A warning for wives,
By the example of one Katherine Francis, alias Stoke, who for killing
her husband, Robert Francis with a paire of Sizers, on the 8. of Aprill at night,
was burned on Clarkenwell-greene, on Tuesday, the 21 of the same moneth, 1629.
To the tune of Bragandary.
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ALas what wretched bloody times
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doe we vile sinners live in!
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What horrid and what cruell crimes
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are done in spight of heaven!
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What barberous murders now are done
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none fowler since the world begun!
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Oh women,
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Murderous women.
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whereon are your minds?
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The Story which I now recite,
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expounds you meanings evill
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Those women that in blood delight,
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Are ruled by the Devill,
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Else how can th' wife her husband kill,
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Or th' Mother her owne childs blood spill,
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Oh women,
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Murderous women, etc.
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At Cow-crosse, neere to Smithfield-barres,
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adjacent to the City,
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A man ands wife at houshold jarres
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long liv'd, the more's the pitty,
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Like Cat and Dog they still agree'd;
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Each small offence did anger breed:
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Oh Women, etc.
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She oftentimes would beat him sore,
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and many a wound she gave him,
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Yet hee'd not live from her therefore,
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to stay ill fate would have him,
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Till she with one inhumane wound,
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Threw him (her husband) dead toth' ground,
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Oh women, etc.
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Upon the 8 of Aprill last,
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betweene this man and wife,
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Some certaine words of difference past;
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and all their cause of strife,
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Was but about a trifle small,
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yet that procur'd his fatall fall,
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Oh women, etc.
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This was about the houre of tenne,
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or rather more that night,
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When this was done, whereof my Pen,
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in tragicke stile doth write;
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The maner of's death most strange appeares
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Being struck ith' neck with a pair of sheeres,
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Oh women, etc.
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As many of the neighbours say,
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that thereabout doe dwell,
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This couple had most part oth' day
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beene drinking, so they tell,
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And comming home at night so late,
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She did renew her former hate.
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Oh women, etc.
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The second part To the same tune
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ANother woman that was there,
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she out oth' doores did send,
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And had her fetch a Pot of Beere,
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oh then drew nere his end,
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For ere the woman came againe,
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This wife had her owne husband slaine:
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Oh women,
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Murderous women,
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whereon are your minds?
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She long had thirsted for his blood,
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(even by her owne confession)
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And now her promise she made good,
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so heaven gave permission
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To Satan, who then lent her power
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And strength to do't that bloody houre.
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Oh women, etc.
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It seemes that he his head did leane
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toth' Chimney, which she spide,
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And straight she tooke, (O bloody queane)
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her Sisers from her side,
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And hit him therewith such a stroake
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Ith necke, that (some thinke) he nere spoke.
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Oh women, etc.
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She having done that monstrous part,
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(woe worth her for her labour)
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No power had from thence to start,
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but went unto a neighbour,
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And told him, that she verily thought,
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that she her husbands death had wrought.
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Oh women, etc.
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The man amaz'd to heare the same,
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caught hold of her, and said,
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Ile know the truth, and how this came,
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if such a part to be plaid,
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No sooner had he said the same,
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But neighbours did her fact proclaime.
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Oh women, etc.
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Then to New Prison was she sent,
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because it was so late,
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And upon the next day she went
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(through Swithfield to New Gate,
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Where she did lye untill the Session,
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To answer for her foule transgression.
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Oh women, etc.
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Where she condemned was by Law,
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in Clarkenwell to be burned,
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Unto which place they did her draw,
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where she to ashes turned,
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A death, though cruell, yet too milde
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For one that hath a heart so vlide.
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Oh women, etc.
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Let all good wives a warning take,
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in Country and in City,
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And thinke how they shall at stake
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be burned without pitty.
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If they can have such barbarous hearts,
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What man or woman will take their parts,
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Oh women,
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Murderous women.
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whereon are your minds?
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