Blood for Blood, Title page – To the reader
Blood for Blood, OR, JUSTICE EXECUTED FOR Innocent Blood-Shed. Being a true Narrative of that late horrid Murder, committed by Mary Cook, upon her own and only beloved Child, with ſeveral remarkable paſſages, preceding the fact, as alſo what was moſt worthy obſervation, during her Impriſonment, and at her Execution, faithfully communicated for Publique Satisfaction.
By N. Partridge, and J. Sharp. With a Sermon upon the ſame occaſion. With other Spectaters and Viſiters whilſt in Priſon, and at her Execution.
LONDON, Printed for F. Smith, at the Elephant and Caſtle without Temple-Bar; and D. Newman, at the Chyrurgions-Arms in Little-Brittain. 1670.
Licenſed and Entered according to Order.
To the READER.
Courteous Reader,
HEre is at length now expoſed to publique view this brief, but true Narrative (of that ever to be abhorred cruelty of M. C. in murdering her innocent Babe) which we humbly ſubmit to thy favourable cenſure and charitable interpretation.
Two reaſons eſpecially have drawn it forth,
Firſt, to fulfil the will of the poor creature which was executed, who had an earneſt deſire at the place and time of her execution, to have given glory to God, by confeſſing her ſins, accepting her puniſhment, and giving warning to all the numerous ſpectators of the evil of ſin, and the danger of eternal wrath; but natural ſtrength failing her, wiſhed ſome of us in the Cart with her, to have manifeſted the ſame then; but the noiſe of the multitude was ſuch, that it could not be done conveniently; ſome days paſſed after before any thoughts were ſtirred up in us to publiſh any thing of this nature, during which time ſome of us could have little reſt, apprehending ſome neglect might be imputed unto us, in a buſineſs, which for ought we knew might be for general good.
As we would not cover over with gilt or paint, rotten Wood or Copper, neither would we bury under dirt the leaſt grain of pure Gold; therefore we have not taken upon us to paſs any judgement upon the dying ſtate of M. C. but leave it unto him who ſees and looketh into the hidden man of the heart, and weigheth both ſins and repentance in the balance of the Sanctuary; and to the judicious Reader, who we hope will meaſure what is ſpoken by her, and of her, by the rule of Chriſtian charity, and as we apprehended in her whilſt living, great fear, and yet greater hopes; ſo we leave her now dead, looping that her application to the blood of Chriſt was ſincere (as diſcovered more at large in the following Narrative) the which blood ſpeaks better things than the blood of Abel; his precious blood crying to God for mercy, may out-cry the loud cry of the innocent blood, ſhed by her for vengeance.
The ſecond reaſon was, That this (through the bleſſing of God) might be a word in ſeaſon, both to Profeſſors and prophane perſons, in this day of Satans violent temptations; to Profeſſors, becauſe we find by daily and ſad experience, the Devil ſetting upon thoſe richly laden with choice treaſures, with furious aſſaults; to them therefore ſpeak we (or rather the Lord) look well to your foundation; ſecure your principles, live in the daily exerciſe of thoſe rooting graces, humility, ſelf-denial, and repentance, and then grow up in the nutritive graces, faith, hope and love, and to crown all, let integrity and uprightneſs preſerve thee, and ſo perſevere unto the end, the Lord helping thee to ſet up his watch tower in thy heart, continually natural reaſon and common providence may prompt thee, to ſecure and watch thy outward eſtate, but grace alone inſtructs thee how to keep thy heart, were thy heart danger-free, from enmity without, and treachery within; thou hadſt then a Plea for the abatement of thy ſouls intention herein: but whilſt a danger of ſurprize by both remit no diligence, ſhew me that man or woman whom the impudence of ſin and Satan doth not ſometimes charge and aſſault; but if ſuch a one cannot be found, be convinced of thy need of the Divine breaſt-plate, which will not only put temptations back, but force the tempter to ſurceaſe his aſſaults; or if ſo impudent, notwithſtanding, will yet enable thee to ſhake them of (as St. Paul did the Viper from his hand) unburt.
