A true Relation of a barbarous and most cruel murder, committed by one Enoch ap Evan, who cut off his own natural mother’s head, and his brother’s. The cause wherefore he did this most execrable act:  most remarkable the waning of others; with his condemnation and execution.  With certain pregnant inducements, both divine and moral, to keep men from the horrible practice of murder and manslaughter.

Ovid, Fasti: Lib. 2

Ah nimium faciles, qui tristia crimina cadis Fluminea tolli, posse putates aqua.

London, Printed by Nicholas Okes, 1633.

A true relation of a barbarous, and most inhuman murder, committed by one Enoch ap Evan, who cut off his own natural mother’s head and his brother’s.

How execrable a thing, the unnatural and inhuman sin of murder is in the sight of God, is made apparent unto us by many texts in the sacred scriptures, we read Gen.9.5.  At the hand of man, even at the hand of man’s brother, will I require the life of man, who so sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for the image of God hath made man, Exo. 21.12.  He that smiteth a man, shall die the death, and if a man hath not laid wait, bud God hath offered him into his hand, then I will appoint him a place whither he shall fly:  but if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile, thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die:  also he that smiteth his father or his mother, shall die the death, Num. 35.16. If one smite another with an instrument of iron that he die, he is a murderer, and the murderer shall die the death: or if he smite him with an hand-weapon of wood, whereby he may be slain, if he die, he is a murderer, and the murderer shall die the death:  the revenger of the blood himself, shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him; he shall slay him etc.

            I cannot stand here, to distinguish of the several forms of this Androphoni, or manslaughter, and of the several ways how it may be committed, according to the opinion of the Theologists: as Corde, Ore, Re, By the Heart, By the Mouth, By the Act:  By the Heart, which is as oft committed, as we wish or desire the death of any Man, as Matt.5.21.  You have heard that it was said of them of old, Thou shalt not kill; For whoever kills shall be culpable of judgement:  But I say unto you, Whosoever is angry with his Brother unadvisedly, shall be culpable of Judgement, etc. Murder is also committed by the mouth, when by counsel or advice we insidiate the life of any, so Herodius is said to have slain John Baptist, and Caiphus, Christ, Matt.14.8.  Or when we command it to be done by the hands of others:  and that is either expressly or occultly:  by express command Pilate delivered the Saviour of the World to be Crucified, Mar. 15.15.  Occultly that is when by any private conspiracy we undermine the lives of others, so David is said to have slain Uriah, 2. Sam. 11. 14.  Thirdly, by sentence:  that is when we consult against the innocent, and pronounce them worthy of death: so the Pharisees conspired against our Saviour, and the Judges against the life of Naboth, when at the command of Jezebel, they judge him to be stoned to death, 1. Kings.21.13.  Fourthly by betraying:  when either by watchword or token, privately or apart, we cause others to be delivered up to death, or bonds, so Judus betrayed his Master, and Dalila, Samson:  Fifthly by testimony.  That is when men bear false witness against our neighbour; the last is Opere, or in Fact:  when by violent hands laid on any person, the soul is separated from the body, whether it be by a sword, a knife, a staff, a stone, or any other weapon whatsoever:  and of this nature, is that most barbarous and horrible murder, of which we are now to speak.

            Wherein two things are mainly to be considered:  first, the thing itself; and next, the occasion whereon it was grounded:  the one apparent in the visible Act; the other, made evident, not only by his voluntary confession, but under his own handwriting during the time of his imprisonment.

            The fact in itself, is that of unparalleled nature, that like hath scarce been heard of, even amongst miscreants and infidels, o then how much more fearful and remarkable to us, that it should be perpetrated amongst Christians?  Here in our own native country, where the word of truth is so abundantly preached:  the heinousness thereof will appear the greater, if we truly make inspection into the condition thereof, which we may the better do, by comparing it with other of the like nefarious and bloody quality.  We may read of a gentleman one master Caluerlee of Yorkshire, who laid violent and wicked hands upon his own children, and intended the like unto his wife, but melancholy and jealousy were things that before had much wrought upon him, and therefore might in some small degree extenuate the cruelty of the act.  One Cartwright at Market-Rayson in Lincolnshire, most solely and upon former premeditation, murdered a minister and preacher of gods word:  but this was grounded upon former discontent, pretending first an injury conceived:  And therefore a revenge for that injury.  A gentlewoman not many years since, called Mistress Vincent of an unquestioned life and conversation;  but whether upon some distraction or frenzy, of which the subtle suggestions of the Devil taking hold, or what the main Instigation was, I am not truly informed:  However most certain it was, that she murdered diverse of her own sweet children, and suffered for the fact:  but the like of this wants precedence or example, as you may better observe by the circumstances ensuing:  First, a young man to exceed the name of a murderer, and become a parricide; a name to the law-givers of Greece so unknown, and there was no punishment allotted for such a man; presuming the world could not breed such a monster: to kill a brother was most inhuman, but to kill a mother, beyond all apprehension unnatural, a loving brother, an indulgent mother:  but to kill and murder both after such a bloody and horrid manner, as first to wound them mortally, and butcher them up so cruelly, to dismember them by cutting off their heads, is able to disable and disparage all relation; and indeed but that the act is visible before our eyes, it were most incredible.  Neither was this man mad or frantic, as his own hand does witness?  Neither was it to inherit after his brother (if the murder could have been concealed) being the eldest?  Whether for any injury offered?  Or debate that grew from words, and after came to blows?  And for his mother’s part, not that she had crossed him in any choice? Or curbed hi of his liberty? Or failed, or reviled him? Or that she bore any strict eye, or severe hand over him?  Whether can it be imputed to his want of years, or discretion, or to any distraction of brain, or deep apprehended melancholy?  What then might be the motive to induce him unto a deed so execrable?

