%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Midwife of Poplar's / Sorrowful Confession and Lamentation in Newgate / Who was Condemned to Dye for that Horrid and Unheard of Murder, which she / committed on the Bodys of several young infants, whom she Starved to Death, / and was accordingly Executed for the same in Holbourn, upon the 23d. of this / instant October, 1693. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1693 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 06/17/2008 20807

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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

2.192 R188574 1 Russels last Farewel Russell's Farewell Russell's Last Farewell I Am the worst of Women-kind, / Compton is my Name, date from title Pepys 2.192 Rollins (1) VII:17-20; Wing M2001[B] 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: 192 The Midwife of Poplar's / Sorrowful Confession and Lamentation in Newgate / Who was Condemned to Dye for that Horrid and Unheard of Murder, which she / committed on the Bodys of several young infants, whom she Starved to Death, / and was accordingly Executed for the same in Holbourn, upon the 23d. of this / instant October, 1693. The Midwife of Poplar's Sorrowful Confession and Lamentation in Newgate Who was Condemned to Dye for that Horrid and Unheard of Murder, which she committed on the Bodys of several young infants, whom she Starved to Death, and was accordingly Executed for the same in Holbourn, upon the 23d. of this instant October, 1693. The Midwife of Poplar's Sorrowful Confession and Lamentation in Newgate Who Was Condemned to Die for that Horrid and Unheard-of Murder, Which She Committed on the Bodies of Several Young Infants, Whom She Starved to Death, and Was Accordingly Executed for the Same in Holborn, upon the 23rd. of this Present October, 1693. 1/2 sheet oblong folio, 200 x 310 cropped top edge, creased, holed surface, uneven inking funerary borders: 32 x 5, 67 x 5, 73 x 4 1693 Printed for J. Bissel, at the Bible and Harp in West-Smith-Field. J. Bissel 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 monstrosity news punishment 06/17/08 Checker Rachel Mann Metadata updated, xml created 7/2/2007 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"><hi rend="italic">The Midwife of Poplar's</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Sorrowful Confession and Lamentation in <hi rend="bold">Newgate</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Who was Condemned to Dye for that Horrid and Unheard of Murder, which she</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">committed on the Bodys of several young infants, whom she Starved to Death,</hi></seg> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">and was accordingly <hi rend="bold">E</hi>xecuted for the same in H<hi rend="bold">olbourn,</hi> upon the 23d. of this</hi></seg> <seg n="6" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">instant O<hi rend="bold">ctober,</hi> 1693.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="7" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Tune of, <hi rend="bold">Russels last Farewel.</hi> Licensed according to Order.</hi></seg>
I Am the worst of Women-kind, Compton it is my Name, I was to Cruelty inclin'd, and do Repent the same, But Oh! I wish I ne're had done that wicked deed, for why, My Thread of Life is almost spun, now I'm Condemn'd to dye.
In Poplar near fair London Town, 'twas there that I did dwell, My Murders calls just Vengeance down, for they do far excel The worst of Villains in the Land, as e'ery one may own, The very truth to understand would melt a heart of stone.
For three and thirty years ago, I Midwife did begin, And of late years assurely know, I have been murdering; Sweet Infants from their Mothers Womb, Oh! wretched Creature, I Starving did make their Dismal Doom, for which I now must dye. My maid and I did go from Home, as being not afraid, And left three Children all alone, thus was I then betray'd, A little Boy and Girl I left, to Nurse an infant young, Who was of life almost bereft, thus I the Babes did wrong. I left none but Water and Cheese, to feed the Babe that cry'd, At which sad grief did greatly seize Neighbours on e'ery side, The Boy he told unto them then, that they might find two more, Young Infants in a basket dead, upon a shelf below. This sight did much amaze them all, so soon as they were found, Vermin did there about them craul, as they lay above ground, Then they dug up the Cellar floor, directed by the Boy, And there they found two or three more, all which I did destroy.
The Babe that in the Cradle lay, did cry for Nourishment, They put it out to Nurse straightway, who soon to dress it went, And as she took the Linnen off to dress it unto bed, The very Ears were rotted off from this poor Infants head. O Cruel Wretch, what shall I do, a Monster to all good, That could my bloody hands imbrew in little Infants blood, How could I slumber Night or Day, or take one wink of rest, While pritty Murther'd Infants lay, which might my sleep molest. But I alas! was Seiz'd at last, and unto Justice brought, And as along the Streets I past, I was with passion fraught, I at my Tryal did appear, and am Condemn'd to dye, The Laws cannot be too severe for such a Wretch as I. And I account e're long must give, of my Offenses here, Unto that great and mighty Judge, who will e're long appear, How shall I look him in the face, or from his presence fly, I have quite spent my day of Grace, who am Condemn'd to dye.
Printed for J. Bissel, at the Bible and Harp in West-Smith-Field.