And to the prophane, that they by reading this ſad relation, as the conſequences of ſin, [and the awakening Sermon thereunto annexed] may come to know themſelves, and their unſafe condition, whilſt in their unregenerate ſtate, and the Spirit of God working with it, they may be thereby provoked to conſider their ways, and amend them, before the day come wherein ſinners ſhall cry out, Who among us ſhall dwell with devouring fire? Who ſhall abide with everlaſting burnings? For the day of the Lord will burn as an Oven, and ſinners ſhall be as ſtubble: Oh! therefore it is to warn them to flee from the wrath to come, and in the bowels of our Lord Jeſus, to beſeech thee to look their faces in the glaſs of Gods Law, and to continue therein, and be a doer of the work.
And now Reader, becauſe the cry of blood reacheth unto the Heavens, and calleth for a narrow ſearch and inquiry from thence, that juſtice may take place, and vengeance from God may be executed, to anſwer the nature of the crime committed, the ſin of blood being of that deep dy in the eyes of God, that he hath left in his written Word no City of refuge to flie unto for the outward part of the offender, though ſought, if poſſible, with tears of blood; yet is his Law unalterable, Who ſo ſheddeth mans blood, by man ſhall his blood be ſhed, Gen. 9.6. Weeping, wailing, and gnaſhing of teeth will not here prevail, nor can create a door of hope; witneſs the caſe of poor Butler and Savage, who wrung their hands for ſorrow, ſmote upon their breaſts, and with thouſands of bitter ſighs cryed, Oh, that I had not done this wicked Act; what to murder my inno- friend? It makes me ſo far from deſiring life or refuge here, that I am not meet nor worthy to tread any longer upon Gods earth, nor yet to live in the ſociety of men, or to be ſeen above ground, or die a natural death upon my body, but muſt call for juſtice, juſtice, juſtice, and that in a violent way it may be executed upon me, to ſend me as ſpeedily as is poſſible from off the earth I have ſo defil'd, by ſo dreadful a ſin as this my Murder was: And no marvel but the offendor, if touched with a thorough ſence of this dreadful crime, muſt and will thus cry out for ſpeedy and publick juſtice to be done upon him in the ſight of the Sun, while the Law of God is ſo far from giving reſpect in this caſe to the Judges of the earth, that he will puniſh not only particular perſons, but Families, yea Cities and Kingdoms too, where juſtice for this bloody crime is omitted or remitted; and when the Magiſtrate hath done his Office, ſo dreadful in Gods eye is this foul Crime, that after ſentence and execution hath removed the Offendor from the ſociety of men, except deep ſorrow and unfeigned repentance, bitter ſighs, lamentable cryes, and above all, the blood of a Saviour doth mediate to the appeaſing wrath, the ſame Offendor muſt be given up into the hands of Devils, to be tormented with fire and brimſtone; whereas St. Mark ſaith, their worm ſhall never dye, and their fire ſhall never be quenched.
Therefore Reader, if Murder ſpeaks thus loud with God and man, no doubt but City and Country will ring of it; and Oh, that the cry of this, even of this (that a Mother ſhould ſo forget her tender Babe, as not only to neglect it, but the worſt of evils to murder it; yea, to bath as it were her hands in her childs blood: We again pray and ſay, Oh, that it might, if poſſible, reach to the ends, not only of England, but the earth, to beget a reverence to God, a dread to ſin, and a continual praying and watching over our hearts and lives, and to beſpeak warning to all, that none henceforward upon themſelves, their child or neighbour, ſhall entertain a thought to do this abominable thing that God ſo hates.
