The Unnatural Mother:
Being a true Relation of one Jane Lawson, once living at East-Barnet,
in Middlesex; who Quarreling with her Husband, urged him to
strike her, and thereupon the same night, being the first of Sept.
1680. Drowned her self and two poor Babes in a Well.
The Tune is, There was a Rich Merchant Man.
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ATend good People all,
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unto my Story strange,
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To hear the like you never shall,
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if you the World do range:
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East-Barnet was the place,
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where long time I did dwell,
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And might have liv'd in happy case,
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had I considered well.
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Then English Women all,
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take pattern now by me,
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[I] did into temptation fall,
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thus lost the lives of three.
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Jane Lawson was my Name,
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James Lawsons Cruel Wife,
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By him I had three Children small,
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and liv'd a happy Life;
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Till on a certain day,
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my Husband forth did go,
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At night return'd out of the way,
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not using to do so.
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Then English Women all,
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take pattern now by me,
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I did into temptation fall,
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thus lost the lives of three.
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MY Neighbours well did know
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it was no common use,
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O then why should I use him so?
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or offer him abuse:
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But when I did perceive
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that he was much in D[rink]
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With angry words I did him grieve
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till he was like to sink.
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Then English Women all,
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take pattern now by me,
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I did into temptation fall,
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thus lost the lives of three.
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My Neighbours then came in,
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hearing this Quarrel great,
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Not used betwixt me and him,
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especially so late;
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They gave me good advice,
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and wisht me to be still,
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But their kind love I did despise,
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which prov'd my fatal ill.
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Then English women, etc.
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At last my Mother came,
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who liv'd not far from us,
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And told me 'twas a perfect shame,
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that we should Quarrel thus:
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You know your Husband is
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an honest man, quoth she,
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And therefore you do much amiss,
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thus angry for to be:
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Then English Women, etc.
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I that full well should take
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what from my Mother come,
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Bid her no Sermon for to make,
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but go and Preach at home:
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Her Mother hearing this,
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was troubled very sore,
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At last she shut her Mother with
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her Neighbours out of door.
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Then, etc.
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No other Language then,
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her Mother did reply,
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But time will come full surely, when
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you'll grieve you did not try
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My Counsel, which is good,
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for I would Reconcile,
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And fain have things well understood
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to end this foolish Broile.
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Then, etc.
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But she did little mind
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the words her Mother said,
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But did abuse her Husband kind,
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and him she angry made:
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Then he did tell her plain,
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if she'd not quiet be,
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He'd make her quiet, and refrain
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this strange Simplicity.
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Then, etc.
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And then he did her give
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a Box upon the ear,
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Long after that she did not live,
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nor her poor Children dear:
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Two of them then she caught,
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as several neighbours tell;
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These Babes destruction then she wrought
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with her own, in a Well.
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Then, etc.
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Oh let us all desire,
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God would us patience give;
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To banish Wrath and sinful Ire,
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and peaceably to live:
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Let not the devil frame,
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nor put into your Breast;
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That which at last will end in shame
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and lose Eternal rest.
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Then English Women all,
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take pattern now by me:
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I did into temptation fall,
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thus lost the lives of three.
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