WILLIAM GRISMOND[s 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.
|
O Come you wilful young Men,
|
and hear what I shall tell,
|
My name is William Grismond,
|
at Lainterdine did dwell;
|
O there I did a murder,
|
as it is known full well;
|
And for mine offence I must dye.
|
There was a Neighbour's Daugh-ter,
|
that lived there hard by,
|
Whom I had promis'd marriage,
|
and with her I did lye;
|
I did dissemble with her,
|
my lust to satisfie;
|
And for, etc.
|
I had my pleasure on her,
|
I had my lewd desire,
|
The using of her body
|
was that I did require;
|
I was o're-come and snared
|
by him that was a Lyar;
|
And for, etc.
|
She claimed of me marriage,
|
and said she was with child,
|
Saying, Marry me, sweet William,
|
now you have me defil'd:
|
If you do now forsake me,
|
I utterly am spoil'd;
|
And for, etc.
|
When she had us'd these speeches,
|
my anger did arise,
|
And then to work her overthrow,
|
I quickly did devise;
|
What tho her words were honest,
|
yet I did them despise;
|
And for, etc.
|
O mark how it did happen,
|
this Housewife being poor,
|
And I who was my Father's Hair,
|
her words did urge me sore;
|
For I could have another
|
with gold and silver store;
|
And for, etc.
|
[My Father and my Mother,]
|
I knew would not consent,
|
If I had married with her,
|
I know I should be shent:
|
Then unto wicked murther,
|
my heart was fully bent;
|
And for, etc.
|
In flattering sort I brought her
|
into a field of broom,
|
And when we both together
|
into the field was come,
|
I had my pleasure with her,
|
and then I was her doom;
|
And for, etc.
|
Then in the broom I kill'd her,
|
with my accursed knife,
|
There hatefully I kill'd her,
|
who lov'd me as her life;
|
I cut her throat, I kill'd her,
|
who should have been my Wife;
|
And for, etc.
|
Three days she lay there murdered,
|
before that she was found,
|
But when the Neighbours search-ing
|
within that broomy ground,
|
Did find her there uncovered,
|
and with a bloody wound;
|
And for, etc.
|
The Neighbours having found her,
|
where I did do this deed,
|
There in the broom they found her,
|
where I her blood did shed;
|
But when I did perceive that,
|
I ran away with speed;
|
And for, etc.
|
No sooner had they found her,
|
but away I did go,
|
And thought to go to Ireland,
|
the very truth is so;
|
But God he would not suffer me,
|
to run my Country through;
|
And for, etc.
|
[Yet I was got on ship-board,]
|
as you may understand,
|
But then the ship was troubled,
|
I must go back to land;
|
I could not get away so,
|
with guilty heart and hand;
|
And for, etc.
|
There is some wicked Person
|
the Ship-men they did say,
|
Within the ship we know it,
|
that cannot pass away;
|
We must return to land here,
|
and make no more delay;
|
And for, etc.
|
Then near unto Westchester,
|
I taken was at last,
|
And then in Chester-prison
|
I suddenly was cast;
|
From thence brought unto Hereford,
|
to answer what is past;
|
And for, etc.
|
But then my loving Father
|
his gold he did not spare,
|
To save me from the gallows,
|
he had of me great care;
|
But it would not be granted,
|
the gallows was my share;
|
And for, etc.
|
My fault it was so hainous
|
it would not granted be,
|
I must for an Example
|
hang on the gallows tree;
|
God grant that I a Warning
|
for all young Men may be;
|
And for, etc.
|
O my dear loving Father,
|
he was to me most kind,
|
He brought me up most costly,
|
so was his tender mind:
|
But I indeed to lewdness
|
was too too much inclin'd;
|
And for, etc.
|
He brought me up in learning;
|
his love was to me still,
|
He thought it all too little,
|
he did bestow on Will;
|
But when he lookt for comfort,
|
his heart I then did kill;
|
And for, etc.
|
I might have had a marriage
|
my Father to content,
|
And to that my loving Mother
|
would give her heart's consent:
|
But I have took such courses,
|
doth make us all repent;
|
And for, etc.
|
Now young Men take warning,
|
you see my fault is great,
|
O call to God for mercy,
|
God's grace do you intreat;
|
I might have lived bravely,
|
and had a gallant seat;
|
And for, etc.
|
O Lord, I now crave pardon,
|
with a relenting heart,
|
I know my sins are hainous,
|
i'm very sorry for't;
|
Alas, I have deserved
|
a very hard report;
|
And for my offence I must dye.
|
|
|
|
|
|