NEWGATE'S GARLAND: Being a new Ballad, showing how Mr Jonathan Wild's throat was cut from ear to ear, with a penknife, by Mr Blake, alias Blueskin, the bold highwayman, as he stood at his trial in the Old Bailey, 1725. TO THE TUNE OF THE CUTPURSE.* [The history of Jonathan Wild, whose practices gave rise to the character of Peachum in the Beggar's Opera, is pretty well known. He was a thieftaker by profession, which he united with the seemingly inconsistent character of heading a band of thieves and robbers. He received their booty, paid them for it according to his own rates, and restored it to the proprietors when it benefited his purse or reputation to do so. He had even such influence over his banditti, that he could every now and then make a sacrifice to justice of any one who he suspected had run his race, or who had murmured against his authority. In such cases, Jonathan was both the person who apprehended, and whose evidence convicted his associate. But one Blake, or Blueskin, although he had been under Wild's tuition from a child, finding himself apprehended and condemned for house-breaking, and seeing his tutor in guilt the chief evidence against him, was filled at once with the feelings of indignation and despair, and clapping his hand suddenly under Jonathan's chin, in the presence of the Court, still sitting, cut a gash in his throat, with a folding-knife, which had nearly proved mortal. Jonathan Wild survived the wound, however, and being convicted under the statute for receiving money for recovery of stolen goods without apprehending the thieves, he, on 24th May 1725, suffered at the gallows, for which he had bred, and to which he had conducted so many victims.] The well-known song in Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Fair, of which the burden runs : Youth, youth, thou hadst better been starved by thy nurse, : 366 NEWGATE'S GARLAND. I. YE gallants of Newgate, whose fingers are nice Ye sharpers so rich, who can buy off the noose, Good news ye shall hear, How Jonathan's throat was cut from ear to ear, How Blueskin's sharp penknife hath set you at ease, And ev'ry man round me may rob, if he please. II. When to the Old Bailey this Blueskin was led, He drew his penknife, And made a sad widow of Jonathan's wife. Some say there are courtiers of highest renown, Who steal the king's gold, and leave him but a Crown: Some say there are peers and parliament men, To pillage the king, And get a blue riband instead of a string. Now Blueskin's sharp penknife hath set you at ease, And ev'ry man round me may rob, if he please. IV. Knaves, of old, to hide guilt by their cunning inventions, Call'd briberies grants, and plain robberies pensions: Now ev'ry man may Rob (as safe as in office) upon the highway. V. Some cheat in the customs, some rob the excise: They may be more bold, And rob on the highway since Jonathan's cold: For Blueskin's sharp penknife hath set you at ease, And ev'ry man round me may rob, if he please. VI. Some by public revenues, which pass'd thro' their hands, Have purchas'd clean houses and bought dirty lands: Some to steal from a charity think it no sin, Which at home (says the proverb) does always begin, But if ever you be Assign'd a trustee, Treat not orphans like masters of the Chancery; But take the highway, and more honestly seize; For ev'ry man round me may rob, if he please. VII. What a pother has here been with Wood and his brass, Who would modestly make a few halfpennies pass ! The new halfpennies, With more safety to rob on the road I advise : STREPHON AND FLAVIA. WITH ev'ry lady in the land One Yet, when his love the shepherd told Late at a ball he own'd his pain, She blush'd, and frown'd, and swore, With all the marks of high disdain, The swain persisted still to pray, At last she vow'd she would not stay; Enrag'd, she call'd her footmen straight, THE QUIDNUNCKIS: A TALE OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF THE DUKE REGENT OF FRANCE. How vain are mortal man's endeavours! O! may all statesmen die prepar'd! I do foresee (and for foreseeing The army ne'er can be disbanded. There's Meroweis-mark! strange work! The pope * Coffeehouse, near St James's.-H. VOL. XIII. A a |