%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Berkshire Tragedy, / OR, / The WITTAM MILLER, / With an Account of his Murdering his Sweetheart, &c. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer 1780-1780 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 11/16/2016 32450

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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

T21546 YOUNG men and maidens all give ear, / Unto what I shall now relate; Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 289727 The Berkshire Tragedy, / OR, / The WITTAM MILLER, / With an Account of his Murdering his Sweetheart, &c. The Berkshire Tragedy, OR, The WITTAM MILLER, With an Account of his Murdering his Sweetheart, etc. The Berkshire Tragedy, OR, The WITTAM MILLER, With an Account of his Murdering his Sweetheart, etc. 1780-1780

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family Featured folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 11/16/2016 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America crime death family law punishment religious concepts violence Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 11/16/2016 10:52:57 AM XBallad Levinson-Emley, Rachel Created XML Version of Ballad 11/16/2016 10:52:57 AM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 11/16/2016 10:52:57 AM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 11/16/2016 10:52:57 AM Transcriptionist Two Bell, Erik Transcription of ballad manuscript 11/16/2016 10:52:57 AM Transcriptionist One Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/26/2011 Checker Percy Ross Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 7/26/2011 Checker Percy Ross Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 6/17/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 5/12/2011 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 5/12/2011 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 5/12/2011 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
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YOung men and maidens all give ear, unto what I shall now relate; O mark you well, and you shall hear, of my unhappy fate. Near famous Oxford Town, i first did draw my breath, Oh! that I had been cast away in an untimely birth. My tender parents brought me up, provided for me well, And in the Town of WITTAM then, They plac'd me in a Mill. By chance upon an Oxford lass, i cast a wanton eye, And promis'd i would marry her, if she would with me lie. But to the world I do declare, with sorrow, grief and woe: This folly brought us in a snare, and wrought our overthrow. [Fo]r the damsel came to me, and said by you i am with child:
I hope dear John you'll marry me, for you have me defil'd. Soon after that, her mother came, as you shall understand, And oftentimes did me persuade To wed her out of hand. And thus perplex't on every side, I could no comfort find So to make away this creature, a Thought came in my mind. About a month since Christmas last, oh! cursed be the day, The devil then did me persuade, To take her life away. I call'd her from her sisters door, at eight o'clock at night: Poor creature she did little dream I ow'd her any spight. I told her, if she'd walk with me aside a little way: We both together would agree
about our wedding-day. Thus I deluded her again into a private place: Then took a stick out of the hedge, and struck her in the face. But she fell on her bended knee. and did for mercy cry, For heaven's sake don't murder me, I am not fit to die. But I on her no pity took, but wounded her full sore, Until her life away I took, which I can ne'er restore. With many grievous shrieks and cries, she did resign her breath, And in inhuman and barbarous sort, I put my love to death. And then I took her by the hai[r] To cover this foul sin: And drag'd her to the river side, then threw her body in. Thus in the blood of innocence, my hands were deeply dy'd, And shined in her purple gore, That should have been my bride. Then home unto my Mill I ran, but sopely was amaz'd, My man he thought I had mischief done, and strangely on me gaz'd. Oh! what's the matter then said he? you look as pale as death: What makes you shake, and tremble so, as though you had lost your breath. How came you by that blood upon your trembling hands and cloaths? I presently to him reply'd, by bleeding at the nose. I wishfully upon him look'd, but little to him said, But snatch'd the candle from his hand, and went unto my bed. Where I lay trembling all the night, for I could take no rest And perfect flames of Hell did flash wlthing my guilty face.
Next day the damsel being miss'd, and no where to be found, Then I was apprehended soon, and to the Assizes bound. Her sister did against me swear, she reason had no doubt, That I had made away with her, because I call'd her out. [B]ut Satan did me still persuade, I stifly should deny: Quoth he, there is no witness can against thee testify. Now when her mother did her cry, I scoffingly did say, On purpose then to frighten me, she sent her child away. I publish'd in the Post-boy then, my wickedness to blind, Five guineas any one should have, that could her body find. But Heaven had a watchful eye, and brought it so about: That though I siifly did deny, this murder would come out, The very day befor, the Assize her body it was found, Floating before her Father's door, at Hindsey Ferry Town, S[o] I the second time was siez'd, to Oxford brought with speed, And there examined again about the bloody deed. Now the Coroner and Jury both together did agree, That this damsel was made away, and murdered by me. The Justice too perceiv'd the guilt, nor longer would take bail: But the next morning I was sent away to Reading Goal. When I was brought before the Judge, my Man did testify, THAT blood upon my hands and cloath
that night he did espy. The Judge he told the Jury then, the circumstance is plain, Look on the Prisoner at the bar, he hath this creature slain. About the murder at the first the Jury did divide: But when they brought their Verdict in all of them guilty cry'd. The Jailor took and bound me strait, as soon as I was cast: And then within the Prison strong he there did lay me fast. With fetters strong then I was bound, and shin-bolted was I, Yet I the Murder would not own, but did it still deny. My Father did on me prevail, my kindred all likewise, To own the Murder, which I did to them with watery eyes. My father then he did me blame, saying, my Son, oh! why Has You thus brought yourself to shame, and all Your Family? Father, I own the crime i did, I guilty am indeed, Which cruel fact i must confess, doth make my heart to bleed. The worst of deaths I do deserve, my crime it is so base: For I no mercy shew'd to her, most wretched is my case. Lord grant me grace while I do stay that I may now now repent: Before i from this wicked world, most shamefully am sent. Young men take warning by my fall all filthy lusts defy; By giving way to wickedness alas! this day i die. Lord, wash my hateful sins away which have been manifold, Have mercy on me [I] thee pray, and Christ receive my soul.