Then solemnlye he made a vowe Before the companie, That he would neither eat nor drinke, 75 Until he did her see. O then bespake the scullion-boye. With a loud voice so hye; "If now you will your daughter see, My lord, cut up that pye: 80 "Wherein her fleshe is minced small, And parched with the fire; All caused by her step-mother, Who did her death desire. "And cursed bee the master-cook, 85 O cursed may he bee! I proffered him my own heart's blood, From death to set her free." Then all in blacke this lord did mourne, And for his daughters sake, 90 He judged her cruell step-mother To be burnt at a stake. Likewise he judg'd the master-cook In boiling lead to stand. And made the simple scullion-boye 95 The heire of all his land. THE CRUEL BLACK. _A Collection of Old Ballads_, (1723,) ii. 152: also Evans's _Old Ballads_, iii. 232. Entered in the Stationers' _Registers, 1569-70_. A writer in the _British Bibliographer_, (iv. 182,) has pointed out that this is only one of Bandello's novels versified. The novel is the 21st of the Third Part, (London, 1792.) _A lamentable Ballad of the tragical End of a gallant Lord and virtuous Lady; together with the untimely Death of their two Children: wickedly performed by a Heathenish and Blood-thirsty Black-a-moor, their Servant; the like of which Cruelty and Murder was never before heard of._ In Rome a nobleman did wed A virgin of great fame; A fairer creature never did Dame Nature ever frame: By whom he had two children fair, 5 Whose beauty did excel; They were their parents only joy, They lov'd them both so well. The lord he lov'd to hunt the buck, The tiger, and the boar; 10 And still for swiftness always took With him a black-a-moor: Which black-a-moor within the wood His lord he did offend, For which he did him then correct, 15 In hopes he would amend. The day it grew unto an end; Then homewards he did haste, Where with his lady he did rest, Until the night was past. 20 Then in the morning he did rise, And did his servants call; A hunting he provides to go: Straight they were ready all To cause the toyl the lady did 25 Intreat him not to go: "Alas, good lady," then quoth he, "Why art thou grieved so? Content thyself, I will return With speed to thee again." 30 "Good father," quoth the little babes, "With us here still remain."