face as if he were praying Master Clunne of Clunne a Gentleman in the neighbourhood ryding by the place with his wife conceived him before he came neere to have beene a naturall foole called Iohn of Acton dwelling not farre from thence untill his wife tould him that it was Enoch ap Evan the gentleman then seeing who it was perswaded him to to regard his health to put on his Hose and Shoes and to go home to warme him and that hee would take a more convenient place to pray in And this is the truth of that which the Author of the Looking-Glasse hath so much mistaken in his eleventh page both in the persons and the matter multiplying words as a false Glasse doth faces and of a little tale tould him by his Rhetoricall additions maketh a long story William Tanner justifyeth that he tould this to Master Studly in this manner and not as he hath related it Sect. 4. After this at Easter following Enoch with his Father Mother and Brother being to receive the Communion at their Parish Church of Clunne aforesaid he reverently in outward shew received the Bread from Master Powels hand who is the Vicar of Clunne alowed by the Author of the Looking-Glasse to be a reverend and aged Divine page forty seven and indeed hee is a Master of Arts of an ancient standing the rurall Deane of that Deanery of Clunne and a Surrogate to the Chancellour of the Dioces of Hereford but when the assistant by name Master Robert Barret following Master Powell to deliver the Wine came to Enoch he found him not prepared by kneeling downe whereupon he called upon him to kneele Enoch bad him fill â—he Cup with Wine and although there was in the Cup more then usually others drinke or that he himselfe had used to drinke yet notwithstanding the Assistant filled the Cup and comming backe to Enoch he bowed his knee and taking the Cup dranke all the Wine within a very little Now this strange alteration from his former usuall manner being observed in Enoch the opinion that he began to be distracted encreased so as the said Vicar of Clunne thereupon sent Master Barret to Enochs father to advise him to looke to his sonne Enoch and to procure some help for him Sect. 5. After this in May next before he committed these Murders Enoch came to one Iohn Lewis a Smith in Bishops Castle a man of good credit with whom one Master Gravenor a Scrivener sojourned and intreated Iohn Lewis to helpe him to agree with Master Gravenor to teach him to write better for hee could not then write legibly and they agreed that for five shillings the said Master Gravenor should teach him Iohn Lewis admitted Enoch into his house with Master Gravenor where Enoch continued about a fortnight There was then in Bishops Castle one Master Iohn Moore a Schoolmaster who came to the house of Iohn Lewis and desired the said Master Gravenor to shew him his prospective glasse upon sight whereof the said Master Moore Master Gravenor Enoch ap Evan and Iohn Lewis went into the yard or backeside of the said Iohn Lewis his house where all of them made use of the prospective Master Moore and Master Gravenor thence discerning through the prospective Sheepe upon a Hill called Bishops Moate but Iohn Lewis could not discerne any thing through the same Enoch looked through it also but said nothing at all to them That night there lodged in the house one that brought Tobacco to sel and some other Schollers and in the night when they were all quiet in Bed Iohn Lewis heard one comming downe the Staires from the Roome where Enoch lay and hee called and asked who is up there Enoch answered I am here whereupon Iohn Lewis rose out of his bed to come to him and found Enoch much distempered and to utter imperfect speeches Iohn Lewis perswaded him to goe to bed and to take his rest Enoch would not but said did you see that villaine my Master meaning Master Gravenor the Scrivener how he hath betrayed me and conjured the Tobacco-seller to come from Ireland to kill mee And the said Enoch being in his Shirt desired Iohn Lewis to lend him a suite of Apparell and would not be perswaded to fetch his own out of the Chamber Iohn Lewis endeavoured to satisfie Enoch that hee did but dreame and that hee was mistaken and the better to worke upon Enoch Iohn Lewis caused his Wife to to arise and got Enoch to come with him into his bed and Iohns wife being risen made first a Posset and afterwards an Alebrew for Enoch and at last after some speeches of Enoch which were Non-sence he fell on sleepe Hereupon Iohn Lewis and his wife having heard before that Enoch was inclined to Lunacy then concluded it was true which they had herd On the morrow Enoch arose and began to write but it was not long before Iohn Lewis being in his barne discerned on to run apace by him he looked out to see who it was and perceived it was Enoch Iohn hasted after him to overtake him but could not obtaine sight of him any more Thereupon Iohn sent one of the Schollers being Enochs sisters sonne after him to his fathers house who brought Iohn Lewis word that he was at his fathers house As Enoch went home hee met with Master Ieremy Powell to whom Enoch said get your Armour and prepare your selfe for yonder is the Scrivener at Bishops Castle will bring the Enemies upon us and though Enoch would not at first be perswaded to goe any more to the Scrivener to learne to write yet about a fortnight after he came to him and bestowed drinke upon him and payed him what hee had promised for teaching him to write viz. five Shillings thanking him and said hee was sorry for the words he had spoken of him This is it and in this manner that the foresaid William Tanner tould the Author of the Looking-glasse concerning Enoch and all those whom I have named will justifie the truth hereof who are none of them Puritans Sect. 6. As for the second argument in the Looking-glasse which the Author page one hundred saith was likewise told him by William Tanner to prove Enoch to bee Lunaticke touching the shrill voyce which he heard in the Church of Clunne saying Enoch prepare page one hundred foure the said William Tanner utterly denyeth the telling of any such thing unto him neither can I learne of any body that there was any such thing and if Enoch had had any such conceit it were a further argument of his Lunacy Let therefore the Author of that Invention take heed least the Lying Spirit hold not as much interest and take as strong possession of his soule as he did of Enochs according to Enochs advise page one hundred and five for from the time that hee went so into the river as aforesaid the report of his distraction encreased The said William Tanner likewise denyeth that he ever tould the Author
