%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A New BALLAD of/ The Midwives Ghost:/ Who appeared to several People in the House where she formerly lived in Rotten-/ Row in Holbourn, London, who were all afraid to speak unto her; but she grow-/ ing very Impetuous, on the 16th of this Instant March, 1680, declarred her mind/ to the Maid of the said House, who with an Unanimous Spirit adhered to her,/ and afterwards told it to her Mistris, how that if they took up two Tiles by the/ Fire-side, they should find the Bones of Bastard-Children that the said Midwife/ had 15 years ago Murthered, and that she desires that her Kinswoman Mary/ should see them decently Buried; which accordingly they did, and found it as/ the Maid had said. The Bones are to be seen at the Cheshire-Cheese in the said/ place at this very time, for the satisfaction of those that believes not this Relation. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1680 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 09/10/2007 20763

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

2.145 R234336 1 When Troy Town, &c. Queen Dido; Troy Town When Troy Town TO speak of Murthers that have been/ committed in our Sphear of late; tune unclear: To the Tune of, When Troy T[ow]n, &c.; date from title and imprint Pepys 2.145 Rollins (1) III:30-36; Wing N568[c]A Pepys Library The Pepys ballads : facsimile volume Editor W.G. Day D.S. Brewer Cambridge [England] 1987 Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 2: 145 A New BALLAD of/ The Midwives Ghost:/ Who appeared to several People in the House where she formerly lived in Rotten-/ Row in Holbourn, London, who were all afraid to speak unto her; but she grow-/ ing very Impetuous, on the 16th of this Instant March, 1680, declarred her mind/ to the Maid of the said House, who with an Unanimous Spirit adhered to her,/ and afterwards told it to her Mistris, how that if they took up two Tiles by the/ Fire-side, they should find the Bones of Bastard-Children that the said Midwife/ had 15 years ago Murthered, and that she desires that her Kinswoman Mary/ should see them decently Buried; which accordingly they did, and found it as/ the Maid had said. The Bones are to be seen at the Cheshire-Cheese in the said/ place at this very time, for the satisfaction of those that believes not this Relation. A New BALLAD of The Midwives Ghost: Who appeared to several People in the House where she formerly lived in Rotten- Row in Holbourn, London, who were all afraid to speak unto her; but she grow- ing very Impetuous, on the 16th. of this Instant March, 1680, declarred her mind to the Maid of the said House, who with an Unanimous Spirit adhered to her, and afterwards told it to her Mistris, how that if they took up two Tiles by the Fire-side, they should find the Bones of Bastard-Children that the said Midwife had 15 years ago Murthered, and that she desired that her Kinswoman Mary should see them decently Buried; which accordingly they did, and found it as the Maid had said. The Bones are to be seen at the Cheshire-Cheese in said place at this very time, for the satisfaction of those that believes not this Relation. A New Ballad of the Midwife's Ghost: Who Appeared to Several People in the House Where She Formerly Lived in Rotten-row in Holborn, London, Who Were All Afraid to Speak Unto Her; But She Growing Very Impetuous, on the Sixteenth of this Present March, 1680, Declared Her Mind to the Maid of the Said House, Who With an Unanimous Spirit Adhered to Her, and Afterwards Told it to Her Mistress, How that if They Took up Two Tiles by the Fireside, They Should Find the Bones of Bastard Children that the Said Midwife Had Fifteen Years Ago Murdered, and that She Desires that Her Kinswoman Mary Should See Them Decently Buried; Which Accordingly They Did, and Found it as the Maid Had Said. The Bones Are to Be Seen at the Chesire-cheese in the Said Place at this Very Time, for the Satisfaction of Those that Believes Not this Relation. 1/2 sheet oblong folio, 204 x 310 cropped right edge, torn top edge, damaged surface, uneven inking cast fleurons 1680 London, Printed for T. Vere, at the Sign of/ the Angel in Guiltspur-Street. 1680. T. Vere Weinstein: title and imprint

