The Garland of TRIALS.
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THIS noble relation which I am to write,
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Behold, tis concerning a great baronet;
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Five years he was marryd, as I do protest,
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This noble baron with a child was not blest.
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At length this fair lady conceived with child,
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At whilch this said knight and his lady smild.
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When time was expired, a daughter was born,
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At whose birth the father and mother did mourn.
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Her nativity he did calculate,
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And found she was born to suffr by fate,
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The knight by her ruling planet did see,
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A whore, thief, and murderer she was born to be.
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Said he, When shes up to maturity got,
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For the sake of her portion, some villainous sot,
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Perhaps my defile her before hand, and so
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This may be the first step to her everthrow.
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To prevent all danger this step I will take,
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Some farmer, a tenant of mine, shall her take;
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As a child of his own she shall be confind,
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In which sta[t]e herhaps no one will her mind.
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To this wise invention the lady agreed,
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To one of the tenants she was placd with speed,
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Who had for her boarding thirty pound a-year.
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And good education they gave her, we hear.
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Dutiful obedience unto them she paid.
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Thinking them her parents, their will she obeyd,
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When this knight came thither his rent to receive
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A guinea to the child he always would give.
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Fourteen years and upwards this child stayd there,
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The farmer and his wife went to a fair.
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And left this young lady at home to stay,
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But now see what happend while they were away.
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As she was standing that day at the door.
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An old man beggd of her who was very poor.
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My parents are not at home, she to him replyd,
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And to give their substance I dare not, she cryd.
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With that the old beggar-man, said with a smile,
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You are kept in ignorance surely my child.
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They are not your parents who you honour here,
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You fathers a knight of six thousand a-year.
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Such a man is your father, such a lady your mother,
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Besides any children they never had other.
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For this news, she said, heres five shillings to thee,
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And into this matter I further will see.
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When the farmer came home at night he smild,
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And said, Whats for supper, my dearest child?
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Her answer was to him, Whats makes you say so?
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Im none of your child you very well know
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Such a man is my father, and I tell you plain,
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Ill be satisfyd ere I sleep again:
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She took horse, and rid to the noblemans gate,
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Where he and his lady stood very great.
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He said, Girl, how do thy parents do?
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And said, Sir, that is best known to you.
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The girl talks madly, said he; let me know
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Upon what account you answer me so?
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She said, Sir, a beggar-man came to the door.
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And he told me you was my father besure;
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If this thing be true, sir, he tells unto me,
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Why was I put off in my infancy?
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This I must allow, when I was born first,
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I then was incapable to give disgust,
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So far as to be banishd for fifteen years;
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The truth of this matter, good sir, let me hear.
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Then he shewd a reason for what he had done.
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At this news the tears from off her cheeks run.
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She said, If it be so, then hard is my lot,
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And in your scutcheon it may cast a blot.
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For fear your own honour I bring to disgrace,
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Give me a childs part, and Ill quit the place:
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With tears he embracd her, and for her did pray,
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So with riches on horse-back she rode away.
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To the North of England this lady went,
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Where in a lone cottage she lived with content.
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Her provisions was brought her by a woman, who
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Brought it once a week, and away did go.
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And for a dversion this lady bright
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Playd on the spinnet, herself to delight.
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And as she was playing most sweetly one day,
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A young squire chanced to come that way.
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Who hearing the musick, vows he would see,
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Who in the cottage playd so sweely.
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The squire knockd, and calld oer and oer,
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Saying, Open to me, or Ill break the door.
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For to break it open, he then did begin,
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At which the young lady strait let him in;
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She said, Now be civil, I am a young maid,
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And am, of all females, of men most afraid.
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He said, Ill not hurt thee; then did her embrace.
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Having sat awhile, he quitted the place.
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This sweet ladys beauty so charmd him, we find,
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That this noble squire could not rest in mind.
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From seeing her daily he could not refrain,
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And by often coming her love did obtain.
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She promisd him faithfully to be his bride,
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For which solemnizing they both did provide.
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The night before-hand with his lady he lay,
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And went, protesting to come the next day.
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Next morning she lookd for the squire to come,
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But he was confind to stay at home.
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A fever that night the young squire had seizd,
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And because he came not, she was displeasd;
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Crying. This will make my fathers words true.
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My honour is stained, and what shall I do?
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Because he has disappointed me now,
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If he come to-morrow Ill not have him, I vow.
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When able to sit up, the young squire came.
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The cause of his tarrying he told her the same.
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He said, Love, tomorrow Ill make you my bride,
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Sir, for my oaths sake Ill not have you, she cryd
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My honour is stained, which bings me to shame.
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No one but myself for this I can blame.
