The poor man, the merchant, and the king, or, The king's brother, his wife sentence for the poor man. To the tune of King and poor northern men

The poor man, the Merchant, and the King; OR, The King's brother, his wise Sentence for the poor Man.

To the Tune of King and poor northern Man.

IT was my chance as I did walk a history for to read, Solomon wise, when he reign'd King, did many a worthy deed

Many a Statute be caus'd ••o be made, and this was one amongst them all, It's treason for a man to find out a mans losse, and not to restore it to the right owner again.

As it chanced there was a rich Merchant, as he was riding to the market town; It was his fortune to lose his purse, and in it there was an hundred pound.

Proclamation becaus'd to be made if any man could find it plain, Restore to him without any doubt. and they should have twenty pound for their pain.

As it chanced there were a sill•• poor man with ••wo sheep skins on ••is back to sell, It was his fortune to fi••d this purse and he took i•• up and he lik'd it well.

When he had took it up into his hand he needs must sée what in it he w••uld, The sum of money he could not u••d••••stand, bec••use there was n••ught in the purse but gold.

Thou horson villain then said the March••nt I think it is thou that hast found m•• purse, Why wilt thou not restore it to me ag••in. which if thou do not thou shalt fare the worse

My liegh q••oth be I found such a pu••se, and gladly to you I'le make it known, You may have it again it is never the worse, pay me for the finding and that's my own.

Let me sée what's in it then said the M••rchant he found an hundred pound and no more, Thou horson villain thou hast payd thy self for in my purse there was full six score.

But before the King thou shalt be brought, I warrant you when I come before our King, He w••ll not reward me of with nought as you your selfe thought to have done.

As they were leading him towards the King, and as ••hey were going on the way, There they did méet with a gallant Knight and with him was his Lady gay.

With hugging and tugging this silly poor man his Leather skins they began to crack, The g••••ding was wanton and leap••d••ss••••, and cast the fair Lady quite on her b••ck.

The Lady fell down and got a great ••••ones, no ••o•• in at all the poor man did mean, The Lady did light upon the ground▪ and a ••ub hath struck out one of her ••yne.

The Kni••ht would néeds upon him have been, now stay quoth y^e Merchan•• & that is a wrong, I have an ••ction already against him to go the King and he is sure to hang.

As they were leading him towards the King, the poor man he lik'd not of being le•• doub••e But at a sea clift he had thought to have scap'd, a••d to have sav'd both himself and them trouble.

As he was leaping at the Sea clift thinking no harm at al, Go•• wor, He met two fishe••s bou••d to Sea and the leap broke one of their necks in the boat.

The other would needs upon him have been, now stay quot•• the M••rchant that is w••ang, We have two actions alread•• against him and to go to the King he is sure to be hang'd.

As they were leading him towards the King, and as they went to the gallery gay, Here is such a villain then said the Merchant. as came not before you this many a day.

It was my chance to lose my purse, and in it was there p unds full six score, The villain wil not give me an hundred again unless I woold give twenty more.

I have worse and that then said the Knight, I know not what the villain did me••••, He caus'd my golding to fling my Lady and a s••ub hath struck out one of her eyne.

I have worse and that then saith the Fisher, I may sigh and say alas God wor, He met with me & my brother was bound to the sea and the leap broke my brothers neck in the boat.

Solomon wise he turn'd him about he was not adv••sed in every thing, Never such thrée actions came before me never since I was crowned King.

Marquis his brother he was there, I pray you good brother these thrée you do sea••, I pray you good brother turn them over to mée and their causes I soon will c••ear.

The second Part to the same Tune.

With all my heart said Solomon the wise. You may h••ve the judgement of them yet, He turn'd them over t•• Marquis his brother, unto f••iner of them I would have them be quit.

Marquis heard their j••dgements all, and every one set up his will, Come hither po••r man, nome hither to me, and let me hear what thou canst say for thy self.

My Leach quoth the poor man, then touching this matter As I was bound to the market town, It was my fortune to find this purse and in it there was an hundred pound.

A proclamation be caus'd to be made if any man could find it again, Restore it to him without any doubt & they should have twenty pounds for their pains.

Where is thy witness said the Marquis? I pray you let u•• hear him soon? Here is the M••rchant's own man, and carries the message from town to town.

The Merchant's man then he was call'd, he swore there was an hundred pound & no more; And how his Master profered twenty pound, to any that would to him his purse restore.

Saith Marquis this shall be my judgement straight yea, and perhaps you will think it strange, Thou shalt follow him in the héels every day, untill thou do find such a bill of Exchange.

And then kéep it to thy self & never give't him again now God forbid then quoth the Merchant, How should I find a hundred paund of this that never had a hundred greats to lose.

I had rather give him twenty more, if so betyde you would let me stay, Pay down the mon••y then quoth the Marquis, so mayst thou quietly go thy way.

Now poor man how hindrest thou this Knight? thou must néeds make him amends I win, This is against all Laws and Kights, the Lady lacke the one of her eyen.

Hast thou not a wife at home with two ey••s plain, yea my Liege ••n honest poor woman, And for her living doth take great pains, as any one doth in all the town,

This shall be my judgement straight, yea and perhaps you will think it strange; The wife with two eyes and the Lady with one and as thou hall drest her thou shalt exchange.

Now God forbid then quoth the Knight that ever so bad should be my choyce, I had rather give him an hundred pound, then to be troubles with his damn'd wife.

Pay down thy money then quoth the Marquis, so mayst thou be going within a while, The Fisher for fear he should be call'd, he was run away halfe a quarter of a mile;

Was not there a third man then said the Marquis? I pray let us hear what he can say? My Leige quoth they he was here even now, but as fast as he can he is run away.

I pray let him be called b••ck again, if so betyde he be in the fight; It's never be said you came before me, but every man shall have his right.

Now Fisher what made thee to run away? my Liege quoth he I had a great way home; And I thought it was time to pack away, having spent the most of my coyne.

Saith this shall be thy judgement straight, yea and perhaps you will think it strange; Thou shalt set thy beat in the same stead, and thou shalt leap at him by way of Exchange.

So mayst thou quit thy brothtrs death, now God forbid then quoth the Fisher; That ever so bad should be my chance, I shal either be drown'd or it wil cause me swound

I had rather give him twenty pounds, I am sorry my Liege that I came hither: Pay down thy money then quoth the Marquis, so may you be packing all fools together.

These thrée they could not well agree, but each fell out with one another, They said they would never come before our King, as long as he was in company of Marquis's brother.

The poor man he was well content, and well pleased in every thing; He said he car'd not how oft he came before the Majesty of our King.

FINIS.