Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

AND BALLADS. 171
XV1IL-
HE CHILDREN IN THE WO O IX
The fubjecl ofthis 'very popular ballad ("which has been-
fet in Jo favourable a light by the Spectator, N 85.^ ferns
to be taken from an old play , intitlcd, " Two lamentable
** Tragedies, The one of the murder of Maifter Beecfj, a.
" chandler in Thames-ftrecte, &c. The. other of a young
" child murthered in a wood by two ruffins, with the con-
" fent of his unkle. By Rob. Tarrington, 1 60 1. 4tO." Our
ballad-7naker hasfiriclly followed the play in the defcription-
cf the father and mother's dying charge : in the uncle 's
prcmije to take care of their ij/ue : his hiring two ruffians
to defray his ward, under pretence offending him to fchocl ;
their chufeng a wood to perpetrate the murder in : one of
the ruffians relenting, and a battle enfuing, &c. In other
refpecls he has departedfrom the play. In the latter the
fcene is laid in Padua : there is but one child : which is
murdered by a fuddenfab of the unrelenting ruffian : he is
flain hitnfelf by his lefs bloody companion, but ere he dies
gives the other a mortal wound: the latter living juji long
enough to impeach the uncle : who in confluence of this impeachment
is arraigned and executed by the hand of jujiice,
&c. Whoever compares the play , with the ballad, will have
no doubt but the former is the original : the language is far
more obfolete, andfuch a vein offmpliciiy runs thro' the
whole performance, that had the ballad been written firJtP
there is no doubt but every circumfiance cf it would havebeen
received into the dra?na : whereas this was probably
built on fome Italian novel.
Printedfrom two ancient copies, one cf them, in black letter
in -the Pepys Collision. It's title at large is, "The
" Children in the Wood: or, The Norfolk Gentleman's.
" Loft Will and Teftament : To ths tune of Rogers, tfc^l