Luke Huttons' lamentation: which he wrote the day before his death, being condemned to be hanged at York this last assizes for his robberies and trespasses committed.  
To the tune of Wandering and wavering.  
I Am a poor prison●● condemned to die,  
ah woe is me woe is me for my great folly,  
Fall fettered in irons in place where I lie  
Be warned young wantoness, hemp passeth green holly  
My parents were of good degree  
by whom I would not counseled be,  
Lord Jesus forgive me with mercy relieve me,  
Receive O sweet saviour my spirit unto thee.  
¶ My name is Hutton, yea Luke of bad life  
ah woe is me woe is me for my great folly:  
Which on the high way robbed man and wife,  
be warned young wantoness, etc.  
Enticed by many a graceless mate,  
Whose counsel I repent too late. Lord, etc.  
¶ Not twenty years old alas was I  
ah woe is me woe is me, etc.  
When I began this felony  
be warned young wantoness, etc.  
With me went still twelve yeomen, tall  
Which I did my twelve a Apostles call. Lord, etc.  
¶ There was no Squire nor baron bold  
ah woe is me woe is me for my great folly:  
That road the way with silver or gold,  
be warned young wantoness, etc.  
But I and my twelve Apostles gay,  
would lighten their load ere they went away, lord, etc.  
¶ This news procured my kinsfolks grief,  
ah woe is me woe is me  
They hearing I was a famous thief  
be warned young wantoness,  
They wept they wailed they wrong their hands  
that thus I should hazard life and lands. lord, etc.  
¶ They made me a jailor a little before, ah woe, etc.  
to keep in prison offenders store, be warned, etc.  
But such a jailor was never none,  
I went and let them out every one. lord, etc.  
¶ I witted their sorrow sore grieved me  
ah woe is me, etc.  
Such proper men should hanged be  
be warned young, etc.  
My office than I did defy  
And ran away for company. lord, etc.  
Three years I liu●d upon the spoil  
ah woe is me etc.  
Giving many a carl the foil  
be warned young etc.  
Yet never did I kill man nor wife  
though lewdly long I led my life. lord, etc.  
¶ But all too bad my deeds hath been,  
ah woe is me, etc.,  
Offending my country and my good queen,  
be warned young, etc.  
All men in Yorkshire talk of me,  
A stronger thief there could not be. lord, etc.  
¶ Upon S. Luke's day was I borne, ah woe, etc.  
wham want of grace hath made a scorn. be war. etc.  
in honour of my birth day then,  
I robbed in a bravery nineteen men. Lord, etc.  
¶ The country weary to bear this wrong.  
ah woe is me, etc.  
With huse and cries pursued me long, be war, etc.  
Though long I scaped, yet lo at last.  
London I was in newgate cast.  
There did I lie with a grieved, ●●nde,  
ah woe is me, etc.  
Although the keeper was gentle and kind,  
be warned young etc.  
●et was be not so kind as I,  
〈◊〉 let me 〈◊〉 at liberty. lord, etc.  
¶ At last the sheriff of Yorkshire came,  
ah woe is me, etc.  
And in a warrant he had my name,  
●e warned young, etc.  
〈◊〉 he at York thou must be tried,  
With me therefore hence must thou ride. lord, etc.  
¶ Like pangs of death his words did sound,  
ah woe is me, etc.  
My hands and arms full fast he bound,  
be warned etc.  
Good sir quoth I, I had rather stay,  
I have no heart to ride that way. lord, etc.  
¶ When no entreaty might prevail,  
ah woe is me, etc.  
I called for beer, for wine and ale,  
be warned, etc.  
And when my heart was in woeful case,  
I drunk to my friends with a smiling face. lord, etc.  
¶ With clubs and staves I was guarded then,  
ah woe is me, etc.  
I never before had such waiting men  
be warned etc.  
If they had ridden before amain,  
Beshrew me if I had called them again. lord, etc.  
¶ And when unto York that I was come, ah, etc.  
Each one on me did pass their doom. be war, etc.  
and whilst you live this sentence note,  
Evil men can never have good report. lord, etc.  
¶ Before the judges when I was brought,  
ah woe is me, etc.  
Be sure I had a careful thought, be, etc.  
Nine-score inditements and seventeen,  
against me there was read and seen. lord, etc.  
¶ and each of these was felony found,  
ah woe is me. etc.  
which did my heart with sorrow wound, be, etc.  
What should I here in longer stay,  
For this I was condemned that day. lord, etc.  
¶ My death each hour I do attend,  
ah woe is me:  
In prayer and tears my time I spend. be etc.  
And all my loving friends this day,  
I be entreat for me to pray. Lord etc.  
¶ I have deserved long since to die, ah woe etc.  
A viler sinner lived not then I: be etc.  
On friends I hoped my life to save,  
But I am fittest for my grave: Lord etc.  
¶ Adieu my loving friends each one,  
ah woe is me woe is me for my great folly,  
Think on my words when I am gone,  
be warned young wantoness, etc.  
When on the ladder you shall me view,  
think I am nearer heaven than you, Lord etc.  
Hutton.  
FINIS.   

Printed at London for Thomas Millington. 1598.