CHILDREN IN THE WOOD,
Being a true relation of the Inhuman murder of hvo children of a deceased gentleman of Norfolk*, ' England ; whom he left to the
care of his brother ; but this wicked uncle, in order Jo get the children’s estate, ConttWedpto have them destroyed by tivo ruffians
whom bejiired for that .purpose ; with an account ofthe heavy judgment of God which betel him -for this inhuman deed, and ofthe
untimely'ehd ofthe twojtflooclj.iruffians ; to which is added a word of advice to executors*
"■^VT OW ponder v^elt-you parents id ear,
, .1^1 These wofds which 1 do. write,
A doleful story; you shall bear,
; In time brought -forth' to -light.:
A gentleman of goad account,
In Norfolk liv’d of late,
Whose* fame^and^ credit di/l sur mount
; Most men of hts; estate
So sick he was and like to die ■
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No help he then could have :
His wife by hicfc astsick did lie,
And hot
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grave.
No love betw;ben-th.eee two was lost, :
| 'Each was to the other kind;
In love they lived, in loved they died,
And left two babes behind. '
The one a fine; and pretty bey,
NotTiaesing.rtiree years old ;
The jo flier a girl ttiorejoung than he
^ And made* of beauteous mould.
The father left his little son, .
As plainly doth appear,
When he to perfect age should come,
Three hundred pounds a year :
And to his little daughter Jane,
Two- hundred :f>onnds in gold,
For t*b Belaid on marriage day,
Which might not be cpntroled.
But if these children ^chanc’d to die, 1
Ere they to age did come,
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The Uncle should possess the wealth,
For so' the will dfd ru*.
if Now brother, said the dying man,
Look to my children dear,
Be g-rfod unto my Poy an»| girl,
I Nq friend else have I here.
To od sod you kdd Aon mend
♦ MyehiMren night and day ;
1 A lit tie while besure we have,
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Within this world to stay.
You must be father mother both,
And uncle all in one,
God knows what will become of them
When l am dead and gone.
With that bespoke the mother dear,
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brother kind, ^quotli shp,
You are thp man roust "bring roy’ babes
4fn wealth or misery.
If yon- do keep them carefully, [
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h Then -God you will^eward ;
If otherwise you Seem to deal,
God wjH^your deeds regard. 1
With lip* as cold as any stpne,
Slievjj iss'd her children smell?
\> God bless you both my children dear !
With that tfie tears did fall.
These speeches then the brother spoke,
To the sick couple there !
The keeping of your children dear,
0. Sweet sister, neverfearr't
. God never prosper me nor mine,
Nor ought else that IAhave,
Ifl do wrong your children dear,
When you ate laid in the grave.
The parents being dead and gone,
The children home he takes, ,
Add brings. them home unto his house,
W And much of them he makes.
’He bad not kept these pretty babes
A twelve month and a day,
But for their wealth he did devise
To make them both awayi
He bargained with two ruffians rode,
Who were of furious mood,
That tbeyi^hoold take the- children young
And slay them in a wood;
And told his wife and ail he had,
He did those children send
To be ^brought up in fair London,
With one tbat was his friend.
Away then went these pretty babes,
Rejoicing at the tide,
And smiling with a merry mind,
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They on cock horse should ride.
They prate and prattle pleasantly,
As i hey rode on the way,
To them that should their butchers be, 1
And work their lives decay.
So that the pretty speech they had,
Made murderer’s hearts relent;
And they that . took the deed to do,
Full sore they did repent ;
Yet one of them more hard of heart,
Did vow to do his charge,
Because the wretch that hired him,
Rad paid him very large.
The . other-would not agree thereto,
So here they fell at strife t ■,
With one another they did fight,
About the children’s life.
And he that was of mildest mood,
DidslOv fh* othep there? .
Wit bin an -unfrequented wood,
Where b&hes db quake for fetr.
He took the chfldren by the hand,
When tears stood in their eye, j
And bid them pome and go with him,-
And see they dfd hot cry.
And two long miles4ip fed them Ihutf •
'• While they for bread complain,
Stay beYe, quoth he, I’ll bring you bread,
When I do come again,
Those pretty babes/ with hand in hand,
* Went wand’ring up and down.
But ueYer more, they saw the man' •
Approaching from the town.'
Their prelty lips with black-berries .
Were- all Besmear’d and dy’d ;
But when they saw the darksome night,
They sat theln down and cry’d.
Thus wander’d those two little babes, ||
Till death did end their grief :
In oneianothetf’s arms they died,
As babes ■wanting relief.
No burial these pretty babes
Of any man receive. ;
But Robin red breast painfully,
. Doth cover them with leaves.
And now the heavy wrath of God ^
. Upon the uncle felTp
Yea, fearful Afnde did' haunt his house,
'His cons. 'Nfe^yfelt an .hell :
His barns I' fii/foGF ?d, his goods consum’d,
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- His
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made,
His^attle diedjwithin the field,
I Andnotbfng’wit.hhim staid.
Ana in a -voyage to Portugal,
Two of hissons did die,
And to conclude, himself was brought
Unto much misery.
He pawn’d and rportgag’d all his lands,
Ere seven years 'Came about,
And now at length this wicked act,
By this means .did come out :
The fellow that did take in hand
These, children for to kill,
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far a robbery judged to die,
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was GbitHe blessed will. ,
Who did confess the very truth,
That is h- «in express’d;
The ancle - . where he for debt,
Did in tne prison rest.
A word of advier to Executors.
ALL you who be Executors made,
And overseers eke,
Of children that be fatherless,
And infants mild and meek,
TakAjodr example by ibis tale,
And yield (o each his right ;
Lest God by such like misery,
Your wicked deeds requite.