In a word, there is nothing in the world, the fleſh, or the devil can ſuggeſt (how taking ſoever with thy ſenſual affections, or however backed with arguments of pleaſure, or profit, or ſecrecy) but this Narrative and Sermon, may teach thee to retort upon the ſuggeſter, How can I do this wickedneſs and ſin against God, or hearken to this lying vanity, and forſake my own mercy: Oh, that when you find your hearts at any time, ſordid a cogitare, a vain ſinful thought ariſe, or luſt conceive in thee, thou wouldst daſh it in pieces againſt the ſpiritual rock Chriſt, and oppoſe enticements unto the ſecreteſt evils, with that foreign, that the eye of God ſees thy moſt retired thoughts and actions whilſt yet unhatched, and in the ſhell, are open and manifeſt to him; fearing that the porch is too large already, to conclude, in order to the ſpiritual and eternal advantage of your ſoul, we leave this ſhort warning, and ſmall expedient in your hands; and if it may further that end, we have our aim, and let God have the ſole praiſe.
A more full account of the life and death of Mary Cook, taken by ſeveral Eye and Ear Witneſſes, moſt converſant with her, from the hour ſhe did commit that horrid Murther upon her Child, till ſhe was laid in the Grave.
THe ſubject of our preſent Narrative being a horrid Murther: Before we come to the ſad and Tragical matter of Fact, give us leave in a few lines, to open the hainouſneſs of this ſin, the dangerous conſequences of it, and what means ought to be uſed for the preventing of it.
No Sin committed againſt the Commandements of the ſecond Table, cryeth louder to God for vengeance, and unto Man for Juſtice than the ſhedding of innocent blood: And the Lord ſaid unto Cain, What haſt thou done? the voice of thy Brothers blood cryeth unto me from the ground, Gen. 4.10. Rev. 6.10.
1. God will not ſtop his ears from the cry thereof, nay he ſeemeth to ſpeak, as if he could have no reſt until he be avenged on the Murtherer.
1. Becauſe it is a ſin againſt his expreſs Commandement; Thou ſhalt not kill, Exod. 20.13.
2. Becauſe it is the defacing of Gods Image in which man is Created, Whoſoever ſheddeth Mans blood, by Man ſhall his blood be ſhed; Why? For in the Image of God made he Man: Gen. 9.6. Now to raze the Kings Picture or great Seal, is High Treaſon.
2. Man ought not to ſtop his Ears from the cry of innocent blood, becauſe there is no way to purifie the Land from the guilt of innocent blood, but by executing Juſtice upon the Blood-ſhedder.
You ſhall take no ſatisfaction for the life of a Murderer, So you ſhall not pollute the Land wherein you are; for blood defileth the Land, and the Land cannot be cleanſed of the blood ſhed therein, but by the blood of him that ſhed it, Numb. 35.33.
Now as above ſaid, Gods Command is expreſly, Thou ſhalt do no Murder.
1. Murder lyeth either in the Omiſſion of Duty, in doing good to my ſelf or my Neighbour, with reſpect unto Soul or Body, whereby I may procure his welfare.
2. In practicing evil againſt my ſelf, or Neighbour, whom I am commanded to love as my ſelf, and to avoid all cruelty and unmercifulneſs againſt him.
A word or two of Soul-Murder.
Soul-Murder is dreadful, though minded but by a few in the World, the greater pity.
1. When a people periſh for want of plain and faithful preaching; If thou warn not the wicked, and he dye in his ſin, his blood will I require at thy hand, Ezek. 33.8.
2. When Parents and Maſters of Families neglect their Duties to the ſouls of thoſe that are committed to their charge, mind not to teach Children and Servants to know God, and to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; to ſtir them up to read and hear Gods holy Word, and to hallow Gods Holy day to ſanctifie it, and themſelves to the Worſhip and Service of their God, whereby they might come to know God, and Jeſus Chriſt, which is Life Eternal, Deut. 6.6, 7.
May not we take up a lamentation for the exceſſive Remiſſeneſs in this Duty; Youth for the moſt part, ſuffered upon the Lords day to take their pleaſure, as if it were a day only for play: Sad will the charge be of ſuch Maſters and Parents at the laſt day?
And thoſe Children and Servants that are Sons of Belial, will be under no Yoke, but refuſe to receive inſtruction, and turn away from, or ſtiffen the neck againſt reproof, ſhall dye without remedy, and his Souls blood required at his own hand, Prov. 1.29. But ſo much ſhall ſuffice to be ſpoken of Soul-Murder, or Omiſſion of Duty to the Soul. So I may murder my ſelf or Neighbour by wilful neglect of doing good to my ſelf: when I ſhall refuſe either Food or Phyſick which God hath ordained for the preſervation of natural Life or Health.
