Whilst browsing through a copy of the Democrat newspaper of the 22nd February 1891, my attention was drawn to an article that declared "A Jack The Ripper Two Centuries Ago". My curiosity piqued I read on, it described a morality/murder ballad written in 1655, so I decided to investigate.
I found it in a book called Cavalier and Puritan by Hyder Edward Collins (1923), this book is a collection of English ballads and broadsides from 1640 to 1660, an incredible resource. I recount the ballad in question exactly as it was printed in 1655.
Strange and wonderfull news of a woman which lived neer unto the famous City of London, who had her head torn off her body by the Divell; and her lymbs rent in pieces and scattered about in the room where the mischief was done, which may serve to forewarn all proud and disloyal men and women, to have a care how they behave themselves, whilst they live in this sinful world, that they fall not into the like temptations. The manner how shee made her bargain with the Divil, shee confest to some of her neighbors before her death.
1. Dear Lord what sad and sorrowful times,
are those the which wee now live in,
When men and women takes a pride,
presumptuously to run in sin.
2. The Divill doth like a Lyon go,
and strives with all his might and power,
Of us to get the victory,
our soules and bodies to devoure.
3. And where that hee can overcome,
and bring the people to his lure,
They are sure in processe of time,
much miseries for to indure.
4. As this Relation shall make known,
which now I am prepar'd to tell,
Concerning a proud woman which,
did near the City of London dwel.
5. Which woman's husband hee is gone,
beyond the seas as it is said,
And left his wife in England here,
who long time lived without a guide.
6. Her Husband when hee went from her,
left means and money to maintain,
As hee suppos'd sufficiently
his Wife till hee return'd again.
7. But shee being wild and wilful given,
and also of a haughty mind,
To malice, hatred, lust and pride,
and wantonnesse shee was inclin'd.
8. And in short time shee wasted had,
the best part of her means away,
Her money was spent and all her state,
was like to go into decay.
9. Where shee fell into despare,
and vext her self most grievously,
And walking by her self one day,
unseen of any company.
10. The Divil himself to her appear'd,
ith' likeness of a tall black man,
And afterwards with tempting words,
to talk to her hee thus began.
11. If thou quoth hee wilt yield to mee,
and do as I would have thee do,
Thou shalt have all the things at command,
as riches gold and silver too.
12. Now to be brief the Divil and her,
a bargain at that same time,
The like was never done on earth,
since Doctor Faustus cursed crime.
13. The woman being then with child,
made bargain that the Divil should have,
Her soul when she was brought to bed,
so shee might at her pleasure live.
14. What things soever shee desir'd,
to which the fiend full soon agreed,
So hee might soul and body have,
after shee was delivered.
15. The Covenant was between them made,
the woman seal'd it with her blood,
And afterward shee had her will,
and did whatever shee thought good.
16. Shee eate, shee drank, and merry was,
and had of gold and silver store,
She company was for the rich,
and dealt her almes unto the poor.
17. At last her painful houre drew nigh,
that shee must needs deliver'd be,
Shee sent for women with all speed,
to help her in her misery.
18. The Divil then straight came to the door,
like to a tall man all in black,
The servant maid came neer to him,
and asked him what hee did lack.
19. Tis with your Mistris I must speak,
the Divil again to her reply'd,
Go tell her again it must be so,
I can nor will be deny'd.
20. By the time that the maid came up,
her Mistris was deliver'd,
And of a man child in her room,
shee was most safely brought to bed.
21. O now good women then quoth shee,
my sorrows do afresh beginne,
Wherefore I pray you to depart,
the room which you are now in.
22. The from the room the women went,
forthwith from her imediatly,
And went into another place,
whereas they heard a dolefull cry.
23. Her head was from her body torn,
her lymbs about the room did ly,
The blood run all about the place,
as many folks can testify.
24. It seems the Divill his bargain had,
wherefore I wish that one and all,
To have a care of what they do,
and to take warning by her fall.
FINIS
L. P.
London Print for Fran. Grove on Snow Hill.
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