The most Lamentable and Deplorable HISTORY OF THE Two Children in the Wood CONTAINING The happy Loves and Lives of their Parents the Treachery and barbarous Villany of their Unkle the Duel between the murdering Ruffians and the unhappy and deplorable death of the two innocent Children As also on Account of the Justice of GOD that overtook the Unnatural Unkle and of the deserved Death of the two murdering Ruffians To which is annex'd The Old SONG upon the same London Printed by and for W. O. and sold by the Booksellers The Lamentable and Deplorable HISTORY OF THE Two Children in the WOOD c. CHAP. I. Of the Original of Father and Mother of the two Children and his Family c. THe Subject of this History is the Deplorable Death of two Children left in a Wood where they most miserably perish'd How they were brought thither and came to that unhappy End shall be at large declared in the Sequel of this History in which that we may proceed the more regularly we shall first give and Account of the Parents of those two innocent Sufferers Their Father was a Gentleman of a plentiful Estate in the County of Norfolk not far from Castle-Rising an ancient Burrough-Town in that County tho' at present much decay'd This Gentleman was descended from the ancient and honourable Family of the True-loves in that County and bore the Name of Arthur never would admit of The real Worth that they were both Possessors of soon equally attract'd one another So that soon after the happy Consummation of their Marriage compleated both their Joys And one exprest their Happiness on this occasion in the following Lines So joys the Pilot that hath scap'd a Grave In the swell'd Bosom of an angry Wave And after all his shipwrack'd Hopes at last Doth fafe in Port his joyful Anchor cast Which hath occasion'd many pious Airs And been the Subject of his daily Prayers Nor did they live until this happy Hour In which their Joys were all within their Power To speak of the Solemnity and splendid Entertainments at their Wedding with all the Triumphs that attended it wou'd be to hold a Candle to the Sun For to say nothing cou'd be wanting at it is but to speak diminutively of it Three Elements at least wefle risted to serve up the Variety of which their Wedding-dinner did consist and universal Joy and Satisfaction was seen in every Countenance expressing the glad Hearts of all the Guests Only his Brother Nicholas seem'd to wear a cloudy Brow and appear'd meancholy unto that degree that it was taken notice of by several but he excus'd it by pretending some Indisposition which those that knew him best thought he had no occasion to excuse it being only the Effect of his own natural and moross Temper of which his Brother took no notice for his fair Bride had took up all his Thoughts CHAP. III. How Mr. Nicholas Truelove grew very melancholy after his Brother's Marriage and of the Kindness of his Brother and Sister to him IT is observed by Naturalists that Spiders will suck Poison from the self-same Flowers from whence the better-natur'd Bee will extract Virgin Honey Just so it was with Mr. Nicholas Truelove the Marriage of his eldest Brother which was a general Occasion of Rejoycing to all others gave him the greatest Discontent imaginable of which whatever his Pretences were this was indeed the true and only Reason His Brother Arthur having liv'd a Batchelor till about thirty four Years of Age he had fondly conceived that he wou'd never marry and then by Consequence all the Estate his Brother had wou'd fall to him and to his Children But now his Brother marrying a fine and beautiful young Gentlewoman by whom he cou'd not doubt of having Issue and thereby seeing all his Hopes defeated the mighty Disappointment overcame him and touch'd his covetous and sordid Temper to the Quick So that his Discontent became too visible to be dissembled which his Brother perceiving was very sensibly afflicted at it and wou'd be often asking of him what was the occasion of it but Nicholas as much as possibly he cou'd avoided speaking to him and by endeavouring to hide the Malady made it the more apparent It happened some five or six Months after Mr. Arthur Truelove was married that his Wife's Pregnancy began to be apparent and gave the joyful Parents assured My dear Brother I must confess that you 've been always kind above what other Brothers use to be and therefore I shou'd be the most ungrateful amongst Men shou'd I be wanting in my just Acknowledgements or have one thought within my Breast I shou'd not make my Brother privy to But as Distempers come without our leave so neither will they go but when Heaven pleases And if sometimes I do appear to indulge it 't is as my Sister very well observ'd the melancholy Constitution I am subject to inclines me so to do But my dear Sister addressing himself to her I am resolv'd to take your Counsel and come and see what Cheer you keep at home and go sometimes a hunting with my Brother and use all means I can to conquer