A True relation of the Murders committed in the Parish of Clunne in the County of Salop by Enoch ap Evan upon the Bodies of his Mother and Brother with the Causes moving him thereunto Wherein is examined and refuted a certaine Booke written upon the same Subject by P. STUDLEY Entituled the Looking glasse of SCHISME Also an Appendix in further defence of this Relation wherein are examined the most material Passages added in the Second Edition of the said LOOKING-GLASSE wherby the Author vainely shâ—weth his desire to maintaine and excuse his erroneous Reports in the former Edition of his Booke By RICHAR MORE Esquire Printed by Order of a Committee of tâ—â— Honourable House of Commons now Assembled in Parliament LONDON Printed by T.B. for P. Stephens C. Meredith at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard 1641. The Printer to the Reader VVHeras the ensuing treatise referreth to the Pages of the former Edition of the Looking-glasse of Schism This is to give notice that both editions for substance doe agree to the 35. pag and there beginneth the eleventh Section wherein Master Studley inserteth that violent love passion which befell Enoch the day and night before he committed these Murders which being omitted in the former edition occasioned in the second an encrease of onely foure leaves so in this small distance is likely to be found whatsoever this Relation hath reference unto after the said 35 pag. This I thought convenient to be certified in this place for the ease of such as have either of the two editions of Master Studleys booke An advertisement to the Reader touching the Ensuing Relation shewing the occasion of Printing thereof this present yeare 1641. and how hitherto suppressed Gentle Reader TO the ensuing Discourse the stile of the Prophet Isaiah Cap. 37.3 may be applyed the children came to the birth but there was no strength to bring forth This relation though at first not so intended was made ready for the Presse in the yeare 1635 â—nd being then tendered to the view of the Licencer who gave approbation for the printing of Master Studleys Looking GLASSE of Schisme it was for that time by him rejected No better acceptance could this Truth then finde Truth must rather bee supprest than the falsehood of that Glasse bee discovered The Author of the Looking-Glasse pretendeth to set forth the disobedience of Nonconformists against Royall Majesty and the laws of our Church doubtlesse Noncormitie and disobedience to just commands are to be searched out and brought forth to deserved punishment But experience teacheth that whilst that angry Author by his false glasse laboured to represent Nonconformitie to bee the onely cause of those execrable Murders committed by Enoch ap Evan hee hath thereby not convinced but hardened many that wavered and scandalized others who better knew their duties to just lawes These and other pernicious consequences of this deceitful Glasse being considered by diverse worthy members of this present Honourable Assembly in Parliament who well knowing this rejected Relation had discovered the true circumstances of these deplorable murders by diligence in examining all persons reputed to have any competent knowledge of the said Enoch and his disconsolate frinds they have now called it forth An occasion of my travell therein was obedience to the commands of those Iudges by whose sentence the murderer was condemned to die and his body to be hanged up in Chaines for shortly after the execution of that sentence the said body being to the great affront of Iustice secretly taken downe from the Gibbet and conveyed away those Iudges required my service amongst others the Iustices of that County for the discovery of the offenders And having hereby informed my selfe I did examine those circumstances of fact whereupon Master Studley had framed his pretended Looking-Glasse of Schisme and finding the falshood thereof I composed the ensuing Relation apprehending my selfe thereunto deeply obliged as well for vindication of my Neighbourhood as the satisfaction of such as desired the Truth of this accident In pursuance wherof I presented one Copy of this ensuing Relation to the Bishop of Hereford in whose Diocesse the murders were committed Another Copy I presented to the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry in whose Dioces the Author of the Looking-glasse then now liveth Afterwards I was moved to commend it to the Presse for more publike satisfaction The successe whereof is before related All which proceedings being likewise knowne to the forementioned worthy members in Parliament and a Comittee being assigned to take information of the complaints against refusing of Licence for printing lawful books the denyall of this Relation was particularly questioned by some of the said Committee the reasons given for the deniall being slender By the Vote of the said Comittee this Relation