The principal thing is to open Murther, as it lieth under the practice of Evil againſt my ſelf or Neighbour, which is done, ſometimes ſecretly, ſometimes openly.
1. Secretly, When I am angry with another without cauſe, or that it exceeds the cauſe, either for time or meaſure: When paſſion ſinks deep in the heart it becomes devilliſh; So that there ſhould never be anger in our breaſts where ſin againſt God is not the cauſe, otherwiſe, you ſin in being angry, and give place to the Devil, Epheſ. 4.26, 27. If you be angry only for ſome injury done to your ſelf, you may eaſily find pride at the Root, and if not timely prevented revenge will be the Fruit.
Qu. But how ſhall I prevent it?
1. Lay thoſe manifold offences done by thee againſt God into the Ballance againſt thoſe offences or injuries men do againſt thee, and that may be one way to abate hate, Tit. 3.2.
2. No provocation can be given to thee but by Gods permiſſion, for the tryal and exerciſe of thy Graces and Vertues; Therefore David ſaid, Let Shimei Curſe.
3. Avoid all kindling or blowing up the flame of paſſion in thy own breaſt, put, and keep at a diſtance all that combuſtable ſtuffe that would take fire; Be not a Companion of the Gameſter, the Drunkard, or the froward in Spirit.
4. Conſider, that anger reſteth in the boſome of Fools: So much fury, ſo much folly. Eccleſ. 7.11.
2. When it cauſeth envie to riſe in my breaſt againſt my Neighbour; Herein the Devil was a Murderer, for that he envied our firſt Parents happineſs, the melioriety of their eſtate, he being fallen himſelf: And Cain being of that Seed, he envies Abel, becauſe accepted of God before him.
Now this ſpringeth from the want of true Love, and from overmuch Self-love, for love envies not, 1 Cor. 13.4. And he that hateth his Brother for that good which is in him, for which he ſhould love him is a Murderer, 1 John 3.5.
Now Satan takes the advantage to kindle the Fire and Fewel, and make it bouſe over, and break forth in action, either againſt others or our ſelves in Revenge, and injuring our neighbour, in deſires or purpoſes of Revenge, as Eſau ſaid in his heart, The daies of mourning for my Father are at hand, then will I ſlay my Brother Jacob for the Bleſſing, not conſidering whoſe propriety it is to Revenge Wrong, Rom. 12.19.
And hence proceeds actual Murders againſt our Neighbour or our ſelves, ſometimes ſecret, by giving or taking poyſon or giving way to Temptations of tha… kinde.
Sometimes open, by laying violent hands upon our ſelves or others.
1. Upon our ſelves, A Sin ſo hainous in the ſight of God, that he Commands if a Beaſt ſlay a Man, the Beaſt was to be ſtoned to death, although he had neither Law nor Reaſon to reſtrain him, how much more Man whom God hath endowed with a Reaſonable Soul, and bounded with a Righteous Law, Exod. 21.28.
Now this is ſo much the more evil, by how much the nearer and ſtronger the bonds are, by which God and Nature binds us to preſervation, whether the Bonds of Conſanguinity or Affinity, but moſt Monſtrous and Unnatural of all, is to lay violent hands upon our ſelves, to whom I am bound by all Bonds to love and preſerve; Therefore for one to rend in ſunder his own Soul and Body, is very dreadful, breaking all Bonds of God and Nature, and for ought man can judge, plunging themſelves into Hell without Remedy, there being no ſpace betwixt Sin and Death for Repentance, and certainly no Murtherer hath Eternal Life in him, 1 John 3.15.
Now, what is the cauſe? Find out that, and you have half the cure.
1. No one layeth violent hands upon themſelves, but pride is the root of it, diſcontented with Gods wiſe providential diſpoſal, when perſons chuſe and reſolve not to be at all, becauſe they may not be what they would be themſelves, not ſubmitting themſelves to what God will have them to be.
