%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Unnatural Mother: / Being a true Relation of one Jane Lawson, once living at East-Barnet, / in Middlesex; who Quarreling with her Husband, urged him to / strike her, and thereupon the same night, being the first of Sept. / 1680. Drowned her self and two poor Babes in a Well. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1680 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 06/17/2008 20806

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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

2.191 R187648 1 There was a Rich Merchant Man The Rich Merchant Man There Was A Rich Merchant Man ATtend good People all, / unto my Story strange, Then English Women all, / take pattern now by me, / [I] did into temptation fall, / thus lost the lives of three. [with variations] date from title; refrain unclear: Then English Women all, / take pattern now by me, / [I] did into temptation fall, / thus lost the lives of three. Pepys 2.191 Rollins (1) III:41-46; Wing U86C 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: 191 The Unnatural Mother: / Being a true Relation of one Jane Lawson, once living at East-Barnet, / in Middlesex; who Quarreling with her Husband, urged him to / strike her, and thereupon the same night, being the first of Sept. / 1680. Drowned her self and two poor Babes in a Well. The Unnatural Mother: Being a true Relation of one Jane Lawson, once living at East-Barnet, in Middlesex; who Quarreling with her Husband, urged him to strike her, and thereupon the same night, being the first of Sept.1680. Drowned her self and two poor Babes in a Well. The Unnatural Mother: Being a True Relation of One Jane Lawson, Once Living at East-Barnet, in Middlesex; who Quarreling with Her Husband, Urged Him to Strike Her, and Thereupon the Same Night, Being the First of Sept. 1680, Drowned Herself and Two Poor Babes in a Well. 1/2 sheet oblong folio, 184 x 267 cropped left and bottom edges, holed, uneven inking vertical rules 1680 Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, I. Clarke, W. Thackeray, / and T. Passinger. F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, T. Passinger Weinstein: title

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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 6/17/2008 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Tragedy children crime death family/procreation marriage news violence 06/17/08 Checker Rachel Mann Metadata updated, xml created 7/1/2007 Checker Talya Meyers Ballad checked 2006 Transcriber Talya Meyers Original Transcription 8/22/2004 Bibliographer Maggie Sloan/Jessica Murphy Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left">The Unnatural Mother:</seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Being a true Relation of one <hi rend="bold">Jane Lawson,</hi> once living at <hi rend="bold">East-Barnet,</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">in <hi rend="bold">Middlesex;</hi> who Quarreling with her Husband, urged him to</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">strike her, and thereupon the same night, being the first of <hi rend="bold">Sept.</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">1680. Drowned her self and two poor Babes in a Well.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="6" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Tune is, <hi rend="bold">There was a Rich Merchant Man.</hi></hi></seg>
ATend good People all, unto my Story strange, To hear the like you never shall, if you the World do range: East-Barnet was the place, where long time I did dwell, And might have liv'd in happy case, had I considered well. Then English Women all, take pattern now by me, [I] did into temptation fall, thus lost the lives of three.
Jane Lawson was my Name, James Lawsons Cruel Wife, By him I had three Children small, and liv'd a happy Life; Till on a certain day, my Husband forth did go, At night return'd out of the way, not using to do so. Then English Women all, take pattern now by me, I did into temptation fall, thus lost the lives of three.
MY Neighbours well did know it was no common use, O then why should I use him so? or offer him abuse: But when I did perceive that he was much in D[rink] With angry words I did him grieve till he was like to sink. Then English Women all, take pattern now by me, I did into temptation fall, thus lost the lives of three. My Neighbours then came in, hearing this Quarrel great, Not used betwixt me and him, especially so late; They gave me good advice, and wisht me to be still, But their kind love I did despise, which prov'd my fatal ill. Then English women, etc. At last my Mother came, who liv'd not far from us, And told me 'twas a perfect shame, that we should Quarrel thus: You know your Husband is an honest man, quoth she, And therefore you do much amiss, thus angry for to be: Then English Women, etc. I that full well should take what from my Mother come, Bid her no Sermon for to make, but go and Preach at home: Her Mother hearing this, was troubled very sore, At last she shut her Mother with her Neighbours out of door. Then, etc.
No other Language then, her Mother did reply, But time will come full surely, when you'll grieve you did not try My Counsel, which is good, for I would Reconcile, And fain have things well understood to end this foolish Broile. Then, etc. But she did little mind the words her Mother said, But did abuse her Husband kind, and him she angry made: Then he did tell her plain, if she'd not quiet be, He'd make her quiet, and refrain this strange Simplicity. Then, etc. And then he did her give a Box upon the ear, Long after that she did not live, nor her poor Children dear: Two of them then she caught, as several neighbours tell; These Babes destruction then she wrought with her own, in a Well. Then, etc. Oh let us all desire, God would us patience give; To banish Wrath and sinful Ire, and peaceably to live: Let not the devil frame, nor put into your Breast; That which at last will end in shame and lose Eternal rest. Then English Women all, take pattern now by me: I did into temptation fall, thus lost the lives of three.
Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger.