THE
DURHAM Garland.
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A worthy Lord of vast estate,
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Who did in Durham dwell of late;
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But I will not declare his name,
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By reason of his birth and fame.
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But if you the truth would know,
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This Lord he did a hunting go,
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He had indeed a noble train,
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Of Lords, and Kights, and gentlemen.
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Unto famd Yorkshire he would ride,
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With all his gallants by his side.
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In hunting passd the time;
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But being weary, as they say,
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His Lordship lost his noble train
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Of Lords, and Knights, and gentlemen,
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And hearing not the horns to blow,
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He could not tell which way to go.
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But he did wander to and fro,
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Being weary likewise full of woe:
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At last dame fortune was so kind,
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That he the keepers house did find.
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He went and knocked at the gate,
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And tho it was so very late,
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The forester he let him in,
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And kindly entertained him,
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But in the middle of the night,
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When as the stars did shine so bright,
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The Lord was in a full surprise,
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Being waked with a dismal noise.
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[Then did he rise and call with speed,
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To know the reason this indeed,
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Or if that shrieking and that noise
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Which did so much his soul surprise.
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Im sorry, Sir, the keeper said,
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That you should be so much afraid:
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But I hope that all will soon be well,]
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My wife is into labour fell.
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This noble Lord was learnd and wise,
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And knew the planets of the skies,
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He saw an evil planet reign,
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So called the forrester again.
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And gave him then to understand,
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Hed have the midwife hold her hand.
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But he was answerd by the maid,
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Her mistress was delivered,
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At one oclock that very morn,
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A lovely infant there was born:
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He was indeed a pretty boy,
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Which gave his parents mickle joy.
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The Lord was generous kind and free,
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And profferd Godfather to be:
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This good man thankd him heartily,
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For his good will and courtesy.
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A parson was called for with speed,
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For to christen the child indeed.
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And after as we did hear say,
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In joy and mirth they spent the day,
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This noble Lord did presents give,
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And all the servants did receive,
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They begd God would increase his store
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For they had neer so much before;
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And likewise to the child he gave,
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A noble present and a brave,
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It was a charming cabinet,
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That was with pearls and rubbies set.
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Within it was a cabinet of gold,
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Your eyes would dazzle to behold,
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A richer gift, as I may say,
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Has not been seen this many a day,
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He char[g]d his father faithfully,
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That he [h]imself should keep the key,
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Until the child could write and read,
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And then to give it him indeed.
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Pray do not open it at all,
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What ever does to you befall,
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For it may do my godson good.
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If it be rightly understood.
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The second part I will unfold,
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As true as ever a tale was told,
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Concerning of his lovely child,
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Who was obedient, sweet, and mild.
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THIS child did take his learning so,
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If you the truth of this would know,
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At eleven years of age indeed,
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He could both Greek and Latin read.
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But thinking of his cabinet,
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Which was with pearls and jewels set,
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He asked his father for the key,
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The which he gave him speedily
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His cabinet he did unlock,
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But he was in amazement struck,
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When he the riches did behold,
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And also saw the chain of gold.
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But searching farther he did find
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A paper that disturbed his mind;
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Which was within the cabinet,
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In Greek and Latin it was writ.
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My son, serve God that is on high
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And pray to him incessantly,
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Obey your Parents, serve the King,
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That nothing may your conscience sting;
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For seven years hence your fate will be
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To be hangd upon a tree:
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So pray to God both night and day:
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To let that hour pass away.
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When he these [rueful] lines did read,
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He with a sigh did say, Indeed
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If hanging be my destiny,
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My parents shall not see me die,
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For I will wander too and fro,
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And go whither I do not know,
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But first Ill ask my parents leave,
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In view their blessings to receive.
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Then locking up the Cabinet,
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He went unto his chamber strait,
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And went unto his parents dear,
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Beseeching them with many a tear,
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That they would grant what he did crave,
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Your blessing first I beg to have,
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And hope youll let me go my way,
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Twill do me good another day.