2. Unbelief and impatiency, want of faith in God to keep him in a quiet waiting upon the wiſe Governour of all things, to work a good iſſue for us out of troubles.
2. None lay violent hands upon others but for want of retaining the knowledge and awe of the all-ſeeing and ſin-revenging God in their hearts; as you may read at large, Rom. 1.28, 31.
Now to prevent both,
1. Beg earneſtly of God to write his Law in thy heart, and to put his fear in thee, and keep thee in a meek and quiet frame of ſpirit.
2. If at any time differences do ariſe that may by Satan or thy own heart be blown up to paſſionate revenge, do theſe few things.
1. If two conſtructions can be made of a word, or geſture, or action, be ſure to make the beſt. It is a note of a wicked perſon to invent evil, if he may conſtrue it unto good.
2. Be as ready to forgive as you would be forgiven your ſelf, either of God or man.
3. Seek, yea purſue peace until you overtake it, 1 Pet. 3.8, 9, 11. If it be poſſible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men; avenge not your ſelves, but rather give place unto wrath, Rom. 12.18, 19.
4. Carefully maintain a noble ſpirit of ſympathy with any when under temptation or oppreſſion: Could we obey that bleſſed rule to do as we would be done unto, Gal. 6.1, 2. it would abate anger, prevent revenge and murder; which is to the matter of fact. Now we ſhall proceed to give you the relation, with the aggravating circumſtances wch accompanied this hainous, and we think almoſt unparalleld murder.
The perſon which committed this murder, was one Mary Cook, the wife of T. C. living ſince the late dreadful fire in Cloth-fair, near Smithfield in London, who was about the age of 37 years, and had been married to her ſaid Husband near 12 years, by whom ſhe had eight children; and by the relation of many creditable perſons who have known her of a child, have given this character of her, That ſhe was of a very civil and ſober life and converſation, living in the neighbourhood very inoffenſively; but alſo, that ſhe was of a very melancholy temper, which is the Anvil that the Devil delights to forge upon; for now Satan makes uſe of all advantages againſt her, to increaſe her melancholy, blowing up in her mind great diſcontent with her preſent condition; ſo that as her affection unto it decreaſed, ſo her affliction in it increaſed; inſomuch, that common buſineſs became a burden, and fears aroſe in her as to wants, that in fine, ſhe fancied death leſs bitter than life; and now the Devil having thus far prevailed, is not wanting to put her upon ſuch temptations as might ſpeed her ruin.
1. Then the Devil ſtirs her up to revenge, and this as ſhe hath related ſince, did give her a kind of ſecret content, and this temptation prevailed much with her; for being asked that morning ſhe committed the fact, what might be the reaſon of it? one anſwer was, That ſhe had been a fortnight ſick and weak, and no one took care what ſhe wanted; thus through temptation ſhe prefers revenge before temporal ſafety and eternal peace.
2. The Devil prevailed with her to keep his ſecrets and counſel, for ſhe diſcovered her affliction to …one that might pray with or fo… her, or could give ſuitable counſel to her, and help to bear her burden; by which means ſhe ſtruggling in her own ſtrength, until at laſt ſhe concluded there was no hope of amendment of her condition, or eaſe to her troubled mind, but by death.
3. Temptation by which the Devil prevailed upon her, was to grow mindleſs of hearing Gods holy Word preached, or read the Scriptures, or to perform publick or private prayers; this had prevailed ſo high, that the morning ſhe gave that fatal blow, ſhe confeſt for months together ſhe had not been at Church to hear God's Word taught, neither had been much (if at all) troubled for her backwardneſs or neglect therein. Thus did ſhe at once provoke the Devil to bend his bow againſt her, and left her ſelf diſtitute of thoſe ſpecial remedies to avoid his keen and dreadful arrows.
4. Temptation was her ſelf-murder; and this ſhe did with great liking imbrace, being more concerned how to bring it about with ſpeed and ſecrecy, than either to diſcover it or prevent it.
