English Songs and Ballads Part 31

The king in fury said; 'Before the evening-star doth shine, Bawdin shall lose his head:

'Justice does loudly for him call, And he shall have his meed: Speak, Mr. Canynge, what thing else At present do you need?'

'My n.o.ble liege,' good Canynge said, 'Leave justice to our G.o.d, And lay the iron rule aside; Be thine the olive rod.

'Was G.o.d to search our hearts and reins, The best were sinners great; Christ's vicar only knows no sin, In all this mortal state.

'Let mercy rule thine infant reign, 'Twill fix thy crown full sure; From race to race thy family All sovereigns shall endure.

'But if with blood and slaughter thou Begin thy infant reign, Thy crown upon thy children's brows Will never long remain.'

'Canynge, away! this traitor vile Has scorned my power and me; How canst thou, then, for such a man Entreat my clemency?'

'My n.o.ble liege, the truly brave Will valorous actions prize: Respect a brave and n.o.ble mind, Although in enemies.'

'Canynge, away! By G.o.d in heaven That did me being give, I will not taste a bit of bread Whilst this Sir Charles doth live!

'By Mary, and all saints in heaven, This sun shall be his last!'

Then Canynge dropped a briny tear, And from the presence pa.s.sed.

With heart brimful of gnawing grief, He to Sir Charles did go, And sat him down upon a stool, And tears began to flow.

'We all must die,' said brave Sir Charles; 'What boots it how or when?

Death is the sure, the certain fate, Of all we mortal men.

'Say why, my friend, thy honest soul Runs over at thine eye; Is it for my most welcome doom That thou dost child-like cry?'

Saith G.o.dly Canynge: 'I do weep, That thou so soon must die, And leave thy sons and helpless wife; 'Tis this that wets mine eye.'

'Then dry the tears that out thine eye From G.o.dly fountains spring; Death I despise, and all the power Of Edward, traitor-king.

'When through the tyrant's welcome means I shall resign my life, The G.o.d I serve will soon provide For both my sons and wife.

'Before I saw the lightsome sun, This was appointed me; Shall mortal man repine or grudge What G.o.d ordains to be?

'How oft in battle have I stood, When thousands died around; When smoking streams of crimson blood Imbrued the fattened ground?

'How did I know that every dart That cut the airy way, Might not find pa.s.sage to my heart, And close mine eyes for aye?

'And shall I now, for fear of death, Look wan and be dismayed?

No! from my heart fly childish fear; Be all the man displayed.

'Ah, G.o.dlike Henry, G.o.d forefend, And guard thee and thy son, If 'tis his will; but if 'tis not, Why, then his will be done.

'My honest friend, my fault has been To serve G.o.d and my prince; And that I no time-server am, My death will soon convince.

'In London city was I born, Of parents of great note; My father did a n.o.ble arms Emblazon on his coat:

'I make no doubt but he is gone Where soon I hope to go, Where we for ever shall be blest, From out the reach of woe.

'He taught me justice and the laws With pity to unite; And eke he taught me how to know The wrong cause from the right:

'He taught me with a prudent hand To feed the hungry poor, Nor let my servants drive away The hungry from my door:

'And none can say but all my life I have his wordis kept; And summed the actions of the day Each night before I slept.

'I have a spouse, go ask of her If I defiled her bed?

I have a king, and none can lay Black treason on my head.

'In Lent, and on the holy eve, From flesh I did refrain; Why should I then appear dismayed To leave this world of pain?

'No, hapless Henry, I rejoice I shall not see thy death; Most willingly in thy just cause Do I resign my breath.

'Oh, fickle people! ruined land!

Thou wilt ken peace no moe; While Richard's sons exalt themselves, Thy brooks with blood will flow.

'Say, were ye tired of G.o.dly peace, And G.o.dly Henry's reign, That you did chop your easy days For those of blood and pain?

'What though I on a sledge be drawn, And mangled by a hind, I do defy the traitor's power; He cannot harm my mind:

'What though, uphoisted on a pole, My limbs shall rot in air, And no rich monument of bra.s.s Charles Bawdin's name shall bear;

'Yet in the holy book above, Which time can't eat away, There with the servants of the Lord My name shall live for aye.

'Then welcome death, for life eterne I leave this mortal life: Farewell, vain world, and all that's dear, My sons and loving wife!

'Now death as welcome to me comes As e'er the month of May; Now would I even wish to live, With my dear wife to stay.'

Saith Canynge: "Tis a goodly thing To be prepared to die; And from this world of pain and grief To G.o.d in heaven to fly.'

And now the bell began to toll, And clarions to sound; Sir Charles he heard the horses' feet A-prancing on the ground.

And just before the officers, His loving wife came in, Weeping unfeigned tears of woe With loud and dismal din.

'Sweet Florence, now I pray forbear, In quiet let me die; Pray G.o.d that every Christian soul May look on death as I.

'Sweet Florence, why these briny tears?

They wash my soul away, And almost make me wish for life, With thee, sweet dame, to stay.

"Tis but a journey I shall go Unto the land of bliss; Now, as a proof of husband's love Receive this holy kiss.'

Then Florence, faltering in her say, Trembling these wordis spoke: 'Ah, cruel Edward! b.l.o.o.d.y king!

My heart is well-nigh broke.

'Ah, sweet Sir Charles, why wilt thou go Without thy loving wife?

The cruel axe that cuts thy neck, It eke shall end my life.'

And now the officers came in To bring Sir Charles away, Who turned to his loving wife, And thus to her did say: