WILLIAM GRISMONDs Downfal;
Or, A Lamentable Murther by him committed at Lainterdine,
in the County of Hereford, on March 12th, 1650: Together with
his Lamentation.
To the Tune of, Where is my Love, etc.
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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 Neighbour's 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 dessemble 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 tho' 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 House-wife 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 murder'd,
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before that she was found,
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But when the Neighbours 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 sheed;
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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 I was got on ship-board,
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as you may understand,
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But 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 Hereford,
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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 gallow's 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 for, 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 for, etc.
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I might have had a marriage
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my Father to content,
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And to that my loving Mother
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would give her heart's 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 hanious,
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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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