And firſt, ſhe reſolves of drowning her ſelf; to promote which deſign ſhe goes into a ſolitary place in the fields, walking to and fro like a diſtracted Woman, but could not find where to pitch the beſt conveniency for her purpoſe, ſtill wandring about until God in his good providence at laſt met her with ſome ſuitable acquaintance, which prevented the Devils temptation from having ſucceſs at this time.
Some time after this, now above a year and quarter agone, ſhe is put upon another device to her own deſtruction, namely, to hang her ſelf, for which purpoſe ſhe had gotton two long skenes of ſilk, and in her own celler was preparing to act this ſad tragedy; but a kinſwoman going into the celler, and ſeeing her ſtand in the corner, told her Uncle, the Womans Husband, who ran down and found the skenes of ſilk in her hand, demanding what ſhe was doing? She then told him her intentions if he had not prevented her; he got her up, and went and fetched her father unto her, and they together indeavoured to perſwade her: Then her Husband knocked down all the nails and hooks in the celler, to prevent her for the future.
But it is here worthy of conſideration, to all that ſhall read this ſad ſtory, whether upon giving up themſelves under this aſſault to faſting and prayer, with deep humiliation before God, might not have proved an effectual means to have caſt out this kind of Devil.
For the Devil ſets upon her again to be her own Executioner, and to cut her own throat; for which purpoſe ſhe gets a knife and whets it ſharp, and ſets it to the hollow of her throat and makes a ſmall ſcar, cauſeth ſome blood to iſſue; but whether from the bluntneſs of the point of the knife, or the failing of her ſpirits, it would not enter, whereupon ſhe put the knife into her skirt, hoping to take another opportunity to accompliſh her deſign upon her ſelf, ſtill keeping the Devils counſel, and conſulting with him and her own evil heart, who never left hurrying her with temptations, until he had prevailed upon her.
Now at laſt the habit of wicked devices had ſo taken root in her, that ſhe thirſted, and as it were was impatient, till ſome way or other her own life was brought to an end; for on the 5th. of February laſt paſt, her Husband being for ſome hours abſent, (and as ſhe apprehended, neglected his buſineſs at home, ſhe grew full of diſcontent,) who coming in, and ſaying, Mary, I muſt go out again; ſhe anſwered, if you do, I will caſt the child into the fire, but his compliance and ſtay prevented this; yet ſtill the Devil purſues her like a roaring Lion, ſeeking to devour her; for that night a great preſſure of melancholy diſcontent overwhelmed her, to a reſtleſsneſs of body and ſpirit, much like them in Deut. 28. who in the evening wiſhed that it were morning, and in the morning, Oh, that it were evening: ſo that in the night, when her Husband was in bed and aſleep, ſhe took the child out of the cradle down into the Kitchin, which when her Husband awaked and miſſed, he knockt, whereupon ſhe brought up the child, and laid it into the cradle, and came to bed, but he could get no ſatisfactory anſwer why ſhe took down the child, but ſhe lay until the morning, which when it approached, being February 6th. the Lords day, whether any diſcompoſure happened betwixt her Husband and her, becauſe his better dayes garments were not laid out ready for him, or what it was God knows, but the ſequel was dreadful, for all contributing together, fills her brim-full with reſolution to ſome horrid and ſpeedy execution; for ſoon after ſhe aroſe, and had made her fi…e one ſtory lower, ſhe takes her knife and whets it ſharper, and makes the offer to her own threat as before is hinted; but the Husband having knockt twice to have her come up to give him his better cloaths, and ſhe not coming, he aroſe, put on his every dayes cloaths, and came upon her, and very probably prevented her execution of her ſelf; he asking her why ſhe came not up when he knockt, ſhe gave him no anſwer, but ſlips up the ſtairs into the chamber where the Babe lay in the cradle, and now the Devil puts her upon a freſh conſultation what ſhould become of that child, which ſhe ſo dearly loved, after ſhe was dead; upon this ſhe concludes, ſhe had better rid that of life firſt, and then all her fears and cares for it would be at an end, and ſo ſhe ſhould put an end unto her own miſerable life, which was ſo burdenſome unto her; the which temptation for want of having the fear of God in her heart, ſhe gave way unto, and ſitting down by the cradle, asked the innocent Babe about two years and one quarter old, Betty, Wilt have thy break-faſt? unto which the Babe anſwered, Ey, crying, Aha, aha, as it uſed to do when it was pleaſed, and put forth her hand to ſtroke her Mother; but ſhe laying aſide all Motherly Bowels, took the Babe out of the cradle, ſet her on her lap, took the knife out of her skirt, laid her left hand upon its face and chin, and with the other hand cut her throat at one ſtroke, in a gaſtly manner to behold, then threw it from her upon the hearth.
