The Cry and Reuenge of Blood Expressing the Nature and haynousnesse of wilfull Murther Exemplified In a most lamentable History thereof committed at Halsworth in High Suffolk and Lately Conuicted at Bury Assize 1620. LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES for Iohn Wright dwelling in Pie-corner 1620. â—O THE RIGHT Honorable Sir Henry Mountague Lord Chiefe Iustice of England and his thrice honoured Lady all encrease of honour and true happinesse SEeing it hath pleased your good Honour to giue life to this poore Infant by that gratious breath of yours whereby you prepared the guitlie deseruedly to their death Pardon I beseech you my boldnes in committing it to bee fostered vnder your Honorable Patronage who already haue a vowed the better part thereof Long haue I bene desirous to approue my selfe vnto your honour in what poore measure I haue bene able not only in respect of many fauors vndeseruedly receiued from your honorable Lady in my former afflictions but especially in regard of your Lordships gratious clemencie in releasing a poore distressed neighbour at my request whose follie by how much the more it prouoked your honours iust displeasure by so much the greater was your benignitie in remitting his offence And therefore obseruing your meekenes extended to so vndeseruing I haue bene the rather emboldned to put my selfe and these poore labours vnder the couert thereof that so the Church of God may more warrantablie entertaine and make better vse of this discouerie being commended vnto them vnder such iustifiable protection and the Countrie may more earnestlie pray for yours honours happie returne amongst them for the full discouery and censure of what yet lies hidden concerning this most hellish and execrable murther Among whom my selfe also vnfaynedly wait Gods holy prouidence herein and shal not cease to coÌ„mend your honour in my best deuotions vnto the God of Iustice to continue your Lordship in all health and happines not only to the finishing of this worke so worthily proceeded in hitherto but also to the perfiting of your saluation in his feare in a full discharge of this great and honorable calling hee hath placed you in And so I commend your honour with your gratious Ladie to the grace of God From my house in White-crosse streete this 24. of August 1620. Resting in the Lord at your Honours and the Churches seruice THO. COOPER TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL SIR HENRY NORTH HIGH SHEriffe of the County of Suffolk together withthe rest of his Maiesties Iustice of peace in that County RIght Worshipfull It fell out by Gods good prouidence that at the last Assize at Berrie I was an eare-witnesse of the Discouery of the most strange and cruell Murther that euer I read of The Detection whereof together with the most fayre and honourable carriage of the businesse did so affect me that I could not think my time better spent then in taking notes of such speciall Passages as fell out therein Which howsoeuer I then onely entended for my priuate vse yet considering that such wonderful works of God are to be declared to posterity and being solicited by some Worthies of the Shire to that end I thought it good to condiscend to their requests with the soonest the rather to preuent such flying and suspitious pamphlets wherewith the world in such cases is too much abused and so informe the world in the right vse of such strange occurrents Wherein if your Worships shall find ought that may reuiue in your memory â—o wonderfull a discouery and shall stirre vp your affections to magnifie the prouidence of God herein As I shall haue herein what I principally desire so shall I not faile to take any other good occasion to testifie my thankefulnesse vnto your Worships as God shall offer the same to whose gracious protection I doe most hartily commend you all Resting in him Your Worships poore remembrancer at the Throne of Grace THO. COOPER The Contents CHAPTER 1. The Introduction to the History where of the Prouidence of God in permitting and ordering such horrible wickednesse 1. For the confusion of the Atheist And secondly awaking of the secure and prophane Christians CHAP. 2. Wherein first an entrance is made by way of Application vnto the Particular sinne of Murther being the proper subiect of this Treatise where 2. The Progeny and heynousnesse of this sinne is discouered and enlarged 3. The causes and occasions thereof in generall are explained 4. The Dangerous Effects and consequences thereof are detected And so 5. Such seuerall vses are propounded as both tend to the preuenting of this sinne as also for the wise suppressing and weeding out thereof CHAPTER 3. Of the particular Murther at Halsworth And first of the occasions and causes thereof 2 Of the Actors and Accessaries therein 3 Of the Parties that were Murthered 4 Of the Manner and Circumstances how they were made away 5 Of the Meanes to conceale the Murther beeing committed 6 And diuerse obseruations considerable on either side CHAP. 4. Where first of the Reason why howsoeuer other sinnes come after Iudgement yet this sinne of Murther is seldome left vndiscouered 2. Of the Many wayes whereby the Lord hath discouered Murther from time to time with diuers instances thereof 3. That it was the Finger of God that detected this blood 4. Of the Manner and Instruments imployed herein 5. And the seuerall Vses to bee made thereof CHAP. 5. Declareth the Conuiction of the Murtherers 1. Where the Euidences against them are published and opened by the Iudge 2 Their Inditements found hereupon by the Iury 3 Their Obstinacy vpon their finding declared and discussed with the Vse of all CHAP. 6. Of the Condemnation and Iudgement giuen vpon the Malefactors where after entrance made hereto 1 The religious and learned Speech of the thrice reuerend Iudge is published tending to iustifie the righteous hand of God herein as also to prepare the delinquents to an holy vse thereof 2 The Sentence it selfe followeth with the great clemency and moderation thereof 3 With diuers passages and profitable vses of the same CHAP. 7. 1 Containing the execution of the Murtherers 2 And such accidents as fell out therein 3 Together with such Vses as may be made thereof CHAP. 8. Containing the conclusion of the whole With promise of further light The Cry and Reuenge of Bloud CHAPTER 1. The Introduction to the History whereof the Prouidence of God in permitting and ordering such horrible wickednesse 1. For the confusion of the Atheist And secondly awakening of the secure and prophane Christians IT may seeme very strange and almost incredible to carnall apprehension that such glorious light of the Gospell especially so long continued among vs and that not without some gracious effect should yet notwithstanding abound with so many strange and monstrous sinnes as doe dayly breake out and are strengthned with so high an hand of obstinacy and deeperate Impenitency For whereas the powerfull preaching of the word hath this gracious promise annexed with it that as at the
so we may take a further view of the odiousnesse of the same Surely if we looke vp to the first Murtherer that euer was may we not obserue that Enuy prouoked him therevnto because his brothers was accepted and his sacrifice was teiected therefore did Cain saith the Apostle stay his brother Abell that was more righteous then he And was not the pride of his heart the occasion of this enuy because Caine was not respected according to the conceit of his owne worth therefore he enuied his owne brother that was better respected of God then himselfe and so through enuy shed his innocent bloud Was not Ioseph sold through enuy by his brethren Consider we the next Murtherer recorded in the booke of God Was not Lamech an Adulterer and thereupon a murtherer either inflamed thereto by iealousie which is the rage of a man and therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance or enraged thereto by lust which will admit no partner therein Did not Dauids adultery end in murther 2. Sam. 11. Is not lust the firebrand to contentions and murthers Iam. 4. 1. 2. was not lust the cause of that treacherous murther of the Shechemites Did not lust bring a whole Tribe in Israel to this end And what caused Absolon to seeke his fathers life was it not ambition and desire of soueraignty What mooued Ahab to take away Naboths life was it not a couetous desire to enioy his Vineyard was not Iudas blinded by couetousnesse to betray his Master to the death And may we not see all these causes concurring together in those cruell Iewes that murthered the Lord of Life To conclude Is not rage and furie vsually the spurre hereunto Haue not bitter words sometimes ended in bloudy broyles and barbarous murthers And is not drunkennesse an ordinary harnenger to this sinne not onely murthering hereby it master suddenly but also prouoking in his cuppes to spill the blood of others so iust is the Lord to meete with sinners in their kinde that they which make no conscience to abuse and spill the good creatures of God seruing for the encrease of bloud and maintenance of life but haue béene bretheren in such horrible sinnes shall bee giuen vp to shed the bloud of each other and so depriue themselues of that blessing which they haue abused These are some causes and occasions of this grieuous sinne vnto which if we shall adde what may bee collected from the consideration of the subiect formerly deciphered we may conclude that as the want of Gods feare is a speciall cause of falling into this sinne so obstinacy and hardnesse of heart proceeding there-from doth much enflame and harden therein yea an enraged and guilty soule doth oft-times prouoke hereunto out of hellish despaire As touching the Effects of this grieuous sinne let that suffice which hath beene spoken concerning the haynousnesse thereof onely giue mee leaue to adde some cautions herein That though it be a grieuous sinne to shed bloud yet this neither doth debarre the Magistrate and his Instruments from executing of Iustice against Malefactors because they are Deputies vnto the Lord herein and haue authority hereunto from his Word neither doth it priuiledge any Priuate man vpon any instinct