The most rare and Excellent History
Of the Dutchess of Suffolks Calamity.
To the Tune of, Queen Dido, etc.
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WHen God had taken for our Sin
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that prudent Prince King Edward away,
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Then bloody Bonner did begin
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his raging malice to bewray:
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All those that did God's Word profess,
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He prosecuted more or less.
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Thus whilst the Lord on us did lower,
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many in Prison he did throw,
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Tormenting them in Lollards Tower,
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whereby they might the Truth forego;
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Then Cranmer, Ridley, and the rest
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Were burning in the Fire, that Christ profest.
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Smithfield was then with Faggots fill'd,
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and many places more beside;
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At Coventry was Saunders kill'd.
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at Woster eke good Hooper dy'd:
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And to escape this bloody Day,
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Beyond Sea many fled away.
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Amongst the rest that sought Relief,
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and for their Faith in Danger stood,
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Lady Elizabeth was Chief,
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King Henrys Daughter of Royal Blood,
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Which in the Tower did Prisoner lie,
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Looking each Day when she should die.
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The Dutchess of Suffolk seeing this,
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whose Life likewise the Tyrant sought,
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Who in the hopes of heavenly Bliss,
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within God's Words her Comfort wrought;
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For fear of Death was forc'd to flie,
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And leave her House most secretly.
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That for the Love of God alone,
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her Land and Goods she left behind;
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Seeking still for that precious Stone,
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the Word and Truth so rare to find;
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She with her Nurse, Husband and Child,
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In poor Array their Sighs beguil'd,
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Thus through London they passed along,
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each one did take a several Street,
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Thus all along escaping Wrong,
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at Billingsgate they all did meet,
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Like People poor in Gravesend Barge,
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They simply went with all their Charge.
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And all along from Gravesend Town.
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with Journies short on foot they went,
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Unto the Sea-coast came they down,
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to pass the Seas was their intent.
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And God provided so that Day,
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That they took Ship and sail'd away;
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And with a prosperous Gale of Wind,
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in Flanders they did safe arrive;
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This was to their great ease of Mind,
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and from their heavy Hearts much Woe did drive;
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And so with Thanks to God on high,
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They took their way to Germany.
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Thus as they travell'd still disguis'd,
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upon the High-way suddenly
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By cruel Thieves they were surpriz'd,
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assaulting their small Company:
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And all their Treasures and their Store,
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They took away, and beat them sore.
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The Nurse in midst of all their Fight,
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laid down the Child upon the Ground,
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She ran away out of their sight,
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and never after that was found:
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Then did the Dutchess make great Moan,
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With her good Husband all alone.
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The Thieves had their Horses kill'd,
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and all their Money quite had took;
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The pretty Baby almost spoil'd,
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was by the Nurse likewise forsook;
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And they far from their Friends did stand,
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And succourless in a strange Land.
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The Sky likewise began to scowl,
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it hail'd and rain'd in piteous sort,
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The Way was long and wondrous foul;
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then may I now full well report,
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Their Grief and Sorrow was not small,
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When this unhappy Chance did fall.
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Some time the Dutchess bore the Child,
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as wet as ever she could be;
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And when the Lady kind and mild,
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was weary, then the Child bore he;
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And thus thy one another eas'd,
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And with their Fortunes well were pleas'd.
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And after many a weary Step,
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all wet-shod both in Dirt and Mire,
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After much Grief their Hearts yet leapt,
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for Labour doth some Rest require,
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A Town before them they did see,
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But lodged there they could not be.
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From House to House, they then did go,
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seeking that Night where they might lie;
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But want of Money was their Woe,
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and still their Babe with cold doth cry,
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With Cap and Knee they Courtesie make,
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But none of them would Pitty take;
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Lo here a Princess of great Blood,
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doth pray a Peasant for Relief,
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With Tears bedewed as she stood,
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yet few or none regard her Grief.
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Her Speech they could not understand,
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But gave her Money in her Hand.
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When all in vain her Speech is spent,
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and that they could not House-room get,
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Into a Church-porch then they went,
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to stand out of the Rain and Wet;
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Then said the Dutchess to her Dear,
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O that we had some Fire h[e]re.
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Then did her Husband so provide,
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that Fire and Coals they got with speed;
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She sat down by the Fire-side
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to dress her Daughter that had need;
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And whilst she drest it in her Lap,
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Her Husband made the Infant Pap.
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Anon the Sexton thither came,
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and finding them there by the Fire,
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The drunken Knave, all void of Shame,
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to drive them out was his Desire;
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And spurned out this noble Dame,
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Her Husband's Wrath he did inflame;
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And all in Fury as he stood,
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he wrung the Church-keys out of his Hand,
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And struck him so that all the Blood,
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his Head ran down as he did stand;
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Wherefore the Sexton presently,
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For Aid and Help aloud did cry.
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Then came the Officers in haste,
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and took the Dutchess and her Child,
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And with her Husband thus they past,
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like Lambs beset with Tygers wild;
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And to the Governour was brought,
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Who understood them not in ought.
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Then Master Bertue brave and bold,
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in Latine made a gallant Speech,
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Which all their Miseries did unfold,
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and their high Favour did beseech.
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With that a Doctor sitting by
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Did know this Dutchess presently.
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And thereupon arising straight,
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with Words abashed at this Sight,
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Unto them all that there did wait,
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he thus broke forth in words aright;
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Behold within your sight, quoth he,
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A Princess of most high Degree.
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With that the Governour and all the rest,
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were much amaz'd the fame to hear,
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Who welcomed this newcome Guest,
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with Reverence great, and Princely Chear.
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And afterwards convey'd they were
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Unto their Friend, Prince Cassimere.
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A Son she hath in Germany,
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Peregrine Bertue call'd by Name;
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Surnam'd the good Lord Willoughby,
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of Courage great, and worthy Fame;
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Her Daughter young, that with her went,
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Was afterwards Countess of Kent.
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For when Queen Mary was deceas'd,
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the Dutchess home return'd again;
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Who was of Sorrow quite releast,
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by Queen Elizabeths happy Reign;
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Whose Godly Life and Piety,
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We may praise continually.
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