The other won't agree thereto,

So here they fall to strife;
With one another they did fight,
About the childrens' life:
And he that was of mildest mood,
Did slaye the other there,
Within an unfrequented wood,

While babes did quake for feare.

He took the children by the hand,
Teares standing in their eye,
And bad them straitwaye follow him,
And look they did not crye:
And two long miles he ledd them on,
While they for food complaine:
Staye here, quoth he, I'll bring you bread,
When I come backe againe.

These pretty babes, with hand in hand,
Went wandering up and downe;
But never more could see the man
Approaching from the town:

Their prettye lippes with black-berries,
Were all besmear'd and dyed,
And when they sawe the darksome night,
They sat them downe and cryed.

Thus wandered these poor innocents,
Till deathe did end their grief,
In one anothers armes they dyed,
As wanting due relief:

No burial this pretty pair

Of any man receives,
Till Robin-red-breast piously

Did cover them with leaves.

And now the heavy wrathe of God
Upon their uncle fell;

Yea, fearfull fiends did haunt his house,
His conscience felt an hell:

His barnes were fir'd, his goodes consum'd,

His landes were barren made,

His cattle dyed within the field,
And nothing with him stayd.

And in a voyage to Portugal
Two of his sonnes did dye;
And to conclude, himselfe was brought
To want and miserye:

He pawn'd and mortgaged all his land
Ere seven yeares came about.
And now at length this wicked act
Did by this meanes come out.

The fellowe, that did take in hand
These children for to kill,
Was for a robbery judged to dye,
Such was God's blessed will;
Who did confess the very truth,
As here hath been display'd:
Their uncle having dyed in gaol,
Where he for debt was layd.

You that executors be made,
And overseers eke

Of children that be fatherless,
And infants mild and meek;
Take you example by this thing,
And yield to each his right,
Lest God with such like miserye
Your wicked minds requite.

This most pathetic Ballad has received ample elucidation, from the pen of Mr. Addison, in the 85th No. of the Spectator, to which, as the Spectator either is or should be in every reader's possession, I shall content myself with referring.

LILLI BURLERO.

Ho! broder Teague, dost hear de decree?
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

Dat we shall have a new deputie,

Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

Ho! hy shaint Tyburn, it is de Talbote,
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

And he will cut de English men's troate.
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

Dough by my shoul de English do prat,
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

De law's on dare side, and Chreist knows what.
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

But if dispence do come from de pope,
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

We'll hang Magna Charta and dem in a rope.
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

For de good Talbote is made a lord,

Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

And with brave lads is coming aboard;

Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

Who all in France have taken a sware,
Lilli burlero, bullen-a-la.

Dat dey will have no Protestant heir.
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

Arrah! but why does he stay behind,
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

Ho! by my shoul 'tis a Protestant wind.
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

But see de Tyrconnel is now come ashore,

Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

And we shall have commissions gillore.
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

And he dat will not go to de mass,

Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

Shall be turn out, and look like an ass.

Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

Now, now de hereticks all go

Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

down

By Chreist and shaint Patrick de nation's our own.
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

Dare was an old prophesy found in a bog,

Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

Ireland shall be rul'd by an ass and a dog.

Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

And now dis prophesy is come to pass,
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

For Talbote's de dog and James is de ass.
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.

This Ballad has been generally attributed to Lord Wharton. It was written and published upon Richard Lord Talbot, newly created Lord Tyrconnel, being appointed to the lieutenancy of Ireland, in 1688, on account of his being a violent Papist. Slight and insignificant as it now seems, its effect was more powerful than the Philippics of Demosthenes, or the orations of Cicero, and contributed in no small degree, to bring about the great revolution that happened the same year. A foolish Ballad," says Burnet, "was made at that time, treating the Papists, and chiefly the Irish, in a very ridiculous manner, which had a burden said to be Irish words, Lero, lero, lilli burlero, &c. that made an impression on the [king's] army, that cannot be imagined by those that saw it not. The whole army, and at last the people, both in city and country, were singing it perpetually. And perhaps never had so slight a thing, so great an effect.'

THE PATIENT COUNTESS.

IMPATIENCE chaungeth smoke to flame,
But jelousie is hell;

Some wives by patience have reduc'd
Ill husbands to live well:

As did the ladie of an earle,

Of whom I now shall tell.

An earle 'there was' had wedded, lov'd;
Was lov'd, and lived long
Full true to his fayre countesse; yet
At last he did her wrong.

Once hunted he untill the chace,
Long fasting, and the heat

Did house him in a peakish graunge

Within a forest great.

Where knowne and welcom'd, as the place
And persons might afforde,
Browne bread, whig, bacon, curds, and milke
Were set him on the borde.

A cushion made of lists, a stoole
Halfe backed with a hoope

Were brought him, and he sitteth down
Besides a sorry coupe.

The poore old couple wisht their bread
Were wheat, their whig were perry,
Their bacon beefe, their milke and curds
Were creame, to make him merry.

Meane while, in russet neatly clad,
With linen white as swanne,

Herselfe more white, save rosie where
The ruddy colour ranne :