%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> Strange and true News from Westmoreland./ Being a true Relation of one Gabriel Harding who coming home drunk, struck his Wife a blow/ on the brest, and killed her out-right, and then denyed the same: Likewise how a Stran/ ger did come to the House cloathed in green, the people that were eye=witnesses said it was/ an Angel, and how the Stranger (or Angel) did give Sentence on the man for killing of his/ Wife: Also how Satan did break the mans neck that did forswear himself, and the Stran=/ ger or Angel did command Satan to hurt none else, and to vanish; which being done, there was a pleasant harmony of musick heard to sound; then did the stranger cloathed in green/ take his leave of the people; whereof the chiefest in the Parish desired it might be put into/ print, and have hereunto set their hands. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1685 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 09/10/2007 20775

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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

2.155 R234345 1 In Summer time In Summer Time Attend good Christian people all,/ Mark what I say both old and young [Attestation: Here are the Names of some of the chiefest men that live in the Parish, Christopher Rawly, Esq., Iames Fish, Gent. William Lisse, Gent. Simon Pierce, Ambrose White, Oliver Craft, RobertBord, Thomas Clifford, Yeomen; George Crawly, Peter Vaux, Phillip Cook, Frances Martin, George Horton, Husbandmen.] title unclear: G[a]briel Harding; imprint unclear: Printed for J. Clarke, W. Thackeray [,] and T[.] [Passinger][,] 168[5]; date from imprint Pepys 2.155 Wing S5836 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: 155 Strange and true News from Westmoreland./ Being a true Relation of one Gabriel Harding who coming home drunk, struck his Wife a blow/ on the brest, and killed her out-right, and then denyed the same: Likewise how a Stran/ ger did come to the House cloathed in green, the people that were eye=witnesses said it was/ an Angel, and how the Stranger (or Angel) did give Sentence on the man for killing of his/ Wife: Also how Satan did break the mans neck that did forswear himself, and the Stran=/ ger or Angel did command Satan to hurt none else, and to vanish; which being done, there was a pleasant harmony of musick heard to sound; then did the stranger cloathed in green/ take his leave of the people; whereof the chiefest in the Parish desired it might be put into/ print, and have hereunto set their hands. Strange and true News from Westmoreland. Being a true Relation of one Gabriel Harding who coming home drunk, struck his Wife a blow on the brest, and killed her out-right, and then denyed the same: Likewise how a Stran- ger did come to the House cloathed in green, the people that were eye-witnesses said it was an Angel, and how the Stranger (or Angel) did give Sentence on the man for killing of his Wife: Also how Satan did break the mans neck that did forswear himself, and the Stran- ger or Angel did command Satan to hurt none else, and to vanish; which being done, there was a pleasant harmony of musick heard to sound; then did the stranger cloathed in green take his leave of the people; whereof the chiefest in the Parish desired it might be put into print, and have hereunto set their hands. Strange and True News From Westmoreland. Being a True Relation of One Gabriel Harding Who Coming Home Drunk, Struck His Wife a Blow on the Breast, and Killed Her Outright, and Then Denied the Same: Likewise How a Stranger Did Come to the House Clothed in Green, the People that Were Eye-witnesses Said it Was an Angel, and How the Stranger (or Angel) Did Give Sentence on the Man for Killing of His Wife: Also How Satan Did Break the Man's Neck that Did Forswear Himself, and the Stranger or Angel Did Command Satan to Hurt None Else, and to Vanish; Which Being Done, There Was a Pleasant Harmony of Music Heard to Sound; Then Did the Stranger Clothed in Green Take His Leave of the People; Whereof the Chiefest in the Parish Desired it Might Be Put Into Print, and Have Hereunto Set Their Hands. 1/2 sheet oblong folio, 212 x 322 cropped left and bottom edges, uneven inking 1685 Printed for J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger, 1685. J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, T. Passinger Weinstein: imprint date from 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 crime marriage news punishment religiousfigures 9/10/07 Checker Rachel Mann Transcription checked, metadata updated, XML created 8/9/06 Transcriber Simone Chess Transcription checked 8/9/06 Transcriber Maggie Sloan Original transcription 8/20/2004 Bibliographer Maggie Sloan/Laura Miller Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
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ATtend good Christian people all, Mark what I say both old and young, Unto the general judgment day, I think it is not very long. A wonder strange I shall relate, I think the like was never shown, In Westmoreland in Tredenton Of such a thing was never known. One Gabriel Hardin liv'd of late, As may to all men just appear, Whose yearly rent by just account, Came to five hundred pound a year. This man he had a vertuous wife, In Godly ways her mind did give, Yet he as rude a wicked wretch, As in this sinful Land did live. Much news of him I will relate, The like no mortal man did hear:
'Tis very new and also true, Therefore good Christians all give ear. One time this man he came home drunk As he us'd which made his wife to weep, Who straightway took him by the hand, Saying, dear Husband lie down & sleep. She lovingly took him by the arms, Thinking in safety him to guide, A blow he struck her on the breast, The woman straight sunk down and dy'd The Children then with mournful cries They run into the open street, They wept, they wail'd, they wrung their hands To all good Christians that they meet. The people then they all ran forth, Saying Children why make you such moan O make you hast unto our house, Our dear mother is dead and gone.
