fellow-souldier named Iohn Ieames and another poore mason to joyne with him effected in the night time and carried the said body being then putryfied three miles upon a horse backe and buried it in a sawpit together with the cloaths and Irons To this effect they al confessed upon their examinations which are yet upon record remaining with the clearke of the Assises to which for more assurance I referre the reader That nothing might be wanting for the discovery of these offenders the Kings Majesties counsell in the Marches of Wales also directed a commission to certaine Commissioners aswell in Shropshire as Mountgomery Shire for the finding out of these Delinquents but before there could be any effectuall proceeding therein they were discovered bound to appeare at the assises and the foresaid Iudges certified of our proceedings who eft-soones acquainted my Lord Keeper therewith as by their letters bearing date the 26. of November 1633 expressing their approbation of our doings more largely appeareth These persons who procured the taking downe of Enochs body or were actors therein are all free from Puritanisme and so were conceived by the judges of assise who as they were carefull to have the offendors discovered as is manifest by their letters so when they appeared before them they as diligently examined them but finding in them fond affections joyned with ignorance and not any apparant wilfulnesse or factious contempt in commiseration of that distressed and afflicted family they spared severity and discharged them without further punishment which they would not have done if the offence had appeared to have beene committed by any Schismatical factionists as they publikely delivered Sect. 24. Surely Master Studley wanted some imployment in this discovery for his instruction to have made a more true relation but he that presumeth to lay this imputation to the judges for it must needs taxe their Lenity and overmuch indulgence to such brethren of Enochs faction and disposition as he setteth them forth to be what will not he dare to say Peradventure he thought the justices of peace deluded the judges in the examination of the parties and so made them appeare others then in truth they were I that am one of them doe challenge Master Studley to bring my actions and theirs that joyned with me to publike examination and if we be therein faulty let us not be spared But if upon true tryall it appeare that the Author of the Looking-glasse in his Epistle to the reader as aforesaid assuring us in the word of a Minister that we have a relation of such substantial truth as he will maintaine against any person living upon the face of the earth in this matter of substance which hath beene examined in the face of the County at the assises doth deliver such a manifest falsehood who can believe him in any other thing Especially since hereby he casteth the foule aspersion of Puritanisme or non-conformity not onely upon particular persons that tooke downe Enochs body from the Gibbet but also upon the honorable judges and the justices of peace as favourers of Puritans and Schismaticks It may be he may apologize for himself that the manifestation of this and the examinations now upon record were not to be seene when he wrote his booke for his Epistle is dated the fourth of September 1633. I say it beseemed his discretion to have well informed himselfe of the truth before he cast such aspersions upon any but however his Epistle be dated as before yet his booke came not to sight in print in this Country untill September 1634. before which time there had two assises passed after the execution of Enoch which might have directed him by the proceedings therin to have made a more true relation or corrected his coppy Sect. 25. As Master Studley deales with those before spoken of so with others as with the melancholy minister pag. 40. who did deprive himselfe of his virilitie and who if I mistake not his meaning is yet alive and therefore in compassion of his infirmity fit to be omitted I could wish he were as free from that humour as hee is from non-conformity And so also with the layman of Tewxbury pag. 143. c. falsely accusing him and censoriously judging the very thoughts of his heart in the particulars following amongst more that might be observed as first that he was twice Churchwarden yet never was once Second that he tooke down a crosse built in the Church-yard He medled not with the taking of it downe but another workeman did it Thirdly that he placed the loose Stones under the Church wall He did not Fourthly that the second time he was Churchwarden he tooke the stones away He begged a stone to make him a trough for a Grindestone and a stone of the Crosse being already hollow and so fittest for his purpose was given him by the then Churchwardens Fifthly that he cementing them together made a Swines trough of them This is false as before is said the stone being one and hollow his wife put Whey therein and the pigges did drinke of it before it was converted to that intended purpose Sixthly that the first meat his swine did eate therein did drive them instantly into a raging madnesse The pigges were not mad but wounded to death Seventhly that the 2 next children that his wife after he had taken downe the Crosse brought into the world proved deafe lame and deformed by monstrositie of body and this for his violation and defacing of the ancient monuments of other mens devotion If this befell him in his children as it did not yet it were a hard and heavy censure We see this known Antipuritan knoweth the secret cause of Gods judgements Eighthly that discovering by the terrible testimonies of Gods wrath the naughtines of his heart in abusing things dedicated to conserve the memoriall of our Lord and being overcome with tormenting terrours of a wounded soule he leapt into a draw well and was taken up brused and drowned He was visited with a purple feavor then epidemicall in the Towne of Teuxbury and Doctor Bave being consulted did foretel that through the violence of his disease he would be distracted giving warning to looke unto him this advice of looking unto him being not followed he arose and went forth into a neighbours backeside adjoyning being the usual wayto his garden and hee was found drowned in a well in the same backsid whether by chance or choise he came unto this end to this day is uncertaine I have selected these eight materiall falsehoods in this relation and have set downe the truth after every particular which I have taken out of a more large relation thereof testified to bee true under the hands of the Bayliffes the Iustices the Coroner and the Churchwardens of the same towne and parish dated the 28. of October 1634. to which for more full certainty I referre the reader But upon these fictions Master Studley takes occasion to vent his hearts griefe for many yeares
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
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