was ordered to bee Printed And thus Gentle Reader thou hast a plain account of what I have promised in this advertisement the uses which I conceive may be rightly made of this sad occasion I have exprest in the twentie seventh Section of this relation whereunto in reference to that vehemency which the Author of the Looking-glasse manifesteth in his answer to certaine cryminations against his booke most likely to be of his own composing I shall here adde the words of Salomon Eccles 7.9 10. Bee not hasty in thy spirit to be angry for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this That also of our Saviour is not to be forgotten Luke 13.4 5. those eighteene on whom the Towre of Siloam fell and slew them thinke yee that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem J tell you Nay but except yee repent yee shall all likewise perish And so I commend to thy view the relation as it was prepared for the Presse in the yeare 1635. where take notice of what followeth touching the Pages and Edition of the Looking-Glasse whereunto this relation hath reference I Desire those to whose hands this ensuing Relation may come to understand that it hath reference to the first printed Looking-GLASSE of Schisme and to the pages of that Booke which is since reprinted with some additions alterations and an answer to certaine criminations or objections of the Author of his owne framing which I take not upon me to medle with further then wherin they are contrary or contradictory to what in this of mine is set forth wherein J have set downe the ground and authority upon which it is warranted and have named the parties upon whose testimony the truth will rest as Master Erasmus Powell Vicar of Clunne who hath perused my whole Relation and hath subscribed that Coppy which J keep testifying that those things in and about which I use his name or referre my selfe to his knowledge are truly set downe by mee and received from him So hath Iohn Howels the brother in law of Enoch whom Master Studley calleth Iohn Powell in the confirmation of whose words hee confesseth the life and Truth of that History is really containd as is
set down page the eighth of his answer mentioned aforesaid And in like manner of all the rest upon whom any materiall point of contradiction resteth So that what is in difference betweene us will bee apparent by records acknowledgment manifest contradiction in the Looking-glasse it selfe or witnesses such as wee both agree upon All which will bee evident to him that shall diligently compare them and which I leave to the judgement of the considerate Reader the maine scope of mine intention herein being peace with truth which is ever Prayed for by The true lover Thereof Richard More LINTEY 29. Iune 1635. A True relation of the Murders committed by Enoch ap Evan upon the bodies of his Mother and Brother SECTION I. TRuth is Gods and He hath bound man to Manifest the same if concealed and to vindicate her if wronged and whosoever shall either Conceale or wrong her or hinder the manifestation or vindication thereof shall offend The serious consideration wherof hath moved me to undertake this briefe ensuing treatise for the more full discovery of the truth in part as yet not generally knowne and to rectifie the conceits of many who have beene abused as the best may be by false reports The matter it selfe though both the party by whom and the place where it was done were obscure is very notorious and remarkeable and such as many not onely of the Vulgar sort but eminent persons have taken notice of and so much more by reason of a Booke published intituled the Looking Glasse of Schisme wherein as the Author pretendeth by a briefe narration of the execrable Murders done by Enoch ap Evan a downe-right Separatist on the bodies of his Mother and Brother with the cause moving him thereunto the disobedience of that Sect against Royall Majestie and the Laws of our Church is plainely set forth be Peter Studley Master of Artes and Minister of Gods Word in Shrewsbury That this Murder was committed is true and no waieâ— doubted of The question is what should be the cause moving him thereto And what kinde of people inhabited the Neighbourhood where those Murders were committed It is confidently affirmed that hee was a Puritan that Puritanisme was the cause moving him to this Murder for which he had judgement to dye and his Body was hanged upon a Gibbet in Chaines and moreover that they were Puritans who tooke him downe from the Gibbet and that he had beene by politicke seducements drawne into those opinions Looking-Glasse page one hundred thirty seven so desperate and raging in their furious cruelty Whereupon I laboured to enforme my selfe and was required by Authority amongst others to search out the truth and to discover the Parties who had taken downe the body of Enoch from the Gibbet Which being discovered I committed the severall passages