THE BA4BS VI 7 -H /IOOD.


He told his wife an artful tale,
 He would the children send
To be brought up in fair London
 With one that was his friend.

Away then went those pretty babes,
 Rejoicing at that tide,
Rejoicing with a merry mind,
 They should on cock-horse ride.

They prate and prattle pleasantly,
 As they ride on the way,
To those that should their butchers be,
 And work their lives' decay;

So that the pretty speech they had,
 Made Murder's heart relent;
And they that undertook the deed,
 Full sore did now repent.

Yet one of them more hard of heart,
 Did vow to do his charge,
 Because the wretch that hired him,
 Had paid him very large.