shall be prepared for the estate of everlasting glory wherein shall be no tempter no temptation no sinne no sorrow but righteousnesse peace and fulnesse of joy in the presence of God and preasures for evermore Vnto which estate the Lord in mercy bring us and â—n the meane time keepe us from such horrible sinne The true Copy of the subscripâ—â—on formerly mentioned we whose names are under-written doe acknowledge that those things in this treatise which have relation to us and our knowledge are truely set down and receaved from us which we testifie by the subscription of our names HUMPHRY WALCOT THOMAS CLUNNP E. POVVEL vicar of Clunne GERVAS NEEDHAM WILLIAM BEDFORD ROBERT BARRET THOMAS HOVVELLS WILLIAM TANNER IOHN HOVVELLS WILLIAM GRIFFITHS IOHN LEVVIS FINIS An Appendix in further defence of the precedent Relation wherein is examined Master Studleys pretended refutation of such objections as were made against his Looking-glasse of Schisme Gentle Reader WHen I did first set my selfe to compose the precedent Relation I did not purpose to have it printed as in the beginning of my relation I have intimated in regard whereof I had no respect in the framing of my discourse to the swelling style which Master Studley pleaseth himselfe with in his Narration proposing to my selfe onely a briefe discovery of the naked truth of the businesse in hand therefore marvell not that I have forborne to follow him in â—ll his deviations and impertinent digressions yet now my relation cometh to the presse unexpectedly I am urged to adde something in regard of â—aster Studleys additions to â—he second edition of his looking glasse wherein he reciteth ten Criminations which I conceive to be all of his owne contriving yet for the present admitting them by way of reply to Master Studleys answeres I shall cleare such passages as from them seeme to reflect on what I have delivered for truth The first Crimination is to this effect That Master Studley hath published the most lying boooke that ever came forth in print The Hyperbolicall part of this Crimination I maintaine not Reply yet that his booke doth containe many falsehoods I suppose it sufficiently evidenced in those instances given in the fiftenth and twenty sections and the twenty five Section declareth eight falsehoods in Master Studleys unnecessary digression to that of Teuxbury The second Crimination Master Powell the reverend Minister of Clunne under whom Enoch lived from his birth knowes many of your relations to be false c. MAster Powel had the view and perusall of my precedent Relation Reply and finding it agreeable to the truth of his knowledge he testifies the integrity of this my Relation by the Subscription of his name to that originall Copie which now I have in my custody yea he was so earnest in attestation of the falsehoods in this looking-glasse that after he had subscribed this relation in manner and forme as in the end thereof is set downe he desired to be the meanes of conveying it to the Bishop of Hereford and did deliver it to his Chancelor Master Docter Skinner by whom it was delivered to the Bishop Now let the unpartiall reader judge whether Master Powell would deale so unworthily with himselfe as to subscribe his owne approbation of my Relation and convey it to his Diocesan if h ehad in deed so approved Master Studleys report as is pretended It is true that Master Powell is now dead and lest in that regard doubtfull thoughts may be entertained with some men I have heare inserted a Certificate from divers persons of such worth and credit as Master Studley himselfe will not except against them the Certificate I set downe in the same words as it was sent unto mee onely I adde the specification of their quality and Condition for the readers better satisfaction Wee whose names are subscribed have heard Master Erasmus Powell late vicar of Clun in his life time complaine of divers grosse untruths and falsities in Master Studleys Relation of Enoch ap Evan in his book intituled the looking gl of Schisme Humphrey Walcot esqu Samuel Hildersam Recâ—or of the Church of west felton county Salop. Tho Clun of Clun Gent. Hugh Edwards Gent. Esay Thomas Alderman of Bishops Castle William Tanner a free â—urges of Bishops Castle George Lawson Rector of the Church at the Moore Gervase Needham vicar of the Church at Bishops Castle If opportunity had served or the cause required futher proof might be produced in like kind For the present I further call to mind Sir Robert Harley Knight of the Bath Walter Barker of Hamond Esquire and Master Standley Gower Rector of the Church of Brompton Brian who have informed me that they heard Master Powell declare his dislike of Master Studleys booke in regard of the falsehoods therein conteyned And which is yet more the aforenamed Master Barker and Master Hildersam were present when Master Powell did to Master Studleys face tax him for his untruthes in his booke The Third Crimination concerneth the taking downe of the body from the Gibbet heere Master Studley sweates to perswade the reader that he had stronger arguments to Master his understanding then to believe that such simple women as Enochs sisters could be the chiefe abettors of such a fact five silly reasons he reciteth moving him to publish his conjecture that crafty heads contrived that devise of conveying his corps from the Gibbet and breathed the same by instruction and counsell into his sisters Enabling thereby ignorant women of rustick quality and small understanding to take upon them the mannaging of a devise so subtile and bold who then were the authors of this designe Master Studley telleth us in his looking-glasse Pag. 164. edit 1 some brethren of his own disposition and faction restles in willfulnesse that he might not say wickednesse contrived a devise by rearing up a ladder in the night to saw off that part of the gibbet where his body hanged c. As I will not affirme but that some others might first suggest to Enochs sister the taking downe of his body which they upon examâ—nation have denyed so I hope no indifferent man wil suppose it to be without the compasse of womens understanding to be guilty of hireing others to remove such an object so neere the place of their habitation and birth I am to thank Master Studley that he doth declare his beliefe that the rest of the Commissioners with my selfe traveiled prudently and faithfully yet he saith he neither doth nor can nor will believe that the totall truth was by us delivered for so hee saith in his refutation of Crimination pag. 15. for satisfaction of the Reader herein I desire him seriously to consider the proceedings against the offendors as they are faithfully exhibited in the twenty two and twenty three and twenty foure Sections of my relation to which I here adde verbatim that letter mentioned Sect. 23. From the Iudges Sir William Iones and Sir Thomas Trevor To the Right worshipfull
