Luke Huttons lamentation: which he wrote the day before his death, being
condemned to be hanged at Yorke this last assises for his robberies and
trespasses committed. To the [t]une of Wandering and wavering.
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I Am a poore prisoner condemned to dye,
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ah woe is me woe is me for my great folly,
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Fast fettred in yrons in place where I lie
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Be warned yong wantons, hemp passeth green holly
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My parents were of good degree
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by whom I would not counselled be,
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Lord Jesu forgive me with mercy releeve 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 woe is me for my great folly:
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Which on the highway robd man and wife,
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be warned yong wantons, etc.
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Inticed by many a gracelesse mate,
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Whose counsel I repent too late. Lord, etc.
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Not twentie yeeres old alas was I
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ah woe is me woe is me, etc.
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When I began this fellonie
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be warned yong wantons, etc.
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With me went stil twelve yeomen, tall
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Which I did my twelve a Apostles call. Lord, etc.
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There was no Squire nor barron bold
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ah woe is me woe is me for my great folly:
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That rode the way with silver or gold,
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be warned yong wantons, etc.
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But I and my twelve Apostles gaie,
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would lighten their load ere they went away, lord, etc.
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This newes procured my kins-folkes griefe,
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ah woe is me woe is me
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They hearing I was a famous theefe
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be warned yong wantons,
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They wept they wailde they wrong their hands
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that thus I should hazard life and lands. lord, etc.
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They made me a Jaylor a little before, ah woe, etc.
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to keep in prison offenders store, be warned, etc.
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But such a Jaylor was never none,
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I went and let them out everie one. lord, etc.
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I wist their sorrow sore grieved me
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ah woe is mee, etc.
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Such proper men should hanged be
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be warned yong, etc.
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My office then I did defie
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And ran away for company. lord, etc.
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Three yeeres I lived upon the spoile
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ah woe is me, etc.
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Giving many a carle the soile
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be warned yong etc.
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Yet never did I kil man nor wife
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though lewdly long I led my life. lord, etc.
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But all too bad my deedes hath been,
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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 yong, etc.
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All men in Yorke-shire talke of me,
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A stronger theefe there could not be. lord, etc.
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Upon S. Lukes day was I borne, ah woe, etc.
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whom want of grace hath made a scorne. be war. etc.
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in honor of my birth day then,
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I robd in a bravery nineteene men. Lord, etc.
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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 huse and cries pursude me long, be war, etc.
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Though long I scapt, yet loe at last.
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London I was in newgate cast.
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There did I lye with a grieved [mi]nde,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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Although the keeper was gentle and kinde,
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be warned yong etc.
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[Y]et was he not so kinde as I,
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[T]o let m[e go] at libertie. lord, etc.
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At last the shiriffe of Yorke-shire 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 yong, etc.
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[Quoth] he at Yorke thou must be tride,
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With me therefore hence must thou ride. lord, etc.
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Like pangues of death his words did sound,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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My hands and armes ful 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. lord, etc.
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When no intreaty might prevaile,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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I calde for beere, for wine and ale,
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be warned, etc.
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And when my heart was in wofull case,
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I drunke to my friends with a smiling face. lord, etc.
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With clubs and staves I was garded then,
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ah woe is me, etc.
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I never before had such waiting men
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be warned, etc.
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If they had ridden before amaine,
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Beshrew me if I had cald them againe. lord, etc.
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And when unto Yorke that I was come, ah, etc.
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Each one on me did passe their doome. be war. etc.
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and whilst you live this sentence note,
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Evill men can never have good report. lord, 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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Be sure I had a carefull thought, be, etc.
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Nine-score inditements and seaventeene,
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against me there was read and seene. lord, etc.
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And each of these was fellony found,
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ah woe is me. etc.
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which did my heart with sorrow wound, be, etc.
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What should I heerein longer stay,
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For this I was condemned that day. lord, etc.
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My death each houre I do attend,
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ah woe is me:
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In prayer and teares my time I spend. be etc.
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And all my loving friends this day,
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I do intreate for me to pray. Lord etc.
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I have deserved long since to die, ah woe etc
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A viler sinner livde not then I: be etc.
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On friends I hopte my life to save,
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But I am fittest for my grave: Lord etc.
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Adue my loving frends each one,
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ah woe is me woe is me for my great folly,
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Thinke on my words when I am gone,
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be warned young wantons, etc.
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When on the ladder you shal me view,
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thinke I am neerer heaven then you. Lord etc.
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