The wicked Midwife, the cruel Mother, and the harmless Daughter. OR, A cruel murder committed upon a newborn child by the Midwife, whom the Grandmother of the child hired to kill, but unknown to the Mother of the child: Now the Mother of this Infant being falsely accused by her own Mother, was executed at Lancaster Assize, at Midsummer last.  
To the tune of, The bleeding Heart.  
 

KInd countrymen pray listen now,  
And I'll declare that all may know  
What chance in Lancashire befell,  
With tears of woe the same I tell.   

I well may speak in tears of woe,  
The like vile deed I near did know,  
But now in these our latter days,  
Many offend in wicked ways.   

Forth from the North comes heavy news,  
As all may think by this ensues:  
My Pen must write of bloody crimes,  
Which hath been acted of late times.   

There lived a Maiden young and fair,  
Which many young men loved dear:  
And him that she esteemed of best,  
Did her most wrong of all the rest.   

He with alluring charms beguiled  
This Maids, till she was got with child.  
Now here begins this maiden's woes,  
As the ensuing verses shows.   

Now when the found she was defiled,  
And that he had got her with child,  
Then unto him she made her moan,  
Desiring it might not be known.   

Quoth he, sweet Heart, I'll marry thee  
〈◊〉 as possible it may be  
 
  

Then to her Mother she did go,  
Entreating her it might be so,  
But she vild woman it denied,  
And said she should not be his Bride.   

Daughter, quoth she, you are too young,  
Therefore I charge you hold your tongue.  
Seven years longer you shall carry  
Before any young man you marry.   

This answer still her Mother made,  
Until she saw her Daughter fade,  
By perfect tokens she did find,  
What did torment her daughter's mind.   

And then she her examined,  
Who told the truth and near denied,  
Poor Maid, with sorrow, grief, and care,  
Unto her Mother did declare,   

Desiring that she might be wed,  
To him that gained her maidenhead:  
But her vild Mother it denied,  
Quoth she, for thee I will provide.   

Thou shalt not come to any shame,  
For there is none shall know the same.  
You shall securely live with me,  
Till that you safe delivered be.   

Her time expired that she must be  
B● 〈…〉 of pain set free:  
 
  

The second part,  
To the same tune.  
 

Quoth she I will give you five pound,  
So I may find you just and sound,  
To keep my counsel in this case,  
And not declare't in any ways.   

But first I'll have you for so swear,  
Ere I to you will it declare,  
In this thing that I do intend,  
What you will prove my secret friend.   

The Midwife made a solemn vow,  
That none from her the same should know,  
Ay you'll pay me well for my hire,  
I'll do any thing you require.   

Why then quoth she, the cause is this,  
My Daughter now in labour is,  
And I do crave your help and skill.  
My Daughter save, but her Child kill.   

Quoth the Midwife, I will do so,  
Then homewards they made haste to go,  
Where they found her in extreme woes.  
In stead of friends, they prove her foes.   

Now being come to this poor souls.  
Who durst not them for to control:  
Yet thus her Mother still she prayed  
For to have some more womens' aid.   

But she would not thereto consent,  
Because of her devilish intent.  
They her delivered of a boy,  
The which the Midwife bore away.   

And as her Mother had decreed,  
The Midwife wrought this horrid deed,  
For she the pretty Babe did kill,  
And buried it in a Dunghill.   

They told the Mother of the child  
That she with it should not be toiled:  
And ●●ther for to shun all blame.  
  

Mother, quoth she, pray have a care  
Of this my only Child so dear.  
Daughter quoth she, be reconciled,  
For I'll be careful of your Child.   

The Midwife now for money comes,  
Expecting to have the whole sums:  
But she that should have paid the same,  
Said, for her hire, she should have blame.   

Quoth she, how could you have the heart,  
To act so vile a bloody part?  
I'll give you nothing for your hire,  
Those speeches set her heart on fire.   

Away she went thence presently,  
Whereas the murdered Child did lie,  
She takes it up and brings it home,  
And laid it in a darksome room.   

Then she to the old woman said,  
Look in that room the Child is laid:  
It will a witness be I doubt  
Against yourself when it cames out.   

Now hearing of her to say so,  
Into the rooms she straight did go,  
The Child from thence she did convey,  
Under the bed where her Daughter lay.   

And then her neighbours she called in,  
As though she had not guilty been:  
Quoth she, my Daughter is most vild,  
For she hath murdered her Child.   

Her Daughter being thus betrayed,  
Desired Heavens to be her aid,  
She scarcely did the same deny,  
But she lamented bitterly.   

To prison she conveyed was,  
From thence unto the judgement place,  
Where sentence was that she must die,  
〈…〉 she did re●●   

She said that she was no● 〈…〉  
Yet she was willing for 〈…〉  
Because her Mother wit● 〈…〉  
In such a horrid wicked 〈…〉   

When she came to the pl● 〈…〉  
Where cruel pangs m● 〈…〉  
Unto her Mother she did 〈…〉  
Craving her blessing the● 〈…〉   

Quoth she, I here die 〈…〉  
At which word many did 〈…〉  
The world I freely do 〈…〉  
Thus did she die, thu● 〈…〉   

Her Mother seeing of 〈…〉  
Began for ●o lam● 〈…〉  
Now she no longe● 〈…〉  
For all the truth she 〈…〉   

She told how all 〈…〉  
And how the M●● 〈…〉  
But money was 〈…〉  
That brought the● 〈…〉   

Quoth she my D●● 〈…〉  
But my money 〈…〉  
For love of tha● 〈…〉  
Which now brings 〈…〉   

Her Mother now 〈…〉  
And there must lie 〈…〉  
But than she may 〈…〉  
'Tis pity that she 〈…〉   

The Midwife fearin● 〈…〉  
Because she killed the 〈…〉  
Into a Well her sel● 〈…〉  
Where she lay lo● 〈…〉   

Too many such 〈…〉  
Before out 〈…〉  
And th● 〈…〉  
As 〈…〉