The Lamentable BALLAD
A Gallant LORD and Virtuous LADY
Together with the Untimely Death of their two Children.
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In Rome a nobleman did wed
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A virgin of great fame,
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[A f]airer creature never did
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Dame nature ever frame;
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By whom he had two children fair,
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Whose beauty did excel.
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They were their parents only joy,
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They lov'd them both so well.
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The lord he lov'd to hunt the buck,
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The tiger, and the boar,
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And still, for swiftness, always took
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With him a blackamoor.
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Which blackamoor within the wood
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His lord he did offend,
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For which he did him then correct,
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In hopes he would amend.
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The day it grew unto an end,
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Then homewards he did haste,
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Where with his lady he did rest,
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Until the night was past.
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Then in the morning he did rise,
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And did his servants call,
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A hunting he provides to go.
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And they were ready all.
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To cease his toil, the lady did
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Intreat him not to go.
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Alas! good lady, then quoth he,
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Why art thou grieved so?
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Content thyself, I will return
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With speed to thee again.
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Good father, quoth the little babes,
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With us here still remain.
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Farewel, dear children, I will go,
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A fine thing for to buy;
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But they therewith nothing content
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Aloud began to cry.
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The mother takes them by the hand
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Saying, Come, go with me
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Unto the highest tower, where
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Your father you shall see.
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The blackamoor perceiving now,
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Who then did stay behind,
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His lord to be a hunting gone,
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Began to call to mind,
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My master he did me correct,
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My fault not being great;
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Now of his wife I'll be reveng'd,
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She shall not me intreat.
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The place was moated round about,
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The bridge he up did draw,
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The gates he bolted very fast,
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Of none he stood in awe.
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He up into the tower went,
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The lady being there,
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Who, when she saw his countenance grim,
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She strait began to fear.
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But now my trembling heart it quakes,
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To think what I must write,
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My senses all begin to fail,
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My soul it doth affright;
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Yet must I make an end of this,
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Which here I have begun,
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Which will make sad the hardest heart,
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Before that I have done.
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This wretch unto the lady went,
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And her with speed did will,
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His lust forthwith to satisfy,
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His revenge to fulfil.
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The lady she amazed was,
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To hear the villain speak.
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Alas! quoth she, what shall I do,
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With grief my heart will break.
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With that he took her in his arms,
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She strait for help did cry:
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Content yourself, lady, he said,
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Your husband is not nigh.
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The bridge is drawn, the gates are shut,
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Therefore come lie with me,
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Or else I do protest and vow
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Thy butcher I will be.
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The crystal tears run down her face,
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Her children cry'd amain,
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And sought to help their mother dear,
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But all it was in vain.
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For that egregious filthy rogue,
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Her hands behind her bound,
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And then by force with all his might
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He threw her on the ground.
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With that she shrieks, her children cry'd,
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And such a noise did make,
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The town folks hearing her lament,
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Did seek their parts to take.
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But all in vain, no way was found
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To help this lady's need,
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Who cry'd to them most piteously,
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O help, O help, with speed.
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Some run into the forest wide,
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Her lord home for to call,
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And they that stood still did lament
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This gallant lady's fall.
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With speed her lord came posting home,
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He could not enter in.
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His lady's cries did pierce his heart,
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To call he did begin,
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O hold thy hand, thou savage Moor,
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To hurt her do forbear.
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Or else be sure if I do live,
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Wild horses shall thee tear.
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With that the rogue ran to the wall,
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He having had his will,
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And brought one child unto the wall,
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His dearest blood to spill.
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The child seeing his father there,
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To him for help did call;
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O father, help my mother dear.
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We shall be killed all.
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Then fell the lord upon his knees,
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And did the Moor intreat,
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To save the life of his poor child,
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Whose fear was then so great.
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But this vile wretch, the little child
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By both the heels did take,
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And dash'd his brains against the wall,
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While parents hearts did ake:
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That being done away he run,
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The other child to fetch,
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And pluck'd it from the mother's breast,
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Most like a cruel wretch.
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Within one hand a knife he brought,
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The child within the other,
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And holding it over the wall,
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Saying, Thus die shall thy mother,
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With that he [cut] the throat of it,
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Then to the fathdr he did call,
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To look how he the same did cut.
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Then down the head did fall.
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This done, he threw it down the wall,
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Into the mote so deep,
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Which made tee father wring his hands:
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And grieveously to weep-
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Then to the lady went this rogue,
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Who was near dead with fear.
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Yet this vile wretch most cruelly
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Did drag her by the hair,
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And drew her to the very wall,
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Which when her lord did see,
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Then presently he cried out,
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And fell upon his knee.
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Quoth he, if thou wilt save her life,
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Whom I do love so dear.
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I will forgive thee all is past,
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Though they concern me near.
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O save her life I thee beseech,
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O save her, I thee pray.
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And I will grant thee what thou wilt
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Demand of me this day.
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Well, quoth the Moor, I do regard
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The moan that thou dost make
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If thou wilt grant me what I ask,
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I'll save her for thy sake.
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O save her life, and then demand
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Of me what thing thou wilt.
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Cut of thy nose, and not one drop
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Of her blood shall be spilt,
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With that the lord presently took
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A knife within his hand,
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And then his nose he quite cut off,
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In place where he did stand.
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Now I have bought me lady's life,
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Then to the Moor did call
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Then take her, quoth this wicked rogue
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And down he let her fall.
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Which when her gallant lord did see,
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His senses all did fail:
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Yet many sought to save his life,
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Yet nothing could prevail.
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When as the Moor did see him dead,
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Then did he laugh amain
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At them who for this gallant lord
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And lady did complain.
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Quoth he, I know you'll torture me
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I[f] that you can me get,
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But all your threats I do not fear
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Nor yet regard one whit.
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Wild horses will my body tear,
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I know it to be true;
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But I'll prevent you of that pain,
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And down himself he threw.
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Too good a death for such a wretch;
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A villain void of fear.
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Printed and Sold at No. 4, Aldermary church yard.
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