Page:Factor's garland (3).pdf/5



HE said, noble lady, I've good news to tell,

The noble Prince your father & mother's both well,

And your royal parents the thing have design'd

In the bond of wedlock we both should be join'd.

Perhaps noble lady you wou'd not agree,

To marry a poor man, especially me:

Sir, were you a beggar I would be your wife,

Because when just dying you saved my life.

I n vernever [sic] shall forget that great token of love,

Of all men now breathing I prize thee above;

Since it is so ordered, I'm well pleased I vow,

And ga'd my dear father these things doth allow.

Pray sell off your goods that you have in store,

And give all your money to those that are poor;

And let us be jogging away o'er the main,

For I long to see my dear parents again.

This thing was soon done, and they sailed away,

In the ship that her father sent for her convoy,

But mark what was acted on the ocean wide,

To deprive the Factor of his Royal bride.

The Captain who conveyed him over the deep,

One night as the Factor was laid in his sleep,

Being under sail, over board did him throw,

Saying now I shall have this young creature I know.

There happened to be a small island at hand,

To which the Factor swam as I understand;

And there we leave him a while for to mourn,

And now unto the ship again we'll return.

Next morning, as soon as day-light did peep,

He wak'd the young Princess out her sleep,

And said noble lady the Factor's not here,

He's fallen o'er board and drowned I fear.

To hear the sad news, then her eyes they did flow,

He said, noble lady, since now it is so,