SARAH MILLWOOD.
The lips of a strange Woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is sweeter than oil; but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
Editions of this popular story were published in several towns, and the present one has been chosen as having the most curious illustrations, there being none specially illustrated to exemplify the text, any female head doing duty for Sarah Milwood. The story of George Barnwell, of his lapse from virtue, and his rapid declension from theft to murder, together with his penitence and execution, is so well known that it needs no repetition. It is a very old story, dating back, it is said, to Queen Elizabeth's time. The earliest ballad on the subject in the British Museum is,[*] "An excellent ballad of George Barnwell, an apprentice in the City of London, who was undone by a strumpet, who caused him thrice to rob his master and murder his uncle in Ludlow" (London, 1670). Lillo dramatized it in 1731, and within very few years since it was always acted at the minor theatres on Boxing night, previous to the pantomime, as a warning to apprentices.
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THE
Merry Life and Mad Exploits
OF
Capt James Hind
The great Robber of England.
The true Portraiture of Captain JAMES HIND,
the Robber, who died, for Treason.
Newcastle: Printed in this present Year.
The history of the famous highwayman Captain Hind, is evidently taken from a little black-letter book, published 1651, Old Style (or 1652 of our calendar), called "Wit for Money;" and in that also is found the original of this frontispiece, even more roughly executed. In place of "The true portraiture," etc., is
"I rob'd men neatly
as is here exprest.
Coyne I ne'r tooke
unlesse I gave a Jest."
Indeed, most of the accounts of Hind are full of his "merry pranks," as, for instance, "We have brought our Hogs to a fair Market; or Strange Newes from New-Gate," etc. (London, 1652), a book which was of such importance, that two pages of "The Faithful Scout" for January 9/16, 1651-2, are taken up with extracts from it. In this book are two portraits of Hind, which, from their resemblance to each other, are probably authentic. In one he is represented as "Unparallel'd Hind," in full armour on horseback; the other is similar to that given on next page, which is taken from "The Declaration of Captain James Hind (close Prisoner in Newgate)," etc.
In "The True and perfect Relation of the taking of Captain James Hind" (London, 1651), it says that "A Gentleman or two, desired so much favour of him [the keeper], as to aske Mr. Hind a civil question; which was granted. So pulling two books out of his pocket, the one entituled, Hind's Ramble, The other Hind's Exploits, asked him whether he had ever seen them or not: He answered, yes; And said upon the word of a Christian, they were fictions: But some merry Pranks and Revels I have plaid, that I deny not." Nay, his exploits were even dramatized in "An excellent Comedy called the Prince of Priggs Revels or The Practises of that grand Thief Captain James Hind," etc. (London, 1651). A play in five acts.
| The true Portraiture | of Captain James Hind. |
London, Printed for G. HORTON, 1651.
Hind was born at Chipping Norton, in Oxfordshire, and, according to one account, his father was a saddler. He was sent to school, but being too fond of play, he was apprenticed to a butcher, from whom he ran away, and came to London, where he fell in with "a Company of idle, roaring young Blades," and he became a highwayman. The Chap-book is full of his robberies, and introduces "How Hind was enchanted by an old Hagg, for the space of Three Years," a performance which seems to have provided for his personal safety during that time. Finding England too hot for him, he went to Holland; but "Hind finding that this country was not fit for his purpose, resolved to retire as soon as an opportunity offered," and he went to Scotland to join Charles I. The king put him under the command of the Duke of Buckingham, "because his own life guards were full," and he was present at the engagements at Warrington and Worcester. He escaped from the latter, and came to London, where he was apprehended on November 6, 1651, in a barber's shop in Fleet Street. He was examined at Whitehall on the charge of rebellion, and committed to Newgate. On December 12, 1651, he was tried at the Old Bailey, and remanded to Newgate, where he lay till March 1, 1652, when he was sent to Reading to take his trial for killing a companion at a village called Knowl. It was, however, proved to have been only a case of manslaughter, and he was pardoned through an Act of Oblivion; only, however, to suffer death for treason against the State, being hanged, drawn, and quartered, at Worcester, on September 24, 1652.
THE HISTORY
OF
JOHN GREGG
AND HIS FAMILY
OF
ROBBERS AND MURDERERS
Who took up their Abode in a Cave near to the Sea Side, in Clovaley in Devonshire, where they liv'd Twenty five Years without so much as once going to visit any City or Town.
How they Robbed above One Thousand Persons, and murdered, and eat all whom they robbed.
How at last they were happily discover'd by a pack of Blood hounds; and how John Gregg, his Wife, Eight Sons, Six Daughters, Eighteen Grand Sons and Fourteen Grand daughters were all seized and executed, by being Cast alive into three Fires, and were burnt.
