%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Lamentation of Mr. Pages Wife of Plimouth: / Who being enforced to wed against their will; did consent to his Murder for the love of George / Strangwidge, for which fact they suffered death at Barstable in Devonshire. Deloney, Thomas University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 04/04/2016 35426

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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

R33444 UNhappy she whom fortune hath forlorne, / Despis'd of grace that proffered grace did scorn, THe man that sighs and sorrows for his sin, / The corps which care and wo hath wrapped in IF ever woe did touch a womans heart, / Or grief did gall for sin the outward part, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 12 The Lamentation of Mr. Pages Wife of Plimouth: / Who being enforced to wed against their will; did consent to his Murder for the love of George / Strangwidge, for which fact they suffered death at Barstable in Devonshire. The Lamentation of Mr. Pages Wife of Plimouth: Who being enforced to wed against their will; did consent to his Murder for the love of George Strangwidge, for which fact they suffered death at Barstable in Devonshire. The Lamentation of Mr. Page's Wife of Plymouth: Who being enforced to wed against their will; did consent to his Murder for the love of George Strangwidge, for which fact they suffered death at Barstable in Devonshire. Deloney, Thomas ?-? F. Coles, T. Vere, W. Gilbertson, and J. Wright

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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 Featured 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 4/4/2016 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America crime death love maritime punishment Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/4/2016 2:01:35 PM XBallad King, Joyce Created XML Version of Ballad 4/4/2016 2:01:35 PM Transcription Supervisor Palmer, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/4/2016 2:01:35 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Levinson-Emley, Rachel Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/4/2016 2:01:35 PM Transcriptionist Two Bell, Erik Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/4/2016 2:01:35 PM Transcriptionist One McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/28/2016 Checker Erik Bell Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/12/2015 Bibliographer Rachel LevinsonEmley Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 11/30/2015 Checker Erik Bell Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Lamentation of Mr. <hi rend="bold">Pages</hi> Wife of <hi rend="bold">Plimouth:</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Who being enforced to wed against their will; did consent to his Murder for the love of <hi rend="bold">George</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Strangwidge,</hi> for which fact they suffered death at <hi rend="bold">Barstable</hi> in <hi rend="bold">Devonshire.</hi></hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The tune is, Fortune my Foe.</hi></seg>
UNhappy she whom fortune hath forlorne, Despis'd of grace that proffered grace did scorn, My lawless love, hath luckless wrought my woe My discontent, content did overthrow. My loathed life too late I do lament, My woful deed in heart I do repent, A wife I was that wilful went awry, And for that fault am here prepar'd to die. In bloomy years my Fathers greedy mind, Against my will a match for me did find: Great wealth there was, yea gold and silver store, But yet my heart had chosen one before. Mine eyes dislik't my Fathers liking quite, My heart did loath my Parents fond delight, My greedy mind and fancy told to me, That with his age my youth could not agree. On knees I crav'd they would not me constrain, With tears I cry'd their purpose to restrain, With sighs and sobs I did them often move I might not wed whereas I could not love. But all in vain my speeches still I spent, My Mothers will my wishes did prevent; Though wealthy Page possest my outward part, George Strangwidge still was lodged in my heart. I wedded was, and wrapped all in woe, Great discontent within my heart did grow: I loath'd to live, yet liv'd in deadly strife, Because perforce I was made Pages wife. My chosen eyes could not his sight abide, My tender youth did scorn his aged side, Scant could I taste the meat whereon I fed, My legs did loath to lodge within his bed. Cause knew I none, that should despise him so, That such disdain within my heart did grow, Save onely this that fancy did me move, And told me still George Strangwidge was my love. But here began my downfall and decay, In mind I mus'd to make him straight away, I that became his discontented Wife, Contented was he should be rid of life. Methinks the heavens cries vengeance for my fact, Methinks the world condemns my monstrous act, Methinks within my Conscience tells me true, That for that deed Hellfire is my due. My pensive soul doth sorrow for my sin, For which offence my soul doth bleed within. But mercy Lord, for mercy still I cry, Save thou my soul, and let my body die.
Well could I wish that Page enjoyd his life; So that he had some other to his wife, But never could I wish of low or high, A longer life then see sweet Strangwidge die. O woe is me that had no greater grace, To stay till he had run out natures race; My deed I rue, but more I do repent, That to the same my Strangwidge gave consent. You Parents fond that greedy minded be, And seek to graft upon the golden tree, Consider well, and rightful Judges be, And give your doom twixt Parents love and me. I was their Child and bound for to obey, Yet not to love, where I no love could lay; I married was in muck and endless strife, But faith before had made me Strangwidge wife. O wretched world! whom cankered rust doth blind, And cursed men who bear a greedy mind; And hapless I whom parents did force so, To end my dayes in sorrow shame and woe. You Devonshire Dames, and courteous Cornwal Kts That here are come to visit woeful Wights, Regard my grief, and mark my woeful end, But to your children be a better friend. And thou my dear which for my fault must die. Be not afraid the force of death to try; Like as we liv'd and lov'd together true, So both at once lets bid the world adieu. Ulalia thy friend doth take her last farewell, Whose soul with thine in heaven doth ever dwell; Sweet Saviour Christ do thou my soul receive, The world I do with al my heart forgive. And Parents now whose greedy mind do show, Your hearts desire, and inward heavy woe: Mourn you no more, for hope my heart doth tell, Ere day be done, that I shall be full well, And Plimouth proud I bid thee now farewel, Take heed you wives, let not your hands rebel: And farewel life, wherein such sorrow showes, And welcome death that doth my Corps enclose. And now sweet Lord forgive me my misdeeds, Repentance cries for soul that inward bleeds: My soul and body I commend to thee, That with thy blood from death redeemed me. Lord bless our King with long and happy life, And send true peace betwixt each man and wife, And give all parents wisdome to foresee, The match is mar'd where minds do not agree.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Lamentation of George</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">S</hi>trangwidge, who for the consenting to the</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">death of Mr. <hi rend="bold">P</hi>age of <hi rend="bold">P</hi>limouth, fuffered</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">death at Barstable.</hi></seg>
THe man that sighs and sorrows for his sin, The corps which care and wo hath wrapped in In doleful sort records her Swan-like Song, That waits for death and loaths to live so long. O Glansfield cause of my committed crime, So wed in wealth as birds in bush of lime, What cause hadst thou to bear such wicked spight? Against my Love and eke my hearts delight. I would to God thy wisdome had been more, Or that I had not entred in thy door; Or that thou had a kinder father been Unto thy Child, whose years are yet but green. The match unmeet which thou didst make, When aged Page thy daughter whom did take, Well may'st thou rue with tears that cannot dry, Which is the cause that four of us must die. Ulalia more bright then Summers Sun, Whose beauty had forever my love won, My soul more sobs to think of thy disgrace, Then to behold my own untimely race. The deed late done in heart I do repent. But that I lov'd I cannot it relent: Thy seemly sight was ever sweet to me, Would God my death would thy excuser be. It was for me alas thou didst the same, On me by right they ought to lay the blame: My worthless love hath brought my life in scorn, Now woe is me that ever I was born. Farewel my Love whose Royal heart was seen, Wouldest thou hadst not half so constant been: Farewel my Love the pride of Plimouth town, Farwel the flower whose beauty is cut down. For twenty years great was the cost I know, Thy unkind father did on thee bestow: Yet afterwards so sower did fortune lower; He lost his joy and Child within an hour. My wrong and woe to God I do commit, Who was the cause of matching them unfit: And yet my guilt I cannot so excuse, We gave consent his life for to abuse. Wretch that I am that my consent did give, Had I deny'd Ulalia still should life: Blind fancy said do not this suit deny, Live thou in bliss, or else in sorrow die. O Lord forgive this cruel deed of mine, Upon my soul let beams of mercy shine: In justice Lord do thou no vengeance take, Forgive us both, For Jesus Christ his sake.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Complaint of Mrs. Page</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">for causing her Husband to be murdered</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">for the love of Strangwidge, who were</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">executed together.</hi></seg>
IF ever woe did touch a womans heart, Or grief did gall for sin the outward part, My conscience then and heavy heart within, Can witness well the sorrow for my sin, When years were young my father forc'd me wed Against my will where fancy were not fed, I was content his pleasure to obey, Although my heart was link'd another way. Great were the gifts they proffered in my sight, With wealth they thought to win me with delight. But gold nor gifts could not my mind remove, For I was link'd whereas I could not love, Methought his sight was loathsome to my eye, My heart did grudge against him inwardly, This discontent did cause my deadly strife, And with this wealth did cause a grievous life. My constant love was on young Strangwidge set, And woe to him that did our welfare let: His love so deep a root in me did take, I would have gone a begging for his sake, Wronged he was through fond desire of gain, Wronged he was even through my parents plain; If faith and troth a perfect pledge might be, I had been wife unto no man but he. Eternal God forgive my Fathers deed, And grant all Maidens may take better heed, If I had been but constant to my friend, I had not matcht to make so bad an end. But wanting grace I sought my own decay, And was the cause to make my friend away, And he on whom my earthly joyes did lye, Through my amisse a shameful death must die. Farwel sweet George alwaies my loving friend, Needs must I laud and love thee to the end: And albeit that Page possest thy due, In sight of God thou wast my Husband true. My watry eyes unto the Heavens I bend, Craving of Christ his mercy to extend, My bloody deed do me O Lord forgive, And let my soul within thy Kingdom live. Farwel false world and Friend that Fickle be, All wives farwel, example take by me, Let not the Devil to murder you intice, Seek to escape such foul and filthy vice. And now O Christ to thee I yield my breath, Strengthen my Faith in bitter pangs of death: Forgive my faults and folly I thee pray, And with thy blood wash thou my sins away.
Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, W. Gilbertson, and J. Wright.