A new Ballad intituled, the stout Cripple of Cornwall, wherein is shewed
his dissolute life and deserved death. To the tune of, the blind Begger .
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O F a stout Cripple that kept the high way,
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and beg'd for his living all time of the day,
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A story Ile tell you that pleasant shall be,
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the Cripple of Cornwall sir-named was he.
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He crept on his hands and his knees up and down,
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in a torne Jacket and ragged patcht Gowne:
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For he had never a legge to the knee,
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the Cripple of Cornwall sir [-] named was hee.
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He was of stomacke couragious and stout,
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for he had no cause to complaine of the Gout:
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To goe upon stilts most cunning was hee,
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with a staffe on his necke gallant and free.
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Yea, no good fellowship would he forsake,
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were it in secret a purse for to take:
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His helpe was as good as any might be,
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the Cripple of Cornwall sir-named was he.
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When he upon any such service did goe,
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the craftie young Cripple provided it so:
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His tooles he kept close in an old hollow Tree,
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that stood from the Citie a mile two or three.
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Thus all the day long he begd for reliefe,
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and late in the night he plaid the false Theefe:
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And seven yeares together this custome kept he,
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and no man knew him such a person to be.
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There were few Grasiers went on the way,
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but unto the Cripple for passage did pay,
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And every brave Merchant that he did descry,
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he emptied their purses ere they passed by.
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The gallant Lord Courtney both valiant and bold,
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rode forth with great plentie of silver and Gold:
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At Exeter there a purchase to pay.
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but that the false Cripple his journey did stay.
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For why the false Cripple heard tydings of late,
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as he lay for almes at this Noblemans gate:
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What day and what houre his journey should be,
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this is (quoth the Cripple) a bootie for me.
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Then to his Companions the matter he moned,
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which their like actions beforetime had proned:
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They make themselves ready & deeply they sweare
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this mony's their owne before they come there.
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Upon his two stilts the Cripple doth mount,
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to have his best share he makes his account:
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All clothed in Canvas downe to the ground,
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he takes up his standing his mates with him round
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Then comes the L.Courtney with halfe a scoremen
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that little suspecting these theeves in their den:
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And they perceiving them come to their hand,
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in a darke evening they bid him to stand.
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Deliver thy purse quoth the Cripple with speed,
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for we be good fellowes and thereof have need:
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Not so, quoth Lord Courtney , but this I tell thee,
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win it, and weare it, else get none of me.
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With that the Lord Courtney stood in his defence,
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and so did his servants, but ere they went [hence]
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Two of the true men were slaine in the fight,
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and foure of the theeves were put to their flight
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And while for their safegard they ran thus away,
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the jolly bold Cripple did hold the rest play:
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And with his pike-staffe he wounded them so,
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as they were unable to runne or to goe.
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With fight the L. Courtney was driven out of breath
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and most of his servants wounded to death:
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Then came other horsemen riding so fast,
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the Cripple was forced to flie at the last,
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And over a River that ran there beside,
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which was very deepe and eighteene foot wide:
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With his long staffe and his stilts leaped hee,
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and shifted himselfe in an old hollow Tree.
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Then thorow the Country was hue and cry made,
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to have these theeves apprehended and stayde:
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The Cripple he creeps on his hands and his knees,
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and on the high way great posting he sees.
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And as they came riding he begging doth say,
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O give me one penny, good Master, I pray:
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And thus unto Exeter creepes he along,
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no man suspecting that he had done wrong.
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Anon the Lord Courtney he spyde in the street
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he comes unto him and kisses his feet:
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Saying, God save your honor & keepe you from il,
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and from the hands of your enemies still.
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Amen qouth L. Courtney , and therewith flung downe
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unto the poore Cripple an English Crowne:
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Away went the Cripple and thus he did thinke,
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500 . pounds more would make me to drinke.
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In vaine that hue and cry it was made,
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they found none of them though the Countrey was layd:
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But this grieved the Cripple both night and day,
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that he so unluckily mist of his pray.
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Nine hundred pounds this Cripple had got,
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by begging and robbing so good was his lot,
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A thousand pound he would make it he said,
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and then hee would quite give over his trade.
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But as he strived his minde to fulfill,
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in following his actions so lewd and so ill,
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At last he was taken the law to suffice,
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condemned and hanged at Exeter [sise].
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Which made all men amazed to see,
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that such an impotent person as hee,
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Should venture himselfe to such actions as they,
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to rob in such sort upon the high way.
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F I N I S.
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