This relation ſhe gave her ſelf but the da… before her execution, with this doleful reply That when ſhe did that barbarous act, th… child gave one skreek, and fetched three o… four dreadful ſighs, and ſo became the Mothers ſinful ſacrifice; which ſighs ſhe mentioned with much dejection of ſpirit, ſaying nothing like that gave her freſh grief an… trouble, for ſhe was followed with the imagination that ſhe heard its doleful ſigh… ſtill.
Thus having given the fatal blow, ſh… ſtamped with her foot for her Husband, and as an amazed Woman, half dead, caſt he… ſelf down upon a low ſeat, with her bloody hands on each ſide covered with part of he… upper garment, and her head leaned againſ… a Cheſt of Drawers, did thus with an affrighted countenance repoſe her ſelf; and it i… worthy of note, that with the violence of the act, when ſhe cut her Babes throat, both he hands was ſo coloured with blood, that ſhe could not indure the ſight of them; the terror of this fatal ſtroke made ſuch a ſeizure upon her conſcience, with the reflection of that doleful ſight, her child lying before her eyes, with its heart-blood running out; immediately upon this, her Husband approaching at the Chamber-door, ſaying, Wife, what is the matter you ſo haſtily knock with your feet? dolefully replied, ſhe had given the child its break-faſt. No ſooner had ſhe ſpake, but he beheld with an afflicted ſpirit his Babe lye bleeding on the ground, at which amazement broke out into ſuch lamentations as occaſioned both Lodgers and Neighbours to approach; the Chyrurgion being mentioned to be ſent for, to which ſhe replyed, you may ſave that labour, for I am ſure I have kill'd it. Now the doleful report of this dreadful act did ſoon ſpread it ſelf, upon which both neighbours and ſtrangers preſs in; amongſt others, ſome of the relaters of this bitter ſtory providentially going that way, was invited up ſtairs, where they found the bleeding Babe but newly dead, the Father wringing his hands, and ſhedding multitude of tears, like a man ſo amazed, as half diſtracted (God forbid but we ſhould give him his due) his behaviour to appearance did expreſs, that with a lamentable reſentment he received this ſad news.
The Mother when ſhe had done this act was exceeding ſtupid, though much was ſaid to her, and prayers performed with her, and ſuch Scriptures laid before her of the dreadfulneſs of the ſin, and puniſhment due for i… both in this life, (and without repentance in the life to come; yet ſhe could not ſhe… one tear, and being demanded why ſhe ha… done this, and ſpoken to to behold her dea… Babe, how it lay murdered upon the groun… before her eyes, being murdered by thoſ… hands; ſhe then appeared not relenting a… all, but ſaid, it was done becauſe ſhe wa… weary of her life, her Relations ſlighting he… and leſt that child being moſt in her affection, ſhould come to want when ſhe was gone ſhe killed it firſt, knowing that way would alſo bring her to her deſired end. This wit… many other paſſages, not here ſo convenien… to mention (becauſe of the ſurvivors) of the like nature was alſo uttered. But now appears Conſtables and other Pariſh Officers who cauſed her narrowly to be ſearched, fo… fear of knife or any cord being found abou… her, leſt ſhe might therewith take the like advantage to deſtroy her ſelf the next opportunity; her garters being then given up, bu… nothing elſe of danger found about her; being told it was feared ſhe would alſo kill her ſelf anſwers no, ſhe ſhould not do ſo; and being demanded whether ſhe was ſorry for wha… ſhe had done? replies, ſhe could wiſh ſhe had not done it, but now it was too late; then being demanded whether ſhe was willing to be prayed for? ſaid yes, for ſhe could not pray for her ſelf; ſo being deſired to go down to her knees, and hold up her eyes and hands, readily did, but could neither weep nor ſigh at that