A Lamentable Ditty made on the Death of Robert Deverux, Earl of Essex, who was Beheaded in the Tower of London,
on Ash-wednesday, 1603. The Tune is, Welladay.
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SWeet Englands pride is gone
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welladay, welladay,
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Which makes her sigh & groan
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evermore still;
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He did her fame advance,
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in Ireland, Spain, and France,
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And by a sad mischance
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is from us tane,
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He was a vertuous Peer,
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welladay, etc.
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And was esteemed dear,
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evermore still.
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He always lov'd the poor,
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Which makes 'em sigh full sore
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His death they did deplore
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in every place.
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Brave honour grac'd him still,
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gallantly, gallantly,
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He ne'er did deed of ill,
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well it is known,
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But Envy that foul fiend,
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Whose malice there doth end,
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Hath brought vertues friend
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unto this thrall.
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At Tilt he did surpass,
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gallantly, etc.
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All men that is and was,
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evermore still.
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One day as it was seen,
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in honour of the Queen,
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Such deeds are seldom been,
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as he did do,
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Abroad and eke at home,
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gallantly, etc.
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For valour there was none,
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like him before,
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But Ireland, France & Spain,
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That fear'd great Essex name,
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But England lov'd the same,
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in every place.
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But all would not prevail,
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welladay, welladay,
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His deeds did not prevail,
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more was the pitty,
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He was condemn'd to die
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For treason certainly,
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But God that sits on high,
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knoweth all things,
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That Sunday in the morn,
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welladay, etc.
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That he to the City came,
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with all his troops.
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That first began the strife,
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and caus'd him lose his life,
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and others did the like,
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as well as he.
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Yet to her Princely Majesty,
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graciously, graciously,
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Hath pardon given free
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to many of them;
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She hath releast them quite,
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and given them their right:
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They did pray day night,
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God to defend her,
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Shrove-tuesday in the night,
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welladay, etc.
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With a heavy hearted spight,
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as it is said.
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The Lieutenant of the tower,
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Who kept him in his power,
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At ten a clock that hour,
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to him did come,
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And said unto him there,
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mournfully, etc.
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My Lord you must prepare,
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to die tomorrow.
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God's will be done, quoth he,
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Yet shall you strangely see,
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God strong in me to be,
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though I am weak.
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I pray you pray for me,
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welladay, etc.
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That God may strengthen me
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against that hour.
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Then straightway he did call
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To the Guard under the wall,
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and did intreat them all,
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for him to pray;
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For tomorrow is the day,
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welladay, etc.
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That I a Debt must pay,
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which I do owe,
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It is my life I mean,
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Which I must pay the Queen,
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Even so hath justice given,
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that I must die.
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In the morning was he brought
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welladay, etc.
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Where the Scaffold was set up,
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within the tower,
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Many lords were present then,
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With other Gentlemen,
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which were appointed then,
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to see him die.
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You noble lords, quoth he,
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welladay, etc.
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That must the witness be
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of this my dream:
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Kno I ne'er loved Papistry,
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But still doth defie,
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and thus doth Essex die,
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here in this place.
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I have a sinner been,
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welladay, etc.
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Yet never wrong'd my Queen,
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in all my life;
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my God I did offend,
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which grieves me at my end:
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May all the rest amend,
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I do them forgive.
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To the State I ne'er meant ill
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welladay, etc.
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Neither wisht the Commons ill
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in all my life:
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But lov'd with all my heart,
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And always took their part,
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whereas there were desert,
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in every place.
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Then mildly did he pray,
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mournfully, etc.
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He might the favour have,
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private to pray.
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He then pray'd heartily,
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and with great fervency,
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To God that sits on high,
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for to receive him.
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And then he pray'd again,
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mournfully, etc.
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God to preserve his Queen
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from all her foes,
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and send her long to reign,
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True justice to maintain,
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and not to let proud Spain,
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once to offend her.
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His Gown he stript off then,
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welladay, etc.
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and put off his hat and band,
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and hung them by,
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Praying still continually,
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To God that sits on high,
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That he might patiently
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there suffer death.
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My Headsman that must be,
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then said he chearfully,
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Let him come here to me,
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that I may see him.
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who kneeled to him then,
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art thou, quoth he, the man,
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who art appointed now,
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my life to free?
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Yes, my Lord he did say,
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welladay, etc.
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Forgive me, I you pray,
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for this your death:
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I here do thee forgive,
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And may true justice live,
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No foul Crimes to forgive;
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within this place,
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Then he kneeled down again,
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welladay, etc.
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And was required by some,
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there standing by,
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To forgive his Enemies,
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Before death clos'd his eyes,
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Which he did in hearty wise,
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thanking him for it:
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That they would remember him,
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welladay, etc.
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That he would forgive all them
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that hath him wrong'd.
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Now I take my leave,
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Sweet Christ my soul receive,
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Now when you will prepare,
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I am ready.
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He laid his head on the block,
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welladay, etc.
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But his doublet let the stroke,
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some there did say,
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what must be done, quoth he,
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Shall be done presently,
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Then his doublet off put he,
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and laid down again,
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The Headsman did his part,
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cruelly, cruelly,
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He was not seen to start
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for all the blows.
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His soul is now at rest
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In Heaven among the blest,
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Where God send us to rest,
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when it shall please him.
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