this so troublesome Distemper And so began to be more merry with them CHAP. IV. How Mr. Nicholas Truelove went afterwards to his Brother's House and seem'd to be recover'd of his Melancholy during which time his Brother 's Wife was deliver'd of a fine and lovely Boy AFter this kind Visit made by Mr. Arthur and his Lady to his Brother Nicholas manifesting so much Kindness to him he had a strange coufusion of Thoughts within him his wicked Purposes were stagger'd and he began to boggle at the Execution of his wicked Designs For he had once resolv'd to kill both his kind Brother and his Wife that so he might be Lord of his Inheritance but this unatural Resolution upon his cooler thoughts began to be too horrid in his Eyes as well as it had too much Danger in it He knew his Brother and his Sister's Vertues had made 'em well belov'd by all the Country and had few Enemies and if such a Fact shou'd be commited 't wou'd be a thing impossible to hinder the Discovery But now their Kindness had so over come him that the Ingratitude of such an Act was by his better Genius set forth in its true Colours to his Soul which had not yet lost all remainders of Humanity He also thought that time which in each Age produces mighty Alterations might bring about his black Designs by ways less hazardous and that he might obtain his Ends without that load of Guilt which such a horrid and infamous Action must needs have brought upon him Having thus ruminated in himself he puts on the most pleased Countenance he cou'd and told his Wife who was a Woman that deserv'd a better Husband and unto whom he nevar durst communicate the least of those black thoughts that haunted him that he intended to go see his Brother and
repay him his kind Visit and there see if he cou'd divert himself and shake his melancholy Humour off Which the good-natur'd Gentlewoman was extreamly glad to hear and seconded his Resolution all she coul'd When he came to his Brother's he was received by him and by his Sister with all the Kindness that was possible who were extreamly glad to see him look with a serener Air than he was wont to do and told him they rejoyc'd to see him so much mended To whom he pleasantly reply'd He 'd took his Sister's Counsel and was come thither to divert himself and shake his Melancholy off His Brother was well pleas'd with what he said and nothing was omitted which might contribute to so good a Resolution He went a hunting often with his Brother and visiting of other Neighbouring Gentry who now began to have a greater Kindness for him then e're they had before But now the time was come for the young Lady to be brought a-bed and through the kind Assistance of Lucina was safe deliver'd of a young Son to the great Joy of all the Family But that which was the Father's Joy became the Brother's Grief for by this Heir he saw himself and Children dispossest of what he had so long esteem'd his own and could not so contract his angry Brow but that some Clouds appeared within his Face but yet he wished his Brother and his Sister Joy and drank a Health to the long Life and Happiness of his young Nephew Which as he truly wish'd not then so he obstructed afterwards But quickly after finding this new Heir gave him a fresh Disturbance which he was not willing should be taken notice of he therefore told his Brother and his Sister that his Occasions did now call him home and so begged their Excuse for his Departure and returned home again CHAP. V. How Mr. Arthur Truelove had a Daughter born two Years after his Son And of the happy Life his Wife and he enjoyed MR Nicholas Truelove being returned home and reflecting opon the kind Entertainment he had received from his Brother and Sister could not but in spite of all ill-nature blame himself for repining at his Brother's Happiness and therefore resolved for the time to come that he would stifle all those wicked Inclinations that had hitherto disturb'd him and accordingly carried it towards them with all Kindness and respect which became him towards so kind and good-natured a Brother so that both Families were or at least seemed to be happy in each other and Providence in less than two Years afterwards crowned Mr. Arthur Truelove and vertuous Spouse with a fair Daughter to his lovely Son to which he gave its Mother's Name as his young Son had his So that they looked upon themselves and were indeed as happy as their Hearts could wish His Prudence and good Husbandry increasing his Estate which still grew more and more by all he gave away for such was his extensive Charity that he never suffered any to go away an hungry from his Door nor discontented neither as far as he could help it For he still found the more he gave away letting Descretion always be his Guide the more his Wealth encreas'd upon his Hand For what he thus distributed abroad to such as were fit Objects for his Charity was like the Seed which with a liberal Hand being shed upon the ground brought forth a suitable Increase in