Come hither, the merri'st of all the nine,
   come, sit thee down by me, and let vs be iolly,
And in a full cup of Apollo's wine
   wee'll drowne our old enemy, mad melancholy :
         Which when wee haue done,
            wee'll betweene vs deuise
         A dainty new ditty
            with art to comprise ;
         And of this new ditty,
            the matter shall be--
         Gif ever I have a man,
            Blew-cap for me.

There liues a blithe Lasse in Faukeland towne,
    and shee had some suitors, I wot not how many ;
But her resolution she had set down,
    that shee'd haue a Blew-cap gif e're she had any :
         An English man,
            when our good king was there,
         Came often vnto her,
            and loued her deere :
         But still she replide, " Sir,
            I pray let me be,
         Gif ever I have a man,
            Blew-cap for me."

A Welchman, that had a long sword by her side,
    red pritches, red Tublet, red Coat, & red Peard,
Was make a creat shew with a creat deal of pride,
    and tell her strange tale that the like was nere heard ;
         Was reckon her pedigree
            long before Prute ;
         No body was by her
            that can her confute :
         But still she replide, " Sir,
            I pray let me be ;
         Gif ever I have a man,
            Blew-cap for me."

A Frenchman, that largely was booted and spur'd,
    long lock't, with a Ribon, long points and breeches,
Hee's ready to kisse her at euery word,
    and for further exercise his fingers itches:
         " You be pritty wench,
            Mistris, par ma foy ;
         Be gar, me doe loue you,
            then be not you coy."
         But still she replide, " Sir,
            I pray let me be ;
         Gif ever I have a man,
            Blew-cap for me."

An Irishman, with a long skeane in his hose,
    did tinke to obtaine her it was no great matter ;
Vp stayres to her chamber so lightly he goes,
    that she ne're heard him vntil he came at her.
         Quoth he, " I do loue you,
            by fate and by trote,
         And if you will haue me,
            experience shall shote."
         But still she replide, " Sir,
            I pray let me be ;
         Gif ever I have a man,
            Blew-cap for me."

A Dainty spruce Spanyard, with haire black as jett,
    long cloak with round cape, a long Rapier and Ponyard ;
Hee told her if that shee could Scotland forget,
    hee'd shew her the Vines as they grow in the Vineyard.
         "If thou wilt abandon
            this Country so cold,
         Ile shew thee faire Spaine,
            and much Indian gold.
         But stil she replide, " Sir,
            I pray let me be ;
         Gif ever I have a man,
            Blew-cap for me."

A haughty high German of Hamborough towne,
    a proper tall gallant, with mighty mustachoes ;
He weepes if the Lasse vpon him doe but frowne,
    yet he's a great Fencer that comes to ore-match vs.
         But yet all his fine fencing
            could not get the Lasse ;
         She deny'd him so oft,
            that he wearyed was ;
         For still she replide, " Sir,
            I pray let me be ;
         Gif ever I have a man,
            Blew-cap for me."

A Netherland Mariner there came by chance,
    whose cheekes did resemble two rosting Pomwaters;
To this cany Lasse he his sute did aduance,
    and, as taught by nature, he cunningly flatters:--
         " Isk will make thee," said he,
            " sole Lady o' th' Sea,
         Both Spanirds and Englishman
            shall thee obey."
         But stil she replide, " Sir,
            I pray let me be ;
         Gif ever I have a man,
            Blew-cap for mee."

These sundry Sutors, of seuerall Lands,
    did daily solicite this Lasse for her fauour ;
And euery one of them alike vnderstands
    that to win the prize they in vaine did endeauour :
         For she had resolued
            (as I before said)
         To haue bonny Blew-cap,
            or else bee a maid.
         Vnto all her suppliants
            still replyde she,
         Gif ever I have a man,
            Blew-cap for mee."

At last came a Scottish-man (with a blew-cap),
    and he was the party for whom she had tarry'd ;
To get this blithe bonny Lasse 'twas his gude hap,--
    they gang'd to the Kirk, & were presently marry'd.
         I ken not weele whether
            it were Lord or Leard ;
         They caude him some sike
            a like name as I heard ;
         To chuse him from au
            she did gladly agree,--
         And still she cride, " Blew-cap,
            th'art welcome to mee."