

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<item xmlns="http://omeka.org/schemas/omeka-xml/v5" itemId="880" public="1" featured="0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://omeka.org/schemas/omeka-xml/v5 http://omeka.org/schemas/omeka-xml/v5/omeka-xml-5-0.xsd" uri="https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/execution-ballads/items/show/880?output=omeka-xml" accessDate="2026-04-05T00:17:30+11:00">
  <fileContainer>
    <file fileId="682" order="1">
      <src>https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/execution-ballads/files/original/9a5ab312c59a06426717dc6f71c6def9.jpg</src>
      <authentication>38bf463368f69b8b74c0dc3682ca454f</authentication>
    </file>
    <file fileId="40" order="2">
      <src>https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/execution-ballads/files/original/b72b3ca83afa2cde93c1869d832244d3.mp3</src>
      <authentication>802b077c3f6e493aba68925281ea9382</authentication>
    </file>
  </fileContainer>
  <collection collectionId="3">
    <elementSetContainer>
      <elementSet elementSetId="1">
        <name>Dublin Core</name>
        <description>The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.</description>
        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="50">
            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="1970">
                <text>English Execution Ballads</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
    </elementSetContainer>
  </collection>
  <itemType itemTypeId="33">
    <name>Execution Ballad</name>
    <description/>
    <elementContainer>
      <element elementId="75">
        <name>Set to tune of...</name>
        <description>Melody to which ballad is set.</description>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="4177">
            <text>&lt;em&gt;Slumbring Sleepe, &lt;/em&gt;which is also known as &lt;em&gt;Rogero&lt;/em&gt;</text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="5">
        <name>Transcription</name>
        <description>Transcription of ballad lyrics</description>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="4178">
            <text>Kind hearted men, a while give eare&#13;
and [plainely] Ile unfold&#13;
The sadd[est tale that] ever yet,&#13;
by mortal man was told. &#13;
One Spenser brave, of Cheshire chiefe,&#13;
for men of brave rega[rd]e:&#13;
Yet hee unto his Countries griefe,&#13;
did good with ill reward.&#13;
&#13;
At Acton, neere Nantwich was borne&#13;
this man, so famde of all;&#13;
Whose skill at each brave exercise, &#13;
was not accounted small:&#13;
For beating of the war-like Drumme,&#13;
no man could him surpasse:&#13;
For dauncing, leaping, and such like,&#13;
in Cheshire never was.&#13;
&#13;
For shooting none durst him oppose,&#13;
hee would ayme so faire and right;&#13;
Yet long he shot in crooked Bowes,&#13;
and could not hit the white:&#13;
For striving still more things to learne,&#13;
the more he grew beloved;&#13;
No Shomaker but Spenser brave,&#13;
by women was so prooved.&#13;
&#13;
Those qualities did draw his minde,&#13;
from reason quite and cleane,&#13;
And vildly hee'd forsake his wife,&#13;
for the love of every Queane:&#13;
By Women he maintayned was &#13;
in parill fine and brave,&#13;
John Spenser could no good thing want,&#13;
for he could but aske, and have. &#13;
&#13;
In Silkes and Sattins would he goe,&#13;
none might with him compare;&#13;
No fashion might devised be,&#13;
but his should be as faire;&#13;
When as (God knowes) his wife at home&#13;
should pine with hungry griefe,&#13;
And none[wo]uld pitty her hard case,&#13;
or lend her some reliefe.&#13;
&#13;
Whilst hee abroad did flaunt it out &#13;
amongst his lustfull Queanes,&#13;
Poore soule of force she sits at home,&#13;
without either helpe or meanes.&#13;
Thus long he lived basely vild,&#13;
[containd] of all thats good,&#13;
Till at the last of hard mischance,&#13;
he did shead Giltlesse Blood.&#13;
&#13;
One Randall Gam being drunke,&#13;
with Spenser out did fall:&#13;
And he being apt to Quarilling,&#13;
would not be rul'd at all.&#13;
Bout about the Pledging of a Glasse,&#13;
to which he would not yeeld,&#13;
He vowed he either would be pledg'd &#13;
or answered fayre in field.&#13;
&#13;
This answer Randall Gam did deny,&#13;
which Spencer plainly found,&#13;
And being rag'd he strucke on blow,&#13;
feld Randal gam to the ground.&#13;
Seven weekes upon this he lay,&#13;
ere life from him did part:&#13;
And at the last to earth and clay,&#13;
his Body did convert.&#13;
&#13;
Then Spenser was in prison cast&#13;
