I Am the more loath at this time, to laie open vnto the view of the whole worlde, that late foule murder com­mitted by Sherwood, be­cause I would not speake much of them which be gonne, & be thought to bite them by the back which are dead, and so be like vnto those Papists which béeing hotte in cruelty, did not onely curse the dead conti­tinually, but did take vp and burne the hones of diuers good men into ashes, to signifie vnto the worlde, that no drinke could coole their thirst, but blood, no Sacri­fice could content thē, but the warme hart blood of Martyrs, & the death of the Saints of God. But my intent is this, for as much as their scabbes now breake out, and that their cruelty séeketh no corners, but setteth it selfe vpon a Stage to be beheld of all men, to giue all good Christians warning, [Page]that as they shall heare of theyr naughti­nes, and sée it so, they will learne to spew them out of their stomackes for euer. It was wunt to be sayd often, and to be true: Enuie braggeth, but draweth no blood. But nowe it may be as truelie sayd: the mallice of a Papiste, it braggeth lyttle, but it is hardsie satiffied, but with aboundaunce of much [...]od.

Theyr desired time of reuenge is not past, and theyr mallice hath not yet vomit­ted his gall. We may sée this, that be­cause oportunitie offereth not it selfe, to let them delight their eies with beholding our channelles, running and reking, with the warme blood of Protestauntes: rather then they will want this delight, they will washe their handes in the blood of their owne brethren, in their owne chambers. This is the portion of their cupps, which if they might, we should be made to drinke to the dregges.

These are the Bores which destroy the Vineyard, who because they are not baigh­ted with Dogs, and their eares torne off, they will play lyke madde Dogges them­selues, byting all that come in their way.

They giue out in their Lybelles which they scatter, [...]ndlie advertisements, as Indas [...]f­f [...] a [...]aindlie [...]isse. They cast them selues [...] [...]ke and Subiectes, at the séete of our gr [...]tions [...]uer [...]me, but their long eares d [...] [...]wray their conditions. Their throates are open Sepulchres, they flatter with their tongues: and so is it their kinde, for it is as naturall for a Dogge to barke, as to wagge hé [...] tayle: If the common wealth be not pur­ged of this infection, the plague will be so great, that vppon euerie good Protestauntes d [...]e, [...]ord haue mercie vpon vs, may shortlis be [...]ritten.

But I will bréefly deliuer out this fearfull Tragedy, in the which I will set out nothing that in false, nor willinglie kéepe any thing bac [...]e that is true. In the Quéenes Bench, there were two detained for Poperie: The one called Richard Hobson, borne in the Ile of Wight, of good Parentage, young in yéeres (but as tyme [...]ffereth) many young & gréene heades, are seasoned Papists. The other na­med William Sherwood, a Gentlemā, born [...] to some Landes, in Yorkshyre, at Walking­ton, by Byuerley, a man condempned in a Primanerie, for extolling the Supremacie: [Page]a derider of Gods Ministers, a disturber of Preachers, a contemner of the seruice con­firmed by her Maiestie, calling it diuelish: one well liked of many Papistes, but best liked of himselfe, because he was so disobe­dient, they accounted him stoute: because he prated much, they accounted him learned: but because he hath shamed them much, they would now accoumpt him madde. It fortu­ned before the death of Hobson, about sixe wéekes, that Sherwood for want of paiment was remooued from his lodging, well shake­led, to the common Gaile, whose misery be­ing pitied by this young man, was also re­léeued by his meanes, (as at sundrie other times he was). The quarrell as I am cred­dibly enformed was this: Hobson gaue his woord for the money that Sherwood owed: a fréend of Sherwoods shortly after, had sent fiue pounds for the paiment of his charges, which Hobson receiuing, disbursed it for himselfe, and within few daies after, satisfi­ed the residue, because this money was not paide to Sherwood first: at Dinner time with open woords he protested, that he could not abide Hobson. This young man mooued him oftentimes earnestly to be reconciled, shewing his gréefe vnto him, in that he [Page]tooke offence at him, but nothing might moue his minde that thirsted, or staye his hands that itched to commit murther. It is a spéeche commonly vsed, that looue waxeth and waneth oftentimes with the Moone, but it may be as commonly séene, that the hatred of a Papist neuer waxeth and waneth, but still waxeth, still increaseth: he that hath béene planted in Poperie, his Grapes are Grapes of Gall: his clusters are alwayes bitter. If the Pope hath once giuen them a Soppe, they are lightly neuer sober after: if he haue once powred his licker into them, theyr Vessels can hardely be made cleane. But to be briefe, the day grew on, which was the 28. of Iune, about 8. of y ^e clock in the morning, at which time he had determined, to murder his fellow Papist, and that the matter might more easy be brought to passe, he caused the night before the Kéeper to re­a [...]ue all Hobsons weapons, so that the next morning, as Hobson was comming downe thorough Sherwoods Chamber, from his prayers, Sherwood shutting his Chamber [...]oore, affailed him with a knife, and a stoole tressell, a [...]ouishing him, afterwardes gaue him a large wound, kéeping him downe and strugling till he bled to death, Hobson often [Page]crying, helpe Father Throckmorton, he kil­leth me with his knife: maister Throckmor­ton and others, hearing this noyse, came vp­pon Sherwood, and by force broke vp his doores, found the young man all to be sowsed in his own blood, and gasping for breath: who after a fewe faint words, yéelded his soule in­to the handes of God. Sherwood perceyued a great many busie about Hobson, began to practise to escape, but by héede taking of one Maister Smithes man, he was brought to the Marshalles handes, and embrued in his fel­lowes blood: who béeing examined, he denied the manifest murder, which by witnesse was prooued, and he béeing brought to the flaine bodie, the blood which was settled, issued out a treshe. Thus he stewe this young man, in déede and cause, miserably in forme & fashion, cruelly and beastly.