OUr Father hath [our m]other kill'd, The Children they cryed then, The people then they all made haste, And said their hands upon the man. He presantly denied the same, Said from guilty murder I am free, If I did that wicked deed he said, Some example I wish be seen by me. Thus he forswore the wicked deed, Of his dear wives untimely end Quoth the people, let's conclude with speed That for the Corroner we may send. Marke what I say the doors fast shut, The people the Children did deplore, But straight they heard a man to speak, And one stood knocking at the door. One in the house to the door made haste, Hearing a man to knock and call, The door was opened presently, And in he came amongst them all. By your leave people then he said, May a stranger with you have some talk, A dead woman I am come to see, Into the room I pray sir walk. His eyes like to the stars did shine, He was cloath'd in a bright grass green, His cheecks was of a crimson red, For such a man was seldom seen. Unto the people then he spoke, Hark well these words which I shall say, For no Corroner you shall send, I'm judge and jury here this day. Bring hither the man that did the deed, And firmly hath denied the same, They brought him into the room with speed To answer this wicked deed with shame. Now come O wretched man quoth he, With shame before thy Neighbours all, Thy body thou hast brought to misery, Thy soul into a deeper thrall. Thy cheifest delight was drunkenness, And lew'd women O cursed sin,
Blasphemous Oaths, and curses vile, A long time hast thou wallowed in. Thy Neighbours thou would'st let at strife And always grinding on the poor, Besides thou hast murdered thy wife, A fearful death thou dyest therefore. Fear nothing good people, then he said, I sight presently will appear. Let all your trust be in the Lord, No harm shall be while I am here. Then in the Room the Devil appear'd, Like a brave Gentleman did stand; Satan quoth he that was the judge, Do no more then thou hast command, The Devil then he straight laid hold, On him that had murdered his wife; His neck in sunder then he brake, And thus did end his wretched life. The Devil then he vanished Quite from the people in the Hall, Which made the people much afraid, Yet no one had no hurt at all. Then straight a pleasant melody Of musick straight was heard to sound It ravish't the hearts of those stood by, So sweet the Musick did abound. Now quoth this gallant man in green, With you I can no longer stay, My love I leave my leave I take, The time is come I must away. Be sure to love each other well. Keep in your breast what I do say, It is the way to go to heaven, When you shall-rise at judgment day, The People to their homes did go, Which had this mighty wonder seen, And said it was an Angel sure, That thus was cloathed all in green. And thus the news from Westmoreland, I have related to you ore; I think it is as strange a thing As ever Man did hear before.
Here are the Names of some of the chiefest men that live in the Parish, Christopher Rawly, Esq. James Fish, Gent. William Lisse, Gent. Simon Pierce, Ambrose White, Oliver Craft, Robert Bord, Thomas Clifford, Yeomen; George Crawly, Peter Vaux, Phillip Cook; Frances Martin, George Horton, Husbandmen.
Printed for J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger[,] 168[5.]