A lamentable Ditty composed upon the death of Robert Lo[rd Devereux]
late Earle of Essex, who was beheaded in the Tower of London, o[n Ashwenesday]
in the morning, 1600. To the tune of Welladay.
|
[SWeet] Englands pride is gon,
|
welladay, welladay,
|
[Whi]ch makes her sigh and grone
|
evermore still:
|
[He] did her fame advance,
|
[In] Ireland, Spaine, and France,
|
[And] now by [?] all chance,
|
is from us tane.
|
[He] was a vertuous Peere,
|
welladay, welladay,
|
[And] was esteemed deare,
|
evermore still:
|
[He] alwayes helpt the poore,
|
which makes them sigh ful sore
|
His death they doe deplore,
|
in every place.
|
[Br]ave honour gracd him still,
|
gallantly, gallantly,
|
[He] nere did deed of ill,
|
well it is knowne,
|
[But] Envy that foule fiend,
|
[Wh]ose malice nere had end,
|
[Hath br]ought true vertues friend
|
[unto t]his thrall.
|
[At Tilt] he did surpasse,
|
gallantly, gallantly
|
[All men] that is and was
|
[eve]rmore still:
|
[One day as it] was seene,
|
[In honour of]our Queene
|
[Such deeds] nere bin seene,
|
[as he did do,]
|
[Abroad and eke a]t home,
|
[gallantly, galla]ntly,
|
[For valour there was] none,
|
[like him before,]
|
[But Ireland France and Spain,]
|
[That feared great Essexs na]me,
|
And England lovd the same,
|
in every place.
|
But all would not prevaile
|
welladay, welladay,
|
His deeds did not availe,
|
more was the pitty,
|
He was condemd to die,
|
for treason certainly,
|
But God that sits on high,
|
knoweth all things.
|
That Sunday in the morne,
|
welladay, welladay,
|
That he to the Citie came,
|
with all his troupe:
|
That first began the strife,
|
and causd him lose his life
|
And others did the like,
|
as well as hee
|
Yet her Princely Majesty,
|
graciously, graciously,
|
Hath pardon given free,
|
to many of them:
|
She hath releasd them quite
|
and given them their right,
|
They may pray day and night,
|
God to defend her.
|
Shrove tusday in the night,
|
welladay, welladay,
|
With a heavy hearted sprite,
|
as it is said:
|
The Lieutenant of the Tower,
|
who kept him in his power,
|
At ten a clocke that houre,
|
to him did come.
|
And said unto him there
|
mournfully, mournfully,
|
My Lord you must prepare,
|
to dye to morrow.
|
Gods will be done quoth he,
|
yet shall you strangely see
|
God strong in me to be,
|
though I am weake.
|
I pray you pray for me,
|
welladay, welladay:
|
That God may strengthen me,
|
against that houre:
|
Then straight way he did call
|
to the Guard under the wall,
|
And did intreat them all
|
for him to pray.
|
For to morrow is the day,
|
welladay, welladay,
|
That I the debt must pay,
|
which I doe owe:
|
It [is] my life I mean:
|
[Which I must pay the Queen]
|
Even so hath Justice given,
|
that I must dye.
|
In the morning was he brought
|
welladay, welladay,
|
Where a Scaffold was set up
|
within the Tower:
|
Many Lords were present then
|
with other Gentlemen,
|
Which were appointed then
|
to see him die.
|
You Noble Lords, quoth he,
|
welladay, welladay,
|
That must the witnesse be,
|
of this my death:
|
Know I never lovd Papistry,
|
but still did it defie,
|
And Essex thus did dye,
|
here in this place.
|
I have a sinner been,
|
welladay, welladay,
|
Yet never wrongd my Queene,
|
in all my life:
|
My God, I did offend,
|
which grives me at my end,
|
May all the rest amend,
|
I doe forgive them.
|
To the State I nere ment ill,
|
welladay, welladay,
|
Neither wisht the Commons il,
|
in all my life:
|
But lovd all with my heart,
|
and alwayes tooke their part,
|
Whereas there was desart,
|
in any place.
|
Then mildly did he crave,
|
mournfully, mournfully,
|
He might that fovour have,
|
private to pray:
|
He then praid heartily,
|
and with great ferver
|
To god that sits on hi[e]
|
for to receive him.
|
And then he praid ag[ain]
|
mournfully, mou[rnfully]
|
God to preserve [his Queen,]
|
from all her fo[es.]
|
And send her lo[ng to reign,]
|
true Justice [remain]
|
And not to le[t proud Spain]
|
once to of[fend her,]
|
His Gown [he stript off then]
|
wellada[y, welladay,]
|
And put [off his Hat and Band,]
|
and [hung them by,]
|
Pray[ing still continually,
|
[To God that sits on high,]
|
[Dev]ereux,
|
[Wed]nesday [Fragment from the far left of 1.106]
|
[That he m]ight patiently,
|
[then suf]fer death.
|
[My Heads-m]an that must be,
|
[then sa]id he cheerfully,
|
[Let him] come here to me,
|
[that I] may him see,
|
[Who kn]eeled to him then,
|
[Art th]ou (quoth he) the man,
|
[Who art] appointed now,
|
[my lif]e to free.
|
[Yes my] Lord, did he say,
|
[wella]day, welladay,
|
[Forgiv]e me, I you pray,
|
[for this i]s your death,
|
[I here d]oe thee forgive,
|
[And m]ay true Justice live,
|
[No foul]e crime to forgive,
|
[With]in their place.
|
[Then h]e kneeld downe againe,
|
[mour]nfully, mournfully,
|
[And wa]s required by some,
|
[there] standing by:
|
[To forg]ive his enemies,
|
[Before] death close his eyes,
|
[Which he] did in hearty wise,
|
[thankin]g them for it.
|
[That they] would remember him
|
[welladay] welladay,
|
[That he m]ight forgive them all,
|
[that hath] him wrongd,
|
[Now my L]ords I take my leave
|
[Sweet Chr]ist my soule receive,
|
[Now when] you will prepare,
|
[I am] ready.
|
[He laid his he]ad on the blocke,
|
[welladay,] welladay,
|
[But his Dou]blet let the stroke,
|
[But he ther]e did say:
|
[What must] be done (quoth he)
|
[Shall be d]one presently,
|
[There his d]oublet off put he,
|
[and layd d]owne againe.
|
[Then the H]eadsman did his part.
|
[cruelly,]cruelly,
|
[He was ne]ver seene to start,
|
[for all t]he blowes:
|
[His soul now] it is at rest,
|
[In heav]en amongst the blest,
|
[Where G]od send us to rest,
|
[when it] shall please him.
|
|
|
|
|
|