CAPTAIN
THOMAS GREEN'S
Last farewell to the OCEAN and all the World, who was Execute with two more of his Crew
at Leith within the Flood-Mark, 11 April 1705, for Piracie and Murder.
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ADieu fair Ocean, on thee long I liv'd
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Plentifully, but now am sore griev'd,
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Thus shamefully to dye in thy bounds,
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Without a Drop of thee to wash my Wounds,
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Which might perhaps have yeilded relief,
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Or else diminished much of my grief
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Is now augmented, 'cause a silent Wave
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Of thee not hap[']ned to to have been my Grave;
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For had I fallen by Neptuns fury,
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Or Mars his Armes, I had not in hurry
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Ended my days, as alas now I do!
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I[?] great Disgrace and Confusion too,
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[?] before GOD and the World I can,
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Truly protest I never knew the Man,
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Whose Murderer I was said to be,
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Nor ever saw him by Land or Sea:
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Yet now by Malice of one, I must Hang;
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Who eat my Bread, and serv'd ne too lang:
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Had I him sooner chanc'd to set a Shore
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Er we came hither, or that Lass, much more
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He had never hap'ned in Bruntisland to see,
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I should not been made so shamefully dye.
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For this gross Crime of Murder is known,
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To all Spectators at my Death I disown.
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Therefore I him, and all Men do forgive,
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And wishes every Man truly to Live,
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In fear and favour both with GOD and Man,
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And not offend either so far's he can,
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Because the root of Malice doth breed,
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A Cokatrice hatch'd of the Serpents seed.
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From which I pray all good Men be sav'd,
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That none may be of their Life so berav'd,
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As I [t]his day by false Accusers am,
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To my disgrace, great prejudice and shame,
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Which for my Youthful sins I confess,
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To be GODS just Judgment, yet nevertheless
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Of th' Accusation for which now I dye,
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I am before GOD and my Conscience free;
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Tho that the Law hath 'gainst me Sentance given,
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I hope my Soul shall find Mercy in Heaven.
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From him who is the Searcher of Hearts.
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And to each Man (as his works are) Imparts:
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Wherefore I desire all Men to prove
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Unfeignied to GOD and Man in Love;
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Least if he should either of them offend,
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Justice Pursue him with an untimely end,
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As it hath done me and those of my Crew,
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Who at this time bid the World adieu.
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