The godly end, and wofull lamentation of one John Stevens, a
youth, that was hangd, drawne, and quartered for High-Treason, at Salisbury
in Wiltshire, upon Thursday being the seventh day of March last 1632.
with the setting up of his quarters on the City gates.
To the tune of Fortune my foe, etc.
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NOw like the Swan before my death I sing,
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And like the Raven heavy newes I bring,
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Oh dismall fate, and cruell destiny,
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Which brought me here in this same sort to die.
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Did ever any heare of one so young,
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That was so bad and had so vile a tongue:Which was the cause that brought me to that fall,
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For which to God I now for mercy call.
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In famous Wiltshire was I borne and bred,
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And by my carefull Parents nourished,
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Ah woe is me, John Stevens is my name,
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That to my friends and kindred am a shame.
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Oh let me be example unto all,
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That they may never in such mischiefe fall,
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Children and Prentices, old and young,
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Serve God in heart, and governe wel your tongue.
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It was the Devill that wrought my overthrow,
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It was the Devill that brought me to this woe,
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And cause I did not serve my God aright,
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Satan with shame doth thus my deeds requite.
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In famous Salisbury, that City faire,
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My Parents bound me Prentice with great care,
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But carelesse I, my life did lewdly spend,
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Which brings me to a shamefull timeles end.
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To God above I doe for mercy crie,
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Tis for High-treason, that I here must die,
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Drawne, hangd, & quarterd, this is now my doome,
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My body must have neither grave nor tombe,
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And for my fact that was so vild and base,
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I apprehended was in that same place,
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And strait to London then I up was brought
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To be examind, where I soone was caught.
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To the Kings-bench then was I straite way led,
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Where I a yeere almost continued,
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And then from thence I was againe sent downe,
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To be arraignd next Sises at our Towne.
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There by just Justice I my Tryall had,
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Which soone condemnd me for my fact so bad;
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My Judgement was I should from thence be sent,
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To Prison backe, a while for to repent.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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ANd then I should be on a Hurdle laid
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And to my Execution place convaid,
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Where in a Rope I there should strangled be,
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In shamefull manner for each one to see.
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My Members, and my Bowels forth be cut,
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And in a flaming fire they should be put,
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There to consume and unto ashes turne,
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As wicked members there they then must burne.
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My Body must in quarters eke be cut,
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And on the City gates they should be put,
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To be a sight for others to take heed,
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Where ravenous Fowles upon my flesh will feed.
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And now I doe beseech you Parents all,
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That here are come to see my timeles fall,
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In vertues paths do[e] you your children traine,
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That they may heaven and heavenly thoughts retaine,
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Oh doe not suffer them to curse and sweare,
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But traine them up the God of heaven to feare,
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Teach them obedience to their Soveraigne King,
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And their Superiors, whence doth vertue spring.
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And Children all doe you example take,
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Oh let me be a warning for your sake,
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Spend not your lives so vaine as I have done,
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Whose glasse is broke before my sand is run.
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Unto your Parents reverent honor give,
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The Lord commands it, then you long shall live,
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Your dayes he sayes shall be long in the land,
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This is your duty, as he doth command.
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Honor the King, for so the Lord doth say,
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And see the Magistrate you doe obey,
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Unto your Equals loving be and kind,
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To your inferiours beare an humble mind.
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But now, O Lord, for mercy I intreat,
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Thou canst forgive although my sinnes are great,
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Lord make me cleane, & make me cleare as glasse,
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And then the Snow I shall in whitenes passe.
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Great God upon me powre the Spirit of grace,
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And then in Heaven I hope I shall finde place,
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Christ my Redeemer, he hath dide for mee,
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My soule I hope with him in heaven shall be.
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Lord blesse the King, and send him long to raigne,
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Preserve the Queene, their Issue, & their Traine,
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And God forgive me, and my Prince I pray,
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Whose Lawes and Statutes I did disobey.
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Lord let thy Gospell florish in this Land,
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Grant that the truth may florish still and stand,
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Preserve the Cleargy, Nobles, and the State,
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And keepe the Commons from all strife and hate.
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Vaine world farewell, I am prepard to die,
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My Soule I hope, shall straight ascend the skie;
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I come, Lord Jesus, now I come to thee,
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To thee one God, yet holy Trinitie.
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