The life and death of M. Geo: Sands, who after many enor-
mous crimes by him committed, with Jones and Gent his confederates, was
executed at Tyburne on Wednesday the 6 of September, 1626.
To the tune of Flying Fame.
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COme hither yongmen and give eare,
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and good example take,
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By this which is related here
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for admonitions sake,
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Wherein is showne the life and death,
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of Sands that noted theefe.
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The reason why he lost his breath,
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is here declar'd in briefe.
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That all young men from him may learne
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to live in better awe,
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Foule vice from vertue to discerne,
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according to the law:
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A wicked life this caitiffe led,
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rejecting vertues lore,
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The grace of God from him was fled,
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all good he did abhorre.
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Since first he came to any strength,
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he practis'd nought but stealing,
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Which brought a shamefull death at length
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for his ungracious dealing,
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He alwayes hath himselfe maintain'd
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by base sinister courses,
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And oftentimes hath beene araign'd
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by Law, for stealing horses.
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Yet still it was his lucke to scape,
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which hardned him in evill,
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From theft to murder, and to rape,
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suborned by the Devill,
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His wicked heart so bent to sin,
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in villany tooke pride,
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There lived scarce the like of him,
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in all the Land beside.
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His name so infamous was growne
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to all both far and neere,
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And he tooke pride to have it knowne,
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as by him did appeare.
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For when he was araign'd of late,
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at the Tribunall seat,
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He seemed to exhilerate,
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at his offences great.
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And boasted that he oftentimes
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had scap't the fatall cord,
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For stealing horses, and such crimes,
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as high wayes doe afford,
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And with a braving impudence,
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he did the Bench outface,
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Not shewing any reverence,
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to any in that place.
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The facts he was indited for,
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were three enornous sinnes,
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Which God and nature doth abhor,
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the least damnation winnes,
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Without the speciall grace of God,
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for which he never sought,
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Nor never seemed to be sad,
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for that which he had wrought.
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The Maid that on Saint James his day,
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was found neere Holborne dead,
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Tis [t]hought this wretch did make away,
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if all be true that's sed.
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From her he tooke away twelve pound,
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and then to ma[k]e all sure,
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He strangled her, as she was found,
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his safety to procure.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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BUt no such crimes can be conceal'd,
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old time will find them out,
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And have them to the world reveal'd,
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and publisht all about,
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As this strange murder came to light,
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by Sands his owne confession,
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When as he sought with all his might,
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to act a foule transgression,
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Upon the body of a Maid,
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whom he perforce did ravish,
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If she oppos'd his will he said
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with speeches somewhat lavish:
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That if she did deny to yeeld
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to him, hee'd serve her so,
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As he did one in Holborne field
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not very long agoe.
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To this foule sin of ravishment
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he likewise did seduce
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Another youngman, whose consent
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gave ayd to this abuse.
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For which by law he hath his doome,
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to suffer shamefully,
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Take heed young men how you do come
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into leud company.
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For if young Jones had never seene
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this wicked Sands his face,
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He surely now had living beene,
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but wanting Gods good grace,
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He was allured by his meanes
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to live by lawlesse stealth,
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Thus to maintaine strong drink & queanes
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he robd the commonwealth.
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Some other men of good regard,
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he did to robbery draw,
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All these with him in death have shar'd,
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according to the Law.
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But he the chiefe occasion was
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of these same youngmens ends,
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Whose deaths have brought to wofull passe
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their parents and their friends.
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Among the rest one father Jones,
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an honest ancient man,
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With lachrimable teares bemones
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the losse of his owne son.
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But Sands hath run so [w]ild a race,
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that few bewaile his death,
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How many flockt with joy to'th place
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where he did lose his breath.
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His father named Sir George Sands,
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when by his carelesse dealing,
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He had quite wasted goods and lands,
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did live long time by stealing:
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And with his wicked Lady wife,
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did rob the high way side,
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For which at length he lost his life,
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and by base hanging dyde.
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Thus both the father and the sonne
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did end their lives alike,
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The Lady yet hath scapt that death,
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and sorrow doth her strike.
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God grant her life may now be such,
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that men of her may say,
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Her life was leud, yet now shee's prov'd
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a convert at last day.
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Loe here you see a fearfull end,
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of Sir George Sands his sonne,
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Let every one a warning take,
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and better courses runne:
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Which to effect let us all pray
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to him that gave us breath,
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That of his mercy he'll us keepe
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from such untimely death.
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The following lines Jones writ with his owne
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hand, a little before his death.
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To me death is not death, but life for ever.
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My joy in heaven is, which endeth never.
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Lord thou hast promist to the penitent,
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That thou wilt save him if he doe repent:
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And now most gratious Lord, I crave of thee.
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Mercy for him that hath contemned thee,
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I am a sinner (Lord) thou knowst I am,
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And full of ill, above an'other man,
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Yet am I free from'th fault for which I dye,
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But have transgrest the Lawes most hainously.
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Oh save my soule, O Lord of thee I crave,
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Let that mount up, though body rot in grave.
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