[FOr in a wet tempesteous day]
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FOr in a wet tempesteous day
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I to a Justice was borne away,
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Where after woe some time had spent
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I unto Prison then was sent,
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Size and Sessions then drew neare,
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I was possest with little feare,
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Because I knew my Conscience cleare
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From murdering of my Infant deare,
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The Judge not hearing of my case,
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Did put another man in place,
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Who did condemne me for to die,
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No boote for me to aske him why:
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They hanged me for halfe an houre,
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But God did show his Love and Power,
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They struck me on the brest amaine,
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Thinking to put me out of paine.
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They pul'd me by the Legs also,
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Much torture I did undergoe,
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A Souldier with his Musquet too
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Did give me many a heavie blow;
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And all to put me out of paine,
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But God restored me againe,
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The like was never known before,
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Blest be his name for evermore.
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They made no doubt but I was dead,
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And that I now was surely sped,
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They cut me down as I may say,
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And then they carried me away,
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And laid my Corps they thought to rest
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Within a Barber-Chirurgions Chest,
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They had me for an Anotomie.
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Thinking to gaine some skill thereby.
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In Master Clarks house me they laid
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An Apothecary is by Trade,
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Whereas Physitians met each day,
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To use their Art when there they stay:
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When as my bodie they did see,
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They found there was some life in me,
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And then a man in Charitie
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Did stamp on me to make me die.
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Upon my belly and my brest,
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As I lay in the Chirurgions Chest,
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But when they saw I was not dead,
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They laid me then in a warme Bed,
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And sought by opening of a vaine,
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For to recover me againe,
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And put a Woman in Bed to me
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To save my life if it might be.
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Lord meke me thankful evermore
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That did my life from death restore,
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And give me grace to mend that life,
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And keepe me still from blood and strife;
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Forgive all them that doom'd me dead,
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That better steps themselves may tread.
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That sounder judgements they may have,
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Send none unjustly to their Grave.
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One under God did stand my friend,
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Though others sought to worke my end,
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One Doctor Petty cal'd by name,
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A man of good Repute and Fame;
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With other Doctors many a one,
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Which in my Prayers I'le think upon,
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That God would still preserve their breath,
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That kept me from untimely death.
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In God my Lord was all my hope,
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Who sav'd me from the strangling Rope,
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And those men help me I may say,
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When then in piteous case I lay:
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In fourteen houres those Gentlemen
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Did bring me to myselfe agen,
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Then I began to pray devout,
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And talke and walkt the Roome about.
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Let Juries likewise have a care
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How they proceede, after they sweare,
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Let high and low, let great and small
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Still doe true justice unto all:
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For why, the Lord that rules the skyes,
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'Tis he alone that's just and wise;
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And will defend the Innocent,
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And bring the unjust to punishment.
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