A True relation of the Murders committed in the Parish of Clunne in the County of Salop by Enoch ap Evan upon the Bodies of his Mother and Brother with the Causes moving him thereunto Wherein is examined and refuted a certaine Booke written upon the same Subject by P. STUDLEY Entituled the Looking glasse of SCHISME Also an Appendix in further defence of this Relation wherein are examined the most material Passages added in the Second Edition of the said LOOKING-GLASSE wherby the Author vainely shâ—weth his desire to maintaine and excuse his erroneous Reports in the former Edition of his Booke By RICHAR MORE Esquire Printed by Order of a Committee of tâ—â— Honourable House of Commons now Assembled in Parliament LONDON Printed by T.B. for P. Stephens C. Meredith at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard 1641. The Printer to the Reader VVHeras the ensuing treatise referreth to the Pages of the former Edition of the Looking-glasse of Schism This is to give notice that both editions for substance doe agree to the 35. pag and there beginneth the eleventh Section wherein Master Studley inserteth that violent love passion which befell Enoch the day and night before he committed these Murders which being omitted in the former edition occasioned in the second an encrease of onely foure leaves so in this small distance is likely to be found whatsoever this Relation hath reference unto after the said 35 pag. This I thought convenient to be certified in this place for the ease of such as have either of the two editions of Master Studleys booke An advertisement to the Reader touching the Ensuing Relation shewing the occasion of Printing thereof this present yeare 1641. and how hitherto suppressed Gentle Reader TO the ensuing Discourse the stile of the Prophet Isaiah Cap. 37.3 may be applyed the children came to the birth but there was no strength to bring forth This relation though at first not so intended was made ready for the Presse in the yeare 1635 â—nd being then tendered to the view of the Licencer who gave approbation for the printing of Master Studleys Looking GLASSE of Schisme it was for that time by him rejected No better acceptance could this Truth then finde Truth must rather bee supprest than the falsehood of that Glasse bee discovered The Author of the Looking-Glasse pretendeth to set forth the disobedience of Nonconformists against Royall Majesty and the laws of our Church doubtlesse Noncormitie and disobedience to just commands are to be searched out and brought forth to deserved punishment But experience teacheth that whilst that angry Author by his false glasse laboured to represent Nonconformitie to bee the onely cause of those execrable Murders committed by Enoch ap Evan hee hath thereby not convinced but hardened many that wavered and scandalized others who better knew their duties to just lawes These and other pernicious consequences of this deceitful Glasse being considered by diverse worthy members of this present Honourable Assembly in Parliament who well knowing this rejected Relation had discovered the true circumstances of these deplorable murders by diligence in examining all persons reputed to have any competent knowledge of the said Enoch and his disconsolate frinds they have now called it forth An occasion of my travell therein was obedience to the commands of those Iudges by whose sentence the murderer was condemned to die and his body to be hanged up in Chaines for shortly after the execution of that sentence the said body being to the great affront of Iustice secretly taken downe from the Gibbet and conveyed away those Iudges required my service amongst others the Iustices of that County for the discovery of the offenders And having hereby informed my selfe I did examine those circumstances of fact whereupon Master Studley had framed his pretended Looking-Glasse of Schisme and finding the falshood thereof I composed the ensuing Relation apprehending my selfe thereunto deeply obliged as well for vindication of my Neighbourhood as the satisfaction of such as desired the Truth of this accident In pursuance wherof I presented one Copy of this ensuing Relation to the Bishop of Hereford in whose Diocesse the murders were committed Another Copy I presented to the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry in whose Dioces the Author of the Looking-glasse then now liveth Afterwards I was moved to commend it to the Presse for more publike satisfaction The successe whereof is before related All which proceedings being likewise knowne to the forementioned worthy members in Parliament and a Comittee being assigned to take information of the complaints against refusing of Licence for printing lawful books the denyall of this Relation was particularly questioned by some of the said Committee the reasons given for the deniall being slender By the Vote of the said Comittee this Relation was ordered to bee Printed And thus Gentle Reader thou hast a plain account of what I have promised in this advertisement the uses which I conceive may be rightly made of this sad occasion I have exprest in the twentie seventh Section of this relation whereunto in reference to that vehemency which the Author of the Looking-glasse manifesteth in his answer to certaine cryminations against his booke most likely to be of his own composing I shall here adde the words of Salomon Eccles 7.9 10. Bee not hasty in thy spirit to be angry for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this That also of our Saviour is not to be forgotten Luke 13.4 5. those eighteene on whom the Towre of Siloam fell and slew them thinke yee that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem J tell you Nay but except yee repent yee shall all likewise perish And so I commend to thy view the relation as it was prepared for the Presse in the yeare 1635. where take notice of what followeth touching the Pages and Edition of the Looking-Glasse whereunto this relation hath reference I Desire those to whose hands this ensuing Relation may come to understand that it hath reference to the first printed Looking-GLASSE of Schisme and to the pages of that Booke which is since reprinted with some additions alterations and an answer to certaine criminations or objections of the Author of his owne framing which I take not upon me to medle with further then wherin they are contrary or contradictory to what in this of mine is set forth wherein J have set downe the ground and authority upon which it is warranted and have named the parties upon whose testimony the truth will rest as Master Erasmus Powell Vicar of Clunne who hath perused my whole Relation and hath subscribed that Coppy which J keep testifying that those things in and about which I use his name or referre my selfe to his knowledge are truly set downe by mee and received from him So hath Iohn Howels the brother in law of Enoch whom Master Studley calleth Iohn Powell in the confirmation of whose words hee confesseth the life and Truth of that History is really containd as is
