The Norfolk GENTLEMANs Last Will and Testament:
WHO
On his Death Bed, committed the keeping of his Two CHILDREN, (a Boy and a Girl) to his
Own BROTHER, who did most wickedly cause them to be destroyed, that so he might possess himself of the
Childrens Estate, but by the just Judgment of God, the Murder was found out, himself, and all that he had were de-
stroyed from off the Face of the Earth.
To an excellent New Tune calld, Rogero: etc.
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NOW ponder well you Parents dear,
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These Words which I shall write,
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A doleful Story you shall hear,
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In Time brought forth to Light:
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A Gentleman of good Account,
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In Norfolk dwelt of late:
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Whose Wealth and Riches did surmount,
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Most Men of his Estate.
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Sore sick he was, and like to die,
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No Help that he could have,
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His Wife by him as sick did lie,
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And both possessd one Grave:
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No Love between them two was lost,
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Each was to other kind:
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In Love they livd, in Love they dyd,
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And left two Babes behind.
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The one a fine and pretty Boy,
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Not passing five Years old;
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The other a Girl more young then he,
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And made in beautys Mould
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The Father left his little Son,
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As plainly doth appear,
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When he to perfect Age did come,
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Three hundred Pounds a Year.
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And to his little Daughter Jane,
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Five hundred Pounds in Gold,
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To be paid down on Marriage-day,
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Which might not be centrould:
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But if the Children chancd to die,
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Eer they to Age should come
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Their Uncle should possess their Wealth
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For so the Will did run.
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Now Brother, said the dying Man,
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Look to my Children dear,
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Be good unto my Boy and Girl,
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No Friends else have I here;
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To God and you I do commend,
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My Children Night and Day;
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But little While surely we have,
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Within this World to stay.
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You must be Father and Mother both,
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And Uncle all in one,
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Who knows what will become of them
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When I am dead and gone?
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With that bespoke the Mother dear,
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O! Brother kind quoth she,
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You are the Man must bring my Babes,
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To Wealth or Misery.
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If you do keep them carefully,
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Then God will you reward;
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If otherwise you seem to deal,
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He will your Deeds regard;
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With Lips as cold as any Stone,
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She kissd the Children small;
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God bless you both my Children dear,
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With that the Tears did fall.
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These Speeches then their Brother spoke,
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To this sick Couple there,
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The keeping of your Children dear,
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Dear Sister do not fear,
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God never prosper me nor mine,
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Nor ought else that I have,
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If I do wrong your Children dear,
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When youre laid in the Grave.
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Their Parents being dead and gone,
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Their Children Home he takes
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And brings them Home unto the House,
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And much of them he makes.
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He had not kept these pretty Babes,
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A Twelvemonth and a Day,
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But for their Wealth he did devise,
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To make them both away.
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He bargaind with two Ruffians rude,
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Who were of furious Mood,
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That they should take the Children young
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And slay them in a Wood;
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He told his Wife and all he had,
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He would the children send,
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To be brought up in fair London,
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With one that was his Friend.
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Away went these two pretty Babes,
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Rejoicing at that Tide,
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And laughing with a merry Mind,
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They should on Cock-horse ride;
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They talkd and prattld pleasantly
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As they were on the Way,
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To those that should their Butchers be,
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And work their Lives Decay.
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So that the pretty Speech they had
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Made the Murderers Hearts relent,
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And they that took the Deed to do
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Full sore did it repent;
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Yet one of them more hard of Heart,
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Did vow to do his Charge,
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Because the Wretch that hired him,
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Had paid him very large.
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The other would not agree thereto,
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So here they fell to Strife,
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With one another they did fight
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About the Childrens Life;
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And he that was of Milder mood,
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Did slay the Other there,
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Within an unfrequented Wood,
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The Babes did quake for fear.
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He took the Children by the Hands,
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While Tears stood in their Eyes,
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And bid them come and go with him
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And look they did not cry;
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And two long Miles he led them thus,
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Till they for Bread complaind,
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Stay here, quoth he, Ill bring you Bread
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When I do come again.
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These pretty Babes, with Hand in Hand
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Went wandering up and down
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But never more they saw the Man,
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Approaching from the Town.
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Their pretty Lips with Black-berries
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Were all besmeard and dyd.
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And when they saw the darksome Night
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They sat them down and cryd.
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Thus wanderd these two pretty Babes,
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Till Death did end their Grief,
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In one anothers Arms they dyd
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Like Babes wanting Relief:
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No Burial these pretty Babes
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Of any Man receives,
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Till Robin-red-breast painfully,
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Did cover them with Leaves,
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And now the heavy Wrath of God,
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Upon their Uncle fell;
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Yea frightful fiends did haunt his House,
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His Conscience felt in Hell:
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His barns were fird his Goods consumd
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His Lands were barren made,
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His Cattle dyd within the Field,
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And Nothing with him stayd.
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And in a Voyage to Portugal,
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Two of his Sons did die,
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And to conclude himself was brought
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Unto much Misery:
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He pawnd and mortgaged his Land,
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Eer seven Years came out
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And now at length this wicked Act
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Did by this Means come out
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The Fellow that did take in Hand,
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These Children for to kill,
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Was for a Robbery judgd to die,
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As was Gods blessed Will:
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Who did confess the very Truth,
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The whole is here expressd;
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Their Uncle dyd while he for Debt,
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Did long in Prison rest.
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All you that are Executors made,
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And Overseers eke,
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Of Children that are Fatherless,
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And Infants mild and meek;
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Take now example by this Thing,
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And yield to each his Right,
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Lest God with such like Misery,
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Your wicked Deeds requite.
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