THE
Barbarous UNCLE,
BEING
A True Relation of one Esq; Solmes of Beverly in Yorkshire, who dying, left an only Daughter,
of about Two Years of Age, to the Care of his Brother, who for Covetousness of the Childs
Estate of Three hundred Pounds a Year, endeavourd to Starve it to death in a hollow Tree
in a Wood; where it was found alive and preservd by a Gentleman and his Man, as they were
Hunting there the next day. With the manner of his Apprehension, Examination and Com-mitment to York Goal, in order to be Tryd and Punishd for the same.
To the Tune of, Forgive me if your Looks I thought.
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I. A Wealthy Squire in the North,
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Who left an Infant-Daughter
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All his Estate, of mighty Worth;
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But mark what follow'd after:
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As he lay on his Dying Bed,
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He call'd his Brother to him,
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And unto him these Words he said:
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I from the World am going.
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2. Therefore, Dear Brother, take my Child,
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Which is both Young and Tender,
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And for my Sake be Kind and Mild,
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And faithfully defend Her:
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Three Hundred Pound a Year I leave,
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To bring Her up in Fashion,
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I hope you will not Her deceive,
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But use Her with Compassion.
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3. To which the Brother then reply'd;
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I'll sooner suffer Torture,
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Than e'er become a wicked Cuide,
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Or wrong your Only Daughter.
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The Father then did seem content,
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And like a Lamb expir'd;
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As thinking nothing could prevent
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What he had thus desir'd.
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4. The Father being dead and gone,
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The Uncle then contrived
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To make the Child's Estate his own,
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And of its Life deprive it:
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A wicked Thought came in his Head;
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And thus concludes to serve it:
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He takes it up out of the Bed,
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And then resolves to Starve it.
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5. With wicked Mind into a Wood
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He then the Infant carries;
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And tho' he would not shed Her Blood,
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Yet there alive he Burries
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Within a Hollow Oaken Tree,
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He stop'd the Mouth from Crying,
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That none might hear, and come to see
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How the poor Child was dying.
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6. Then gave he out the Child was dead,
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And did pretend some Sorrow;
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And caus'd the Shape in Wax be made,
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To bury on the Morrow:
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Some Mourning too he bought beside,
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All to avoid Suspicion:
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But yet alas! this would not hide
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The Guilt of his Commission.
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7. For happy Fate, and Providence
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Did keep the Child from Dying,
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Whose chiefest Guard was Innocence,
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On which is best relying:
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For when the Breath was almost spent,
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A Gentleman did spy Her,
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As he and's Man a Hunting went,
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And so approached nigh Her.
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8. He took the wronged Infant Home,
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And to his Lady gave it;
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(Quoth he) This Child from fatal Doom
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I happily did save it,
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Therefore I'll keep it as my own,
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Since I have none beside it:
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Tho' such a thing is seldom known,
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I will support and guide it.
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9. But as the Lady and her Spouse,
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Did to their Neighbours shew it,
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A Woman came into the House
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That presently did know it;
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And soon discover'd all the Cheat
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The Uncle had intended,
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To get the poor young Child's Estate,
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Who promis'd to defend it.
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10. The wicked Uncle being seiz'd
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And charg'd with his Trangression,
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His Mind and Conscience was so teaz'd,
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He made a full Confession:
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The Justice sent him to the Jail,
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Where he is closely guarded;
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And next Assizes will not fail
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Of being well Rewarded.
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