Fain would I have a pretty thing

A proper Song, Intituled: Fain wold I haue

a pretie thing to give vnto my Ladie.

To the tune of lustie Gallant.

Fain would I haue a pretie thing,

to giue vnto my Ladie:

I name no thing, nor I meane no thing,

But as pretie a thing as may bee.

Twentie iorneyes would I make,

and twentie waies would hie me,

To make aduenture for her sake,

to set some matter by me:

But I would faine haue a pretie thing, &c,

I name nothing, nor I meane nothing, &c.

Some do long for pretie knackes,

and some for straunge deuices:

God send me that my Ladie lackes,

I care not what the price is, thus faine, &c

Some goe here, and some go there,

wheare gases be not geason:

And I goe gaping euery where,

but still come out of season. Yet faine, &c,

I walke the towne, and tread the streete,

in euery corner seeking:

The pretie thinge I cannot meete,

thats for my Ladies liking. Faine, &c.

The Mercers pull me going by,

the Silkie wiues say, what lacke ye?

The thing you haue not, then say I.

ye foolish fooles, go packe ye. But fain &c.

It is not all the Silke in Cheape,

nor all the golden treasure:

Nor twentie Bushels on a heape,

can do my Ladie pleasure. But faine, &c.

The Grauers of the golden showes,

with Iuelles do beset me.

The Shemsters in the shoppes that sowes,

they do nothing but let me: But faine, &c.

But were it in the wit of man,

but any meanes to make it,

I could for Money buy it than,

and say, faire Lady, take it. Thus, faine, &c.

O Lady, what a lucke is this:

that my good willing misseth:

To finde what pretie thing it is,

that my good Lady wisheth.

Thus fain wold I haue had this preti thing

to giue vnto my Ladie:

I said no harme, nor I ment no harme,

but as pretie a thing as may be.