Bruce Olson directed readers to the Scarce Songs#1 section of his Broadside Ballads; this is now hosted by Mudcat and can be found via the Quick Links drop-down menu at the top of every Mudcat page, or else at the CSU Fresno site Bruce Olson's Roots of Folk.

Here is the text of the Maiden's Sad Complaint as written by Bruce Olson:

The Maidens Sad Complaint for want of a Husband

Wherein she briefly doth declare
The want of a Mate makes her despair:
She hath her portion all in Houshold goods
Yet none of those that wear scarfs and Hoods
For she commends her self to any man
That will but please her all the best he can

To the new Westcountry Tune: Or,
Hogh when shall I be married? by L. W.

O when shall I be married,
hogh be married;
My beauty begins to decay:
'Tis time to find somebody
hogh some body
Before it is quite gone away

My father hath forty good shillings,
hogh good shillings;
And never a daughter but I:
My mother is also willing
hogh is willing
That I shall have all if she dye.

I have gotten some money about me
hogh about me
For to help me in time of need,
Five shillings pray do not flout me
hogh do not flout me
For I will be married with speed

My father did give me a dish,
hogh and a spoon,
And a Table made of an old board:
Some young man will for me wish
hogh will wish
When he hears how bravely I'me stord.

My mother she gave me a ladle
hogh a ladle
And that for the present lies by,
My aunt she hath promist a cradle
hogh a cradle
When any man with me does lye.

A pippin my Unkle he gave me
hogh he gave me
And milk=pourage in it to make;
And I let them burn so bravely,
hogh so bravely
To show that a slut I do hate.

I have got two spoons and a trencher,
hogh a trencher
with poringers made of clay;
Some squires son that is a wencher,
hogh a wencher
I wish he would fetch me away.

I have a soft bed to ly on
hogh to ly on
With feathers an ell long I say
But the most of all my sorrow
hogh my sorrow
Is for want of Batchellours play.

Fine pippins & noggins my cozen
hogh my cozen
Has gave me that are so good;
With taps and sossers a dozen
hogh a dozen
And a chamber pot made of wood.

Thus young men I have declared
hogh declared
My household stuff which do ly by;
These seven years I have despaired
hogh despaired
For fear I a maiden should dy.

If any youngman will have me
hogh will have me
And no other maiden esteem
I will maintain him bravely
hogh so bravely
And feast him with curd & cream.

For I'm a girl that's willing
hogh is willing
To change my maiden name;
So with me he will be billing
hogh be billing
I don't care from whence he came.

Then Thomas, Robbin or Willy,
hogh or Willy
Come any that is a man;
Let be Ralph, or Jarvis the silly
hogh wise or silly
Come love me as well as you can.

If any man will me marry,
hogh me marry
I'le love him wonderous well;
for if I longer should tarry
hogh should tarry
I fear I should lead Apes in Hell.

There are two wonderful blackletter copies, with splendid illustrations, in the Bodleian Collection:- Wood E 25(57) and Douce Ballads 2(145a).

Matthew