The Garland of TRIALS.

THIS noble relation which I am to write.
Behold, 'tis concerning a great baronet ;
Five years he was marry'd, as I do proteſt,
This noble baron with a child was not bleſt.
At length this fair lady conceived with child,
At which this ſaid knight and his lady ſmil'd.
When time was expired, a daughter was born,
At whoſe birth the father and mother did mourn.
Her nativity he did calculate,
And found ſhe was born to ſuftr by fate,
The knight by her ruling planet did ſee,
A whore, thief, and murderer ſhe was born to be.
Said he, When ſhe's up to maturity got,
For the fake of her portion, ſome villainous ſot,
Perhaps my defile her before-hand, and ſo
This may be the firſt ſtep to her everthrow.
To prevent all danger this ſtep I will take,
Some farmer, a tenant of mine, ſhall her take ;
As a child of his own ſhe ſhall be confin'd,
In which ſtate herhaps no one will her mind.
To this wife invention the lady agreed,
To one of the tenants ſhe was plac'd with ſpeed,
Who had for her boarding thirty pound a-year.
And good education they gave her, we hear.
Dutiful bedience unto them ſhe paid.
Thinking them her parents, their will ſhe obey'd,
When this knight came thiher his rent to receive
A guinea to the child he always would give.
Fourteen years and upwards this child ſtay'd there,
The farmer and his wife went to a fair.
And left this young lady at home to ſtay.
But now ſee what happen'd whlle they were away.
As ſhe was ſtanding that day at the door.
An old man begg'd of her who was very poor.
My parents are not at home, ſhe to him reply'd,
And to give their ſubſtance I dare not, ſhe cry'd.
With that the old beggar-man, ſaid with a ſmile,
You are kept in ignorance ſurely my child.
They are not your parents who you houonr here,
You f ther's a knight of fix thouſand a-year.
Such a man is your father, ſuch a lady your mother,
Beſides any children they never had other.
For this news, ſhe ſaid, here s five ſhillings to thee,
And into this matter I further will ſee.
When the farmer came home at night he ſmil'd,
And ſaid, What's for ſupper, my deareſt child?
Her anſwer was to him, What's makes you ſay ſo?
I'm none of your child you very well know
Such a man is my father, and I tell you plain,
I'll be satisfy'd ere I ſleep again :
She took horſe, and rid to the nobleman's gate,
Where he and his lady ſtood very great.
He ſaid Girl, how do thy parents do?
And ſaid, Sir, that is beſt known to you.
The girl talks madly, ſaid he ; let me know
Upon what account you anſwer me ſo ?
She ſaid, Sir, a beggar-man came to the door,
And he told you was my father beſure ;
If this thing be true, fir, he tells unto me,
Why was I put off in my infancy ?
This I muſt allow, when I was born firſt,
I then was incapable to give diſguft,
So far as to be baniſh'd for fifteen years ;
The truth of this matter, good ſir, let me hear.
Then he ſhew'd a reaſon for what he had done.
At this news the tears from off her cheeks run.
She ſaid, If it be ſo, then hard is my lot,
And in your 'ſcutcheon it may caſt a blot.
For fear your own ho our I bring to diſgrace,
Give me a child's part, and I'll quit the place :
With tears he embrac'd her, and for her did play,
So with riches on horſe-back ſhe rode away.
To the North of England this lady went,
Where in a lone cottage ſhe lived with content.
Her proviſions was brought her by a woman, who
Brought it once a week, and away did go.
And for a dverſion this lady bright
Play'd on the ſpinnet, herſelf to delight.
And as ſhe was playing moſt ſweetly one day,
A young 'ſquire chanced to come that way
Who hearing the muſick, vow'd ne would ſee,
Who in the cottage play'd ſo ſweely.
The 'ſquire knock'd, and call'd o'er and o'er,
Saying, Open to me, or I'll break the door.
For to break it open, he then did begin,
At which the young lady ſtrait let him in ;
She ſaid, Now be civil, I am a young maid,
And am, of all females, of men moſt afraid.
He ſaid, I'll not hurt thee ; then did her embrace.
Having ſat awhile, he quitted the place.
This ſweet lady's beauty ſo charm'd him, we find,
That this noble 'ſquire could not reſt in mind.
From ſeeing her daily he could not reſrain,
And by often coming her love did obtain.
She promis'd him faithfully to be his bride,
For which ſolemnizing they both did provide.
The night before-hand with his lady he lay,
And went, proteſting to come the next day.
Next morning ſhe look'd for the 'ſquire to come,
But he was confin'd to ſtay at home.
A fever that night the young 'ſquire had ſeiz'd,
And becauſe he came not, ſhe was diſpleas'd ;
Crying. This will make my father's words true.
My honour is ſtained, and what ſhall I do ?
Becauſe he has diſappointed me now,
If he come to-morrow I'll not have him, I vow.
When able to fit up, the young 'ſquire came.
The cauſe of his tarrying he told her the ſame.