boasteth himselfe to be the known Antipuritan of the county as is said and so most likely to know the puritans in the couÌ„ty yet he namethnone that seduced Enoch he teleth us of puritans about Bishops Castle pag. 99. that framedarguments to make Enoch appeare to be lunatick and thereby perhaps intimateth that by some thereabouts Enoch was seduced for it is before confessed that Enoch all his life time had his abode within two or three Miles of Bishops Castle I my selfe have dwelt within two miles of the said Towne this forty yeares for the most part I know most of the Cleargy within the Deanery of Clunne in the Diocesse of Hereford and I am confident there is not amongst them all one non-conformist neither is there any of any note that I can learne of the laity but doe conforme and particularly in that point of kneeling in the receaving of the blessed Sacrament Master Studley should doe well to make the Puritans known that they may be reformed and not conceale them and yet cast an aspersion upon the Ecclesiasticall and civill government and that meerly upon his owne imagination what may the reverend Father our present Diocesan thinke of us in this part of his Diocesses what will the world to whom we are unknowne otherwise then by report which falleth out with such prejudice in this particular by the Looking-glasse of Schisme conceave of us better then such a nest of Puritans and Non-conformists as England affordeth not the like Sect. 16. Our lately deceased Diocesan the reverend father in God Bishop Lindsel much desired to understand that part of his Diocesse tooke speciall notice of every particular minister that were Preachers at the monethly Lecture in Bishops Castle before established by the Bishop of the same Diocesse and by his owne appointment supplied the places of some that were lately dead and they are twelve in number all of them in the same Deanery of knowne conformity more particularly hee requested to be informed about this Enoch ap Evan and to speake with his father and for him I prepared my first papers by whose meanes we had very good hopes to have our neighbourhood cleared from the aspersions laid upon it by the Looking-glasse of Schisme which booke he had read and therupon untill he was enformed to the contrary conceaved that these parts had need of reformation for until he spake with some that could enforme him in the particulars concerning Enoch he did not imagine the relation to have beene so false in the chiefe points but it pleased GOD to take him out of this life before what wee wished came to passe The same reverend father delivering his opinion concerning the said booke which would not have pleased Master Studley asked a Minister of this Countrey whether he had not observed a passage in it concerning Master Studlies great and ungodly wit adding that he that said so of him did him wrong he would excuse him of the first of those if any could free him from the latter of which he can by no meanes be excused since he hath put his pen on worke to publish such scandalous slanders against the Cleargie and lay persons as affected to non-conformity seducing Enoch into his opinions and to conceale both their names and the true cause of the fact Sect. 17. We see what worke Master Studley hath made us in the Gaole at Shrewsbury now the Gaole delivery draweth neare and the Iudges are in their Circuit at the next County of Stafford adjoyning to Shropshire there they are informed of this murtherer by the reveâ—end father the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry who was so carefull not to misreport as that he required Master Studley who was his informer to lay downe in writing under his owne hand and subscription of his name the truth of the particulars receaved from the prisoner as Master Studley confesseth pag. 121. The reverend judges who ever laboured to suppresse Schisme and non-conformity being at Shrewsbury reprehended the Iustices of Peace that had not enformed them of so notorious a malefactor before they came to heare of it in a Sermon when as in â—uth the Iustices themselves that dwelt nearest to the place where the offence was committed were Ignorant that the offence was committed upon any such ground or reason as non-conformity But at the assises Enoch is severally indited for the murders by him committed upon his mother and brother upon the severall indictments he is severally araigned upon his araignments he pleadeth guilty upon which plea as you shall heare anon hee had judgement to be executed given upon him according to justice and regular proceeding though Master Studley assuring us in the word of a minister that we have a relation of such substantiall truth as he will maintaine against any person living upon the face of the earth be not ashamed on hearesay to deliver as he hath set it down pag. 135 136. that the evidence of his murders so ofteÌ„ published to the world by his free and voluntary confession might have prevented the formal proces of law by jury conviction and casting and have put him into the power of the judge for sentence of death from his owne acknowledgement and expression of his guilt but for more strength of justice and regularity of proceeding the jury found him guilty and made him lyable to sentence of death As if after Enoch had pleaded guilty it had been more for the strength of Iustice and regularity of proceeding to have tryed him by a jury of life and death The Iudges for both of them sate at his araignment were carefull to find out the cause moving Enoch to this barbarous murder and therefore after he had pleaded guilty one of the judges asked him what the cause might be moving him to kill his mother and his brother whether there were any difference or falling out betweene them Enoch answered there was some difference in reasoning betweene his brother and him about the gesture of kneeling at the Communion It was then urged by the judg that then that was the cause why he slew his brother Enoch answered no it was not being againe demanded what then might be the cause He answered the strong temptation of sinne He was further asked whether he did not desire to receive the holy Communion before his execution He answered yes he did It being then declared unto him by Baron Trevor that he might use no other gesture in that action but that which was prescribed by law and practised by the Church which was kneeling and that no Minister should deliver it him otherwise and it being so he was demanded what in that case he would doe Enoch answered hee had rather bow his body yet rather then he should not receive the Communion he would kneele This passed openly at his araignment upon fryday the Sixteenth of August The judgement to be given upon Enoch was deferred untill the next day being Saterday upon which day and before judgement
