Yet one of them more hard of heart, Did vow to do his charge, Because the wretch, that hired him, Had paid him very large. The other won't agree thereto, So here they fall to strife; With one another they did fight, About the children's life: And he that was of mildest mood, Did slay the other there, Within an unfrequented wood; The babes did quake for fear! He took the children by the hand, Tears standing in their eye, And bad them straightway follow him, And look they did not cry: And two long miles he led them on, While they for food complain: "Stay here," quoth he, "I'll bring you bread, When I come back again." These pretty babes, with hand in hand, Went wandering up and down; But never more could see the man Approaching from the town: Their pretty lips with blackberries, Were all besmear'd and dyed, And when they saw the darksome night, They sat them down and cried. Thus wandered these poor innocents, Till death did end their grief, In one another's arms they died, As wanting due relief: No burial this pretty pair Of any man receives, Till Robin-red-breast piously Did cover them with leaves. And now the heavy wrath of God, Upon their uncle fell; Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house, His conscience felt an hell; His barns were fir'd, his goods consum'd, His lands were barren made, His cattle died within the field, And nothing with him stayed. And in the voyage of Portugal * Two of his sons did die; And to conclude, himself was brought To want and misery: He pawn'd and mortgaged all his land Ere seven years came about, And now at length this wicked act Did by this means come out: * Percy has 'to ' but Ritson points out that it should be 'of.' The fellow, that did take in hand These children for to kill, Was for a robbery judg'd to die, Such was God's blessed will: Who did confess the very truth, As here hath been display'd: Their uncle having died in gaol, Where he for debt was laid. You that executors be made, And overseers eke Of children that be fatherless, 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. [Illustration: 0136] HUGH OF LINCOLN |Four and twenty bonny boys Were playing at the ba'; And by it came him, sweet Sir Hugh, And he play'd o'er them a'. He kick'd the ba' with his right foot, And catch'd it wi' his knee; And through-and-through the Jew's window, He gar'd the bonny ba' flee. He's done him to the Jew's castle, And walk'd it round about; And there he saw the Jew's daughter At the window looking out. "Throw down the ba', ye Jew's daughter, Throw down the ba' to me!" "Never a bit," says the Jew's daughter,