THE
Bloody-minded Husband;
OR,
The Cruelty of John Chambers, who lately lived at Tanworth, in
Warwick-shire, and conspir'd the Death of his Wife, hiring a Servant to Shoot her with a Musket,
which he accordingly did; for which they were both Arraign'd, found Guilty, and Executed
for the same. Tune is, Aim not too high. Licensed according to Order.
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GOod People all I pray attend, and mind
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This Mournful Ditty and you'll quickly find,
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That cruel Sins does in this Kingdom Reign,
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Of which we have just reason to Complain.
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To see how Men run on their wicked Race
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With eagerness, as being void of Grace;
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Taking delight in those Notorious Crimes,
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Which are the cause of our Distracted times.
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Some Men with wanton Harlots leads their Life,
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And slights the kind Embraces of a Wife;
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Till ruin and destruction proves their fate,
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And then at length Repentance comes too late.
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As by these Mournful Lines it will appear,
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John Chambers, living in fair Warwick-shire,
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And at the Town of Tanworth, I declare,
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A loose lascivious life he did lead there.
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Keeping a wanton Harlot Company,
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But for his loving Wife continually
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He then abus'd, and likewise hated so.
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That at the length it prov'd his overthrow.
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That he those sinful pleasures might enjoy,
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Alas! he study'd dayly to destroy
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The Life of his right lawful loving Bride,
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Unto that end he many methods try'd.
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As from her Brothers House with him she went,
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His cruel heart to wickedness was bent;
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He did attempt to Drown her by the way,
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Yet Providence preserved her that day.
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Tho' at this time he could not have his will,
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His most inraged Malice reigned still;
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So that he neither night nor day could rest,
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Making the thoughts of Murder in his breast.
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Two Soldiers then he labour'd to employ,
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In this most horrid cruel Villany;
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Yet tho' he proffer'd them large Money then,
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They would not be such bloody-minded Men.
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Tho' he did with these disappointments meet,
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Yet he was still resolved to compleat
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This bloody Murther on his loving Wife,
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And in short space bereave her of her Life.
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He hir'd then a Servant of his own,
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Declaring that it never would be known.
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This said, the Wretch did not disputing stand,
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But straightways took the Bloody work in hand.
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Now while they did their Treachery conceal,
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Poor heart, who was set at her Spinning-Wheel,
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Free from the thoughts of either dread or fear,
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Who little knew her Death was drawing near.
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Servant and Master being both agreed,
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A Muskuet straight they Charge, and Load with speed;
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The Servant coming to his harmless Dame,
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He Shot her through the Body with the same.
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Just as she had receiv'd the fatal Wound,
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And languishing, lay sprawling on the ground,
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Her Husband came for to Salute her then,
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Like a false wretch, the very worst of Men.
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But she (alas) refus'd his Judas Kiss,
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And with her dying voice, she told him this:
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By Murther now you have procur'd my death,
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And with those words she yielded up her breath,
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Master and Man was then to Prison sent,
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In order for a Lawful Punishment:
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Nay, likewise when Assizes came at last,
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They for this Murder was Arraign'd and Cast.
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Now on the day that he was brought to Dye,
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The Master call'd to all the standers by;
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Wishing that they by him might warning take,
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And all lewd Womens Company forsake.
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For they alone, alas! has Ruin'd me,
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And now this day my dismal Doom I see;
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Had I been kind and loving to my Wife,
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I might have liv'd a long and happy Life.
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Farewel the World, and all vain Pleasures here,
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Good God, when I before thy Throne appear,
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Altho' my Sins are many, gross and foul,
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Do thou be merciful, and save my Soul.
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