Treason and murther, or, The Bloody father-in-lavv being a true and perfect relation of a horrible murther committed at Ham, neer Stratford in Essex on the wife of James Alsop by her husbands father and brother ... together with the manner how they were severally taken ... their commitment to Chelmsford goal and their tryal at the assizes March 25, 1673/4 ...

THE BLOODY Father-in-Lavv, &c.

THough Custom hath made a little preamble all most necessary to these small Narratives, so to prepossess the Reader with the horrour or no∣velty of what is to be related, that his Curiosity may be engaged to think it worthy a perusal, yet may we justly be excused from that troublesome impertinence, since what we are here to recount is in it self so prodigiously Criminal and Barbarous, that to go about with words and flourishes to agravate the guilt were to allay the Fact which in it self is impious beyond expression.

At Ham, a small Villiage about 4 miles from London, but scituated in the County of Essex, there dwelt one Alsop, by Trade a Felmonger, whose Son James Alsop some∣times since married with a Widow of good credit and competent Estate, vvith 3 Children, one was a Girl, now about nine or ten years of Age: they lived together vvith their father and mother for some time seemingly very

loving and comfortably) but some little differences) rarely, or never wholly kept from the most Amorous Marriage-Bed (afterwards arising; the Devil always busie to foment mischief, being naturally an enemy to Love and Peace, is ready to blow those sparks of dissention into a flame of malice, not to be quenched but with blood.

Nor can we exactly set forth the particular occasi∣ons that moved their spleen against this Innocent wo∣mans Life, any further than from, common fame ground∣ed on circumstances afterwards discoverd, which speaks it thus, that the father being a Clipper of money, could neither carry the business so privately and cleverly, but the young woman had some Notice of it, nor induce her to joyn Cordially therein, but that she would be perpe∣tually representing to the grand hazard and danger of such treasonable practises, and would be often (especially upon any pet taken or small falling out) upbraiding the fame: hereupon 'tis believed the plot vvas first laid to give her a remove out of the World, Remembring that cursed Maxim in the School of Villany.

Scelera Sceleribus Tuenda.

Or as our incomparble Ben puts it into the Month of Ca∣taline:

The ills I have done cannot be safe without committing greater.

Satan, no doubt was ready to inspire the Old man with such suggestions as these; Will you suffer your life to lye at the pleasure of another? must you not be be always a slave to her? or else she can sacrifice you when she lifts, and that legally, to her Revenge; is it not a most wretched life that is held by no other tenure, but the Courtesie, and depends upon no better security than a Womans silence, whose natural vanity is such, that if malice should not discover it, yet the humour of tatling and Gossiping,

proper to her Six, will not let her conceal it, but will quickly blab it abroad; consult then your own safety by her ruine, put her into a condition past telling of Tales; remember self-preser∣vation is the first Article in Natures Charter: For the danger, it is nothing, I'le teach thee a thousand ways to dispatch her, so far beyond the purblind sights of the Law which requires Eye-Witnesses, that the most Eagle-ey'd suspicions shall not reach thee, &c.

The poor graceless man inclining too much to these hel∣lish suggestions, without fear of God or regard to his own soul, resolves at last upon the bloody business, but still was Irresolute in what manner to accomplish it.

Some small time afore her murther was really acted, her husband would have her ride abroad with him, which she condescended to, but as they were coming home in the evening, a Gentleman meeting them, drew his sword, but passing the husband turned back, and run at the woman, when as providence ordered it, passengers were heard comming on at a small distance at the same Instant; which obliged this unknown Assasinate to ride away with what speed he could, having done the woman no dange∣rous hurts, besides frighting her, and two small pricks with the point of his Rapier, the one on her arm, and the other on her Breast.

A day or two after his Father had her abroad, and when they came home at Night, he sent for some strong drink, but the Woman was afraid to drink, alledging for an excuse that her Head aked exceedingly, and that Night told her Daughter, who lay with her, that she was afraid her Father-in-Law would poison her.

Hitherto providence had over-ruled the black de∣signs, but now 'tis resolved to accomplish the hellish mur∣ther. In order whereunto 'tis very industriously reported up

and down amongst the Neighbours, that the Woman was to go the next morning into Yorkshire to visit some friends, and that she would continue there a quarter of a Year, this was raised to prevent Peoples enquiry what was become of her when she should be found missing, having concluded that very Night to Ship her for Eternity, although 'tvvas knovvn she vvas vvith Child.

Accordingly her Husband being gone a Journey not to return that Night, and she innocently sleeping in her Bed with her fore-mentioned Daughter: Behold! a litle after Midnight comes in a person with a black Gown on, and a Vizard on his Face, with a Candle in one hand, and a naked Knife in the other. The Girl happened to be awake, and be∣ing extreamly frighted, crept over Head and ears in the Bed: but the bloody murtherer runs up to the Bedside, and seting down his Candle, takes the Woman as she lay harmlessly sleeping, and most barbarously and violently cut her Throat from the one Ear to the other, which so suddenly dis∣patch't her that she never spoke one word, but after a lit∣tle strugling expired. Having thus acted the bloody Tra∣gedy, their next business is to conceal it.

