bloody companion; but ere he dies he gives the other a mortal wound : the latter living just long enough to impeach the uncle: who, in consequence of this impeachment, is arraigned and executed by the hand of justice, &c. Whoever compares the play with the ballad, will have no doubt but the former is the original: the language is far more obsolete, and such a vein of simplicity runs through the whole performance, that, had the ballad been written first, there is no doubt but every circumstance of it would have been received into the drama : whereas this was probably built on some Italian novel.

Printed from two ancient copies, one of them in black-letter in the Pepys collection. Its title at large is "The Children in the Wood:

or, the Norfolk Gentleman's Last Will and Testament: to the tune of Rogero, &c."

Now ponder well, you parents deare,

These wordes which I shall write;

A doleful story you shall heare,
In time brought forth to light.

A gentleman of good account
In Norfolke dwelt of late,

Who did in honour far surmount

Most men of his estate.

Sore sicke he was, and like to dye,
No helpe his life could save;

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His wife by him as sicke did lye,

And both possest one grave.

No love between these two was lost,
Each was to other kinde;

In love they liv'd, in love they dyed,

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But if the children chance to dye,

Ere they to age should come,

Their uncle should possesse their wealth;
For so the wille did run.

"Now, brother," said the dying man,
"Look to my children deare;
Be good unto my boy and girl,
No friendes else have they here:
To God and you I recommend
My children deare this daye;
But little while be sure we have
Within this world to staye,

"You must be father and mother both, And uncle all in one;

God knowes what will become of them,
When I am dead and gone."

With that bespake their mother deare,

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"O brother kinde," quoth shee,

"You are the man must bring our babes

To wealth or miserie:

"And if you keep them carefully,

Then God will you reward;
But if you otherwise should deal,
God will your deedes regard."

With lippes as cold as any stone,
They kist their children small :

"God bless you both, my children deare;
With that the teares did fall.

These speeches then their brother spake

To this sicke couple there:

"The keeping of your little ones,
Sweet sister, do not feare.

God never prosper me nor mine,
Nor aught else that I have,

If I do wrong your children deare,
When you are layd in grave."

To those that should their butchers be,
And worke their lives decaye:

While they for food complaine :

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"Staye here," quoth he, "I'll bring you bread,

When I come back againe."

And in a voyage to Portugal
Two of his sonnes did dye;
And to conclude, himselfe was brought
To want and miserye :

He pawn'd and mortgaged all his land
Ere seven yeares came about,

And now at length this wicked act

Did by this meanes come out :

The fellowe, that did take in hand
These children for to kill,
Was for a robbery judg'd to dye,

Such was God's blessed will:

Who did confess the very truth,
As here hath been display'd:
Their uncle having dyed in gaol,
Where he for debt was layd.

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 miserye
Your wicked minds requite.

XX.

A Lover of Late.

Printed, with a few slight corrections, from the Editor's folio MS.

A LOVER of late was I,

For Cupid would have it soe,
The boy that hath never an eye,
As every man doth know.

I sighed, and sobbed, and cryed, alas!
For her that laught and called me ass.

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