A Lamentable Ballad of the Tragical end of
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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Fairer creature never did,
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Dame nature ever frame,
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By whom he had too children fair,
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Whom 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 ease 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 [l]it[t]le babes,
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With us here still remain.
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Farewell dear children I will go,
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A fine th[i]ng for to buy,
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But they the[r]ewith 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 d]id stay behind,
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[His Lord] to be a hunting gone,
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[Began to ca]ll 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 d[i]d 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 afright;
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Yet must I make an end of this,
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Which ere I have begun,
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Which will make sad the hardest heart,
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Before it 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 just forthwith to satisfy,
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His revenge to fulfill.
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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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Thereforere come lie with me,
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Or else I do protest and now
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Thy butcher I will be,
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The crystal tears ran 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 parrs 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 pitiously
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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 run 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 upon his knees,
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And did the more 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 his 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 against the wall,
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Saying thus die shall thy mother,
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With that he cut the throat
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Then to the father he did call,
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To look how he the same did cut,
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Then down the wall her 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 the father wring his hands,
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And grieveously to weep.
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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 that 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 life I t[h]ee 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 off 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 my 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 senaes all did fail,
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Yet many fought 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 his gallant lord
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And lady did complain,
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Quo[t]h he I know you'll torture me,
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If 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 sport,
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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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And thus doth end as sad a tale,
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As ever man did hear.
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