The Downfall of William Grismond: Or,
A Lamentable Murder by him committed at Lainterdinein the Country
of Hereford, the 22 of March, 1650, with his woful Lamentation.
The tune is, Where is my Love?
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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 mine offence I must die.
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There was a neighbours daughter
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that lived there hard by,
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Whom I had promised marriage
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and with her I did lie,
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I did dissemble with her
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my lust to satisfie,
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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 orecome and snared
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by him that was a Lyer,
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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 spoyld,
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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 though 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 Huswife 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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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 knew I should be shent,
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Then unto wicked murder
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my heart was fully bent,
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And for, etc.
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In flattering sort I brought her
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into a Field of Broom,
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And when w[e] both together
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into the field was some,
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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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Then in the Broom I kild her
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with my accursed knife,
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There hatefully I kild her
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who lovd me as her life:
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I cut her throat I kild her,
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who should have been my Wife,
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And for, etc.
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Three dayes 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 mine offence I must die.
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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 mine offence I must die.
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No sooner had they found her
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but I away 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 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 when the Ship was troubled
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I must go back to Land,
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I could not pass 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-man then 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 her
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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 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 Gallow 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 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 fall is great,
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I 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 mine offences I must die.
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