A most sweet song of an English Merchant born in Chichester.
To an Excellent New Tune.
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A Rich Merchant Man,
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that was both grave and wise,
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Did kill a man of 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 f[a]ct the Merchant man
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was judgd to lose 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 slock a pace,
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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 thing, 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 pittie twas
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so sweet a man should die;
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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 2. 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 here upon
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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 [s]ore against my will,
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this man I kild quoth he,
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As Christ doth know which of my soul
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must onlie Saviour be,
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A sweet, etc.
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With heart I do repent
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this most unhappie deed,
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And for his wife and children small
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my verie 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 is love
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it rules both heart and mind, 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 comfort 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 Englishmen
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though I have done amiss,
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A sweet thing, etc.
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This was no sooner spoke,
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but that to stint the strife
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Three goodlie Maids did proffer him,
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for love to save his life:
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This is our Law quoth they,
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we may your death remove,
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So you in liew of your 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 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 it is 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
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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 second Part, to the same tune,
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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 Ladie 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, etc,
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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 bodie unto death,
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For none of you my heart can have,
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sith I must lose my breath,
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A sweet thing, etc.
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Fair Maids lament no more,
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your Countie 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 adiew,
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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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Ah 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 of thee,
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I wooe and sue for love
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that have been wood ere 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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And die within thy arms,
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If thou wilt die quoth she,
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Yea live or die sweet English-man,
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Ile live and die 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 thine 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 gre[a]t pittie it had been,
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so sweet a man should die.
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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 flie for thee,
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And 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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And with a 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 formost of that train.
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This 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 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 this his Lovely 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 and dwelling place
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I must not here recite,
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A sweet thing is love, etc.
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