AMongst all the grievous and Raigning Sins too frequently Committed amongst us, That of Murther, as it is one of the deepest dye, and most unnatural, so it deserves the strict­est Disquisition, and not only Cries loud to Heaven for Vengeance, but also to Gods Vicegerents on Earth, for exact and speedy Justice to be inflicted on those that are Guilty of it. To kill any Unlawfully, is no less than an Assault upon God in Effigie, a Defacing of the Divine Image: but when such a Barbarous Crime shall be aggra­vated with Design and Premeditation, and such a Circumstance as this, that 'tis Acted against so near a Relation as is the same Flesh, and whom, both the Laws of God and man, the Dictates of Rea­son, and a mans own Solemn Vows, had in a special manner oblig'd him to Defend, Love, and Cherish, it swell beyond all Proportion of Ordinary Impiety, and grows monstrously Detestable.

This Ro. Sherburn liv'd at a Village call'd Kyme in Lincoln­shire; his Trade or Occupation, a Farmer or Dealer in Cattel; and by Profession of Religion, a Papist; whether he were bred up so from his Infancy, or since Revolted and Apostatiz'd thereunto, we have not been able to Learn; 'Tis certain that for diverse years past he has own'd himself of that Perswasion, and very Zealous and Obstinate therein; and as to his Life and Conversation, it was suitable enough to the Principles of their Mock-Religion; It be­ing nothing strange that those whom God hath so far forsaken as to give them up to believe a Lie (for Popery in the whole Body of it is not other) should likewise be left without Natural Affections, and abandon themselves to Work all kind of Wickedness with Greedi­ness.

He had long been married (by Report in the country near 20 years,) to an honest Loving and Industrious Woman, and to the outward view of the World they seem'd to live very agreeably to­gether, [Page]till the Powerful Temptations of Satan (or his Instru­ments) prompted him to this cruel and Savage Act; which accor­ding to the Account of the Neighbour [...]hood, was thus:

That one night at the end of December last, she being innocently sleeping in her Bed, he most inhumanely Assaulted her, without any previous Provocation that we can hear of, on her part, and in a Barbarous manner Throtled or Suffocated her, and by Tram­pling upon her, and many furious Blows on her Stomach & Bowels, beat the Breath out of [...]er Body and killed her, and so left her dead, and betook himself to another Bed.

Where though his Conscience loaded with so much Guilt could not sure suffer him to sleep, yet there he continued the greatest part of the next Forenoon, when some Neighbours wondring that they did not see the doors open'd, nor him abroad about his Business as he was wont to be; after several times knocking and calling, but no Answer, fearing some Misfortune had happen'd to them, broke open the Doors, and (to their Amazement) found her thus Murder'd in her Bed, and he Lying upon another.

And receiving no Satisfaction from him to their Inquiries, but rather just reason to suspect him to be the Assassinate, they carry­ed him before a Magistrate, where having little to say for him­self, but some Triffling Evasions; after due Examination, he having (in Effect) Confest that he kill'd her, was on New-years day last committed to Lincoln Goal, where he now remains, ex­pecting his deserved Doom at this next approaching Assizes.

What Inducements the Devil made use of to tempt him to this horrid Villany is not yet certainly known; Whether any Dissa­tisfaction he might perceive in her as to religion, or any Inclina­tion to leave their Superstitions and Embrace the Protestant Faith, (as some Report)or whether it were only some private Grudge, or desire to be rid of her (as others conceive) or whether it were upon some falling out between them, (as some relate) about 10 l. or some other sum of Money, which she had laid up and would not produce for him to dispose of, I say which of all these things, or what else, it was, that egg'd him on to commit this said Fact, is left to the proofs that shall appear at the Trial.

In the mean time it is given out by the Papists that he was Distracted when he did it, and to add to the Probability, they alleadge that he was Distem­per'd in mind in his Youth about 20 years ago, and that having lately a fit of Sickness, they believe his Phrensy might again revert and seize him; and though he now seem'd recovered of this late Sickness, and to be very well again, and went about his Business; yet they affirm he was still Melancho­ly and in one of those Frantick Fitts, not knowing what he did, Commit­ted this Lamentable Mischief.

But how far they will be able to make these things appear, or whether they are only related in favour of him, and for the Credit of their Religi­on, I shall not undertake to determine.