The Lamenting Ladies Last Farewel to the World

Moarnful Melpomeny
assist my quill,
That I may pensibly,
now make my will,
Guide thou my hand, so writs
And ser ces to indite,
A Ladies last good night,
O pittty me.

I that was nobly born.
hither am sent:
Like to a wretch forlorn,
here to lament;
In this most strange ersle
Here to remain a while:
Till heaven be pleas'd to smile:
and send for me.

My friends cannot come nigh
me in this place:
Nor bear me company
such is my case,

Poor I am left alone,
But few regard my mone:
All my delights are gone
heaven succour me,

Each day with cares and feares,
I am perplext,
My drink is brinish tears
with sorrow mixt.
When others soundly sleep,
I sadly sob and weep:
Opprest with dangers deep
Lord comfort me.

When England flourished,
my Parents deer
Tenderly nourished
me many a year,
I was advanc'd on high,
In place of dignity,
In olden bravery
they decked me.

My garments deckt, with pearl
richly approv'd,
Never was English girls
better belov'd',
Old and young, great and smal
Waited upon my cal,
I had the love of all,
that did know me.

But from my former state
I am cal'd back,
Through destiny and fate,
all goes to wrack,
Fortune did lately frown,
And caught me by the Crowne,
So puld me head-long down,
oh woe is me.

My dear friends are decay'd,
which lov'd me best,
Never was harmelesse maid,
so much distrest:
My Father he is dead.
My Mother banished,
All sores are from me fled,
Heaven comfort, me.

How well are they at ease
and sweetly blest,

That may goe when they please
and where they list
To see their Parents kind,
As nature doth them bind,
Such joyes I cannot finde,
Ah woe is me.

All earthly helps are gone,
I will and must
Onely in God alone
Put my whole trust.
O blessed Trinity,
One God and persons three,
Release my misery,
and comfort me.

No creature on the earth,
can ease my griefe,
Vntil such time as death
yeeld me reliefe,
A coffin and a grave,
Is that which I would have,
Sweet Chirst my soule receive
and sucour me.

My Enemyes that bee,
both great and smal,
Good Lord I pray to thee
forgive them all.

May England flourish brave,
When I am laid in grave
So thus I take my leave
Christ calls for me.

I have in heaven above
a place prepar'd
Never shall I depart
from thence afterwards
Goe tole my passing bell,
Whilst Angels ring my knell,
So vain world now farewel
Christ sends for me.

When she these words had spoke,
with chearfull heart,
The noble minded maid
then did depart
No doubt her souls at rest
with them whom God hath blest
The last words she exprest.
was, Christ cals for me