"THE NORFOLK GENTLEMAN'S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, ETC.

"Now ponder well, you Parents dear, these words which I shall write, A Doleful Story you shall hear, in time brought forth to light; A Gentleman of good account, in Norfolk dwelt of late, Whose Wealth and Riches did surmount, most men of his Estate. Sore sick he was, and like to dye, No help that he could have; His Wife by him as sick did lye, and both possess'd one Grave, No love between these two was lost, each was to other kind, In love they liv'd, in love they dy'd, and left two Babes behind. The one a fine and prity Boy, not passing three Years old, The other a Girl more young than he, and made in Beauty's Mould; The Father left his little Son, as plainly doth appear, When he to perfect Age should come, three hundred Pounds a year. And to his little Daughter Jane, five hundred Pound in Gold, To be paid down on Marriage day, which might not be controul'd; But if the Children chance to dye, e're they to Age should come, Their Uncle should possess their Wealth, for so the Will did run. 'Now, brother, (said the dying Man) look to my children dear, 'Be good unto my Boy and Girl, no Friends else I have here: 'To God and you I do commend my children night and day, 'A little while be sure we have within this world to stay. 'You must be Father and Mother both, and Uncle all in one; 'God knows what will become of them, when I am dead and gone. 'With that bespoke their Mother dear, O Brother kind quoth she, 'You are the Man must bring my Babes to Wealth or Misery. 'If you do keep them carefully, then God will you reward. 'If otherwise you seem to deal, God will your Deeds regard. With lips as cold as any stone, he kist the Children small, 'God bless you both, my Children dear; with that the tears did fall. These Speeches then their Brother spoke, to this sick Couple there, 'The keeping of your Children dear, sweet Sister, do not fear; 'God never prosper me nor mine, nor aught else that I have, 'If I do wrong your Children dear, when you are laid in Grave.' Their Parents being dead and gone, the Children home he takes, And brings them home unto his House, and much of them he makes. He had not kept those prity Babes, a Twelvemonth and a Day, But for their Wealth he did devise to make them both away. He bargain'd with two Ruffians rude, that were of furious Mood, That they should take the Children young, and slay them in a Wood. And 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 prity Babes rejoycing at that Tide, Rejoycing 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 prity speech they had, made Murtherers hearts relent, And they that took the Deed to do, 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. The other would not agree thereto, so here they fell at Strife, With one another they did fight about the Children's Life: And he that was of mildest mood, did slay the other there, Within an unfrequented Wood, where Babes did quake for fear. He took the Children by the hand, when tears stood in their eye, And bade them come and go with him, and look they did not cry: And two long Miles he led them thus, while they for Bread complain, Stay here, quoth he, I'll bring ye Bread, when I do come again. These prity Babes with hand in hand, went wandering up and down, But never more they saw the Man, approaching from the Town: Their prity lips with Black berries, were all besmear'd and dy'd, And when they saw the darksome night, they sat them down and cry'd. Thus wandered these two prity Babes, till death did end their grief; In one another's arms they dy'd as Babes wanting Relief; No Burial these prity 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, Yea, fearful Fiends did haunt his house, his Conscience felt an Hell: His barns were fir'd, his goods consum'd, his lands were barren made, His Cattle dy'd within the Field, and nothing with him staid. And in the Voyage of Portugal, two of his sons did dye; And to conclude, himself was brought unto much Misery; He pawn'd and mortgag'd all his land, e're 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 dye, as was God's blessed Will; Who did confess the very Truth of what here is exprest; Their Uncle dy'd while he for debt, did long in Prison rest. All you that be Executors made, and Overseers eke, Of Children that be Fatherless, and Infants mild and meek; Take you Example by this thing, and yeild to each his Right, Least God with such like Misery, your wicked Minds requite.