Page:Factor's garland (1).pdf/2



EHOLD here's a ditty, the truth and no jest,

concerning a young gentleman liv'd in the east,

Who by his great gaming came to poverty,

And afterwards went many a voyages to sea

Being well educate, and one of great wit

Three merchants in London they all thought it

To make him their Captain and Factor also,

And for them to Turkey a voyage he did go

And walking along the streets there he found,

A poor dead man's carcase lying on the ground,

He asked the reason why he there did ly?

Then one of the natives did make this reply

That man was a Christian, sir, while he drew ,

The duty's unpaid, he lies above the earth

Why, what is the duty? the Factor he cry'd?

It is fifty pounds, sir, the Turk he reply'd

That is a great sum, quoth the Factor, indeed

To see him lie there makes my heart for to ;

So then by the Factor the money was paid,

And under the earth the dead carcase was laid.

When having gone further, by chance he did ,

A beautiful creature just going to die,

A young waiting maid, who strangled must be,

For nothing but striking a Turkish lady.

To think of her dying with grief he was fill'd,

Then rivers of tears, like waters distil'd,

Like streams of a fountain, from her eyes ran

Her red rosy cheeks, and from thence to the

Hearing what her crime was he to end the

Said, What must I give for this poor creature's

The answer was turned, an hundred pound,

The which for her pardon he freely paid down.