He bargain'd with two ruffians' strong

Which were of furious mood,

That they should take these' children young,

And slay them in a wood.

He told his wife, and all he had,

He did the children send,

To be brought up in fair London,

With one that was his friend.

Away then went these pretty babes,
Rejoicing at that tide,

Rejoicing with a merry mind,

They should on cock-horse ride.
They prate and prattle pleasantly,
As they rode on the way,

To those that should their butchers be,
And work their lives decay.

So that the pretty speech they had,
Made murders' hearts relent;
And they that undertook the deed

Full sore they did repent.

Yet one of them, more hard of heart,
Did vow to do his charge,

Because the wretch that hired him

Had paid him very large.

[V. 73. rude.]

[V. 90. murderers. ]

[V. 75. the.]

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The other would not agree thereto,

So here they fell at strife; With one another they did fight,

About the childrens life:

And he that was of mildest mood,

Did slay the other there,
Within an unfrequented wood;
While babes did quake for fear.

He took the children by the hand,
When tears stood in their eye,

And bade them come and go

And look they did not cry:

with him,

And two long miles he led them on,

While they for food complain:

Stay here, quoth he, I'll bring you bread,

When I do come again.

These pretty babes, with hand in hand,

Went wandering up and down ; But never more they saw the man, Approaching from the town: Their pretty lips, with black-berries, Were all besmear'd and died,

And, when they saw the darksome night,

They sate them down and cried.

Thus wander'd these two pretty babes,

Till death did end their grief;

In one anothers arms they died,
As babes wanting relief.

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No burial these pretty babes

Of any man receives,

Till Robin-red-breast, painfully,

Did cover them with leaves.

And now the heavy wrath of god

Upon their uncle fell;

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Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house,

His conscience felt an hell.

His barns were fired, his goods consum❜d,

His lands were barren made,
His cattle died within the field,
And nothing with him stay'd.

And, in the voyage of Portugal*,
Two of his sons did die;

And, to conclude, himself was brought

To extreme misery.

He pawn'd and mortgag'd all his land

Ere seven years came about:
And now, at length, this wicked act
Did by this means come out :

The fellow that did take in hand
These children for to kill,
Was for a robbery judg'd to die,
As was gods blessed will;

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* A. D. 1588. See the catalogue of the Harleian MSS. No 167, (15). Dr. Percy, not knowing that the text alludes to a particular event, has altered it to "a voyage to Portugal."

Who did confess the very truth,

The which is here express'd:

Their uncle died while he, for debt,

In prison long did rest.

You that executors be made,'

And overseers eke,

Of children that be fatherless,

And infants mild and meek, Take you example by this thing, And yield to each his right,

Lest god, with such like misery,

Your wicked minds requite.

XXXV.

GEORGE BARNWEL.

[THE FIRST PART.]

ALL youths of fair England,

That dwell both far and near,

Regard my story that I tell,

And to my song give ear.

A London lad I was,

A merchants prentice bound,

My name George Barnwel, that did spend

My master many a pound.

[V. 153. All you that be executors made.]

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For by their' means I have been brought

To hang alive in chains.

As I, upon a day,

Was walking through the street,

About my masters business,

I did a wanton meet.

A gallant dainty dame,

And sumptuous in attire,

With smiling looks she greeted me,

And did my name require.

Which when I had declar'd,
She gave me then a kiss,

And said, if I would come to her,
I should have more than this.

In faith, my boy, quoth she,
Such news I can you tell,

As shall rejoice your very heart,
Then come where I do dwell.

Fair mistress, then said I,

If I the place may know,
This evening I will be with you,

For I abroad must go.

[7.11. that.]

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