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He said, Let us marry, to prevent all strife,
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Her answer was, No, Ill neer be your wife,
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Tho not joind in marriage, this young squire he
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Came three times a-week this lady to see.
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And as her time drew nigh for to lie down,
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He got her a lodging near to town:
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When the time expired, she had a son,
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The squire was pleasd it was over and done.
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Before this lady began to sit up,
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He presented the child with a golden cup,
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On which was his name and coat of arms at large,
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Of this cup he gave the boys mother a charge.
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Saying, See my infant dont lose it, I pray,
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So then he embracd her, and so rode away.
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Now pray mark, good people, and soon you shall hear
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To this babe the mother she proved severe.
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She sent the nurse out, and then did provide
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For to kill the child with a stab in the side.
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And said, With a stab I am sure it must die.
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Then stole the gold cup, and away did hie.
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In a windows dress she went to Liverpool,
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And being well learned, she set up a school.
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It happend the nurse returned with speed,
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And found the babe living, whose side did bleed.
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When the squire came there, and saw what was done,
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He grievd, but thro mercy, preserved his son,
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Near the town of Liverpool the squire had a farm,
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For to keep this darling free from all harm.
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Unto this farmers wife the babe he did place,
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Where it was suckled, and grew up apace;
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When the dhild was able, to school it did go
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Unto his own mother, who did not him know.
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But often she kissd him, and said with a smile,
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I know no reason for loving this child.
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At eighteen years old he was very tall,
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Of a sweet complexion and comely withal.
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Unto the farmers daughter, who nursd him we find,
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By his fathers consent he in wedlock was joind.
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Cries he, My school-mistress in me took delight,
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For which to my wedding I will her invite.
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And being invited, as one innocent,
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Unto his wedding his school-mistress went.
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Next morning before the young couple were up,
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His school-mistress came, with her golden cup,
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And unto the bridegroom the cup did give,
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And said, Keep this as long as you live:
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He said, That I will, thank you for the same.
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Just after the squire into the room came.
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The school-mistress knew him, whose heart did ake,
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Knowing herself guilty, her joints did shake.
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At first sight, the gold cup the squire he knew,
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And said to the bridegroom, who gave it to you?
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He said Sir, that woman gave it to me?
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I think tis the finest that ever I see:
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And the squire he said, A rich cup, I declare,
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Heres my name and coat of arms, I can swear.
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The squire said, Woman, tell me thy name,
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And how you at first by this gold cup came.
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For fear of his wrath she swooned away,
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When her senses returnd, he to her did say,
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Come tell me thy name, or else with speed,
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I will draw my rapier, and stick you indeed.
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Then she told him her name, which being done,
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Said he, If it be so, where is your son?
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Whom I gave this cup to? She said, He is dead
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I stabbd him, and for fear of hanging I fled.
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He said, Wicked woman, as I have thee found,
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Your blood after this shall be spilt on the ground.
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For stabbing my darling when passion was hot,
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Ill cut thee as small as herbs to the pot.
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With trembing joints on her knees she did cry,
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For stabbing your infant I deserve to die.
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He said, Before I take thy life away,
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I will give you two hours in private to pray,
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Then in a dark closet she locked up were,
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The sorrowful lady for death did prepare.
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Mean time to the bridegroom away he did go,
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And gave him the truth of the matter to know.
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He said, Shes your mother, who thinks you are dead,
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Im one that wont hurt the hair of her head.
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But unto the closet he goes furiously,
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And said, Wicked woman, prepare for to die.
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To see him with glittering sword in his hand,
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With sighs and groans she before him did stand.
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And said, Kill me the first stroke be sure,
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That I may not be tormented long in my gore.
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To hear these expressions a groan he did bring,
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And no longer could bear loves piercing sting
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He said, Be not troubled, thou joy of my life,
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The bridegrooms your son, you stabbd with a knife,
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That this mournful lady might be satisfyd,
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They shewd her the place she stabbd in his side.
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For joy to the bridegroom she gave kisses store,
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And said, Now I hope all my sorrows are oer.
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The squire said to her, Now since it is so,
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That our son is alive, will you have me or no?
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To-morrow lets marry, to finish the strife.
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To this she consented; he made her his wife.
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She said to the squire, Ill tell thee, my dear,
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My fathers a knight of ten thousand a-year.
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And whether hes living I cannot well tell,
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For to ride and see I hold it right well.
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To her fathers house they both rid with speed:
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When her parents saw her they both smild indeed,
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With joy they embraced her, while tears ran down,
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And gave her a portion of twelve thousand pound.
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This worthy squire, tis very well known.
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Enjoys five hundred a-year of his own.
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He gave his estate to his son, and behold,
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Threescore and ten pieces of broad shining gold.
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So now I will leave them in joy all to live,
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Great comfort and joy in this world to receive.
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