The godly end, and wofull lamentation of one Iohn Stevens, a youth, that was hang'd, drawne, and quartered for High-Treason, at Salisbury in Wiltshire, vpon Thursday being the seuenth day of March last 1632. vvith the setting vp of his quarters on the City gates.
To the tune of Fortune my foe, &c.
NOw like the Swan before my death I sing,
And like the Rauen heany newes I bring,
Oh dismall rate, and cruell destiny,
Which brought me here in this same sort to die.
Did euer any heare of oue so young,
That was so bad and had so vile a tongue:
Which was the cause that brought me to that fail,
For which to God I now for mercy call.
In famous Wiltshire was I borne and bred,
And by my carefull Parents nourished,
Ah woe is me, Iohn Steuens is my name,
That to my friende and kindred am a shame.
Oh let me be example vnto all,
That they may neuer in such mischiefe fall,
Children and Prentices, eld and young
Serue God in heart, and gouerne wel your tongue.
It was the D [...]uill that wrought my ouerthrow,
It was the Deuill that brought me to this woe,
And [...]e I di [...] not [...]e [...]es my God aright,
Satan with shame doth thus my deeds requite.
In femous Salisbury, that City faire,
My Parents bound me Prenti [...] with great care,
But carelesse I, my life did lew [...] spend,
Which brings me to a shamesull [...]eles end.
To God aboue I doe for mercy crie,
Tis for High-treason, that I here must die,
Drawne, hang'd. & quarterd this is now my doome
My body must haue neither graue nor tombe.
And for my fact that was so visd and base,
I apprehended was in that same place,
And strait to London then I vp was brought
Is be examin'd, where I soone was caught.
To the King-bench then was I straite way led,
Where I a yeere almost continned,
And then from thence I was againe sent downe,
To be art aign'd next Sises at cur Towne.
There by iust Iustice I my Tryall had,
Which soone condemn'd me for my fact so had;
My Iudgement was I should from thence besent
To Prison backe, a while for to repeut.
The second part,
To the same tune.
ANd then I should be on a Hurdle laid
And to my Execution place conuaid,
Where in a Rope I there should strangled be,
In shamefull manner for each one to see.
My Members, and my Bowels forth be cut,
And in a flaming fire they should be put,
There to consume and vnto ashes turne,
As wicked members there they then must burne.
My Body must in quarters eke be cut,
And on the City gates they should be put,
To be a sight for others to take heed,
Where rauenous Fowles vpon my flesh will féed.
And now I doe beséech you Parents all,
That here are come to sée my timeles fall,
In vertues paths doe you your children traine,
That they may heauen and heauenly thoughts retaine,
Oh doe not suffer them to curse and sweate,
But traine them vp the God of heauen to feate,
Teach them obedience to their Soueraigne King,
And their Superiors, whence doth vertue spring.
And Children all doe you example take,
Oh let me be a warning for your sake,
Spend not your liues so vaineas I haue done,
Whose glasse is broke before my sand is run.
Unto your Parents reuerent honor giue,
The Lord commands it, then you long shall line,
Your dayes he sayes shall be long in the land,
This is your duty, as he doth command.
Honor the King, for so the Lord doth say,
And see the Magistrate you doe obey,
Unto your Equals louing be and king,
To your inferiours beare an humble mind.
But now, O Lord, for mercy I intreat,
Thou canst forgiue although my sinnes are great,
Lord make me cleane, & make me cleare as glasse,
And then the Snow I shall in whitenes passe.
Great God vpon me powre the Spirit of grace,
And then in Heauen I hope I shall finde place,
Christ my Redeemer, he hath [...]e for mée,
My soule I hope with him in heauen shall be.
Lord blesse the King, and send him long to raigne,
Preserue the Quéene, their Issue, & their Traine.
And God forgiue me, and my Prince I pray,
Whose Lawes and Statutes I did disobey.
Lord let thy Gospell florish in this Land,
Grant that the truth may florish still and stand,
Preserue the Cleargy, Nobles, and the State,
And kéepe the Commons from all strise and hate.
Uaine world fatewell, I am prepar'd to die,
My Soule I hope, shall straight ascend sheskie▪
I come, Lord Iesus, now I come to thee,
To thée one God, yet holy Trinitie.
FINIS.
Printed at London for H. Gosson.