%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A wonderful Example of God's Iustice, shewed upon on Jasper / Conningham, a Gentleman born in Scotland, who was of opinion that there was neither God nor Devil. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1674-1674 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 03/08/2012 32026

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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

R186826 1 O Neighbour Robert Lord Willoughby O Neighbour Robert IT was a Scotch=man, / a Scoth=man lewd of Life, THis fearful fire / up to his knees did rise, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 399 A wonderful Example of God's Iustice, shewed upon on Jasper / Conningham, a Gentleman born in Scotland, who was of opinion that there was neither God nor Devil. A wonderful Example of God's Iustice, shewed upon on Jasper Conningham, a Gentleman born in Scotland, who was of opinion that there was neither God nor Devil. A wonderful Example of God's Justice, showed upon on Jasper Conningham, a Gentleman born in Scotland, who was of opinion that there was neither God nor Devil. 1674-1674 F. Coles, T. Vere, I. Wright, and I. Clarke

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<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">A wonderful Example of Gods Justice, shewed upon one J<hi rend="bold">asper</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Conningham, a Gentleman born in Scotland, who was of opinion that there was neither God nor Devil.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the Tune of, O Neighbour Robert.</hi></seg>
IT was a Scotch-man, a Scotch-man lewd of Life, That long had Lived unlawful from his wife: His name was Jasper Conningham, as I did understand; Whose dwelling was in Aberdine, a town in fair Scotland. He had a sister which was both fair and bright, Worshipfully wedded unto a worthy Knight, Godly, wise, and vertuous in every thing was she: A fairer comly Lady, in Scotland could not be. Her Wicked Brother such inward pains did prove, That with his fair Sister he greatly was in Love: He watches time and wooes her, he shews to her his mind, And still he says sweet sister be not to me unkind. This comly Lady in mild and gentle wise, Unto her Brother thus modestly replies; The Lord forbid dear brother I sho[u]ld consent at all, To such a damned action to bring our souls in thrall.
Is not great torments prepard for hateful sin? Is not God as righteous as ever he hath been? Is not hell prepared with quenchless flames of fire, To give such wicked persons, their due deserved hire. Wherefore dear brother repent and and call for grace, Let not these motions within your heart take place: Consider how to judgement, we shall one day be brought, To answer for our folles which in this Life we wrought. Her brother hearing her godly Christian talk, Within the Garden as they alone did walk Blasphemously replied, as shameless as he stood, Saying she had declared a tale of Robin Hood. You are deceived fair sister then said he, To talk of Heavens Glory, or hells Plagues to me; These are devised fables to keep poor souls in fear, That were by wise men written, though no such things there were.
You speak of a reckoning, and of a Judgement day: And after Life is ended, and flesh consumd away: And of a God most justly, will plague all things amiss, And those that do believe it, are much deceivd I wis. Alas, he said, my sister, these things are nothing so, No God nor Devil is biding, in heaven nor hell I know: All things are wrought by na[t]ure the Earth, the ayr, and Sky, There is no joy nor sorrow after that men do dye. Therefore let me have pleasure while here I doe remain I fear not Gods displeasure nor hells tormenting pa[i]n: No sooner had he spoken this foul blasphemous thing, But that a heavy judgement upon him God did bring. For in the Garden, whereas he did abide, Suddenly a fire sprang up on every side, Which round about inclosed this Damned Wretch that Day Who rord and crid most grievous, But could not start away.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The second Part, to the same Tune.</hi></seg>
THis fearful fire up to his knees did rise, Burning blew like brimstone in most outragious wise: The Lady which beheld it, run crying in for aid To pluck away her brother which in the fire staid. But nought prevailed, for all that they could do, Long staves and also pitchforks they reached him unto; Because they durst not venture neer to the fiery flame, He taking hold upon them to draw him out of the same. But not a finger nor hand that he could move, His arms hung dead behind him, great pains that he did prove, And now he bans and curses the day that he was born, And wishes that his carcass by devils might be torn. Now feel I surely, quoth he, there is a God, That sore doth plague me, with his strong iron rod. O hide me from his presence, his looks are death to me, Nothing but wrath and vengeance, about him I do see. I have despised him, but can no whit repent,
My heart is hardned, my mind cannot relent, No pitty nor compassion, nor mercy is in store, For me vile wretched creature, despisd for evermore. I am in hell tormented and to endless pain, Look how the devils torment me in stretching every vain, Look how they swarm about me, oh what hell fiends are these, Wo Worth the time that ever, I did the Lord displease. I burn in flaming fire, yet do no whit consume, My conscience doth torment me, that did in sin presume. Alas my loving Sister, now I do know full well, There is a God most righteous, and eke a devil in hell. And with these speeches his eyes fell from his head, And by the strings hung dangling below his chin stark dead. See how the devils then he said, have pluckt my eyes out quite, That alwaies was unworthy to view the heavens light. Then from his mouth there fell, his foul blasphemous tongue, In ugly manner most piteously it hung.
And there away it roted in all the peoples sight, By Lice and filthy vermine, it was consumed quite. With gastly groaning and Shrieks that sounded high, Two hours after this cursed man did lye, And there at length he dyed, and then the fire ceast His carcase stunk more filthy then any carrion beast. No man was able for to endure the smell, Nor yet to come to bury him, as true report doth tell; Untill he was consumed he laid above the ground, The doors about the garden, therefore was Locked round. Let all Blasphemers take warning by this thing, Lest that Gods vengeance they do upon them bring. And Lord grant all Christians thy holy grace and fear, They may think on the punishments that Conningham had here.
FINIS. Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke.