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EBBA 37086

British Library - Huth
Ballad XSLT Template
A proper newe sonet declaring the lamentation of Beckles a Mar[ket towne in]
Suffolke, which was in the great winde upon S. Andrewes eve last, past most pittifully burned
with fire, to the losse by estimation of twentie thousande pound and upwarde, and to the number of
fourescore dwelling houses. 1586. To Wilsons tune.

WIth sobbing sighes and trickling teares
my state I doe lament
Perceiving how Gods heavie wrath
against my sinnes is bent
Let all men viewe my woefull fall
and rue my woefull case
And learne hereby in speedy sort
repentaunce to embrace.

For late in Suffolcke was I seen
to be a stately towne
Replenished with riches store
and had in great renowne
Yea planted on a pleasant soyle
so faire as heart could wish
And had my markets once a weeke
well storde with flesh and fish

A faire fresh River running by
to profite me withall
Who with a cristall cleered streame
about my bankes did fall
My fayres in somer welthely
for to increase my store
My medowes greene and commons great
what could I wish for more.

But now beholde my great decay
which on a sodaine came
My sumptuous buildings burned be
by force of fires flame
A carelesse wretch most rude in life
his chymney set on fire
The Instrument I must confesse
of Gods most heavie ire.

The flame whereof increasing stil
the blustering windes did blowe
And into divers buildings by
disperst it to and fro
So kindling in most grievous sort
it waxed huge and hie
The River then was frozen so
no water they could come by.

Great was the crye that then was made
among both great and small
The wemen wept and wrong their handes
whose goods consumed all
No helpe was found to slacke the fyre
theyr paines was spent in vaine
To beare theyr goods into the fieldes
for safegarde they were fayne.

And yet amid this great distresse
a number set theyr minde
To filtch and steale and beare away
so much as they could finde
Theyr neighbors wealth which wasted lay
about the streetes that time
They secretly convayde away
O most accursed crime.

Thus from the morning nyne a clocke
till foure a clocke at night

Fourescore houses in Beckles towne
was burnd to ashes quite
And that which most laments my heart
the house of God I say
The Church and temple by this fyre
is cleane consumde away.

The marketplace and houses fayre
that stood about the same
Hath felt the force and violence
of this most fearefull flame
So that there is no christian man
but in his heart would grieve
To see the smart I did sustaine
upon saint Andrewes eve.

Wherefore good christian people now
take warning by my fall
Live not in strife and envious hate
to breed each other thrall
Seeke not your neighbors lasting spoyle
by greedy sute in Lawe
Live not in discord and debate
which doth destruction draw.

And flatter not yourselves in sinne
holde not Gods worde in scorne
Repine not at his Ministers
nor be not false forsworne
For where such vices doth remaine
Gods grace will never be
And in your health and happie state
have yet some minde on me.

Whose songes is changd to sorrowes sore
my joyes to wayling woe
My mirth to mourning sighes and grones
the which from griefe doth growe
My wealth to want and scarsetie
my pleasure into payne
All for the sinne and wickednesse
which did in me remaine.

If then you wish prosperitie
be loving meeke and kinde
Lay rage and rancour cleane aside
set malice from your minde
And live in love and charitie
all hatefull pride detest
And so you shall with happie dayes
forever more be blest.

And thus I ende my wofull song
beseeching God I may
Remaine a mirrour to all such
that doe in pleasure stay
And that amongest their greatest mirth
and chiefest joye of all
They yet may have a heart to thinke
of Beckles sodaine fall.


FINIS.
T.D.
AT LONDON,
Imprinted by Robert Robinson for Nicholas Colma[n]
of Norwich, dwelling in S. Andrewes
Churchyard.

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