Enoch is brought to the Iudges Chamber and there privately they both examine him touching the cause moving him to commit the murder but as I heard from one of the Iudges he w … 〈◊〉 no other cause o … 〈…〉 â—hen what he had done publickely Afterwards being brought to the barre without a jury to finde him guilty he received his judgement from Sir William Iones the Iudge that for that time sate upon Life and Death Sect. 18. The Sheriffe being commanded to see execution done was directed that he should be hanged in chains in some convenient and eminent place not very far from the place where the murder was committed and therupon he is brought to Bishops Castle where Master Gervase Needham is Vicar the learned Gentleman and minister of that parish mentioned by Master Studley pag. 161. He repaireth to Enoch as he was informed by the appointment of the Iudges and conferreth with him to the end the better to prepare him for death then shortly to ensue for it was the day of his execution and this was in the presence of divers of the Cleargy and laity which conference and the passages therin before and at his death the said Master Needham presently after committed to writing and hereafter it followeth as it was by him delivered to me without change or alteration It being asked whether he was truly and unfainedly sorry for the fact whereof he stood condemned He answered that hee was so that he thought in his heart no man living had such a weight of sinne upon him or had ever done the like hainous murder that he was Iustly condemned and willing to dye for it that he was truly sensible of the sinne committed and heartily sorry that he could not be more sorry for it yet that he did confidently believe God would have mercy upon his soule desiring all to pray for him Whether he did not receive some disparagement or disgrace or injury from his brother and mother and whether he did not conceive them to be prophane and wicked people unworthy to live And whether he did not conceive his father or himselfe to be of a more undefiled unspotted conversation He answered that hee thought them all to be religious and godly and with a great sigh that his brother was ever loving and deare to him no man had a better brother then he had of him and that there was no malice nor difference betwixt them at the time he slew them onely some two dayes before they had discoursed of standing and kneeling at the Sacrament himselfe approving of standing or bowing rather but there was no high words or anger or discontentment betweene them upon that conference What might bee the grounds of his opinion for standing and bowing at the Sacrament Hee answered that hee conceived it to be our Saviours gesture at the first institution and further that it is written Behold I stand at the dore and knocke Whether hee did not thinke it Idolatry to kneele at the Sacrament And whether he did not ground his action upon that in Deu. 1â— 6 7 8 9 and 10. where it iâ— written if thy brother the sonne of thy mother entice thee saying Let us go serve other Gods c. thou shalt not consent unto him c. but thou shalt surely kill him thine hand shall be first upon him c. He heard such things and many untruths had beene reported of him but for his part he thought it no Idolatry to kneele at the Sacrament neither did he ground that action upon any such text of holy Scripture and therein hee had manifest wrong Whether he did not frequent any private meetings and conventicles in the Neighbourhood or elsewhere Or whether he did not ground that fact upon some doctrine or words he had heard at Sermons oâ— Lectures at Bishops Castle or elsewhere Or some private discourse with any of the ministry or other of his acquaintance He answered that he was never at any such meeting or conventicle neither did he in any private discourse or from any preacher heare or receive any doctrine oâ— counsell that might encourage or move him to such a fact What then might be the cause if none of these Or what end he proposed to himselfe in the action He answered that it was the temptation of sinne But being desired to explaine himselfe in those tearmes he said it was the corruption of the flesh and Sathans suggestion It being urged that our subtile adversary the easie to worke upon us is wont to propose in every temptation some matter either of profit or pleasure and sometimes even the glory of God as the end thereby the rather to deceive us and leade us into sinne He answered that hee could give no reason or ground at all why he did the act neither did he think what might be the end or issue of it being done and that he never thought of such a fact towards man woman or child till within one houre or lesse before the murder was done and that his thoughts did so rise upon him that he could not have any rest or quiet till he had done the deed Whether he intended to have murthered them both when he first laid hands on his brother He answered no surely but his mother came in to rescue his brother not yet fully dead and so wounded her also mortally and a length cut off both their heads not deliberating with himselfe upon it Whether the Devill did not then appeare to him and as some reported give the Axe into his hand violently enforcing him unto the fact He answered no there was no such matter the Devill did not then or at any other time appeare unto him Whether hee did not sometimes see a vision of the holy Ghost appearing to him in the likenesse of a Dove as was reported He answered that indeed he did conceive a thing in the likenesse of a Dove full of brightnesse to come into the Chamber in his fathers house where he then lay upon his bed in the night broad awake and that he thought it to be the holy Ghost It being urged that the spirit of God would not surely have appeared but to some speciall end in such an extraordinary manner and question being made whether hee felt himselfe thereby illuminated further in the mysteries of salvation Or in the sence of his owne sinnes more humbled Or whether it imposed any particular charge or command upon him Or revealed any secret of note unto him at the present He answered that he was not sensible of any such operations as these or the like in so much that after further discourse in this particular he said that he knew not what to thinke of it it might be the distempered worke of his braine for ought he knew to the contrary Whether he did not desire a kinsman to convey him secretly to Bishops Castle to the minister or Vicar there for he had an intent to sacrifice one head which he had privately hidden
