OF a worthy London 'Prentice, My purpose is to speak, And tell his brave adventures, Done for his country's sake.

Seek all the world about, And you will hardly find A man in valor to exceed This 'prentice's gallant mind.

For he was born in Cheshire, The chief of men was he, From thence brought up to London, A 'prentice for to be.

A merchant on the bridge, Did like his service so, That for three years his factor, To Turkey he should go.

And in that famous country, One year he had not been, E'er by tilt maintain'd The honour of his queen.

Elizabeth his Princess, He nobly did make known, To be the Phœnix of the world, And none but she alone.

In armour richly gilded, Well mounted on a steed, A score of knights most hardy, One day he made to bleed:

And bro't them all unto the ground, Who proudly did deny, Elizabeth to be the pearl Of princely majesty.

The King of that same country, Thereat began to frown, And bid his son there present, To pull this youngster down.

Who at his father's words, These boasting speeches said, Thou art a traitor, English boy, And hast the traitor play'd.

I am no boy, nor traitor, Thy speeches I defy, For which I'll be reveng'd Upon thee, by and by.

A London 'prentice still, Shall prove as good a man, As any of your Turkish Knights, Do all the best you can.

And therewith all he gave him A box upon the ear, Which broke his neck asunder, As plainly doth appear.

Now, know proud Turk, quoth he, I am no English boy, That can one small box o' th' ear, The Prince of Turks destroy.

When as the King perceiv'd His son so strangely slain, His soul was sore afflicted With more than mortal pain:

And in revenge thereof, He said that he should die The cruelest death that ever man Beheld with mortal eye.

Two lions were prepar'd This 'prentice to devour, Near famish'd with hunger Ten days within the tower.

To make them far more fierce And eager of their prey, To glut themselves with human gore Upon that dreadful day.

The appointed time of torment At length grew near at hand. When all the noble ladies And barons of the land.

Attended on the King, To see this 'prentice slain, And buried in the hungry maws Of those fierce lions twain.

Then in his shirt of cambrick, With silks most richly wrought, This worthy London 'prentice Was from the prison brought,

And to the lions given, To staunch their hunger great, Which had not ate in ten days space Not one small bit of meat.

But GOD, who knows all secrets, The matter so contriv'd, That by this young man's valor They were of life depriv'd:

For being faint for food, They scarcely could withstand The noble force and fortitude, And courage of his hand.

For when the hungry lions Had cast on him their eyes, The elements did thunder With the echo of their cries;

And running all amain, His body to devour, Into their throats he thurst his arms, With all his might and power.

From thence by manly valour Their hearts he tore asunder, And at the king he threw them, To all the people's wonder.

This I have done, quoth he, For lovely England's sake, And for my country's maiden queen Mueh more will undertake.

But when the king perceiv'd His wrathful lions hearts, Afflicted with great terrour, His rigour soon reverts,

And turned all his hate To kindness and to love, And said, it is some angel Sent down from heav'n above.

No, no, I am no angel, The courteous young man said, But born in famous England, Where GOD's word is obey'd,

Assisted by the Lord, Who did me thus befriend, Or else they had most cruelly Brought here my life to end.

The King in heart amaz'd, Lifted up his eyes to heaven, And for his foul offences Did crave to be forgiven:

Believing that no land, Like England may be seen, No people better govern'd By virtue of a queen.

So taking up this young man, He pardon'd him his life, And gave his daughter to him To be his wedded wife.

Where then they did remain, And liv'd in quiet peace, In spending of their happy days, In joy and love's increase,