Taken from the 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.
A Warning to all wicked livers.
By the example of Richard Whitfield, and M. Gibs who were two notorious offenders, and both of one company, which two men made a daily practise, and got their livings by robbing and stealing both on the high-ways, and in any other places where they came, but were at last taken, apprehended and condemned to dye, for robbing of a coach, & murdering of a Captains man at Shooters-Hill, in Kent, some five or six miles from London, and for that offence and others, Gibs was pres'd to death at Maidstone in Kent, and Whitfield was hanged in chains on Shooters-Hill, where he did the bloody deed, the 27th of March, 1655.
The manner how shall be exactly related in this ditty.
1. Of two notorious theeves,
my purpose is to tell,
Which near fair London Town,
long time did live and dwell.
2. One of their names was Gibs,
a villain vile and base,
The other Dick Whitfield call'd,
who ran a wicked race.
3. To rob to theeve and steal,
these couple gave their mind,
And unto murder men,
they daily were inclin'd.
4. So stout and bold they were,
that they durst fight with ten,
And rob them on the way,
though they were lusty men.
5. Sometimes they would disguise
themselves in strange attire,
And do mischief still,
was all they did desire.
6. Sometimes about the fields
they would walk at night
And use much cruelty
to them that they did meet.
7. A man could hardly pass
the fields at ten a clock,
But they would sure to have,
the cloak from off his back.
8. Or if he had no cloak
they would his money take,
Of what they went about
they did no conscience make.
9. If they with woman met
when it was in the night,
they would strip off their cloaths
and leave them naked quite.
10. Such inhumanity
betwixt them did remain
That by bloody hands
good Christians have been slain.
11. And other robberies
these bloody villains did,
But theft and murder both,
long time will not lie hid.
12. Sometimes they have been caught
and unto Newgate sent,
Yet they had mercy shown
because they should repent.
13. But though the Judges oft
took pity on those men,
As soon as they got loose
they would fall too't again.
14. But now behold and see
what happened at the last,
Through they had escap'd through much
and many dangers past.
15. They met a gallant coach
not far from Greenwich town,
In which were Gentlemen
who rode for Blackheath down.
16. Now Gibs and Whitfield both
address'd themselves to fight....
17. He asked them what they were,
quoth they, we mony crave,
Mony we are come for
and mony we must have.
18. Their pistols being fixt,
their bullets they let fly
The Captain drew his sword
and fought courageously.
19. And in that dangerous fight
the Captains man was slain
And then they robb'd the rest
that did in the coach remain.
20. And for their bloody deeds
and for that robbery
They after taken were
and suffered certainly.
21. At Maidstone town in Kent
there Gibs was pres't to death,
And Whitfield hangs in chains
at Shooters - Hill near Blackheath.
22. Let other wicked men,
high and low, great and small
Remember and take heed
by Gibs and Whitfields fall.
FINIS
London Printed for F. Grove dwelling on Snow Hill.
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