A worthy example of a vertuous wife who fed her father with her own milk, being condemned to be famished to death and after was pardoned by the Emperor. To the tune of Flying fame.

A worthy example of a vertuous wife , who fed her father with her own milk , being condemned to be famished to death and after was pardoned by the Emperor . To the tune of Flying Fame .

IN Rome I read a Noble man , the Emperor did offend , And for that fact he was adjudg'd vnto a cruell end : That he should be in prison cast , with irons many a one , And there be famisht vnto death , and brought to skin and bone . And more , if any one were knowne , by night or yet by day , To bring him any kind of food , his hunger to allay : The Emperour swore a mighty oath ▪ without remorse ( quoth he ) Thou shalt sustaine the cruellest death that may deuised be . This cruel sentence once pronounc'd , the Noble man was cast , Into a dungeon darke and déepe , with irons fettered fast : Where when he had with hunger great , remained ten daies space , And neither tasted bread nor drink , in this most wofull case . The teares along his aged face , most plentiously did fall , And grieuously he did begin for to complaine withall : O Lord , quoth he , what shall I doe , so hungry Lord am I , For want of bread , one bit of bread , I famish starue and die . How precious were one corne of wheat , vnto my hungry soule , One crust , one crum , one little péece , my hunger to controle : Had I this dungeon heap'd with Gold , I would forgoe it all , To 〈◊〉 and purchase one browne loafe , yea were it nere so small . O that I had but euery day , one bit of bread to eate , Though nere so mouldy black or browne my comfort would be great : Yea albeit I tooke it vp , trod downe in dirt and mire , It would be pleasing to my taste , and swéet to my desire . Good Lord how happy is the Hinde , that labours all the day , The drudging slaue , the peasant poore , which at commandement stay : These haue their ordinary meales , they take no héed at all Of those swéet crums and crusts , that they so carelesly let fall . How happy is the little chick , that without feare may goe , And pick vp those most precious crums , which they away doe throw . O that same pretty little mouse , so much my friend would be , To bring some old forsaken crust , into this place to me . But oh my heart I wish in vaine , no succour I can haue . No meat , no drink , no water eke , my loathed life to saue . O bring some bread for Christ his sake , some bread , some bread to me , I die , I die , for lack of bread , nought but stone walls I sée . Thus day and night he cryed out , in most outragious sort , That all the country farre and néere , were grieu'd at his report . And though that many friends he had , and daughters in the towne , Yet none durst come to succour him , fearing the Emperours frowne .

The second part , To the same tune ▪ YEt now behold one daughter deare , he had as I doe find . Which liu'd in his displeasure great , for matching 'gainst his mind : Although she liu'd in meane estate , she was a vertuous wife , And for to helpe her father deare , shée ventured thus her life . She quickly to her sisters ran , and did of them intreat , That by some secret meanes they would conuay their Father meat . Our father deare doth starue , she said , the Emperours wrath is such , He dies alas for want of food , whereof we haue too much . Swéet sisters therefore vse some meanes , his life for to preserue , And suffer not our father deare , in prison for to starue : Alas quoth they , what shall we doe , his hunger to sustaine ? You know t is death to any one , that would his life maintaine . And though we wish him well , quoth they we neuer will agrée , To spoile our selues , we had as léefe that he should die , as wée . And sister , if you loue your selfe , let this attempt alone , Though you doe nere so secret worke , at length it will be knowne . O hath our Father brought vs vp , and nourisht vs , quoth she , And shall we now forsake him quite , in his extremity ? No , I will venture life and limb , to doe my father good , The worst that is I can but die , to fit a tyrants mood . With that away she hies in haste , and to the Iayle she goes , But with her wofull father deare , she might not speake God knowes , Except the Emperor would grant his fauour in that case : The Kéeper would admit no wight to enter in that place . Then she vnto the Emperour hyes , and falling on her knée , With wringing hands and bitter teares , these words pronounced she : My hopelesse Father , gratious Lord , offending of your Grace , Is iudg'd vnto a pining death , within a wofull place : Which I confesse he hath deserud , yet mighty Prince , quoth she , Uouchsafe in gracious sort , to grant one simple boone to me : It chanced so , I matcht my selfe , against my fathers mind , Whereby I did procure his wrath , as fortune false assignd . And séeing now the time is come , he must resigne his breath , Uouchsafe that I may speake with him before his houre of death : And reconcile my selfe to him , his fauour to attaine , That when he dies I may not then vnder his curse remaine . The Emperor granted her request , conditionally that she , Each time she to her father came , should throughly searched be . No bread no meat with her she brought to helpe him there distrest , But euery day she nourisht him , with her most tender brest . Thus by her milke he was preseru'd , a twelue month and a day , And was most faire and fat to sée , yet no man knew which way . The Emperor musing much thereat , at length did vnderstand , How he was fed , and yet his law not broke at any hand . And much admiring at the same , and her great vertue showne , Hee pardon'd him , and honor'd her , with great preferments knowne . Her Father euer after that , did loue her as his life , And blest the time that shee was made , a louing wedded wife . FINIS .