The Norfolk Gentleman, his last Will and Testament:
And how he committed the keeping of his Children to his own Brother, who dealt most
wickedly with them, and how God plagued him for it.
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NOw ponder well you parents dear
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the words which I shall write,
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A dolefull 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 Forfolk livd of late,
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Whose wealth & riches did surmount,
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most men of his Estate.
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Sore sick he was and like to dye,
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no help that he could have,
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His wife by him as sick did lye,
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and both possest one grave.
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No love between these two was lost,
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each was to other kind,
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In love they livd in love they did,
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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 three years old,
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The other a Girle more young than he
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and made of beauties mold.
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The Father left his little Son,
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as well it doth appear,
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When he to perfect age should come,
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three hundred pound a year.
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And to his little daughter Jane,
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two hundred pound in gold,
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To be paid down on marriage day,
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which might not be controld
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But if these Children chance to dye.
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ere they to age should come,
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Their Uncle would possess this 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 I have else 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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A little while be sure 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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God knows what will become of them
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when I am dead and gone.
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With that bespake their 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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God will your deeds regard.
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With lips as cold as any stone,
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she kist her children small,
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God blesse you both my children dear,
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with that the tears did fear.
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These speeches then their brother spake
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to these sick Couple there,
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The keeping of your children dear
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sweet 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 young,
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when you are laid in grave.
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Their parents being dead and gone
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the children home he takes,
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And brings them home unto his 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 twelve month and a day,
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But for their means he did devise
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to make them both away.
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He bargaind with two Rffains rude,
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which were of furious mood,
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That they should take the children young
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and slay them in the Wood.
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And told his Wife and all he had,
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he did 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 then went these pretty babes
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rejoicing at that Tide,
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And smiling with a merry mind
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they should on cock-horse ride.
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The prate and prattle pleasantly,
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as they rode on the way.
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To them 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 murderers hearts relent,
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And they that took the deed to do,
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full sore the did repent,
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Yet one of them more heard of heart
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did vow to do his charge.
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Because the wretch that hired them
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had paid them very large.
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The other would not agree thereto
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so here they fell at 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 mildest mood
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did slay the other there.
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Within an unfrequented wood,
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where babes did quake for fear.
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He took the children by the the hand
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when tears stood in their eye
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And bad them come and go with him
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and look they did not cry.
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And two miles he led them thus,
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while they for bread complain,
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Stay here quoth he ile 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 wandring 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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But when they saw the darksome night
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they sate them down and crid,
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Thus wandred these two little 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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as babes wanting relief.
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No buriall these pretty babes
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of any man receives.
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Till Robin-Red-brest painfully
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did cover them with leavs.
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And now the heavy wrath of God
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upon their Uncle fell.
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Yea fearfull fiends did haunt his house
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his conscience felt an 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 his field
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and nothing with him staid.
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And in the voyage of Portugall
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two of his Sons did dye,
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And to conclude himself was brought
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unto much misery.
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He pawnd and morgagd all his Land
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ere seven years came about.
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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 takke in hand,
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the children for to kill,
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Was for a Robery judge to dye
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as was Gods blessed will,
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Who did confesse the very truth,
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the which is here exprest.
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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 be Executors made
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and Overseers eke,
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Of children that be Fatherlesse,
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and Infants mild and meek.
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Take you 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 minds requite,
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