A most sweet Song of an English Merchant born in Chichester.
To an Excellent new Tune.
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A Rich Marchant-man
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that was both grave and 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 t[h]e Merchant-man,
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was judgd to lose his head.
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A sweet thing 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 neer
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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 Stockings 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 thing, 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, etc.
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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 death
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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 killd (quoth he)
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As Christ doth know, which of my soul,
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must only Saviour be.
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A sweet thing, 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 thing, etc.
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Unto the Widdow 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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Destring at their hands,
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no one request but this,
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They will speak well of Englishmen
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though I have done amisse:
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A sweet thing, etc.
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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 roffer him,
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for love to save his li[f]e:
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This is our law (quoth [t]hey)
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we may your death r[e]move,
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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 thing, etc.
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Brave English-man (quoth one)
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tis I will beg 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 other said,
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still waiting his reply;
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A sweet thing is love, etc.
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The Second Part, To the same Tune.
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FAir Maidens every one,
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I must confesse 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 proffered willingly,
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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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Oh nay, another Damsel said;
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sweet Heads-man 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 of thee:
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I wooe and sue for love,
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that have been wood er 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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Ile 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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ile 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 had been,
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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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And gentle heads-man 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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And with an hundred Maidens more
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she went to fetch her love:
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A sweet thing, etc.
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With musick sounding sweet,
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the foremost of that 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 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 sumptuons rich array:
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A sweet thing, etc.
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To England came he then,
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with this his lady Bride,
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A fairer woman never lay
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by any Merchants side:
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Where I must leave them now
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in pleasure and delight,
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But of their names & dwelling place
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I must not here recite.
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A sweet thing is love,
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it rules both heart and mind, etc.
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