A most sweet Song of an English-Merchant Born in Chichester.
To an Excellent New Tune.
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A Rich Merchant man there was
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that was both grave & wise,
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Did kill a man at Embden Town
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through quarrels that did rise,
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Through quarrels that did rise,
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the German being dead,
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And for that fact the Merchant man,
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was judg'd to loose his head.
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A sweet thing is love,
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it rules both heart and mind,
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There is no comfort in this world,
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to women that are kind.
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A Scaffold builded was,
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within the market place,
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And all the people far and near,
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did thither flock apace,
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Did thither flock apace,
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this doleful sight to see,
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Who all in Velvet black as jet,
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unto the place came he.
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A sweet, etc.
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Bare-headed was he brought,
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his hands were bound before,
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A cambrick ruff about his neck,
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as white as milk he wore:
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His stockins were of silk,
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as fine as fine might be,
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Of person and of countenance,
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a proper man was he.
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A sweet, etc.
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When he was mounted up,
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upon the Scaffold high,
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All women said great pitty it was
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so sweet a man should dye:
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The Merchants of the Town,
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from death to set him free,
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Did proffer there a thousand pound
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but yet all would not be.
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A sweet thing is Love.
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it rules both heart and mind,
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There is no comfort in this world
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to women that are kind.
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The prisoner hereupon,
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began to speak his mind,
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Quoth he, I have deserved derth,
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in conscience I do find,
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Yet sore against my will,
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this man I kill'd qd. he,
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As Christ doth known, which of my soul
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must only Saviour be.
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A sweet, etc.
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With heart I do repent,
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this most unhappy deed,
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And for his wife and children small
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my very heart doth bleed:
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The deed is done and past,
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my hope of life is vain,
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And yet the loss of this my life,
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to them is little gain.
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A sweet, etc.
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Unto the widow poor,
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and to the Babes therefore,
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I give a hundred pound a piece,
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their comforts to restore,
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Desiring at their hands,
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no one request but this,
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They will speak well of English men
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though I have done amiss.
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A sweet thing is Love,
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it rules both heart and mind,
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There is no comfort in this world,
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to Women that are kind.
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This was no sooner done,
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but that to stint the strife,
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Four goodly maids did proffer him
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for love to save his life:
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This is our Law qd. they,
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we may your death remove,
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So you in lieu of our good will
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will grant to us your love.
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A sweet, etc.
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Brave English-man quoth one,
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'tis I will save thy life,
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Nay quoth the second it is I,
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so I may be thy wife:
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'Tis I the third did say,
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nay quoth the fourth tis I,
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So each one after the other said,
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still waiting his reply,
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A sweet, etc.
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FAir Maidens every one,
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I must confess and say,
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That each of you well worthy is
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to be a Lady gay:
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And I unworthy far,
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the worst of you to have,
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Though you have proffer'd wilingly
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my loathed life to save.
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A sweet thing is Love,
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it rules both heart and mind,
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There is no comfort in this world,
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to women that are kind.
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Then take a thousand thanks,
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of me a dying man,
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But speak no more of love nor life,
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for why my life is gone;
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To Christ my soul I give,
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my body unto death,
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For none of you my heart can have,
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sith I must loose my breath.
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A sweet thing, etc.
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Fair Maids lament no more,
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your Country Law is such,
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It takes but hold upon my life,
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my goods it cannot touch:
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Within one Chest I have
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in Gold a thousand pound,
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I give it equal to you all,
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for love that I have found,
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A sweet thing, etc.
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And now dear friends farewell,
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sweet England now adieu,
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And Chichester where I was born,
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where first this breath I drew;
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And now thou man of death,
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unto thy weapon stand,
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O nay, another Damsel said,
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sweet Headsman hold thy hand.
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A sweet thing, etc.
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Now hear a maidens plaint,
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brave English-man quoth she,
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And grant me love for love again,
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that craves but love as thee:
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I wooe and sue for love,
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that had been woo'd e're this,
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Then grant me love, & therewithal
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she proffered him a kiss;
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A sweet thing, etc.
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I'le dye within thy arms,
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if thou wilt dye quoth she,
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Yet live or dye sweet English man,
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i'le live and dye with thee:
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But can it be (quoth he)
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that thou dost love me so,
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Tis not by long acquaintance Sir
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whereby true love doth grow,
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A sweet thing, etc.
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Then beg my life quoth he,
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and I will be thy own,
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If I should seek the world for love
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more love cannot be shown,
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The people at that word,
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did give a joyful cry,
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And said great pitty it was,
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so sweet a man should dye;
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A sweet thing, etc.
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I go my Love she said,
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I run, I flye for thee,
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& gentle Headsman spare a while,
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my Lovers head for me;
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Unto the Duke she went,
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who did her grief remove,
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& with an hundred Maidens more,
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she went to fetch her Love:
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With musick sounding sweet,
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the foremost of the train,
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The gallant maiden like a bride,
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did fetch him back again;
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Yea hand in hand away they went,
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unto the Church that day,
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And they were married presently,
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in sumptuous rich array;
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A sweet thing, etc.
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To England came he then,
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with his fair Lady Bride,
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A fairer woman never lay
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by any Merchants side;
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Where we must leave them now,
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in pleasure and delight,
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but of their names & dweling place
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I must not here recite.
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FINIS.
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