The Factor's Garland (1780)

by anonymous

For other versions of this work, see The Factor's Garland.

THE

Factor’s GARLAND,

Containing many Strange and Wonderful Deliverances.

In FOUR PARTS.

Entered according to Order.

The Factor’s Garland.

PART I.

BEHOLD here's a ditty, the truth, and no jest,
Concerning a young gentleman in the east,
Who by his great gaming came to poverty,
And afterwards went many a voyage to sea.
Being well educated, and one of great wit,
Three merchants of London did then think it fit,
To make him their captain and factor also,
And for them to Turkey a voyage he must go.
And walking along in the streets there he found
A poor man's dead carcase lying on the ground.
He asked the reason what made it there ly;
When one of the natives did make this reply.
That man was a Christian, sir, when he drew breath
The dues being not paid, he lyes above the earth.
Why, what are the dues? the factor then cried.
It is fifty pounds, the Turk he replied.
That is a great sum quoth the factor indeed,
To see him lie there, makes my heart for to bleed;
So then by the sector the money was paid,
And then under ground the dead carcase was laid.
When having gone further, he there did espy
A beautiful creature just going to die;
A young waiting maiden, who strangled must be
For nothing, but striking a Turkish lady.
To think of her dying with grief she was fill'd,
And rivers of tears like waters distill'd,
Like streams of a fountain from her eyes run down
Her red rosy cheeks, & from thence to the ground
He hearing what her crime was for to end the strife
Said, what must I give for this fair creature's life?
The answer returned was, an hundred pounds;
The which for her pardon he freely paid down.
He said, come fair creature, thy weeping refrain,
And be of good comfort, thou shalt not be slain,
Behold I have purchased thy pardon, will ye
⟨Be⟩ willing to go into England with me?
⟨She⟩ cried, sir, I thank you who freed me from death
⟨I⟩ am bound to pray for you so long as I have breath;
⟨And⟩ if you are willing, to England I'll go,
⟨And⟩ due respect to you till death I will show.

PART II.

He brought her to London, where, as it is said,
He set up house-keeping and made her his maid
⟨For⟩ to wait upon him, and finding her just,
⟨With⟩ the keys of his riches he did her intrust.
At lenth this young factor was hired once more,
⟨To⟩ cross the proud waves and billows that roar;
⟨And⟩ imto that country his course he must steer
⟨Which⟩ by his maid's father was govern'd, we hear.
Being a hot country, this maid did prepare,
(illegible text) get fine light robes in that country to wear.
(illegible text) bought a fine waistcoat, the which it is told,
(illegible text) servant maid flowered with silver and gold.
⟨She⟩ said to him, Master, I do understand,
⟨You⟩ are going factor into a foreign land;
⟨And⟩ if you this prince's court enter in,
(illegible text) sure let this flowered garment be seen.
⟨He⟩ said, To that prince's court I must go,
(illegible text) meaning of thy words I long for to know.
(illegible text) I'll not tell you; there's some reason you'll find.
(illegible text) that he replied, I'll fulfill thy mind.
⟨Then⟩ away he sailed and came to the port,
⟨The⟩ factor he came to the emperor's court;
⟨It⟩ was the usual custom of that place
(illegible text)to present some noble gift to his grace.
(illegible text) gift was accepted, and as he stood by,
(illegible text)is flowered garment the prince cast an eye,
Which caus'd him for to colour, and thus for to say
Friend who flowered this garment, tell me now I pray
If it please your grace, in my last voyage to Turkey
There I saw a creature that strangled must be,
And to save her life I gave an hundred pounds,
And carried her home with me to fair London town
There shes my housekeeper while I'm in this land
And when of my coming she did understand,
She flowered this robe, and gave great charge to me
To let it be seen by your great majesty.
This prince cried, Behold this robe which I wear
Is of the same flower and spot, I dare swear;
Thy maid wrought them both & is my daughter (illegible text)
I have not heard of her these seven long years.
To pay a visit to a neighbouring prince,
I sent her in a ship, but has ne'er seen her since,
I was afraid the sea had been her grave;
But I heard since, to Turkey she was taken a slave
For the loss of my child, who I tho't had been dead
A well full of tears in my court has been shed,
My princess, her mother, for her could not rest.
And her groans drew millions of tears from h(illegible text)
Thy ship shall be richly laden with speed, (breast
And I'll send a ship for her convoy indeed;
And because, for thy love, thou sav'd my child's ⟨life⟩
Bring her alive to me, and I'll make her thy wife
And if thou should not live to bring her to ⟨me⟩
The man who brings her home her husband shall ⟨be⟩
And one hundred thousand a year he shall have.
Therefore take care my dear child's life to save.
The ship being laden, the anchor was weighed
And he with his convoy to England soon sail'd,
To fair London city, and home he did go,
And gave the young princess good tidings to ⟨know⟩

PART III.

