%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Cruel Cooper of Ratcliff. / In Three PARTS. / PART I. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1790-1790 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 05/04/2012 32497

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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

T34446 NEAR Ratcliff Cross lived a cooper there, / Who had a virtuous wife comely and fair, Near Ratcliff-cross he lived years 'tis known, / And to his wife he was a cruel one, And to his closet he in private went, / Where he with bitter cries did sore lament, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 289765 The Cruel Cooper of Ratcliff. / In Three PARTS. / PART I. The Cruel Cooper of Ratcliff. In Three PARTS. PART I. The Cruel Cooper of Ratcliff. In Three PARTS. PART I. 1790-1790

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<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Cruel Cooper of Ratcliff.</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">In Three PARTS.</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">PART I.</hi></seg>
NEAR Ratcliff Cross lived a cooper there, Who had a virtuous wife comely and fair, He by this prudent woman had a son, Besides this youth they children neer had none. Tho wise and prudent, yet this cruel man Did oftimes beat her with a cruel hand, As he did one day with grief of heart, The youth with tea,s did take his mothers part, Cries he. Father, Im afraid you will With kicks and cuffs my tender mother kill. Hearing these words he then his son did beat, And that night turnd him into the street. Saying, if thou comest here any more, Ill break thy bones, he then locked the door, In the wide street this lad did lay all night, And in the morning came when it was light. But when this man looked and saw his son, In a vast passion he to him did run, And with an adz knockd him on the Crown, Which laid the youth along upon the ground. Being thus servd, in tears he did lament, Then up he got, and out of doors he went, Saying, if I should any longer stay, He in his wrath will take my life away. And to prevent what dangers may ensue, Father and mother he bids both adieu,
And having knowledge of his fathers trade, Went ooopers mate to Turkey it is said, He liked the country so well we do find, The ship came back and left the lad behind; He placed himself with a native to dwell, Whose family loved him very well, Though young in years he was grown very tall, And of a comely Countenance withal, The native damsels did him much admire, And to enjoy him some had vast desire, His master kept him for his serving man, And in short time by deaths destroying hand, His master happened to trip away, Who being dead, the young man bore the sway. His mistress lovd him as she did her life, And in short time was made his lawful wife, She was prodigious rich we undersland, And he had many slaves at his command. Now will I leave him for a little while, With Providence on him and her to smile, And in the next part some enquiry make, What sort of life his cruel sire doth take.
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Near Ratcliff-cross he lived years tis known, And to his wife he was a cruel one, And in process of time death did them part, And tis supposed this man broke her heart. After her death he could not thrive at all, Day after day he down at heels did fall, And by degrees this man was brought so low, For Debt himself he was afraid to shew. The Bailiffs waited for him day and night, He knowing of the same kept out of sight, And to prevent his going unto a Goal, In a merchant-man he unto sea did sail. Thus he for debt was forcd to fly from home, And on the raging seas where billows foam, To their great grief, this man and twenty more Were carried prisoners to the Turkish shore. It happened so as we do understand, They were made slaves unto his sons command, Full half a year in slavery they had been, In all which time his son he had not seen. This cooper he was aged sixty two, Who was the oldest of the whole ships crew, Being stiff with age, his tbsk could not perform, By which he sufferd many a heavy storm. The Task-master to him was sharp indeed, He often whipt him till he made him bleed, Upon a time he lashd him so one day, He could no longer stand, but down did lay.
Being laid down the task master did go, And gave the head master this to know, Crying, sir, your slave an aged man, Will not perform his task do all I can. He tells me plainly that his work is done, When hearing this, the head master his son, Went out among the slaves, where he found His aged father lying on the ground. Not knowing him with great severity He lashd his father very grievously, Which made him cry, Sir oh my flesh is sore, Do hold thy hand, and strike me no more. The task is hard your servant puts on me, What I can do, to that I am most free, To suffer thus I am not able to live, Kill me outright and I will you forgive. Hearing these words his son did him view, And said, tell me what Countryman are you? His answer was, I came from Old England, I was a Cooper, sir, from fair London. My name is Robert Stark, tis know right well, I was a man in great repute did dwell, But as it provd Fortune did frown on me, Now tis my Lot your suffering slave to be. Have you no family? he answerd no; I buried a wife seven years ago, And I had a son a hopeful child was he, Three years before her death he went from me, I have not heard from him now all this while, I was both cruel to my wife and child, And I do really think now from my heart, Tis for my cruelty I thus do smart. Now hearing this, his son with grief was filld, And tears like water that was finely stilld, Run down his cheeks amain, tear after tear, To think that he had lashd his father dear. Then he aside his task-master did call, And said, do not abuse this man at all, He is my Father, but dont let him know I am his Son. Then he home did go.
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And to his closet he in private went, Where he with bitter cries did sore lament, At length by chance his wife did him hear, Who said, what makes you to grieve my dear? His answer was, to grieve great cause I have, For my own Father is become my slave. Not knowing him, I lashd htm oer and oer, To think of this grieveth me very sore. To think the curse of God should light on me, But what I did it was innocently. O wife, what shall I do, my heart doth bleed, Do let my father come to me with speed. They sent for him, and when he came there They of his tender flesh did take great care, His bleeding wounds anointed were with oil, And the poor man stood trembling all the while. This being done, choice linen fine and soft, And other costly things to him were brought.
And in these when he Garments was arrayd, He then with tears lift up his eyes, and said, Lord what am I mere than another slave, That I such favour of my master have, Blest be his name that thus my friend dotn stand, To pity me thus in a foreign land. Hearing these words, his son could not detain His tears from falling, and to drop amain, He said, the man who for you thus hath done, Behold he is your dear and only son. Im grievd to think that I provd so severe, To lay hands upon my father dear, But God I hope will pardon me, because I did not know that you my father was. Hearing these words, like one struck in amaze, He winh a blush thon on his son did gaze, Saying, are you my son? alas, alas! By this we see what God can bring to pass. My son, my son, Im glad thy face to see, But what astonishment is here for me, That I who beat my child quite out of door, Should thus be forcd his favour to implore, Father, the Lord he did these things foresee, That you should come your childs slave to be, And God was pleasd these things to do by you, To shew what he can bring proud mortals to. The Lord has placd me here to live and reign. To be a friend to ease thee of thy pain, Ill succour thee till death, and for thy sake, I of my native slaves great care will take. He cherishd him oftimes, but on a day His wife was pleased then these words to say, Husband, because he cruel was to you, I neer shall love your father that is true. I do not care that he should here remain, From whence he came let him return again, And unto him we will some riches give, Enough tn cherish him whilst he doth live. For quietness sake he made her this reply. But turnd him round and wept most bitterly, To think that he must with his father part, Grief like a spear struck him unto the heart. Then in short time his father left the shore, And in a Merchant ship he did come oer, Again to England, and did bring to town, As much in Riches as five thousand pounds. He owed an hundred pounds, which he paid, When being out of debt, these words he said, First my dear God I give thanks to thee, Next for my Child my prayers shall be. For had it been another, I deservd, In slavery till death I must have servd, And neer had met one in that distant place, Thus to commiserate my wretched case. Now to conclude, young men let these Lines, Be well engraven in your hearts and minds, That is, to serve the Lord and shun the devil, And like rhis young man still do good for evil.
Sold at No. 42, Long-Lane.