his friends full farre did ly,&#13;
For frindship in them proved cold,&#13;
and none would come him nie.&#13;
That man being kild, beloved was well&#13;
of all men farre and neare,&#13;
And some did follow Law so farre, &#13;
did cost poore Spenser deare.&#13;
&#13;
For though he kild him by mischance,&#13;
yet Law him so disdaines.&#13;
That for his unrespected blow,&#13;
he there was hangd in Chaines.&#13;
He that was kild, had many friends,&#13;
the other few or none,&#13;
Therefore the Law, on that side went,&#13;
and the other was orethrone.&#13;
&#13;
He being dead, two Milke white Doves,&#13;
did hover over his head,&#13;
And would not leave that hartlesse place,&#13;
after he three howers was dead.&#13;
Two mile white Butterflies did light,&#13;
upon his Breches there:&#13;
And stood Confronting peoples sight,&#13;
to their amase and feare.&#13;
&#13;
Though he was vildly bent in life,&#13;
and hangd the Law to quit;&#13;
Yet he was stolne away by his wife,&#13;
and Buryed in the night.&#13;
His true repentance is exprest,&#13;
within the second part:&#13;
With all his Gilt he hath confest,&#13;
when troubled was his heart. &#13;
&#13;
FINIS. by Thomas Dickerson&#13;
&#13;
Kind Youngmen all to mee give eare,&#13;
observe these lessons well;&#13;
For undeserved my death I tooke,&#13;
and said is the tale I tell.&#13;
I prisoned pent, I lie full fast,&#13;
sure Heaven hath decreed:&#13;
That though I thrived, yet at last,&#13;
bad fortunes should proceed.&#13;
&#13;
I that for practise passed all,&#13;
in exercises strong,&#13;
Have heere for one offence but small.&#13;
been pent in Prison long.&#13;
Kind Countrymen, faire warning take,&#13;
beeing bad, amend your lives,&#13;
For sure Heaven will them forsake,&#13;
that doe forsake their wives.&#13;
&#13;
I have a wife, a loving wife,&#13;
a constant, and a kind;&#13;
Yet proud of gifts, I turnd my life,&#13;
and falce she did me find:&#13;
Heaven shewed his part in making me, &#13;
proper in limbes and face,&#13;
Yet of it I no true use made,&#13;
but reapt thereby disgrace,&#13;
&#13;
For being proud in dancings art,&#13;
most womens loves I gayne:&#13;
By them a long time was my life&#13;
in gallant sort maintaynd:&#13;
No Mayden young, about the towne, &#13;
but joyfull was to see&#13;
The face of Spenser and would spend,&#13;
all for to daunce with mee.&#13;
&#13;
I spent my time in Ryoting,&#13;
and proudly led my life,&#13;
I had my choyce of damsels fayre,&#13;
what card I for my wife,&#13;
If once she came to intreat me home,&#13;
i'd kick her out of doors,&#13;
Indeed I would be ruld by none,&#13;
but by intising whore. &#13;
&#13;
At length being pledging of a Glasse,&#13;
my hopes I did confound:&#13;
And in my rag I feld my friend,&#13;
with one blow to the ground.&#13;
For this offence, he being dead,&#13;
and I in Prison cast;&#13;
Most voyd of hopes this rashing hand&#13;
hath Spensers name disgrast.&#13;
&#13;
None but my wife will visit me,&#13;
for those I lov'd before,&#13;
Being in this sad extremytie,&#13;
will visit me no more,&#13;
No helpe I find from these false friends,&#13;
no food to inrich my life:&#13;
Now doe I find the difference true,&#13;
twixt them and a constant wife&#13;
&#13;
But she poore soule, by my bad meanes, &#13;
is quit bereft of all:&#13;
She playes the part of a Constant wife,&#13;
although her helpes be small.&#13;
Young men, youngmen, take heed by me&#13;
shun Dangers, Brawles, and Strife:&#13;
For though he fell against my will,&#13;
I for it loose my life.&#13;
&#13;
O live like men and not like me,&#13;
of no good giftes be proud:&#13;
For if with you God angry be,&#13;
from his vengeance nought can shroud. &#13;
Make use of what you have practis'd well.&#13;
and not in vitious meanes,&#13;
If in rare gifts you do excell,&#13;
yet trust not Vitious Queanes.&#13;
&#13;
For lust doth fully fill their Vaynes,&#13;
and apt they be to intise:&#13;
O therefore shunne their company,&#13;
like good men still be wise.&#13;
Example truely take of me,&#13;
all Vitious courses shunne:&#13;
For onely by bad company,&#13;
poore Spenser is undone. &#13;
&#13;
FINIS. by John Spenser.</text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="54">
        <name>Language</name>
        <description>Language ballad is printed in</description>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="4179">
            <text>English</text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="55">
        <name>Date</name>
        <description>Date of ballad</description>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="4180">