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 Taxonomy used by Pepys to Organize Ballads in Albums A Small Promiscuous Supplement Devotion & Morality Drinking & Good Fellowship History - True & Fabulous Humour, Frollicks &c Love Pleasant Love Pleasant and Unfortunate Love Unfortunate Marriage Sea State & Times Tragedy Various Subjects Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/health alcohol animals/nature appearance Bible/biblical figures buildings/architecture catastrophe children class clothing/fashion country/nation crime death economics/trade entertainment family/procreation folklore gender historical figures & events holidays/seasons infidelity law London love maritime marriage military/war monstrosity mythology/Classical world news nobility/court politics/government punishment religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/sexuality supernatural/magic The New World travel trickery/deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/crass humor Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 9/10/2007 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Tragedy children crime death historicalfigures&events supernatural/magic 9/10/07 Checker Rachel Mann Transcription checked, metadata updated, XML created 12/04/06 Transcriber Cat Zusky Original transcription 8/20/2004 Bibliographer Maggie Sloan/Jessica Murphy Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">A New BALLAD of</hi></hi> </seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Midwives Ghost:</hi> </seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Who appeared to several People in the House where she formerly lived in <hi rend="bold">Rotten-</hi> </hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Row</hi></hi> <hi rend="italic">in <hi rend="bold">Holbourn, London,</hi> who were all afraid to speak unto her; but she grow-</hi> </seg> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">ing very <hi rend="bold">Impetuous</hi> , on the 16<hi rend="bold">th</hi> . of this Instant <hi rend="bold">March,</hi> 1680, declarred her mind</hi> </seg> <seg n="6" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">to the Maid of the said House, who with an Unanimous Spirit adhered to her,</hi> </seg> <seg n="7" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">and afterwards told it to her Mistris, how that if they took up two Tiles by the</hi> </seg> <seg n="8" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Fire-side, they should find the Bones of Bastard-Children that the said Midwife</hi> </seg> <seg n="9" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">had 15 years ago Murthered, and that she desired that her Kinswoman <hi rend="bold">Mary</hi> </hi></seg> <seg n="10" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">should see them decently Buried; which accordingly they did, and found it as</hi> </seg> <seg n="11" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">the Maid had said. The Bones are to be seen at the <hi rend="bold">Cheshire-Cheese</hi> in said</hi> </seg> <seg n="12" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">place at this very time, for the satisfaction of those that believes not this Relation.</hi> </seg> <lb/> <seg n="13" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the Tune of, <hi rend="bold">When Troy Town,</hi> etc.</hi> </seg>
T O speak of Murthers that have been committed in our Sphear of late; There's none like these I shall declare, by monstrous hand, and cruel Fate: Being acted by a Midwife fell, Which in Scroop-Court of late did dwell.
Mistris Atkins she there was call'd, of Reputation good alway; Till Death did send his piercing Dart, and told her that he could not stay: But she must to the Stigion Lake, For murthering Babes for Parents sake.
She seeing now her time was come, most bitterly began to weep; And lifting up her hands on high, she took a short, not lasting sleep: Six months ago, as I am told, Before she did this same unfold. Therefore not to detain you long to this discourse, I now will press; Which is a truth assuredly, as many know, and you may guess: When as 'tis plainly told herein, Whereas their bones are to be seen. The House whereas this Midwife liv'd, hath very much disturbed been; With Apparitions very strange, the like whereof hath not been seen: Sometimes resembling of her shape, At other times Hells mouth to gape. Which put the people in great fear, that there had taken up abode, Being loath for to disclose the same, for fear expersions they should load On her whom they really thought Could never be to Lewdness brought. But still they daily was opprest, with dismal shapes, and Lightings strange That by no means they could not rest, being very loath from thence to range: They told some Neighbours secretly, Desiring them their Faith to try. To speak unto this Spirit strange, if that occasion they saw; But they thereby was daunted quite, and very much was kept in awe: The hair o'their heads standing on end, To see their late Familiar Friend. She finding none that would Reply, importune at last did grow; A'th 16th . of this Instant March , unto the Maid reveal'd her Woe: Who then was by her Mistris sent, To fetch Night-cloaths Incontinent.
pray Virgin stay, then quoth the [?], for I to you will do no harm; And tell Mary whom I love most, that I hereby, her now do charm, Two Tiles by 'th fire up to take, A Board also, and then to make A Burial of what she finds, in decent and most handsome sort; And let the World to know my Crime, and that I am most sorry for't: Desiring Midwives to take heed, How they dispose their Bastard-breed. She having now reveal'd her mind, did vanish in a Flash away, And none doth know where she's confin'd, until the General judgement-day: When as she shall the answer make, For what she then did undertake. The Maid at first astonish'd was, at this which she her self did hear; And to her Mistris did impart, the same that now I do declare: Concerning of the Murthers strange, And did not seem at all to change. Which being throughly searched out, accordingly it did appear; The Maid she spoke of is suppos'd, to be her kind Kinswoman neer: That will fulfill her will, 'tis said, She being a Religious Maid. Most People they are apt of late, to condemn (most) strange things as lyes, To 'th Cheshire-Cheese you may repair, for this they will you satisfice: Having the Childrens Bones to show, In Holbourn if you do it know.
FINIS.
London , Printed for T. Vere , at the Sign of the Angel in Guiltspur-Street. 1680.