The Lamenting Ladies last Farewel to
the WORLD.
Who, being in a strange Exile, bewails her own misery, com-
plains upon Fortune and Destiny; describeth the manner of her
breeding, deplores the loss of her Parents, wishing peace and
happiness to England which was her Native Countrey, and
withal resolved for death, chearfully commending her Soul to
Heaven, and her body to the Earth, and quietly departed this
Life. To an excellent Tune, called, O Hone, O Hone.
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MOurnful Melpomony
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assist my Quill,
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That I may pensively
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now make my Will;
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Guide thou my hand to write,
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And sences to indite,
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A Ladies last good-night,
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O pitty me.
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I that was Nobly Born,
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hither am sent,
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Like to a Wretch forlorn,
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here to lament,
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In this most strange Exile,
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Here to remain a while,
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Till heaven be pleas'd to smile,
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and send for me.
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My Friends cannot come nigh
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me in this place;
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Nor bear me company,
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such is my case:
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Poor I am left alone,
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But few regard my moan,
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All my Delights are gone,
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Heaven succour me.
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Each Day with cares and fears
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I am perplext,
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My Drink is brinish Tears,
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with sorrow mixt:
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When others soundly sleep,
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I sadly sob and weep,
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Opprest with Dangers deep,
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Lord comfort me.
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WHen England flourished,
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my Parents dear,
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Tenderly nourished
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me many a Year:
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I was advanc'd on high,
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In place of Dignity,
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In Golden Bravery
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they Decked me.
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My Garments deckt with Gold,
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richly approved,
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Never was English Girl
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better beloved;
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Old and young, great and small,
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Waited upon my call,
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I had the love of all
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that did know me.
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But from my former state
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I am call'd back,
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Through Destiny and Fate,
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all goes to wrack;
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Fortune did lately frown,
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And caught me by the crown,
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So pull'd me headlong down,
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Oh! woe is me.
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My dear Friends are decay'd,
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which lov'd me best,
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Never was harmless Maid
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so much distrest;
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My Father he is dead,
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My Mother banished,
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All joys are from me fled,
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Heaven comfort me.
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How well are they at ease,
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and sweetly blest,
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That may go where they please,
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and where they list,
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To see their Parents kind,
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As Nature doth them bind,
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Such joys I cannot find,
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Oh! woe is me.
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All earthly helps are gone,
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I will and must
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Onely in God alone
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put my whole trust;
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O blessed Trinity,
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One God and Persons three,
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Release my misery,
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and comfort me.
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No creature on the Earth
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can ease my grief,
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Until such time as Death
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yield me relief:
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A Coffin and a Grave
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Is that which I would have,
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Sweet Christ my Soul receive,
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and succour me.
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My Enemies that be
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both great and small,
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Good Lord I pray to thee
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forgive them all:
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May England flourish brave,
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When I am laid in Grave,
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So thus I take my leave,
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Christ calls for me.
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I have in Heaven above,
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a place prepar'd,
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Never shall I depart
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from thence afterward:
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Go tole my Passing-Bell,
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Whilst Angels ring my Knell,
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So vain World now farewel,
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Christ sends for me.
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When she these words had spoke
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with cheerful heart,
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The noble-minded Maid
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then did depart:
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No doubt her Soul's at rest,
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With them whom God hath blest,
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The last words she exprest,
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was, Christ calls for me.
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