%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> THE / Bloody minded Midwife, / Containing an Account of many Infants whom / she Murthur'd, or starv'd to Death, some of which were found in a / Hand-Basket above Ground, others digg'd up in a Cellar, where she / had Buried them. To the Astonishment of all Spectators. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1684-1700 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 02/21/2008 22227

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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

5.10 R172788 1 Russels last Farewel Russell's Farewell Russell's Last Farewell GOOD People all I pray attend, / unto a wicked deed, Weinstein lists date from content (1693). Pepys 5.10 Rollins (1) VII:7-13; Wing B3258[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. 5: 10 THE / Bloody minded Midwife, / Containing an Account of many Infants whom / she Murthur'd, or starv'd to Death, some of which were found in a / Hand-Basket above Ground, others digg'd up in a Cellar, where she / had Buried them. To the Astonishment of all Spectators. THE Bloody minded Midwife, Containing an Account of many Infants whom she Murthur'd, or starv'd to Death, some of which were found in a Hand-Basket above Ground, others digg'd up in a Cellar, where she had Buried them. To the Astonishment of all Spectators. The Bloody Minded Midwife, Containing an Account of Many Infants Whom She Murdered, or Starved to Death, Some of Which Were Found in a Handbasket Above Ground, Others Digged Up In a Cellar, Where She Had Burried Them. To the Astonishment of All Spectators. 1/2 sheet folio, 267 x 166 uneven inking vertical rules, framed with funerary borders 1684-1700 Printed for J. Bissel, at the Bible and Harp in West-Smith-Field. J. Bissel PBA

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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 2/21/2008 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Tragedy 02/21/08 Checker Rachel Mann Metadata updated, xml created 06/28/07 Checker Pavneet Aulakh Checked transcription, created metadata 2006 Checker Laura Miller Checked transcription 07/20/06 Transcriber Liberty Stanavage Original transcription 9/9/04 Bibliographer Simone Chess Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
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GOOD People all I pray attend, unto a wicked deed, While these sad Mournful Lines I penn'd, my very heard did bleed, And so would any heart of stone, the Rich as well as Poor, For sure the like was never known, in any Age before. At Poplar, near fair London Town, there did a Midwife dwell, Whose Murders calls just Vengeance down, since they do far excell, The greatest Villains in the Land, and that you all will own, When you the truth shall understand, 'twould melt a heart of stone. Full Three and Thirty Years ago, the Midwife did begin, And ever since, for ought we know, she has been Murdering, Young Infants from their Mothers Womb, when first they drew their breath, Starving she made their dismal doom, or some such Cruel Death. Neighbours observ'd her often times, which she could not endure, The better to conceal her Crimes, she kept her self Obscure, At last her sins full ripe did grow, Blood did for Vengeance Cry, And nothing can be hid we know, from Gods all seeing eye. The Midwife chanc'd to go from home, and left her servant Maid, Who after her did likewise roam, thus was they then betray'd, A litle Girl and Boy was left, to Nurse a Babe likewise, Who was almost of Life bereft, starving with bitter crys.
The Boy and Girl they made their moan, to some that pass'd the street, And cry'd that they were left alone, having no food to eat, But Water and one crum of Cheese, to feed the Babe that cry'd, At which sad grief did greatly sieze, Neighbours on e'ery side. The Officers and other Men, did open straight the door, Whereas the Boy he told them then, that they might find two more, Young Children in a Basket dead. upon a shelf below, They search'd the Place as he had said, and found it even so. This spectacle amaz'd them all, so soon as they were found, Live Virmin did about them craul, while lying above ground, At length they dug the Cellar floor, directed by the Boy, Where they found six or seven more, the which she did destroy. O Cruel Wretch that this could do, a Monster to all good, How could she this her hands imbrew, in little Infants blood, How could she slumber Night or Day, or take one wink of rest, While little Murther'd Infants lay, which might her sleep molest, This Midwife she was seiz'd at last, and to a Justice brought, And as along the streets she past, she was with passion fraught, She then was soon to Newgate sent, where she's confind to lye, And tho' she may in tears lament, 'tis just that she should dye.
Printed for J. Bissel, at the Bible and Harp in West-Smith-Field.