The Cruel COOPER of Ratcliff,
In Three Parts.
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PART I.
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NEAR Ratcliff-Cross lived a Cooper there,
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Who had a virtuous wife comely and fair,
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He by this prudent woman had a son,
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Besides this youth they children neer had one.
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Though wise and prudent, yet this cruel man,
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Did oft times beat her with a cruel hand,
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And as he did one day with grief of heart,
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This youth with tears he took his mothers part.
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Cries he, father Im afraid you will,
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With kicks and cuffs my tender mother kill,
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Hearing these words he then his son did beat,
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And in the night turned him in the street.
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Saying, if thou comest here any more,
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Ill break thy bones, and then he lockd the door,
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In the wide street this lad he lay all night,
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And came in th morning when it was light.
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But when this man looked and saw his son,
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In a vast passion he to him did run;
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And with an adz knockd him on the crown,
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Which laid the youth sprawling upon the ground.
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Being thus servd, in tears he did lament,
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Then up he got and out of doors he went,
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Saying, if I should any longer stay,
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I fear in wrath hell take my life away.
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And to prevent what dangers may ensue,
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Father and mother he bids both adieu,
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And having knowledge of his fathers trade,
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Went Coopers mate to Turkey it is said.
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H[e l]ikd the country so well we do find,
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Th[?] came back and left the lad behind.
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He placed himself with a native to dwell,
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Whose family loved him very well.
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Though young in years he was grown very tall,
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And of a comely countenance withal;
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The native damsels did him much admire,
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And to enjoy him some had vast desire.
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His master kept him for his serving man,
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And in short time by deaths destroying hand,
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His master happened to tip aw[a]y,
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Who being dead, the young man bore the sway.
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His mistress lovd him as she did her life,
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And in short time was made his lawful wife,
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She was prodigious rich as we do understand,
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And he had many slaves at his command
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Now will I leave him for a little while,
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With providence on him and her to smile,
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And in the next part, some enquiry make,
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What sort of life his cruel sire doth take.
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The Second PART.
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NEAR Ratcliff cross he lived years tis known,
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And to his wife he was a cruel one,
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In process of time death did them part,
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And tis supposed this man broke her heart.
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After her death he could not thrive at all,
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Day after day he down at heels did fall,
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And by degrees this man was brought so low,
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For debt himself he was afraid to show.
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The bailiffs waited for him day and night,
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He knowing of the same kept out of sight;
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And to prevent his going to a g[o]al,
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In a merchant man he unto the sea did sail.
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Thus he for debt was forcd to fly from home,
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And on the raging seas where billows foam,
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To their great grief this man and twenty more,
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Were carried prisoners to the Turkish shore.
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It happened so as we do understand,
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They were made slaves under his sons command,
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Full half a year in slavery he had been,
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In all which time his son he had not seen.
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This Cooper he was aged sixty two,
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Who was the oldest of the wh[o]le ships crew,
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Being stiff with age, his task could not perform,
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By which he sufferd many a bitter storm.
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The task master to him was sharp indeed,
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He often whipt him till he made him bleed,
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Upon a time he lashd him so one day,
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He could no longer stand but down he lay.
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Being laid down the task master did go,
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And gave the head master thus to know,
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Crying, sir, your slave an aged man,
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Will not perform his task do all I can.
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He tell me plainly that his work is done,
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When hearing that the head master his son,
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Went out among the slaves, where he found,
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His aged father lying on the ground.
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Not knowing him with great severity,
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He lashd his father very grievously;
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Which made him cry, Oh! Sir, my flesh is sore,
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Do hold thy hand and strike me now no more.
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The task is hard your servants put on me,
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What I can do, to that I am most free,
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To suffer thus I am not able to live,
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Kill me out right, and I will you forgive.
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Hearing these words his son did him view,
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And said tell me, what countryman are you?
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His answer was, I come from old England,
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I was a Cooper, sir, from fair London.
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My name is Robert Stark, tis known right well,
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I was a man in great repute did dwell,
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But as it provd fortune did frown on me,
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Now tis my lot your suffering slave to be.
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Have you no family? he answered no,
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I buried a wife seven years ago.
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And I had a son, a hopeful child was he,
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Three years before her death he went from me.
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I have not heard from him now all this while,
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I was both cruel to my wife and child,
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And I do really think now from my heart,
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Tis for my cruelty I thus do smart.
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Now hearing this his son with grief was filld,
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And tears like water that was fin[a]ly stilld,
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Run down his cheeks amain, tear after tear,
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To think that he had lashd his father dear.
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Then he aside his task master did call,
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And said do not abuse this man at all.
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He is my father, but dont let him know,
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I am his son. Then he home did go.
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The Third PART.
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AND to his closet he in private went,
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Where he with bitter cries did sore lament,
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At length by chance his wife did him hear.
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Who said what makes you to grieve my dear.
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His answer was, to grieve great cause I have,
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For my own father is become my slave,
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Not knowing him I lashd him oer and oer,
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To think of this grieveth me very sore.
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To think the curse of god should light on me,
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But what I did was innocently:
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O wife, what shall I do? my heart doth bleed,
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Do let my father come to me with speed.
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They sent for him and when he came there,
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They of his tender flesh did take great care,
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His bleeding wounds anointed were with oil,
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And the poor man stood trembling all the while.
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This being done, choice linen fine and soft,
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And other costly things to him were brought:
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And when he in these garments was arrayd,
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He then with tears lift up his eyes and said,
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And, what am I more than another slave,
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That I such favour of my master have:
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Blest be his name that thus my friend doth stand,
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To pity me thus in a foreign land.
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Hearing these words, his son could not refrain
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His tears from falling, and to drop amain,
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He said the man who for you thus hath done,
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Behold he is your dear and only son.
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Im grievd to think that I provd so severe,
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To lay my hands upon my father dear,
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But god I hope will pardon me, because
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I did not know that you my father was,
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Hearing these words, like one struck in amaze,
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He with a blush then on his son did gaze,
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Saying you are my son, alas! alas!
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By this we see what God can bring to pass.
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My son, my son, Im glad thy face to see,
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But what astonishment is here for me;
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That I who beat my child quite out of door,
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Should thus be forcd his favour to implore,
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Father the lord he did these things foresee,
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That you shall come your childs slave to be,
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And God was pleasd these things to do by you,
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To shew what he can bring proud mortals too.
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The lord has placd me here to live and reign,
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To be a friend to ease thee of thy pain.
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Ill succour thee whilst death and for thy sake,
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I of my na[t]ives slaves great care will take.
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He cherishd him oft times, but one day,
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His wife was pleased then these words to say,
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Husband, because he cruel was to you,
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I neer shall love your father, that is true.
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I do not care that he should here remain,
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From whence he came let him return again,
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And unto him some riches we will give,
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Enough to cherish him whilst he doth live.
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For quietness sake he made her this reply,
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But turnd him round, and wept most bitterly
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To think that he must with his father part,
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Grief like a spear struck him unto the heart.
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Then in short time his father left the shore,
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And in a merchant ship he did come oer,
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Again to England and did bring to town,
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As much in riches as five thousand pounds.
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He owd an hundred pounds which he paid,
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When out of debt these words he said,
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First my dear God I will give thanks to thee,
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Next for my child my prayers shall be.
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For had it been as I deservd,
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In slavery, till death, I had him servd;
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And neer had met one in that distant place,
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Thus to commiserate my wretched case.
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Now to conclude, young men let these lines,
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Be well engraven in our hearts and minds?
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That is to serve the Lord, and shun the devil,
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And like this young man still do good for evil.
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