whatsoeuer to presume hereunto though some inferiour calling in the Family hath beene wickedly thought by some to warrant the same because the power of life death is in the hands of the Supreame Magistrate and such as are immediately deputed from him thereunto Though aboue all other murthers that of our selues is most vnnaturall and monstrous therefore as wee may not iustifie any such particular sinnes by any example of Sampson or particular instinct So wee must bee meruailous chary and tender in condemning absolutely their estates that through violence of Tentation or such like distempers haue made away themselues because either they were not themselues in that distemper and so it shall not be imputed vnto them or it was done not without some reluctation and so the Lord may haue mercy vpon them onely let vs be carefull not to imitate them herein and so leaue them to the Lord to whom they fall or stand Thus of the Effects and Iudgement of this sinne Proceed we now in the last place to consider such Antidotes as may preuent the same The principall whereof is to maintaine peace with our God because if our wayes do please him he will not only make our enemies to be at peace with vs that we may not feare to be prouoked either by bridling their corruptions as he did sometimes Labans Esaus or turning their hearts towards vs as he hath done the hearts of many persecutors But will also incline our hearts to be at peace with our enemies either by giuing vs wisedome to ouercome their euill with good or affording vs Patience to beare with our enemies or sustaining vs with meeknesse neither to prouoke nor be prouoked by them Now we shall wisely Maintaine peace with God How 1 If we walke closely with him according to his will with all power and diligence not leaning to our owne Wisedome but relying on his reuealed word and not presuming of ought either beyond or short thereof 2 If though we faile and slip daily as who can cleare himselfe therein yet we shall daily iudge our selues and by repentance renue our couenant with the Lord warring daily with our corruptions and maintaining the spirituall combat hereby we may preserue our Peace with God 3 If séeing our best workes are mixed with such corruption that if the Lord should be seuere to marke what is done amisse euen when we doe our best we shall neuer be able to abide it we shall therefore daily deny our best righteousnesse and labour to be found in Christ renuing our right in him hereby we shall renue and Maintaine our Peace with God 4 And yet seeing the grace of God shal be sufficient for vs in what soeuer wants or extreamities may befall if now we can in patience possesse our soules not repining at the dispensation of our God but being contented therewith in all occasions we shall so hunger after what wee want as that we can be thankfull for that which we haue and so husband the same with all vprightnes and diligence to the glory of our God and the generall good this is an excellent meanes to maintaine Peace with God Lastly that we may maintaine Peace with God let vs still nourish enmity against the world because the Amity of the World is Enmity against God so vsing the good therein that we hate the euill thereof and so vsing the good that we trust not therein so enioying the things thereof as that we are still ready to part with them at the Pleasure of the giuer accounting all things as doing that we may win Christ and yet by our wise husbandrie laying vp a good foundation by them against the day of Christ. Thus may we
comming of the Sauiour of the world all the Heathen Oracles and diuellish Delusions ceased and vanished so all vncleane spirits should bee banished and Satan fall downe like lightning by the power thereof and his works be dissolued and thorowly abolished may not the ouer-flowing of high handed sins so raigning in these euill dayes either seeme so challenge the Truth of the Gospell as if it yet appeared not in it liuely Beauty or else at least question the Efficacy thereof as not preuayling to the subduing of Iniquitie surely if we consider on the one side what hath opened the mouth of Papists to challenge the Truth of our Religion and still doat vpon their owne dreames Is it any other then what hath beene occasioned from such desperate sinnes as haue broken out and continued there with Do they not hereby impeach the truth and power thereof because Iniquity notwithstanding aboundeth in the midst of so glorious light Doth not this harden their hearts in their grosse and palpable darkenesse euen that I say which hardned the Iewes in their Idolatry and obstinacy against the truth that because when they worshipped the Queene of Heauen and all the host thereof then all things went better with them more charity then abounded lesse sinne and misery brake out but since the discouery of the Light sinne hath appeared more out of measure sinfull the wrath of God hath beene more discouered against the same therefore their Conclusion is that we are in the wrong and they maintaine the right And hath not his on the other side hardned the Atheist not onely in his blasphemy that there is no God that Religion is but Policy but also in his obstinate impiety and obdurate impenitency euen this I say is the maine Stumbling blocke hereunto that the Gospell being not powerfull to weed out such grosse wickednes but that it swarms and rangeth securely vnder the scepter thereof Either it is because there is no Truth therein or else wanting power it is no more to be regarded then a scarre-crow or bugbeare to fright fooles and children Either he thinkes that God is like vnto him because hee prospers in his sinne or that hee likes well thereof because sentence doth not speedily passe to his discouery and confusion Doth not the close conuayance of sinne and long concealing thereof prouoke him to challenge the Omnipresence of God as if he were hid in the clouds and could not see it Doth not his long forbearance of sinne and great pacience in suffering the vessels of wrath giue further occasion to the Atheist to chalenge the diuine prouidence as if the Lord would neither do good nor euill Nahum 1. 12. And is not the mouth of the Prophane Christian hereby opened against heauen Doth not his talke goe thorow the earth that Sinne is but a trick of youth that the more senselesse we are thereof the lesse care we take for the same the more our consciences are secure therein the more secure we are of the mercy of God the more wee may sinne that grace may abound because hereby the conscience becomes more obdurate and so secure of Gods fauour Behold heere the righteous Iustice of God in causing his Word to bee a sauour of death vnto death obserue I pray you and admire Gods wonderfull wisedome in taking the wise in their craftinesse that seeing they will not obey the glorious Gospell of our Lord Iesus in receiuing the Loue of the truth therefore the Lord hath giuen them vp iustly to strong Delusions euen to peruert this glorious light to the hardning of their hearts because they will not bee perswaded and subdued thereunto imputing those things as the effects of the Gospell which are indeeds the Fruits of their obstinate despising and peruerting of the same For to speake the truth in Iesus Christ and to iustifie the truth of God to the conuincing of these liars and peruerters of his glorious Grace Consider I pray you in the feare of God these Three things First the Intent of God in sending his Gospell vnto a Nation Secondly The Manner of Gods wisedome in the Dispensation thereof Thirdly The grounds and causes of Stumbling at and peruerting the same Concerning the Purpose of God in bestowing his Gospell vpon a Nation that wee may the better discerne the same we must looke vp into the Reuealed counsell of God concerning the saluation of the Elect and reiection of the Reprobate For the Execution of which his Eternall decree As the Lord in his eternall wisedome hath ordained his Mighty Word so seeing the number of his Chosen is a little Flocke in comparison of the Cast-awayes therefore doth hee also in his singular wisedome send and dispose thereof that howsoeuer it shall accomplish what he sends it for namely to conuince all sorts of either side both Elect and Reprobate yet it shall be effectuall onely in those few to their sound conuersion as for the rest they shall onely be hardned and bee made inexcusable thereby And to these contrary ends hath the wise and glorious God fitted and composed his blessed Word both in respect of the Nature thereof as also in the diuers manner of the conuayance of the same As touching y e Nature of the Word Is it not a great Mystery supposing some-what in shew to y e stubling of y e flesh euen while it seemes most easily to conceiue the same and including that in substance which while it is onely conceiueable by the Spirit doth thereby also abase the Flesh that so it may renounce it selfe in the apprehension thereof and seeke vnto the Spirit for the opening of this Mistery By which it comes to passe that the naturall man being onely able to conceiue though but peruersly the letter and outside of the Word doth thereby also stumble at it owne conceit either measuring the power of the Word by the letter of it and so abasing it in it owne conceit as beeing so obuious to it carnall reach and thereby seeming becomes offended at the outward simplicity and foolishnesse thereof or else resting in it owne outward apprehension as suiting with and seruing it carnall and present ends doth therefore stumble at the power thereof as thinking it needelesse or dangerous either because it is beyond his compasse or crosseth his carnall ends and so instead of submitting himselfe thereunto doth in the height of it wisedome despise and reiect the same Behold here how the Lord taketh the wise in their craftinesse The Foolish Worldling beeing the wiser in his owne eyes by how much the lesse hee diserneth his folly doth therefore thinke himselfe able ynough to diserne the Mystery of his happinesse in the glasse of his owne false and counterfeit wisedome and so being neither willing nor able to goe out of himselfe howsoeuer hee may pore at the outside of this Mystery so farre as hee may conceiue his present fading happinesse that so hee may flatter himselfe therein and thereby
