%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A most sweet song of an English Merchant born in Chichester. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1658-1658 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 03/07/2012 31747

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

R218372 1 To an Excellent New Tune Rich Merchant Man, The To an Excellent New Tune A Rich Merchant Man, / that was both grave and wise, FAir Maidens every one, / I must confess and say, A sweet thing is love, / it rules both heart and mind. / There is no comfort in this world / to women that are kind. [with variation] A sweet thing, &c. [with variation] Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 232 A most sweet song of an English Merchant born in Chichester. A most sweet song of an English Merchant born in Chichester. A most sweet song of an English Merchant born in Chichester. 1658-1658 F. Coles, T. Vere, and W. Gilbertson.

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 3/7/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America country/ nation death love maritime travel Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 3/7/2012 11:09:05 AM XBallad Martino, Alexandra Created XML Version of Ballad 3/7/2012 11:09:05 AM Transcription Supervisor Murphy, Jessica Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/7/2012 11:09:05 AM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Reese, Ryan Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/7/2012 11:09:05 AM Transcriptionist Two Sader, Rebecca Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/7/2012 11:09:05 AM Transcriptionist One Kazzi, Sara Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/8/2011 Checker Victoria Hernandez Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/26/2011 Bibliographer Charlotte Becker Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 1/26/2011 Checker Charlotte Becker Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/26/2011 Checker Charlotte Becker Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">A most sweet song of an <hi rend="bold">English</hi> Merchant born in <hi rend="bold">Chichester</hi>.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To an Excellent New Tune.</hi></seg>
A Rich Merchant Man, that was both grave and wise, Did kill a man of Embden Town, through quarrels that did rise Through quarrels that did rise the German being dead, And for that f[a]ct the Merchant man was judgd to lose his head, A sweet thing is love, it rules both heart and mind, There is no comfort in this world to women that are kind. A Scaffold builded was, within the Market place, And all the people far and near did thither flock apace: Did thither slock a pace, this doleful sight to see, Who all in Velvet black as jet unto the place came he, A sweet thing, etc. Bare-headed was he brought, his hands were bound before A Cambrick Ruff about his neck as white as milk he wore, His Stockings were of silk as fine as fine might be, Of person and of Countenance a proper man was he, A sweet thing, etc.
When he was mounted up upon the Scaffold high, All women said great pittie twas so sweet a man should die; The Merchants of the Town from death to set him free Did proffer there 2. thousand pound but yet all would not be: A sweet thing, etc. The Prisoner here upon began to speak his mind, Quoth he I have deserved death in conscience I do find, Yet [s]ore against my will, this man I kild quoth he, As Christ doth know which of my soul must onlie Saviour be, A sweet, etc. With heart I do repent this most unhappie deed, And for his wife and children small my verie heart doth bleed, The deed is done and past, my hope of life is vain, And yet the loss of this my life, to them is little gain, A sweet thing is love it rules both heart and mind, etc.
Unto the Widdow poor, and to the babes therefore, I give a hundred pound a piece their comfort to restore, Desiring at their hands, no one request but this, They will speak well of Englishmen though I have done amiss, A sweet thing, etc. This was no sooner spoke, but that to stint the strife Three goodlie Maids did proffer him, for love to save his life: This is our Law quoth they, we may your death remove, So you in liew of your good will will grant to us your love; A sweet, etc. Brave English man quoth one, tis I will beg thy life, Nay quoth the second it is I so I may be thy wife Tis I the third did say, nay quoth the fourth it is I So each one after other said, still waiting his reply, A sweet thing is love it Rules both heart and mind, There is no comfort in this world, to women that are kind.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The second Part, to the same tune</hi>,</seg>
FAir Maidens every one, I must confess and say, That each of you well worthy is to be a Ladie gay: And I unworthy far the worst of you to have, Though you have proffered willingly my loathed life to save, A sweet thing, etc, Then take a thousand thanks, of me a dying man, But speak no more of love nor life, for why my life is gone, To Christ my soul I give, my bodie unto death, For none of you my heart can have, sith I must lose my breath, A sweet thing, etc. Fair Maids lament no more, your Countie Law is such, It takes but hold upon my life my goods it cannot touch: Within one Chest I have, in gold a thousand pound, I give it equal to you all, for love that I have found, A sweet thing, etc. And now dear friends farewell, sweet England now adiew, And Chichester where I was born, where first this breath I drew, And now thou man of death, unto thy weapon stand: Ah nay another Damsel said, sweet Headsman hold thy hand, A sweet thing, etc. Now hear a Maidens plaint brave English-man quoth she And grant me love for love again, that craves but love of thee, I wooe and sue for love that have been wood ere this Then grant me love, & therewithal she proffered him a kiss, A sweet thing, etc.
And die within thy arms, If thou wilt die quoth she, Yea live or die sweet English-man, Ile live and die with thee: But can it be quoth he, that thou dost love me so, Tis not by long acquaintance sir, whereby true love doth grow, A sweet thing, etc. Then beg my life quoth he, and I will be thine own, If I should seek the world for love more love cannot be shown, The people at that word did give a joyful cry, And said gre[a]t pittie it had been, so sweet a man should die. A sweet thing, etc. I go my Love she said, I run, I flie for thee, And gentle Headsman spare a while my Lovers head for me. Unto the Duke she went, who did her grief remove, And with a hundred Maidens more, she went to fetch her Love, A sweet thing, etc. With Musick sounding sweet, the formost of that train. This gallant Maiden like a Bride did fetch him back again, Yea hand in hand they went unto the Church that day, And they were married presently, in sumptuous rich array: A sweet thing, etc. To England came he then with this his Lovely Bride, A fairer woman never lay by any Merchants side, Where I must leave them now, in pleasure and delight, But of their names and dwelling place I must not here recite, A sweet thing is love, etc.
Printed for F. Coles, T.Vere, and W. Gilbertson.