A pleasant history of a gentleman in Thracia which had foure sonnes, and three of them none of his own; shewing how miraculously the true heire came to enioy his inheritance. To the tune of, Chevy Chace.

A pleasant History of a Gentleman in Thracia , which had foure Sonnes , and three of them none of his own ; shewing how miraculously the true heire came to enioy his Inheritance . To the tune of , Chevy Chace .

IN searching ancient Chronicles , it was my chance to finde A story worth the writing out , in my conceit and mind ; It is an admonition good , that Children ought to haue , With reuerence for to thinke vpon their Parents laid in graue . In Thracia liu'd a Gentleman , of Noble Progeny , Who rul'd his houshold with great fame and true integrity ; This Gentleman did take to wife , a neat and gallant Dame , Whose outward shew and beauty bright did many hearts inflame . The luster that came from her lookes , her carriage and her grace , Like beautious Cynthia did outshine each Lady in that place ; And being puffed vp in pride , with ease and iollity , Her Husband could not her content , she other men must try . Lasciuiously long time she liu'd , yet bore it cunningly , For she had those that watcht so well , that he could nought espy ; With bribes and gifts she so bewitcht the hearts of some were néere , That they conceal'd her wickednesse , and kept it from her deare . Thus spending of her time away in extreme wantonnesse , Her priuate friends when she did please , vnto her had accesse ; But the all séeing Eye of heauen , such sinnes will not conceale , And by some meanes at last will he the truth of all reueale . Vpon a time sore sicke she fell , yea to the very death , And her Physician told her plaine , she must resigne her brèath ; Diuines did likewise visit her , and holy counsell gaue , And bade her call vpon the Lord , that He her soule might saue . Amongst the rest , she did desire they would her husband bring , I haue a secret to reueale , ( she said ) My heart doth s●ing ; Then he came posting presently , vnto her where she lay , And wéeping , then he did desire , what she to him would say ? She did intreat that all might voyd the roome , and he would stay : Your pardon , husband , I beséech , ( vnto him she did say ; ) For I haue wrong'd your marriage bed , and plaid the wanton wife , To you the truth I will reueale , ere I depart this life , FOure hopefull sonnes you think you haue , to me it best is knowne , And thrée of them are none of yours , of foure but one's your owne ; And by your selfe on me begot , which hath so wanton béen , These dying teares forgiuenesse beg , let mercy then be seene . This stroke her husband in a dumpe , his heart was almost dead , But rouzing of his spirits vp , these words to her he said ; I doe forgiue thée with my heart , so thou the truth wilt tell , Which of the foure is my owne sonne , and all things shall be well . O pardon me , my husband deare , vnto him she did say , They are my children euery one , and so she went away . Away he goes with heauy heart , his griefes he did conceale , And like a wise and prudent man , to none did it reueale . Not knowing which to be his owne , each of his loue did share , And to be train'd in vertues paths , of them he had a care ; In learning great and gentle grace , they were brought vp and taught , Such deare affection in the hearts of Parents God hath wrought . They now were grown to mens estates , and liu'd most gallantly ; Each had his horse , his hawke , his hound and did their manhood try ; The ancient man did ioy thereat , but yet he did not know , Which was his sonne amongst the foure that bred in him much woe . At length his glasse of life was run , the Fates doe so decrée . For poore and rich they all must dye , and death will take no fée ; Vnto some Iudges he did send , and Counsell that were graue , Who presently to him did come , to know what he would haue . They comming then to his beds side , vnto them he did say , I know you all to be my friends , most faithfull euery way ; And now before I leaue the world , I beg this at your hands , To haue a care which of my sonnes shall haue my goods and lands . And to them all he did relate what things his wife had done ; There is but one amongst the foure that is my natiue sonne ; And to your iudgement I commit , when I am laid in graue , Which is my sonne , and which is fit my lands and goods to haue . He dying , they in Councell sa●e what best were to be done , For 't was a taske of great import , to iudge which was his sonne : The brothers likewise were at strife , which should the liuing haue ; When as the ancient man was dead , and buried in his graue . The Iudges must decide the cause , and thus they did decrée , The dead mans body vp to take , and tye it to a Trée ; A Bow each brother he must haue , and eke an arrow take , To shoot at their dead fathers corps , as if he were a stake . And he whose Arrow néerest hit his heart as he did stand , They 'd iudge him for to be right heire , and fit to haue the land : On this they all did streight agrée , and to the field they went , Each had a man his shaft to beare , and Bow already bent . Now ( quoth the Iudges ) try your skill vpon your Father there , That we may quickly know who shall vnto the Land be heire ; The eldest tooke his Bow in hand , and shaft where as he stood , Which pierc'd so déep the dead mans brest that it did run with blood . The second brother then must shoot , who straight did take his aime , And with his Arrow made a wound , that blood came from the same : The third likewise must try his skill , the matter to decide , Whose shaft did make a wound most déep into the dead mans side . Vnto the fourth and youngest then , a Bow and shaft was brought ; Who said , Dée thinke that are my heart could harbour such a thought , To shoot at my deare Fathers heart , although that he be dead , For all the Kingdomes in the world that farre and wide are spred ? And turning of him round about , the teares ran downe amaine , He flung his Bow vpon the ground , and broke his shaft in twaine : The Iudges séeing his remorse , they then concluded all , He was the right , the other thrée , they were vnnaturall . And so he straight possest the Lands , being made the heire of all , And heauen by nature in this kind , vnto his heart did call ; His brothers they did enuy him , but yet he néed not care , And of his wealth in portions large , vnto them he did share . FINIS .