of Popery thus to traduce the light and let it be the glory of the Gospell thus to discouer their shame for if it were not powerfull why doe they spurne against it if they being galled thereby doe spurne against the same let them thanke their owne rottennesse and iustifie the powerfull Word But if being couered thus with shame they will not seeke the face of God in Iesus Christ the Lord will further glorifie his Word in hastening their confusion and gathering in the first borne to his glorious appearance And shall the blasphemous Atheist escape any better Surely as it is extreme folly in him to barke against the Moone because it giues him light to his desperate wickednesse for what wisedome is there to condemne that which is so fauourable vnto vs so doth this folly threaten his confusion as both discouering his accursed spirit imputing that obstinacy in sinne to the Word which ariseth from his ignorance of the power thereof and Rebellion against the same and thereby hardening his neck against all hope of reclaiming as reiecting the Word which is onely auayleable hereunto For what though as the heate of the Sunne doth harden the clay so the power of the word indirectly occasions the encrease of sinne in the froward heart Is the word in vaine while it doeth that vnto which it is appoynted Is not the wisedome of God herein more glorious who as he would neuer haue permitted euill but that he can bring good out of it so he turneth the rage of man to his glorious praise Not onely making way hereby to the iust confusion of the wicked for the aduancement of the glory of his righteous iustice but also discouering herein the riches of his Free Grace in softning the hearts of his Elect by the same meanes whereby the wicked are hardened and so by these contrary effects aduancing the Power of his mighty Word which with the same breath is thus able to kill and to quicken And therefore as the Atheist hath no iust cause to stumble at the power of the Word because Iniquity is discouered and enraged thereby so much lesse may hee iustly challeng the prouidence of God in accompanying his word with such great patience and common fauours seeing as the Lord hereby giues him his desire to inioy the pleasures of sinne that so he may haue nothing iustly to except against his goodnesse so by this his long suffering hee doth also inuite him to repentance and so makes him more inexcusable if he abuse the same But howsoeuer the filthy will be filthy still yet let the seruants of God magnifie his wonderfull mercy and free kindnesse towards them in softning them by the same meanes whereby hee hardens the wicked yea turning about the hardening of the reprobate to bee the meanes of their more close walking with their God and dependance on his free grace in the sense of their fayling when they doe their best yea let them euermore blesse the name of the Lord that seeing the righteous shall hardly be saued they may yet haue some hope of Life in so great conscience of their corruptions that they can yet follow after righteousnesse notwithstanding the streame runnes contrary and their labour is so thanklesse and dangerous in regard of present successe seeing iniquity doth so swarme and preuaile yea let this bee their euidence that Christ raignes ouer them euen in the midst of their enemies that euen where Satan hath his throne there God shall haue his glory Antipas his faithfull seruant shall seale it vp with his bloud or if this bee not yet the triall yet Ieremie shall be smitten with the tongue and holy Iob shall esteeme the booke that his Aduersaries writ against him to bee the most glorious Crowne that may adorne his head Yea the more that the word of God is blasphemed by the wicked the more watchfull shall his children be that they giue no iust offence that so either they which speake of them as euill doers shall glorifie God on their behalfe and so by their holy conuersation be won to the obedience of the Gospell or bee made more inexcusable when their mouthes shall bee iustly stopped if yet they shall not cease to speake euill of the righteous wayes of God And this may also stop the prophane mouth of the filthy Libertine that though hee turne the grace of God into wantonnesse imagining his security and senselesnesse in sinne to bee the assurance of his happinesse yet the Word is holy yeelding no apperance much lesse allowance hereunto yea righteous herein is the mighty Word in giuing him vp to such a reprobate sense through his peruerting of the chiefe errand thereof the mercy of God in Christ Jesus to repentant sinners which if he could rightly apply might make him capable thereof yea meruailous is the wisedome of God herein that by the contrary apprehension of the promise and preparation thereunto by his seruants hee confounds the peruersenesse and prophanenesse of the Libertine If yet the filthy will be filthy still let him know this for his further confusion that as the Lord will not faile eft-soones to awaken his senselesse conscience with some inward quawmes or outward crosses to confound him in his security that so hee may bee forced to acknowledge and seeke to the power of the Word which hee hath so abased so if for all this he will not be reclaimed but by mistaking and mis-applying the mercy of God shall thereby bee cast into a deeper sleepe the Lord shall glorifie his Word in giuing him vp to a spirit of giddinesse euen to heape vp teachers vnto himselfe according vnto his lusts that may answer him according to the stumbling blocke of iniquity which he hath set vp in his heart that so he which could not commit sinne so securely but that his heart did sometimes smite him for the same might new continue in it more freely and desperately as being warranted hereunto by such accursed deceiuers Behold here the wisedome of the wicked in sin and obserue withall the wisedome of God in taking them in their craftines that they may securely reuell in wickednes their first policy is to make their conscience senselesse and that they may bring it to this passe their desperate wisedome is to multiply sin with greedines that so by this custome and outrage they may grow to an habite and so by often putting the iron in the fire may in the end harden and stupifie their harts that as it falls out with those which often drinke strong payson that in the end they can digest the same without any sense or danger so the wicked by often drinking in of iniquitie with gréedines become senselesse at length both of the euill and of the danger thereof wherby as they take occasion to commit any notorious outrage whatsoeuer so they become hereby obuious to the scandall and danger of the world which cannot but take notice of what themselues are senselesse of by it clamorus
the heart of the Reuerend Iudge that the one being more tractable to confesse the truth and giuing sou 〈…〉 hope of his repentance both for his owne and the Countries good who expect yet a further discouery of foure principall offenders not yet knowne or conuicted Hee was therefore onely brought vpon the Ladder and so prepared to execution that so he might conuince the other of the crime being still obstinate therein and satisfie the world concerning his owne guiltinesse of the Fact Wherein as he did not obscurely bewray himselfe at least an accessary though not so cleerely and particularly as was expected for his comfort yet he spared not to challenge his fellow standing obstinate on the dentall and by many circumstances conuicted him to 〈…〉 es the chiefe Murtherer Whereby as it may seeme hee was not an Actor in the Murther himselfe but onely priuie thereto by relation or consequence so was hee therefore repriued for the further cleering of the truth and freeing of his owne conscience from any secret burthen yet lay therevpon As for the other who the more hee was conuicted remained still more obstinate whether in policy that hee might be also repriued in hope of mollifying his heart and bringing him to repentance or vpon desperatenesse and so seeing no way but one must now prepare himselfe to the vengeance of God and confound the worlds expectation or harden the world in such like sinnes therefore was he iustly cut off that he might doe no more mischiefe though to his owne greater confusion thus dying in his sinne And yet behold the power of Gods iustice preuayling on his conscience though he would not confesse his sinne in particular yet he acknowledged to his shame what the world tooke too much notice of and himselfe did formerly much glory in that he was much delighted in Drunkennnsse himselfe yea which was the hight of his sin he was strong to be are his drinke and so gloried to draw others into the same excesse that so hee might pride himselfe in his great power that could out drinke others and thereby also more easily make prey of them Which as it was the meanes whereby hee caught Iohn Leeson in his snare so if consequents may be gathered by their Antecedēts it must needs follow hereupon that he made prey of him especially seeing he could not deny but he accompanied him that day at the Mill-hill when he was made away and his pretences that Iohn was gone for Ireland as were disprooued and confounded by contradictions in his owne and wiues speeches But howsoeuer such apparent conuictions both at the Barre and Gallowes euen from his owne mouth though he stil denied the fact as 〈◊〉 hath bin giuen heretofore the t 〈…〉 so wee hope time will more 〈…〉 eetely discouer his madnesse herein And so we leaue him to the fruite of his si 〈…〉 But before we end this Sc 〈…〉 one scruple is to be cleered that wheras Justice so 〈…〉 ends the 〈…〉 ying thereof in the punishment of the body as that it specially aymes at the good of the soule it might seeme therefore to haue beene fitter that Worlich being more penitent would haue dyed presently and Land being so obstinate should haue beene respited for his better preparing to his end For satisfaction where of we must know that as the iudgement against sinne is directed by a speciall in 〈…〉 ct scour God and so therin doth vsually 〈…〉 ble his 〈…〉 teous 〈◊〉 which is th 〈…〉 to h 〈…〉 that hath shal be giuen