Hark away, hark away! still onward they press,
As we saw by the glimmer of morn,
Tho’ many a mile on the back of Black Bess,
That night I was gallantly borne;
Hie over, my, pet, the fatigue I must bear
Well clear’d! never falter for breath,
Hark forward, my girl, my bonny Black Mare,
We speed it for life or for death.
But when I’ve a bumper, what can I do less,
Than the memory drink of my bonny Black Bess?
The spires of York now burst on my view,
But the chimes, they were ringing her knell,
Halt! Halt! my brave mare, they no longer pursue,
She halted, she staggered, she fell!
Her breathing was o’er, all was hushed as the grave,
Alas! poor Black Bess, once my pride,
Her heart she had burst, her rider to save,
For Dick Turpin, she lived, and she died.
Then the memory drink of my bonny Black Bess,
Hurrah for poor bonny Black Bess!
LIFE OF THE MANNINGS.
EXECUTED AT HORSEMONGER LANE GAOL ON TUESDAY, 13 NOV., 1849.
See the scaffold it is mounted,
And the doomed ones do appear,
Seemingly borne wan with sorrow,
Grief and anguish, pain and care.
They cried, the moment is approaching,
When we, together, must leave this life,
And no one has the least compassion
On Frederick Manning and his wife.
Maria Manning came from Sweden,
Brought up respectably, we hear,
And Frederick Manning came from Taunton,
In the county of Somersetshire.
Maria lived with noble ladies,
In ease and splendour and delight,
But on one sad and fatal morning,
She was made Frederick Manning’s wife.
She first was courted by O’Connor,
Who was a lover most sincere,
He was possessed of wealth and riches,
And loved Maria Roux most dear.
But she preferred her present husband.
As it appeared, and with delight,
Slighted sore Patrick O’Connor,
And was made Frederick Manning’s wife.
And when O’Connor knew the story,
Down his cheeks rolled floods of tears,
He beat his breast and wept in sorrow,
Wrung his hands and tore his hair;
Maria, dear, how could you leave me?
Wretched you have made my life,
Tell me why you did deceive me,
For to be Fred Manning’s wife?
At length they all were reconciled,
And met together night and day,
Maria, by O’Connor’s riches,
Dressed in splendour fine and gay.
Though married, yet she corresponded,
With O’Connor, all was right,
And oft he went to see Maria,
Frederick Manning’s lawful wife.
At length they plann’d their friend to murder,
And for his company did crave,
The dreadful weapons they prepared,
And in the kitchen dug his grave.
And, as they fondly did caress him,
They slew him—what a dreadful sight,
First they mangled, after robbed him,
Frederick Manning and his wife.