Licensed and entered according to Order.
This Chap-book is precisely similar to the History of Sawney Beane, who lived temp. James I., only the names and locality have been changed. The lovers of horrors can be fully gratified by reading Sawney Beane's life, either in Captain Charles Johnson's "History of the Lives and Actions of the most famous Highwaymen, Street Robbers," etc., 8vo (Edinburgh, 1813), pp. 33-37, or vol. i. p. 161 of "The Terrific Registers."
THE
BLOODY TRAGEDY
OR
A Dreadful Warning
TO
DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN
GIVING
A sad and dreadful Account of one John Gill in the Town of Oborn [Woburn] in Bedfordshire, who lived a Wicked Life.
How, coming home drunk one Night, he asked his Father for Money to carry on his Debaucheries, who putting him off till next Morning, he grew so impatient and desparately wicked, that he arose in the Dead of the Night, and cut his Father, and Mother's Throats in their Beds.
How afterwards binding and ravishing the Maid Servant he murdered her also, and then robbed the House of Plate and Money, and set it on Fire, burning the dead Bodies to Ashes.
With the Manner of the Discovery, and being apprehended, what Confession he made before the Magistrates.
How the Ghosts of the dead Bodies appeared to him in Jail.
Together with his Dying Speech at the Place of Execution.
With several other Things, worthy the Observation of Young People.
London, Printed in Aldermary Church Yard. Bow Lane.
The Unfortunate Family:
In Four Parts.
Part 1. How one John Roper, through want of Grace, broke the Heart of his Mother, and strangled his Father, taking what Money was in the House, and fled to a Wood.
Part 2. How the Spirit of his Mother appeared to him in a Wood, in an Angry manner; and how Conscience drove him into the hands of Justice.
Part 3. His Lamentation in Dorchester Gaol.
Part 4. His last dying Speech desiring all Young Men to take Warning by him.
To which is added, A Notable Poem upon the uncertainty of Man's Life.
Licensed according to Order.
Printed for E. Blare on London Bridge.
THE
Horrors of Jealousie
OR
THE FATAL MISTAKE
Being a Terrible and Dreadful Relation of one Jonathan Williams, a Gentleman of a Considerable Fortune near Sittingburn in Kent, who had a Beautiful and Virtuous young Lady to his Wife, who disgusting a light Huswife, her Chamber Maid, she vowed a Bloody Revenge upon her Mistress; then forged a Letter to make her Master Jealous: When one Day, as the Plot was laid, sending up the Butler into her Bed Chamber when she was in Bed, and sent her Master after him; who immediately killed him with his Sword, and afterward did the like by his Wife, protesting her Innocency with her dying Breath; upon which horrible Tragedy the Chamber Maid confessed her Treachery, shewing her Lady's Innocency; upon this he killed her, and after fell upon his own Sword and died.
TOGETHER WITH
The Copy of the LETTER, and all the Circumstances attending so Tragical an End; and how upon the sight of this Bloody Tragedy their only Son and Heir run Distracted and Died Raving Mad.
Licensed according to Order.
London: Printed for T. Williams near Wood Street 1707.
The Constant, but Unhappy
LOVERS
Being a full and true Relation
OF ONE
Madam Butler
A young Gentlewoman, and a great Heiress at Hackney Boarding School, who being by her Father forced to Marry Mr. Harvey, a Rich Merchants Son near Fanchurch Street, against her Will; one Mr. Perpoint, a young Gentleman of Considerable Estate, who had courted her above two Years, grew so Discontented that he went a Volunteer to the wars in Spain, where being Mortally Wounded at the late Battle of Almanza he writ a Letter with his own Blood, therein putting a Bracelet of Madam Butler's Hair, and then ordering his Servant to bake his Heart to a Powder after his death, he charg'd him to deliver them in a Box to the above-said Gentlewoman. His Man came to England, and went on 6th June to deliver the Present to Madam Butler, but it was took away by her Husband, who gave her the Powder in a Dish of Tea; which when she knew what she had Drank, and saw the bloody Letter and Bracelet, she said it was the last she would ever Eat and Drink, and accordingly going to Bed, she was found dead in the Morning, with a copy of VERSES lying by her on a Table, written in her own Blood.
London: Printed by E. B. near Ludgate 1707.
A Looking Glass for Swearers, Drunkards,
Blasphemers, Sabbath Breakers, Rash
Wishers, and Murderers.
