The Cry and Revenge of Blood, Title page – Table of contents
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.
…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 giuegive 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 vnderunder your Honorable Patronage, who already hauehave a vowed the better part thereof. Long hauehave I bene desirous to approue my selfe vntounto your honour, in what poore measure I hauehave 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 hauehave bene the rather emboldned to put my selfe, and these poore labours vnderunder the couert thereof, that so the Church of God may more warrantablie entertaine, and make better vse of this discouerie, being commended vntounto them vnderunder 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 cōmend your honour in my best deuotions vntounto 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 onelyonly 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, …o wonderfull a discouery, and shall stirre vp your affections to magnifie the prouidence of God herein: As I shall hauehave herein what I principally desire, so shall I not faile to take any other good occasion, to testifie my thankefulnesse vntounto 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 vntounto 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 vponupon their finding declared and discussed, with the Vse of all.
CHAP. 6. Of the Condemnation and Iudgement giuen vponupon 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.