Page [unnumbered]
A new Ballad intiuled, The stout Cripple of Cornwall, Wherein is shewed his dissolate life and deserved death.
The tune is, The blind Begger.
[illustration]
[illustration]
OF a stout Cripple that kept tht high-way,
And beg'd for his living all time of the day,
A Story Ile tell you that pleasant shall be,
The Cripple of Cornwall sir-named was he.
He crept on his hands and knées up and down,
In a torn Iacket, and a ragged patcht Gown,
For he had never a Leg to the Knée,
The Cripdle of Cornwall si••r-named was he,
He was of a stomack couragious and stout
For he had no cause to complain of the gout,
To goe upon stilts most cunning was he,
With a staffe on his neck most gallant to sée,
Yea, no good fellowship would he forsake,
Were it in secret a Purse for to take.
His help was as good as any might be,
The Cripple of Cornwall sirnamed was he.
When he upon any serv••ce did goe
The crafty young Cripple provided if so
His Tools he kept close in an old hollow Trée,
That stood from the City a mile two or thrée,
Thus all the way long he beg'd for reliefe.
And all the night long he plaid the false Thiefe
And seven years together this custome kept he,
And no man knew him such a person to be.
There were few Grasier•• went on the way,
But unto the Cripple for passage did pay
And every brave Merchant that he did desry
He emptied their purses ere they passed by.
The noble Lord Courtney both gallant & bold
Rode forth with great plenty of silver and gold,
At Exeter there a purchase to pay
But that the false Cripple his journy did stay.
For why? the false Cripple beard tydings of late,
As he sate for alms at the Noble mans gate,
This is (quoth the Cripple) a booty for me
And Ile follów closely as closely may be.
Then to his compan••ons the matter he moved,
Which their like actions before time had proved,
They make themselvs ready and déeply they swear
The monies their own before they come there,
Vpon his two stilts the Cripple did mount,
To have the best share it was his full account.
All cloathed in Canvas down to the ground.
He took up his place his Mates with him round.
Then coms yt L Courtney with half a score men
Yet little suspecting these théeves in their den,
And they perceiving them come to their hand
In a dark Evening bid them to stand.
Deliver thy purse quoth the cripple with spéed.
For we be good fellows and therefore have néed,
Not so quoth Lord Courtney but this Ile tell yée,
Win it and wear it else get none of me.
With that the Lord Courtney stood in his defens
And so did his Servants but ere they w〈…〉〈…〉kt thence
Two of the true men were slain in the fight
And four of the Théeves were put to the flight,
And while for their safegard they ran thus away
The jolly bold Cripple did hold the rest play
And with his pike staff he wounded them so,
As they were unable to run or to go,
With fighting the L. Courtny was out of breath
And most of his Servants were wounded to death
Then came other horsemen riding so fast,
The Cripple was forced to flye at the last.
And over a River that ran there beside,
Which was very déep and eighteen foot wide,
With his long staff and his stilts leaped he,
And shifted himself in an old ha〈…〉〈…〉law tree,
Then throughout the Country was hu & cry made
To have these Theevs apprehended and staid,
The Cripple he créeps on his hands and his knées
And in the high way great posting he sees,
And as they came riding he begging doth say.
O give me one penny good Masters I pray,
And thus unto Exeter creeps he along,
No man suspecting he had done wrong.
Anon the Lord Courtney he spyes in the street,
He comes unto him and he kisses his feet,
Saying God save your honor and keek you from il
And from the hands of your Enemies still,
Amen qd, L. Courtney and therewith flung down
Vnto the poor Cripple an English Crown.
Away went the Cripple and thus he did think,
Five hundred pound more will make me to drink
In vain that hue and cry it was made
They found none of them tho the country was laid
But thus griev'd the Cripple night and day,
That he so unluckily mist of his prey
Nine hundred pound this Cripple had got,
By begging and theeving so good was his lot,
A thousand pound he would make it up he said,
And then he would giva over his Trade.
But as he strived his mind to fulfill,
In following his act ons so lewd and so ill,
At last he was taken the law to suffice,
Condemned and hanged at Exeter Size.
Which made all men amazed to see.
That such an impudent Cripple as he.
Should venture himself to such actions as they
To rob in such sort upon the high-way.