time; when her hour was come to be carried before the Juſtice, ſhe did without any appearing remorſe, either in carriage or countenance, make ready her ſelf, took her rings from her fingers, cauſed a pair of ſilver claſps to be cut from her Scarf, gave her Husband the ſeveral keys of Trunks, Cheſts or Boxes, telling him which particular key was for ſuch and ſuch a uſe, in ſo unconcerned a manner, to all appearance, as if going only to take ſome long journey, which verily in charity leads us to believe ſhe was ſo overwhelmed with melancholy, as one bereft of ſences; being now carried before Sir William Turner, and being demanded whether ſhe had kill'd her child? replyed, yes; then being asked why? replyed, ſhe was diſcontented, and thought her Husband and Relations did not love her; being again demanded why ſhe thought ſo, aſſigned no cauſe, but that ſhe did believe ſo; upon this her bloody knife, and both her bloody hands was expoſed to view, and her full examination taken, in which ſhe layes the actual guilt wholly upon her ſelf, clearing all others as to fact and privacy thereunto; and indeed with ſuch dejection of countenance, and temper of carriage did demean her ſelf, that ſhe became the pity of all or moſt ſpectators. After the Juſtice had told her of the greatneſs of the crime, and what from men ſhe muſt expect, as puniſhment for the ſame, with ſerious and compaſſionate advice to the blood of Jeſus Chriſt for remedy, did thus conclude; and the God of heaven have mercy on your ſoul. After which her examination was read to her, which ſhe owned as her act, and deed; being asked whether ſhe could write her name? anſwered no; then ſign it with your mark, ſaid the Juſtice, which ſhe did, by making a croſs inſtead of her name; the application of which gave thoughts to ſome ſtanders by, that ſure providence guided that bloody hand to ſign her temporal death w…th a croſs, that her eternal life might as aſſuredly be ſaved by the Croſs; then was ſhe conveyed to Newgate; but going along, ſuddenly turned back, and looking at her Relation, uſed theſe words, with a doleful countenance: O, if you had been more careful to look after me, you might have hindred me from doing this; the application we commend to whom ſoever concerned, and thought it very meet to be inſerted, that ſuch a word from a dying woman might not die with her. Then being told by one afflicted for her, that now you are going to Priſon, and from thence muſt be conveyed to the Judgement-ſeat of men, and there receive Sentence of death, and from thence be ſent to the Judgement-ſeat of God; what think you of it? I pray for your ſouls ſake conſider it; there is now but a little ſtep between you and eternity; to which ſhe replyed, O, I wiſh I had not done this, but I am willing to die, only afraid of my ſoul; well, replyed the par…y, there is vertue enough in Chriſt's blood to waſh your ſcarlet ſins white; I, ſaith ſhe, but I cannot yet repent my heart is ſo hard; if you cannot repent, do what you can in order …o repentance, be lifting up your heart, your eyes and your hands continually to God; for you ſay you believe there is a God, and if you can but ſpeak few words, imploy them …hat way to beg him to give you repentance, …nd to ſoften your hard heart; remember the poor Publican, who ſmote upon his …reaſt, ſaying, Lord be merciful to me a ſinner. Will you do what you can? Yes, I will. You ſay you wiſh you had not done this Murde… and that is one ſtep to repentance, therefor… labour to groan more after this, and to tha… end ſhall I put up Bills this day, as your deſire, that Gods people may pray for you Yes, very willingly I deſire that, &c. Now did ſhe arrive at the Priſon, and ſo with h… Mittimus was delivered into the hands o… the Keeper, who with great expreſſions … pity received his Priſoner, and deſired Go… would have mercy on her ſoul.