A new ballad intituled, the stout Criple of Cornnwall, wherein is shewed his dissolute
life, and deserved death. To the tune of the Blinde Begger.
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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 Ile tell you that pleasant shall be,
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the Cripple of Cornwall sirnamed was he.
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He crept on his hands & his knees up and downe,
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in a torn jacket and ragged patcht gowne:
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For he had never a leg to the knee,
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the Cripple of cornwall sirnamed was he,
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He was of stomacke couragious and stout,
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for he had no cause to complaine of the gout:
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To go upon stilts most cunning was he,
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with a staffe on his neck gal[l]ant and free.
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Yea no good fellowship would he forsake
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were it in secret a purse for to take:
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His help was good as any might be,
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the Cripple of Cornwall sirnamed was he.
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When he upon any such service did go,
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the crafty young cripp[l]e provided it so
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His tooles 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 reliefe,
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And late in the night he plaid the false theefe:
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And seven yeares together this custome kept he
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and no man thought him such a person to be,
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There was few grasiiers went on the way,
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but unto the criple for passage did pay,
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And every brave Marchant that he did descry,
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he emptied their purses ere they passed by,
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The gallant Lord Courtney both valliant 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 heard tidings of late
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as he lay for almes at this noblemans gate:
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What day and what houre his journey should be,
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this is quoth the cripple a bootie for me,
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Then to his companions this mater he moved,
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which he in like actions before time had proved.
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They make themselves ready & deeply they sweare
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this monies their onwe before they come there.
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Upon his two stilts this cripple doth mount
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to have his best share he makes his account
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All clothed in canvas downe to the ground
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he takes up his standing his mates with him round
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Then comes the Lord Courtney with half a score men,
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that little suspected these theeves in their den:
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And they perceiving them come to their hand,
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in a darke evening they bid him stand
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Deliver thy purse quoth the Cripple with speed,
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for we be good fellowes and thereof have neede
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Not so quoth Lord Courtney but this I tell thee,
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winne it and weare it, else get none of me.
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With that they 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 slaine in the fight,
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and foure of the theeves were put to their flight,
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And while for their safegard they ran thus away
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the jolly bold cripple did hold the rest play.
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And with his pikestaffe he wounded them so
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as they were unable to run or to goe.
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With fight the Lord Courtney was driven out of breath
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and most of his servants wounded to death,
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Then came other horsemen riding so fast,
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the cripple was forced to fly at last.
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And over a river a river that ran their beside,
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which was very deep and eighteen foot wide,
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With his long staffe and his stilts leaped he,
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and shifted himself in an old hollow tree.
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Then through the country was hue and cry made
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to have these theeves apprehended and staid,
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The Crepple he creeps on his hands & his knees
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and on the hie way great posting 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 Master 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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A none the Lord Courtney he spide in the street:
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he comes unto him and kisses his feet:
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Saying, God save your honour & keep you from ill
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and from the hands of you enemies still.
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Amen quod, Lord Courtney & therwith flung downe
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unto the poore Cripple an English crowne:
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Away went the cripple and thus did he thinke,
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five hundred pounds more would make me to drinke
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In vaine 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 both night and day,
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that he so unluckely mist of his pray
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Nine hundred pounds this cripple had got,
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by begging and robbing 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 quite give over his trade.
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But as he strived his minde to fulfill,
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in following his actions so lewd and so ill,
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At last he was taken the law to suffice,
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condemned and hanged at Exeter Sise,
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Which made all men amazed to see,
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that such an impotent person as he,
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Should venture himself in such actions as they,
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to rob in such sort upon the hye way.
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