The Norfolk Gentleman's last Will and Testament.  
〈◊〉 committed the Keeping of his Children to his own Brother, who dealt most wickedly with them; and how God plagued him for it.  
To the tune of Rogero.  
 

NOw ponder well, you Parents dear,  
these Words which I shall write,  
〈◊〉 doleful Story you shall hear,  
●n time brought forth to light:  
Gentleman of good account,  
in Norfolk dwelled of late,  
whose Wealth and Riches did formount,  
most Men of his Estate.   

Sore sick he was, and like to die,  
no help that he could have,  
His Wife by him as sick did lie,  
and both possess one Grave:  
No love between these two was lost,  
each was to other kind,  
In love they lived, in love they died,  
and left two Babes behind.   

The one a fine and pretty Boy,  
not passing three Years old,  
The other a Girl more young than he,  
and made in Beauty's Mould:  
●●e Father left his little Son,  
as plainly doth appear,  
●hen he to perfect Age should come,  
three hundred Pounds a year.   

And to his little Daughter Jane,  
five hundred Pound in Gold,  
To be paid down on Marriage day,  
which might not be controlled  
But if the Children chance to die,  
e'er they to Age should come,  
Their Uncle should possess their Wealth  
for so the will did run.   

Now Brother said the dying Man  
look to my Children dear,  
Be good unto my Boy and Girl,  
no Friends else I have here:  
To God and you I do commend  
my Children night and day,  
A little while be sure we had:  
within this World to stay.   

You must be Father Mother both,  
and Uncle all in one,  
God knows what will become of them,  
when I am dead and gone,  
With that bespoke their Mother dear,  
O Brother kind, quoth she  
You are the Man must, bring my Babes  
to Wealth or Misery.   

If you do keep ●hem carefully,  
than God will you reward,  
If otherwise you seem to deal,  
God will your Deed's regard,  
With lips as cold as any stone  
she kiss the Children small.  
God bless you both my Children dear,  
with that the tears did fall.   

These Speeches than their Brother spoke,  
to sick Couple their,  
The keeping of your Children dear,  
sweet Sister, do not fear:  
God never prosper Me nor Mine,  
nor ought else that I have,  
If I do wrong your Children dear,  
when you are laid in Grave.   

Their Parents been dead and gone,  
the Children home he takes,  
And brings them home unto his House,  
and much of them he makes.  
He had not kept these pretty Babes,  
a Twelvemonth and a Day,  
But for their wealth he did devise  
to make them both a way.   

He bargined with two Ruffians rude,  
which were of furious ●●ood,  
That they should take the Children young  
and slay them in a Wood:  
And told his Wife, and all he had,  
he did the Children send  
To be brought up in f●ir London,  
with one that was his Friend,   
 

Away then went these pretty Babes,  
rejoicing at that ride:  
Rejoicing with a merry mind,  
they should on Cockhorse ride  
They prate and prattle pleasantly,  
as they road on the way,  
To those that should their Butchers be,  
and work their Lives decay.   

So that the pretty speech they had,  
made Murders hearts relent,  
And they that took the Deed to do,  
full sore they did repent:  
Yet one of them more hard of heart,  
did vow to do his Charge,  
Because the Wretch that hired him,  
had paid him very large.   

The other would not agree thereto,  
so here they fell at Strife;  
With one another they did Fight,  
about the children's Life:  
And he that was of mildest mood,  
did Slay the other their,  
Within an unfrequented Wood,  
where Babes did quake for fear.   

He took the Children by the hand,  
when tears stood in their eyes;  
And bade them come and go with him,  
and look they did not cry:  
And two long Miles he led them thus,  
while they for Bread complain,  
Stay here, quoth he, i'll bring ye Bread,  
when I do come again.   

These pretty Babes with hand in hand,  
went wandering up and down,  
But never more they saw the Man,  
approaching from the Town:  
Their pretty Lips with Blackberries,  
were all besmeared and died,  
And w●e● they saw the darksome Night,  
they 〈◊〉 them down and cried.   

Thus wandered these two pretty Babes,  
till Death did end their Grief,  
In one another Arms they died,  
as Babes wanting Relief:  
No Burial these pretty Babes  
of any Man receive,  
Till Robin-redbreast painfully,  
did cover them with Leaves.   

And now the heavy wrath of God,  
upon their Uncle fell,  
Yea, fearful Fiends did hunt his House,  
His Conscience fellt a Hell:  
His Barns were fired, his Goods consumed,  
his Lands were barren made,  
His  died within the Field,  
and nothing with him stayed,   

And in the Voyage of Portugal,  
two of his Sons did die;  
And to conclude, himself was brought  
unto much Misery:  
He pawned and Mortgaged all his Land,  
e'er seven ●ears came about;  
And now at length this wicked Act,  
did by this means come out:   

The Fellow that did take in hand,  
these Children for to kill;  
Was for a Robbery judged to die,  
as was God's blessed Will.  
Who did confess the very Truth,  
the which is here expressed,  
Their Vnckl died while he for Debt,  
did long in Prison rest,   

All you that be Executors made,  
and Overseeos eke,  
Of Childerens that be Fatherless,  
and Infants mild and meek,  
Take you Example by this thing,  
and yield to each his Right,  
Lest God with such like Mis●ry,  
your wicked minds requite.