The Garland of TRIALS.

<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">The Garland of</hi></hi> <hi rend="italic">TRIALS.</hi></seg>

THIS noble relation which I am to write, Behold, tis concerning a great baronet; Five years he was marryd, as I do protest, This noble baron with a child was not blest. At length this fair lady conceived with child, At whilch this said knight and his lady smild. When time was expired, a daughter was born, At whose birth the father and mother did mourn. Her nativity he did calculate, And found she was born to suffr by fate, The knight by her ruling planet did see, A whore, thief, and murderer she was born to be. Said he, When shes up to maturity got, For the sake of her portion, some villainous sot, Perhaps my defile her before hand, and so This may be the first step to her everthrow. To prevent all danger this step I will take, Some farmer, a tenant of mine, shall her take; As a child of his own she shall be confind, In which sta[t]e herhaps no one will her mind. To this wise invention the lady agreed, To one of the tenants she was placd with speed, Who had for her boarding thirty pound a-year. And good education they gave her, we hear. Dutiful obedience unto them she paid. Thinking them her parents, their will she obeyd, When this knight came thither his rent to receive A guinea to the child he always would give. Fourteen years and upwards this child stayd there, The farmer and his wife went to a fair. And left this young lady at home to stay, But now see what happend while they were away. As she was standing that day at the door. An old man beggd of her who was very poor. My parents are not at home, she to him replyd, And to give their substance I dare not, she cryd. With that the old beggar-man, said with a smile, You are kept in ignorance surely my child. They are not your parents who you honour here, You fathers a knight of six thousand a-year. Such a man is your father, such a lady your mother, Besides any children they never had other. For this news, she said, heres five shillings to thee, And into this matter I further will see. When the farmer came home at night he smild, And said, Whats for supper, my dearest child? Her answer was to him, Whats makes you say so? Im none of your child you very well know Such a man is my father, and I tell you plain, Ill be satisfyd ere I sleep again: She took horse, and rid to the noblemans gate, Where he and his lady stood very great. He said, Girl, how do thy parents do? And said, Sir, that is best known to you.

The girl talks madly, said he; let me know Upon what account you answer me so? She said, Sir, a beggar-man came to the door. And he told me you was my father besure; If this thing be true, sir, he tells unto me, Why was I put off in my infancy? This I must allow, when I was born first, I then was incapable to give disgust, So far as to be banishd for fifteen years; The truth of this matter, good sir, let me hear. Then he shewd a reason for what he had done. At this news the tears from off her cheeks run. She said, If it be so, then hard is my lot, And in your scutcheon it may cast a blot. For fear your own honour I bring to disgrace, Give me a childs part, and Ill quit the place: With tears he embracd her, and for her did pray, So with riches on horse-back she rode away. To the North of England this lady went, Where in a lone cottage she lived with content. Her provisions was brought her by a woman, who Brought it once a week, and away did go. And for a dversion this lady bright Playd on the spinnet, herself to delight. And as she was playing most sweetly one day, A young squire chanced to come that way. Who hearing the musick, vows he would see, Who in the cottage playd so sweely. The squire knockd, and calld oer and oer, Saying, Open to me, or Ill break the door. For to break it open, he then did begin, At which the young lady strait let him in; She said, Now be civil, I am a young maid, And am, of all females, of men most afraid. He said, Ill not hurt thee; then did her embrace. Having sat awhile, he quitted the place. This sweet ladys beauty so charmd him, we find, That this noble squire could not rest in mind. From seeing her daily he could not refrain, And by often coming her love did obtain. She promisd him faithfully to be his bride, For which solemnizing they both did provide. The night before-hand with his lady he lay, And went, protesting to come the next day. Next morning she lookd for the squire to come, But he was confind to stay at home. A fever that night the young squire had seizd, And because he came not, she was displeasd; Crying. This will make my fathers words true. My honour is stained, and what shall I do? Because he has disappointed me now, If he come to-morrow Ill not have him, I vow. When able to sit up, the young squire came. The cause of his tarrying he told her the same.

