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

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

Virtuously her life she led,  
she feared God, she stood in awe,  
As in the story you may read,  
was well brought up in Moses law.  
Her parents they were godly folk,  
Lady, Lady,  
Why should we not then 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 great rich man,  
Lady, Lady,  
These Elders oft to his house came,  
for this Lady.   

joachim had an Orchard by,  
fast joining to his house or place,  
Whereas Susanna commonly,  
herself did daily their solace:  
And that these Elders soon espied,  
Lady, Lady,  
And privately themselves did hid  
for that Lady.   

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

The Elders came to her anon,  
& thus they said fair Dame good speed  
The doors are fast the 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 this thing  
Therefore consent and to me 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 side;  
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 wots,  
O true Lady.   

Better it were for me to fall  
into your hands and be 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 hid,  
Unto her friends they then her brought  
Lady Lady,  
And with all speed the life was sought  
of that Lady.   

On the morrow she was brought forth,  
before the people for 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 youngman lay  
with this Lady.   

judgement there was for one offence,  
Susanna causeless she 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 Diego   

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.  
Then unto him that is so just,  
Lady Lady,  
In God was all her hope and trust,  
to him they 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 the 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 these wicked men,  
And soon he did them separate,  
putting the one from th' 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 bad that forth he might be led,  
and bring the other that bare record,  
To see how they two did agree  
Lady, Lady,  
He said under a pomegranate tree,  
who lied falsely.   

Said Daniel as he did before,  
behold the Messenger of the Lord,  
Stands 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, and so 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:  
She innocent preserved was,  
Lady, Lady,  
As God by Daniel brought to pass,  
for this Lady.    

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