falling into this sinne of murder And likewise to shew that Sathan working upon his predominant humour of melancholy tempted him to commit these murders or as he in the Gaole confessed to many before named to the judges at his arraignment and at the time of his death it was the strong temptation of sinne that moved him to commit them And that he was not seduced into the poynts of Puritanisme by any of the Clergy or laity about Bishops Castle or Clunne land for there were none such to perswade or seduce him as hath been shewed And for more confirmation thereof I referre it to the better knowledge and testimony of the present Chancellor of the Diocesse of Hereford Master Doctor Skinner who hath continued that place under the three last Bishops of that Diocesse and who by presentments and other meanes for his information is likeliest to know the state of the country in that behalfe Sect. 21. Though in this narration we are come to Enochs death yet death the end of life giveth not an end to the stirres and rumours about him from this Puritanicall Phoenix hatcht by Master Studley in this part of the Country others have risen out of the ashes for saith he pag. 164. the dead body of this Enoch hanging forth waving in the ayre more then a fortnight and lesse then three weeks some brethren of his owne disposition and faction who are restlesse in wilfulnesse that he say not wickednesse contrived a device by rearing up a Ladder in the night a worke of darkenesse to saw off that part of the Gibbet where his body hanged and tooke it away c. and these he tearmeth saucy rebells under the visard of Puritanisme Sect. 22. The act of taking downe his body and that in the night is not denyed The question in this also wil be who and what manner of persons the actors were and thesewere brought to light before Master Studleys book came to publik view and there was great care taken for the discovery of so great an affront to publik justice For the next day after this act committed Master Walcot a justice of peace dwelling neare Bishops Castle and my selfe met there we fell into consideration what meanes was to be uâ—ed to discover the offenâ—ers It was considered that if any warrants were directed for the apprehension of any that might be suspected the feare of punishment might cause a more close concealement and therefore we purposed by private meanes to informe our selves and to communicate each with other what we could discover But Sir Robert Howard living then at Clunne presently granted out warrants and thereby amongst other things required a search to be made in all lakes of water pits and other places where in likelihood the putrified body might be cast or drowned And although this were a probable course being carefully mannaged as indeed it was for finding of the body yet neither was it found nor any person thereby discovered for the fact Then we all joyned our best endeavours in this discovery knowing that the delinquents being once manifested the body would soone be found Having therefore received some private intelligence of some persons who had commended the actors in this work of darknesse and some also who had offered for some consideration to effect it we at length brought those parties to examination though therein we used the helpe of Sir Robert Harley a justice of peace of Hereford Shire for the apprehending of one of them who indeed proved innocent Sir Robert Howard and my selfe meeting at Bishops Castle examined another named Lewis Owen upon whose examination and testimony of witnesses there was evidence from his owne mouth that he at least had knowledge of those that had taken down the body though in truth as it proved afterwards in his drinke hee had spoken more then was true but w … before the full truth appeared bound him over to the then next assises Master Walcot and my selfe proceeded Sir Robert Howards occasions then calling him to London and upon examination we bound over another by name Richard Williams who had offered to Edward ap Evan the father of Enoch that he would take downe his sonne from the Gibbet if hee would consider his paynes Sect. 23. By this time the judges of our circuit Sir William Iones and Sir Thomas Trever had heard of the taking down of the body of Enoch and they directed their letters dated the eleventh day of October 1633 to the high Sheriffe of the County and us the forenamed Iustices requiring us to make diligent search and enquiry by our selves and all others whom we thought fit to be imployd therin whoare the Malefactors and by whose abetment and privity the same was done and to informe them of our proceeding therein with all convenient speed because as they expressed they were to give an account of our proceedings Although we were not conscious to our selves of any want of diligence yet here is a further tye upon us unto which we give all dutifull regard and therefore having by the former proceedings observed that the actors were like to be such as for money or some such respect performed the worke we proceed to the examination of such neare friends of Enoch as were likeliest to give some reward And in this number on Meredith ap Reece who married Enochs sister tould us that his wife had intreated him to let her make ten Shillings of something that might bee spared to pay her Sister Margaret according to her promise to give to them that had taken downe her brother Enoch from the Gibbet This being so far made knowne unto us we often pressed the friends of Enoch to discover the truth to the end there might neither suspition nor suffering light upon innocent parties and called to their remembrance the judgements of God already fallen upon their family and which were likely to proceed further if they or any of them being actors or abettors in this offence by their concealing of it should cause others to suffer for it Hereupon this being Saterday we were intreated to stay our further examination untill munday following upon which day it was promised the three Sisters of Enoch should discover the whole truth And according to this promise they came The eldest Sister being Margaret the wife of Iohn Howells of Spoade did then upon her examination confesse unto us that shee being grieved and afflicted not onely for the lamentable losse of her deere mother and her only two brethren but also because her brothers body hanged upon the Gibbet being ignorant as she said that it was an offence against the law procured and perswaded her two other Sisters to contribute with her in hiring a young man named Hugh Meredith whom shee conceaved fit for that purpose being of an able body and a trayned Souldier in the band of Captaine Scriven before named to take downe the said body of Enoch from the Gibbet which the said Hugh Meredith having procured another
