5
Then told his wife and all he had
He did the children send,
To be brought up in fair London,
With one that was a friend.
They prate and prattle pleasantly,
As they rode on the way,
To those that should their butchers be,
And take their lives away.
So that the pretty talk they had,
Made the murd'rers hearts relent,
And they who took the deed to do,
Full sore they did repent.
Yet one of them more hard of heart,
Did vow to do his charge,
Because the wretch that hired him
Had paid him very large.
The other would not agree thereto,
So there they fell to strife;
With one another they did fight,
About the children's life.
And he that was of mildest mood,
Did slay the other there,
Within an unfrequented wood,
Where babes did quake for fear.
He took the children by the hand,
While tears stood in their eye,
And bade them come along with him,
And look they did not cry.
