THE FEMALE FROLIC (English)
OR: An Account of a young Gentlewoman, who went upon the Road to rob in Man's Cloaths, well mounted on a Mare, etc.
Our first record of women taking to the highway for the purpose of robbery and crime is from the 14th century. Since the late 16th century, writers and street poets have been intrigued with the roaring girls, the Moll Cutpurses and those women who disguised themselves as sailors or soldiers, to follow their lovers or to avoid the more mundane cares of women. This kind of piece was probably to the 16th and 17th centuries what the cowboy films have been to our time - the wilds of Hampstead and Highgate were exotic and unmapped. Each heath or highroad had its denizens, and if the denizen was a woman so much the more exotic. This humorous song, known variously as "The Female Highwayman', "The Female Robber', was taken from the Pepys collection of broadside ballads. It is also printed in Alfred Williams* FOLKSONGS OF THE UPPER THAMES.


1    You Gallants of every Station,
Give ear to a Frollicksome Song;
The like was ne'er seen in the Nation,
'Twas done by a Female so young.

2    She bought her a Mare and a Bridle,
A Saddle and Pistols also,
She resolved she would not be idle,
For upon the Pad she did go.

3    She Cloathed her self in great Splendor,
For Breeches and Sword she had on,
Her Body appear'd very slender;
She showed like a handsome Young-man.

4    And then like a Padder so witty,
She mounted with speed on her Mare;
She left all her Friends in the City,
And steered her Course towards Ware.

5    The first that she met was a Grocer
Was walking with Cane in his Hand,
She soon to the Spark came up closer,
And boldly she bid him to stand.

6    She took from him but a Guinea,
And then met a Taylor with Shears,
And because the poor Rogue had no Money
She genteely clipt of his Ears.

7    The next that she met was a Tanner.
For loss of his money he cry'd,
And because he bawled in this manner,
She handsomely tanned his Hide.

8    And then she up with a Quaker,
She told him, she must have his Coin:
Quoth he, Thou silly Wise-acre
Thou shalt have no Money of mine.

9    She show'd him a Pistol to prove him;
He told her by Yea and by Nay,
That since the good Spirit did move him,   
She might take his money away.

10 An Excise-man then she accosted.
And bid him Deliver with speed;
He often of Valour had boasted,
But he was a coward indeed.

11 She Rifled him of his Money
Oh! This was a very rich Prize,
She took from him Four-score Guineys,
That he had for Excise.

12 The next that she met was a Padder,   
Well mounted upon a bay Nag;
Oh! This made her so much the gladder,
She told him she wanted his bag.

13 He thought she would certainly fight him,
Prepared himself out of hand:
But she was resolved to fright him,
She damn'd him, and bid him to stand.

14 He presently drew out his Rapier
And bid her to stand on her guard;
But quickly away she did Caper,
The High-way-man. follow'd her hard.

15 He followed and soon overtook her,
And searched her Breeches with speed;-
And as he did well overlook her,
He found her a Woman indeed!

16 The High-way-man stood all amazed;
But she had no cause to complain.
Tho' with her he did what he pleased,
He gave her the Money again.

Jim Carroll