The Northern LORD. In FOUR PARTS.  

PART I.  

A Noble Lord of high renown  
Two daughters had; the eldest brown,  
The youngst beautiful and fair.  
By chance a noble Knight came there.   

Her father said, kind fir, I have  
Two daughters, which do you crave?  
One that is beautiful, he cried,  
The noble knight he then replied:   

She's young she's beautiful and gay,  
And is not to be given away.  
But as jewels are bought and sold,  
She shall bring me her weight in gold.   

The price I think you need not grudge,  
Since I will freely give as much  
With her one sister, if I can  
Find out some other nobleman.   

With that bespoke the noble knight,  
' d sooner have the beauty bright  
At that vast rate, renowned lord.  
Then then the other with a vast reward,   

So then the bargain it was made,  
But e'er the money could be paid,  
He had it of a wealthy Jew,  
The sum so large, the writings drew   

That if he failed, or missed the day,  
So many ounces he should pay.  
Of his own flesh, instead of gold,  
All was agreed, the sum was  told.   

So he return'd immediately,  
Unto the lord, where he did buy  
His daughter fine, I do declare.  
And paid him down the money there,   

He bought her too, it was well known  
Unto mankind she was his own.  
By her a son he did enjoy.  
A sweet and comely handsome boy,   

At length the time of pay drew near  
When the knight did begin to fear;  
He dreaded much the cruel Jew  
Because the money it was due.   

His lady asked him Why he grieved?  
He said, My jewel, I received  
Such a sum of money of a Jew,  
And now the money it is due,   

And now the day of payment's come,  
I'm sure I cannot raise the sum,  
He'll have my flesh, weight for weight,  
Which makes my grief and sorrow great.   

Tush! never fear him, she replied  
We'll across the raging ocean wide  
And so secure you from the fate,  
To her request he yielded straight.    

PART II.  

THEN having passed the raging seas;  
They travelled on, till by degrees  
Unto the German court he came,  
The knight his son, and comely dame.   

Unto the Emperor he  told  
His story of the sum of gold,  
That he had borrowed of a Jew,  
And that for fear of death he flew.   

The Emperor he did erect  
A court for them and shew'd respect  
Unto his guests, because they came  
From BRITON, that blessed land of famed.   

As here he lived in delight,  
A Dutch lord  told our English knight.  
That he a ton of gold would lay,  
He could enjoy his lady gay.   

From her the lord he was to bring  
A rich and costly diamond-ring,  
That was to prove and testify  
How he did with his lady lye.   

He tries, but never could obtain  
Her favour but with high disdain;  
She did abhor his base intent,  
So to her chamber-maid he went.   

And  told her if she would but steal  
Her lady's ring and to conceal  
The same, and bring it to him straight,  
She should enjoy a fine estate,   

In hopes of such a fine reward  
The ring she stolen, then the Dutch lord  
Did take it to the noble knight  
Who almost swooned at the sight.   

Home he goes to the lady straight  
Meeting her at the palace gate,  
He flung her headlong into the mote.  
And left her there to sink or float.   

Soon after that in clothes of green,  
She like a war like knight was seen,  
And in most gallant gay deport  
She road unto the Emperor's court,   

Now when the Emperor beholded  
Her brave deportment, he was filled  
With admiration at the sight,  
Who called herself an English knight.   

The Emperor did then reply,  
We have an English knight to die,  
For drowning of his lady gay,  
Quoth she, I'd see him, if I may.   

'twas granted, so to him she came,  
And calling of him by his name,  
She said, Kind sir, be of good cheer  
Your friend I'll be you need not fear.    

PART III.  

SHE to the Empeor did ride,  
And said, Now let this cause be tried,  
Once more, for I've a mind to save  
This noble gallant from the grave.   

It being done, the court was set,  
The Dutch lord came, seeming to fret  
About the ring, seeming to fear,  
How truth world make his shane appear   

And so it did, for soon they call  
The maid, who on kees did fall,  
Before the court and did confess  
The Dutch lord's unworthiness,   

The court replied, Is it so?  
The lady too for ought we know,  
May be alive, therefore we'll stay  
The sentence till another day.   

Now the Dutch lord gave him a ton  
Of Gold which he had justly won;  
And so he did with shane and grief,  
And thus the knight obtained relief.   

The Dutch lord to revenge the spite  
Upon our noble English knight,  
Did sand a letter out of hand,  
And so Jew did understand,   

How he was in a German Court.  
So here upon this good report,  
The Jew he crossed the ocean wide,  
Resolving to be satisfied.   

Soon as e'er he fixed his eyes  
Unto the knight, in wrath he cries.  
Your hand and seal I pray behold:  
Your flesh I'll have instead of gold.   

Said the noble knight in green,  
Sir, may not your articles be seen?  
Yes, that they may replied the Jew,  
And I resolve to have my due.   

Lo then the knight began to red,  
At length she said, I find indeed,  
Nothing but flesh you are to have,  
Answers the Jew, That's all I crave.   

The poor distressed knight was brought,  
The bloody-minded Jew he thought  
That day to be revenged on him,  
And part his flesh from every limb.   

The knight in green said, Mr. J●w,  
There's nothing else but flesh your due,  
Then see no drop of blood you  shed,  
For if you do off goes your head,   

Pray take your due with all my heart,  
But with his blood we will not part.  
With that the Jew sneaked away,  
And had not one word more to say.    

PART IV.  

NO sooner were these troubles past,  
But his wife's father came at last,  
Resolving for to have his life.  
For drowning his beloved wife.   

Over the seas her father brought  
Many brave horses: One was bought  
By the pretended knight in green.  
Which was the best that e're was seen.   

So to the German court he came,  
Declaring such a one by name,  
Had drowned his fair daughter dear,  
And ought to die a death severe,   

They brought him from the prison then,  
Guarded by many armed men,  
Unto the place where he must die.  
And the young knight was standing by,   

And from her side her sword he drew,  
And run her gelding thro' and thro',  
Her father said, Why do you so?  
I may, it is my own, you know.   

You sold your gelding, 'tis well know●.  
I ●ought it, making it my own;  
And may do what I please with it,  
And then to her he did submit.   

Here is a man arraigned and cast,  
And brought to suffer death at last,  
Because your daughter dear he slay;  
Which if he did, what's that to you.   

You had your money when you sold  
Your daughter for her weight in gold;  
Wherefore he might, it is well known.  
Do what he pleased with his own.   

So having changed her garments green,  
And dressed herself like a fair queen,  
Her father and her husband straight  
Both knew her and their joys were great.   

Soon they did carry this report  
Unto the famous German-Court,  
How the renowned English knight  
Had found his charming lady bright.   

So the Emrpeor, and the lords of famed  
With cheerful hearts they did proclaim,  
An universal joy to see  
His lady's life at liberty.     

Printed and sold in Aldermary Church-Yard Bow-Lane LONDON.