WIth what Face can we Presume to tread upon the Face of the Earth, or dare lift up our eyes to that of Heaven, when our thoughts are so Rebellious to conspire, and our hearts and our Resolutions so cruel to imbrue our hands so inhumanely in the Innocent Blood of our Brethren? Thoughts they are, which in seeming to please our Senses, poison our Hearts, and do thereby truly poison our Soules; Resolutions they are that we cannot conceive or attempt with more inhumanity then finish with Misery; sith, in thinking to send them to their untimely Graves, we assuredly send our selves to our own Miserable and Infamous ends, and all for a little Gain or Lucre: whereas we are born rather to Happiness then Misery, had we but so much Grace to secure our Lives, as Vanity and Impiety to Ruine them. May all good Christians read this sad ensuing Story to Gods Glory; and Remember, to the Instruction of their Souls.

In Pincock-lane in the Shambles, in the Parish of Christs-Church London, at one Sarah Cooks a wid­dowes house lodged a young man by name Laurence Cauthorn, who wrought in dressing of Oxen, and other Beasts, to one Mr. Jackson a Butcher in the Shambles; Thursday night being a usual time of killing against Market-day, this young man came to his Master, to know whether he should go to work or no, which his Master told him, He thought would not be so convenient in regard of the Extremity of hot weather, (his Customers having not long before complained;) but withal told him, He would send his Apprentice to call him to work by three a clock the next morning; whereupon he took his leave for that night: and tis like betook himself to the Society of his Companions and Neighbours for that Evening.

The next morning being come, his Master dispatches away his apprentice by three a clock to call him, who knockt v [...]ry often at his Chamber, but could not possibly make him hear; whereupon, be­ing fearful there might some ill betide him, the door was caused to be broke open, and there was he found (seemingly) not likely to live, being Speechless and Sightless, and so he continued: his Master (at a di­stance of time) sending often to see how he was, was still answered, Worse and worse; until at length word was brought he was Dead, which was accompanied with his Landlady's desiring Mr. Jack­son to bestow something towards a Coffin; to which he freely did contribute (though he knew he could not want wherewith to bury him, having very good cloaths and linnen as any young man had thereabout, and had bought a pair of new hose and shoos that cost about 16 shillings (to his knowledge) not many dayes before.) But so it was, he had not been (as was said) dead many houres (before he was quite cold) he was committed to his Grave about 9 a clock the same Night in Christ-Church-Yard; where he had not been many houres, but in the evening he was heard heavily to groan by a Woman lying in, whose Chamber was neer the Church-yard; whereupon she having a jealousy it might be some lately buried, she caused her servant to go & call up the Sexton to come and see what the matter was; who did, but could not hear any thing (as he said) though she could not rest in quiet for that doleful Noise, but sent two or three times more to him, with the like success as before.

Yet still this poor Woman was resolved not to rest, but by her servant acquaints the Church-Wardens on the Sabbath day; who (instead of harkening to his message) call'd him idle Jack-anapes, and the like, and sent the Boy his way: but for all their slighting it, the cry grew so common in peoples mouths, that the Church-Wardens were again solicited to it by severall of the parish; so that at length by order, on Munday morning the Grave was opened, where they sound too true, what they could hardly credit before; for the Man was not quite cold, but Dead indeed now; and by striving and strugling beat his Eyes out of his Head, having battered and bruised his Face and Head that it was swoln as big again as before, to the great Sorrow and Astonishment of many hundreds that were Spectators thereof.

Now as to the Design or occasion of this Persons being so used, none can truly tell; but some report that there were a string found about his Neck, as if he had been strangled for his Goods; but there is no such thing, For 'twas a cloth he wore there, having had an Imposthume in his Throat; however Sarah Cook his Landlady, is committed to Newgate on Suspition, though as yet nothing can be look upon in it, but her over-hasty desire to rid her House of a Dead Corps; only one thing was remarkable, That all the time of his Sickness, his Sister, and other Friends that dwelt not far off, were not sent for; neither were they ac­quainted with his Buriall till afterward, who were then the main cause of procuring him to be taken up.

The Crowners Jury hath not yet given up their Verdict, and therefore I shall forbear to censure any one, but leave you to their Verdict for better satisfaction.