A most sweet Song of an English Merchant born Chichester.  
To an Excellent new Tune.  
 

A Rich Marchant-man  
that was both grave and wise  
Did kill a man at Embden Town,  
through quarrels that did rise,  
Through quarrels that did rise,  
the Germane being dead;  
And for that fact t●e Merchantman,  
was judged to lose his head.  
A sweet thing love,  
it rules both heart and mind,  
There is no comfort in this world,  
to women that are kind.   

A Scaffold builded was,  
within the Market place,  
And all the people far and near  
did thither flock apace:  
Did thither flock apace,  
this doleful sight to see,  
Who all in Velvet black as jet,  
unto the place came he:  
A sweet, etc.   

Bareheaded was he brought,  
his hands were bound before,  
A Cambric Ruff about his neck,  
as white as milk he wore,  
His Stockings were of silk,  
as fine as fine might be,  
Of person and of countenance,  
a proper man was he;  
A sweet thing, etc.   

When he was mounted up,  
upon the Scaffold high,  
All women said great pity it was,  
so sweet a men should die:  
The Merchants of the Town,  
from death to set him free,  
Did proffer there a thousand pound,  
but yet all would not be:  
A sweet thing, etc.   

The Prisoner hereupon  
began to speak his mind:  
(Quoth he) I have deserved death  
in conscience I do find:  
Yet sore against my will,  
this man I killed (quoth he)  
As Christ doth know, which of my soul,  
must only Saviour be.  
A sweet thing, etc.   

With heart I do repent,  
this most unhappy deed,  
And for his wife and Children small,  
my very heart doth bleed:  
The deed is done and passed,  
my hope of life is vain,  
And yet the loss of this my life,  
to them is little gain.  
A sweet thing, etc.   

Unto the Widow poor,  
and to the babes therefore,  
I give a hundred pound a piece,  
their comforts to restore:  
Desiring at their hands,  
no one request but this,  
They will speaks well of Englishmen  
though I have done anisse:  
A sweet thing, etc.   

This was no sooner done,  
but that to stint the strife,  
Four goodly Maids did proffer him,  
for love to save his li●e:  
This is our law (quoth they)  
we may your death remove,  
So you in lieu of our good will,  
will grant to us your love:  
A sweet thing, etc.   

Brave Englishman (quoth one)  
'tis I will beg thy life;  
Nay, quoth the second it is I,  
so I may be thy wife:  
'Tis I the third did say;  
nay, quoth the fourth, 'tis I,  
So each one after other said,  
still waiting his reply;  
A sweet thing is love, etc.   

The Second Part,  
To the same Tune.  

FAir Maidens every one,  
I must confess and say,  
That each of you well worthy is,  
to be a Lady gay:  
And I unworthy far,  
the worst of you to have,  
though you have preffered willingly,  
my loathed life to save:  
A sweet thing is love,  
it rules both heart and mind,  
There is no comfort in his world,  
to women that are kind.   

Then take a thousand thanks,  
of me a dying men,  
But speak no more of love nor life,  
for why my life is gone:  
To Christ my soul I give,  
my body unto death:  
For none of you my heart can have,  
sith I must lose my breath:  
A sweet thing, etc.   

Fair Maids lament no more,  
your Country Law is such,  
It takes but hold upon my life,  
my goods it cannot touch:  
Within one Chest I have,  
in gold a thousand pound,  
I give it equal to you all,  
for love that I have found.  
A sweet thing, etc.   

And now dear friends farewel,  
sweet England now adieu,  
And Chichester where I was born,  
where first this breath I drew:  
And now thou man of death,  
unto thy Weapon stand;  
Oh nay, another Damsel said;  
sweet Headsman hold thy hand.  
A sweet thing, etc.   

Now hear a Maiden's plaint,  
brave Englishman (quoth she)  
And grant me love for love again,  
that craves but love of thee:  
I woo and sue for love,  
that have been wooed e'er this:  
Then grant me love, & there withal,  
she proffered him a kiss,  
A sweet thing, etc.   

I'll die within thy arms,  
if thou wilt die (quoth she)  
Yet live or die sweet Englishman,  
I'll live and die with thee:  
But can it be (quoth he)  
that thou dost love me so:  
'Tis not by long acquaintance sir,  
whereby true love doth grow:  
A sweet thing, etc.   

Then beg my life (quoth he)  
and I will be thy own:  
If I should seek the world for love,  
more love cannot be shown:  
The people at that word,  
did give a joyful cry,  
And said great pity it had been,  
so sweet a man should die;  
A sweet thing, etc.   

I go my love she said:  
I run, I fly for thee,  
And gentle headsman spare a while  
my Lover's head for me:  
Unto the Duke she went,  
who did her grief remove,  
And with an hundred Maidens more  
she went to fetch her love:  
A sweet thing, etc.   

With music sounding sweet,  
the foremost of that train,  
The gallant Maiden like a Bride,  
did fetch him back again;  
Yea, hand in hand they went  
unto the Church that day,  
And they were Married presently,  
in sumptuons rich array:  
A sweet thing, etc.   

To England came he then,  
with this his lady Bride,  
A fairer women never lay  
by any Merchant's side:  
Where I must leave them now  
in pleasure and delight,  
But of their names & dwelling place  
I must not here recite.  
A sweet thing is love,  
it rules both heart and mind, etc.    
FINIS.   

London, Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright.,,