%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A most excellent new Ballad, of an olde man and his wife, which in their olde age and misery / sought to their owne children for succour, by whom they were disdained & scornfully sent / away succourlesse, and how the vengeancc of God was iustly shewed vpon them for / the same. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1586-1586 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 04/30/2012 32402

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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

S121803 It was an old man, which with his poore wife, / in great distresse did fall: Alack and alas for wo, / Alack and alas for wo. Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 18314 A most excellent new Ballad, of an olde man and his wife, which in their olde age and misery / sought to their owne children for succour, by whom they were disdained & scornfully sent / away succourlesse, and how the vengeancc of God was iustly shewed vpon them for / the same. A most excellent new Ballad, of an olde man and his wife, which in their olde age and misery sought to their owne children for succour, by whom they were disdained & scornfully sent away succourlesse, and how the vengeancc of God was iustly shewed vpon them for the same. A most excellent new Ballad, of an old man and his wife, which in their old age and misery sought to their own children for succor, by whom they were disdained & scornfully sent away succorless, and how the vengeance of God was justly showed upon them for the same. 1586-1586 W.B.

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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 4/30/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America children crime family violence youth/ age Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/30/2012 12:15:37 PM XBallad Kroeze, Kathryn Created XML Version of Ballad 4/30/2012 12:15:37 PM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/30/2012 12:15:37 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging McCants, Kristy Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/30/2012 12:15:37 PM Transcriptionist Two Grafals, Michael Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/30/2012 12:15:37 PM Transcriptionist One Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/6/2011 Checker Jonathan Forbes Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 7/6/2011 Checker Jonathan Forbes Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 5/10/2011 Bibliographer Grafals Michael Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 5/10/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">A most excellent new Ballad, of an olde man and his wife, which in their olde age and misery</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">sought to their owne children for succour, by whom they were disdained & scornfully sent</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">away succourlesse, and how the vengeance of God was justly shewed upon them for</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">the same.</hi> </seg> <lb/> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the tune of Prissilla.</hi></seg>
IT was an old man, which with his poore wife, in great distresse did fall: They were so feeble with age God wot they could not worke at all A gallant sonne they had which lived wealthily To whom they went with full intent, to ease their misery Alack and alas for wo, Alack and alas for wo. A hundred miles when they had gone with many a weary step at length they saw their sonnes faire house which made their harts to leape: They sate them on the greene their shoes and hose to trim And put cleane bands about their necke gainst they should enter in. Alack etc. Unto the doore with trembling joynts when this olde couple came The woman with a shaking head the olde man blind and lame Ful warily they did knocke fearing for to offend at last their sonne doth frowningly come, unto them in the end. (Alack, etc Good folks quod he what would you have here me thinkes you are too bolde Why get you not home to your country now you are olde and Lame With that they both replied with sorrow care and griefe Heere are we come to thee our sonne for succour and reliefe. Alack, etc. This is thy father gentle sonne and I thy loving mother That brought thee up most tenderly, and lovd thee above all other I bore thee in this wombe these brestes did nourish thee And as it chaunst I often daunst thee on my tender knee. Alack, etc. And humbly now we doe thee intreat, my deare and loving sonne That thou wilt doe for us in our age as we for thee have done No, no, not so he said your sute is all in vaine Tis best for you I tell you true to get you home againe. Alack etc. The world is not now as when I was born all things are growne more deare: My charge of Children is not smal as plainely doth appeare The best that I can doe will hardly them maintaine: Therefore I say be packing away, and get you home againe. alack, etc,
The olde man with his hat in hand full many a leg did make. The woman wept and wrong her hands and prayd him for Christ his sake: Not so to send them back, distressed and undone But let us lie in some barne here by quoth she my loving sonne Alack etc, By no meanes would he thereto consent, but sent them soone away, Quoth he you know the perill of Lawe if long time here you stay: The stockes and whipping poast will fall unto your share Then take you heede and with all speed to your country do repaire. Alack, etc. Away then went this woful olde man, full sad in heart and minde With weeping teares his wife did lament their sonne was so unkinde. Thou wicked child quoth they for this thy cruell deede: The Lord send thee as little pittie, when thou dost stand in neede. Alack etc. His children hearing his father set his parents thus at nought In short time after to have his lands his death they subtilly wrought What cause have we quoth they more kindnes to expresse Then he unto his parents did, in their great wretchednes Alack, etc. They murdered him in pittifull sort they wayde not his intreates: The more he prayd impassionately the greater were his threates Speake not to us quoth they, for thou the death shalt die: and with that word with Dagger & sword they mangled him monsterously Alack etc. When they had got his silver and golde according to their minde They buried him in a stinking ditch where no man could him finde: But now behold and see Gods vengeance on them all: To gaine that gold their couzen came, and slew them great and small. alack etc. He came amongst them with a great club, in dead time of the night: Yea two of the sonnes he brained therwith, and taking of his flight The murderer taken was, and suffered for the same: Deservedly for their cruelty, this vengeance upon them came. Alack and alas therefore, Alack and alas therefore.
Finis. At London printed for W.B.