Being a True Relation of one Elizabeth Hale, in Scotch Yard in White Cross Street; who having Sold herself to the Devil to be reveng'd on her Neighbours, did on Sunday last, in a wicked manner, put a quantity of Poyson into a Pot where a Piece of Beef was a boyling for several Poor Women and Children, Two of which dropt down dead, and Twelve more are dangerously Ill; the Truth of which will be Attested by several in the Neighbourhood. Her Examination upon the Crowners Inquest and her Commitment to Newgate.
A Full and True Account of a horrid, barbarous and bloody Murder, committed on the Body of one Jane Greenway and Four of her Children, by Robert Greenway her Husband, on Sunday last being the 2nd of this instant January, near Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire. His Examination before the Worshipful Justice Lewis Esqre of Beaconsfield, and his commitment to Ailsbury Gaol. Note the Truth of this will be Attested by the Beaconsfield Carriers that comes to the Bell in Warwick Lane.
Likewise an Account of several Damages and other Accidents that have happen'd in Town and Country, by the present great Frost and Snow. First Four Men that were lost in a Boat going from Gravesend to the Buoy of the Nore. 2dly. Two Boys that were drown'd by sliding on the River of Thames. 3rdly. Two men drown'd at Battersea. 4thly. A Farrier that dropt down dead off his Horse near Paddington, as he was going Home. 5thly. A Gentleman in Surry that was found dead on Horseback at his own Door. 6thly. A Carrier that was lost on the North Road with two of his Horses.
Together with
An Account of a dreadful Fire that happen'd on Sunday Morning at the Cock Pit near Grays Inn; where one of the Feeders was burnt, and the other missing.
To which is added.
A True and Amazing Relation of one Mr. B——l an Eminent Butcher in White Chapple; who having made a Vow never to kill any Cattel on a Sabbath Day, and on Sunday Night last, as he was opening the Bowels of a Calf, there issued out of its Paunch a dreadful flash of Fire and Brimstone; which burnt his Wigg, and His Apprentice's Face and Eye Brows in a sad and dismal manner.
London: Printed by W. Wise and M. Holt in Fleet Street 1708.
Farther, and more Terrible
Warnings from God.
Being a sad and dismal Account of a dreadful
Earthquake or Marvelous Judgments
of God.
That happen'd between Newcastle and Durham on Tuesday the 24th day of August last; which burst open the Earth with such Violence, that near an Hundred Souls, Men, Women and Children were Kill'd and Destroy'd; being Buried Alive in the sad and dreadful Ruins thereof. Besides great Damage to many Houses and Persons for several Miles round. With the Names of some of the Persons Destroy'd thereby. With a Sermon Preach'd on that deplorable Occasion, and of the late dreadful Thunder and Lightning.
By the Reverend Mr. Salter Minister of the Gospel
at Haretin near Newcastle.
London, Printed by J. Noon, near Fleet Street 1708.
The Constant Couple.
OR THE
TRAGEDY OF LOVE
Being a True and Mournful Relation of one Mrs. Sophia Elford, a Young Lady near St. James's, that Poyson'd herself for love of a Captain in Flanders; who hearing that her Lover was kill'd, and not having any Account from him since the Campaign, on Monday last being the 21st of this Instant, she took a strong Dose of Poyson that ended her Life.
ALSO,
How the same Night she was Buried, there came a Letter from her Lover, giving an Account of his being now a Prisoner in France; which her Parents receiv'd and having read the same, they fell into a greater Agony of Grief than before.
WITH
The Melancholly Answer they return'd him back, and the Copies of several Endearing Letters that have pass'd between these Unfortunate Lovers this Campaign.
London: Printed for J. D. near Fleet Street 1709.
The Distressed Child in the Wood;
OR, THE CRUEL UNKLE
BEING A
True and dismal Relation of one Esq: Solmes of Beverly in Yorkshire; who dying left an only Infant Daughter, of the Age of two Years, to the care of his own Brother; who with many Oaths, Vows, and Protestations promised to be Loving to her; but the Father was no sooner Dead, but out of a wicked Covetousness of the Child's Estate of three hundred Pounds a Year, carry'd it into a Wood, and there put it into a Hollow Tree to Starve it to Death; Where a Gentleman and his Man being a Hunting two days after, found it half Famish'd, having gnawed its own Flesh and Fingers end in a dreadful manner.
With an Account how the Cruel Unkle to hide his Villany, had caused the Child's Effigies to be buried in Wax, and made a great Funeral, as if it had been really Dead; with the manner of the whole Discovery by a Dream, and taking the Wax Child out of the Grave; with the Unkle's Apprehension, Examination, Confession before Justice Stubbs, and his Commitment to Gaol, in order to be Try'd the next Assizes, for that Barbarous Action. To which is added a Copy of Verses on the said Relation.
London, Printed by J. Read, behind the Green dragon Tavern in Fleet Street.