William Grismonds Downfal; Or,
A Lamentable Murther by him Committed at Lainterdine, in the Country
of Hereford, on March 12th, 1650: Together with his Lamenta-
tion. To the Tune of, Where is my Love, etc.
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O Come you wilful young Men,
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and hear what I shall tell,
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My Name is William Grismond,
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at Lainterdine did dwell;
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O there I did a Murther,
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as it is known full well;
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And for my offence I shall die.
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There was a Neighbours Daughter
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that lived me hard by,
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Whom I had promisd marriage,
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and with her I did lye?
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I did dissemble with her,
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my lust to fatisfie;
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And for, etc.
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I had my pleasure on her,
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I had my lewd desire,
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The using of her Body
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was that I did require:
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I was ore come and snared
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by him that was a Lyar;
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And for, etc.
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She claimed of me marriage,
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and said she was with Child,
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Saying Marry me sweet William,
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now you have me defild:
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If you do now forsake me,
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I utterly am spoild,
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And for, etc.
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When she had usd these speeches,
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my anger did arise,
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And then to work her overthrow,
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I quickly did devise;
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What tho her words were honest,
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yet I did them despise;
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And for, etc.
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O mark how it did happen,
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this House-Wife being Poor,
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And I who was my Fathers Heir,
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her words did urge me sore;
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For I could have another,
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with Gold and silver store;
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And for, etc.
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In flattering short I brought her,
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into the Field of Broom,
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And when we both together
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into the field were come,
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I had my Pleasure with her,
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and then I was her Doom;
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And for, etc.
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My Father and my Mother,
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I knew would not consent,
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If I had married with her,
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I know I should be shent;
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Then unto wicked Murther,
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my Heart was fully bent;
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And for, etc.
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Then in the Broom I killd her,
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with my accursed Knife,
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There hatefully I killd her,
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who lovd me as her life;
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I cut her throat, I killd her,
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who should have been my Wife;
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And for, etc.
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Three Days she lay there murdered,
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before that she was found,
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But when the Neighbours searching
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within that Broomy Ground,
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Did find her there uncovered,
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and with a Bloody Wound;
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And for, etc.
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The Neighbours having found her,
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where I did do this deed,
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There in the Broom they found her
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where I her Blood did shed;
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But when I did perceive that,
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I ran away with speed;
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And for, etc.
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No sooner had they found her,
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but away I did go,
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And thought to go to Ireland,
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the very truth is so;
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But God he would not suffer me,
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to run my Country through;
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And for, etc.
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Yet I was got on Ship-board,
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as you may understand,
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But then the Ship was troubled,
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I must go back to Land;
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I could not get away so,
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with guilty Heart and Hand;
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And for, etc.
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There is some wicked Person,
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the Ship-Men they did say,
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Within the Ship we know it,
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that cannot pass away;
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We must return to Land here;
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and make no more delay;
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And for, etc.
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Then near unto Westchester,
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I taken was at last,
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And then in Chester-prison,
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I suddenly was cast:
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From thence brought into Hereford,
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to answer what is past;
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And for, etc.
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But then my loving Father,
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his Gold he did not spare,
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To save me from the Gallows,
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he had of me great care;
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But it would not be granted.
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the Gallows was my share;
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And for, etc.
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My fault it was so hainous,
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It would not granted be,
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I must for an Example,
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hang on the Gallows Tree,
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God grant that I a Warning,
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for all young Men may be;
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And for, etc.
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O my dear Loving Father,
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he was to me most kind,
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He brought me up most costly,
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so was his tender mind:
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But I indeed to lewdness,
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was too much inclind;
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And for, etc.
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He brought me up in learning;
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his love was to me still,
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He thought it all too little,
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he did bestow on Will;
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But when he lookt for comfort,
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his Heart I then did kill;
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And for, etc.
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I might have had a marriage,
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my Father to content,
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And to that my loving Mother,
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would give her Hearts consent;
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But I have took such courses,
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doth make us all repent;
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And for, etc.
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Now Young Men take warning,
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you see my fault is great,
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O call to God for mercy,
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Gods grace do you intreat;
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I might have lived bravely,
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and had a gallant seat,
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And for. etc.
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O Lord, I now crave pardon,
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with a relenting Heart,
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I know my sins are hainous,
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Im very sorry fort;
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Alas, I have deserved,
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a very hard report;
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And for my Offence I shall Die.
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