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 ride on the

way,

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

So that the pretty speech they had,
Made murderers' 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.

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,

While babes did quake for fear.

He took the children by the hand,
When tears stood in their eye,
And bade them kindly go with him,
And look they did not cry.

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
Returning from the town.
Their pretty lips with blackberries
Were all besmeared and dyed,
And when they saw the darksome night,
They sat them down and cried.

Thus wandered these two pretty babes,
Till death did end their grief;
In one another's arms they died,
As babes wanting relief.
No burial these pretty babes

Of any man receives,

Till Robin Redbreast 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 a hell;

His barns were fired, his goods consumed,
His lands were barren made,

His cattle died within the field,
And nothing with him stayed.

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

And to conclude, himself was brought
To extreme misery.

He pawned and mortgaged 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 judged to die,
As was God's blessed will;
Who did confess the very truth
The which is here expressed :

Their uncle died while he for debt
In prison long did rest.

C

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 yield to each his right, Lest God, with such-like misery, Your wicked minds requite.

MY MOTHER.

WHO fed me from her gentle breast,
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.

When sleep forsook my open eye,
Who was it sung sweet lullaby,

And rocked me that I should not cry ?

My Mother.

Who sat and watched my infant head,
When sleeping in my cradle bed,
And tears of sweet affection shed?

My Mother.

When pain and sickness made me cry,
Who gazed upon my heavy eye,
And wept for fear that I should die?

My Mother.

Who dressed my doll in clothes so gay,
And taught me pretty how to play,
And minded all I had to say?

My Mother.

Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?

My Mother.

Who taught my infant lips to pray,
To love God's holy Word and day,
And walk in wisdom's pleasant way?

My Mother.

And can I ever cease to be,
Affectionate and kind to thee,

Who wast so very kind to me,

My Mother?

Oh no! the thought I cannot bear:
And if God please my life to spare,
I hope I shall reward thy care,

My Mother.