but to him th 〈…〉 nothing shall be taken away 〈◊〉 that which he s 〈…〉 th 〈…〉 haue therefore to Worlich that hath some spacke of grace and 〈…〉 rse opportunity was further yeelded to encrease and perfect the worke And from Land that hath nothing in truth if wee may c 〈…〉 e by the effect therefore that was taken away which it seemed belonged vnto him euen longer time and space of Repentance A notable Image of Gods righteous decras in the hardening of y e one softning of the other and a wise item to obstinate sinners that what they haue beene in their liues they likely prooue in their deathes And withall a sweete word of comfort to al broken and bleeding hearts that the Lord wil waite vpon them that he may haue mercy vpon them And this we wish hartily may be portion of that poore soule that now is respited in the hope thereof And thus endeth the history of this bloudy Tragedy Iustifying the Righteous Do 〈…〉 e of the Lord That he that sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud be shed againe CHAP. 8. Containing the conclusion of the whole With promise of further light THus hast thou Christian Reader a briefe of the most lamentable History which euer I heard or read of concerning the cruell murther of this widowes children Together with the admirable discouery thereof by the Finger of God as also the procéedings against so many of the Malefactors as are yet discouered What now remaineth but that thou glorifie God with me for the execution of his righteous iudgements Assuring thee that as I was an eye witnesse of these particulars so I haue deliuered thee therein the truth according to the euidences confirmed by the consent of the best warrants to establish the same onely I haue forborne to specifie the particular information of many witnesses because as many of them were spared at the Barre séeing the rest were sufficient so of those that were giuen in I haue also spared some as specifying the same in effect with those that are wouen into the history because I did not so much respect the order of their allegations at the Barre as the fitnesse of their application to the vse and life of the Story If herein I haue giuen any light or spirit by this manner of handling remember I wrote it not for a nine dayes wonder to vanish like a dreame but that it might leaue such impression in thy heart as might prouoke thée to know the Lord by his executing of Justice and so hereby learne to make vse of his Prouidence in all his workes promising thee that if thou shalt profitably vse this discouery to this end thou shalt be fitted not onely with further light herein as occasion shall be offered but as thou maiest make profitable vse of many other labours published by me formerly for the common good so thou shalt shortly be furnished with my long expected Paines concerning the Delusions of the Time and cure of a wounded Spirit which I am reuising and polishing at my best leysure s for thy good herein And so desiring thy harty prayers vnto God for his furtherance hereunto I commend thee to the grace of our Glorious Lord. In whom I rest thine and the Churches seruant THO. COOPER FINIS Heb. 2. 13. Ierem. 44. 16. Rom. 7. 8. 9. Psalm 50. Eccle. 8. Iob 22. Rom. 6. 1. 1. Thes. 2 12. Hos. 14. 13. 14. Ioh. 8. 44. The heynnusnesse and greatnesse of this sinne By the Obiect Psal. 10. Causes of murther 1 Enuy. 2 Pride 3 Adultery 4 Iealousie 5 Lust. 6 Ambition 7 Couetousnesse 7 Rage 9 Bitter speaking Two Cautions Antidotes to preuent murther To mainetain peace with God Reuel 13. 11. Pro. 7. Psal. 55. Math. 6. Psal. 37. Vse Pro. 23. Vse Thomas Leeson 1. Thes. 5. 5. Psal. 9. 13. 14. Reuel 6. 9 Rom. 8. 19 20. Psa. 58. 12. Psal. 75. 2. Plato in Timeo Case of the Guise iustified and Marquesse D'ancre As in the case of Nadab and Abiu Cosbi and Zimri Sir Henry Mountague Lord chiefe Iustiée
attaine some such motion of the Deity as may puffe him vp therewith yet is hereby made more inexcusable and farther off from the inward search of the Power thereof And yet the wayes of the Lord herein most equall and righteous As both tendering the meanes indifferently vnto all so that the wicked cannot say but he hath had his choyce thereof and liberty therein with the best yea the pacience of the Lord in leading him to Repentance accompanyed with such an answering to his desires concerning present ends as it must much more iustifie the Lord. What could he haue done vnto him which he hath not done so it shall also make him much more inexcusable And if so now the Lord deny vnto him his grace for the effectuating of the meanes As he not bound thereunto because he will haue mercy vpon whom he will haue mercy and whom he will he heardneth so seeing the wicked doe neither dreame of any such assistance of his grace as beeing blinded by selfe-loue they cannot see the want thereof nay being puffed vp with carnall wisedome they doe vtterly despise and reiect the same Is it any meruaile if they want the supply of that grace which they so abase and contemne Is it not iust with God that the scorner shall seeke wisedome and yet not finde it Because he despiseth the substance white hee hunts after the shaddow And if now it please the righteous Lord to giue him his desire and send leanenesse into his soule that not onely that which he seemed to haue shall be taken away from him the light hee hath shall be quenched and by degrees extinguished yea the spirit of God instead of restrayning him formerly from some outward euils and so happily affrighting his conscience with sense of inward rottennesse shall now giue him vp to his owne lusts euen to commit sinne with greedinesse Is not this the happinesse that hee specially dreames of to be past feeling of sinne that so hee may make vp his measure without controulement Are not the wayes of God most equall herein Shall not the mouth of iniquity be vtterly stopped Haue not the wicked herein more at the hands of God then they can desire Doth not he giue them herein much more then he oweth them of all outward blessings Doth he not affoord them more plenty of spirituall meanes then they doe desire Doth hee not respite them in his great patience many a time beyond their owne fond and counterfeit vowes in the day of their distresse sparing them further then themselues doe wish and repealing that sentence which in their suddaine flashes they haue pronounced against themselues if they should hereafter turne to their vomit againe yea still drawing them to him with the cords of Loue when they haue cast off his cords and fall desperately from him Is not the Iustice of God most righteous euen his enemies being Iudges And surely as is the Lord so is his Word heerein most holy and righteous If it crosse the wicked in their desires to discouer that inward corruption whereof they are ignorant and wherein they fauour themselues Is it any lesse then stands with the Power of the Word euen as fire to search the hidden parts yea as the light to lay open the darkest corners And if now the wicked vpon their first entertainement of the word desirous happily to gaine credit and applause thereby be iustly confounded by the power thereof enraging their consciences by it inward search is not the wisedome of God admirable thus taking them in their craftinesse Is not his goodnesse iustifiable thus preparing them hereby to repentance If now the loue of sinne will giue no way to sound repentance Is not yet the wisedome of God herein more admirable that whereas the wicked desire some sleight euidence to conceit a false conception their slauish humiliation shall further hereunto and hereby flatter them in a new birth And if thus conceiting a false conuersion for a true because they cannot endure the trauell of a true birth they shall now encroach vpon the priueledges of the new man mis-applying and challenging those ioyes and comforts vnto their festered and ranckling soares which belong onely to those that are healed and so instéed of being further searched and launched by the law of God shall vnseasonably apply vnto themselues the sweete promises of the Gospell and will endure nothing but leuitures and cordials Is the word of God vnequall because they vnfitly apply it nay is it not most equall in offering that indifferently vnto them which if they could wisely apply would proue soueraigne vnto them Yea though they apply it amisse yet herein is iustifiable in that themselues are their owne caruers in the misapplying thereof If now vpon the misapplying of the Plaister before the soare be soundly healed it doth hereby more fester and putrifie inwardly and so breake out to a cancerous vlcer As the word was not first to be blamed in discouering the soare that so it might bée prepared to it cure because if there had beene no pray the Lyon would not haue roared So now much lesse may it be iustly challenged to be the cause of it further ranckling seeing the misapplying thereof hath effected the same And therefore as it were extreame folly to charge the heat of the Sunne to be the cause of stench and putrifieation in these inferior bodies which being well disposed are purified thereby and are onely subiect to tainture by their owne indisposition and aptnesse thereunto so let it be the shame of Popish glory to hate the light because their vvorkes are euill Yea let this be the confusion of their carnall wisedome to challenge the glorious light of the preaching of the Word as the cause of sinnes aboundance that hereby they might colour their despising and persecuting thereof not onely in that by opposing the light they make vp the measure of their owne sinnes by denying to themselues and others the meanes of life and happinesse But hereby also prouoking the righteous Lord to auenge vpon them the contempt of his word in giuing them vp to such outrage and monstrous wickednesse of combustions and murthers which the true wisedome of flesh for it owne safety can no way indure that so her owne louers euen out of loue to themselues must néedes hate the whore and make her desolate and so the Iustice of the Lord may shine more gloriously in rewarding her as she hath done to others and sheathing her owne sword in her owne bowels And is not the Word glorious in iudging the Whore euen by her owne mouth and taking her in the snare that she hath layd for others and so ouertaking her in hee moneth and ripenesse of iniquity Who so is wise he shall vnderstand these things and to whom the arme of the Lord shall reueale them for the wayes of the Lord are right and the iust shall walke therein but the transgressor shall fall in them Let it therefore be the shame
