4
Which made him colour, and thus he did say,
Who flowered that garment now tell me I pray.
If it please your Grace, my last voyage to Turkey,
Where I saw a lady that strangled must be,
And to save her life, gave an hundred pound,
And carried her with me to fair London town.
There she's my house-keeper while I'm in this land
And when of my coming she did understand,
She flowered this robe and gave strict charge to mc,
To let it be seen by your great Majesty.
The prince cried, behold friend, this robe which I wear
Is of the same flower and spot, I do swear,
Thy maid wrought them both, she's my daughter dear,
I have not heard from her till now these three years.
To pay a visit to some neighbouring prince,
I sent her in a ship, and have not seen her since,
And I was afraid the sea had prov'd her grave,
But I heard, to Turkey she was taken a slave.
For the loss of my child, who I thought had been kill'd,
A well-full of tears in my court has been spill'd;
My princess, her mother, could for her not rest,
Her loss drew millions of sighs from her breast.
The ship shall be richly loaded with speed,
And I'll send a ship for her convoy indeed;
Because of thy love, thou sav'd my child's life,
Bring her alive to me, I'll make her thy wife.
And if thou should'st not live to bring her to me;
Whoe'er brings her home, his bride she shall be;
And twenty-thousand a year ye shall have,
That ventur'd my dear child's life for to save.
The ship being loaded, their anchor was weigh'd,
And he with his convoy came over the main
To fair London city, and home he did go,
And gave the young Princess these tidings to know.
