A proper newe Ballad, declaring the substaunce of
all the late pretended Treasons against the Queenes Majestie, and Estates of this Realme, by
sundry Traytors: who were executed in Lincolnes-Inne fielde on the 20. and 21. daies of September. 1586. To Wilsons new tune.
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WHen first the gracious God of heaven, by meanes did bring to light:
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the Treasons lately practised, by many a wicked wight.
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Against their Prince whose life they sought, & many a noble Peere:
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the substance of whose treasons strange, you shal most truly heare.
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O Lord preserve our noble Queene, her Counsaile long maintaine:
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Confound her foes and graunt her grace in health to rule and raigne.
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Their Treasons once discovered, then were the Traytors sought:
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some of them fled into a Wood, where after they were caught.
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And being broughte unto the Tower, for joye the Belles did ring:
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and throughout London Bonefiers made, where people Psalmes did sing
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O Lord preserve our noble Queene, etc.
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And set their Tables in the streetes, with meates of every kinde:
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where was preparde all signes of joye, that could be had in minde.
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And praysde the Lord most hartely, that with his mightie hand:
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he had preserved our gracuous Queene, and people of this Land.
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O Lord preserve our noble Queene, etc.
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Which thing was taken in good parte, by our renowned Queene:
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who by her Letters gave them thankes, as playnly may be seene.
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Assuring them that all her care, was for their safetie still:
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and that thereby she would deserve, their love and great good will.
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O Lord preserve our noble Queene, etc.
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The Traytors well examined, (whom God himselfe bewrayed:)
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their Treasons knowne, then were they straight to Westminster convaied.
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Whereas they all indited were, of many a vile pretence:
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seaven pleaded guiltie at the Barre, before they went from thence.
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The maner how they did begin, herein will playne appeare:
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their purposes in each respect, you shall most truely heare.
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Herein unto you will be seene, if they had not bene foylde:
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our Queene, our Realme, yea rich and, poore together had bene spoilde.
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One Savidge lurking long in Fraunce, at Rheames did there remaine:
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whom Doctor Gifford did perswade, great honor hee should gaine.
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If that he would goe take in hand, (these matters very straunge:)
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first to deprive our gracious Queene, Religion for to chaunge.
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And then for to invade the Realme, by troupes of foraine power:
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to overthrowe the government, and kill her in her Bower.
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Or forceably to dispossesse, the Queene of Englands Grace:
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and to proclaime the Scottish Queene, and set her in her place.
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Which matter Savidge promised, his full performance too:
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so that he might see warrant with, safe Conscience so to doo.
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The Doctor vowed by his Soule, and bad him understand:
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it was an honourable thing, to take the same in hand.
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When Savidge heard that merites were, to him therby so rife:
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he vowed for to doe the same, or else to lose his life.
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And shortly into England hyed, and did imparte the same:
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to Babington of Darbyshire, a man sure voyd of shame.
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And tolde him how that he had vowed, to doe it or to dye:
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desiring him of helpe and ayde, and that immeadiatly.
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A Jesuit Priest whom Ballard hight, came over to that end:
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he came also to Babington, and dayly did attend.
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Still to perswade him that he would, attempt and take in hand:
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this vilde and wicked enterprise, and stoutly to it stand.
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And tolde him that he should have ayde, of sixtie thousand men:
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that secretly should landed be, and tolde him how and when.
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And in respect of all his paines, he truely might depende:
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that it was lawefull so to doe, Renowne should be the ende.
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But let all Traytors nowe perceive, what honor he hath wonne:
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whose trayterous head and wicked heart, hath many a one undone.
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This proude and hautie Babington, in hope to gaine renowne:
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did stirre up many wilfull men, in many a Shire and Towne.
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To ayde him in this devilish act, and for to take in hand:
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the spoyle of our renowned Prince, and people of this Land.
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Who did conclude with bloodie blade, a slaughter to commit:
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upon her Counsell as they should, within Star Chamber sit.
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Which is a place wheras the Lordes, and those of that degree:
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yeeldes Justice unto every man, that craves it on their knee.
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Yea famous London they did meane, for to have sackt beside:
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both Maior and Magistrates therin, have murdered at that tide.
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Eache riche mans goodes had beene their owne, no favour then had served:
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nought but our wealth was their desire, though wee and ours had starved.
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Besides these wicked practises, they had concluded more:
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the burning of the Navie and, the cheefest Shippes in store:
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With fire and sworde they vowed, to kill and to displace:
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eache Lord Knight and Magistrate, true subjects to her Grace.
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They had determinde to have cloyde, and poysoned out of hand:
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the cheefe and greatest Ordinaunce, that is within this Land.
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And did entend by violence, on rich men for to fall:
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to have their money and their Plate, and to have spoild them al.
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The Common wealth of England soone, should therby have bene spoylde:
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our goodes for which our Parents and, ourselves long time have toylde.
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Had all bene taken from us, besides what had ensued:
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the substaunce proveth playnely, to soone wee all had rewed.
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Those were the Treasons they conspyrde, our good Queene to displace:
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to spoyle the states of all this Land, such was their want of grace:
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But God that doth protect her still, offended at the same:
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Even in their young and tender yeares, did cut them of with shame.
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These Traytors executed were, on Stage full strongly wrought:
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even in the place where wickedly, they had their Treasons sought.
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There were they hangde and quatered, there they acknowledged why:
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who like as Traytors they had lived, even so they seemde to dye.
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O wicked Impes, O Traytors vilde, that could these deedes devise:
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why did the feare of God and Prince, departe so from your eyes.
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No Rebelles power can her displace, God will defend her still:
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true subjectes all will lose their lives, ere Traytors have their will.
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How many mischiefes are devisde? how many wayes are wrought:
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how many vilde Conspyracies, against her Grace is sought.
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Yet God that doth protect her still, her Grace doth well preserve:
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and workes a shame unto her foes, as they doe best deserve.
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O heavenly God preserve our Queene, in plentie health and peace:
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confounde her foes, maintaine her right, her joyes O Lord increase.
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Lord blesse her Counsaile evermore, and Nobles of this Land:
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preserve her Subjects, and this Realme, with thy most mightie hand.
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