A Warning for all Wicked Livers
By the example of Richard Whitfield, and M. Gibs who were two no-
torious offenders, and both of one company, which two men made
a daily practise, and got their livings by robbing and stealing both
on the High-ways, and in any other places where they came, but
were at last taken, apprehended and condemned to dye for rob-
ing of a Coach, & murdering of a Captains man at Shooters-Hil,
in Kent, some five or six miles from London, and for that offence
and others, Gibs was prest to death at Maidstone in Kent, and Whit-
field was hanged in chains on Shooters-Hil, where he did the bloo-
dy deed, the 27th. of March, 1655. The manner how shall be ex-
actly related in this Ditty.
The Tune is, Ned Smith.
|
OF two notorious Theeves,
|
my purpose is to tell,
|
Which near fair London Town
|
long time did live and dwell.
|
One of their names was Gibs,
|
a Villain vile and base
|
The other Dick Whitfield call'd,
|
who ran a wicked race.
|
To rob to theeve and steal,
|
these couple gave their mind,
|
And unto murder men,
|
they daily were inclin'd.
|
So stout and bold they were
|
that they durst fight with ten,
|
And rob them on the way
|
though they were lusty men.
|
Sometimes they would disguise
|
themselves in strange attire,
|
And to do mischief still,
|
was all they did desire.
|
Sometimes about the fields
|
they would walk in the night
|
And use much cruelty
|
to them that they did meet.
|
A man could hardly pass.
|
the fields at ten a clock,
|
But they would be sure to have,
|
the cloak from off his back.
|
Or if he had no cloak
|
they would his money take,
|
Of what they went about
|
they did no conscience make.
|
If they with women met
|
when it was in the night
|
they would strip off their cloaths
|
and leave them naked quite.
|
Such unhumanity
|
betwixt them did remain
|
That by their bloody hands
|
good Christians have been slain
|
[?] robberies
|
these bloody villains did,
|
But theft and murder both,
|
long time will not lie hid.
|
Sometimes they have been caught
|
and unto New-gate sent,
|
Yet they had mercy shown
|
because they should repent.
|
But though the Judges oft
|
took pitty on those men,
|
As soon as they got loose
|
they would fall too't agen,
|
But now behold and see
|
what happened at the last,
|
[?] they had scap'd through much
|
[?] many dangers past.
|
[?] met a gallant Coach
|
[?]r from Greenwich town,
|
[?]h were Gentlemen
|
[?]ore Black-Heath down,
|
[? Gi]bs and Whitfield both
|
[?]d themselves to fight
|
[?] Theeves
|
[?]it approach.
|
He ask'd them what they were,
|
quoth they, we mony crave,
|
Mony we are come for
|
and mony we must have.
|
Their Pistols being fixt.
|
their bullets they let fly
|
The Captain drew his sword
|
and fought couragiously.
|
And in that dangerous fight
|
the Captains man was slain
|
And then they rob'd the rest
|
that did i'th Coach remain.
|
And for their bloody deeds
|
and for that robbery
|
They after taken were
|
and suffered certainly,
|
At Maidstone town in Kent
|
there Gibs was prest to death,
|
And Whitfield hangs in chains
|
at Shooters-Hill near Black-Heath
|
Let other wicked men,
|
high and low, great and smal
|
Remember and take heed
|
by Gibs and Whitfields fall.
|
|
|
|
|
|