¶ A new Ballad, declaring the dangerous▪ shooting of the Gun at the Court.  
To the tune of Sick and sick.  

Weep, weep, still I weep, and shall do till I die:  
To think upon the Gun was shot, at Court so dangerously.   

THe seventeen day of julie last, at evening toward night,  
Our noble queen Elizabeth, took barge for her delight:  
And bade the watermen to row, her pleasure she might take  
About the River to and fro, as much as they could make.  
Weep, weep, still I weep, and shall do till I die:  
To think upon the Gun was shot, at court so dangerously▪   

And of her Counsel with her grace, were nobles two or three,  
As fittest were to be in place, regarding their degree:  
The French Ambassador likewise▪ to common with her grace,  
Of weighty causes sat with her, each one in comely place.  
Weep, weep. etc.   

But when her grace an hour or two, had past to take the air,  
Returning reading on a book, she said row soft and fair:  
Whereby as God the matter wrought, the slackness and the stay,  
Softly she passed and nothing thought, of gun-shot any way.  
Weep, weep, etc.   

But all this while upon the Themes, in a schullers' Boat unknown  
A wretched felloe got a gun, that was none of his own  
And shot a bullet two or three, at random all about,  
And gave no great regard to see, what time the queen went out.  
Weep, weep. etc.   

But as her grace came passing by, had given his piece a charge,  
And there out let a bullet fly, that hit one in the Barge:  
A water man through both his arms, as he began to row,  
That he cried out upon his harms, whereat the queen was woe.  
Weep, weep etc.   

Herself in sight and presence by, when that the bullet came,  
She saw him hurt, she saw him fall, yet shrunk not at the same:  
Neither made she any fearful show, to seem to be dismayed,  
Nor seemed to the Ambassador, of any thing afraid.  
Weep, weep etc.   

But having such a mighty mind, as passeth tongue to tell,  
She stepped unto the wounded man, and bade him take it well:  
His gushing blood could not abash, her noble courage then,  
But she was readier to give help, than all the noble men.  
Weep, weep etc.   

But what her highness said and did, in that so sudden fear,  
Hereafter in my sorry tale, the substance you shall hear:  
Let boats go out and fetch him in she said, that this hath done,  
And quickly was the person brought, that so discharged the gun  
Weep, weep, etc.   

The noble councillors moste abroad, to whom these tidings came  
Made haste to court with trembling hearts, to think upon the same  
Applauding God upon their knees▪ most humbly in their place,  
With tears of joy that bitter bale, had so escaped her grace.  
Weep, weep etc.   

His name was Thomas Appletree, of Court a serving man,  
Which was no little grief to see, to his good master than:  
He was committed to the gail, at Counsellors grave regard,  
That they might judge what vilest death, were fit for his reward  
Weep, weep etc.   

With blubring tears it is no boat, to tell the weeping eyes,  
That were full woe of such a shot, where all our safety lies:  
The bullet came so near her grace, within six foot at lest,  
Was never such a cursed case, by such a wilful beast.  
Weep, weep etc.   

Wherefore it was decreed and judged, by all the counsel grave,  
That hanging was to good a death, for such a wretch to have:  
A gibbet was set up in haste, against the Court full nigh,  
Where this unhappy Appletree, was pointed for to die.  
Weep, weep etc.   

And on the tuesday following, than this wicked prisoner came,  
Well guarded with the Marshals men, to hung upon the same:  
His master standing on the bank, to hear what he could say,  
He humbly fell upon his knees, and mercy did him pray.  
Weep, weep etc.   

Would God thou hadst never served me, qd he with woeful look,  
But God he said forgive it thee, that cursed mark thou took:  
And after prayer said and done, on the ladder as he stood,  
He took his death before them all, he was a subject good.  
Weep, weep, etc.   

And never meant to hurt her grace, nor any in the Barge,  
Nor meant to shoot in any place, to hurt with any charge:  
But wished he never had been borne, for his good master's sake,  
Whom he had made a woeful man, and no amends could make.  
Weep, weep etc.   

For troth it was and truth it is, the Queen & Council know  
Not willingly, though wittingly, he let the bullet go:  
Which matter hath been sifted so, it moveth more her grace,  
To let the passion of it go, the meekelier in his case.  
Weep, weep etc.   

The Queen that saw this Sacrifice, a ready wretch to die,  
Whose pity pleadeth pardon still, put for the her princely eye:  
And sent the Captain of her Guard, a Counseler grave and wise,  
To make the fact and favour known, as he could best devise.  
Weep, weep, etc.   

Who gave a thundering peal of grace, the prisoners fault to show  
And all the people in the place, what prince th●i had to know:  
What courage in her noble grace, in peril did appear,  
Before the French Ambassadors face, in such a sudden fear.  
Weep, weep, etc.   

And told again if that mishap, had happened on her grace,  
The stay of true Religion, how perilous were the case:  
Which might have turned to bloody wars, of strange & foreign foes,  
Alas how had we been a cursed, our comfort so to loose.  
Weep, weep etc.   

Then of the mercy of her grace, her subjects 〈…〉 save,  
By whom these xx. years in peace, such quiet ●●●s we have:  
The tears fell down on every side, and aloud the people cry,  
The almighty long preserve her grace, to govern prosperously.  
Weep, weep, etc.   

And last of all he said again, mark yet this piteous queen,  
For all this vile unhappy fact, so lewdly done and seen:  
returns to her enured course, of mercy to forgive,  
That this accursed shall not die, but pardons him to live.  
Weep, weep etc.   

And then to hear the people shout, and see them clapped their hands  
Who would have torn his flesh before, being in hangman's hands  
To see the goodness of her grace, to such great pity bend,  
It made the stoniest heart of all, astonished to lament.  
Weep, weep etc.   

The counselor that the pardon brought, then kneeling on his knee  
And every subject as they aught, kneeled as well as he:  
And said a prayer for her grace, upon the doleful ground,  
Whereof the people's sighing sherles, above the skies rebound.  
Weep, weep, etc.   

All loving subjects learn to know, your duties to our queen,  
By land and water where ye go, that no such deed be seen:  
But pray to God that rules the skies, her highness to defend,  
To reign with him perpetually, when her highness life shall end.  
Weep, weep, still I weep, and shall do till I die:  
To think upon the gun was shot, at court so dangerously.   
W. E.  
Finis.   

¶ Imprinted at London for Edward White, dwelling at the little North-door of Saint Paul's church, at the sign of the Gun.