A Lamentable ballad of the tragical end of a Gallant Lord, and a
Vertuous Lady, with the untimely end of their two children, wickedly performed by a Heathenish Blacka-
moor their servant, the like never heard of before.
To the tune of, The Ladies fa[l]l.
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IN Rome a Noble man did wed
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a Virgin of great Fame,
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[A] fairer Creature never did
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Dame Nature ever frame,
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By whom he had two children fair,
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whose beauty did excell,
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They were their Parents only joy
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they lovd them both so well,
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This Lord he lov'd to hunt the Buck
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the Tyger and the Bear,
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And still for swiftness alwayes took
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with him a Blackamoore,
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Which Blackamoor within the wood
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his Lord he did offend,
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For which he did him then correct
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in hope he would amend.
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The day it grew unto an end,
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then homeward he did ha[?]e
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Where with his Lady he did rest
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untill the night was past,
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Than in the morning he did rise,
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and did his servants call,
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A hunting he provides to go
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streight they were ready all,
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Cause of the toyl his Lady did
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intreat him not to go,
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Alas good Lady then quoth he;
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why art thou grieved so?
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Content thy self I will return
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with speed to thee again,
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Good Father quoth the little Babes,
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with us here still remain.
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Farewell dear children, I will go
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a fine thing you to buy,
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But they therewith nothing content
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aloud began to cry.
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The Mother takes them by the hand,
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saying, come go with me,
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Unto the highest tower where
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your Father you shall see.
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The Blackamoore perceivng now
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who then did stay behind,
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His Lord to be a hunting gone
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began to call to mind;
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My Master he did me correct,
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my fault not being great;
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Now of his wife Ile be revengd
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she shall not me intreat.
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The place was moted round about,
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the Bridge he up did draw:
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The Gates he bolted very fast
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of none in stood in awe.
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He up into the tower went
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the Lady being there,
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Who when she saw his countenance grim
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she straight began to fear.
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But now my trembling heart it quakes
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to think what I must write;
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My sences all begin to faile
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my soul it doth affright.
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Yet must I make an end of th[i]s
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which here I have begun:
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Which will make sad the hardest heart
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before that I have done.
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This wretch unto the Lady went
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and her with speed did will,
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His lust forthwith to satisfie
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his mind for to fulfill.
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The Lady she amazed was
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to hear the Villain speak,
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Alas quoth she what shall I do
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with grief my heart will break?
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With that he took her in his arms
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she straight for help did cry,
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Content your self Lady he said
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your Husband is not nigh.
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The bridge is drawn, the gates are shut
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therefore come lye with me,
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Or else I do protest and vow
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thy Butcher I will be.
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The Christal tears ran down her, face
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her children cryd amain:
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And sought to help their Mother dear
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but all it was in vain.
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For that Egregious filthy Rogue,
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her hands behind her bound,
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And then perforce with all his might,
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he threw her on the ground.
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The second part to the same tune.
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WIth that she shrikt, her children cryd
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and such a noise did make,
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The towns-folks hearing her laments,
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did seek their parts to take.
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But all in vain no way they found,
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to help the Ladies need.
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Who cryd to them most pitiously
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O help, O help with speed.
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Some ran unto the Forrest wide,
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her Lord home for to call,
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And they that stood still did lament
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this gallant Ladies fall.
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With speed her Lord came posting home
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he could not enter in,
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His Ladies cryes did pierce his heart,
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to call he did begin.
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O hold thy hand thou Savage Moor,
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to hurt her do forbear,
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Or else be sure i[?] I do live
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wild horses shall thee tear:
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With that the Rogue ran to the wall,
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he having had his will.
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And brought one child under his arm
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his dearest blood to spill.
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The child seeing his Father there
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to him for help did call,
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O Father help my Mother dear
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we shall be killed all.
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Then fell the Lord upon his knee,
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and did the Moor intreat,
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To save the life of his poor child,
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whose fear as then was great,
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But this vile wretch the little child,
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by both the heels did take,
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And dash the brains against the wall,
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whilst Parents heart did ake.
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That being done straightway he ran
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the other child to fetch.
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And pluckt it from the Mothers brest,
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most like a cruel wretch.
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Within one hand a knife he brought
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the child within another,
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And holding it over the wall,
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saying, thus dye shall thy Mother.
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With that he cut the throat of it,
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then to the Father did call,
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To look how he the head had cut
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then down the head did fall.
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This done, he threw it down the wall,
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into the Mote so deep,
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Which made his Father wring his hands
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and grievously to weep.
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Then to the Lady went this Rogue,
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who was near dead with fear,
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Yet this yile wretch most cruelly
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did drag her by the hair.
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And drew her to the very wall
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which when her Lord did see
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Then presently he cryed out,
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and fell upon his knee.
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Quoth he if thou wilt save her life
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whom I do love so dear,
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I will forgive thee all is past,
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though they concern me near,
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O save her life I thee beseech,
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O save her I thee pray!
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And I will give thee what thou wilt
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demand of me this day.
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Well quoth the Moor I do regard
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the moan that thou dost ma[?]e,
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If thou wilt grant me what I ask
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Ile save her for thy sake.
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O save her life and then demand
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of me what thing thou wilt,
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Cut off thy nose and not one drop
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of her blood shall be spilt.
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With that the Lord presently took
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a knife within his hand,
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And then his nose he quite cut off
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in place where he did stand,
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Now have I bought my Ladies life,
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then to the Moor did call,
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Then take her quoth this wicked rogue
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and down he let her fall.
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Which when her gallant Lord did see,
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his sences all did fail
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Yet many sought to save her life
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but nothing would prevail.
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When as the Moor did see him dead,
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then did he laugh amain,
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At them who for their gallant Lord
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and Lady did complain.
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Quoth he I know youl torture me
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if that you can me get,
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But all your threats I do not fear
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nor yet regard one whit.
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Wild horses shall my body tear,
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I know it to be true,
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But Ile prevent you of that pain
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and down himself he threw,
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Too good a d[e]ath for such a wretch
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a Villain void of fear,
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And thus doth end as sad a tale
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as ever man did hear.
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