An Excellent BALLAD OF A Noble Marquis and Patient Griselda.  
To the Tune of, The Bride's Good-morrow, etc.  
 woodcut  

A Noble Marquis,  
As he did ride a Hunting,  
hard by a Forest side,  
A Fair and comely Maiden,  
As she did sit a Spinning,  
his gentle Eye espied:  
Most-fair and lovely  
And of comely grace was she,  
although in simple attire,  
She sung full sweetly,  
With pleasant Voice melodiously,  
which set the Lord's heart on fire.  
The more he looked, the more he might,  
Beauty bred his Heart's delight:  
And to his Damsel  
than he went with speed,  
God speed, qd. he, thou famous. Flower,  
Fair Mistress of this homely Bower,  
Where Love and Virtue  
dwells with sweet content.  
With comely Gesture  
And modest mild Behaviour,  
she bids him welcome then,  
She entertained him  
In faithful friendly manner,  
and all his Gentlemen:  
The Noble Marquis  
In his Heart felt such a flame,  
which set his Senses all at strife,  
Quoth he, Fair Maiden,  
Show me soon what is thy Name,  
I mean to make thee my Wife.  
Griselda is my Name, quoth she,  
Far unfit for your degree,  
A silly Maiden,  
and of Parents poor,  
Nay, Griselda thou art rich, he said,  
A virtuous fair and comely Maid;  
Grant me thy love,  
●nd I will ask no more.  
At length she consented,  
And being both contented,  
they married were with speed;  
Her Country russet  
Was changed to Silk and Velvet,  
as to her state agreed:  
And when that she  
Was timely tried in the same,  
her Beauty shined most bright,  
Far staining every other  
Fair and Princely Dame,  
that did appear in sight:  
Many envied her therefore,  
Because she was of Parents poor,  
And 'twixt her Lord and she  
great strife did raise:  
Some said this, and some said that,  
And some did call her beggar's Brat,  
And to her Lord  
they would her of't dispraise.  
O Noble Marquis.  
Quoth they, why d●st thou wrong us,  
thus basely for to wed,  
Who might have gotten  
An honourable Lady  
into your Princely Bed?  
Who will not now  
Your noble Issue soon deride,  
which shall hereafter be born,  
That are of Blood so base  
Born by the Mother's side?  
the which shall bring them in score  
Put her therefore quite away,  
And take to you a Lady gay,  
Whereby your Lineage  
may renowned be.  
Thus every day they seemed to prate,  
That maliced Grissel's good Estate;  
Who all this while  
took it most patiently.