For though in readiness a Grave had been dug in the Orchard to put her in, thinking that by giving out thar she went away on her Journey very early, all might be husht up without notice or suspition, yet now a new difficulty arises, for he knew not how to get her out of the Bed, but the Girl will discover it. And here we may admite and bless over-ruling providence that preserved such Inhumane hands from murthering her too, but the Lord would not suffer them to proceed in their villany.

But he resolves upon another trick, and takes down a whole panel of glass out of a window neer where the wo∣man

lay (being a low Room) to make it seem as if they had been robbed, and that the Murther had been done by Thieves; Their men lay up in another part of the house that used to be boulted in, and old Alsop having so taken down the Glass, begins to set up a migh∣ty Exclamation of Thieves, Thieves, and with much seeming hast and earnestness calls upon his men to rise, who answered that they could not get out, whereupon he unboulted the door, and said they were rob'd, and some of them going into the Womans Room, found her all bloody. At which he seemed to be mightily sorry and amazed, and would needs run for a Surgeon, whom he told that he was rob'd, and that he had lost twenty Guinneys, and that he feared his Daughter in Law was murthered by the thieves.

In the mean time the Neighbours are Alarm'd, and the poor Girl comes running into the street all bloody with her Mothers blood, but knew not that she was kill'd, for though she found her self wet in the Bed, yet by reason of her fright she knew not that it was with blood, nor durst look up till people came about her.

She told the people that she saw a man come in at the door in a black Indian Gown, and a Vizard on his face, much about the tallness of her Grand-father, whereupon, and upon some other words that the Woman had said a day or two before to some Neighbours, it was thought fit to take him into Custody.

The rather, for that Providence willing so bloody a Deed should not go undiscovered, had ordered the matter so, as to blast his politick Lye of Thieves coming in at the VVin∣dow, for looking up to it, they saw that it was taken down indeed on the outside, but within all before the place, was a large sheet of Cobweb, vvhole, and not broken in the least, vvhence it appeared evidently no creature could have come in there.

Besides, he offered the Constable Ten Pounds to suffer him to escape, but he honestly replyed, he would not be Bribed in such a case for a World. His house being searched, they found in a Trunck a Vizard-mask, as the Girl had described, with the mark of a Bloody Thumb upon it, which he had made when he took it off his face, after he had commited this Execrable Murther: They also found several pair of Shears, wherewith to Clip Money: and Clipings of Money in several places. Nor was that (as is supposed) all his Trade. For searching the House, they found in a great heap of Wool, a very rich Suit of a Gentle∣mans: Which being asked where he had it, he said he Bought it in Long-Lane: But 'tis presumed used the High-Pad, or Robing on the Road, as well as Cliping.

The Officers demanding of the Old Woman, where the Young VVomans cloaths were, she said she had sent them before into Yorkshire; but they searcht her Trunck, and found all her cloaths there.

Hereupon the Old Man and VVoman were commited, and the Son, her Husband, being then, (as was since pro∣ved) at Colchester, soon after returning, was bound over, upon Suspition, to the Assizes. During the time the Old man lay thus in Prison, a Notable Stratagem is set on foot (as 'tis supposed) to clear him of the Fact: for a report was raised that some High-way-men had confessed they robed the house, and killed the VVoman, and after much stir, a Portmantle and Letter upon search of a House was found in London: The Letter spake much to that purpose, and that the Person was hastening away for Holland. In the Portmantle vvas a bloody shirt, a strange (not Vizard-Mask) but) great frightful Vizard: several Clipings and Fileings of Silver, &c. The Person that ovvns this Portmantle vvas aot to be found: but ••e William

Toppham, being very much concerned in the business, and solicitous, he began to be suspected to be some way con∣cerned in the Guilt, and thereupon being Apprehended, after some time he was discovered to be Old Alsop's own Son, and thereupon was likewise Comited.

At the Assizes holden for the County of Essex, at the Town of Chelmsford, March 23. 1673/4. Alsop the Father being Indicted both for Cliping of Money, and Murther∣ing his Daughter in Law, was brought in Guilty by the Jury; his VVife and his Son James, upon a long debate of the matter, were acquited, but his Son VVilliam Alsop, alias Toppham, being Indicted in the same manner as his Father was, of his own accord pleaded guilty to both Indict∣ments, and afterwards beg'd for Transportation; which being denyed, he there alledged that he Pleaded guilty, only to take off the Crime from his Father, &c.

But it was then too late, whereupon both his Father and he Received Sentence of Death:

The First to be Hanged in Chains at Stratford, neer the Place where the Villany was Acted; the last at Chelms∣ford, at the Common place of Exe∣cution.

FINIS.