THE
DURHAM Garland.
In FOUR PARTS
|
A worthy Lord of vast estate,
|
Who did in Durham dwell of late;
|
But I will not declare his name,
|
By reason of his birth and fame.
|
But if you the truth would know,
|
This Lord he did a hunting go,
|
He had indeed a noble train,
|
Of Lords, and Kights, and gentlemen.
|
Unto famd Yorkshire he would ride,
|
With all his gallants by his side.
|
In hunting passd the time;
|
But being weary, as they say,
|
His Lordship lost his noble train
|
Of Lords, and Knights, and gentlemen,
|
And hearing not the horns to blow,
|
He could not tell which way to go.
|
But he did wander to and fro,
|
Being weary likewise full of woe:
|
At last dame fortune was so kind,
|
That he the keepers house did find.
|
He went and knocked at the gate,
|
And tho it was so very late,
|
The forester he let him in,
|
And kindly entertained him,
|
But in the middle of the night,
|
When as the stars did shine so bright,
|
The Lord was in a full surprise,
|
Being waked w[it]h a dismal noise.
|
Then did he rise and call with speed,
|
To know the reason this indeed,
|
Of all that shrieking and that noise
|
Which did so much his soul surprise.
|
Im sorry, Sir, the keeper said,
|
That you should be so much afraid:
|
But I hope that all will soon be well,
|
My wife is into labour fell.
|
This noble Lord was learnd and wise,
|
And knew the planets of the skies,
|
He saw an evil planet reign,
|
So called the forrester again.
|
And gave him then to understand,
|
Hed have the midwife hold her hand.
|
But he was answerd by the maid,
|
Her mistress was delivered,
|
At one oclock that very morn,
|
A lovely infant there was born:
|
He was indeed a pretty boy,
|
Which gave his parents mickle joy.
|
The Lord was generous kind and free,
|
And profferd Godfather to be:
|
This good man thankd him heartily,
|
For his good will and courtesy,
|
A parson was called for with speed,
|
For to christen the child indeed.
|
And after as we did hear say,
|
In joy and mirth they spent the day,
|
This noble Lord did presents give,
|
And all the servants did receive,
|
They begd God would increase his store
|
For they had neer so much before;
|
And likewise to the child he gave,
|
A noble present and a brave,
|
It was a charming cabinet,
|
That was with pearls and rubbies set.
|
Within it was a cabinet of gold,
|
Your eyes would dazzle to behold,
|
A richer gift, as I may say,
|
Has no[t] been seen this many a day.
|
He chargd his father faithfully,
|
That he himself should keep the key.
|
Until the child could write and read,
|
And then to give it him indeed.
|
Pray do not open it at all,
|
What ever does to you befall,
|
For it may do my godson good,
|
If it be rightly understood.
|
The second part I will unfold,
|
As true as ever a tale was told,
|
Concerning of his lovely child,
|
Who was obedient, sweet, and mild.
|
PART II.
|
THIS child did take his learning so,
|
If you the truth of this would know,
|
At eleven years of age indeed,
|
He could both Greek and Latin read.
|
But thinking of his cabinet,
|
Which was with pearls and jewels set,
|
He asked his father for the key,
|
The which he gave him speedily
|
His cabinet he did unlock,
|
But he was in amazement struck,
|
When he the riches did behold,
|
And also saw the chain of gold.
|
But searching farther he did find
|
A paper that disturbed his mind;
|
Which was within the cabinet,
|
In Greek and Latin it was writ
|
My son, serve God that is on high
|
And pray to him incessantly,
|
Obey your Parents, serve the king,
|
That nothing may your conscience sting;
|
For seven years hence your fate will be
|
To be hangd upon a tree:
|
So pray to God both night and day:
|
To let that hour pass away
|
When he these rueful lines did read,
|
He with a sigh did say, Indeed
|
If hanging be my destiny
|
My parents s[?]e,
|
For I will wander to and fro,
|
And go whither I do not know,
|
But first Ill ask my parents leave,
|
In view their blessings to receive.
|
Then locking up the cabinet,
|
He went unto his chamber strait,
|
And went unto his parents dear,
|
Beseeching them with many a tear,
|
That they would grant what he did crave,
|
Your blessing first I beg to have,
|
And hope youll let me go my way,
|
Twill do me good another day.
