THE Mournful Murtherer:

Title

THE Mournful Murtherer:

Subtitle

OR, The last Dying Lamentation of Thomas Randall, who was arraign-ed and found guilty of the Murther of Roger Levins, at Stone-bridge, near Kings-land, for which he received the due Sentence of Death, and was accordingly Executed and Hang'd in Chains at the said Bridge, on the 29th of this Instant January.

Digital Object

Image / Audio Credit

Magdalene College - Pepys Library, Pepys Ballads 2.161; EBBA 20780

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Transcription

WIth melting Eyes and bleeding Heart, of Grief and Heaviness,
Before this Life I do depart, my Sins I here confess,
The which alas! are manifold, and of a scarlet Dye;
The Bloud I shed, does, now behold, for fearful Vengeance cry.

The Laws of God and Man I broke, by lewd unlawful ways,
And therefore now Death's fatal stroke, will end my wretched days;
Mercy, I'm sure, they cannot show to such a one as I,
My scarlet Sins, they do, I know for fearful Vengeance cry.

I must acknowledge to my shame, the Road I did frequent,
So rich and poor where-e'r I came, tho' ne'r so innocent,
I robb'd them of their Wealth with speed, such was my villany;
But now my Heart begins to bleed, my Sins for Vengeance cry.

Amongst my many Crimes, at last a Quaker's Bloud I spilt,
Which does my hope of Glory blast, my Soul is stain'd with guilt;
I murder'd him, and robb'd his Wife, for which I come to die;
But, oh! the Sins of my lewd Life does for just Vengeance cry.

At Stone-bridge, near to Kingsland- Town, I did my Pistol load,
I shot him, and he soon dropt down, and dy'd there in the Road;
His Wife, when she the Pistol hears,
it was a sad surprize,
By him she shed a flood of Tears, to hear his Groans and Cries.

I took away what Gold they had, and likewise Silver too;
Then after that, a little Lad I likewise did pursue;
I spared neither Rich nor Poor, such was my villany,
Alas! my wicked Sins therefore, does for just Vengeance cry.

When I this wicked Deed had done, my Heart was harden'd sure,
Tho through the Town the news did run,
I thought myself secure;
But Justice fairly found me out, condemn'd I am to die,
My bloudy Sins, I make no doubt, they did for Vengeance cry.

A wicked Creature I have been, unto a high degree;
But now the Soul-amazing Sin, of Murther startles me,
The fearful wrath of God I dread, as being brought to die,
Because the Bloud which I have shed, does for just Vengeance cry.

There's few or none regards my moan, because I was enclin'd,
To covet that which wan't my own,
a just Reward I find;
It is no more than what is fit, that I should die, for why
The Murther which I did commit, does for just Vengeance cry.

All you that sad Spectators are, of this my shameful end,
Afford me now a Christian-prayer, my Soul to God commend;
For tho' I liv'd in Wickedness,
yet since I come to die,
A hearty Sorrow I express, for all my Villany.

Method of Punishment

hanging in chains

Crime(s)

murder, robbery

Gender

Date

Execution Location

Stonebridge, near Kingsland

Printing Location

London: Printed for J. Blare, at the sign of the Looking-glass on London-bridge

Tune Data

Reference: Russell's Farewell BBB pp 621-624

Files

PepysC_2_161_2448x2448.jpg

Citation

“THE Mournful Murtherer:,” Execution Ballads, accessed November 24, 2024, https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/execution-ballads/items/show/894.

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