https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/execution-ballads/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=55&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1691&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CTitle&output=atom <![CDATA[Execution Ballads]]> 2024-03-29T02:36:38+11:00 Omeka https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/execution-ballads/items/show/900 <![CDATA[The Bloody Murtherer: ]]> 2021-06-11T15:01:56+10:00

Title

The Bloody Murtherer:

Subtitle

OR, The Sorrowfull Lamentation of James Selbee, who was Executed at Goodman's-fields, on the 2d of May, for the Murther which he Com-mitted on the Body of MRS. Bartlett.

Synopsis

James Selbee goes to see a prostitute, Mrs. Barlett, and in a drunken state, stabs her to death. He tries to murder her nurse but fails and is arrested and convicted.

Digital Object


Image notice

Full size images of all ballad sheets available at the bottom of this page.

Image / Audio Credit

Magdalene College - Pepys Library, Pepys Ballads 2.200; EBBA 20814. Audio recording by Molly McKew.

Set to tune of...

Transcription

ALl you that come to see my fatal end,
Unto my dying words I pray attend;
Let my misfortunes now a warning be
To e'ry one of high and low degree.

Had I been kind and loving to my Wife,
I might have liv'd a long and happy life;
But having run a loose lascivious race,
My days will end in shame and sad disgrace.

My Duty towards God I did neglect,
Therefore what mercy can I now expect;
When I before the mighty Judge appear,
To answer for my sins committed here.

In wicked pleasures I my days have spent,
And never had the Power to Repent,
Till now at last my dismal doom I see,
The just reward of Cruel Villany

Here to the World I solemnly declare,
I seldom did frequent the House of Prayer,
But Harlots Houses and Carousing too,
And now I see what it has brought me to.

Upon a Sabbath day it happen'd so,
To mrs. Bartletts House I chanc'd to go.
One that did live by base Debauchery,
And this has prov'd a fatal day to me.

I entred in, and sat me down a while,
Then came the Harlot with a pleasing smile,
Invited me streight to an upper Room,
Where we in sin the Sabbath did consume.

The Glass with Sider then went freely round,
Nay, Mum likewise in plenty did abound,
And Cherry-brandy too, we drank beside,
'Till all my Senses they were stupyfied

I finding this, I fain would gone my way,
But Bartlett she intreated me to stay;
And further to oblige me, said that I
All night between her Nurse and she should lye.

But I despis'd the profer which she made,
Then calling to her Nurse and likewise said,
Go fetch one gill of Cherry-brandy more,
This done, then I'll hasten out of door?

Then I did take in hand a bloody Knife,
With which I soon bereaved her of life,
For why, I cut her throat immediately,
Thus Drunk I sent her to Eternity.

This done, the Nurse I strove to kill,
But Heaven would not let me have my will,
I soon was seiz'd, and unto Justice brought,
And this has now my sad destruction wrought.

In Sodoms sins, you know her days she spent,
Yet this can be no proper Argument,
That I should thus her bloody Butcher be,
Therefore I suffer for my Villany.

My loving Wife, a Thousand times farewel,
Thy sorrows here no Tongue or Pen can tell
Yet God above I hope will still provide,
For thee and all thy little ones beside.

O let me be a warning to you all,
That comes this day to see my dismal fall,
Serve ye the Lord and shun all evil ways,
And by that means you may prolong your days,

Lord tho' my sins are of a scarlet dye,
Yet let my Prayers come up to thee on High.
My supplications unto thee I'll make
Oh save my soul e'en for thy mercies [sake.]

Crime(s)

murder

Gender

Date

Execution Location

Goodman's fields

Printing Location

Printed for P. Brooksby, J. Deacon, J. Blare, and J. Back.

Tune Data

Fortune my Foe, also known as, Aim not too High
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https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/execution-ballads/items/show/962 <![CDATA[The SEA-Martyrs; ]]> 2020-01-14T13:15:43+11:00

Title

The SEA-Martyrs;

Subtitle

OR, The Seamen's sad Lamentation for their Faithful Service, Bad Pay, and Cruel Usage. Being a woeful Relation how some of them were unmercifully put to Death for pressing for their Pay, when their Families were like to starve. Thus our New Government does Subjects serve, And leaves them this sad choice to hang or starve. To the Tune of Banstead Downs.

Synopsis

Singer decries punishment of sailors who have been deprived of pay, claiming they are martyrs, hanged for speaking up.

Digital Object

Image / Audio Credit

Magdalene College - Pepys Library, Pepys Ballads 5.375r-v; EBBA 22198

Set to tune of...

