THE
Penitent Highway-man:
OR,
The Last Farewel of Mr. Biss.
Who was Born at Shaftsbury, in Wiltshire, and was arrain'd and found
guilty, and accordingly received Sentence of Death, and was Executed at Sa-
lisbury, on the 12th of March, 1695. To the Tune of, Russel's Farewel, etc.
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GOod People all I pray attend,
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and listen now to me,
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A sad Relation here I send
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of Biss in Shaftsbury:
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A noted Highway-man he was
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who on the Road did ride,
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And at the length it came to pass,
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he was condenm'd and dy'd.
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When he was to his Tryal brought,
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and at the Bar did stand,
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He for no kind of favour sought,
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but there held up his Hand,
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Declaring to the antient Judge,
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who was to try him then,
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He should not bear him any grudge,
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he wan't the worst of Men.
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He said, The Scriptures I fulfill'd,
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though I this Life did lead,
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For when the Naked I beheld,
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I clothed them with speed;
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Sometimes in Cloth and Winter-frize,
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sometimes in Russet-gray;
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The Poor I fed, the Rich likewise
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I empty sent away.
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What say you now my honour'd Lord,
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what harm was there in this?
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Rich wealthy Misers was abhorr'd
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by brave free-hearted Biss.
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I never robb'd nor wrong'd the Poor,
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as well it doth appear;
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Be pleas'd to favour me therefore,
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and be not too severe.
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Upon the Road a Man I met,
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was posting to a Jayl,
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Because he could not pay his Debt,
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nor give sufficient Bayl:
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A kind and loving Friend he found,
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that very day of me,
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Who paid the Miser forty Pound,
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and set the Prisoner free.
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Tho' he had got the Guinneys bright,
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and put them in his Purse,
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I followed him that very night,
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I could not leave him thus;
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Mounting my prancing Steed again,
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I crost a point of land,
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Meeting the Miser in a lane,
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where soon I bid him stand:
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You borrow'd forty Pounds, you know,
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of me this very day,
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I cannot trust, before you go,
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I must have present pay:
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With that I seiz'd & search'd him round,
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and rifl'd all his store,
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Where straight I got my forty Pound,
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with twenty Guinneys more.
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The Judge he made him this reply,
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Your Joaks are all in vain,
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By Law you are condemn'd to Dye,
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you will no Pardon gain,
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Therefore, Repent, repent with speed,
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for what is gone and past,
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Tho' you the Poor did clothe and feed,
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you suffer must at last.
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That word was like a fatal sword,
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it pierc'd him to the heart;
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The Lord for Mercy he implor'd,
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as knowing he must part
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With all his Friends and Pleasures too,
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to be as I have said,
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At Salsbury to People's view,
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a sad Example made.
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His melting Eyes did over-flow
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with penitential Tears,
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To see his dismal Overthrow,
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just in his strenght of Years.
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O kind and loving Friends, he cry'd,
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take warning now by me,
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Who must the pains of Death abide,
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this day in Salsbury.
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In grief and sorrow now I pass
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out of the World this day,
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The latter minute's in the glass,
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therefore good People pray,
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That as this painful Life I leave,
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the Lord may pity take,
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And in his arms my Soul receive,
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even for his Mercies sake.
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