148

SELECT POETRY

His cattle died within the field,
And nothing with him staid ;

And in a voyage to Portugal
Two of his sons did die;

And, to conclude, himself was brought
To want and misery.

He pawned and mortgaged! all his land,
Ere seven years came abont,

And now at length his wicked act
Did by this means come out:

The fellow that did take in hand
These children dear to kill,

Was for a robbery judged to die,
(Such was God’s blessed will !)

Who did confess the very truth,
As here hath been displayed ;

Their uncle having died in gaol,
Where he for debt was laid.

You that executors? be made,
And overseers eke,?

Of children that be fatherless,

And their undoing seek,
Take you example by this thing,
And yield to each his right,
Lest God with such like misery
Your wicked deeds requite.

1 Mortgaged all his land—gave up his land as security for
the repayment of the money that he had borrowed.
? Executor—one who carries into effect the will of a

person.
3 Eke—also. 4 Undoing—destruction, ruin,