Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, "ON GILES COREY, EXECUTED AS A WIZARD, 17TH CENTURY", by ANONYMOUS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

"ON GILES COREY, EXECUTED AS A WIZARD, 17TH CENTURY", by                    
First Line: Giles cory was a wizard strong
Last Line: And he did no confession make; / but wickedlie he dyed
Variant Title(s): Giles Corey
Subject(s): "capital Punishment;corey, Giles;salem, Massachusetts;witchcraft & Witches;" Hanging;executions;death Penalty


GILES COREY was a Wizard strong,
A stubborn wretch was he;
And fitt was he to hang on high
Upon the Locust-tree.

So when before the magistrates
For triall he did come,
He would no true confession make,
But was compleatlie dumbe.

"Giles Corey," said the Magistrate,
"What hast thou heare to pleade
To these that now accuse thy soule
Of crimes and horrid deed?"

Giles Corey, he said not a worde,
No single worde spoke he.
"Giles Corey," saith the Magistrate,
"We'll press it out of thee."

They got them then a heavy beam,
They laid it on his breast;
They loaded it with heavy stones,
And hard upon him prest.

"More weight!" now said this wretched man;
"More weight!" again he cried;
And he did no confession make,
But wickedly he dyed.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net