Banstead Downs

Transcription

Good People, do but lend an Ear,
And a sad Story you shall hear,
A sadder you never heard,
Of due Desert and base Reward,
Which will English Subjects fright
For our New Government to fight.

Our Seamen are the onely Men
That o'er the French did Vict'ry gain,
They kept the Foe from landing here,
Which would have cost the Court full dear;
And when they for their Pay did hope,
They were rewarded with a Rope.

The roaring Canon they ne'er fear'd,
Their Lives and Bloud they never spar'd;
Through Fire and Flame their Courage flew,
No Bullets could their Hearts subdue.
Had they in Fight but flincht at all.
King James had now been in Whitehall.

Thus England, and our New King too,
Their Safety to their Valour owe;
Nay, some did 'gainst their Conscience fight,
To do some Great Ones too much Right;
And now, oh barbarous Tyranny!
Like Men they fought, like Dogs they dye.

Thousands of them their Lives did lose
In fighting stoutly with their Foes,
And thousands wero so maim'd in Fight,
That 'twas a sad and piteous sight;
And when they hop'd their Pay to gain
They have their Labour for their Pain.

Their starving Families at home
Expected their slow Pay would come;
But our proud Court meant no such thing,
Not one Groat must they have till Spring;
To starve all Summer would not do;
They must still starve all Winter too.

It might a little ease their Grief,
And give their Mis'ry some relief,
Might they in Trade Ships outward go,
But that poor Boon's denied them too;
Which is as much as plain to say,
You shall earn nothing, nor have Pay.

Their poor Wives with Care languished,
Their Children cried for want of Bread,
Their Debts encreast, and none would more
Lend them, or let them run oth' score.
In such a case what could they doe
But ask those who did Money owe?

Therefore some bolder than the rest
The Officers for their Own request,
They call'd 'em Rogues, and said, Nothing
Was due to them untill the Spring:
The King had none for them they said,
Their Betters they must first be paid.

The honest Seamen then replied
They could no longer Want abide,
And that Nine hundred thousand Pound
Was giv'n last year to pay them round,
Their Money they had earnt full dear,
And could not stay another half Year.

A Council then they streight did call
Of Pick-thanks made to please Whitehall,
And there they were adjudg'd to dye;
But no Man knows wherefore, nor why.
What times are these! Was't ever known
Twas Death for Men to ask their own?

Yet some seem'd milder than the rest,
And told them, that their Fault confest,
And Pardon askt, and humbly crav'd,
Their Lives perhaps might then be sav'd:
But they their Cause scorn'd to betray,
Or own't a Crime to ask their Pay.

Thus they the Seamens Martyrs dyed,
And would not yield to unjust Pride,
Their Lives they rather would lay down
Than yield it sin to ask their own.
Thus they for Justice spent their Blood,
To do all future Seamen good.

Wherefore let Seamen all and some,
Keep the days of their Martyrdom,
And bear in mind these dismal times,
When true Men suffer for false Crimes;
England ne'er knew the like till now,
Nor e'er again the like will know.

But now suppose they had done ill,
In asking Pay too roughly, still
When 'twas their due, and Need so prest,
They might have Pardon found at least;
The King and Queen some mercifull call,
But Seamen find it not at all.

To Robbers, Thieves, and Felons, they
Freely grant Pardons ev'ry day;
Only poor Seamen, who alone
Do keep them in their Fathers Throne,
Must have at all no Mercy shown:
Nay, tho there wants fault, they'l find one.

Where is the Subjects Liberty?
And eke where is their Property?
We're forc'd to fight for nought, like Slaves,
And though we do, we're hang'd like Knaves.
This is not like Old Englands ways,
New Lords, new Laws, the Proverb says.

Besides the Seamans Pay, that's spent,
The King for Stores, Ships, and what's lent,
Does owe Seven Millions at the least,
And ev'ry year his Debt's encreast;
So that we may despair that we
One quarter of our Pay shall see.

Foreigners and Confederates
Get poor Men's Pay, rich Men's Estates;
Brave England does to ruine run,
And Englishmen must be undone.
If this Trade last but one half Year,
Our Wealth and Strength is spent, I fear.

God bless our noble Parliament,
And give them the whole Government,
That they may see we're worse than ever,
And us from lawless Rule deliver;
For England's sinking, unless they
Do take the Helm, and better sway.

Method of Punishment

hanging

Gender

Date

Tune Data

Banstead Downs (Simpson 1966, p. 122), is also known as Come Live With Me and Be my Love (Simpson 1966, p. 119-122).
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