%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Last Words of James Mackpherson Murderer. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 06/23/2014 33158

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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

I Spent my time in rioting, / debauch'd my health and strength, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 613 The Last Words of James Mackpherson Murderer. The Last Words of James Mackpherson Murderer. The Last Words of James Mackpherson Murderer. ?-?

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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 6/23/2014 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America advice crime death law punishment Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 6/23/2014 2:04:44 PM XBallad Jaworski, Cheryl Created XML Version of Ballad 6/23/2014 2:04:44 PM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/23/2014 2:04:44 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Palmer Browne, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/23/2014 2:04:44 PM Transcriptionist Two Reyes-Ortiz, Joannekris Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/23/2014 2:04:44 PM Transcriptionist One Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 10/25/2012 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 10/15/2013 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/1/2013 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Last Words of <hi rend="bold">James Mackpherson</hi> Murderer.</hi></seg>
I Spent my time in rioting, debauch'd my health and strength, I pillag'd, plundred, murdered, but now alas! at length, I'm brought to punishment condign; pale Death draws near to me, The end I ever did project to hang upon a Tree. To hang upon a Tree a Tree that curs'd unhappy Death; Like to a Wolf to worried be and Chocked in the Breath; It makes my very heart to break when this I think upon, Did not my Courage singular bid pensive thoughts begone. No man on Earth that draweth Breath more Courage had than I. I dar'd my Foes into their Face. knew not what 't was to Fly; A Grandeur stout I did keep out, like Hector manfully, Then wonder all that such a spark should hang upon a Tree. The Egiptian Band I did Command with greater sway by far, Then ever did a General his Soldiers in the War; Being fear'd be all and spar'd be all, I liv'd most joyfullie But ay pox take this fate of mine, must hang upon a Tree. No Grief at all I would take up, if Justice would take place, And bring my Fellow plunderers unto the same Disgrace. For Peter Brown that nottour lown escap'd and was made free, But ay pox take this Fate of mine, must hang upon a Tree. Ah! Laws and Justice buried are, Force, Fraud and Guile succeed, The Guilty pass unpunished. if Money interceed: The Laird of Grant that highland Saint that mightie Majesty,
Did plead the Cause for Peter Brown and let Mackpherson dye, The Destinies my Death contriv'd Men whom I did oblige Rewarded me much ill for good, and left me no Refuge; For Brake a Duff in rage enuff at length laid Hands on me, The which if Death do not Prevent revenged I shall be. As for pale Death I do not care, more courage never had none, But yet Hells Torments I do not fear, when once my life is gone: Therefore good people all take head, this warning take by me, According to the Life ye lead, rewarded ye shall be As for my Death I'll not lament; such things I do abhore To part with life I'm well content, as any heretofore; Therefore my Council to you all is to Repent and Turn, Least afterwards it may befall you in Hells fire do burn, For neither Death nor Devils pow'rs this rage of mine shall break, For in the place to which I go some Office I expect, I'll Muster all the pow'rs of Hell, I'll cross the Stygian lake, Upon the Heads of those my Foes, sad Vengeance I shall take, Then be content and not relent my silly Soul, until The time may come wherein thou mayst perform thy Letter will. In hopes whereof I poured forth this with a dying Breath, As joyfully as man could do who hath in sight his Death; Then wantonly and Rantingly I am Resolv'd to die, And with undanted Courage I shall mount this fatal Ttee.
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