and iust scandall either awaken them to repentance or conuince them to punishment Behold how the Lord takes the wise in their craftines They desire to be senselesse of sin that they may commit it more greedily and the more greedily they commit the same the more they prouoke the world through their scandall and it one danger to awaken them thereout what remedie is now left in carnall wisedome to make vp the breach and lull them a sléepe againe Behold againe the hight of this wisedome in sin and obserue how the Lord takes the wicked in their craftines If Elia will Prophesy no good but euill vnto vs while wee sleepe in sin yet welfare Zidkiah that will warrant good successe therein flattering vs that wee may go vp and prosper because hitherto it hath gone well with vs and though he lie falsely yet he will walke in the spirit that hee may deceiue more effectually yea hee wants not his rough garment of tything mint and comin yea he will not spare herein to humble flesh by voluntary deuotions of Pilgrimage penances and such like trash to the satisfying of the flesh euen in a great shew of wisedome to abase the same And what now shall be spared for the sinne of the soule though it be to the parting with our substance yea our first borne and all yea which is the hight of this delusion shall not a greater sinne be made a price for the lesse shall not the murther of Princes become an expiation for all our personall sinnes Behold here the depth of the Mistery of iniquity and admire with me the Justice of God in taking the whore and her accursed brood in their owne craftines that while they estéeme their owne blood vile that they may murther the Lords annoynted they haue iustly brought the Kings of the earth vpon their heads to secure themselues in subuerting Antichrist whom otherwise they could haue bene contented still to haue made their band for the satisfying of their lusts Oh! the vnsearchable riches of the wisedome and mercy of our God who turnes about the carnall wisedome of man tending only to it present bodily good to be meanes of remouing that great stumbling blocke whereby their soules were ensnared that so they might ascribe vnto him alone the glorie of their true happines so farre aboue and contrary to their corrupt intent Well thus we see how the Lord takes the wise in their craftines That the world may securely reuel in sin the false Prophet must bee a snare vpon Mispah to cry ayme thereto that so the blind leading the blind both may fall into the ditch And is not this prouidence of God very remarkeable in these daungerous dayes of the contempt and peruerting of the word of God that though the Lord feedeth the hungry with good and wholesome food yet the daintie and full stomake is either choaked with chaffe or puffed vp with wind that so seeming that which he is not he may not see what truely he is and thereby be both preuented of sound curing and withall hardened to destruction Behold here then some further light to iustifie the Prouidence of God in the ouer-flowing of sinne amidst so glorious light of the Gospell Not that the word is any true cause thereof but onely a meanes to discouer and conuince the same whereby as through our naturall rebellion the more sinne is conuinced the more it is enraged and so encreased thereby so through carnall wisedome the light being peruerted becomes a broker vnto sinne and thereby proues a further meanes to encrease and ripen the same And yet all this in great Iustice and exceeding Equity The Lord herein giuing the wicked their desires for the accomplishment of his righteous decree in their condemnation in that themselues are their owne caruers in the meanes there vnto And all this executed by his mighty word becomming thus vnto the wicked a sauour of death vnto death whereby as he taketh the wise Papist and Atheist in their Craftines so doth he also iustly confound the Prophane Libertine who while he fathers that vpon the Word which proceeds from his owne corrupt sense and application thereof doth therefore Iustifie the word in his hardening thereby and so is Iudged by the Word while he peruerteth the same to such ends as are contrary thereunto And thus hitherto for the Iustifying of Gods prouidence in disposing of such greuious sinnes as do accompany and preuaile euen in the most glorious light of the Gospell of Iesus Christ. CHAP. 2. Wherein first an entrance is made by way of Application vnto the Particular sinne of Murther being the proper subiect of this Treatise where 2. The Progeny and heynousnesse of this sinne is discouered and enlarged 3. The causes and occasions thereof in generall are explained 4. The Dangerous Effects and consequences thereof are detected And so 5. Such seuerall vses are propounded as both tend to the preuenting of this sinne as also for the wise suppressing and weeding out thereof FRom that which hitherto hath bene discoursed concerning the Prouidence of God in disposing of such multiplicity and encrease of sinne in this glorious light of the Gospell we may gather these Conclusions First that the Gospell is not properly the cause of these euils but onely 1 the ignorance thereof 2 peruerting the light to the iustifying of sinne or else our want of loue and so obedience thereunto 2 That as Ignorance breeding Error and so Disobedience to the truth is the Mother of all that grosse wickednesse that is discouered thereby So in that Popery is the chiefe and onely Patron of ignorance so it becomes also the very Chaos of all errors and delusions and so proues the maine Broker to all grosse and desperate wickednesse 3 That whereas the weapons of Popish warfare are only carnall and diuellish vsing these as her last refuge when her Paper bolts and enchantments will not preuaile to roote out and destroy all her opposits as being that Scarlet-coloured Whore whom nothing will secure and satisfie but the bloud of Saints and all such as shall oppose her Tyranny Therefore howsoeuer all other sinnes are harbored in her bosome as beeing ashamed to haue them knowne to the world Yet this sinne of Murther is her cheife darling and glorious sinne whereof she is so farre from being ashamed as that she raignes only thereby and triumphs therewith not onely vpon her pretended power of the secular sword whereby she arrogates supreme authority ouer life death But especially vpon pretence of the Power of her Keyes whereby presuming ouer the soules as well as the bodies of men she thereby confirmes and iustifies this her vnsatiable thirst of bloud as either seruing for the good of their soules whose bodies she butchered or else by cutting off such supposed Leapers thereby securing the estates of others Thus doth her Progeny declare the same who is of her Father the Diuell that was a murtherer from the beginning So her condition doth
maintaine peace with God A second preseruatiue against this bloody sinne is to maintaine peace with Men I say so farre as possible we may to haue peace with all men This we shall do If we be carefull to giue vnto each his due according to their callings and occasions as comfort to whom comfort belongs tribute to whom tribute c. 2 If we can in all wrongs looke vp to God and so leaue vengeance vnto him as considering wee haue deserued in his Justice a thousand fold more 4 If we be quicke in prouoking to goodnesse and recompensing the same and slow to wrath or any such occasions as may breed discord and such consequences as follow thereupon 5 Being wise not to further them in sinne or smother the same vnlesse it be of infirmity where there is some signe of repentance as knowing that brethren in euill will proue whippes to each other They haue not loued so dearely till their turnes be serued as when they haue their will they wil hate most deadly Witnes Ammon his dealing with Thamar his sister 6 Lastly that wee may keepe peace with men bee wee very wise in ruling our tongues auoyding rash censuring vpbraiding taunting c whereby anger is kindled and reuenge prouoked Thus may we maintaine peace with men A third Preseruatiue against this Monstrous sin is wisedome to auoyd the occasions thereof Which are those before touched As Pride Enuie Lust Ielousie Ambition Couetousnes Rage Bitter speaking Drunkennes and the like Unto which we may adde these that follow 1. Euill company as being a speciall firebrand as to all other sins so this how many murthers haue bene hatched and atchiued by the Oportunity and Benefit hereof 2 Discontent whereby the mind being inwardly at war with it selfe cannot be at peace with any other but hath this onely desperate remedie to ease it owne feuer euen to fall vpon any that stands in it way friend nor foe nothing comes amisse 3 Superstition as bewitching the heart with such vnsatiable loue that it thinkes no cost to deare no losse to great for the satisfying of it will worshippe no though it were to cause their children to passe through the Fire though it were to launch themselues with kniues and offer vp their bodies for the sinne of their soules Math. 6. 5. 6. 4 Vnlawfull recreation or abuse and excesse in lawfull Thus may we preuent this bloody sinne Lastly also take we some good directions how to weede it out and here there are Some instructions for the Magistrate that seeing the sword is put in his hands therefore he beware how hee suffer the Murtherer to escape least he heare that sentence because thou hast suffered a man to escape that was appoynted to death therefore thy life shall go for his life thy people for his people 2 Whereas there hath bene of antient time when trialls of titles depended rather vpon valour then truth an ordinary manner of disciding great differences by single combate betweene two parties this as it is vtterly vnlawfull and so no better then murther because they are not equall meanes to discide controuersies And 2. It falleth out that he is Conquerour before men who is guilty before God therefore the Magistrate must in no wise giue way to these lest he be guilty of the blood that is spilt hereby 3 Much lesse may he tollerate those single combates that rise vpon quarrels and vaine pleas of reputation Valour disgracefull speeches c. because they haue neither any sound warrant from the Word no not in any reason or equity may be endured 4 As for Sanctuaries and Popish Receptacles for Murtherers neither may the Magistrate allow of these because the Lord hath expresly commanded That such an one shall be taked from his Alter and die Exod. 21. 