(5)
Away then went theſe pretty Babes,
rejoicing at that tide
Rejoicing with a merry mind,
they ſhould on horſe-back ride.
They prate and prattle pleaſantly,
as they rode on the way
To thoſe that ſhould their butchers be,
and work their life's decay.
So that the pleaſant talk they had,
made the murderer's heart relent,
And they who took the deed to do,
full ſore they did 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
The other would not agree thereto,'
ſo there they fell at ſtrife,
With one another they did fight,
about the children's life;
And he that was of mildeſt mood,
did flay the other there,
Within an unfrequented wood,
where Babes did quake for fear.
Me took the children by the hand,
while tears ſtood in their eye,
And bade them come along with him,
and look they did not cry.
