THE debauchee rewarded or, A Warning to Young Men

A sleepy view of Great Ayton village from Easby Moor before the crowds arrived.

I came across this little gem the other day:

THE debauchee rewarded
or, A
Warning to Young Men.

Also,

How he met Her while out a Shooting, in a Path Way leading thro’ a Grove, attempted to Ravish her, she was Shot thro’ the right Breast and Shoulder, of which Wounds she soon Expired.

Likewise,
How he soon Broke his Heart and Died.
To which is Added,
A COPY of VERSES Written by his own Hand, with an EXHORTATION.

THE
LIFE AND DEATH,
OF
Captain John Dringle.

AS it is an incumbent duty on all Christian Parents to bring their Children up in all godliness, Virtue, and sobriety, so it would be very prudent in them when they come to the age of maturity to be very cautious what company they keep, and if by chance they should fall into such as is contrary to the strictest rules of Sobriety, honesty, Chastity, and true religion, they should endeavour to persuade them to flee from the same on the very first appearance of an evil action; as it will appear by the following relation of one captain John Dringle.

He was the son of an eminent Clothier in a village in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and being a wild and extravagant youth his Father sent him to sea, which suited his taste, and he was made Master of a Ship belonging a Merchant, whom his Father, had some dealings with at Whitehaven. But when he returned from Sea, he commonly spent some time at his Father’s house, by which means he soon fell in love with a very beautiful young Woman, who lived about two miles from his father’s, named Munrow, who was the only Child of an eminent Farmer, he courted her a long time, made.her many rich presents, that he brought from abroad, and made many vows and promises of love and affection towards her, but his chief end was to betray her to his brutish will. So watching for her in the market, invited her to drink a glass of wine, of which invitation she sain would have excused herself, but he told her his business was very urgent and material, so keeping her in deep discourse about his marrying her very soon, by that means he held her in play until all her company was gone, at which she shewed great concern; he desired her to make herself easy, for he would conduct her safe home, and forcing wine upon her, found it to work upon her as they were going along, and making the most of that opportunity, soon betrayed her to his most lustful embraces; after which she soon became sensible of her own misconduct, and his villainy, bitterly lamenting her unhappy situation.

He then conduced her to her father’s gate, and at parting promised to come again to morrow, to put things forward for the wedding, but he never came near her for a fortnight; and then in liquor, said he wanted her to come to him, she said, no, he had done her injury enough already, for she never had any thought that he would have served her so, & what was past she must conceal for her own credit and never would be in his company out of her Father’s house, till he had made good his promises to her, and if she was not his Wife she would sooner die than be a slave to folly and wickedness.

He then left her to go on a shooting Party, and on his return, finding her resolute, he attempted to force her, and in the scuffle he struck the lock fowling piece, which went off, and shot her between her right breast and shoulder; he seeing what was done, took up his gun and escaped.

The report of the gun, and her dismal cries soon brought some men to her assistance, who were at work hard by.

They carried her home to her parents, who put her to bed, and sent for a surgeon to dress her wounds.

Upon which her sweetheart was apprehended and sent to the County Goal, where he lay bitterly lamenting his madness and folly in committing so base an action.

He continued for some time in great sorrow, when in the greatest agonies and lamentations, he broke his heart and died.

A Copy of Verses.
Written by himself:

YOUNG lovers all a warning take,
By this sad tragedy:
Be faithful to the vows you make,
And prove not false like me.
Long time in courtship I did strive,
To gain the lovely maid:
No sooner were my-vows believ’d,
But I my love betray’d.

For I most basely did invent,
Her heart for to ensnare:
Which brings on me great discontent,
And fills my soul with care.

For as I met her in the grove,
I unto her did say;
I am resolv’d to lie with you,
Tis vain to say me nay.

Is this your love then unto me,
Who am by vows your wife:
Before I’ll yield to thy base will,
I here will end my life.

But as by force with her I strove.
To gain my brutish will:
By sad mischance my gun went off,
Thus I her blood did spill.

Now dismal scenes of grief and care,
Do daily me surprize:
Each moment I do think the sands,
Bleeding before mine eyes.

EXHORTATION.

Though there are so many instance of the displeasure of Almighty GOD against every denomination of Sin, it has no effect or tendency in deterring his Creatures from committing the grossest Impieties: but if they will not refrain, the Time is coming, and now is, when GOD will power on his Judgment, both in this World and that which is to come, upon ever Person who will not Obey his Commandments, without any mixture of Mercy. But if we forsake Sin, and turn to him. Repent and Serve him Faithfully until Death, he will give such and only such, everlasting Life.

FINIS

That last paragraph, the ‘Exhortation’, is a bit too much like preaching for me but I’ve included it for completeness. It’s from an eight-page pamphlet printed at Stokesley on paper watermarked 1807¹‘The debauchee rewarded, or, a Warning to Young Men. Being a true Account how Captain John Dringle, Son of an eminent Clothier in Yorkshire, in Courtship with Miss Jane Munrow, a rich Farmer’s Daughter in that County, made many rich Presents, fair Promises, and rash Vows, but all to deceive Her. Also, How he met Her while out a Shooting, in a Path Way leading thro’ a Grove, attempted to Ravish her, she was Shot thro’ the right Breast and Shoulder, of which Wounds she soon Expired. Likewise, How he soon Broke his Heart and Died. To which is Added, a copy of verses Written by his own hand with an Exhortation’ ([1800?]) [London? ]: s.n., available: https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CW0110097226/GDCS?u=ed_itw&sid=bookmark-GDCS&xid=9039be0e&pg=1 [accessed 04 Jun 2021].. However, I have seen another online version which says Dringle came from Wiltshire²Google Books. (2011). The Life and Death of Captain John Dringle: [online] Available at: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Life_and_Death_of_Captain_John_Dring.html?id=VJTKzQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y [Accessed 4 Jun. 2021]..

The pamphlet was the 18th-century equivalent of mass media. Cheap, printed locally, and sold on stalls for a penny or two, they were a quick method of sharing news, songs and in this case, moral stories.

• 1
  ‘The debauchee rewarded, or, a Warning to Young Men. Being a true Account how Captain John Dringle, Son of an eminent Clothier in Yorkshire, in Courtship with Miss Jane Munrow, a rich Farmer’s Daughter in that County, made many rich Presents, fair Promises, and rash Vows, but all to deceive Her. Also, How he met Her while out a Shooting, in a Path Way leading thro’ a Grove, attempted to Ravish her, she was Shot thro’ the right Breast and Shoulder, of which Wounds she soon Expired. Likewise, How he soon Broke his Heart and Died. To which is Added, a copy of verses Written by his own hand with an Exhortation’ ([1800?]) [London? ]: s.n., available: https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CW0110097226/GDCS?u=ed_itw&sid=bookmark-GDCS&xid=9039be0e&pg=1 [accessed 04 Jun 2021].
• 2
  Google Books. (2011). The Life and Death of Captain John Dringle: [online] Available at: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Life_and_Death_of_Captain_John_Dring.html?id=VJTKzQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y [Accessed 4 Jun. 2021].