An Excellent New Copy of Verses,
BEING
The Sorrowful Lamentation
OF
Mrs. Cooke,
For the Loss of her Husband Thomas Cooke, the Famous Butcher
of Gloucester, who was Executed at Tyburn on Wednesday the
11th of August 1703.
To the Tune of, Forgive me if your Looks I Thought.
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I.
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UNto my sad Complaint give ear,
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All you that hear my Story;
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As Fate has been to me severe,
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Set my sad Case before ye;
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A Loving Husband I have lost,
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One that I Lov'd most dearly,
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But Fortune has our Wishes crost,
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For which I mourn sincerely.
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II.
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Like one dismay'd I rove about
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In Sorrow, for my Jewel;
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And in sad dismal Plaints cry out,
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Why were the Laws so Cruel;
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To rob me of my Husband dear,
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When Life was set before him,
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But vain (alas!) Reflections are,
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No Pity can restore him.
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III.
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O! how my Heart with Grief was fill'd,
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To see my Love expire;
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For him I'd freely have been kill'd,
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Had I had my desire.
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Alas! alas! my Husband kind,
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If Tears thy Life could borrow,
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I'd Weep and Mourn till I was Blind,
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And drown myself in Sorrow.
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IV.
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Where shall I run to hide my Grief?
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Will not kind Heaven ease me?
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No pity now can bring relief,
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No earthly Blessings please me:
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Sorrow alone my Food shall be,
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I'll spend my time in Weeping,
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And pray and wish most constantly;
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Heav'n has his Soul in keeping.
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V.
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Some little Favour it is true,
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Our Gracious Queen did offer,
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Which serv'd but to encrease my Woe,
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Since he at last must suffer:
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To pleasure some my Love must Dye,
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Whom he Offended never;
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But O! alas, their Cruelty
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Has parted us forever.
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VI.
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How oft his Innocence has he
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In solemn Truth declared?
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Saying, Tho' I am from Murther free,
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For Death I am prepared:
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This, this is true my loving Wife!
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No Sword to me belong'd,
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And those that swore to take my Life,
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Their Conscience much have wrong'd.
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VII.
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These Words my Heart with Sorrow pierc'd,
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And fill'd it with Vexation,
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And then in Tears I thus exprest
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My woeful Lamentation;
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O! Cruel Laws, more Cruel Men,
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That did his Death endeavour;
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On your hard Hearts I'll still complain,
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That Ruin'd me forever.
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VIII.
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Since here my Love we parted be,
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And I left broken-hearted,
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I hope to have thy Company,
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Where we shall ne'er be parted;
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But those who witness'd wrongfully,
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Tho' Justice here has spar'd 'em,
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Yet Heav'n if they guilty be,
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Hereafter will reward 'em.
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