Hi,

This is one of the broadsides sent by Steve Gardham- thanks Steve. It's part of the "Brisk Young Sailor group" and has one "I wish" stanza.

"A New Song Call'd the Distress'd Maid" London, (no imprint) in the Madden Collection, Cambridge University Library (Slip Songs H-N no. 1337) c.1785.

A brisk young Sailor courted me,
He stole away my liberty;
He stole my heart with a free good will,
He has it now, and he'll keep it still.

When first i kept my belly low,
He would follow me thro' frost and snow;
But now my apron is to my chin,
He passes by and says nothing.

There is a ale-house in yonders town
My love goes in and sits him down.
He takes a stranger to his knee.
Which is a most sad grief to me.

In Cupid's chains I am fast bounwnd
No one can loose me but my love;
It's O come loose me and set me free
And set me at my liberty.

There is a man under yonder hill
A heart he has is hard as steel,
Two hearts he has instead of one
he will be a rogue when I am gone.

I wish my pretty babe was born
And smiling in his Daddy's arms
My soul to God my body to clay,
Then all my sorrows fled away.

This is different than the "Distressed Maid" ballads which Steve wrote an article online.

Richie