[Page] ABout Lammas last viz. Ann. 1602. there happened some controversie betweene the Lords and the rest of the Inhabitāts of Market Raisin in the county of Lin­colne, concerning their cōmons & liber­ty in the Towne-Fields, and the matter beeing moved by one of them in the Church immediatly after evening prai­er, on a Sabboth day, divers hot intem­perate speaches passed among them. Wherevpon their Mini­ster, whose name was M. Storre, much disliking so indiscreete a course, willed them to haue respect both to the time, and place where they were. And further advised; seeing the cause in hand concerned a multitude, amongst whom some of the least go­vernment, would alwaies bee the readiest to speake: that they would therefore make choice of two or three of the fittest, and most substantiall men to answere, and vndertake for all the rest. This motion seemed to please them well, and therevpon they intreated him, that he would, as a man indifferent, speake first what he thought concerning the cause. But he not willing to intermeddle in that matter, twise, or thrise denied their request. And the rather for that there was present one Frācis Cartwright, a young man of an vnbridled humor: the only sonne, & heire to one of the same Lords of the Towne, betwixt whom, & him­selfe there was growne no small vnkindnesse. Yet in the ende being pressed thervnto by their importunity, with the consent of both the parties, he delivered his opinion, vsing therein such discretion, and reasons to confirme the same, that they coulde not directly except against him. Notwithstanding seeing him incline more to the right of the free-holders, and the rest of the commons, than to favour their intended purpose, they seemed to dislike his speeches and to cavill at the same.

Young Cartwright standing by, not able any longer to con­taine himselfe, tooke occasiō herevpon to break forth abrupt­ly into these words. The Priest deserveth a good fee, he speaketh so like a Lawyer, M. Storre having often aforetime had experience of his hot stomacke, & hastinesse aswell towards others as him­selfe, thought it best to reply little against him for that present. But the other respecting neither the time, nor place, nor yet the [Page] dutifull regard he should haue had to his fathers presence, vtte­red manie moe such base & odious tearmes, that for modestie sake, I forbeare to rehearse thē. The next morning as M ^r Storre, & some others of his neighbours were talking with the elder Cartwright about these his sonnes abuses, hee came vnto them, where they were, interrupting their conference, & fell into the like outragious railing as he vsed the night afore. The Minister seeing this second incursion more violent then the former, re­plied to some of his words, retorting thē backe againe, as more properly to be applied to himselfe.

This reply he tooke in such high disgrace, that had not his fa­ther hindred it, he had there presently with his dagger effected some part of that mischiefe, which afterward he putt in practise. But being not suffered to do what he would, he departed from thē into the opē market place, & there proclaimed, That Storre was a scurvy, lowsie, paltrie priest: that whosoever said he was his friend, or spake in his cause, was a rogue, & a rascall: that he would (but for the law) cut his throat, tear out his hart, & hāg his quarters on the maypole.

These speeches, & many moe of the same quality being day­ly giuen out, occasioned M ^r Storre to thinke it now high time to provide for his owne safetie, & therfore he went to some Iu­stices neere adioyning: acquainted thē with these proceedings, & desired the good behaviour against the said Cartwright. But they doubting whether they might grāt the same in this case, or not, offered him for his present safegard the peace, and the other at the next quarter sessions, if occasion so required.

He not resolved what were best to bee done, whether to ex­cept of this offer, or to complaine himselfe before the high com­missioners, came home, & the next Sabaoth tooke his text out of Isaah Chap. 1. vers. 9. in these words. Except the Lord of Hostes had reserved vnto vs, even a small remnant, we had bin as Sodom, and like vnto Gomorah. The which words by the generall report, even of his enemies that hard him, he handled verie learnedly, and delivered out of the same many points of necessary doctrine. yong Cartwright seemed to note it diligently with his pen, but as the stomake filled with rawe humors corrupteth all good nou­rishmēt that cōmeth therin, so this mans mind fraught with ran­cour, & malice, wrested al things he heard into the worse sense, as purposely spoken against him, and after that, more, and more [Page] thirsted for revenge.

