A new ballad intituled, the stout criple of Cornnwall wherein is shewed his dissolute life, and deserued death. To the tune of the blinde begger.

A new ballad intituled , the stout Criple of Cornnwall , wherein is shewed his dissolute life , and deserued death . To the tune of the Blinde Begger . OF a stout Cripple that kept the high way , and begd for his liuing all time of the day : A story I le tell you that pleasant shall be , the Cripple of Cornwall sirnamed was he . He crept on his hands & his knees up and downe , in a torn iacket and ragged patcht gowne : For he had neuer a leg to the knee , the Cripple of cornwall sirnamed was he , He was of stomacke couragious and stout , for he had no cause to complaine of the gout : To go upon stilts most cunning was he , with a staffe on his neck gal ant and free . Yea no good fellowship would he forsake were it in secret a purse for to take : His help was good as any might be , the Cripple of Cornwall sirnamed was he . When he upon any such seruice did go , the crafty young cripp●e prouided it so : His tooles he kept close in an old hol ow tree , that stood from the City a mile two or three . Thus all the day long he begd for reliefe , And late in the night he plaid the false theefe : And seuen yeares together this custome kept he and no man thought him such a person to be , There was few grastiers wenton the way , but unto the criple for passage did pay , And euery braue Marchant that he did descry . he emptied their purses ere they passed by , The gallant L. Courtney both valliant and bold , rode forth with great plenty of siluer and gold : At Exeter there a purchase to pay , but that the false cripple his iourney did stay . For why the false cripple heard tidings of late as he lay for almes at this noble mans gate : What day and what houre his iourney should be , this is quoth the cripple a bootie for me . Then to his companions this mater he moued , which he in like actions before time had proued . They make themselues ready & deeply they sweare this monies their onwe before they come there . Vpon his two stilts this cripple doth mount to haue his best share he makes his account All clothed in canuas downe to the ground he takes up his standing his mates with him round Then comes the L. Courtney with half a score men . that little suspected these theenes in their den : And they perceiuing them come to their hand , in a darke euening they bid him stand Deliuer thy purse quoth the Cripple with speed , for we be good fellowes and thereof haue neede Not so quoth L. Courtney but this I tell thee , winne it and weare it , else gee none of me . With that they L. Courtney stoond in his defence and so did his seruants but ere they went hence Two of the true men were staine in the fight , and foure of the theeues were put to their flight , And while for their safegard they ran thus away the iolly bold cripple did hold the rest play . And with his pikestaffe he wounded them so as they wers unable to run or to goe . With fight the L. Courtney was driven out of breath and most of his seruanes wounded to death , Then came other horsemen riding so fast , the cripple was forced to fly at last . And ouer a riuer a riuer that ran their beside , which was very deep and eighteen foot wide , With his long staffe and his stilts leaped he , and shifted himself in an old hollow tree . Then through the country was hue and cry made to haue these theeues apprehended and staid , The Crepple he creeps on his hands & his knees and on the hie way great posting he sees , And as they came Riding he begging doth say , O giue me one penny good Master spray : And thus vnto Exeter creeps he along no man suspecting that he had done wrong . A none the L. Courtney he spide in the street : he comes unto him and kisses his feet : Saying , God saue your honour & keep you from ill and from the hands of you enemies still . Amen qd L. Courtney & therwith flung downe unto the poore Cripple an English crowne : Away went the cripple and thus did he th●nke , fiue C. pounds more would make me to drinke In vaine that hue and cry it was made . they found none of them though the country was laid But this grieued the cripple both night and day , that he so unluckely mist of his pray Nine hundred pounds this cripple had got , by begging and robbing so good was his lot , A thousand pound he would make it he said , and then he would quite giue ouer his trade . But as he striued his minde to fulfill , in following his actions so lewd and so ill . At last he was taken the law to suffice , condemned and hanged at Exeter Sise , Which made all men amazed to see , that such an impotent person as he , Should venture himself in such actions as they , to rod in such sort upon the hye way . FINIS .