〈…〉 For which fact he, his wife, and the other woman, were executed at Lanceston, last Lent Assizes, 〈◊〉 in chains near unto the place where the murder was done.  
To the tune of the Lady's daughter.  
 

A Cruel Cornish Murder,  
I briefly will declare,  
●●t your attention further  
my Story wondrous rare,  
And do not think 'tis feigned,  
because it seemeth strange,  
What hath not Satan gained,  
when men from God do range?   

At Crowen in that County,  
an old blind man doth dwell,  
Who by good people's bounty,  
did live indifferent well,  
By name he's ca'ld Ca 〈…〉 wall,  
his house stood all alone  
Where ●●pt this deed so cruel,  
the like was scarce ere known.   

He had a proper Damsel  
that lived with him, his daughter  
To whom some suitors came still,  
and in true Wedlock saught her,  
Because the news was bruited,  
how that the blind man would,  
Though he were poor reputed  
give forty pounds in gold.   

Oh, thou bewitching money,  
What mischief doth thou cause,  
Thou mak'st men dote upon thee,  
contrary to God's Laws.  
What Murder is so heinous,  
but thou canst find out those,  
Who willingly for gain thus,  
will venture life to lose.   

Nay often soul and body,  
as in this Story rare,  
By the sufferance of God, I  
will punctually declare:  
The fame of this man's riches,  
a Uagrant chanced to hear,  
In haste his fingers itches,  
away the same to bear.   

This bloody murderous Villain,  
whose fact all manhood shames,  
Did live long time by stealing,  
his name was Walter james,  
Who with his wife, and one more  
young woman, and a boy,  
Three Innocents' in purple gore,  
did cruelly destroy.   

The twenty sixth of july,  
when it was almost night,  
These wanderers unruly,  
on this lone house did light,  
The old blind man was then abroad,  
and none but his old wife,  
And a little Girl, i'th' house abode,  
whom they deprived of life,   

At first they asked for Uittle:  
quoth she, with all my heart,  
Although I have but little,  
of that you shall have part;  
He swore he must have money.  
alas, here's none she said;  
His heart then being stony,  
he strait cut off her head.   

And then he took her G 〈…〉  
about some seven year 〈…〉  
Which he (oh monster b 〈…〉  
by both the heels did 〈…〉  
And beat her brains o 〈…〉  
oh barbarous cruelty, 〈…〉  
The like of this I never 〈…〉  
in any history.   

When they those two ha 〈…〉  
and ta'en what they de 〈…〉  
Like people fully filled, 〈…〉  
with joy, they sat by t 〈…〉  
And took Tobacco mer 〈…〉  
without all fear or dr 〈…〉  
Knowing no house nor to 〈…〉  
and while these two 〈…〉   

In came the blind man's d 〈…〉  
who had been workin 〈…〉  
And seeing such a slaught 〈…〉  
she wondrously was 〈…〉  
No marvel, when her B 〈…〉  
lay headless on the floor  
Her zeal she could not s 〈…〉  
but running out o'th' do 〈…〉   

His Sword which lay all 〈…〉  
with her she took, an 〈…〉  
As fast as she was able,  
she ran to call some folk  
To come and see the murd 〈…〉  
but after her he stepped,  
And ere she went much fur 〈…〉  
he did her intercept.   

〈…〉 (oh stonyhearted wretch)  
And into th' house he brought her:  
(what sighs alas I fetch,  
To think upon this Tragedy)  
for he with mischief stored,  
Cut off her head most bloodily,  
with th' piece o'th' broken Sword.   

Thus did three harmless innocents  
by one vile Caitiffs hand  
With both the counsel and consents  
o'th' woman of his hand:  
Their heads and bodies laid they  
all very close together,  
And being gone a little way,  
they did at last consider,   

That if the house were burned,  
the murder might be hid,  
With that they back returned,  
and as they thought, they did,  
Setting the house on fire,  
which burned till next day,  
Full many did admire,  
as they went on the way.   

These murderers suspected  
that people would have thought,  
Those three i'th' house enclosed,  
unto their deaths were brought,  
By accident of fire,  
but God did then declare  
His power 〈◊〉 let's admire  
his wondrous works most rare.   

The murdered corpse remained,  
as if no fire had been,  
Their clothes with blood besmeared  
not burnt, as might be seen:  
The leg and arm o'th' Maiden,  
were only burnt in sunder,  
Full many people said then,  
i'th' midst of their wonder.   

That surely there were murdered,  
by some that robbed them had,  
And presently 'twas ordered,  
that for this deed so bad,  
All Uagrants on suspicion,  
should apprehended be,  
And in this inquisition,  
one happened to see,   

Some clothes upon the parties,  
that from this house were ta'en  
And soon before a justice,  
the little boy told plain,  
All things before that passed:  
also the boy did say,  
james was i'th' mind to kill him,  
lest he should all betray,   

They taken were at Meriwicke,  
forty five miles, or more,  
From Crowen where the murder was  
about a month before,  
〈…〉  
Where in the jail they lay,  
Until the Lent Assize did come,  
which took their lives away▪   

The little Boy was quitted,  
and sent unto the Parish,  
Where he was borne, well fitted,  
with clothes and food, to cherish  
Him, as he ought with honesty  
and leaves his wandering trade▪  
The other three were 〈…〉'd to dye,  
on that which he had said.   

But Walter james denied,  
that ere he did that act,  
Forswearing (till he died  
and when he died) that fact  
His wife at her last ending,  
confessed the bloody guilt,  
So monstrously offending  
when so much blood was spilt.   

The other woman after  
confessed more plainly all:  
james took his death with laughter  
and ne'er to God did call:  
Thus as he lived a reprobate,  
and did God great re〈…〉 t,  
His soul which Christ bought at dear rate,  
in death he did neglect.   

He was hanged dead at Lancestone,  
among the rest that 〈…〉,  
Then carried where the deed was done▪  
and by the highway side,  
He hangeth for example,  
in chains now at this time,  
Thus have I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
discourse of this foul crime.   

Objection may be framed,  
where was the old blind man,  
Whom I have never named  
since when I first began.  
He was abroad i'th' interim,  
when this mischance befell,  
Or else the like had happed to him,  
but he is living still,   

And goes about the Country.  
to beg, as he before  
Did use, among the Gentry,  
and now his need is more.  
All you that are kind Christians,  
think on this bloody deed▪  
And crave the Lords assistance,  
by it to take good heed.    

The names of certain 〈◊〉 men of the Country, for confirmation of the verity of this tragical Story.  

john Albon.  
William Beauchamp.  
William Lanyon.  
William Randall.  
john C●s.  
Ezekiel Trenton.  
john 〈…〉 e.  
john Tr〈…〉.   
Finis.  
M. P.   

●ondon Printed for F. Coules.