A New Ballad, Intituled, The stout Cripple of Cornwall, Wherein is shewed his
dessolute life and deserved Death.
The Tune is, the Blind Beggar.
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OF a stout Cripple that kept the high-way,
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And begd for his living all time of the day,
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A story Ill tell you that pleasant shall be,
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The Cripple of Cornwal sirnamed was he.
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He crept on his hands and knees up and down,
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In a torn Jacket and a ragged torn gown,
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For he had never a Leg to the knee,
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the Cripple of Cornwal sirnamed was he.
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He was of stomach couragious and stout,
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For he had no cause to complain of the Gout,
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To go upon stilts most cunning was he,
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With a staff on his neck most gallant to see.
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Yea, no good fellowship would he forsake,
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Were it in secret a Horse for to take,
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[His] help was as good as any might be,
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[The] Cripple of Cornwal sirnamed was he.
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When he upon any service did go,
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The crafty young Cripple provided it so,
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His stool he kept close in an old hollow-tree,
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That stood from the City a mile two or three.
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Thus all the day long he begd for relief,
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And all the night long he playd the false thief;
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For seven years together this custom kept he,
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And no man knew him such a person to be.
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There were few Grasiers went on the way,
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But unto the Cripple for passage did pay;
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And every brave Merchant that he did descry,
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He emptied their purses ere they passed by.
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The noble Lord Courtney both gallant and bold,
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Rode forth with great plenty of silver and gold,
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At Exeter there a Purchase to pay,
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But that the false Cripple his journey did stay.
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For why the false Cripple hard tydings of late,
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As he sat for alms at the Noble mans gate,
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This is, quod the Cripple, a booty for me,
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And ill follow it closely, as closely may be.
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Then to his companions the matter he moved,
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Which their false actions before had proved,
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They make themselves ready, & deeply they swear
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The moneys their own before they come there.
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Upon his two stilts the Cripple did mount,
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To have the best share it was his full account,
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All cloathed in Canvas down to the ground
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He took up his place his mates with him round.
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Then came the Lord Courtney with half a score men,
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Yet little suspecting these thieves in their Den,
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And they perceiving them come to their hand,
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In a dark evening bid them to stand.
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Deliver thy purse quod the Cripple, with speed,
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we be good fellows, and thereof have need.
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No so, quod Lord Courtney, but this Ill tell ye,
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Win it and wear it, else get none of me.
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With that the Lord Courtney stood in his defence,
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And so did his Servants, but ere they went hence,
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Two of the true men were slain in this fight,
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And four of the thieves were put to the flight.
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And while for their safeguard they run thus away
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The jolly bold Cripple did hold them in play,
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And with his Pike-staff he wounded them so,
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As they were unable to run or to go.
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With fighting the Lord Courtney was out of breath
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And most of his servants were wounded to death,
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Then came other Horsemen riding so fast,
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The Cripple was forced to flye at the last.
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And over a River that run there beside,
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Which was very deep, and eighteen foot wide;
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With his long staff and stilts leaped he,
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And shifted himself in an old hollow-tree.
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Then throughout the City was hue and cry made,
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To have these thieves apprehended and staid,
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The Cripple he creeps on his hands and his knees,
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And in the high-way great passing he sees.
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And as they came Riding, he begging doth say,
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O give me one penny good Masters I pray,
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And thus unto Exeter creeps he along,
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No man suspecting that he had done wrong:
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Anon the Lord Courtney he spies in the street,
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He comes unto him, and kisses his feet,
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God save your honour, and keep you from ill,
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And from the hands of your Enemies still.
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Amen, quod Lord Courtney, and therewith threw down,
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Unto the poor Cripple an English Crown,
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Away went the Cripple, and thus he did think,
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Five hundred pound more will make me to drink.
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In vain that hue and cry it was made,
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They found none of them though the Country was laid,
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But this grieved the Cripple night and day,
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That he so unluckily mist of his prey.
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Nine hundred pound this Cripple had got,
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By begging and thieving, so good was his lot,
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A thousand pound he would make it, he said,
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And then he would give over his trade.
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But as he strivd his mind to fulfill,
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In following his actions so lewd a[n]d so ill,
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At last he was taken the Law to suffice,
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Condemned and hanged at Exeter size.
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Which made all men amazed to see,
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That such an impudent Cripple as he,
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Should venture himself to such actions as they,
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To rob in such sort upon the High-way.
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