%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Norfolk Gentleman, his last Will and Testament: / And how he committed the keeping of his Children to his own Brother, who dealt most / wickedly with them, and how God plagued him for it. 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 02/27/2012 31809

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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

1 Rogero Rogero Rogero NOw ponder well you parents dear / the words which I shall write, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 255 The Norfolk Gentleman, his last Will and Testament: / And how he committed the keeping of his Children to his own Brother, who dealt most / wickedly with them, and how God plagued him for it. The Norfolk Gentleman, his last Will and Testament: And how he committed the keeping of his Children to his own Brother, who dealt most wickedly with them, and how God plagued him for it. The Norfolk Gentleman, his last Will and Testament: And how he committed the keeping of his Children to his own Brother, who dealt most wickedly with them, and how God plagued him for it. 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 2/27/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America affliction/ health children death family punishment religious concepts trickery/ deceit violence Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 2/27/2012 10:40:32 AM XBallad Nebeker, Eric Created XML Version of Ballad 2/27/2012 10:40:32 AM Transcription Supervisor Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/27/2012 10:40:32 AM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/27/2012 10:40:32 AM Transcriptionist Two Foley, Christopher Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/27/2012 10:40:32 AM Transcriptionist One Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/26/2011 Checker Percy Ross Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 5/20/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 5/20/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 5/20/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 3/8/2011 Checker Victoria Hernandez Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/2/2011 Bibliographer Charlotte Becker Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 2/17/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/17/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/17/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/17/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/17/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
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The Tune is, Rogero.
NOw ponder well you parents dear the words which I shall write, A dolefull story you shall hear, in time brought forth to light. A Gentleman of good account, in Forfolk livd of late, Whose wealth & riches did surmount, most men of his Estate. Sore sick he was and like to dye, no help that he could have, His wife by him as sick did lye, and both possest one grave. No love between these two was lost, each was to other kind, In love they livd in love they did, and left two babes behind. The one a fine and pretty boy, not passing three years old, The other a Girle more young than he and made of beauties mold. The Father left his little Son, as well it doth appear, When he to perfect age should come, three hundred pound a year. And to his little daughter Jane, two hundred pound in gold, To be paid down on marriage day, which might not be controld
But if these Children chance to dye. ere they to age should come, Their Uncle would possess this wealth for so the will did run. Now Brother said the dying man, look to my children dear; Be good unto my Boy and Girl, no friends I have else here. To God and you I do commend, my children night and day, A little while be sure we have within this world to stay. You must be Father and Mother both, and Uncle all in one, God knows what will become of them when I am dead and gone. With that bespake their Mother dear O Brother kind quoth she, You are the man must bring my babes to wealth or misery. If you do keep them carefully then God will you reward, If otherwise you seem to deal, God will your deeds regard. With lips as cold as any stone, she kist her children small,
God blesse you both my children dear, with that the tears did fear. These speeches then their brother spake to these sick Couple there, The keeping of your children dear sweet sister do not fear, God never prosper me nor mine nor ought else that I have, If I do wrong your children young, when you are laid in grave. Their parents being dead and gone the children home he takes, And brings them home unto his house and much of them he makes, He had not kept these pretty babes a twelve month and a day, But for their means he did devise to make them both away. He bargaind with two Rffains rude, which were of furious mood, That they should take the children young and slay them in the Wood. And told his Wife and all he had, he did the children send. To be brought up in fair London, with one that was his friend.
AWay then went these pretty babes rejoicing at that Tide, And smiling with a merry mind they should on cock-horse ride. The prate and prattle pleasantly, as they rode on the way. To them that should their Butchers be, and work their lives decay. So that the pretty Speech they had made murderers hearts relent, And they that took the deed to do, full sore the did repent, Yet one of them more heard of heart did vow to do his charge. Because the wretch that hired them had paid them very large. The other would not agree thereto so here they fell at strife With one another they did fight about the childrens life: And he that was of mildest mood did slay the other there. Within an unfrequented wood, where babes did quake for fear. He took the children by the the hand when tears stood in their eye And bad them come and go with him and look they did not cry. And two miles he led them thus, while they for bread complain, Stay here quoth he ile bring you bread when I do come again. These pretty babes with hand in hand, went wandring up and down, But never more they saw the man approaching from the Town. Their pretty lips with black berries were all besmeard and dyd: But when they saw the darksome night they sate them down and crid,
Thus wandred these two little babes till death did end their grief In one anothers arms they dyd, as babes wanting relief. No buriall these pretty babes of any man receives. Till Robin-Red-brest painfully did cover them with leavs. And now the heavy wrath of God upon their Uncle fell. Yea fearfull fiends did haunt his house his conscience felt an hell. His barns were fird his goods consumd his Lands were barren made, His Cattle dyd within his field and nothing with him staid. And in the voyage of Portugall two of his Sons did dye, And to conclude himself was brought unto much misery. He pawnd and morgagd all his Land ere seven years came about. And now at length this wicked act, did by this means come out. The fellow that did takke in hand, the children for to kill, Was for a Robery judge to dye as was Gods blessed will, Who did confesse the very truth, the which is here exprest. Their Uncle dyd while he for debt did long in prison rest. All you that be Executors made and Overseers eke, Of children that be Fatherlesse, and Infants mild and meek. Take you example by this thing, and yield to each his right, Lest God with such like misery, your wicked minds requite,
Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and W. Gilbertson.