%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> [This very day a Warning take by me,] 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 08/31/2021 37402

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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

This very day a Warning take by me, / The Actor of this Bloody Tragedy. British Library - Bagford Editor none none none none Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 2: 58 2: 59 [This very day a Warning take by me,] This very day a Warning take by me, ?-? J[.] Deacon

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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 8/31/2021 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 8/31/2021 3:12:27 PM XBallad McCants, Kristen Created XML Version of Ballad 8/31/2021 3:12:27 PM Transcription Supervisor McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 8/31/2021 3:12:27 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Stark, Nicole Transcription of ballad manuscript 8/31/2021 3:12:27 PM Transcriptionist Two McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 8/31/2021 3:12:27 PM Transcriptionist One Al halabieh, Deena Transcription of ballad manuscript 8/31/2021 Checker Kristen McCants Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 8/31/2021 Checker Kristen McCants Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 8/31/2021 Checker Kristen McCants Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 5/23/2019 Bibliographer Kristen McCants Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
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[?] with speed; This very day a Warning take by me, The Actor of this Bloody Tragedy. The Sin of Murther on my Conscience lyes, Her blood aloud for Fearful Vengeance crys; So that I can't enjoy one hours rest, Nothing but Horror lodges in my breast. If I had liv'd a Sober Christian life, Loving and Loyal to my Lawful Wife, Oh! then a happy Man I might have been, But now I see the sad Effects of sin. The fond embraces I have often us'd, Likewise the Sabbath, which I have abus'd, Declares that I from sin to sin did go, Until at length it prov'd my overthrow. Religious Counsel I would never take, So that the Lord at length did me forsake, And suffer'd me (alas!) to run this Race, The which will end in shame and sad disgrace. My heart was fix'd on foolish Vanity, Those fading Glories then delighted me; But now of them I clearly am bereft, There's none but the sad sting of Conscience left. Unto the world I freely will declare, How Black and Heinous my Offences are: A Womans blood maliciously I spilt, How shall I e'er be cleansed from this Guilt? Septembers Month upon the second day, This Creature I did then entreat and pray, That she in love would go along with me; To which, poor heart, she straightways did agree. A Plot for her Destruction I had laid, Resolv'd I was her life should be betray'd;
[?] I should escape, therefore I need not fear. Nay, further still, the Tempter did declare, That I might Murther her in Lambeth, where We were not known, and then by hasty flight, If I was free to save my life I might. To my sad grief, I took his Counsel then, I, William Close, the very worst of Men: As in a Tavern we were drinking Wine, Did there resolve to finish my design. As she was drinking off a glass to me, I took that very opportunity, And with the Pot I gave a dreadful blow Upon her head, which soon did lay her low. This done, I took in hand the bloody knife, Her Throat I cut, and Robb'd her of her life: For which I now in Chains and Fetters lye, To wait the time I shall be call'd to Dye. Methinks I see her now this very Day, Where bleeding on the ground she sprawling Lay, Giving a screek, and the Last Dying Groan, Enough to melt the hardest Heart of Stone. Straight in my Face a Guilty Conscience flew, And cry'd the Hand of Justice would pursue, To cut me off for this Black Villany, It being clear to God's all-seeing Eye. Then was my soul in sad Confusion hurl'd, Had I been worth the Wealth of all the World, [I] could have parted with it for her sake, [F]or why, I did not know what Course to take. When from her Throat the streams of blood did run, [I] cry'd within myself, what have I done, [?] Heinous Murther now do what I can, [I] can't escape the wrath of God and Man.
[?] night, Oftentimes wishing for the Morning light, And in the morning wish for night again, Thus am I wrack'd with more than common pain. When heavy sleep or slumber seizes me, In frightful Dreams her Bleeding Ghost I see, My Murdering hands together then I joyn, And Weeping Cry, was ever Grief like mine? She now lies sleeping in the silent Dust, (Yet at the Resurection of the Just, When we shall Face to Face together Meet,) What shall I say at that Tribunal seat. Where all my Sins they shall in Order Lye, With this, which is of a more Scarlet Dye, Then if the Lord above should be severe, Eternal wrath I have just cause to fear. But from this Minute to the Day I Dye, To God alone I will myself apply, Both Night and Day I will his Love implore, Hoping that he has mercy still in store, With all the pleasures of the world I'll part, And beg for grace, and a repenting heart, Weeping for all my sins continually, And who can tell but he may pardon me. The King of Kings had mercy on a Thief, Which gives me hope that I may find relief, Therefore so long as I have life and space, Ill never cease to seek the means of Grace. And while I lye in Iron Fetters here, I beg the Prayers of all both far and near, That when by Law this painful Life I leave, The Lord in mercy may my soul receive.
FINIS. Licensed according to Order. Printed for J. Deacon, at the Angel in Guilt-spur-street without Newgate.