its appointed Season Nor was his vertuous Lady idle in her Station but being skill'd in the peculiar Vitues of most Herbs and Flowers her Closet was a small Apothecary's Shop from whence on all occasions she dispensed both Food and Physick to her needy Neighbours Whilst both his vertuous Lady and himself thought themselves happy in each other and in their little Son and Daughter in whom and in their Issue they had the Prospest of a kind of Immortality intailed upon their Family and did not doubt but their Posterity might live for many Ages yet to come But ah how differently do things fall out from what we oft imagine and other Scenes appear than what at present is within our Prospect CHAP. VI. How Mr. Arthur Truelove and his Wife fell sick and how his Brother Nicholas came to see ' em HOw often have we seen the Sun that glorious Ruler of the Day shine with illustrious Beams of splendent Light and scatter his bright Rays thro' all the Heavens when on a sudden some envious interposing Cloud has robb'd us of its Lustre and brought a glooms Darknesy o're the World Just so it was with Mr. Arthur Truelove for on a sudden his Health and his Wife 's too were both exchang'd for Sickness both failing sick and both of one Distemper at the self-same-time but what that was neither themselves nor their Physicians could determine but did resolve it into some occule Morbisick Matter which had been long a breeding but now came to a Head and threatned to disolve their earthly Tabernacle What afterwards ensued made some reflect as if his Brother Nicholas had offered some foul Play to 'em at an Entertainment that he gave 'em at his House about three Months before when out of an Excess of Kindness he had 'em up into his Closet and there gave 'em a Dram which as he said he kept for his own drinking for tho' they both remained well three Months after yet there are Poisons may be so prepared as to lie latent so long time within their Bodies and yet at last as surely kill as if a Sword had pierc'd their very Hearts and that his Brother and his Sister no'r mistrusted it can be no Argument for neither did they in the least imagine how afterwards he dealt with their dear Children for if they had they ne'r had made him Guardian over'cm But be that how it will certain it is that as these vertuous Pair found their Distemper attack 'em with renewed Violence and that it baffled the Physitians Remedies they sent with all imaginable speed for Mr. Nicholas Truelove to come to 'em who seemed to be exceedingly surpriz'd at the bad News and therefore hastened to go to visit them When Mr. Nicholas came into the Chamber and saw in what Condition they both lay he looked as if he wou'd have fallen down dead and needed a Physitian more than they did and seemed so troubled that he could not speak At last recovering himsâ—lf a little or seeming so to do he thus began to speak My dear Brother and Sister wonder not that you see me so disturb'd for 't is the most heart-killing Sight I ever yet beheld to see you both upon a Bed of Sickness you whom I love to that degree not my own Wife and Children are more dear to me it drives me nigh the Confines of another World O break my Heart and let me not survive it Would my own Death might but preserve your Lives how much shou'd I rejoyce to make the Exchange But is there nothing that I
can do for you No Help No Remedy What shall I do And thereupon the Tears gush'd out so plentifully as made the Beholders not to doubt of the sincere Affection he had for ' em And made his truely loving-Brother say Pray Brother do not add to my Affliction by weeping thus for me my greatest Trouble is to see you grieve thus As to myself and my dear Wife we 're pleased that we shall go together to a World of Happiness where we shall have no need of any thing that we shall leave behind us Death is the common Lot of all Mankind and if it come to us sooner than others we shall have this Advantage by it that we shall thereby be the sooner happy and freed from whatsoever can disturb us But I have one thing Brother to request of you and that is That you 'd take the Charge and Care of my dear Children for to you Care it is I shall commit ' em To this the seemingly sorrowful Brother reply'd That tho he had said nothing to him yet that unfeigned Love he always bore to him would infallibly engage him to take the same Care of his Children as he would do of his own At which the sick Couple being very well satisfied gave him many Thanks But their Brother was exceeding earnest with 'em to try further means for their Recovering and told 'em he hoped to see 'em better the next time he came And so returned again to his own House not a little pleased he had so well dissembled with his Brother CHAP. VII Shewing how Mr. Arthur Truelove made his last Will and dying left his Brother Nicholas sole Executor and Guardian to his Children AFter the return of Mr. Nicholas Truelove to his own House the Physitians employ'd the utmost of their