The Workhouse Cruelty

Описание: Imagine my excitement when one of my favourite youtubers, Max Miller (of Tasting History @TastingHistory ), mentioned an obscure Broadside ballad in his recent video on Workhouse stew:
   • Eating Like a Victorian Workhouse Inmate -...  

Firstly, obscure 300 year old ballads is my thing, and secondly, this ballad from 1730 was an example of music making real political change, as the owner of this chain of workhouses (Matthew Marryott) was fired after this song about the death of Mary Whistle got around. Some history here:
https://www.londonlives.org/about/wor...

I can't find any other transcriptions of the ballad, so lyrics here:

Good people all both far and near,
Unto this true relation lend an ear,
Such Cruelty before sure ne’re was known,
Enough to pierce a heart as hard as Stone,

To such a height of wickedness we’re come
Murder and Rapes are things now Common done,
Such cruel crimes scorned by a me and you,
Yet in this Christian Land we daily do.

One Mrs Mary Whistle as we hear,
Who was a Housekeeper for many a Year,
In St. Giles’s in the Fields many does know,
But by misfortunes was reduced so Low,

That to the parish for relief she went,
And to the Parrish workhouse she was sent,
Tho’ she to work before had ne’er been taught,
Yet there to Card or Spinn she must be brought,

Had was her fare the Keeper was severe,
Pour Soul which made her to shed many a tear,
To work indeed she did not understand,
Yet work or starve, was what they did command,

She was took ill not able for to go,
Yet she must work, no pity would they show,
Because the Governor she did offend,
Down to the dungeons then they did her send,

Where she in great distress complaining lay,
Begging to be relived day after day,
But no relief to her they would afford
What mercy e're can they expect good Lord

There for eleven weeks poor soul she lay,
Half starved, eat up with vermin (as they say)
Holes in her leg and arms, her hips and thighs,
The vermin eat and in her head likewise.

Her hair was matted with the vermin so,
The like before no one did ever know,
A filthy fight alas for to be seen,
What misery must this poor soul die in,

No one would use a beast so bad much less,
Our fellow creature in their sad distress,
Hard was their hearts and wicked was their mind
Tortures like these, no tyrants ’er could find,

Alone she died all in this wretched case,
But soon we hope that justice will take place,
For by some magistrates it will be tried,
Which the coroner and jury must decide.

Oh! What a dismal thing it is to tell,
When persons in their younger days live well,
Paying all taxes and to the church and poor,
They are respected while they’ve wealth in store,

But if by sad misfortune ever they,
Should happen for to fall into decay,
Small is their comfort, great will be their grief,
Since with such cruelty they give relief,

Most people think this is not the only crime,
But hope their deeds will all come out in time,
Lord fend they may and punished may they be,
For all their cruel base barbarity,

Some worthy magistrates resolve we here,
For to find out the truth of this affair,
To search the cause and know the reason why,
They used this woman so inhumanly,

With prayers and tears let us the Lord implore,
Who always did, and will protect the poor,
Tho’ by the rich they often are despised,
Yet Lazarus may laugh while Dives cries,

#TastingHistory #BroadsideBallads #Workhouses #History

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Website (Lyrics and Chords):
https://www.folklounge.org/lyrics-and...