Being a new ballad, fhewing how Mr. Jonathan Wild's throat was cut from ear to ear with a penknife by Mr. Blake, alias Bluefkin, the bold highwayman, as he stood at his trial in the Old-Baily, 1725 vi've bee To the Tune of the Cut-pure.

In diving in pockets, or cogging of dice; Ye fharpers fo rich, who can buy off the noofe, Yehonefter poor rogues, who die in your fhoes, Attend and draw near,

Good news ye fhall hear,

How Jonathan's throat was cut from ear to ear, How Blueskin's sharp penknife hath fet you at ease,

And ev'ry man round me may rob, if he please.

II.

When to the Old-Baily this Bluefkin was led, He held up his hand; his indictment was read; Loud rattled his chains; near him Jonathan ftood;

For full forty pounds was the price of his blood. Then,

3

Then, hopeless of life,

He drew his penknife,

And made a fad widow of Jonathan's wife. But forty pounds paid her her grief shall apAs peafe

And ev'ry man round me may rob, if he please.

III.

Some fay there are courtiers of higheft renown, Who fteal the king's gold, and leave him but

a crown:

Some fay there are peers, and fome parlia

ment men,

Who meet once a year to rob courtiers agen. Let them all take their fwing

To pillage the king,

And get a blue ribbon, instead of a string. Now Bluefkin's fharp penknife hath set you at ease;

Andev'ry man round me may rob, ifheplease,

IV.

Knaves, of old, to hide guilt by their cunning inventions,

Call'd briberies grants, and plain robberies penfions:

Phyficians and lawyers (who take their degrees To be learned rogues) call'd their pilfering fees.

Since this happy day

Now ev'ry man may

?

Rob (as fafe as in office) upon the highway. For Blueskin's fharp penknife hath set you at ease ;

And ev'ry man round me may rob, if he please.

V.

Some cheat in the customs, fome robthe excife; But he who robs both is esteemed most wife. Church-wardens, too prudent to hazard the halter,

As yet only venture to fteal from the altar. But now to get gold,

They may be more bold,

And rob on the highway, fince Jonathan's

cold:

For Blueskin's fharp penknife hath fet you at

ease;

And ev'ry man round me may rob, if he please.

VI.

Some by publick revenues, which pass'd through their hands,

Have purchas'd clean houses, and bought dirty lands:

Some to steal from a charity think it no fin, Which at home (fays the proverb) does always

begin.

But,

But, if ever you be

Affign'd a trustee,

Treat hot orphans like mafters of the voy job chancery;

But take the highway, and more honestly •hoolg ad feize;

For ev'ry man round me may rob, if he pleafe.

VII.

What a pother has here been with Wood and his brafs,

Who would modeftly make a few halfpennies pass!

The patent is good, and the precedent's rode Fold,

For Diomede changed his copper for gold: 3. But, if Ireland defpife

The new half-pennies,

With more fafety to rob on the road I advise:

For Bluefkin's fharp penknife hath fet thee Desabat ease;

And ev'ry man round me may rob, if he please.

On Wood*the patentee's Irifb balf-pence.

As

Written in the Year 1724.

I.

S when the 'fquire and tinker, Wood, Gravely confulting Ireland's good, Together mingled in a mass

Smith's duft, and copper, lead, and brass;
The mixture thus by chymick art
United close in ev'ry part,

In fillets roll'd, or cut in pieces,
Appear'd like one continu'd fpecies;
And, by the forming engine ftruck,
On all the fame impreffion ftuck.
So, to confound this hated coin,
All parties and religions join;
Whigs, Tories, Trimmers, Hanoverians,
Quakers, Conformifts, Prefbyterians,
Scotch, Irish, English, French unite,
With equal int reft, equal fpight;
Together mingled in a lump,
Do all in one opinion jump;
And ev'ry one begins to find
The fame impreffion on his mind.

A ftrange event! whom gold incites
To blood and quarrels, brass unites :

See an Account of Wood's project in the Drapier's letters, Vol. X.

Sa