The LAMENTATION of Mr. PAGE's WIFE of PLIMOUTH;
who being forc'd to Wed him, consented to his Murder, for the Love of G. Strangwidge,
for which they suffered at Barnstable, in Devonshire. The Tune, Fortune my Foe, etc.
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UNhappy she whom fortune hath forlorn,
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Despis'd of grace, that proffer'd grace did scorn,
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My lawless love hath luckless wrought my woe,
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My discontent, content did overthrow.
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My loathed life too late I do lament,
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My woful deeds in heart I do repent:
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A wife I was that wilful went away,
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And for that fault am here prepar'd to dye.
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In blooming years my father's greedy mind,
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Against my will a match for me did find,
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Great wealth there was, yea, gold and silver store,
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But yet my heart had chosen one before.
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Mine eyes dislik'd my father's liking quite,
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My heart did loath my parents fond delight:
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My childish mind and fancy told to me,
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That with his age my youth could not agree.
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On knees I pray'd they would not me constrain,
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With tears I cryd, their purpose to refrain;
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With sighs and sobs I did them often move,
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I might not wed whereas I could not love.
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But all in vain my speeches still I spent,
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My mother's will my wishes did prevent.
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Though wealthy Page possest the outward part,
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George Strangwidge still was lodged in my heart.
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I wedded was and wraped all in woe,
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Great discontent within my heart did grow;
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I loath'd to live, yet livd in deadly strife,
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Because perforce I was made Pages Wife.
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My chosen eyes could not his sight abide,
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My tender youth did loath his aged side;
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Scant could I tast the meat whereon he fed,
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My legs did loath to lodge within his bed.
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Cause knew I none, I should despise him so,
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That such disdain within my heart did grow,
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Save only this, that fancy did me move,
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And told me still, George Strangwidge was my love.
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Lo, here began my downfal and decay,
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In mind I mus'd to make him straight away:
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I that became his discontented Wife,
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Contented was he should be rid of life.
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Methinks the heavens cry vengance for my fact,
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Methinks the world condemns my monstrous act,
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Methinks within my conscience tells me true,
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That for that deed hell-fire is my due.
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My pensive soul doth sorrow for my sin,
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For which offence my soul doth bleed within;
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But, mercy, Lord, for mercy still I cry,
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Save thou my soul, and let my body dye.
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Well could I wish that Page enjoy'd his life,
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So that he had some other to his wife:
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But never could I wish of low or high,
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A longer life than see sweet Strangwidge dye.
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O woe is me that had no greater grace,
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To stay till he had run out nature's race;
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My deeds I rure, but more I do repent,
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That to the same my Strangwidge gave consent.
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You parents fond that greedy minded be,
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And seek to graft upon the golden tree;
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Consider well, and rightful judges be,
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And give your doom, 'twixt parents love and me.
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I was their child, and bound for to obey.
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Yet not to love where I no love could lay,
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I married was in muck and endless strife,
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But faith before had made me Strangwidgess wife.
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O wretched world, who canker'd rust doth blind,
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And cursed Men who bear a greedy mind:
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And hapless I, whom parents did force so,
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To end my days in sorrow, shame, and woe.
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You Devonshire dames, and courteous Cornwal knights
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That here are come to visit woful wights,
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Regard my grief, and mark my woful end,
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But to your children be a better friend.
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And thou, my dear, which for my fault must dye,
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Be not afraid the sting of death to try;
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Like as we liv'd and lovd together true,
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So both at once let's bid the world adieu.
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Ulalia thy friend doth take her last farewel,
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Whose soul with thee in heaven shall ever dwell;
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Sweet Saviour Christ do thou my soul receive,
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The world I do with all my heart forgive.
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And parents, now whose greedy mind doth show,
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Your hearts desire, and inward heavy woe,
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Mourn you no more, for now my heart doth tell,
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E'ry day be done, my soul shall be full well.
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And Plimouth proud I bid thee now farewel,
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Take heed you wives, let not your hands rebel;
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And farewel life wherein such sorrows shows,
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And welcome death that doth my corpse inclose.
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And now, sweet Lord, forgive me my misdeeds,
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Repentance crys for foul that inward bleeds,
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My soul and body I commend to thee,
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That with thy blood from death redeemed me.
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Lord bless our Queen with long and happy life,
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And send true peace betwixt each man and wife.
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And give all parents wisdom to foresee,
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The match is marr'd where minds do not agree.
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