to writing wherewith I acquainted a Minister in the Neighbourhood He reduced my Papers into a methodicall confutation of those errours and untruths which are most palpable and indeed intollerable It being finished was intended for the Presse yet not permitted When I perceaved untruth so much still to prevaile many abused my neighbourhood about Bishops Castle injured and such ill use made of such a fearefull example I conceaved my selfe deepely obliged to enforme others in the truth vindicate my neighbours and to perswade others to make better use of this lamentable accident And to that purpose having revised mine owne papers have digested them into this Historicall narration wherein I doe acknowledge more want of ability to set truth forth to the View of the Learned then of an honest and upright heart to discover her though naked and without ornaments And herein I shall differ from the common receaved opinion of those that are more remote from this part of the County concerning the Puritanisme wherewith this wretch was charged and perhaps for the same I shall be suspected to be Puritanicall or at least to Patronize Puritanisme both which being taken in the sence of Schisme or non-conformity I solemnely disavowe and seriously protest that I have alwayes disliked Non-conformity and both in judgement and practice have conformed my selfe unto the Orders and Discipline of this Church of England and especially in that particular of kneeling so farre as that if our Church had left the gesture to be used in the blessed Sacrament indetermined I would have made choice of that gesture of Kneeling before all others as the most reverend and fittest to be used in that holy Action wherein wee come so neere unto our God Sect. 2. Herein my speciall aime according to the truth of my knowledge being to free the neighbourhood of Bishops Castle wherein I live and have bestowed my time from the false and infamous aspersâ—â—ns of Puritanisme and Non-conformity I set my selfe on worke to make this true relation ensuing touching the estate of the said Enoch ap Evan the Sonne of Edward ap Evan of Shadwall in the Parish of Clunne in the County of Salop where he lived all the time from his Birth and to shew how he was thought of by the neighbours about Bishops Castle no Puritans though so tearmed by the Author of the Looking-Glasse page 102. Sect. 3. It is certaine hee was a young man of no great abilities for learning he could onely read English he was thrifty and given to no vice whereof any publicke notice was taken hee did diligently frequent his Parish Church of Clunne upon Sundaies and Holy daies to heare Divine Service and was seldome absent from the beginning of Prayers he very seldome went to any other Parish Church upon any weeke dayes hee was not knowne to reason of any matters of controversie in religion as being above his capacity which was very meane as the Author of the Looking-Glasse often confesseth calling him ignorant Dolte of meane Understanding able onely to read English c. He was so farre from travelling abroad to heare Sermons or to acquaint himselfe with any Preacher that I cannot find out that he was knowne of any Minister that dwelt but three Miles from him He rather gave himselfe to solitarines especially in his later time and as is confessed in the foresaid book p. 21. being of a swarthy complexion under the Predominance of the humour of Melancholy so hee carried himselfe sullenly and Cynically in so much that his friends feared that he began to be distracted a yere and more before he committed that horrible murder of his Mother and Brother and thereupon was let blood by the Barbour Chirurgion of Bishops Castle by name William Griffiths which blood letting for that yeare it seemes stayed the breaking forth of that humour into any notorious observation but not halfe a yeare before the Murder committed in a very cold season of Frost and Show he was seene to stand barefooted and bare legged in the middest of a running brooke which with the force of the streame his face being up the same did wet him to the middle his hat he held before his
to him and the other to a neighbouring Gentleman as was reported He answered that he never made mention of any such word as head or sacrifice onely he had a desire to see that Gentleman intending to reveale unto him what he had done and to aske advice from him what he were best to do his conscience then grievously accusing him of the murder he had committed as well for the satisfaction of the Law which he desired as for the safety of his soule being then in himselfe helplesse and even despairing of mercy Whether he was formerly well acquainted with the said Vicar of Bishops Castle and how long he had been so Hee answered that hee knew him well by sight but never had any conference or acquaintance with him onely hee had heard him sometimes preach and once passing by the churchyard the