A Lamentable ballad on the Earl of Essexs Death.
Tune is, Essex last Goodnight.
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ALL you that cry O hone, O hone,
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come now and sing O hone with me,
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For why our Jewel is from us gone,
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the valiant Knight of Chivalry:
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Of rich and poor belov'd was he,
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in time an honourable knight,
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When by our Laws condemn'd to die,
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He lately took his last Goodnight.
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Count him not like to Champion,
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those traiterous men of Babington,
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Nor like the Earl of Westmoorland,
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by whom a number were undone:
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He never yet hurt Mothers Son,
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his quarrel still maintains the right,
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Which the tears my face down run,
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when I think on his last goodnight.
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The Portugals can witness be,
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his Dagger at Lisbon gate he flung,
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And like a Knight of Chivalry,
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his Chain upon the Gate he hung;
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I would to God that he would come,
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to fetch them back in order right,
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Which thing was by his honour done,
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yet lately took their last goodnight.
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The French-men they can testifie,
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the town of Gourney he took in,
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And marcht to Rome immediately,
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not caring for his foes a pin:
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With Bullets then he pierc'd his skin,
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and made them fly from his sight:
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He there that time did credit win,
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and now hath tane his last goodnight.
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And stately Cales can witness be,
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even by his Proclamation right,
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And did command them all straightly,
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to have a care of Infants lives,
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And that none should hurt man or wife,
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which was against their right;
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Therefore they pray'd for his long life,
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which lately took his last goodnight.
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would God he ne'er had Ireland known,
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nor set one foot on Flanders ground,
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Then might we well injoy'd our own,
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where now our jewel will not be found,
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which makes our foes still abound;
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trickling with sal[t] tears in our sight,
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To hear his name in our ears to sound,
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Lord Deverux took his last goodnight.
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Ash wednesday, that dismal day,
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when he came forth his Chamber door,
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Upon a Scaffold there he saw,
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his Headsman standing him before:
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His Nobles all they did deplore,
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shedding salt tears in his sight,
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He said farewel to rich and poor,
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at his goodmorrow and goodnight.
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My Lords, said he, you stand but by
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to see performance of the law,
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It is I that have deserv'd to die,
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and yield myself unto the blow;
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I have deserv'd to die I know,
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but ne'er against my Countries right,
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Nor to my Queen was ever foe,
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upon my death at my goodnight.
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Farewel, Elizabeth, my gracious Queen,
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God bless thee with thy Council all;
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Farewel my Knights of Chivalry,
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farewel my Souldiers stout and tall,
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Farewel the Commons great and small,
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into the hands of men I light,
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My life shall make amends for all,
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for Essex bids the world goodnight.
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Farewel dear wife, and children three,
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farewel my kind and tender son;
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Comfort yourselves, mourn not for me,
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although your fall be now begune,
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My time is come, my glass is run,
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comfort yourself in former light,
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Seeing by my fall you are undone,
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your Father bids the world goodnight.
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Derick, thou know'st at Cales I sav'd
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thy life, lost for a Rape there done,
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As thou thyself canst testifie,
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thine own hand three and twenty hung,
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But now thou seest myself is come,
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by chance into thy hands I light,
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Strike out thy blow. that I may know,
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thou Essex lov'd at his goodnight.
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when England counted me a Papist,
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the works of papists I defie,
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I ne're worshipt Saint nor Angel in Heaven,
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nor the Virgin Mary, I;
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But to Christ, which for my sins did die,
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trickling with salt tears in his sight,
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Spreading my arms to God on high,
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Lord Jesus receive my soul this night.
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