An excellent Ballad entitled, The Constancy of Susanna.  
To an excellent new tune.  
 

THere dwelled a man in Babylon,  
of reputation great by fame:  
He took to wife a fair woman,  
Susanna she was called by name,  
A woman fair and virtuous,  
Lady, Lady,  
Why should we not of her learn thus  
to live godly?   

Uertuously her life she led,  
she feared God, she stood in awe,  
As in the story we have read,  
was well brought up in Moses Law.  
Her parents they were godly folk,  
Lady, Lady,  
Why should we not then sing and talk  
of this Lady.   

That year two judges there was made  
which were the Elders of Babylon,  
To Joachims' house was all their trade,  
who was Susanna's husband then,  
Joachim was a g●eat rich man,  
Lady, Lady,  
These Elders oft to his house cam●  
for this Lady.   

Joachim had an Orchard by,  
fast joining to his house or place,  
Whereas Susanna commonly  
Herself did daily there solace,  
And that these Elders soon espied,  
Lady, Lady,  
And privily themselves did hide  
for that Lady.   

Her chaste and constant life was tried,  
by these two Elders of Babylon,  
A time convenient they espied,  
to have this Lady all alone,  
In his O●chard it came to pass,  
Lady, Lady.  
Where she alone herself did wash  
her fair body.   

These Elders came to her anon,  
& thus they said, fair dame God speed,  
Thy doors are fast, thy Maids are gone,  
consent to us, and do this deed:  
For we are men of no mistrust,  
Lady, Lady,  
And yet to thee we have a lust,  
O fair Lady.   

If that to us thou dost say nay,  
a testimonial we will bring,  
We will say that one with thee lay,  
how canst thou then avoid the thing▪  
Therefore consent and to us turn,  
Lady, Lady,  
For we to thee in lust do burn,  
O fair Lady.   

Then did she sigh, and said alas,  
now woe is me on every ●●de,  
Was ever wretch in such a case?  
shall I consent and do this deed?  
Whether I do or do it not,  
Lady, Lady,  
It is my death right well I wot,  
O true Lady.   

Better if were for me to fall  
into your hands this day guiltless,  
Then that I should consent at all,  
to this your shameful wickedness,  
And even with that (whereas she stood)  
Lady, Lady,  
Unto the Lord she cried aloud  
pitifully.   

These Elders both likewise again,  
against Susanna aloud they cried,  
Their filthy lust could not obtain,  
their wickedness, they sought to hide  
Unto her friends they then her brought  
Lady, Lady,  
And with all speed the life they sought  
of that Lady.   

The second part.  
To the same tune.  
 

ON the morrow she was brought forth  
before the people there to stand,  
That they might hear & know the truth  
how these two Elders Susanna found,  
The Elders swore and thus did say,  
Lady, Lady,  
How that they saw a young man lay  
with that Lady.   

Judgement there was, for no offence,  
Susanna causeless then must die,  
These Elders bore such evidence,  
against her they did verify,  
Who were believed then indeed,  
Lady, Lady,  
Against Susanna to proceed,  
that she should die.   

Susanna's friends that stood her by,  
they did lament, and were full woe,  
When as they saw no remedy,  
but that to death she then must go,  
Lady, Lady,  
In God was all her hope and trust,  
to him did cry.   

The Lord her voice heard and beheld,  
the Daughters cry of Israel,  
His spirit he raised in a child,  
whose name was called young Daniel,  
Who cried aloud whereas he stood,  
Lady, Lady,  
I am clear of the guiltless blood  
of this Lady.   

Are you such fools quoth Daniel then?  
in judgement you have not done well,  
Nor yet the right way have you gone,  
to judge a daughter of Israel,  
By this witness of false disdain,  
Lady, Lady,  
Wherefore to judgement turn again●  
for that Lady.   

And when to judgement they were set,  
he called for those wicked men:  
And soon he did them s●parate,  
butting the one from the other, then,  
He asked the first where he did see  
that fair Lady,  
He said under a Mulberry tree,  
who lied falsely.   

Thou liest said Daniel, on thy head,  
thy sentence is before the Lord,  
He had that forth he might be led.  
and bring the other that bore record▪  
To see how they two did agree  
for this Lady,  
He said under a Pomgrannat tree,  
who lied falsely.   

Said Daniel as he did before,  
behold the messenger of the Lord  
Stand waiting for you at the door,  
Even to cut thee with a sword.  
And even with that the multitude;  
aloud did cry,  
Give thanks to God, so to conclude  
for this Lady.   

They dealt like with these wicked men  
according as the Scripture saith,  
They did as with their neighbour then,  
by Moses law were put to death,  
Tha innocent preserved was,  
Lady, Lady,  
As God by Daniel brought to pass,  
for this Lady.    
FINIS.   

Printed at London for John Wright, near pie-corner.