supprest c. page 169. Sect. 26. In like manner he dealeth with Master F. in the latter end of his booke wherein he himselfe faileth in what hee would correct Master F. for that is in wisedome in honesty and in charity for he publikly declared in his congregation to his auditours that he had beene credibly enformed that a very factious Sermon had been preached on fryday before in the hearing of them It was wel known to al that heard him who it was that had preached the friday before and so consequently the preacher knowne though not named Where was then Master Studleys wisedome in taking on trust and by information a report so weighty without examination Where his honesty in contempt of Master F. his person whom he ought of duty to have privately consulted Or where his charity Which is never suspitious of evill before it be convinced by evidence of fact The choyce of Master F. his text seemeth factious to Master Studley for the Lord Bishop having preached upon the Text 1 Pet 2.17 Feare God and honâ—ur the King Master F. tooke his text Matth. 10 28. Feare not them which kill the Body c. Now it is confessed by Master Studley that Master F. was wholy ignorant of the Lord Bishops text as is set downe pa. 281. nay hee was so farre from factiousnesse that being importuned to preach and having scant time for study he preached the same Sermon and upon the same text which he had a Sunday before preached in his owne parish And therefore the Lord Bishop as he himselfe tould me concerning neither errour in the doctrine nor factiousnesse in the manner of preaching did order for full satisfaction that Master F. should preach againe at Shrewsbury and explaine himselfe which was performed and the Minister stood in the Bishops good opinion as appeared by his commendation of him to my Lord of Saint Asaph Yet after this course taken Master Studley puts in print a letter as he calleth it of a sharpe contents and indeed it was very violent and virulent unfit to passe between men of that order and ranke Wherein hee taxeth that Minister of Gods word as a false traducer unwise dishonest uncharitable a sectarie a Schismatick light-headed furious fantasticall disloyall and unquiet yet those who know him as I protest I doe not say he is no such man but a modest sober discreet and conformable minister and so my lord Bishop of Lichfield conceived of him as hee likewise tould me lately The certificate mentioned in the letter I have seene a copy of it and of their names who have subscribed it who are of the best ranke and understanding in the Towne of Shrewsbury anâ— not such as would certifie under their hands the confirmation of a lewd and false report They who heard the Sermon and know the men marvell at the impudency of the Author of the Looking-glasse And if the certificate the Sermon and the Bishops censure were printed as well as Master Studleys letter the Reader no doubt would have full satisfaction The letter it selfe of Master Studleys hand writing I have seene and compared it with the printed which is verbatim as hee saith without addition detraction or mutation of one sillable yet I have observed and â—an make appeare above â—wenty variations of the printed from the written letter it selfe pag. 296 sect 54 but he that feares no mans tongue what should he sticke at Sect. 27. Hitherto I have laboured in the search and discovery of the truth and endeavoured to free my neighbourhood from the aspersion of Puritanisme or non-conformity now my conclusion shall be an earnest request to all good people to make a right use of such fearefull examples not to be more profane and to abstaine from divine Service the hearing of Sermons hearing and reading of Gods word publicke and private prayer because they have heard and read that this Enoch was a bould and busy scripturist that he would ride three or foure miles to heare Sermons which is tearmed the ordinary practice of this formal age and yet he fell into these haynous crimes but rather to be more zealous diligent and constant in the profession and practise of Christianity and with all circumspection and fortitud watch over our selves and resist the temptations of the flesh the world and Sathan by continuall prayer Lord lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill The consideration of the parties murthered and the partie murthering will be speciall motives hereunto The parties slaine were his mother out of whose bowells he came and from whose life his life next under the Almighty Creator was derived and his brother who came out of the same womb and sucked the same breasts Yet the lives of that dearest Mother and nearest brother were taker away and by him whom they least suspected never feared and even then when they were most secure How great cause have we al none excepted of thankesgiving to our good God for ouâ— preservatioÌ„ from such a sudden bloudy and cruell end of prayer that our heavenly father would continue his gracious protection over us and to deliver us from suddaine and violent death 〈◊〉 of preparation for who knowes when that time will come or in what manner we shall end our dayes Therefore by continuall repentance faith prayer doing of good workes let us prepare our selves taking heed least at any time our hearts bee overcome with surfetting drunkenes or the cares of this life and so that day come on us unawares If we consider the party murthering he was conceived to be honest and upright in his dealing free from drunkennes or other notorious sinnes as farre as I can learne hee was given much to reading and praying not onely privately and in his fathers house but to frequent divine Service and Sermons Now that God should permit such a man to fall into and preserve others in outward shew more profane and ungodly from such a bloudy crime may minister matter of wonder and amazement at the judgement of God which is many times secret and profound yet alwaies just And of terrour least he should suffer us to fall so fearefully in the like manner Lastly if we consider the religious duties which Enoch practised as prayer reading of the Scripture frequenting of divine service in Gods house these are in themselves good ordinarily meanes necessary to salvation we are bound unto them by divine law and the command of our Church and state shall we neglect them because he practising them fell into these sinnes Shall wee thinke that these were any causes of these murders Shall we condemne those that are frequent in these holy actions God forbid The Scripture containeth the Gospell which is the power of God to salvation let us read it Prayer is the key of heaven let us use it with our best devotion The Church is the house of God it is the place of his blessed presence let us frequent it And by those meanes we