14. according as Ioab was serued in the like case 1. Kings 2. 24. 5 Seeing populous assemblies vnder pretence of Recreations are vsually occasions of Quarrels and so of murthers therefore the Magistrate must be meruailous wise in giuing an Inch lest the People take an Ell rather studying to restrains the vnbridled corruption of the people with such as may humble the flesh then to yeeld them any occasion to turne their liberty into wantonnesse remembring that the pretence of such liberty hath beene the colour to draw vnlawfull assemblies together and so prouoke to Rebellion and great blood shed Consider the blood that was spilt in iest when Ioab and Abner met together with their companies and tell me whether that iest were not in earnest that merriment madnesse Thus for the Magistrate For Priuate men let them wisely obserue those rules deliuered formerly for preuention of this sinne and the same will also enable them to wéede it out And thus hitherto of this bloody sinne together with the Nature Haynousnesse Causes and Meanes to preuent the same It followeth now that wee make some particular application hereof vnto the instance in hand that so wee may discerne the truth of this Description confirmed in this example And therein wonder at the wisedome and prouidence of God in permitting so horrible a wickednesse and after so long concealing thereof in due season discouering the same CHAPTER 3. Of the particular Murther at Halsworth And first of the occasions and causes thereof 2 Of the Actors and Accessaries therein 3 Of the Parties that were Murthered 4 Of the Manner and Circumstances how they were made away 5 Of the Meanes to conceale the Murther beeing committed 6 And diuerse obseruations considerable on either side HAuing thus discoursed of the Nature of Murther in generall It now remaineth that we examine the Particular instance that hath occasioned this Discourse Namely the Murther that was lately discouered and conuicted at the Last Assize at Berry Wherein first offers it selfe to our consideration such circumstances as occasioned and drew out this sinne The Maine Roote and ground whereof was this One M. Norton dwelling in the Towne of Halsworth in high Suffolke being a man though of faire possessions yet of a very foule and euill fauour Both in regard of his Profession as being no better then a Church-Papist the most dangerous subiect the Land hath As also in regard of his practise being sutable to his profession and therefore of necessity debosht and desolate hauing his neighbours vineyard lying by him cast his eye vpon it and hauing got some hold in the Land of his Neighbour Widdow Leeson either beeing morgaged vnto him or forfeited vpon the morgage that he might cléere the land wholly to himselfe from the widow and her Issue First attempted by cunning sleights and secret oppressions yea by feined kindnesses as feeding them with money and to draw the widow and her children to his Lure or else to inwrap them so in his snares that vpon any occasion he might either curbe them or make pray of them To this end when otherwise he could not bring them to his bent vpon a pretended Action he cast the eldest of
more bloody and desperate The next sonne Iohn Leeson laying claime to his Inheritance hath his mouth stopped with a good round summe of money and withall a guard is set vpon him of bloudy and desperate villaines yet masked vnder pretence of good fellowes and acquaintance both to fléece him of his money and make him sure enough from making Hugh-and-cry after them By these hee is encountred and trayned to an Ale-house vp at the Mill-hill a place remote from much cōpany and so fit to doe mischiefe here his head is filled with drinke and his mind secured by sports and gaming from feare of danger here hee is detained by these meanes till the night and then he is knockt on the head and stript of his money and his body is dragd to a great pond not farre off is fastned in the deepest part thereof with a stake and block thereupon that so it might not rise vp to discouer the wickednesse Behold here first the progresse and encrease of sinne if secret oppression will not preuaile if cunning will not carry it then open violence shall if there be no remedy then blood must quench the thirst Thus Dauid when hee had abused Vriah by taking away his wife howsoeuer hee would faine haue spared his seruants life by making him an instrument to conceale his Adultery calling him from the Campe to that end giuing him wine to make him forward to his liberty yet when he saw these meanes would not preuaile then his last refuge was to take away Vriahs life that so in his end his sinne also might séeme to dye which indéede was the onely meanes to make it crye loud for vengeance And let this aduise sinners to preuent the beginnings of sinne lest when they would they cannot stay the rage thereof If yet through carnall wisedome they will still goe forward hoping by one sinne to hide another let them know that their wisedome will prooue their confusion séeing while they thus ripen their sinnes they in the end cry loud in the eares of the Lord for vengeance who will in due time recompence innocent bloud vpon the shedders thereof so Dauids Children re-payd the price of the Blood of his seruants and Nortons blood is like to answer for the bloud of his neighbours children as Lands hath done already Lastly obserue we heere the Iustice of God in making partakers in sinne Instruments to punish each other For to speake a little of those that were conuicted of this murther what were Land Worlish any other then Prophane and loose persons hauing sold them to doe wickednesse euen to any that would hire them thereunto As for Land why he was Nortons Instrument from time to time to serue his Writs and bring any into his snares and cruel clutches nay he was the Diuels Factor to draw fooles from drunkennesse to shame and spoyle as himselfe confessed euen vpon the Gallowes To speake more sparingly of Worlish because the Lord hath yet respited him to repentance in hope that he will further discharge his conscience and satisfie the world in the more full discouery of what yet lies in darkenesse Yet as there is sufficient to condemne him at least as an accessary euen out of his owne mouth as shall héereafter appeare so were he not guilty of this sinne yet as he confessed on the Gallowes his loose and prohane life were sufficient to bring him to that shamefull end Such were these parties that are hitherto conuicted of the murther whereof the one is already executed the other onely respited for his owne and the publick good And what were they that fell into their bloody hands surely fit companions for such Copesmates brethren in euill companions in prophanenesse drunkards and what not and therefore iustly dying in their owne sinnes howsoeuer vniustly in regard of the instruments and manner thereof yet iustly I say by the righteous doome of the Lord who makes brethren in euill instruments of each other punishment that as Land and Worlish were the meanes to bring them to their ends so their deaths hath and will be the ouerthrow of their murtherers Thus of the second Scoene of this cruell Tragedy The third followes yet more fearefull and bloody About two yeares after a third sonne renues the suite for the Land and hauing procured a suppena to bring the Oppresser into the Chancery carries his sister a long with him to serue the same where being discouered hanging the same at Nortons doore because he either could not or durst not meete his person as being through former guilt become more iealous and outragious they were both seased on I hope you may imagine by the former bloody hands and so as the pond hath now discouered being cruely made away were cast thereunto and staked downe therein as their brother was that so the fact might bee buried with them for euer so vnsatiable is the thirst of blood when once the sweet thereof is tasted that still the wicked must bee drinking deeper thereof so desperate is the estate of sinners that they must plunge themselues still more deepely in wickednes so foolish is sinne to mend it selfe by the encrease thereof yea herein most foolish when it seemes to be most wise that while it seekes to preuent most securely it discouery that so it may ease the conscience of the guilt thereof the more it encreaseth the guilt by the secret conuayance of sin euen as the fire the more it is suppressed the more it striueth to breake out yea the more man in wisedome labours the hiding of sin and flatters himselfe in the security thereof the more he prouokes the Lord to discouer his skirts the more he hastens himselfe to righteous vengeance that so the Lord may haue the only glory of his discouery confusion who out of his secret conuayance spares not to chalenge y e prouidence of God as if he saw them not or could not disappoint them Thus while the wicked say peace and safety we haue made all sure then shall a suddaine destruction come vpon them as the trauaile vpon a woman with child and they shall not be able to escape Thus when Babilon saith shee sits as a Queene and shall see no euill then her plagues shall come vpon her in one day so righteous is the Lord that iudgeth the whore Well thus these poore soules are now buried in the pond yea a block is layd vpon them y t they shall not rise againe The murtherers they sing care away and reuell with their spoyle the world is at rest no notice taken of them no missing them by their Freinds who were informed that Ireland had receiued them no seeking them by their enemies who knew well enough where they were If guilt of sinne troubled yet feare of discouery bit it in and policy sought to drown the conscience by surfeiting in sin that so Peace might be at home as all was quiet abroad And so foure yeares are passed ouer in great