Let vs aduisedly now weigh and cou [...]der, what manner of [...]for this is, that cutteth so sharpe: If they be thus vnable to maister theyr passions, and thus like blood [...]uckers, do open them against theyr owne feliowe priso­ners, what shall we looke for at theyr hande [...], Quibus sepibus tam immanes bell [...]a [...] conti [...]bi­mus: What hedges can be made strong e­nough, to kéepe in these beastes. Tullie, wry­ting [Page]against Anthonie. Phillip. 7. sayth thus: Qui fa [...]ilierem iug [...]laret, quid hic occasions d [...] ­ta faci [...] i [...]imice? Et qui illud animi causa, fee [...] ­vit hunc prede causa quid facturum putetis? He that wyll kyll his familliar freende, what wyll he doo, if occasion be offered, to his e­nemie: And he that will doo this of stomach, what will he offer to doo for spoyle?

Surely, so they will doo as they haue done: they will deuowre poore Protestauntes, as Beastes eate grasse, kéeping them vnder: we shall (if time serued) not onely be choaked with the smoake of Poperie, but we shall be burnt vp with the fire.

Their imprisonmentes, haue so enritched them [...] that they abound in all manner of wealth, especiallies no men better furnished for warre, for rebellion, then they. In this great tyme of mercie, they doo nothing but [...]ther heapes of stones to throwe at vs. They are making of the halters, to hang vs: they are whetting of their kniues, to cutte our throates. These tye Dogges, when they shall be let loose, they will byte vs, nay, they will hayts vs to death.

It is time to cut of the Hydra his heads, a [...] to strangle him within his Caue, for how so­euer it commeth to passe they lift vp their heads on highe, Papistry began to wa [...] dead and to be colde in y ^e mouth: it beginneth now to wax warme againe and to neese, we poo [...]e Protestants are afraide, but that God & our gracious Prince is with vs and hath broke still the arme of y ^e wicked, our harts would mell like wax in the middest of our bowels: the Lord hath deliue [...]d her Maiestie, hether­to from thē, as Dowe from the hand of the Hu [...]r, and as a Birde from the hand of the Fowler, and God gr [...]nt they be neuer ta­ken for good subiects, till they become Iub­iect to God and his Gospell. This subiection of theirs and false Protestation of faith to her Maiestie is a false colour, we win [...] hard or else we be merue lously blinded if we per­ceans it not, God remooue such Subiects from so good a Prince. It is piety that these black Hauens should go for Birds with the rest: I hope God will so blesse vs, especially all Magistrates, that they will looke to it at the last that they shall not be in acco [...]p [...]e with them as to be the finger next the thombe.