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For I indeed have made a vow,
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But must not tell the reason now;
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But if I live I will return,
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When seven years are past and gone.
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Both man and wife did then reply,
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We fear, dear son that you will die,
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If we shoud yield to let you go,
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Our aged hearts will burst with woe.
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Yet he entreated eagerly.
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So that they forcd were to comply,
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And gave consent that he should go,
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But where, alas! we did not know.
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In the third part you soon shall find
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That fortune to him was most kind,
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And after many dangers past,
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He came to Durham at the last.
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HE went by chance as Ive heard say,
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Unto the house that very day,
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Whereat his godfather did dwell,
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Now mind what fortune him befel.
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This youth did crave a service there.
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And strait came out the godfather,
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And seeing him a handsome youth,
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He took him for his page in truth.
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In this same place he pleasd so well,
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That above all he bore the bell,
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And so well his Lord did please,
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He made him higher by degrees.
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He made him butler indeed,
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And then chief steward was with speed,
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Which made the other servants spite,
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And envy him both day and night.
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He neer was false in his trust,
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But proved ever true and just;
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And to the Lord did hourly pray,
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To guard him still both night and day.
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In this same place it doth appear,
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He livd the space of seven years,
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And of his parents thought upon,
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And of his promise to return.
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Then humbly of his Lord d[i]d crave,
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That he his free consent might have,
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For to go and s[e]e h[is] parents dear,
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Whom he had not seen for many years,
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So having leave, away he went,
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Not dreaming of the base intent,
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Which was contrivd against him then,
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By wicked, false, and malicious men;
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Who had in his portmanteau put
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Their noble Lords fine golden cup,
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And when the Lord at dinner was,
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He missd the cup as it came to pass.
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Where should it be? the Lord did say,
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We had it here but yesterday:
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The bulter then replyd wi[t]h speed,
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If you would know the truth indeed,
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Your faithful steward that is gone,
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With featherd nest away is flown;
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I do believe he has that and more,
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Which does belong unto your store.
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For he that Lord can, not said be,
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Then I have tryd his honesty
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No, said the cook, my Lord, Ill die,
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Upon a tree thats nine feet high.
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But hearing what this man did say,
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Did send a messenger that day,
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To take him with a hue and cry,
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And bring him back immediately.
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They searchd his portmanteau in[?]
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In which they found the cup with speed
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Then he was struck with sad surprise,
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And scarcely could believe his eyes,
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The Lord then said unto him strait,
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Thou shalt be hanged at my gate,
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Because in you I put my trust,
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And I took you for nought but just.
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THE day was fixd and being come,
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Said he, O Lord, it was my doom,
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Tho innocent I do declare,
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How my Lords cup came to be there,
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What fate decrees none can deny,
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I was adjudged thus to die
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Upon a fatal gallows tree,
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Which my godfather did foresee.
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In travelling pains my mother was,
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Into the world I came at last,
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A gentleman with skill did show
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Such death I now am coming to;
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A chain and a cabinet he gave
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Unto my father which I have;
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The manuscript which was therein,
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Did show me plain I should be hangd,
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So the Lord hearing him say so,
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It came into his mind then to
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Keep him from off the gallows high,
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For I think this man is not guilty,
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Something I doub, there is in this,
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Methinks it is with meer malice
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Of the cook and the butler too;
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And if so, Ill make them rue.
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The cause he tries a second time,
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And found them guilty of the crime;
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They were adjudgd to be hangd strai[t]
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The Lord he took him, and did say,
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Have you that cabinet, I p?ay
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Yes, noble Lord, this is the same
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Was left me with this very chain.
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My daughter is a virgin bright,
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And you shall have her this very night
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Wherefore now take delight in her,
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Tis I who am your God-father.
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Heres twenty thousand pounds in gold
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And when Im dead it shall be told.
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You shall enjoy my whole estate,
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to For make you oth rich and grat.
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