The first part of the widdow of Watling street & her three daughters, & how her wicked .[sic]son accused her to be an harlot, and his sisters bastards. To the tune of Bragandary.

The first part of the Widdow of Watling street & her three daughters , & how her wicked Son accused her to be an harlot , and his sisters Bastards . To the tune of Bragandary . OF the kinde Widdow of Watling stréet I will the story tell , Who by her husband déere was left , In substance very well ; A prodigall sonne likewise had she , And faire young daughters louely thrée ? Great misery , sorrow and misery , Commeth for want of grace . For by his daily practises , which were both lewd and ill , His fathers heart from him was drawne , His loue and his good will . But yet what chance so ere befell , his mother lou'd him dearely well , When in prison lay full poore , for debt that he did owe , His father would not stirre out of doores , For to release his woe . But when his mother his griefe did sée , shee found the meanes to set him frée . And when her husband fell full s●cke , and went to make his will , O husband remember your sonne she sayd , Although he hath beene ill : But yet no doubt he may returne , repenting the euill he hath done . Remember wife what sorrow and care , through him I daily found : Who through his lewd vngracious déedes , Hath spent me many a pound : And therefore let him sinke or swim , I means not for to deale with him . And therefore sole Executor heere , I doe thee onely make : To pay thy debts & legacies , the rest vnto thée take , Not so my husband deare ( quoth she ) but lat your sonne be ioynd with me : For why he is our child ( she sayd ) we can it not denie . The first that euer graced you With fathers dignitie , Oh , that euer you did me loue , grant this request for his behoue . Thy loue deare wife was euermore , most precious vnto me : And therefore for thy sweet loues sake I grant thy suit to thée . But ere one yeare be fully spent , I know thou wilt the same repent . Now was his sonne receiued home , and with his mother deare , Was ioynd Executor of the Will , which did his courage cheere : The old man dying , buried was , but now behold what came to passe . The funerall being ended quite , it fell vpon a day some friend did fetch the Widdow forth , To driue conceits away , While she was forth and thought no ill , her wicked sonns doth worke his will . Possession of the house he took , in most despite full wise throwing his sisters out of doors , With sad lamenting cryes . When this they did his mother show , She would not beleeue he would doe so . But when she came vnto her house , and found it so indeede , Shee cald vnto her son and said , although her heart did bleede , Come downe my sonne , come downe said she , let in thy mother and sisters three . I will not let in my mother he said , nor sisters any one , The house is mine , I will it keeps , Therefore away begone . O sonne how canst thou endure to see 't . thy mother and sisters to lye i' th stréet . Did not thy father by his will , For tearme of this my life , Giue me this house for to enioy , without all further strife . And more of all his goods said shee , I am Executor ioyn'd with thee . My father left you the house , he said , but this was his intent , That you therefore daring your life , Should pay me yearely rent : An hundred pound a yeare therefore , you shall giue me , or else giue it o're . And sith the Cities custome is , that you thirds must haue Of all my fathers moueables , I grant what law doth craue : But not a penny more will I , discharge of any Legacie . O wicked sonne , quoth shee that seekes thy mother thus to fleece : Thy father to his daughters gaue Three hundred pounds a peece : Tell me who shall their portions pay , appointed at their marriage day . Then with a scornefull smile he said , What talke you of so much : Ten pounds a peece , I will them giue , My charitie is such . Now fie vpon thee beast , quoth she , that thus dost deale with them and me . But ere that they and I will take this iniurie at thy hand : The chiefest Peeres of England shall the matter vnderstand : Nay , if you goe to that , quoth he , marke well what I shall tell to thee , Then hast a secret harlot béene , and this I le proue full plaine , That in my Fathers life time didst Lewd Ruffians entertaine : The which did then beget of thee , in wicked sort these bastards thrée , No daughters to my father then were they in any wise : As he supposed them to be , Thou blinding so his eyes . Therefore no right at all haue they , to any penny giuen this day . When shée did heare her shamelesse sonne , for to defame her so , Shee with her louely daughters three , with griefe away ▪ did goe . But how this matter out did fall , the second part will shew you all . FINIS .

