride.
It never shall be said that upon a hard pinch,
That the plough boy's afraid to fight for a wench.