matter which might seeme to imply a repugnance and contrariety to the maine scope of al my aymes through the body of the discourse was thought fit both by sound judgement and heed full circumspection to bee suppressed Heere the reader may see plainely by Master Studlyes owne answer Reply which I have recited in his owne words that as the Lycencer of his booke and his concurring â—â—iends judged it would weaken the strength of his whole Narration so also himselfe confesseth that hee must needs approve their judgement as being a true conclusion naturally emergent from the manner of his expression of that particular peece Surely there is little neede of any further discourse to demonstrate to the reader that Enoch ap Evan was subject to Lunacy The apprehension thereof so appearing to the diverse prudent and judicious persons of Master Studleys Looking-glasse that it moves them by sound judgement and heeafull circumspection to suppresse the passage of Enochs love passion which might seeme to imply a repugnance and contrariety to the maine scope and aymes of Master Studley through the body of his discourse As little neede there is to discover either the indiscretion and weakenesse of Master Studleys apologie or the inadvertency of the Licencer of his answer to these Criminations if at least it had any lycence at all The conclusion then seemes to be this that the maine scope of all Master Studleys aymes through the body of his discourse must not receive any opposition or contradiction He doth not here declare what his aymes are but true it is that in his Epistle to the Reader before his Looking-glasse he reciteth such aymes for the furtherance whereof I shall at all times I hope bee no lesse ready then himselfe or any other to contribute the uttermost of my abilities and wherein they shall fall short my fervent prayers shall goe along with those that with their greater abilities shall carry on so good aymes as the glory of God the honour of our King the vindication of his innocent laws and desire of our churches tranquillity and peace to these the Author pretendeth and calleth God to witnes the integrity of his conscience therein I will not assume to my selfe to be judge of that appeale of his But when I consider the vehemency of his spirit manifested through the body of his discourse with the eagernesse of his resolution to exhibit by this false glasse an infamous badge on those whom he tearmeth Puritans I cannot discerne it to bee any breach of the rule of Charity to doubt of his pretended integrity and conclude him guilty of premeditated defamation of that profession and those persons whom he tearmeth Puritanicall The truth of this will sufficiently appeare to those who shall diligently consider the precedent relation and compare it with the Authors Looking-glass wherein by way of review I desire the Reader to take notice of Master Studleys confidence expressed in the 25 26. and 27. Sections of both Editions of his booke wherein he assumeth to himselfe the reputation of the knowne Antipuritan of that County and under that denomination boasteth of himselfe and of his paynes as having by his first argument recited in Section 26 justly concluded That Sathan hath instigated a non-conformist to as unnaturall and bloudy a fact as ever was committed and upon his second argument Sect. 27. he saith the force thereof is so cleare conclusive and birding that neither Enochs Non-conformed brethren wil accept or reject the word onely the strength of the thing affirmed remaines pregnant dilucidate and invincible The insufficiency and vanity of those his two arguments I have shewed Sect. 13 and 14. but what is that which Master Studley hath affirmed I will not trouble the Reader with the repetition of all the contradictions already noted here I desire him to take notice that in the first Edition of his Looking-glasse pag. 160. having in that 34. Section discoursed of Enochs opinions Master Studleys conclusion is that he was neither Anabaptist Enthusiast or of any other odde sect whatsoever but onely a silly ignorant and downright English Puritan but in the Title of his first Edition a downe-right Separatist and then in the Title of the second Edition of his booke he tearmeth him a down-right Nonconformist Surely Master Studley will find it a hard taske to free himselfe in these variations fâ—om great vanity and giddinesse in his virulency against his supposed Puritans againe I desire the Reader to peruse the 38. Section of his Looking-glasse in both Editions thereof having in the 27. Section finished with Enoch the County prisoner and now saith Master Studley To vent my own hearts griefe for many yeares supprest and stifled in my troubled bosome and a little to enlarge myselfe and to make knowne the quality of that people with whom I live know good Reader saith hee that this Towne of Shrewsbury the place of my birth and residency is greatly troubled with a sect of men and women and so goeth on accusing them of disobedience to supreame Majesty and of hate and detraction of his person with detriment and losse to his temporall estate Now I suppose the Reader wil be perswaded that I have done Master Studley no wrong where alittle before I did conclude him guilty of premeditated defamation of those hee termeth Puritans Againe consider the tenour of Master Studleys Letter to Master Fisher who is known and aproved to bee a grave and conformable Divine the very reading of which Letter by any ingenious man will render the writer to be an insolent Scurrilous Detractor the letter was written upon a report Master Studley heard that the said Master Fisher should preach a factious sermon the proceeding of that businesse is set forth in the 26. Section of the precedent Relation Now considering the many repugnances and defamations of the Neighbourhood of Bishops Castle the judges of Assize justices of peace and other particular persons contayned in Master Studleys Looking-glasse hee is to rest thankefull to God and those men whom he hath so traduced if for his callings sake his person be permitted to keepe his residency in quiet to attend his populous charge where I heartily with him comfort and peace if he apply himselfe faithfully to discharg the duty of a minister of Gods word which is the stile he gives himselfe which if hee performe he may find better arguments and motives to reduce his neighbours to conformity then by charging upon them as he hath don in this his scandalous Looking-glasse which a Catholike Priest maketh use of in a book called Puritanisme the Mother since the Daughter where the Priest hath borrowed from Master Studleys Looking-glasse this fact of Enoch for an occasion amongst others of his writing that treatise printed an Dom. 1633. And so I leave the reader to consider of some better use to bee made of this deplored accident touched in the close of the precedent relation The Postscript THere remaine 4. other Criminations which Master Studley reciteth I doe conceive they may bee justly objected against him notwithstanding what he answereth for himselfe but for as much as they seeme to bee framed out of a guilty conscience and no way concerning the precedent relation or any matter therein J passe them over without further reply An Errata Page 12. l. 15. dele to p. 19. l ult on one p. 30. l. 9. r to the Barbour p. 35. l 12. r. Powderbache p. 30. l. 16. r. Sergeant p. 41 l. â—2 r. onely p. 7. l. 1. r superstitious p. 54. l. 20. r. inveigling p. 55. l. 18. r. that he answer p. 56. l. 16. r. in the ministery p. 76. l. ult r. and at length p. 110 l. 8. r. Secondly p. 117. l. 2. instead of concerning read conceaving