THE
Penitent Robber,
OR ,
The Woeful Lamentation
OF
Capt. James Whitney,
O n the Morning of his Execution which was on the First of February , 1693.
Tune of Russels last Farewel. Licensed according to Order.
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LEt honest Christians now attend,
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unto my dying moan,
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My life is almost at an end,
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therefore to you alone,
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I do address my self this day,
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in certain hope that you,
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Now at the last for me will pray,
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who bids the world adieu.
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For though a wicked life I led,
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yet now I come to die,
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I have a sence of fear and dread,
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of future misery,
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I having liv'd in wickedness
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with a Notorious Crew,
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Let me find mercy ne'ertheless,
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who bids the world adieu.
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I had of late a daring soul,
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with an undaunted brow.
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A Will that none could e'er controul,
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but where's that spirit now?
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Death makes me tremble at his sight,
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and does my grief renew,
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From hence my soul must take its flight,
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I bid the world adieu.
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A guilty conscience now I find,
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fills my poor soul with grief,
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And is a torment to my mind,
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for there is no Relief,
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I having run a wicked Race,
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with a Notorious crew,
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Now at the Execution place,
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I bid the world adieu.
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I did upon the Ruins live
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of honest minded men,
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Their purse to me I 'd make them give,
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of Gold or Silver, when
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I met them on the Kings Highway,
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with my notorious crew,
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For which I here am brought to say,
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farewel, the world adieu.
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The rich or poor I valu'd not,
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no pitty was there shown,
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I f Gold or Silver they had got,
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tho' ne'er a groat their own,
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By violence I'd take it strait,
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and kill their Horses too,
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Which Crimes I do Repent too late,
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the world I bid adieu.
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Sometimes I'd hear a Trades man cry,
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now am I ruin'd quite,
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At which I'd laugh and thus reply,
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farewel your Pockets light:
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Thus did I Range and Robb the land,
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the which, too late, I rue,
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I on the Brink of Ruin stand,
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To bid the world adieu.
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Those that did sweat with pains and care
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and Travel'd night and day,
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We'd likewise Rob, there's none we'd spare
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there all become our prey,
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I was the L eader, nay the Head,
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and Captain of the Crew,
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But that vain Glory now is fled,
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I bid the world adieu.
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I can no longer here conseal,
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my sorrow, grief and woe,
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What better Torments do I feel,
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alas! my overthrow,
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Did come by my unlawful Trade,
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this day, what shall I do,
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I am a just Example made,
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The world I bid adieu.
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Here's Thousands come this day to see,
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the fatal fall of pride,
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O that I might a warning be,
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to all the world beside,
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That they may never come to know,
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this grief and sorrow too,
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I from the world this day must go,
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And bid you all adieu.
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