The last Speech and Confession of
Jannet Riddle, who was Execute, for
Murthering her own Child, in the
Grass Market of Edinburgh, January
21st. 1702.
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OH! Oh! did ever any hear,
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of such an one as I;
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The Laws cannot be too Severe;
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for it's Reason that I Die,
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The Cru'lest Death that e're was known,
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because I did deny,
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Even Life to it: when all alon,
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which 'twixt my Sides did lye.
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Was not I then Un-natural,
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mine own Child for to Kill.
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For which I am ordan'd, Sirs, all
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your Eyes by Death to fill.
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When I and it then parted were,
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it did begin to Cry,
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But I soon stop its Mouth so fair,
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which 'twixt my Sides did lye.
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Yea was it not great Cruelty,
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that enter'd in my mind,
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To dispair of GOD's great Mercy,
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who Releif soon did find,
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To me, who of Relief was fain,
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before my Deliv'ry,
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Yet to my Child, I wrought great pain,
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which 'twixt my Sides did lye.
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Which when Born, I did Repair,
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for to commit the deed.
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Not of GOD's Mercy taking care,
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I caus'd my Child to Bleed,
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The Div'l helpt me to go on,
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and paved out the way,
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How I should make my Child begon,
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which 'twixt my Sides long lye.
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The Worlds shame me did entice,
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because I thought it great,
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This Bloody act to enterprice,
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for which here ends my Fate.
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And having thought for to promot;
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its death without delay,
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I with great speed 'bout threw it's Throat,
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which 'twixt my Sides long lye.
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This being done, with little Grace,
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where I might lay the Child,
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I did Contrive for it a place,
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which when alive was Mild.
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'Mong Feathers then the Bab I laid,
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with silence great I say,
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And being Dead, it Bleeding Stay'd,
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which 'twixt my Sides long lye.
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The Bloody Fact this being done,
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I thought my self secure.
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Yet GOD most High, it did think on,
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He such would not endure,
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But soon caus'd some as Witness stand,
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that they did hear it Cry,
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And that I kill'd it with my hand.
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which 'twixt my Sides did lye.
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I then with Boldness did soon Swear
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of such me to be free,
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Because I said none 'mong them there,
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with Child did e're me see.
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But when they also found the Child,
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I likewise did deny,
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That I then it my self had kill'd,
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which 'twixt my Sides did lye.
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Saying it was by me dead Born,
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and I had laid it there,
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Least any Person should me Scorn,
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and Church be too severe.
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They not beliving, I Confest,
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at length, I was Guilty,
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And that its Life I there out prest,
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which 'twixt my Sides did lye.
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Oh! Sad and Grivous Crueltie,
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is it not for to hear,
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Children Murther'd even Mothers by.
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Oh! Sad for I may fear,
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Eternal Misery and Woe,
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may be my chance I say,
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Because I wrought it's overthrow,
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which 'twixt my Sides long lye.
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Yet though my Sins are many LORD,
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thy mercy's great are more,
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The Blessing give me of thy Word,
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good LORD I the Implore.
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Farewel O People, be you fil'd
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with Joy, for I do Die,
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For Murthering of my only Child,
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which 'twixt my Sides did lye.
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