The most Rare and excellent History,
Of the Dutches of Suffokls Calamity
To the Tune of, Queen Dido,
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WHen God had taken for our sin,
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that prudent Prince K. Edward away,
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Then bloody Bonner did begin
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his raging malice to bewray:
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All those that did Gods word profess,
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He persecuted more or less.
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Thus whilst the Lord on us did lowre,
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many in prison he did throw,
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Tormenting them in Lollards Tower
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whereby they might the truth forgo:
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Then Cranmer, Ridley, and the rest,
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Where burning in the fire, that Christ profest.
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Smithfield was then with Faggots fill'd,
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and many places more beside,
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At Coventry was Saunders kill'd,
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at Woster eke good Hooper dy'd:
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And to escape this bloody day,
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Beyond Sea many fled away.
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Amongst the rest that sought relief,
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and for their Faith in danger stood
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Lady Elizabeth was cheif,
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King Henries daughter of Royal blood,
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Which in the Tower did Prisoner lye,
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Looking each day when she should dye.
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The Dutchess of Suffolk seeing this,
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whose life likewise the Tyrant sought,
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Who in the hopes of Heavenly bliss,
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[wit]hin Gods words her comfort wrought:
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[For fear] of Death was forc'd to flye,
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[And lea]ve their house most secretly.
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[That for] the love of God alone,
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[her Lan]d and Goods she left behind;
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[Seeking s]till for that presious stone,
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[the word a]nd truth so rare to find:
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[She with her] Nurse Husband and child,
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[In poor arra]y their sighs beguil'd.
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[Thus through] London they passed along.
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[each one did take a several] street,
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[Thus all along escaping wrong,
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at Billingsgate they all did meet,
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Like people poor in Graves end-Barge,
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They simple went with all their charge.
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And all along from Gravesend-Town,
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with Journeys short on foot they went,
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Unto the Sea-coast came they down,
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to pass the Seas was their intent.
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And God provided so that day,
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That they took Ship and sail'd away,
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And with a prosperous gale of wind,
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in Flanders they did safe arrive
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This was to their great ease of mind,
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and from their heavy heart much woe did drive,
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And so with thanks to God on high,
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They took their way to Germany.
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Thus as they travel'd still disguis'd,
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upon the highway suddenly,
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By cruel thieves they were surpris'd
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assayling their small company:
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And all their treasures and their store,
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They took away and beat them sore.
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The Nurse in midst of all their fight
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laid down the Child upon the ground,
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She ran away out of their sight,
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and never after that was found,
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Then did the Dutchess make great moan,
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With her good Husband all alone.
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The thieves had there their Horses kill'd,
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and all their money quite had took,
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The pritty Baby almost spoil'd,
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was by the Nurse likewise forsook:
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And they far from their friends did stand,
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And succourless in a strange Land.
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The Sky likewise began to scowl,
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it hail'd and rain'd in piteous sort.
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The way was long and wondrous foul,
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then may I now full well report,
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Their grief and sorrow was not small,
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When this unhappy chance did fall.
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SOmetimes the Dutchess bore the child,
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as wet as ever she could be,
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And when the Lady kind and mild,
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was weary, then the child bore he,
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And thus they one another eas'd,
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And with their fortunes well was pleas'd.
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And After many a weary step,
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all wet-shod both in dirt and mire,
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After much grief their hearts yet leaps,
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for labour doth some rest require,
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A Town before them they did see,
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But lodged there they could not be.
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From house to house then they did go,
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seeking that night where they might lye,
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But want of money was there woe,
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and still their babe with cold doth cry,
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With Cap and knee they courtesie make,
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But one of them would pitty take.
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Loe here a Princess of great blood,
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doth pray a Peasant for relief,
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With tears bedewed as she stood,
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yet few or none regard her grief,
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Her speech they could not understand,
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But gave her money in her hand.
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When all in vain her speeches spent,
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and that they could no house-room get,
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Into a Church Porch then they went,
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to stand out of the rain and wet:
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Then said the Dutchess to her dear,
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O that we had some fire here.
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Then did her Husband so provide,
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that fire and coals they got with speed,
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She sat down by the fire side,
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to dress her Daughter that had need:
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And whilst she drest it in her lap,
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Her Husband made the Infany pay.
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Anon the Serton thither came,
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and finding them there by the fire
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The Dr[unken Knave all void of shame,]
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to driv[e them out was his desire,]
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And spu[rned out the noble Dame,]
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Her Hus[bands wrath he did inflame.]
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And all in fury as he stood,
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he wrong the Church-keys out of his hand
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And struck him so that all the blood,
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his head ran down as he did stand,
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Wherefore the Serton presently,
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For aid and help aloud did cry.
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Then came the Officers in haste,
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and took the Dutches and her child,
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And with her Husband thus they past,
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like Lambs beset with Tygers wild:
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And to the Governer were brought,
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Who understood them not in ought.
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Then Master Bertue brave and bold,
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in Latine made a gallant speech,
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Which all their misers did unfold,
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and their high fovour did beseech.
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With that a Docter sitting by,
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Did know the Dutches presently.
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And thereupon arsing straight,
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with wo[r]ds abashed at this sight,
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Unto them all that their did wait,
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he thus broke forth in words aright
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Behold within your sight, quoth he,
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A Princes of most high degree,
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With that the Governour and all the rest.
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were much amaz'd the same to hear,
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Who Welcomed this new-come Guest,
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with reverence great, and princely chear,
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And afterwards convey'd they were,
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Unto their Friend Prince Cassimere.
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A Son she had in Germany
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Peregrine Bertue call'd by name;
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Surnam'd the good Lord Willoughby,
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of courage great and worthy fame:
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Her Daughter young that with her went,
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Was afterwards Countess of Kent.
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For when Queen Mary was deceast,
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the Dutches [hom]e return'd again,
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W[ho was of sorrow quite releast,
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by Queen Elizabeths happy Reign:
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Whose Godly Life and Piety,
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We may praise continually.
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