The Examination, Confession, and Execution of Ursula Corbet,
who, for Poysoning of her Husband SIMON CORBET, was Burned near to Worcester
the fifteenth Day of March, 1660.
To the Tune of, The bleeding Heart.
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GOod women all a while give ear,
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both old and young mark and take heed
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Wed not where love doth not appear,
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nor do not as this woman o[?]
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Her Parents honest people were,
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and all her kindred are the same:
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But want of serving God with fear,
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she brought herself unto great shame.
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She was brought up most honestly,
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and all her kindred little thought,
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That she so vilde and barbarously,
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this wicked murther would have wrought.
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In Parshowk was she born and bred,
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from thence to Deford she was wed
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Unto a man that lov'd her dear,
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born of good friends as doth appear.
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Ursula Bough that was her name,
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until that she a wife became:
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Then Ursula Corbet truly,
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and by that name condemn'd to dye.
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For want of serving God above,
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the Devil made her do this deed:
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'Cause she did not her Husband love,
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she sought to rid his life with speed.
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She but a small time wedded was,
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before she studied in her minde,
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To bring this wicked deed to pass,
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and presently a way did finde.
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To rid her Husband of his life,
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for him with speed she poyson bought:
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And so like to a wicked wife,
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Petty Treason against him wrought.
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When she had brought this Poyson home,
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to work this plot she did contrive:
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In milk with speed she gave him some,
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the which did him of life deprive.
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But when that he had eaten all
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the milk that she prepar'd for him:
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He presently sore sick did fall,
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and for to swell did straight begin.
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Then in came neighbors presently,
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to see how this sick person did:
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And looking on him stedfastly,
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some said that he was poysoned.
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Then Sallet Oyl they had with speed,
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thinking to make him purge thereby:
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But it did little good indeed
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unto his woful misery.
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And then a Surgeon she would have
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immediately to let him blood:
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Thinking thereby his life to save,
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but that did him more harm then good.
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The poyson was so strong indeed,
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to save him was no remedy:
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At last his dayes death finished,
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and then began her misery.
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The Crowners Quest with full consent,
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did finde her guilty of the deed:
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And so to a Justice she was sent,
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And then to Jayle convey'd with speed.
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And when the Judging Sizes came,
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that she was to her trial brought;
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There for to answer for the same,
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she had against her Husband wrought.
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Unto the Lord that rules above,
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although her deeds were very foul:
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That he in mercy and in love,
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would take some pitty on her soul.
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The which she did most earnestly,
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both heart and hand she lifted up:
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Quoth she, though here in flames I fry,
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I hope this night with Christ to sup.
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And then with heart most patiently,
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she did forgive both old and young:
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But yet she often did reply,
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that Robert Willmot did her wrong.
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But yet before that she did dye,
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she him and all the world forgave:
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With prayers looking towards the Sky,
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that Christ her sinful Soul would save.
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A rope about her neck was plac't,
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and to the poste was bound with chains
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With straw and fagots to her plac't,
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to put her soon out of her pains.
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Then they put fire unto the same,
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which quickly stopt her vital breath:
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No shriek nor cry then from her came,
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but patiently she rook her death.
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Thus have you heard her woful end,
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and for what cause she lost her life:
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'Cause she was not her Husbands friend,
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but prov'd to him a cruel wife.
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Now I intreat all [?] wives,
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that doth these Verses read or hear:
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For to live honest quiet lives,
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in perfect love and godly fear.
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And I all people do intreat,
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although this Woman dyed with shame:
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That none in hate or malice great,
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do twit her kindred with the same.
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There is many a graceless Childe indeed,
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are born and bred of honest friends:
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Yet Fortune hath predestened,
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they may come to untimely ends.
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As did this Woman certainly,
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of whom this subject here is penn'd:
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She was brought up most honestly,
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though came to this untimely end.
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But I once more with speeches milde,
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praying none to tell her friends of this:
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But all in love be reconcil'd,
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although that she did do amiss.
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Now to conclude, to God let's pray,
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that old and young may mend their lives:
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God grant true faith and peace bear sway,
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and love between all men and wives.
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