said Vicar asked him his name and how far he travelled that way What moved him so far being a meere stranger to mention the said Vicar of Bishops Castle and upon examination to shew himselfe more willing to open himselfe to the said Vicar then to any other And to receive the Sacrament rather from him and upon his first motion notwithstanding his former opinion willingly to receive the holy Sacrament kneeling He answered that often he had seen him and sometimes heard him preach Gods word though seldome and he thought him a good man and had heard his father very much commend the said Vicar both for his paines in the ministry as also for his care in teaching and love to two of his grandchildren then Scholers under the said Vicar of Bishâ—ps Castle Whether he did earnestly desire to receive the blessed Sacrament at that time and for what end or cause did he so desire it He answered that hee much desired it for hee thought and believed it to be an especiall meanes that GOD had ordained to strengthen his faith in he apprehension of Christ his merits unto salvation So he received it reverently kneeling and acknowledged that he received comfort by it It being urged that not onely the blessed Martyrs but even guilty malefactors also dying under the Law justly condemned for felonies murder and the like many of them at the place of execution in one hours before their death by their open and hearty confession earnestnesse of prayer holy exhortations to the people by cheerfulnesse of prâ—â—ses and the like have much glorifyed God He answered that he resolved so to doe that he would make the best use of his short time he could to that purpose he desired a Bible with the singing Psalmes intending to make choice of the thirtieth Psalme as most proper for that occasion and reflecting upon the present condition wherein hee stood as hee conceived So passing to the place of execution not unwillingly for he seemed often to be weary of the throng and presse of people many of the same questions were againe urged concerning the fact and circumstances thereof to which he briefly gave the same answer as before onely with this difference as followeth concerning the reason or cause why he should doe it The question being proposed thus did you therefore kill your Mother and your brother because they received the Sacrament kneeling or no He answered that was not only the cause whence it was argued that it was part of the cause and that he withall concealed some further reason also that might move him to do the fact Being therefore urged to a further satisfactory answer to declare the whole truth and confesse at large whether that vizt their kneeling was the cause wholly Or if but in part whether yet he had not a further reason and what that might be He denyed that it was any part of the cause or that he was able to give any cause or reason at al of the fact In so much that a grave and reverend divine answered thereupon in these words then Enoch it seemes that word might wel have been left out I meane the word onely Sect. 19. For further satisfaction as touching his manner of death he made upon the ladder a short and generall confession that he was guilty of much sinne and of this murder in particular that he was sensible of the heynousnesse of the fact and did earnestly repent him of it hee exhorted the people by his example to beware and watch over themselves least they fall into temptation in like maner After this he read the thirtieth Psalme and he came downe and kneeling upon the ground he made a generall Prayer by way of confession of sinne in generall and petition for pardon and remission briefly touching upon this fact of murder therein And being urged to pray againe for pardon of that sinne more particularly he kneeled downe the second time and enlarged himselfe upon that sinne and the hainousnesse of murder and this murder especially with petition of pardon and forgivenesse to the satisfaction and comfort of those present who commended the prayer and praised God in hope they had of the salvation of the poore soule After that he read another Psal upon the Ladder and so still calling upon God and the people to pray for him he prepared to die with much trembling in his leggs and joints but with a cheerefull voice he spent his last breath in Lord have mercy God have mercy upon my soule Sect. 20. These narrations premised serve first to manifest upon what weake reasons and false grounds Master Studleys accusations in these particulars are framed For he having gayned from Enoch a confession that there was a difference in resoning between his brother and him touching the gesture of kneeling concludeth thereupon that he was a downe right separatist though Enochs reasons alledged may better conclude him to be a mad man then a Puritan A better reason might have beene used to have proved him a Puritan because he was a Protestant out of his wits And he