A most excellent new Ballad, of an old man and his wife, which in their old age and misery sought to their own children for succour, by whom they were disdained & scornfully sent away succourless, and how the vengeance of God was justly showed upon them for the same.  
To the tune of Prissilla.  

IT was an old man, which with his poor wife,  
in great distress did fall:  
They were so feeble with age God wot  
they could not work at all  
A gallant son they had  
which lived wealthily  
To whom they went with full intent,  
to ease their misery  
Alack and alas for woe,  
Alack and alas for wo.  
¶ A hundred miles when they had gone  
with many a weary step  
at length they saw their sons fair house  
which made their hearts to leap:  
They sat them on the green  
their shoes and hose to trim  
And put clean bands about their neck  
'gainst they should enter in. Alack etc.  
¶ Unto the door with trembling joints  
when this old couple came  
The woman with a shaking head  
the old man blind and lame  
Full warily they did knock  
fearing for to offend  
at last their senne doth frowningly come, Alack, etc.  
unto them in the end.  
Good folks qd he what would you have here  
me thinks you are too bold  
Why get you not home to your country  
now you are old and Lame  
With that they both replied  
wish sorrow care and grief  
Here are we come to thee our son  
for succour and relief. Alack, etc.  
¶ This is thy father gentle son  
and I thy loving mother  
That brought thee up most tenderly,  
and loved thee above all other  
I bore thee in this womb  
these breasts did nourish thee  
And as it chanced I often danced  
thee on my tender knee. Alack, etc.  
And humbly now we do thee entreat,  
my dear and loving son  
That thou wilt do for us in our age  
as we for thee have done  
No, no, not so he said  
your suit is all in vain  
'tis best for you I tell you true  
to get you home again. Alack etc.  
The world is not now as when I was born  
all things are grown more dear:  
My charge of Children is not small  
as plainly doth appear  
The best that I can do  
will hardly them maintain:  
Therefore I say be packing away,  
and get you home again. alack, etc.,  
The old man with his hat in hand  
full many a leg did make.  
The woman wept and wrong her hands  
and prayed him for Christ his sake:  
Not so to send them back,  
distressed and undone  
But let us lie in some barn here by  
quoth she my loving son Alack etc.,  
¶ Bianca no meenes' would he thereto consent,  
but sent them soon away,  
Nuoth he you know the peril of Law  
if long time here you stay:  
The stocks and whipping post  
will fall unto your share  
Then take you heed and with all speed  
to your country do repair. Alack, etc.  
¶ Away then went this woeful old man,  
full sad in heart and mind  
With weeping tears his wife did lament  
their son was so unkind.  
Thou wicked child quoth they  
for this thy cruel deed:  
The Lord send thee as little pity,  
when thou dost stand in need. Alack etc.  
¶ His children hearing his father set  
his parents thus at nought  
In short time after to have his lands  
his death they subtly wrought  
What cause have we quoth they  
more kindness to express  
Then he unto his parents did,  
in their great wretchedness Alack, etc.  
¶ They murdered him in pitiful sort  
they weighed not his entreats:  
The more he prayed impassionately  
the greater were his threats  
Speak not to us quoth they,  
for thou the death shalt die:  
and with that word with Dagger & sword  
they mangled him monsterously Alack etc.  
When they had got his silver and gold  
according to their mind  
They buried him in a stinking ditch  
where no man could him find:  
But now behold and see  
God's vengeance on them all:  
To gain that gold their cousin came,  
and slew them great and small. alack &c.  
¶ He came amongst them with a great club,  
in dead time of the night:  
Yea two of the sons he brained therewith,  
and taking of his flight  
The murderer taken was,  
and suffered for the same:  
Deservedly for their cruelty,  
this vengeance upon them came.  
Alack and alas therefore,  
Alack and alas therefore.   
Finis.   

At London printed for W. B.