iollity and security And by this time euen the memory of these murthered soules was buried with them What now remained Surely where man vsually ends there God beginneth and while the wicked slept securely the vengeance of God was bestirring it selfe Behold saith the Prophet when the Lord makes inquisition for blood hee remembers it and forgets not the complaint of the poore The blood of these murthered soules cried loud in the eares of the Lord. from the bottome of the Pond for vengeance euen while the bloud-suckers sang a requiem to their soules And the Lord awakened at length out of the sleepe of his patience discouering the murthered by his owne Immediate Arme and by their discouery discouered also the murtherers and so brought them in due season to their iust triall and confusion as shall appeare most wonderfully in the next Chapter Which before we enter into for conclusion of this present and preparation to the discouery A speciall Case of Conscience comes heere to bee discussed and resolued Namely that seeing murther is so crying a sinne that it calls for speedy and continuall vengeance in the eares of the Lord how notwithstanding it comes to passe that the Lord differs the discouery and recompenâ—e thereof many yeeres yea ages after That the Lord doth thus deferre this discouery and execution is not onely apparant by the cry of those soules vnder the Alter slaine for the Word of God How long Lord holy and true doest thou not iudge and auenge our blood on them that dwell vpon the earth But also by the reuenge vpon Sauls Posterity for his slaughter of the Gibeonites which was not executed many yeeres after and the histories of our age doe witnesse no lesse that many murthers haue laine hid some 20. some ten yeeres some more some shorter time If wée desire to bée satisfied in the true reasons of this Diuine prouidence 1 some may be giuen in respect of the murtherers 2 others in regard of the murthered 3 some concerne the Information of the World and 4 some immediately concerne God himselfe Concerning the murtherers the prouidence of God is wonderfull in deferring the discouery of their sinne euen to a long time after for these Reasons Some tending to their good Others tending to their further condemnation Those that tend to their good are First that by the patience of God in deferring their discouery and vengeance they might be prepared meane while to repentance and so be better fitted to what end the Lord hath appoynted Rom. 4. 2. Secondly By the patience of the Lord towards them if they will not make vse of it for themselues yet hereby they may bée further seruiceable for the common good in those places and callings wherein God hath set them as for education of their Posterity for the maintaining of peace and order abroad yea happily for the sauing of others howsoeuer themselues are reprooued So was Iudas a long time concealed from others though long before knowne to his Master for the execution of his calling and seruing his Lord therein Reasons tending to the condemnation of these blood-suckers are 1 That the Lord forbeares the discouery of them not onely to make them Instruments of his further Iustice in peruerting and hardening others but also 2 This forbearance is a meanes to harden them in their sinne and drowne them in seâ—urity that so their surprizall being more suddaine may prooue more deadly and fatall to them 3 Hereby they are also nourished in their Atheisme and contempt of Gods prouidence and so prouoke the Lord in due time to auenge himselfe in their confusion As for the Murthered there may bee some Reasons of Gods silence and Patience euen in regard of them 1 That the crying of bloud from the earth so long deferred to vengeance may be a Simbole vnto them of an answer from God at length because no crie shall be in vaine which he hath warranted in this word 2 That the cry of Bloud though a long time deferred yet at length answered may Type vnto them their resurrection from the dead The case herein being much alike That as the bloud though consumed yet hath a loude cry for vengeance and shall in due time be recompenced so the bodies though rotten in the graue yet because they rest in hope doe therefore in their Manner cry for their raising vp againe and so in due time shall obtaine their desire Euen as the creature made subiect vnto vanity not willingly but by reason of him that hath subiected the same in hope doth therefore earnestly waite for the Reuelation of the sonnes of God that it also may be deliuered from her bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Children of God Touching the World This Patience of God respecteth it also And that to try it affection to Gods Iustice and such as are taken away whither they find any want of them whither they thinke the World is not well rid of them and that they may be heard of no more and such like But the maine ground of this Prouidence is in regard of God himselfe and that in these respects As first to Iustifie his great Patience to such horrible sinners whom he is so farre from taking in their sinnes that he respites them many times to commit greater euils that so he may make them more inexcuseable in the day of vengeance 2 His wisedome is herein magnified that by respiting the wicked in such horrible sinnes the guilt of the conscience is hereby so encreased and at length enraged that though all other meanes fayle yet their owne tongues shall be forced to bewray them to ease the inward pangs and so to Iustifie the Lord euen out of their owne mouthes 3 Lastly hereby the Lord reserues vnto himselfe alone the glory of his Iustice that when all sides are husht y e murtherers secure the murthered forgotten the world carelesse all hope past Then doth the righteous Lord make himselfe knowne by executing of vengeance to the stopping of the mouth of Atheisme that saith There is no God because the wicked scape scot-frée and to the opening of the mouthes of his children in that gratious acknowledgment Verily there is a reward for the righteous doubtlesse there is a God that iudgeth the earth 4 And doth not the Lord discouer herein his absolute power that seeing the times and seasons are onely in his hands and therefore when he seeth a conuenient time he will execute vengeance that it may appeare his thoughts are not our thoughts therefore howsoeuer we may thinke euery moment too much wherein vengeance is deferred Yet the Lord will deferre the time that it may appeare to be at his dispose and yet will do it in the most conuenient time which may make most for his glory and affecting of a secure and faithlesse generation And this may serue for the resoluing of this case of Conscience And thus farre of this third Scaene of this bloudy Tragedy
Concerning as the two former the Parties that were Murthered together with the manner thereof and meanes to conceale the same Wherein howsoeuer all was done that carnall wisedome could deuise and the patience of God for six whole yeares together seemed to applaud and subscribe thereunto So that now it might seeme the Tragedy was finished and all further expectation preuented Yet as this was the Lords time to put to his owne hand for the discouery of this horrible crime So when he began once each creature in his place ministred gratiously vnto him for the full manifestation and conuiction thereof Attend therefore in the feare of God Three other Scaenes of this Tragedy Wherein now the Murtherers are to play their parts vpon the Stage of Iustice. And if euer thou desirest to be 〈…〉 tisfied in the wonderful Prouidence of God both in the discouery of Murther and challenging of the murtherers by a strange and secret hand if euer thou wouldst obserue a full and Honorable tryall of so foule a crime attend I say in the Name of God to that which followeth and if thou beest not fully satisfied in all these I must needes conclude that either thou wantest vnderstanding to discerne the Power and Wisedome of the Lord or thou wantest an heart to adore and magnifie the same Onely my desire is that thou woldst not stumble at my weake handling thereof thereby to challenge so excellent matter but rather hereby to prize the worth thereof as if it could not be sufficiently handled And if thou discernest any sparke of true light amidst so great darknesse and corruption any power of God in so great infirmity my earnest desire is that hereby thou wouldst ascribe vnto God the glory of his mercy that so thou mayst begin where I haue ended and still informè and inflame thy heart with such wonderfull workes of God CHAP. 4. Where first of the Reason why howsoeuer other sinnes come after Iudgement yet this sinne of Murther is seldome left vndiscouered 2. Of the Many wayes whereby the Lord hath discouered Murther from time to time with diuers instances thereof 3. That it was the Finger of God that detected this blood 4. Of the Manner and Instruments imployed herein 5. And the seuerall Vses to bee made thereof HJtherto of the first part of this Tragedy concerning the parties that were murthered and that exibited in three seuerall Scoenes according to the seuerall degrees whereby this murther was committed Th◠second part of this Tragedy now followeth concerning the discouery and iudgement of the murtherers And this also is enlarged in foure seuerall Scoenes The first whereof containes the discouery of the murther and murtherers The second expresseth their Iudgement and Conuiction The third their Iudgement and Condemnation The fourth representeth their righteous Execution As in the little world the soule of Man the vnderstanding leads the Conscience and the Conscience leads the Affection So is it in the soule of the greater world I mean Iustice and the due execution thereof There must bee first a discouery of the Crime before it be conuicted and it must be conuicted before it be censured For as Conscience without Knowledge is blind and erronious so the will and affections without conscience are peruerse and exorbitant Euen so conuiction