conceiveth he hath given non-conformists a deepe disgust in his refutation of the arguments and objections convincing him of Lunacy by Enochs owne deny all that he was mad as appeareth pag. 99. upon the supposition that he was a Puritan he concludeth the cause of his murder was puritanisme and difference in opinion and this grounded upon Enochs variable and contradictory confession to Master Studley as hath beene shewed And hereupon he resolveth it must needs follow that he was seduced into these opinions to the distruction of his body and soule therein not crediting Enochs often and constant denyall thereof They serve also to shew what manner of man this wretched Enoch was conceived to be By his neighbours by his parishioners by the Vicar of the parish who best knew him he was esteemed towards his latter time a distracted or Lunaticke man though he had his Lucida intervalla but no separatist no Puritan or non-conformist for as hath beene said he constantly frequented Divine Service in his owne parish and received the Sacraments even to the time of his
supprest c. page 169. Sect. 26. In like manner he dealeth with Master F. in the latter end of his booke wherein he himselfe faileth in what hee would correct Master F. for that is in wisedome in honesty and in charity for he publikly declared in his congregation to his auditours that he had beene credibly enformed that a very factious Sermon had been preached on fryday before in the hearing of them It was wel known to al that heard him who it was that had preached the friday before and so consequently the preacher knowne though not named Where was then Master Studleys wisedome in taking on trust and by information a report so weighty without examination Where his honesty in contempt of Master F. his person whom he ought of duty to have privately consulted Or where his charity Which is never suspitious of evill before it be convinced by evidence of fact The choyce of Master F. his text seemeth factious to Master Studley for the Lord Bishop having preached upon the Text 1 Pet 2.17 Feare God and honâ—ur the King Master F. tooke his text Matth. 10 28. Feare not them which kill the Body c. Now it is confessed by Master Studley that Master F. was wholy ignorant of the Lord Bishops text as is set downe pa. 281. nay hee was so farre from factiousnesse that being importuned to preach and having scant time for study he preached the same Sermon and upon the same text which he had a Sunday before preached in his owne parish And therefore the Lord Bishop as he himselfe tould me concerning neither errour in the doctrine nor factiousnesse in the manner of preaching did order for full satisfaction that Master F. should preach againe at Shrewsbury and explaine himselfe which was performed and the Minister stood in the Bishops good opinion as appeared by his commendation of him to my Lord of Saint Asaph Yet after this course taken Master Studley puts in print a letter as he calleth it of a sharpe contents and indeed it was very violent and virulent unfit to passe between men of that order and ranke Wherein hee taxeth that Minister of Gods word as a false traducer unwise dishonest uncharitable a sectarie a Schismatick light-headed furious fantasticall disloyall and unquiet yet those who know him as I protest I doe not say he is no such man but a modest sober discreet and conformable minister and so my lord Bishop of Lichfield conceived of him as hee likewise tould me lately The certificate mentioned in the letter I have seene a copy of it and of their names who have subscribed it who are of the best ranke and understanding in the Towne of Shrewsbury anâ— not such as would certifie under their hands the confirmation of a lewd and false report They who heard the Sermon and know the men marvell at the impudency of the Author of the Looking-glasse And if the certificate the Sermon and the Bishops censure were printed as well as Master Studleys letter the Reader no doubt would have full satisfaction The letter it selfe of Master Studleys hand writing I have seene and compared it with the printed which is verbatim as hee saith without addition detraction or mutation of one sillable yet I have observed and â—an make appeare above â—wenty variations of the printed from the written letter it selfe pag. 296 sect 54 but he that feares no mans tongue what should he sticke at Sect. 27. Hitherto I have laboured in the search and discovery of the truth and endeavoured to free my neighbourhood from the aspersion of Puritanisme or non-conformity now my conclusion shall be an earnest request to all good people to make a right use of such fearefull examples not to be more profane and to abstaine from divine Service the hearing of Sermons hearing and reading of Gods word publicke and private prayer because they have heard and read that this Enoch was a bould and busy scripturist that he would ride three or foure