Young Man of Sheffield Park- (Lon) Jennings; 1790
[Broadside "The Young Man of Sheffield Park." Printed and sold by J. Jennings, No. 15, Water lane, Fleet street London; c. 1790.
cf. "The Young Man of Sheffield Park," Evans broadside.
Since only first stanza of the text is legible I have enhanced the other stanzas by used the versions by Evan c. 1794 of the same title and also the version in Holroyd's Collection of Yorkshire Ballads by Abraham Holroyd, 1892 titled, The Unfortunate Maid of Sheffield.
R. Matteson 2017]
The Young Man of Sheffield Park.
IN Sheffield park, there did live and dwell,
A young man fair, I lov'd him well,
He courted me my love to gain,
Left me in grief, and full of pain.
And when that I did send for him,
He laugh’d and said how fond I’d been,
And from my company would part;
His words will bleed me to my heart.
I went up stairs unto my bed,
I sat me down, I nothing said;
My mistress came, and to me said;
Pray what's the matter with my maid?
O mistress! you do little know,
The sorrow and pain I undergo;
Come lay your hand upon my breast,
My panting heart can take no rest.
My mistress cries, what shall I do?
Some help I'll have for you just now;
No help, no help, no help I crave,
A young man sends me to my grave.
Take you this letter into your hand,
And read it that you may understand,
Carry it to him just now with speed,
Give it to him if he can read,
He took this letter immediately,
And read it while that she stood by:
And then he did this letter burn,
Left her with grief to make her mourn;
She wrung her hands, tore her hair,
Crying I shall fall into despair,
O fatal death, I pray ease me,
And end my fatal misery.