|
For I indeed have made a vow,
|
But must not tell the reason now;
|
But if I live I will return,
|
When seven years are past and gone.
|
Both man and wife did then reply,
|
We fear, dear son that you will die,
|
If we shoud yield to let you go,
|
Our aged hearts will burst with woe.
|
Yet he entreated eagerly.
|
So that they forcd were to comply,
|
And gave consent that he should go,
|
But where, alass! we did not know.
|
In the third part you soon shall find
|
That fortune to him was most kind,
|
And after many dangers past,
|
He came to Durham at the last.
|
PART III.
|
HE went by chance as Ive heard say,
|
Unto the house that very day,
|
Whereat his godfather did dwell,
|
Now mind what fortune him befel.
|
This youth did crave a service there.
|
And strait came out the godfather,
|
And seeing him a handsome youth,
|
He took him for his page in truth.
|
In this same place he pleasd so well,
|
That above all he bore the bell,
|
And so well his Lord did please,
|
He made him higher by degrees.
|
He made him butler indeed,
|
And then chief steward was with speed,
|
Which made the other servants spite,
|
And envy him both day and night.
|
He neer was false in his trust,
|
But proved ever true and just;
|
And to the Lord d[i]d hourly pray,
|
To guard him still both night and day.
|
In this same place it doth appear,
|
He livd the space of seven years,
|
And of his parents thought upon,
|
And of his promise to return.
|
Then humbly of his Lord d[i]d crave,
|
That he his free consent might have,
|
For to go and see his parents dear,
|
Whom he had not seen for many years,
|
So having leave, away he went,
|
Not dreaming of the base intent,
|
Which was contrivd against h[i]m then,
|
By wicked, false, and malicious men;
|
Who had in his portmanteau put
|
Their noble Lords fine golden cup,
|
And when the Lord at dinner was,
|
He missd the cup as it came to pass
|
Where should it be? the Lord d[i]d say,
|
We had it here but y[e]sterday:
|
The bulter then replyd wi[t]h speed,
|
If you would know the truth indeed,
|
Your faithful steward that is gone,
|
With featherd nest away is flown;
|
I do believe he has that and more,
|
Which does belong unto your store.
|
No, said the Lord that cannot be,
|
For I have tryd his honesty,
|
Then said the cook, my Lord, Ill die,
|
Upon a tree thats nine feet high.
|
But hearing what this man did say,
|
Did send a messenger that day,
|
To take him with a hue and cry,
|
And bring him back immediately.
|
They searchd his portmanteau indeed
|
In which they found the cup with speed,
|
Then he was struck with sad surprise,
|
And scarcely could believe his eyes,
|
The Lord then said unto him strait,
|
Thou shalt be hanged at my gate,
|
Because in you I put my trust,
|
And I took you for nought but just.
|
PART IV.
|
THE day was fixd and being come,
|
Said he, O Lord, it was my doom,
|
Tho innocent I do declare,
|
How my Lords cup came to be there,
|
What fate decrees none can deny,
|
I was adjudged thus [to] die
|
Upon a fatal gallows tree,
|
Which my godfather d[i]d foresee.
|
In travelling pains my mother was,
|
Into the world I came at last,
|
A gentleman with skill did show
|
Such death I now am coming to;
|
A chain and a cabinet he gave
|
Unto my father which I have;
|
The manuscript which was therein,
|
Did show me plain I should be hangd,
|
So the Lord hearing him say so,
|
It came into his mind then to
|
Keep him from off the gallows high,
|
For I think this man is not guilty,
|
Something I doub, there is in this,
|
Methinks it is with meer malice
|
Of the cook and the butler too;
|
And if so, Ill make them rue.
|
The cause he tries a second time,
|
And found them guilty of the crime;
|
They were adjudgd to be hangd strait,
|
Indeed they d[i]d deserve their fate.
|
The Lord he took him, and did say,
|
Have you that cabinet, I pray
|
Yes, noble Lord, this is the same
|
Was left me with this very chain.
|
My daughter is a virgin bright,
|
And you shall have her this very night
|
Wherefore now take delight in her,
|
Tis I who am your God fa[t]her.
|
Heres twenty thousand pounds in gold
|
And when Im dead it shall be told.
|
You shall enjoy my whole estate,
|
For to make you both rich and great.
|
|
|
|
|
|