miles to heare Sermons which is tearmed the ordinary practice of this formal age and yet he fell into these haynous crimes but rather to be more zealous diligent and constant in the profession and practise of Christianity and with all circumspection and fortitud watch over our selves and resist the temptations of the flesh the world and Sathan by continuall prayer Lord lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill The consideration of the parties murthered and the partie murthering will be speciall motives hereunto The parties slaine were his mother out of whose bowells he came and from whose life his life next under the Almighty Creator was derived and his brother who came out of the same womb and sucked the same breasts Yet the lives of that dearest Mother and nearest brother were taker away and by him whom they least suspected never feared and even then when they were most secure How great cause have we al none excepted of thankesgiving to our good God for ouâ— preservatioÌ„ from such a sudden bloudy and cruell end of prayer that our heavenly father would continue his gracious protection over us and to deliver us from suddaine and violent death 〈◊〉 of preparation for who knowes when that time will come or in what manner we shall end our dayes Therefore by continuall repentance faith prayer doing of good workes let us prepare our selves taking heed least at any time our hearts bee overcome with surfetting drunkenes or the cares of this life and so that day come on us unawares If we consider the party murthering he was conceived to be honest and upright in his dealing free from drunkennes or other notorious sinnes as farre as I can learne hee was given much to reading and praying not onely privately and in his fathers house but to frequent divine Service and Sermons Now that God should permit such a man to fall into and preserve others in outward shew more profane and ungodly from such a bloudy crime may minister matter of wonder and amazement at the judgement of God which is many times secret and profound yet alwaies just And of terrour least he should suffer us to fall so fearefully in the like manner Lastly if we consider the religious duties which Enoch practised as prayer reading of the Scripture frequenting of divine service in Gods house these are in themselves good ordinarily meanes necessary to salvation we are bound unto them by divine law and the command of our Church and state shall we neglect them because he practising them fell into these sinnes Shall wee thinke that these were any causes of these murders Shall we condemne those that are frequent in these holy actions God forbid The Scripture containeth the Gospell which is the power of God to salvation let us read it Prayer is the key of heaven let us use it with our best devotion The Church is the house of God it is the place of his blessed presence let us frequent it And by those meanes we
shall be prepared for the estate of everlasting glory wherein shall be no tempter no temptation no sinne no sorrow but righteousnesse peace and fulnesse of joy in the presence of God and preasures for evermore Vnto which estate the Lord in mercy bring us and â—n the meane time keepe us from such horrible sinne The true Copy of the subscripâ—â—on formerly mentioned we whose names are under-written doe acknowledge that those things in this treatise which have relation to us and our knowledge are truely set down and receaved from us which we testifie by the subscription of our names HUMPHRY WALCOT THOMAS CLUNNP E. POVVEL vicar of Clunne GERVAS NEEDHAM WILLIAM BEDFORD ROBERT BARRET THOMAS HOVVELLS WILLIAM TANNER IOHN HOVVELLS WILLIAM GRIFFITHS IOHN LEVVIS FINIS An Appendix in further defence of the precedent Relation wherein is examined Master Studleys pretended refutation of such objections as were made against his Looking-glasse of Schisme Gentle Reader WHen I did first set my selfe to compose the precedent Relation I did not purpose to have it printed as in the beginning of my relation I have intimated in regard whereof I had no respect in the framing of my discourse to the swelling style which Master Studley pleaseth himselfe with in his Narration proposing to my selfe onely a briefe discovery of the naked truth of the businesse in hand therefore marvell not that I have forborne to follow him in â—ll his deviations and impertinent digressions yet now my relation cometh to the presse unexpectedly I am urged to adde something in regard of â—aster Studleys additions to â—he second edition of his looking glasse wherein he reciteth ten Criminations which I conceive to be all of his owne contriving yet for the present admitting them by way of reply to Master Studleys answeres I shall cleare such passages as from them seeme to reflect on what I have delivered for truth The first Crimination is to this effect That Master Studley hath published the most lying boooke