[?]e Dity upon the death of ROBERT DEVEREUX, late Earle of Essex, who
was beheaded in the Tower of London, on Ashwensday in the Morning..
To the tune of Welladay.
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[?]ds pride is gon
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[welladay, well]aday,
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[?] sigh & grone
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[?]e,
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[?]x'd him still
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[?]antly,
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[?]de of ill,
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[?]owne:
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[?] foule fiend
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[?] e're hath end
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[?]ne vertues friend
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[?]l.
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[?]urpasse
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[?]ntly:
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[?]nd was
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[?]:
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[?]as seene,
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[?] Queene,
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[?]ldome beene
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[?]
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[?] at home,
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[?]ntly
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[?] was none,
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[?]
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[?]ine,
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[?]name
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[?]ame.
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[?]
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That first began the strife,
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And caused him to loose his life,
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And others did the like,
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As well as hee.
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Yet her Princely Majestie
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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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[S]he hath released them quite,
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[a]nd given them their right,
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They may pray both day and night
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God to defend her.
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Shrove tuesday in the night,
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welladay, welladay,
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With a heavy harted spright
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as it is sayd:
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The leiftenant of the Tower
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Who kept him in his power,
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At ten a clocke that houre,
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To him did come.
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And sayd unto him there,
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mournefully, mournfully
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My Lord you must prepare,
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to die tomorrow:
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Gods 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 weake.
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I pray you pray for me
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welladay, welladay,
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That God may strengthen me,
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against that houre:
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Then straightway did he call
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The Guard under the wall,
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And did intreate them all
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For him to pray.
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For tomorrow is the day,
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wellady welladay,
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That I the debt must pay,
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which I doe owe:
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It is my life I meane,
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which I must pay my Queene,
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Even so hath justice given,
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That I must doe.
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In the morning was be broght
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welladay welladay:
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Where a 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 appoynted then
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To see him dye.
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You noble Lords quoth he
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welladay welladay,
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That must the witnesse be,
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of this my death:
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know I never lov'd papistrie
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But did It still defie,
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And Essex thus did dye,
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Heere in this place.
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I have a sinner been
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welladay welladay:
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Yet never wrong'd my Queene
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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 doe forgive them.
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To the state I ne're ment ill
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welladay, welladay,
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neither wisht the commons ill,
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in all my life:
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But loved all with my heart,
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And alwayes tooke their part
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Whereas there was desart,
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In any place.
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Then mildely did he crave
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mournefully mournefully,
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He might that favour have
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private to pray:
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He then prayed heartely,
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And with great fervency,
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To God thae sits on hie,
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For to receive him.
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And then he prayed againe
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mournfully mournfully,
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God to preserve his Queene
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from all her foes:
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And send her long to raigne,
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True Justice to maintaine,
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And not to let proude Spaine,
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Once to offend her.
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His gowne he slipt of then
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welladay welladay,
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And put off his hat and band
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and hung it by,
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Praying still continually,
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To God that sits on hie,
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That he might patiently,
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There suffer death.
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My headesman that must be,
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then saide he cheerefullie,
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Let him come heere to me,
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That I may him see:
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Who kneeled to him then,
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Art thou (quoth he) the man,
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Which art appointed now,
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my life to free?
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Yes my Lord did he say
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welladay, welladay,
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Forgive me I you pray
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for this your death:
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I heare doe thee forgive,
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And may true justice live,
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No foule crime to forgive,
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Within their place.
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then he kneeled down againe,
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mournefully mournfully,
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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 closde his eyes
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which he did in heartie wise,
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Thanking them for it.
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That they would remember him
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welladay, welladay:
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That he might forgive al them,
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that had him wrong'd:
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Now my Lords I take my leave
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sweet Christ my soule receive
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Now when you wil prepare,
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For I am readie.
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He laid his head on the block
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welloday welladay:
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But his doublet did let the stroke
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some there did say:
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what must be don (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 downe againe.
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Then his headesman did his part
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cruelly, cruelly,
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He was never seene to start,
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For all the blowes:
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His soule it is 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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W[he]n it shall please him.
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