The Cruel Miller, or, Love and Murder- (Lon) c1813 Catnach broadside
[Broadside of "The Cruel Miller, or, Love and Murder" dated 1813–38 London: J. Catnach. (This is not "Love and Murder" or "Polly's Love" a shortened broadside version of Gosport Tragedy).
By the early 1800s a number of shortened broadsides appeared under the titles "The Cruel Miller," "The Cruel Miller, or, Love and Murder," "False-Hearted Miller," and "Bloody Miller" (not A, also titled "Bloody Miller").
Of the four standard titles, "The Cruel Miller, or, Love and Murder," dated c. 1813 and "Bloody Miller," Imprint: Thompson, Printer, no. 156, Dale-Street, Liverpool between 1789-1820 are among the earliest printed. It's reasonable to assume all were printed by c. 1820. This short version was issued by many printers, both London with imprints by Disley; Such; Fortey; Pitts; Catnach and provincial with imprints by Birmingham; Worcester; Newcastle; Liverpool; North Shields; Manchester), plus several issues with no imprint[Pettitt].
R. Matteson 2016]
The Cruel Miller;
Or, Love and Murder.
Printed by J. Catnatch, 2 & 3, Monmouth-Court
My parents educated [me], good earning gave to me,
They bound me to a miller to which I did agree,
Till I fell a courting a pretty maid, with a black and a rolling eye,
I told her I would marry her if she would with me lie.
I courted her for six long months a little now and then,
I thought it was a shame to marry her, I being so young a man,
At length this fair maid proved with child and aloud on me did cry,
Saying Johnny dear, come marry me, or else for you I'll die.
I went unto her sister's house at ten o' clock at night,
And little did this fair maid think, I owed her such a spite,
I ask'd her to take a walk all in those meadows gay,
And there to sit and talk awhile, and fix our wedding day.
I took a stick out of the hedge and struck her to the ground,
And soon the blood of innocence, came trick'ling from the wound,
She fell upon her bended knees, and did aloud for mercy cry,
Saying John dear don't murder me, for I am not fit to die.
I took her by her curly locks and dragg'd her through the glen,
Until I came to a river's side, and then I threw her in,
Now with blood from the innocence, my hands & clothes were dy'd,
Instead of being a breathless corpse, she might have been my bride.
Arriving at my master's house at twelve o'clock that night,
My master rose and let me in by striking of a light,
He asked and questioned me, what stained my hands and clothes!
I made him an answer as I thought fit, by the bleeding of my nose.
I asked for a candle to light myself to bed,
And all that long night my true love she laid dead,
And all that long night no comfort could I find,
For the burning flames of torments before my eyes did shine.
All in a few hours after, my true love she was miss'd,
They took me on suspicion and I to jail was sent,
Her sister prosecuted was, for reason and for doubt,
Because that very evening we were a walking out.
All in a few days after, my true love she was found,
A floating by her brother's house, who lives in ---- town[1],
Where the judges and juries did so both agree,
For murdering my own true love, then hanged I must be.
1. The town is left blank so the singer or reciter can fill in their local town. This is an identifier of "Cruel Miller, or, Love and Murder" and is consistent in those versions.
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The Cruel Miller, or, Love and Murder
Birmingham print- by Pratt- c. 1850
My parents educated me and good Learning gave to me,
They bound me 'prentice to a miller to which I did agree,
Till I fell a courting a pretty girl with a black and a rolling eye,
I told her that I'd marry her if she would with me lie.
I courted her for six long months a little now and then,
I thought it was a shame to marry her, being so young a man,
Till at length she proved with child to me, and loud on me did cry,
Saying Jemmy dear come marry me, or else for you I'll die.
I went unto her sister's house at eight o' clock at night,
But little did this fair maid think, I owed her any spite,
I asked her to take a walk down by the meadows gay,
Where we would sit and talk and fix our wedding day.
I took a stick out of the hedge and struck her to the ground,
And the blood of innocent came trickling from the wound,
And on her bended knees she did for mercy cry,
Saying Jemmy dear don't murder me, I am not fit to die.
I took her by the[1] yellow locks and dragged her thro' the glen,
Until I came to a river side, and there I threw her in,
Then with blood from the innocent my hands and clothes were dyed,
Had I known she was in her prime, she might have been my bride.
I went into my master's house at the hour of twelve that night,
My master rose to let me in and soon procured a light,
And on questioning me what stained my hands and clothes.
I answered him as I thought fit by the bleeding of the nose.
I enquired for a candle light to me to bed,
And during all that time my true love she lay dead,
And all that long night, no comfort could I find,
The burning flames of torment before my eyes did shine.
In a few hours after, this pretty girl was missed,
They[2] took me on suspicion I was to prison sent,
Her sisters prosecuted me for reason and for doubt,
Because that very evening we were seen walking out.
In two or three days after, this lovely maid was found,
Came floating by her brother's door, who lived near ---- town,
The Judge and Jury did both so agree,
For the murder of this lovely girl, hanged I should be.
1. typo has "tee"
2. typo 'teey'