Luke Huttons Lamentation: which he wrote the day before his death, being
condemned to be hanged at Yorke for his robberies and trespasses committed
there-about. To the tune of Wandring and Wavering.
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I Am a poore prisoner condemned to die,
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ah woe is me, woe is me, for my great folly:
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Fast fettered in irons in place where I lie:
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be warned young wantons hemp passeth green Holy.
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My parents were of good degree,
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By whom I would not ruled be,
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Lord Jesus forgive me, with mercy relieve me,
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Receive O sweet Saviour, my spirit unto thee.
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My name is Hutton, yea Luke, of bad life:
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ah woe is me, etc.
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Which on the high-way did rob Man and Wife,
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be warned, etc.
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Inticd by many a gracelesse mate,
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Whose counsell I repent too late,
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Lord Jesus forgive me, with mercy relieve me, etc.
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Not twenty yeeres old (alas) was I,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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When I began this felony:
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be warned etc.
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With me went still twelve Yeomen tall,
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Which I did my twelve Apostles call.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, with mercy relieve me, etc.
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There was no Squire, nor Baron bold
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ah woe is me, etc.
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That rode by the way with silver and gold,
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be warned, etc.
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But I and my Apostles gay,
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Would lighten their load ere they went away.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, with mercy relieve me, etc.
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This newes procurd my kinsfolkes griefe,
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ah woe is me etc.
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That hearing I was a famous thiefe,
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be warned, etc.
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They wept, they waild, they wrung their hands,
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That thus I should hazard life and lands.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, with mercy relieve me, etc.
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They made me a Jailor a little before,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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To keepe in prison offenders sore,
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be warned, etc.
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But such a Jailor was never none,
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I went and let them out every one.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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I wis this sorrow sore grieved me,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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Such proper men should hanged be:
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be warned young wantons, etc.
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My Office then I did defie,
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And ran away for company.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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Three yeeres I lived, upon the spoyle,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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Giving many an Earle the foyle
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be warned, etc.
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Yet never did I kill man nor wife,
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Though lewdly long I led my life.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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But all too bad my deeds have beene,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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Offending my Country and my good Queene:
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be warned, etc.
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All men in Yorkeshire talke of me,
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A stronger thiefe there could not be.
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Lord Jesus forgive me etc.
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Upon S. Lukes day was I borne,
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ah woe is me etc.
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Whom want of grace hath made me scorne:
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be warned, etc.
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In honour of my birth day then,
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I robd (in bravery) nineteene men.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, with mercy relieve me,
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Receive, O sweet Saviour, my spirit unto thee.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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THe Country weary to beare this wrong,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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With Hues and Cries pursued me long:
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be warned, etc.
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Though long I scapt, yet loe at the last,
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At London I was in New-gate cast.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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Where I did lie with grieved minde,
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ah woe is me etc.
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Although the keeper was gentle and kind,
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be warned, etc.
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Yet was he not so kind as I,
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To let me goe at liberty.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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At last the Shriefe of Yorkeshire came,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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And in a warrant he had my name,
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be warned, etc.
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And in a warrant he had my name,
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be warned, etc.
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Quoth he, at Yorke thou must be tride,
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With me therefore hence must thou ride.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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Like pangs of death his words did sound,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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My hands and armes full fast he bound,
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be warned, etc.
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Good sir quoth I, I had rather stay,
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I have no heart to ride that way.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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When no intreaty would prevaile,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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I called for Wine, Beare, and Ale,
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be warned, etc.
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And when my heart was in woefull case,
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I drunke to my friends with a smiling face.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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With clubs and staves, I was guarded then,
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ah woe is me. etc,
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I never before had such wayting men:
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be warned, etc.
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If they had ridden before me amaine,
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Beshrew me if I had calld them againe.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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And when unto Yorke that I was come,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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Each one on me did cast his doome:
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be warned, etc.
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And whilst you live this sentence note,
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Evill men can never have good report.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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Before the Judges when I was brought,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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But sure I had a carefull thought,
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be warned, etc.
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Nine score Inditements and seventeene,
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Against me there were read and seene,
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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And each of those was fellony found,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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Which did my heart with sorrow wound,
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be warned, etc.
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What should I here in longer stay?
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For this I was condemnd that day.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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My death each houre I did attend,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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In prayers & in teares my time I did spend,
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be warned, etc.
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And all my loving friends that day,
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I did intreat for me to pray.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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I have deserved death long since,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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A viler sinner lived not then I,
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be warned, etc.
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On friends I hoped life to save;
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But I am fittest for the grave.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, etc.
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Adieu my loving friends each one,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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Thinke on me Lords when I am gone,
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be warned etc.
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When on the ladder you doe me view.
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Thinke I am neerer heaven than you.
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Lord Jesus forgive me, with mercy relieve me,
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Receive, O sweet Saviour, my spirit unto thee.
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