But now to returne to his ende, Qua­lis [Page]Vita, finis ita, as he liued so he dyed.

Beeing araigned at Croydon, he continued still obstinately denying the fact, hoping for some healpe by pardon, but a iust iudge preuented an vngratious hope.

The 12. of Iuly he was retourned home manacled with an other, who was condem­ned for a rape: his behauiour the night be­fore he suffered, was according to his accu­stomed vsage, resolute in opinion, though false and dissolute in behauiour, driuing of his Christian brethren that exhorted him, with dry scoffes, and no maruell, for scoffing mocking and moweing, licking of Chalices and all manner of toying, is the life of their religion.

The next day was the 13. of Iuly, the ap­pointed time, for the execution: In the mor­ning certaine deuout Christians had accesse vnto him, whom at the first entraunce he cut of, or hearing a small time, despised. The time of the execution drue nighe, which was perfourmed, ouer against the Quéenes Benche, where the murder was committed by the vnder Shriefe of Surrie, and the Bai­ly of Southwarke, from the white Lion, to the place where he should suffer, after many [Page]vaine words of conceaued repriue had by the way, he was caused to clime the Ladder, on which being placed, he entered this kinde of discourse.

I beséeche all Romish Catholicks to helpe me in this my extremitie, with their vertu­ous and godly prayers, for other which are of a contrary profession, as I abhorre their re­ligion, so I will none of theyr prayers. But if there shalbe here present any one of the true Catholick Romish faithe: I béeseth them of theyr prayers in my behalfe.

The people hearing these his obstinate spéeches, with sundry exclamations, cryed out, hang him, hang him, there be none heere of his profession.

Neuerthelesse hee continued his wic­ked spéeches, proclayming the Pope of Rome the supreme head of the Universall Church, Christes Uicar here vpon earth. Yet notwithstanding, though by euident reasons he was confuted, yet the God of this world had so blinded him, that no reason could pre­uaile with him.

And farther, whereas the Preacher per­suaded him to lay his hope on Christe whose [Page]mercy was infinite, he vehemently cryed out, away with the Woolfe, he peruerteth the truthe, and troubleth me, away with the Woolfe.

Béeing farther inquired of the murther, he persisted in his vniust denyall, laying con­trary to all euidence and probability, the death of the young man Hobson to his owne charge.

When no hope of confession or recantati­on was to be conceiued, the Shriefe caused him to be remooued higher, to the ende that execution might be perfourmed, wishing him by earnest and deuoute prayers, to call for mercy and repentaunce, to craue grace.

But he by these tokens perceiuing death at hand, contrarie to a méeke Lambe, as he termed him selfe, fled downe the Lad­der to flye from the Butcher, thereby showing the vnstablenesse of his faythe, so that the hangman was enforced to vn­doo the Halter which he had fastened to the Iibbet, and to put it about his neck belowe, and so by little and little to draw him up.

Where resting, after many perswasions by the Shriefe and the Preacher, and no profit in the middest of his Lattine Pater noster, was turned off to the mercy of God.

I am perswaded if all the rest were thus handled, no one faithfull subiect should draw lesse breath, and then I am sure (thorough Gods great goodnes) the happy peace of this land should be made perfit, you sée how bold­ly he imbraced forraine iurisdiction, all they which be Papists, hartely doo the like, I pray God that if they be not haltered, yet that they may be bridled with shorter Raines, that they be not so headstrong, as this man was.

If a Shéepe werier be well cougeled at the syrste, he forfaketh his trade: so if Pa­pistes were thoroughly dealt withall, they would forget to make the Pope supreame head of the Church of England.

I be [...]éeche those that be in authoritie to looke to it, and thus committing the poore (yet quiet) estate of the Church of Eng­lande, to the olde and wonted care of our grations Prince, and the rest that beare any office, I end, not willing to spend many words vpon so vile and carrenly a generati­on, but as Peter, Act. 2. exhorted his schollers [Page]in many woordes, saying, Saue your selues from this froward generation, so I with few words, exhort all estates to looke to them­selues, and to take héede of this vipe­rous and pestilent generation from auncient cruelty, of the which the Lord deliuer this whole lande of Englande bothe now and for euer. A­men.