He said, Love, tomorrow Ill make you my bride, Sir, for my oaths sake Ill not have you, she cryd My honour is stained, which bings me to shame. No one but myself for this I can blame. He said, Let us marry, to prevent all strife, Her answer was, No, Ill neer be your wife, Tho not joind in marriage, this young squire he Came three times a-week this lady to see. And as her time drew nigh for to lie down, He got her a lodging near to town: When the time expired, she had a son, The squire was pleasd it was over and done. Before this lady began to sit up, He presented the child with a golden cup, On which was his name and coat of arms at large, Of this cup he gave the boys mother a charge. Saying, See my infant dont lose it, I pray, So then he embracd her, and so rode away. Now pray mark, good people, and soon you shall hear To this babe the mother she proved severe. She sent the nurse out, and then did provide For to kill the child with a stab in the side. And said, With a stab I am sure it must die. Then stole the gold cup, and away did hie. In a windows dress she went to Liverpool, And being well learned, she set up a school. It happend the nurse returned with speed, And found the babe living, whose side did bleed. When the squire came there, and saw what was done, He grievd, but thro mercy, preserved his son, Near the town of Liverpool the squire had a farm, For to keep this darling free from all harm. Unto this farmers wife the babe he did place, Where it was suckled, and grew up apace; When the dhild was able, to school it did go Unto his own mother, who did not him know. But often she kissd him, and said with a smile, I know no reason for loving this child. At eighteen years old he was very tall, Of a sweet complexion and comely withal. Unto the farmers daughter, who nursd him we find, By his fathers consent he in wedlock was joind. Cries he, My school-mistress in me took delight, For which to my wedding I will her invite. And being invited, as one innocent, Unto his wedding his school-mistress went. Next morning before the young couple were up, His school-mistress came, with her golden cup, And unto the bridegroom the cup did give, And said, Keep this as long as you live: He said, That I will, thank you for the same. Just after the squire into the room came. The school-mistress knew him, whose heart did ake, Knowing herself guilty, her joints did shake. At first sight, the gold cup the squire he knew, And said to the bridegroom, who gave it to you? He said Sir, that woman gave it to me? I think tis the finest that ever I see:

And the squire he said, A rich cup, I declare, Heres my name and coat of arms, I can swear. The squire said, Woman, tell me thy name, And how you at first by this gold cup came. For fear of his wrath she swooned away, When her senses returnd, he to her did say, Come tell me thy name, or else with speed, I will draw my rapier, and stick you indeed. Then she told him her name, which being done, Said he, If it be so, where is your son? Whom I gave this cup to? She said, He is dead I stabbd him, and for fear of hanging I fled. He said, Wicked woman, as I have thee found, Your blood after this shall be spilt on the ground. For stabbing my darling when passion was hot, Ill cut thee as small as herbs to the pot. With trembing joints on her knees she did cry, For stabbing your infant I deserve to die. He said, Before I take thy life away, I will give you two hours in private to pray, Then in a dark closet she locked up were, The sorrowful lady for death did prepare. Mean time to the bridegroom away he did go, And gave him the truth of the matter to know. He said, Shes your mother, who thinks you are dead, Im one that wont hurt the hair of her head. But unto the closet he goes furiously, And said, Wicked woman, prepare for to die. To see him with glittering sword in his hand, With sighs and groans she before him did stand. And said, Kill me the first stroke be sure, That I may not be tormented long in my gore. To hear these expressions a groan he did bring, And no longer could bear loves piercing sting He said, Be not troubled, thou joy of my life, The bridegrooms your son, you stabbd with a knife, That this mournful lady might be satisfyd, They shewd her the place she stabbd in his side. For joy to the bridegroom she gave kisses store, And said, Now I hope all my sorrows are oer. The squire said to her, Now since it is so, That our son is alive, will you have me or no? To-morrow lets marry, to finish the strife. To this she consented; he made her his wife. She said to the squire, Ill tell thee, my dear, My fathers a knight of ten thousand a-year. And whether hes living I cannot well tell, For to ride and see I hold it right well. To her fathers house they both rid with speed: When her parents saw her they both smild indeed, With joy they embraced her, while tears ran down, And gave her a portion of twelve thousand pound. This worthy squire, tis very well known. Enjoys five hundred a-year of his own. He gave his estate to his son, and behold, Threescore and ten pieces of broad shining gold. So now I will leave them in joy all to live, Great comfort and joy in this world to receive.