I brought her up to London town, To make her my dear wife; But an evil spirit tempted me, And so I took her life! I left the town all in the night, When her ghost in burning fire, Saying, “Richard,” I am still with you, Whenever you retire.-- _Only a ha’penny!_ And justice follow’d every step, Though often I did cry; And the cruel Judge and Jury Condemned me for to die. And in a cell as cold as death, I always was afraid, For Sarah she was with me, Although I killed her dead.-- _For the small charge of a ha’penny!_ My tender-hearted Christians, Be warned by what I say, And never prove unkind or false To any sweet la’-dy. Though some there, who wickedness Oft leads ’em to go astray; So pray attend to what you hear. And a warning take I pray. [1] “The Pope, God bless him! he’s been the best friend I’ve had since Rush. Then Cardinal Wiseman. They shod me, sir.” “_Who’s_ they!” “Why the Pope and Cardinal Wiseman. I call my clothes after them I earn money by to buy them with. My shoes I call Pope Pius; my trowsers” and braces, Calcraft; my waistcoat and shirt, Jael Denny; and my coat, Love Letters. A man must show a sense of gratitude in the best way he can.--EXPERIENCE OF A RUNNING PATTERER.--_Mayhew’s London Labour and the London Poor._ THE LIFE & EXECUTION OF SIR JOHN OLDCASTLE AT THE NEW GALLOWS, AT _ST. GILES’S IN THE FIELDS_, ON THE 19th OF DECEMBER, 1417. _Who was Hang’d as a Traytor, and Burnt as a Heretick._ At the beginning of the reign of Henry V., about the year 1413, the anger of the clergy was excited against the _Lollards_, and they fabricated a report of a pretended conspiracy among them, headed by Sir John Oldcastle, or, as he was called by courtesy, Lord Cobham, in his wife’s right. Lord Cobham has the honour of being the first author and the first martyr among the nobility of England. He was a man of considerable natural abilities, proficient in literature, of a ready wit, and skilled in the affairs of the cabinet or in the field. In his love for philosophy, he had perused the writings of Wickliffe, and in so doing unconsciously absorbed the leaven of evangelical and spiritual religion. When persuaded of the truth of those doctrines he enrolled himself as a disciple, and did all in his power for their spread, both by his gifts and personal efforts. He transcribed the works of Wickliffe; he supported various preachers, and became the acknowledged leader of the rising reformation. The hostility of the church was, of course, an inevitable result. Sir John being convicted of heresy, the Archbishop waited upon the King, and gave him an account of the proceedings against him, and moved his Majesty that the execution might be respited for 50 days, which was readily granted by the King, as well as the Archbishops, being desirous to preserve Sir John Oldcastle.