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EBBA 31791

University of Glasgow Library - Euing
Ballad XSLT Template
A new Ballad, intituled, The stout Cripple of Cornwal.
Wherein is shewed, his Dissolute Life, and deserved Death.
The tune is, The Blind Beggar.

OF a stout Cripple that kept the Highway,
And begd for his living all time of the day,
A story ile tell you that pleasant shall be,
The Cripple of Cornwall sir-named was he.
He crept on his hands, and knees up and down,
In a torn Jacket, and a ragged torn Gown,
For he had never a leg to the knee,
The Cripple of Cornwal sir-named was he.
He was of stomack couragious and stout,
For he had no cause to complain of the Gout,
To go upon stilts most cunning was he,
With a staff on his neck most gallant to see.
Yea, no good fellowship would he forsake,
Were it in secret a purse for to take,
His help was as good as any might be,
The Cripple of Cornwal sir-named was he.
When he upon any service did go,
The crafty young Cripple provided it so:
His stool he kept close in an old hollow tree,
That stood from the City a mile two or three
Thus all the way long he begd for relief,
And all the night long he playd the false thief;And seven Years together this custom kept he,
And no man knew him such a person to be.
There were few Grasiers went on the way,
But unto the Cripple for passage did pay,
And every brave Merchant that he did descry,
He emptied their purses ere they passed by.
The noble Lord Courtney both gallant & bold,
Rode forth with great plenty of silver and gold
At Exeter there a purchase to pay,
But that the false Cripple his journey did stay.
For why the false Cripple heard tidings of late,
As he sat for alms at the Noblemans gate.
This is (quoth the Cripple) a booty for me,
And ile follow closely, as closely may be.
Then to his companions the matter he moved,
which their false actions before time had proved
they make themselves ready & deeply they swear
The Monies their own before they come there.
Upon his two stilts the Cripple did mount,
To have the best share it was his full account.
All cloathed in Canvas down to the ground,
He took up his place his mates with him round.
Then came the Lord C. with half a score Men
Yet little suspecting these thieves in their Den.

And they perceiving them come to their hand,
In a dark Evening bid them to stand,
Deliver thy purse quod, the Cripple with speed,
For we be good fellows & therefore have need,
Not so, quod L. Courtney, but this ile tell ye.
Win it and wear it, else get none of me.
With that the L. Courtney stood in his defence
And so did his servants, but er they went hence
Two of the true-men were slain in the fight,
And four of the thieves are put to the flight.
And while for their safeguard they run thus away
The jolly bold cripple did hold them in play
And with his Pike-staff he wounded them so,
As they were unable to run or to go.
With fighting the Lord Courtney was out of breath,
and most of his servants were wounded to death
Then came other Horse-men riding so fast,
The Cripple was forced to flye at the last.
And over a River that ran there beside,
Which was very deep and eighteen foot wide,
With his long staff and stilts leaped he,
And shifted himself in an old hollow tree.
Then throughout the city was hue and cry made
To have these thieves apprehended and staid.
The Cripple he creeps on his hands & his knees,
And in the High-way great passing he sees.
And as they came riding, he begging doth say,
O give me one penny good masters I pray.
And thus unto Exeter creeps he along,
No man suspecting he had done wrong:
Anon the Lord Courtney he spies in the street,
He comes unto him and kisses his feet,
Saying, God save your honour, & keep you from ill,
And from the hands of your enemies still.
Amen quod L. Courtney, & therewith threw down
Unto the poor Cripple an English Crown.
Away went the Cripple and thus he did think,
Five hundred pound more wil make me to drink
In vain that hue and cry it was made,
They found none of them tho the countrey was laid
But this grievd the cripple night & day,
That he so unluckily mist of his prey.
Nine hundred pound the Cripple had got,
By begging and thieving so good was his lot;
A thousand pound he would make it up he said,
And then he would give over his trade,
But as he strived his mind to fulfill,
In following his actions so lewd and so ill:
At last he was taken the Law to suffice,
Condemned and Hanged at Exeter Size,
Which made all men amazed to see,
That such an impudent Cripple as he,
Should venter himself to such actions as they,
To rob in such sort upon the High-way.


FINIS.
Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright.

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