The Downfal of William Grismond: Or,
A Lamentable Murder by him committed at Lainterdine, in the County of He-
reford, the 12th. of March, 1650, with his 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 Murder,
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as it is known full well:
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And for mine offence I must dye.
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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 promis'd Marriage,
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and with her I did lye:
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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 o're-come and snared
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by him that was a Lyar,
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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 defil'd:
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If you do now forsake me,
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I utterly am spoil'd,
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And for, etc.
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When she had us'd 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 Housewife being poor,
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And I who was my Father's 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 Murther,
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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 we both together
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into the Field was come,
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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 kill'd her,
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with my accursed knife,
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There hatefully I kill'd her,
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who lov'd me as her life;
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I cut her throat, I kill'd her,
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who should have been my wife:
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And for, etc.
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Three days she lay there murdered,
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before that she was found,
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But when the Neigbours 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, etc.
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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, etc.
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No sooner had they found her,
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but away I 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 not suffer me,
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to run my Country through,
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And for, etc.
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Yet was I got on Ship-board,
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as you may understand,
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But then the Ship was troubled,
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I must go back to Land:
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I could not get 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-men they 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 here,
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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 at 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 unto Heriford
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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 Gallows 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 too much inclin'd:
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And, 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, 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 fault is great,
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O call to God for mercy,
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God's 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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i'm very sorry for't:
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Alas, I have deserved
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a very hard report:
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And for my offence I must dye.
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