The Sorrowful Lamentation of Counsellor,
Layer's who was Condemned, to die at Lond-
on for High Treason.
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NOble Hearts all round the Nation,
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That do hear my wretched Fate,
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[I]'d have you lay by all Confusion,
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Do not meddle with the State,
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Let my Exit be a warning.
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Now unto you both great and small,
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My mirth is turn'd to Grief and Mourning,
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Thus you see poor Layer's Fall.
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A Counseller I was of late,
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And oft I did for Justice plead,
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[I] liv'd both Noble, Rich and great,
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Till I pursu'd this fatal Deed,
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Who by a Woman was betray'd
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And I was apprehended soon,
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And now I am arraign'd and cast,
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And thus you see poor Layer's Doom.
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At Westminster I took my tryal,
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Which lasted 16 Hours long,
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While a Multitude to hear it,
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Then into the Court did throng,
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While I with Iron Fetters loaded,
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For my Life did stand to plead,
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But no Mercy is afforded,
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I must suffer for the Deed.
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Christopher Layer, come and answer,
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For what unto your Charge is laid,
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For listing Men for the Pretender,
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As by witness here is said.
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You have been a most rebellious Traytor,
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Against our Sovereign Lord the King,
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Answer to your Accusation,
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[A]re you guilty of the thing,
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I boldly for a while did plead,
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And spoke up in my own Defence,
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[Th]at yet my Case was made so plain,
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[G]uilty was I of the Offence,
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At four a Clock all in the Morning,
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I was then cast for my Life,
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And I at Tyburn must expire,
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A Grief unto my dearest Wife.
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And my Children who lies weeping
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For my most unhappy Fate,
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I cannot expect no pity,
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For the Crime that is so great,
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It is best to be at Quiet,
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I advise you one and all.
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Lest like me it proves your Ruin,
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Thus you see poor Layer's Fall.
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For sure this is the Hand of Heaven
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Suffers me this Death to die,
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For to finish my intention,
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I could not expect; for why,
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Because for thus so bold attempting,
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Many here before did die,
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But still I could not be at Quiet,
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By which I have wrought my Destiny,
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I hope my Fall will be a warning,
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To all that see my fatal End,
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My dearest Friends they do me blame,
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That I the Nation should offend,
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My tender Wife does lie lamenting,
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My Children are ready to despair.
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I hope that this will be a warning,
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To all that see the fate of Layer.
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When my Body it is Quarter'd,
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And my Head expos'd on high,
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I hope my fleeting Soul will dwell
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With Christ for evermore on high.
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Farewel my dearest Wife and Children,
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To Heaven I you recomend,
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Weep not for me unhappy Creature,
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Think not on my fatal End.
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