Care for the Recovery of Arthur and his Wife but with no Success For according to the Poet The Doctor cannot always cure the Ill Sometimes the Malady's beyond the Skill And therefore finding their Illness to increase and expecting nothing else but it wou'd end in Death he sent for a 〈◊〉 Publick and desired him to make his Will by which he left his CHAP. IX How the two Ruffians took the two Children on pretence of having them to London and carried them into a great Wood in order to kill 'em How they two fell out about it and one kill'd the other the surviving Villain leaving the two Children in the Wood where they miserably perish'd with Hunger THe Ruffians whom Truelove had agreed with came in the Afternoon and brought a Letter to him to desire the Children might be sent up to London to their Mother's Aunt Which Mrs. Truelove wou'd by no means agree to for she knew none cou'd take more care of 'em than she had dome but her Husband was resolv'd they shou'd go their Aunt was a rich Widow he said and had no Children of her own and she 'd â—â—â—ve all she had to 'em and he 'd not be their hinderance The next day all things being 〈…〉 their pretended Journey comes the two seeming Carriers with Horses to 〈◊〉 up these harmless Babes towards London who were both very glad they should ride a Cock-horse And Mrs. Truelove having kissed them with as true an Affection as her Husband did in a feigned one took her leave of them charging the suppos'd Carriers to have a great Care of 'em and see they were well us'd The Ruffians having got the Babes in their Possession and the Reward that Truelove promised them rid some Miles towards London the little prating Travellers who now poor Innocents were travelling to their long Home entertaining their Murtherers with such pritty innocent Discourses as would even have mollified a Heart of Stone and softened the Breasts of Tygres but these were far more hard and savage At last they came to a great Wood by which there was a narrow Lane turned out of the Road into which they went and there alighting took the poor Children down and went into the Wood together the Children talking to them all the while which made the milder Villian of the two perswade the other to save their Lives since they had had already their Reward and that 't was best to carry them and leave them near some unfrequented Village were somebody might see them and take them in but this the other Relentless Rogue refused alledging Truelove had paid 'em largely and therefore upon Honour they were bound to perform their Word See what mistaken Notions some Men have of Honour when nothing can be Honourable but what is honest just and vertuous But in this Contest the Quarrel grew so high that they from Words fell to their Swords and he that was for killing of the Children was first killed himself whilst the poor Babes stood crying by frighted to see them quarrel The surviving Villain after the other's Death came to the Children and bid them leave their crying and go along with him and he would have 'em where they should have some Victuals and after he had led them about two Miles farther in the Wood he bid 'em sit down upon the Grass and he wou'd bring them presently some Sugar-plumes and Bread and Butter with which the Children being pleased sat down expecting it accordingly And there he left these harmless Babes to perish as surely tho' not so kindly killing them as if heâ—d cut their Throats Tir'd with their Journey and their Expectation of the Man's Return as it grew dark they fell a crying which they continued so long till they fell aslep and waking in the Morning they got up and sought to get out of the VVood which when they could not do they searched for Food and found some Black-berries and some few wild Apples which not sustaining Nature they soon dyed with Hunger and altho' they had none to bury them the kinder Robin-red-breast buried them with Leaves Truelove inform'd by the surviving Villain that they had muther'd the young Children six Months after produces a counterfeit Letter from the pretended Aunt in London that his pritty Nephew and Neice were both dead of the Small Pox who shew'd as much counterfeit Sorrow as any for their Deaths And at last got the Estate which he so much coveted But tho' he had contriv'd all this so privately yet Divine Vengeance follow'd him affrighting Dreams terrifying him in his Sleep and the Image of the murther'd Children still staring him i' th' Face and he that egg'd him on to all this Wickedness now in most horrid Shapes appear'd to him and threatning every Moment to destroy him Besides most of his Cattle dy'd of the Murrain his Corn was blasted and his Barns were fired by Lightning Mildews and Catter-pillars destroy'd all his Fruits two of his Sons for whom he coveted his Brother Lands were cast away at Sea His company was hared by all honest Men and he was forc'd to herd with Rogues and Villains out of meer necessâ—â—y amongst whom when he had profusely