He charg'd his father faithfully;
That'he himſelf should keep the keys
Until the child could write and ready ;
And then to give it him indeed.
    Pray do not open it at all,
What ever does to you befall,
For it may do my godſon good,
If it be rightly underſtood.
The ſecond part I will unfold.
As true as ever, a tale was told,
Concerning of his lovely child,
Who was obedient, ſweet, and mild.

                   PART II.

THIS child did take his learning ſo,
If you the truth of this would know,
At eleven years ot age indeed,
He could both Greek and Latin read.
But thinking of his cabinet,
Which was with pearls and jewels -ſet,
He asked his father for the key,
The which be gave him ſpeedily
    His cabinet he did unlock,
But he waſ in amazernent ſtruck,
When he the riches did behold,
And alſo ſaw the chain of gold.
But ſetching farther he did find ,
A paper that diſturbed his mind;
Which was within the cabinet,
In Greek and Latin it was writ.
    My ſon, ſerve God that is on high
And pray to him inceſſantly,
Obey your Parents, ſerve the King,
That nothing may your coriſcience ſting ;
For ſeven years hence your face will be
To behang'd upon a tree:
So pray to God both night and day:
To let that hour pais away.
    When he theſe trueful lineſ did read.
He with a ſigh did ſay, Indeed
If hanging be my deſtiny,
My parents shall not lee me die,
For I will wander too and fro',
And go whither I do not knew, -
But firſt I'll ask my parentsleave,
In view theit bleſſings to receive.
    Then locking up the cabinet.
He went unto his chamber ſtrait,
And went unto hisparents dear,
Beſeeching them with many a tear,
That they would grant what he did crave,
Your bleſſing firſt beg to have,
And hope you'll let me go my way,
'Twill do me good another day.
    For I indeed have made a vow,
But muſt not tell the reaſon now ;
But if I live I will return,
When ſeven years are paſt and gone.
Both man and wife did then reply,
We fear, dear ſon that you will die,
If we shou'd yield to let you go,
Our aged hearts will burſt with Woe.
    Yet he entreated eagerly.
So that they forc'd were to comply,
And gave conſent that he should go,
But where, alaſs! we did not Know:
In the third part you ſoon snail find
That fortune to him was moſt kind,
And after many dangers paſt,
He came to Durham at the laſt.

                   PART III.

HE went by chance as I've heard fay,
Unto the houſe that very day, .
Whereat his godfather did dwell,
Now mind what fortune him beſel.
    This youth did crave a ſervice there.
And ſtrak came out the godfather,
And feeing him a handſome youth,
He took him for his page in truch.
In this ſame place he pleas'd ſo well,
That above all he bore the bell,
And ſo well his Lord did pleaſe,
He made him higher by degrees.
    He made him butler indeed,
And then chief ſteward was with ſpeed,
Which made the other ſervantsſpite,
And envy him both day and night.
He ne'er was falſe in his truſt,
But proved ever true and juſt;
And to the Lord did hourly pray,
To guard him ſtili both night and day.
    In this ſame place it doth appear,
Heliv'd the ſpace of ſeven years,
And of his parents thought upon,
And of his promiſe to return.
Then humbly of his Lord did crave,
That he his tree conſent might have,
For to go and fee his parents dear,
Whom he had not ſeen' for many years, .
    So having leave, away he went,
Not dreaming of the bale intent,
Which was contriv'd againſt him then.
By wicked, falſe, and malicious men;
Who had in his portmanteau put
Their noble Lord's fine golden cup,
And when the Lord at dinner was,
He miſs'd the cup as it came to paſs.
    Where should it be? the Lord did ſay,
We had it here but yeſterday;
The bulter then reply'd with ſpeed,
If you would know the truth indeed,
Your faithſul ſteward that is gone,
With feather'd neſt away is ſlown ;
I do believe he has that and more.
Which does belong unro your ſtone.
    No, ſaid the Lord that cannot be,
For I have try'd his honeſty,
Then ſaid the cook, my Lord, I'll die,
Upon a tree that's mine feet high,
But hearing what this man did ſay,
Did fend a meſſenger that day,
To take him with a hue and cry,
And bring him back immediately.
    They ſearch'd his portmanteau inde
In which they found the cup with ſpeed,
Then he was ſtruck wish ſad ſurpriſe,
And ſcarcely could believe his eyes,
The Lord then ſaid unto him ſtrait,
Thou shalt be hanged at my gate,
Becauſe in you I put my trull,
And I took you for nought but juſt.

                   PART IV.

    THE day was fix'd and being come
Said he, O Lord, it was my doom,
Tho' innocent I do declare,
How my Lord's cup came to be there,
What fate decrees none can deny,
I was adjudged thus to die
Upon a fatal gallows tree,
Which my godfather did foreſee.
    In travelling pains my mother was,
Into the world I came at laſt,,
A gentleman with skill did show
Such death I now am coming to;
A chain and a cabinet he gave
Unto my father which I have ;
The manuſcript which was therein,
Did show me plain I should he hang'd,
    So the Lord hearing him fay ſo,
It came into his mind then to
Keep him from off the gallows high.
For I think this man is not guilty,
Something I doub, there is in this,
Methlnks it ia with meer malice
Of the cook and the butler too ;
And if ſo, I'll make them rue.
    The cauſe he tries a ſecond time.
And found them guilty of the crime;
They were adjudg'd to be hang'd ſtrait,
Indee they did deſervethdr fare.
The Lord he took him, and did ſay.
Have you that cabinet, I p?ay
Yes, noble Loro, this is the ſame
Was left me with this very chain.
    My daughter is a virgin bright,
And you shall have her this very night
Wherefore now take delight in her,
'Tis I whoam your God-father.
Here's twenty thouſand pounds in gold
And; when I'm dead it shall betold.
You shall enjoy my whole eſtate,
For to make you both rich and great.