About a weeke after, hee espied Mr. Storre walking about eight of the clock in the morning alone by the south side of the towne in his cloake, went to a cutlers shoppe, tooke out of the same a short sword, which he had formerly provided, and made very sharp, & presently overtooke him. The other hearing one at his heeles looked backe, & sawe him drawing his sword as he came: noting also by the palenes of his visage, how mightely he was incensed to mischiefe, & seeing no means either to escape, or to defend himselfe, was greatly agast, & purposed to vse some speeches (if it were possible) somewhat to asswage his passions.

But he being double armed both with force, & fury, would a­bide no parly, but presently at the first blow cutt his lefte legge almost of, & then making at his head, the other casting vp his armes to defend it (for other weapon had he none) he gaue him two mortal woūds on the forepart therof thorow the brain-pan: cut of three of his fingers: & gaue him other two grievous woūds on the outside of either arme, betweene the elbow, & the hand, the one to the middest of the arme, & the other more thē halfe in sunder, deviding the maine bone aboue two ynches one part frō another. Thus massacred he fell backward into a puddle of water, and striving to recover himselfe, the splinter bone of his legge halfe cut thorow afore, knapt in two, & his heele doubled back to the calfe of his legge. Cartright not yet satisfied with the bloud, which he had already gotten, continued his rage, still more feircely vpō him, & gaue him another gash on the outside of the right thigh to the very bone. And again on the left knee, his legge being bended, as he lay, he cut him the fashion, & cō ­passe of an horse shoe battring in pieces the whirlbone, & the ne­ther part of the thighe bone, that it was most grievous evē to be­hold. Some smaler woūds he had, & sundry other blowes which came not to his skin, as appeared by the māgling of his apparel.

A maide cōming that way by occasion of busines cried out, whervpon he fled, and many of the neighbors came presently to the place, and behoulding this vvoefull spectacle, their Minister thus wallowed in the mire, and his bloude so ex­treamely, gushing out, ranne some of them into the tovvne vvith such a confused noyse, and outcrie of murther, that others hearing it, supposed on the sudden there had beene [Page] fire, and went with all speede to towle the bells. Thus was all suddenly in an vproare, yet fewe, or none could tell what the matter was. The rest of more discretion tooke vp the wounded man, carried him to the next house, where one of the constables dwelt, and made very good, and speedy meanes to bind vp his wounds, and to stanch his bloud.

Against the next day was provided a bone-setter, and three or foure of the best surgeons thereabout, who when they came to dresse him, were of opinion, that, if hee died not at the ope­ning of his wounds, and forcing togither of his bones, he would at the least be verie subiect to often sounding. Yet hee beyond all their expectation indured all extremities, which necessitie in that case imposed on him to abide, for three houres space at the least, and never fainted, or changed colour. The which thinge induced them to alter their minde, and to hope (as it were) past all hope, that he would escape it. But the deadly blowes had so perished his braines, and let out so great a quantitie of his bloud in other partes of his body, that it was not possible he should re­cover. So that after he had languished in verie great paine from monday morning till the nexte Sunday after midnight, which was at the change of the moone, he ended his life.

The time that he thus continued, he spent much to the pro­fitte of himselfe, and to no lesse comfort of those that came to visite him. For besides many divine meditations he daily vtte­red, & thanks to God for his so mercifull a visitation, in giving him both such time, and memory to prepare himselfe, hee also hartely forgaue, & continuallie praied for his greatest, & dead­ly enemy, whom he esteemed now in worse state, and more mi­serable then himselfe.

Now to leave the dead man (as no doubt hee is) with the Lord: it is not amisse breifely to declare by what meanes the of­fender escaped.

Presently after hee had committed this cruelty, hee posted home to his fathers house, on the backside, and the truth of his fact being now knowne, many that were already assembled, & knewe not at the first about what matter; came to apprehend the fellon. But his father fearing least in that desperate heate he should doe some more mischiefe, did what hee could to pacifie the tumult vntill the constables came, and then delivered him. [Page] They sending for three or foure of such as they thought best, which had some of them seene the wounds, aswell as one of the constables himselfe had done, carried him to a Iustice. Where either for lacke of their due information of the truth, or by the corrupt, and favourable affection of the magistrate, or both, there was a very slender baile taken, and the malefactor by this sleight sent away.