HE said, noble lady, I've great news to tell,
The old prince your father and mother are well,
And your royal parents this thing have design'd,
In bonds of wedlock we both shall be join'd.
Perhaps noble lady, you will uot agree
To marry a poor man, especially me.
Sir, was you a beggar, I would be your wife,
Because, when just dying, you saved my life.
I ne'er shall forget that great token of loe,
Of all men now breathing I prize you above;
And since 'tis so ordered, I'm well pleas'd I vow,
⟨I'm⟩ glad my dear father this thing will allow.
Pray sell off your goods that you have in store,
And give all the money to those that are poor;
And let us be jogging with speed over the main,
For I long to see my dear parents again.
This thing was soon done, and they sailed away
⟨In⟩ that ship her father sent for a couvoy;
But mark what happened on the ocean wide,
To deprive the factor of his royal bride.
The captain that convoy'd him over the deep,
One night then as the factor lay in a deep sleep,
Being then under sail, overboard did him throw,
Saying, now I shall have this young creature I know.
There happened to be a small island at hand
Which the factor swam to, as I understand,
And there I will leave him some time for to mourn,
And unto the ship again I'll return.
On morning, as soon as day light it did peep,
The captain waked the princess from her sleep,
And said, Noble lady, the factor's not here,
He's fall'n overboard and drowned, I fear,
To hear this sad news, then her eyes they did flow.
He said, Noble lady, now since it is so,
There's none here can help it, do not grieved be,
In two or three days you your parents shall see.
And when he arriv'd at the desired port,
The princess went weeping to her father's court,
Who gladly receiv'd her with joy and great mirth,
Saying, Where is the man that freed you from death?
The captain replied, as we all lay asleep,
He fell overboard, and was drown'd in the deep;
You said that the man who did your child home bring
Should have her, & I hope you'll perform this thing
Yes, that was my promise, the prince then replied
What say'st thou, my daughter, will you be his bride?
She said, Yes, dear father, but first, if you please,
For him that sav'd my life I'll mourn forty days.
Then into close mourning the princess then went,
For loss of her good friend in tears to lament;
And there I will leave her to mourn for a while,
And turn to the factor who's left in the isle.

PART IV.

IN this desart island the factor he lay,
In floods of tears weeping, two nights and a day;
At length on the ocean appear'd in his view
A little old man paddling in a canoe.
The factor call'd to him, which caus'd him to stay
And drawing near to him, the old man did say,
Friend how came you here? Then with eyes that did flow
He told him his secrets and where he would go.
The old man said to him, if there thou dost lie,
With grief and great hunger in short time thou'st die,
What wilt thou give me, & to court I'll thee guide?
I have nothing to give you, the factor replied.
If thou wilt but promise, and be true to me,
To give me the first babe she has unto thee
Whan thirty months old, to the court I'll you bring;
I'll not release thee without this very thing.
The factor consider'd this thing would cause grief
And without it for him there was no relief;
He cried, Life is sweet, and, my life for to save,
Carry me to that place, and your will you shall have
So then he was carried to the court, and when
He came in at the gate, he saw his lady then
⟨Looking⟩ out at a window, who seeing him pass
⟨From⟩ sorrow to joy transported she was.
He then at the court with great joy was receiv'd,
⟨There⟩ the lady met him, who for him was griev'd,
⟨And⟩ said my jewel, my love, and my dear,
(illegible text) where have you tarried? pray let me now hear.
Where so long he tarried he there did relate,
⟨And⟩ by what means he came to her father's gate;
⟨He⟩ said, I was thrown overboard in my sleep,
⟨I think⟩ it was the captain threw me in the deep,
With that the ship captain was sent for with speed,
⟨And⟩ hearing the factor was come there indeed.
(illegible text) shew himself guilty like a cruel knave,
(illegible text)p'd into the ocean, which proved his grave.
Next day with great triumph and joy, as we find,
⟨The⟩ factor and lady in marriage were join'd;
⟨Within⟩ the compass and space of two years,
⟨They⟩ had a son and a daughter most dear.
The son was the first born, a perfect beauty,
⟨He⟩ was well belov'd of the whole family,
⟨When⟩ thirty months old came the man for the child
⟨Who⟩ released the factor from this desart isle.
When the factor saw him his eyes they did flow,
⟨Then⟩ he gave his lady and parents to know
(illegible text) was forced to make that promise, or lie
(illegible text) ⟨that⟩ desart isle, and with hunger die.
With a grim look this old man then appears,
⟨Which⟩ made the court tremble, and fill'd them with fears
(illegible text)ng, What shall we do? sure 'tis no man,
(illegible text) will have our derling do all that we can.
He said it was promised, and I'll have my due,
There's one babe for me, and another for you,
I will have your first born, give him unto me;
With that the whole family wept bitterly.
The babe's mother cried, I am griev'd to the heart
To think I with such a dear infant must part,
To one that will carry it the Lord knows where,
And perhaps in pieces my darling will tear.
With that she embraced it, and down the tears fell
And having kissed it, bid it farewell,
Saying, It is for the sake of my husband and I
We part with our first born though for him I die
So then this grim ghost to her husband did say,
Sir, do you remember in Turkey one day,
You saw a dead body lying on the ground.
And to have it buried you gave fifty pounds.
Sir, I am the spirit of that dead body,
I saved your life for that great love shown to me,
You may keep your darling, & the Lord bless you ⟨all⟩
So away it vanished quite out of the hall,
Being gone, the old prince and princess likewise
The babes tender parents with tears in their eyes,
With joy then embraces the darling their son,
Saying, child had thou left us we had all been done.
Now I'll leave the conrt full of joy and great ⟨mirth⟩
To love one another while God gives them breath
And now by this factor we may see indeed,
No mortal can prevent what fate has decreed.

FINIS.