A most pleasant Ballad of patient Grissel.  
To the tune of the Bride's good morrow.  

A Noble Marquis as he did ride on hunting  
hard by a Forest side:  
A proper Maiden as she did fit a spinning  
his gentle eye espied.  
Most fair & lovely, and of courteous grace was she,  
although in simple attire:  
She sung full sweet with pleasant voice melodiously,  
which set the Lords heart on fire.  
The more he looked the more he might,  
Beauty bred his hearts delight.  
and to this dainty Damsel than he went:  
God speed quoth he, thou famous flower,  
Fair mistress of this homely bower,  
where love & virtue lives with sweet content.   

With comely gesture & courteous mild behaviour  
she bade him welcome then:  
She entertained him in faithful friendly manner  
and all his Gentlemen.  
the noble marquis in his heart felt such a flame  
which set his senses at strife:  
Quoth he, fair maiden show me soon what is thy name?  
I mean to make thee my wife.  
Grissel is my name quoth she,  
far unfit for your degree,  
a silly Maiden and of parents poor.  
Nay Grissel thou art rich he said,  
A virtuous fair and comely Maid,  
grant me thy love, and I will ask no more.   

At length she consented, & being both contented  
they married were with speed:  
Her country russet was changed to silk & velvet  
as to her state agreed.  
And when she was trimly tired in the same,  
her beauty shined most bright,  
Far staining every other brave & comely dame,  
that did appear in her sight.  
Many envied her therefore,  
Because she was of parents poor,  
and twixe her Lord & the great strife did raise  
Some said this, and some said that,  
Some did call her beggars brat,  
and to her lord they would her soon dispraise   

O noble Marquis (quoth they) why do you wrong us  
thus bacely for to wed?  
That might have gotten an honourable Lady,  
into your Princely bed.  
Who will not now your noble issue still deride  
which shall hereafter be borne:  
That are of blood so base by their mother's side  
the which will bring them in scorn:  
Put her therefore quite away,  
Take to you a Lady gay,  
whereby your lineage may renowned be:  
Thus every day they seemed to prate,  
That maliced Grisselles good estate,  
who took all this most mild and patiently.   

When that the marquis did see that they were bend thus  
against his faithful wife,  
Whom he most dearly, tenderly, and entirely,  
beloved as his life.  
Minding in secret for to prove her patient heart  
thereby her foes to disgrace:  
Thinking to play a hard uncourteous part,  
that men might pity her case.  
Great with child this Lady was,  
And at length it came to pass,  
two goodly children at one birth she had:  
A son and daughter God had sent,  
Which did their father well content,  
and which did make their mother's heart full glad.   

Great royal feasting was at these children's christenings  
and princely triumph made:  
Six weeks together, all nobles that came thither  
were entertained and stayed:  
And when that all those pleasant sport quite were done  
the Marquis a messenger sent:  
For his yonng daughter, & his pretty smiling son  
declaring his full intent:  
How that the babes must murdered be,  
For so the Marquis did decree,  
come let me have the children than he said:  
With that fair Grissel wept full sore,  
She wrung her hands and said no more,  
my gracious Lord must have his will obeyed.   

She took the babies even from their nursing Ladies  
between her tender arms:  
She often wishes with many sorrowful kisses  
that she might help their harms.  
Farewell farewell a thousand times my children dear,  
never shall I see you again,  
'tis long of me your sad & woeful mother here.  
for whose sake both must be slain.  
Had I been borne of royal race,  
You mighe have lived in happy case,  
but you must die for my unworthiness:  
Come messenger of death said she,  
Take my despised babes to thee,  
and to their father my complaints express.   

He took the children, and to his noble master  
he brings them both with speed:  
Who secret sent them unto a noble Lady,  
to be nursed up in deed:  
Then to fair Griselda with a heavy heart he goes  
where she sat mildly alone:  
A pleasant gesture & a lovely look she shows,  
as if this grief she never had known.  
Quath he, my children now are slain,  
What thinks fair Grissel of the same,  
sweet Grissel now declare thy mind to me;  
Sith you my Lord are pleased in it,  
Poor Grissel thinks the action sit,  
both I and mine at your command will be,   

My nobles murmur fair Grissel at thy honour  
and I no joy can have:  
Till thou be banished both from my court and presence  
as they unjustly crave:  
Thou must be stripped out of thy costly garments all.  
and as thou camest to me:  
In homely grey in steed of bisse & purest pall  
now all thy clothing must be.  
My Lady thou shalt be no more,  
Nor I thy Lord, which grieves me sore,  
the poorest life must now content thy mind.  
A groat to thee I must not give,  
To maintain thee while I do live,  
against my Griselda such great foes I find.   

When gentle Grissel did hear these woeful tidings,  
the tears stood in her eyes:  
She nothing answered, no words of discontent  
did from her lips arise.  
Her velvet gown most patienely she slipped off,  
her kirtles of silk with the same:  
her russet gown was brought again with many a scoff  
to bear them all herself she did frame:  
When she was dressed in this array,  
And ready was to part away,  
God send long life unto my Lord quoth she  
Let no offence be found in this,  
To give my Lord a parting kiss,  
with watery eyes, farewell my dear quoth he.   

From stately Palace unto her father's Cottage  
poor Grissel now is gone:  
Full sixteen winters she lived there contented  
no wrong she thought upon:  
And at that time through all the land the speeches went:  
the Marquis should married be:  
Unto a Lady of high and great descent:  
to the same all parties did agree.  
The Marquis sent for Grissel fair,  
The Bride's bed chamber to prepare,  
that nothing therein should be found awry  
The Bride was with her brother come,  
Which was great joy to all and some:  
and Grissel took all this most patiently.   

And in the morning when they should to the wedding,  
her patience now was tried:  
Griselda was charged herself in princely manner  
for to attire the Bride.  
most willingly she gave consent to do the same  
the Bride in her bravery was dressed:  
and presently the noble Marquis thither came  
with all his Lords as her request.  
O Griselda I would ask quoth he,  
If she would to this match agree.  
me thinks her looks are waxen wondrous coy,  
With that they all began to smile,  
And Grissel she replied the while,  
God send Lord Marques many years of joy   

The Marquis was moved to see his best beloved  
thus patient in distress:  
He stepped unto her, and by the hand he took her  
these words he did express:  
Thou art my Bride, & all the Brides I mean to have:  
these two thine own children be:  
The youthful Lady on her knees did blessing crave  
her brother as willing as she,  
And you that envied her estate,  
Whom I have made my loving mate,  
now blush for shame, & honour virtuous life:  
The Chronicles of lasting fame,  
Shall ever more extol the name,  
of patient Grissel my most constant wife.   
FINIS.