IF we look back upon former ages and turn over the variety of ancient and modern Histories, we shall find that Revenge and Murther have ever proved fatal crimes to their undertakers, for let them be never so secretly contrived, or the shedding of innocent Blood never so wretchedly perpetrated; yet as our Con­science is to us a thousand Witnesses, so God is to us a thousand Consciences; first to bring it to light, and then their Authors to deserved punishments for the same, when they least dream or think thereof. For as there is no peace to the wicked, so they shall find no Peace or Tranquility here on Earth, either with God or his Creatures; because if they would conceal it, the very Fowls of the Air, or Beasts of the Feild, yea, the very stones and timber of their Chamber would detect it, a powerful example and presi­dent whereof, we may behold in this ensuing History; where a wretched Creature making himself guilty of these bloody Crimes, by the providence of God is discovered; and receives exemplary and condign punishment for the

WIlliam Bliss commonly known by the name of Watts of Kicksend, in the County of Middlesex Butcher, being about the Age of one or two and twenty years, committed an inhumane Murther upon [Page 2] one William Johnson his Kinsman, Robbing him of six pound in mony, and then threw the body into a Pond, which was in some days after found by the Neighbours: And this William Bliss being observed to be last in his company, was upon suspicion of the Murther apprehen­ded and carryed before a Justice of the Peace, who com­mitted him to Newgate; where he lay till the Sessions, but no positive evidence coming against him, he was cleared of this Fact: yet notwithstanding the eyes and judgment of men could not discover this, the Justice of God began to be exemplary upon him, striking him from head to foet, with a loathsome Leprous disease, who before was clear skind and well shaped, and comely in all his parts! yet did not this deter this wicked Villain from a farther progress in his bloody and wicked practises; for where a heart is given to covetousness and cruelty, there is little sign of Grace; and therefore less hope of prosperity ei­ther in this life or the next: for those are sins which so much ecclips the Judgments, and darkens the Understan­dings, that the Man thereby runs blindfolded and head­long to all misery and confusion: and makes his estate so desperate, that he deserves not to be pittyed by any, be­cause he would not pitty or compassionate others.

Thus lived this wretch for ten or twelve months en­deavouring to justifie himself, and get credit and reputati­on, paying some debts with the mony he took from the person Murthered, and now he again treads the tragick stage of blood, for being hired to conduct a young man (servant to Mr. Nichols, in the Parish of Mims) through [Page 5] Ensield-Chase, discovering by some discourse that the young man had mony about him, watching his oportu­nity, killed him with a Hedg-Bill in the Chase; robbed him of his mony, and took a Bill of four pound out of his pocket, which he afterward carryed to the Master of the murthered, demanding the mony with threats; pretending that his Servant was his Brother, and was not well, and could not stay for his money; notwithstanding his threats the mony was not paid. This was evidenced by the said Master at his Trial, but the manner of the disco­very was strange and miraculous, for some Hounds being kept hard by the place where the murthered person was buried, senting the dead Corps that was but shallowly bu­ried in the ground, with their paws and noses tears up the Earth and drags up the body: eating part of his bowels, and leaving several of his bones above-ground, which this Villain observing before any one else, buries it again, and covers it with Green Sods, and sticks bushes about it to keep off the hounds, which was one means of his discovery; for he was observed to cut such bushes in the Chase, which being applied to the places where he had cut them, they did exactly fit.

But on the 24th of day February, 1672. the hounds being carryed out by their Master, and some gentlemen to hunt, coming near to this place left the sent of their Game, and rushed through these bushes, and again tore up the body, miserably torn about the bowels and breast, but as God would have it, they had not torn his Face; [Page 2] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 6] upon this the Gentlemen retired with their dogs & acquainted the neighbours with the discovery, upon which many flock to the place, and among the rest the Murtherer, who being desired by one John Hardyman a Butcher (a neigh­bour thereabouts) to touch the body, he refused it with an Oath, whereupon the person replyed, I am afraid you have had a hand in this mans death: But the Villain then made answer, have a care that I have not a hand in yours: upon which he was apprehended, and upon several cir­cumstances proving the fact, at the Coroners Inquest was Committed to Newgate, which at the Sessions in the Old-Bayly, Feb. 28th. was most clearly proved against him, and he sentenced to be Executed at Tybourn; but upon the Countries request, the Bench was pleased to order his Execution to be at the place where he committeed the Bloody Murther: where he is to hang in Chains, as a me­morable example of Gods Justice, in discovering and pu­nishing such Crimes, and to deter others from doing the like, and the charge of this Execution the Country there­about voluntarily offered to defray.

Since his Imprisonment, another suspicious sign of a Murther of his hath been discovered, viz. There is found some Cloaths hid in a Hay-Mow, at the Checker in Kicksend, near to this Murtherers Fathers house. The Circumstances giving the cause of this suspicion are these. A Drovers Boy coming from London, was buying a Pie at this Murtherers Fathers house, and was observed by the Murtherer to pull mony out of his shooe to pay for it, who examined the Boy, why he carryed mony in his shooes, the [Page 7] Boy replies, I have that about me, for which many a man loseth his Life; upon which he was observed to walk along with the Boy toward Market-Street, but the Boy was ne­ver seen since that time; And the Cloathes are known to be the same he wore when he bought the Pie.

Now from this dreadfull and bloody story, the Reader may learn how God in his due time and providence doth asuredly detect and punish Murther, let this exemplary punishment be a caveat for all persons not only to detest these foul sins of Coveteousness and Murther in others, but to hate and abhor them in themselves, for if to the rest of our sins we once consent to add that scarlet and crying sin of Murther, that blood which we untimely send to Earth, will in Gods time draw down vengeance on our heads from Heaven.