that ever came forth in print The Hyperbolicall part of this Crimination I maintaine not Reply yet that his booke doth containe many falsehoods I suppose it sufficiently evidenced in those instances given in the fiftenth and twenty sections and the twenty five Section declareth eight falsehoods in Master Studleys unnecessary digression to that of Teuxbury The second Crimination Master Powell the reverend Minister of Clunne under whom Enoch lived from his birth knowes many of your relations to be false c. MAster Powel had the view and perusall of my precedent Relation Reply and finding it agreeable to the truth of his knowledge he testifies the integrity of this my Relation by the Subscription of his name to that originall Copie which now I have in my custody yea he was so earnest in attestation of the falsehoods in this looking-glasse that after he had subscribed this relation in manner and forme as in the end thereof is set downe he desired to be the meanes of conveying it to the Bishop of Hereford and did deliver it to his Chancelor Master Docter Skinner by whom it was delivered to the Bishop Now let the unpartiall reader judge whether Master Powell would deale so unworthily with himselfe as to subscribe his owne approbation of my Relation and convey it to his Diocesan if h ehad in deed so approved Master Studleys report as is pretended It is true that Master Powell is now dead and lest in that regard doubtfull thoughts may be entertained with some men I have heare inserted a Certificate from divers persons of such worth and credit as Master Studley himselfe will not except against them the Certificate I set downe in the same words as it was sent unto mee onely I adde the specification of their quality and Condition for the readers better satisfaction Wee whose names are subscribed have heard Master Erasmus Powell late vicar of Clun in his life time complaine of divers grosse untruths and falsities in Master Studleys Relation of Enoch ap Evan in his book intituled the looking gl of Schisme Humphrey Walcot esqu Samuel Hildersam Recâ—or of the Church of west felton county Salop. Tho Clun of Clun Gent. Hugh Edwards Gent. Esay Thomas Alderman of Bishops Castle William Tanner a free â—urges of Bishops Castle George Lawson Rector of the Church at the Moore Gervase Needham vicar of the Church at Bishops Castle If opportunity had served or the cause required futher proof might be produced in like kind For the present I further call to mind Sir Robert Harley Knight of the Bath Walter Barker of Hamond Esquire and Master Standley Gower Rector of the Church of Brompton Brian who have informed me that they heard Master Powell declare his dislike of Master Studleys booke in regard of the falsehoods therein conteyned And which is yet more the aforenamed Master Barker and Master Hildersam were present when Master Powell did to Master Studleys face tax him for his untruthes in his booke The Third Crimination concerneth the taking downe of the body from the Gibbet heere Master Studley sweates to perswade the reader that he had stronger arguments to Master his understanding then to believe that such simple women as Enochs sisters could be the chiefe abettors of such a fact five silly reasons he reciteth moving him to publish his conjecture that crafty heads contrived that devise of conveying his corps from the Gibbet and breathed the same by instruction and counsell into his sisters Enabling thereby ignorant women of rustick quality and small understanding to take upon them the mannaging of a devise so subtile and bold who then were the authors of this designe Master Studley telleth us in his looking-glasse Pag. 164. edit 1 some brethren of his own disposition and faction restles in willfulnesse that he might not say wickednesse contrived a devise by rearing up a ladder in the night to saw off that part of the gibbet where his body hanged c. As I will not affirme but that some others might first suggest to Enochs sister the taking downe of his body which they upon examâ—nation have denyed so I hope no indifferent man wil suppose it to be without the compasse of womens understanding to be guilty of hireing others to remove such an object so neere the place of their habitation and birth I am to thank Master Studley that he doth declare his beliefe that the rest of the Commissioners with my selfe traveiled prudently and faithfully yet he saith he neither doth nor can nor will believe that the totall truth was by us delivered for so hee saith in his refutation of Crimination pag. 15. for satisfaction of the Reader herein I desire him seriously to consider the proceedings against the offendors as they are faithfully exhibited in the twenty two and twenty three and twenty foure Sections of my relation to which I here adde verbatim that letter mentioned Sect. 23. From the Iudges Sir William Iones and Sir Thomas Trevor To the Right worshipfull