4
God bless you both, my children dear;
With that the tears did fall.
These speeches then their brother spoke
To this sick couple there:-
The keeping of your children dear,
Sweet sister, do not fear.
God never prosper me nor mine,
Nor aught else that I have,
If I do wrong your children dear
When your laid in the grave.
Their parents being dead and gone,
The children thence he takes,
And brings them home unto his house,
And much of them he makes.
He had not kept these pretty babes
A twelvemouth and a day,
But for their wealth he did devise
To make them both away.
He bargain'd with two ruffians rude,
Which were of furious mood,
That they should take the children young,
And slay them in a wood.
He told his wife, and all he had,
He did the children send
To be brought up in fair London,
With one that was his friend.
Away then went these pretty babes,
