(registered 1600)

AIR -- 'Come live with me'

    Am   C         Dm       E
If ever wight had cause to rue
    C       Dm         C E Am
a wretched deed, wild and untrue
      C    F         D       E
Then banister with shame may sing
      C       Dm       Am E Am
who sold his life that loved him

The noble Duke of Buckingham
his death did make me sing this song
I unto them did him betray
that wrought his downfall and decay

I him betray'd and none but I
For which I sorrow heavily
But sorrow now too late doth come
for I alone have him undone

From court unto my house is fled
Duke Buckingham, to save his head
When Richard sought thee to cast down
Whose hand did help him to the crown

But thou found'st treason hid in trust
for which I have my guerdon just
King Richard caus'd them to proclaim
a thousand pound the man should gain

That Buckingham coud first bring in
Beside the favor of the king
This gold and favor drew my heart
To play the wild and traitorous part

But lo, I found another thing
I was disclaimed of the king
And rated as a varlet base
that so betray'd the good Duke's grace

All you that hear my woeful song
Know this, though God do suffer wrong
Yet reason foul, he doth abhor,
and traitor vile he doth not spare

Ye Christians dear, blot not your fame
with the disgrace of traitor's name
Which I did carry to my grave
and to the world's end shall it have