University of Virginia Library

THE GHOST OF IACKE STRAW.

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The attribution of this poem is questionable.

Prologue.

I that did act on Smythfeildes bloodie Stage,
In second Richards young and tender age:
And there receiu'd from Walworths fatall hand,
The stabb of Death, which life did countermand:
Am made a Prulogue to the Tragedie,
Of LEYDEN, a Dutch Taylors villanie.
Not that I ere consorted with that slaue,
My rascall rout in Hollenshed you haue:
But that in name, and nature wee agree,
An English Traytor I, Dutch Rebell hee.
In my Consort, I had the Priest Iohn Ball;
Mynter the Clarke, vnto his share did fall.
Hee, to haue all things common did intend:
And my Rebellion, was to such an end.
Euen in a word, wee both were like apoynted,
To take the Sword away from Gods Anoynted:
And for examples to the worlds last day,
Our Traytours names shall neuer weare away:
The feare fall Path's that hee and I haue trod,
Haue bin accursed in the sight of God.
Heere in this Register, who ere doth looke,
(Which may be rightly call'd The bloody Booke)
Shall see how base and rude those Villains bee,
That do attempt like LEYDEN; plot like mee.
And how the Diu'll in whose name they begon,
Payes them Hells wages, when their worke is don:
“Treason is bloodie; blood thereon attends:
“Traytors are bloodie, and haue bloodie ends.