The second part of the Widdow of Watling street and her three Daughters To the tune of , the Wanton wife . THe beautifull Widdow of Watling street , Being thus falsely accused by her sonne , With her thrée daughters of sauour so sweet , Whose beauty the loue of many had wonne : With her daughters three for succour went she , vnto the Kings Counsell of Noble degrée . Now fie vpon falsehood , and forgerie fraile , For great is the truth , and it will preuaile . Her sonne by Writ now summoned is , At the Star-chamber with speed to appeare , To answer the vile abuses of his : The Lords of the Counsell the matter will heare , This newes being brought ▪ his wits he sought , Which way his villany best might be wrought . Then vp and downe the Citie so faire , He séeketh companions to serue his turne : A sort of Vagabonds naked and bare , The which to worke murders for money are won : These wretches behold , for money and gold , He hired for witnesse his lies to vphold , &c. My masters , quoth he , my mother by name , To be a lewd strumpet accused I haue : And hauing no witnesse to proue the same , Your ayde and asistance herein I doe craue , Therefore without feare , before the Lords there , That this thing is certaine you sixe shall it sweare . The first two quoth he shall sweare on a Booke , That sixteene yeares past they plainely did see , As they through the Garden hedge sadly did looke , That she in one houre was abused by three : And how it befell , they two marke it well , That iust nine moneths after she had her first Girle . The second couple shall sweare in this sort , That at Bristow about thirteene yeares past , She with her owne prentise did fall in such sport , That her second daughter was got at the last , Now trust vs quoth they wée le sweare what you say , Or any thing else for money this day , &c. And thus the third couple their oath now shal take , That as at the Bath shee stayd on a day , For a●h in the bones an excuse she did make , How shee with a Courtier the wanton did play , And how well you wot in that pleasant plot , Her dearest young daughter for certaine was got . But now my masters your names let me know , That I may prouide your apparell with spéed , Like sixe grant Citizens , so must you goe , The better your speeches the Nobles will heed : So shall I with scorne ere Saturday morne , Proue her a harlot , my Sisters base borne . My name is Make-shift the first man did say , And Francis Light-finger the second likewise : Cutbert Greepe ▪ window the third to display , And Rowland Robman with soule staring eyes , Iacke shamelesse came then with Harry steale-hen , You are quoth the Widow some right honest men . Before the Lords most prudent and graue , This wretch doth with his witnesses come , The Mother complaines , and Iustice doth craue , Of all the offences that he hath her done . My Lords than quoth , I pray you heare me , The Law for my deeds , my warrant shall be . Her sonne sayd also shee 's a harlot most vilde , And those be her bastards that stand here in place , And that she hath often her body defilde , By very good witnesse I le prone to her face , This thing of thy Mother thou oughtest to smother , T is shame for a child to speake ill of his Mother . But if this matter be proued vntrue , And thou a false Lyar be found to tby face , Worse than an Infidell , Pagan , or Iew Thou ought'st to be punish't and pl●g●'d in this case And therefore draw neere and let vs beare , What sayes the witnesse that here doth appeare . When the first couple did come for to sweare , They quluered and quaked in most wondrous sort , The Lords very countenance did put them in feare , And now they knew not what to report , The second likewise so star'd with their eyes , They stammered and knew not what to deuise , &c. The Lords perceiuing the case how it went , Did aske the last couple what they had to say , Who fell on their knees incontinent , Saying they were hired for money that day : Quoth they it is so the truth for to show , Against the good Widdow no harme we doe know . Thus was the Widdow deliuered from blame , With her three Daughters of beauty most bright , Her sonne reproached with sorrow and shame , Hauing his Iudgement appointed him right , To forfeft euen all the goods he possest , To loose both his eares , and banisht , so rest , &c. When he heard his Iudgement pronounced to be , The feares full bitterly fell downe from his face : To Mother and Sisters he kneeled on his knee , Confessing that lucre had brought this disgrace , That for mine owne gaine I sought to defaine My Sisters three portions this lie I did faine , Therefore deare Mother forgiuenesse I craue , Of you and my Sisters , offended so sore : My body from perill if you will but saue , I sweare I will grieue and offend you no more . The Lords then replide the Law iustly tride . The punishment now thou art like to abide : Therefore to prison now thou shalt goe , Whereas thou shalt the Kings pleasure abide : From thence to be brought with sham● 〈…〉 with woe To suffer the punishment due for thy pride , Then out of hand thou shalt vnderstand , That presently thou shalt be banisht the Land , Now while in prison this prisoner did rest , Himselfe he hanged in desperate wise : Such horrour of conscience possessed his brest : And being cast forth , the Rauens pickt out his eyes All Children behold what hath beene told , Accuse no man falsely for Lucre of Gold . Now fie vpon falsehood and forgery fraile , For great is the truth and it will preuaile .

FINIS .