A most sweet Song of an English Merchant-man, born in Chichester.
To an Excellent New Tune, etc.
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A Rich Merchant man there was,
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that was both grave and wise,
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Did kill a man at Embden town,
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through quarrels that did rise;
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Thro' quarrels that did rise;
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the German being Dead,
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And for that fact the merchant-man
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was judg'd to lose his head:
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A sweet thing is Love,
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it rules both heart and mind,
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There is no comfort in the world
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to women that are kind.
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A Scaffold builded was
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within the Marketplace,
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And all the people far and near
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did thither flock apace:
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Did thither flock apace
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this doleful sight to see,
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Who all in velvet black as jet
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unto the place came he,
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A sweet thing is Love, etc.
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Bare headed as he was,
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his hands was bound before,
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A Cambrick Ruff about his neck
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as white as milk he wore:
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His Stockings were of Silk
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as fine as fine might be,
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Of person and of countenance,
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a proper man was he.
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A sweet thing is Love, etc.
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When he was mounted up
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upon the Scaffold high,
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All women said, Great pitty it was
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so sweet a man should dye;
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The merchants of the Town,
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from Death to set him free,
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Did proffer there a thousand pound,
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but yet all would not be:
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A sweet thing is Love,
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it rules both heart and mind,
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There is no comfort in this world
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to women that are kind.
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The prisoner hereupon
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began to speak his mind,
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Quoth he, I have deserved death
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in conscience I do find:
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Yet sore against my will
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this man I kill'd quoth he,
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As Christ doth know, which of my soul
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must only Saviour be:
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A sweet thing is Love, etc.
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With heart I do repent
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this most unhappy Deed,
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and for his wife and children twain
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my very heart doth bleed:
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The Deed is done and past,
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my hope of life is vain,
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and yet the loss of this my life
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to them is little gain:
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A sweet thing is Love, etc.
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Unto the Widow poor,
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and to the babes therefore,
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I give a hundred pound apiece,
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their comfort to restore:
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Desiring at their hands
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no one request but this,
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They will speak well of English-men
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though I have done amiss:
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A sweet thing is Love,
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it rules both heart and mind,
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There is no comfort in this world
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to women that are kind.
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This was no sooner done,
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but that to stint the strife,
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Four goodly maids did proffer him,
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for love to save his life:
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This is our law quoth they,
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we may your Death remove,
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So you in lieu of our goodwill,
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will grant to us your love:
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A sweet thing is Love, etc.
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Brave English-man, quoth they,
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I will save thy life;
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Nay, quoth the second it is I,
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so I may be thy wife;
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Tis I, the third did say,
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Nay, quoth the fourth tis I,
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So each one after the other said,
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still waiting his Reply:
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A sweet thing is Love, etc.
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Fair Maidens every one,
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I must confess and say,
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That each of you well worthy is
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to be a Lady gay:
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and I unworthy far
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the worst of you to have,
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Though you have proffer'd willingly
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my loathed life to save:
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A sweet thing is Love,
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it rules both heart and mind,
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There is no comfort in this world,
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to women that are kind.
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Then take a thousand thanks
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of me a dying man,
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But speak no more of love or life,
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for why my life is gone:
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To Christ my soul I give,
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my body unto Death,
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For none of you my heart can have
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sith I must leave my breath:
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A sweet thing is Love, etc.
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Fair maids lament no more,
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your Country law is such,
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It takes but hold upon my life,
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my goods it cannot touch:
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Within one chest I have
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in gold a thousand pound,
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I give it equal to you all
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for love that I have found;
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A sweet thing is love, etc.
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And now Dear Friends farewel,
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sweet England now adieu,
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And Chichester where I was born,
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where first this breath I drew:
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And now thou man of Death,
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unto thy weapon stand.
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O nay, another Damsel said,
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sweet Headsman hold thy hand:
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A sweet thing is love, etc.
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Now hear a maidens plaint,
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brave English Man, quoth she,
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And grant me love for love again,
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that craves but love of thee:
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I wooe and sue for love,
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that had been woo'd e'er this,
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Then grant me love, and therewithal
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she proffer'd him a kiss:
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A sweet thing is love,
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it rules both heart and mind,
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There is no comfort in the world
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to women that are kind.
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I'll die within thy arms,
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if thou wilt dye, quoth she,
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Yet live or die, sweet English-man,
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i'll live and die with thee,
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But can it be, quoth he,
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that thou do love me so:
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Tis not by long acquaintance, sir,
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whereby true love doth grow:
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A sweet hing is love,
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it rules both heart and mind,
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There is no comfort in this world
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to women that are kind.
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Then beg my life, quoth he,
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and I will be thy own,
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If I should seek the world for love
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more love cannot be shown:
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The people at that word
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did give a joyful cry,
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And said, Great pity it was
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so sweet a man should die.
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A sweet thing is love, etc.
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I go my love, she said,
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I run, I flye to thee,
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And gentle headsman spare awhile
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my lovers head for me:
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Unto the Duke she went
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who did her grief remove,
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And with a hundred maidens more
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she went to fetch her love:
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A sweet thing is love, etc.
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With musick sounding sweet,
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the foremost of the train,
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The gallant maiden like a bride,
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did fetch him back again;
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Yea, hand in hand away they went
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unto the Church that Day,
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And they were marry'd presently
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in sumptuous rich array;
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a sweet thing is love, etc.
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To England came he then
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with his fair Lady-Bride,
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A fairer Creature never lay
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by any Merchants side;
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Where we must leave them now
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in pleasure and delight,
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But of their names and dwelling place,
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I must not here recite:
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a sweet thing is love,
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it rules both heart and mind,
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There is no comfort in the world
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to women that are kind.
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