Historical rarities and curious observations domestick & foreign containing fifty three several remarks ... with thirty seven more several histories, very pleasant and delightful / collected out of approved authors, by William Winstanley ...

The miseries of inforted Marriage; exemplified in a story of a Knight in Warwickshire, Murthered by his own Lady.

IN the days of Queen Mary, there lived at Shirford in Warwick-shire, one Sr. Walter Smith, Knight, who being grown an Aged Man, at the death of his first Wife, considering of a Marriage for Richard his Son and Heir, then at Mans Estate, to that end made his mind known to Mr. Thomas Chetwyn, of Ingestre in Staffordshire (a Gentleman of an ancient Family and a fair Estate) who entertaining the motion in behalf of Dorothy, one of his Daughters, was content∣ed to give 500 pound Portion with her. But no soon∣er had the old Knight seen the young Lady, then that he became a Suiter for himself, being so capti∣vated with her Beauty, that he tender'd as much for her besides a good Joynture, as he should have re∣ceived in case the Match had gone on for his Son. Which liberal Offer so wrought upon Mr. Chetwyn, as that with sparing not for arguments, to perswade his Daughter to accept of Sr. Walter for her Husband, ad∣ding to his perswasions something of Menaces, that at length, with much unwillingness, she consented there∣unto. Whereupon the Marriage ensued accor∣dingly; but with what a tragique Issue, will quickly be seen: for it was not long 'ere that her affections wandering after younger men, she gave entertain∣ment to one Mr. William Robinson (then of Drayton-Basset, a young Gentleman of twenty two years of

age) Son to George Robinson, a rich Mercer of Lon∣don; and grew so impatient at all Impediments which might hinder her full Enjoyment of him, that she rested not till she had contrived a way to be rid of her Husband. For which purpose, corrupt∣ing her waiting Gentlewoman, and a Groom of the Stable, she resolved by their help, and the assi∣stance of Robinson, to strangle him in his Bed, ap∣pointing the time and manner how it should be ef∣fected. And though Robinson failed in coming on the designed Night (perhaps thorough a dismal Ap∣prehension of so horrid a Fact) she no whit stag∣ger'd in her Resolutions: for, watching her Husband till he was fallen asleep, she then let in those Assassi∣nates before specified, and casting a long Towel about his Neck, caused the Groom to lye upon him to keep him from strugling, whilst her self and the Maid straining the Towel, stop'd his Breath.

It seems the good old Gentleman little thought that this his Lady had acted therein; for, when they first cast the Towel about his Neck, he cryed out, help Doll help: but, having thus dispatch'd the Work, they carried him into another Room where a Close-stool was plac'd, upon which they set him; and, after an hour, that the Maid and Groom were silently got away, to palliate the business, she made an Out-cry in the House, wringing her hands, pull∣ing her Hair, and weeping extreamly; with pre∣tence, that missing him for some time out of Bed, she went to see what the matter was, and found him accidentally on the Close-stool in that Posture: which subtile and feigned Shews of Sorrow she act∣ed so to the Life, as prevented all suspicion of his violent Death. And not long after, went to London, setting so high a value upon her Beauty, that Robin∣son,

her former Darling, (perhaps for not keep∣ing touch with her, as before is related) became estranged. But, within two Years following, it so hapned, that this woeful deed of Darkness was brought to light, and that by the means of the Groom one of the Actors thereof, above specified; who being entertained a Servant with Mr. Richard Smith, Son and Heir to the murthered Knight, and attending him to Coventry with divers other Servants, his guilty Conscience which had oftentimes before flew in his Face, made him become so sensible of his Villany, and being in his Cups, (a bad cause of a good effect) that out of good Nature he took his Master aside, and upon his Knees, humbly desiring Forgiveness of him for the Murther of his Father, made him acquainted with all the Circumstances be∣longing thereunto; which, tho' it struck in Mr. Smith a great Amazement and Abhorrency of the Fact, yet discreetly he gave him good Words, but pri∣vately commanded some other of his Servants to have an especial Eye on him, that he might not es∣cape when he had slept and better considered what might be the Issue thereof; but notwithstanding this strict Charge, those careless Servants, either not knowing the horridness of his Fact, or out of love to his Person, suffer'd him to escape, and that on one of his Master's best Horses; who being thus mounted, hasted presently into Wales, attempting to go beyond Sea; but being hindred by contrary Winds, after three Essays to launch out, was so happily pursued by Mr. Smith, who spared for no cost in sending to several Ports, that he was appre∣hended and brought Prisoner to Warwick, as was also, about the same time, the Lady and her Gen∣tlewoman, who notwithstanding the Circumstances

before recited, did all of them, with great Boldness deny the Fact; the Groom to his other Wickedness most impudently charging Mr. Smith endea∣vour of corrupting him to accuse the Lady (his Mo∣ther-in-law) falsely, to the end he might possess her Joynture: but afterwards, upon his Arraignment, he was so smitten at apprehension of that load of guilt which lay upon him, that he publickly acknow∣ledged it, and stoutly justified what he had so said, to be true, to the Face of the Lady and her Maid; who at first, with a great deal of Confidence, plead∣ed their Innocency: but at last, seeing each particu∣lar Circumstance so clearly discovered and avowed, they both confessed the Fact; for which, having Judgment to dye, the Lady was burnt at a Stake, near the Hermitage on Wolvey Heath (towards the side of Shirford Lordship) where the Country Peo∣ple to this day shew the place; and the Groom, with the Maid, suffer'd Death at Warwick. This was on May 15. in the third Year of Queen Mary's Reign.