The Bloody Murtherer:
OR,
The Sorrowfull Lamentation of James Selbee, who was
Executed of Goodman's-fields, on the 2d of May, for the Murther which he Com-
mitted on the Body of MRS. Bartlett.
To the Tune of, Aim not to High. Licensed according to Order.
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ALl you that come to see my fatal end,
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Unto my dying words I pray attend;
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Let my misfortunes now a warning be
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To e'ry one of high and low degree.
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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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But having run a loose lascivious race,
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My days will end in shame and sad disgrace.
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My Duty towards God I did neglect,
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Therefore what mercy can I now expect;
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When I before the mighty Judge appear,
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To answer for my sins committed here.
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In wicked pleasures I my days have spent,
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And never had the Power to Repent,
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Till now at last my dismal doom I see,
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The just reward of Cruel Villany
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Here to the World I solemnly declare,
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I seldom did frequent the House of Prayer,
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But Harlots Houses and Carousing too,
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And now I see what it has brought me to.
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Upon a Sabbath day it happen'd so,
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To mrs. Bartletts House I chanc'd to go.
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One that did live by base Debauchery,
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And this has prov'd a fatal day to me.
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I entred in, and sat me down a while,
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Then came the Harlot with a pleasing smile,
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Invited me streight to an upper Room,
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Where we in sin the Sabbath did consume.
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The Glass with Sider then went freely round,
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Nay, Mum likewise in plenty did abound,
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And Cherry-brandy too, we drank beside,
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'Till all my Senses they were stupyfied
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I finding this, I fain would gone my way,
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But Bartlett she intreated me to stay;
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And further to oblige me, said that I
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All night between her Nurse and she should lye.
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But I despis'd the profer which she made,
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Then calling to her Nurse and likewise said,
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Go fetch one gill of Cherry-brandy more,
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This done, then I'll hasten out of door?
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Then I did take in hand a bloody Knife,
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With which I soon bereaved her of life,
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For why, I cut her throat immediately,
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Thus Drunk I sent her to Eternity.
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This done, the Nurse I strove to kill,
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But Heaven would not let me have my will,
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I soon was seiz'd, and unto Justice brought,
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And this has now my sad destruction wrought.
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In Sodoms sins, you know her days she spent,
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Yet this can be no proper Argument,
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That I should thus her bloody Butcher be,
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Therefore I suffer for my Villany.
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My loving Wife, a Thousand times farewel,
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Thy sorrows here no Tongue or Pen can tell
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Yet God above I hope will still provide,
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For thee and all thy little ones beside.
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O let me be a warning to you all,
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That comes this day to see my dismal fall,
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Serve ye the Lord and shun all evil ways,
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And by that means you may prolong your days,
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Lord tho' my sins are of a scarlet dye,
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Yet let my Prayers come up to thee on High.
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My supplications unto thee I'll make
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Oh save my soul e'en for thy mercies [sake.]
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