            <text>1603-1626 ?</text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="56">
        <name>Synopsis</name>
        <description>Account of events that are the subject of the ballad</description>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="4181">
            <text>John Spenser in a drunken rage, hits Randall Gam who dies from his injuries seven weeks later. Gam has many supporters who succeed in having Spenser convicted of murder and hanged in chains. </text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="59">
        <name>Printing Location</name>
        <description>Location the ballad pamphlet was printed.</description>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="4183">
            <text>Imprinted at London for I. [John] Trundle</text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="74">
        <name>Method of Punishment</name>
        <description>Method of punishment described in the ballad.</description>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="4185">
            <text>hanging in chains</text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="62">
        <name>Crime(s)</name>
        <description>Crime or crimes for which the person in the ballad is convicted.</description>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="4186">
            <text>murder</text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="63">
        <name>Gender</name>
        <description>Gender of the person being executed.</description>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="4187">
            <text>Male</text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="65">
        <name>Execution Location</name>
        <description>Location the condemned was executed.</description>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="4188">
            <text>Burford, near Nantwich</text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="78">
        <name>Composer of Ballad</name>
        <description/>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="4189">
            <text>Thomas Dickerson</text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="83">
        <name>Image / Audio Credit</name>
        <description/>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="7668">
            <text>Magdalene College - Pepys Library, Shelfmark: Pepys Ballads 1.114; &lt;a href="http://ebba.english.ucsb.edu/ballad/20047/image" target="_blank"&gt;EBBA 20047&lt;/a&gt;</text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="89">
        <name>Digital Object</name>
        <description/>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="7669">
            <text>&lt;iframe src="https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/execution-ballads/files/fullsize/9a5ab312c59a06426717dc6f71c6def9.jpg" frameborder="0" scrolling="yes" width="600" height="600"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/execution-ballads/files/original/b72b3ca83afa2cde93c1869d832244d3.mp3" frameborder="0" scrolling="yes" width="300" height="50"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;</text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
      <element elementId="93">
        <name>Subtitle</name>
        <description/>
        <elementTextContainer>
          <elementText elementTextId="7865">
            <text>his life and repentance, who for killing of one Randall Gam: was lately executed at Burford a mile from Nantwich. To the tune of in Slumbring Sleepe. </text>
          </elementText>
        </elementTextContainer>
      </element>
    </elementContainer>
  </itemType>
  <elementSetContainer>
    <elementSet elementSetId="1">
      <name>Dublin Core</name>
      <description>The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.</description>
      <elementContainer>
        <element elementId="50">
          <name>Title</name>
          <description>A name given to the resource</description>
          <elementTextContainer>
            <elementText elementTextId="4176">
              <text>Iohn Spenser a Chesshire Gallant, </text>
            </elementText>
          </elementTextContainer>
        </element>
      </elementContainer>
    </elementSet>
  </elementSetContainer>
  <tagContainer>
    <tag tagId="288">
      <name>Audio recording</name>
    </tag>
    <tag tagId="36">
      <name>hanging in chains</name>
    </tag>
    <tag tagId="42">
      <name>Male</name>
    </tag>
    <tag tagId="37">
      <name>murder</name>
    </tag>
  </tagContainer>
</item>
