The penitant Traitor, or the humble Confession of a Devonshire Gentleman, who was condemned for high treason, and executed at Tyburn for the same, in the Reign of King Henry the third, the ninteenth of July, 1267.  You may sing this if you please. To the Tune of, Fortune my Foe. 

ATtend good Christian people to my Story,  
A sadder yet did never come before ye;  
What I have been, and am, and like to be,  
I will declare, whilst you give ear to me.   

Love, grief, and zeal, doth make me sing this Ditty,  
To warn my Brethren of each close comity,  
That each of them learn like a good Disciple,  
To shun fowl Treason, and the Tree that's triple.   

Long time I lived i' th' Country next to Cornwall,  
And there my Children were both bred and borne all,  
Great was my credit, (as my debts did speak,)  
And now I'll show you why my neck must break.   

A Parliament was called in November.  
I, for the Commons was cried up a Member,  
With coin, and cogging, I got people's voices,  
Whereby I was elected with loud noises.   

My wicked Life I do lament with Tears,  
I was in debt quite over Head and Ears,  
But when I purchased a  Chair,  
My broken State I quickly did repair.   

I had the Art to threaten or insinuate,  
And as I pleased) increase faults or extinuate:  
My frown or smile, was forcible and mighty,  
As cold as Ice; or hot as Aquavitie.   

I got some two and twenty of my Faction,  
(All witty Members, and all men of Action,)  
We (as we pleased) made all our Brethren Widgeons,  
We winked at Tumults, and at strange Religions.   

For though (by tale) we sat above four hundred,  
Yet I myself, was for the first part numbered:  
Most of the rest were crowned men of Goram,  
And I was almost Dominas Factotum.   

Fair seeming Piety I made my Mantle,  
But of good Conscience I ne'er had one cantle:  
My fellow Knaves, and I, conglutinated  
So fast, we ne'er thought to be separated.   

Thus by my Faction the whole House was swayed,  
But (most) to me the people flocked for aid:  
I promised ease for all their griefs most troublesome,  
Yet racked them more than ten times twice the doublesome.   

I was in hope my reign should be perpetual,  
Which made me proud, and very bold to cheat you all,  
The Kingdom groaned, and under slavery lingers,  
Whilst like a cunning Cook I licked my Fingers.   

Those who were grieved, I gravely did advice,  
They should Petitions bring in humble wise:  
Which I did frame myself, and thus did rook 'em,  
They paid me when I gave, and when I took 'um.   

The King himself with slanders I disgraced,  
His faithful Servants, from him I displaced:  
Taxes, on taxes, on the people passes,  
And they did bear the burdens like tame Asses.  
I purchased Land for Plough and Pasture Ground,  
As much as cost me ne'er ten thousand pound:  
I waxed rich, my State was mighty made,  
Which proves a Chaire-man was a thriving Trade.   

Thus did I rise, when better men did fall,  
My Wealth encreaced, I got the Devil and all,  
Fools brought me gold, and plate, in hugger-mugger,  
Besides eight hundred pounds worth of loaf sugger.   

The twentyeth part, the wéekly Fasting Days,  
The feazement for the Sots and Subsidies:  
The wéekly seazements for the Trained Bands,  
The Crown's Revenue, and the Church's Lands.   

The Contributions, Sequestrations, Plunder,  
The sale of Offices, 
The Queen was then a French-woman she was Daughter to the Earl of Provence, in the 20 year of the King's reign. Stow, Page 184.  enforced Loans, 'tis wonder:  
This all is true, as true Records doth sing,  
When as th●rd Henry was this Kingdoms King.   

Thus I gained much, and by my Money-Pole,  
And something like Excize, these made me whole,  
My Children Portions too, with much content,  
I played in State my Act of Parliament.   

And lest my Plots should after be unmasked,  
And how I got such wealth might chance be asked:  
I cast about how I might gain such power,  
As might from future justice me secure.   

Then first I laboured to divest the Crown.  
Of all Prerogatives and to bring them down,  
First to both Houses, then but one, should have it,  
Five Members next, and last myself would crave it.   

But I did know the State would not admit,  
Such c●ange unless the Church did usher it:  
I left the old Religion for advantage,  
Endeavouring to erect on which did want age.   

Which when the learned Levites did withstand,  
Regarding God's word more than my command;)  
Such I suppressed, and made (for which I woe am,)  
The basest people Priests, like Jeroboam.   

Then each Profession sent out Preachers moe,  
Then both the two Universities could do:  
T'handle a Text, the Good wife's fingers itches,  
She dares preach with her Husband for the breeches.   

I first committed sacrilegious hansells,  
I robbed both Chapel, Church and Chancel,  
I said God's Table was a Popish Altar,  
For which you see, that my reward's a Halter.   

By this new godliness, but few did gain,  
The rest for want of Trading did complain,  
I told them 'twas a wicked Counsellor's plot,  
And till his head went off, their wares would not.   

This great man's guilt was Loyalty and Wisdom,  
Which made me cast about me to work his doom:  
The Sword of Justice was too short to do't,  
Ten thousand Clubs must therefore inch it out.   

He thus knocked down, some others (for like crime,)  
Were sent to Prison, some escaped in time:  
Thus Law and Equity, in awe were kéept here,  
And Clubs were taught how to control the Sceptre.   

We took from th' upper House Votes five times five,  
And they aimed at the King's Voice Negative,  
Which to effect, we did an Order make,  
That what he would not give, ourselves would take.   

Then we Petitioned that the Forts and Towers,  
And all the strength o'th' Kingdom might be ours,  
This was to save the King from foreign dangers,  
As if he had better fall by us then Strangers.   

Whilst he denies, they legally are seized on,  
By a Law called Resolved upon the Question:  
But still his chief strength was above our Arts,  
His righteous Cause, and's loyal Subjects Hearts.   

The King at Evesham gave the Rebel's battle,  
Whereas he made Bones in their Skins to rattle:  
Leicester was slain, 
This Battle was fought at Evesham in Worcester-shire, on Friday the 5 of August 1265. Stow, page 195.  who was their General,  
And sixteen Lords with him likewise did fall.   

Thus was their Army all to shatters shaken,  
Ten thousand men slain, and as many taken,  
Some hundreds suffered punishment condignant,  
For being as I am a foul Malignant.   

Thus did the wheel of Fortune turn quite round,  
And my mis●déeds my Conscience deep doth wound  
I had been better to have lived in beggary,  
Then thus to fall into the hands of Gregory.   

Oh Tyburn, 
There was a Wag-halter living in those times whose name was Gregory, Hen. Mounmouth, page 2000  Tyburn, oh thou sad Triangle,  
A Viler weight ne'er under thee did dangle:  
See here I'm come, at last with Hemp so new,  
To give thee what was (long before) thy due.   

How would I bless thee, couldst thou take away,  
My Life and Infamy, both in one day:  
But this in Ballads, will survive I know,  
Sung to that solemn Tune, Fortune my Foe.   

Then mark good Christian people and take heed,  
Use not Religion for an upper Weed:  
Serve God sincerely, touch not his Anointed,  
And then your Necks shall never be disjointed.   

God bless the King, the Queen, and all their Children,  
(And pardon me, what I 'gainst them have ill done,)  
May one of that brave Race still rule this Nation,  
So I beseech you sing the Lamentation.   
FINIS.