Natures cruell step-dames: or, Matchlesse monsters of the female sex; Elizabeth Barnes, and Anne Willis Who were executed the 26. day of April, 1637. at Tyburne, for the unnaturall murthering of their owne children. Also, herein is contained their severall confessions, and the courts just proceedings against other notorious malefactors, with their severall offences this sessions. Further, a relation of the wicked life and impenitent death of Iohn Flood, who raped his owne childe.

A Relation of Iohn Flood, late of S. Giles in the Field, for the committing of a Rape on the body of his owne naturall child, being under the age of ten yeares.

THis man was most notorious, and generally reported to be of a most dissolute conversa∣tion. The fact which was layd unto his charge, fully prooved by the Testimony of divers grave and sober Matrons, which searched the Body of the Child, and said, shee had been abused by a man without all question. The Honourable Jud∣ges, before whom this haynous fact was tryed, inquired to finde out the Actor of so horrid a deed. The Child on whom it was done, produ∣ced, nor accused any other person but Flood her owne Father, and related very confidently the manner of their carnall knowledge of each other, to the full satisfaction of all that heard her, that none but he could be the man. Being demanded the reason why shee did not immediately reveale that her Father had to doe with her, shee answe∣red, That she durst not speake of it againe unto a∣ny body, because her father said, If shee should at any time tell what hee did unto her, the Devill would presently teare her in pieces. This the child averred unto the Court before his face, at the time of his Triall.

What Flood sayd at the place of Execution.

As hee impudently denied the Fact at the time of his Triall, hee persevered to the instant of his

death, of the deniall of the fact, with many feare∣full imprecations of judgements, and renunciati∣on of Gods mercies if he were any wayes guilty: In great passionate hot termes hee brake forth a∣gainst his wife, on this wise saying, That three yeeres she was conspiring to worke his downfall, w^ch now by her was effected. And thus this bar∣ren Tree at the Tree of execution stood and fell.