of sinne before it be discouered produceth erronious Iudgement and sentencing of sinne before it be conuicted is no better then to peruert Iustice and condemne the innocent And yet as it cannot be denied but as the thunder breakes out before the lightning so where the party delinquent is of that exorbitant power that it cannot stand with the safety of a diseased state to question him Iudicially because his greatnesse may either outbraue or suppresse Iustice If in this extremity sentence and execution anticipate legall triall as this is to be ascribed to the necessity of the state so it may well stand with the prerogatiue of the Prince who in such exigents may performe Martiall Law And this also answerable to the diuine Iustice who in such like cases vpon it Prerogatiue royall hath executed vpon exorbitant sinners before their legall conuiction iustified his Ministers in the like executions But as these extraordinary cases may not prescribe to such persons and offences as are ordinary so we may obserue that the wise Lord in al ordinary trials hath kept this ordinary course As first to discouer though not so much for his owne information vnto whom all things past are present nothing so hid as is not knowne before it is done much moreafter as for our satisfaction so also in the second plate to conuince sinne being discouered and then to execute vpon the same And euen the same course hath our wise and glorious God taken in méeting with bloudy and crying sinnes Long hath the bloud of these slaughtered soules cryed for vengeance from the bottome of the pond Long had the Lord deserted the answering of their crie but when he saw a conuenient time he rowsed vp himselfe He put on righteousnesse as a brest-plate and an Helmet of Saluation vpon his head and he put on a garment of vengeance for a clothing and was clad with Zeale as a cloake and so according to their deedes he repayed fury to the murtherers recompenee to his enemies If wee doubt that it was the Lords doing that his onely hand discouered the Murther and detected the murtherers harken I pray you to the discourse that followeth and if we shal not herein acknowledge the immediate finger of God it is because there is no true knowledge of God in vs. You haue hitherto heard the rase of the Murthered how they were brought to their end how disposed in their end the bottom of the pond was their Graue and obliuion was their Motto and there I hope was an end of their part of the Tragedy Now harken I beseech you to the second part of the Tragedy concerning the Murtherers And here first are presented vnto you as in a dumbe shew the carcases of the Murthered raised out of the Pond by a Diuine Instinct and in a strange and wonderfull manner discouering and fastning vpon the Murtherers and these be the Actors in this first Scoene Will you heare the truth thereof confirmed by the story then hearken I say againe vnto that which followeth and conclude with the worthy Iudge that it was Digitus Dei the immediate Finger of God The Pond wherein these bodies lay you must imagine had a Maister that occupied the Farme and ground wherein it was vnto whose custody the Lord hauing committed in trust these slaughtered soules doth now require of him the discouery and restoring of them for the satisfying of his Justice But would you know the manner how the Lord required them of Him marke I beséech you and wonder at the wisedome and Power of God herein Because the bloud of the slaine could not cease crying for vengeance till they were recompenced Therefore the Farmer can
haue no Peace in his mind till he clense the Pond that so their blood may be discouered Wil you sée the Hand of God more cléerly in reiecting the wisedome of the flesh and subduing all oppositions to serue his will Consider then I pray you the sequell hereof The Farmer cannot rest till the Pond be cleased Why His owne profit was against it because it would be great charge and no benefit to him that had but a short time to enioy it And therefore his Wife and Friends are also against it as consulting no Further then with flesh and bloud But God was for it and therefore he must be for God or else he shall not be for himselfe nothing will go gowne well with him till this be done And therefore he is resolute it shall be done Well at length with much ado he sets workemen about it but God will not be serued by deputies in so glorious a worke he that had the sowre while it was not done shall haue the sweete and comfort in doing it himselfe And therefore when workemen giue ouer as dispairing of the successe or being happily discouraged by friends Himselfe with his Brother sets vpon the clensing of the Pond Surely we must imagine not for any profit he expected thereby for he could not finish it without great cost and losse too but the maine ground was his mind must be satisfied nay to looke vp higher Gods iustice must be satisfied that so the glory thereof may be reserued intirely to himselfe alone and therefore when that is satisfied his mind is at quiet and his labour is at an end and so the feare of his charge and losse graciously preuented Shall we obserue how the Lord brought all this about and that with great speed and wisdome for his glory Oh consider and wonder at the Wisedome of God herein The worke is begun in the likeliest place for labour and carriage but the Lord will spare the poore mans labour he meanes not to put him to that cost as to lade and clense the whole Pond but onely to discouer the Murthered therein And yet he meanes to abase Him in this discouery euen by the bruit beasts that hath no vnderstanding Will you see the proofe hereof in the sequell of the Story Oh marke againe and wonder at the wisedome of God herein Our workmen by this time had made worke for the Teame The Horses they are brought to the place of their loading But this is not the Loade the Lord will haue carried out and therefore the Horses will not stay here howsoeuer they smart but away they must where God will haue them Man now must bee lead by them because they are lead by God that so the glory of the discouery may be taken from man and ascribed wholly vnto the Lord. And so after much triall and leading them about the Pond they stay at length against the Place where the Bodies lay so gaue ayme to the workmen to renue their labour And did they find it lost labour to attend the Lord No surely they had not labored many houers vntill they light vpon the Bodies that made amends for all The Carcases are found Time and corruption hauing lest nothing else and so the Murther being discouered the mind is at quiet and the labour is at an end farther cost is spared and God hath the glory in the vse of foolish and brutish meanes Thus of the first part of this first Scoene namely the discouery of the Murther Proceed wee now vnto the second part hereof namely the discouery of the murcherers And herein also obserue with me a wonderfull and immediate hand of God Had these Parties bene newly slaine their blood is vsually a meanes to peach their murther or had their flesh not bene wasted and countenance remayned this might haue giuen some light to discerne their qualitie and condition and so to haue made some way for the finding out of the murtherers but that carkases onely of bare bones and those haply disordered should haue any remaindures left whereby they might be knowne what they were from others and so bee meanes to make knowne the murtherers seeing this is contrary to all sense and reason it must needs be ascribed to to the finger of God euen in such impossibility yeelding some light to the discouery both of the murthered who they were and also of the murtherers Will you see the proofe hereof in the sequele of the story oh then stir vp your harts to wonder at the prouidence of God The carcases being thus found and so murther being discouered yet the great matter still remained that Gods iustice must bee satisfied in finding out the offenders and that these may be discouered it is very fit to know who the murthered were that so from them and theirs matter may be gathered to sent out the murtherers The next thing therefore now to bee done is to find out who the murthered were And because this neither concernes nor indeed is â—astly to be compassed of a priuate braine therefore the Magistrate next adioyning is acquainted therewith whose paines and wisedome in this bustnes may with honour be remembred He taking notice of this discouery causeth the carcases to be taken charily out the mud and vsing the helpe of a Chyrurgeon herein caused each carcase to bee layd out seuerally by it selfe in it proportion to farre as the bones would afford it and so making speciall fearch into each carcase concerning fractures or any such defect that might giue any light for the particular knowledge of them somewhat here appeared that by the helpe of further intelligence gaue some inkling hereunto To this end the inhabitants thereabout were called vnto this spectacle and so inquiry made amongst them concerning such parties as were missing within compasse of remembrance amongst these the mother of these children calls to minde hers that haue beene missing and with all remembers what hath bene formerly related to her concerning the same both how they were gone for Ireland which was the generall voyce but especially she remembers what Worlich one of the Accessaries if not a Principall had told her many months before that he had seene her sonne in the Low countries and was the last man that had him by the hand aliue and dead Hereupon suspition and so much the rather because vpon the discouery of these in the pond Worlich playd least in sight and flying to LondoÌ„ was there appreheÌ„ded vpon this euidence but yet the day was but dawning more light shortly appeared by the wisedome of the Iustice the carcases were searched and measured And hereupon question made to the Mother what markes she could discouer to own them See the wisedome of God herein all outward tokens might seeme to fayle yet one remayned her sonne Iohn was high of stature sixe foote long this she calls to minde and ownes him thereby and so the measure of the carcase giues him her And so one sparke begets another Now the