            It is worthy your especial remark, especially in these times, where there are so many Sectists, Familists, Separatists, Non-conformists, and Innovators in Religion, which how dangerous they are, and what mischief they may after breed, is made most evident by this example:  It was for no other reason, but because according to the Church’s injunction, and all due canonical obedience, they received the Holy Sacrament kneeling; Oh let all such that broach in our reformed, settled, and well-governed Church, whom this mainly concerns, take it into their mature considerations, how they trouble men’s minds, inveigle their credulity, and distract their consciences:  and let this fearful act trumpet in their ears, and preach unto their hearts a speedy reformation; For how can the tree be good that bears such Gomorrah fruit?  Or the conception be perfect, that bears such a prodigious monster?  To be a murderer or a homicide is fearful and terrible; but to be a fratricide, or matricide, most execrable and abominable, but to prove both wonderful and almost past belief.

            And yet that the certainty thereof may be made manifest, as well to the whole Kingdom as to those in that Country where it was done; and that the occasion was directly as is before specified, I have had the perusal of a Letter sent from a Gentleman of good quality and reckoning, dated the ninth of September 1633 to a Citizen of London, his words are these:

I have sent you a Copy of the verses which the wicked malefactor made himself in Shrewsbury Gaol, the copy being taken from his own hand, which though I cannot commend for the exquisiteness of them, yet considering the quality of the person, and the plainness of the style, in my opinion, ought to carry the more credit.

Enoch

&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&

Enoch ap Evan his confession of his horrible fact, and sorrowful repentance for the same, written during his imprisonment in Shrewsbury Gaol with his own hand.

1.

If ever Christian had true cause to weep,
If ever conscience pricks men to the deep,
O list to me, who have a murder done,
Which brands me with the name of graceless son.

2.

A graceless son, for why am I no other;
A graceless son for murdering of my mother,
Far worse than Cain, he took his brother’s life,
I robbed my father, both of son and wife.

3.

Near Clunn, the place where I was born and bred,
I wickedly cut off my brother’s head;
My mother coming with a grieved mind,
I took and used her in the self-same kind.

4.

Both lying headless thus upon the ground,
I took a Hempen cloth which there I found,
And wetting it, I put their heads therein,
Forgetting mother, brother, all my kin.

5.

This murder done, away then I did fly
Unto a kinsman’s house which was hard by,
And (void of grace) a Bible there I took,
Flattering myself, who had my God forsook.

6.

Not long I stayed there, still bent on evil,
But out I went, still tutored by the Devil
And met the Hue and Cry which for me sought,
Who seized upon me for these murders wrought.

7.

Before Sir Robert Howard then I went,
Who presently unto the gaol me sent;
Where I do lie, drawing a lingering breath,
Until the sentence comes to give me death.

8.

You non-conformists, unto you I call,
Take heed in pulpits how you rail and ball;
Draw not poor laymen quite beyond true sense,
Which caused me to do this soul offence.

9.

Because my Mother and my brother both,
To stand at the Communion were loath,
But kneeled with reverence at that holy act,
I through your treachery did this wicked fact.

10.

You puritans, that take the name upon you;
Desire of God to take such miscreants from you:
Employ His Holy Word to that intent,
Namely your comfort, for which it was sent.

11.

For wolves they are, who up and down do wander.
To spoil Christ’s flock, by parting them asunder,
Making religion only in their power,
Whereby the souls of many they devour.

12.

To sermons far and near, I oft did go;
And held myself most pure, in outward flow,
But wanting Grace, see what is the effect,
For me being called, a brother of th’elect.

13.

You idle people that to me resort,
And say I’m mad, and so give out report;
You are mistaken, for my conscience shows,
(Without repentance) my infernal woes.

14.

God grant I may have only those come to me,
As speak the truth, for lying will undo me:
Like my religion, was my act most fowl,
Good lord show mercy to my sinful soul.

15.

Enoch was blessed, and did walk with God,
Poor Enoch I, deserve his scourging rod:
Yet Gracious God, grant me some slender part,
Of thy great feast, to comfort my poor heart.

16.

For drunkenness and whoredom I confess,
Amongst my other sins they were the least;
But I do hope these that the same do broach,
Will leave such acts, whilst I take the reproach.

17.

For Master Studley, preacher of God’s word,
N’er did absent me, when time could afford,
But brought the Oil of Mercy, which he gave
My dear sick heart, thereby my soul to save.

18.

Through many others unto me did come,
Clothed like him, not worthy of his room;
And pleaded justice in my sinful ears,
To think on foul despair and horrid fears.

19.

‘Tis not to save this body that I crave,
Which is prepared to satisfy the grave,
For dust I am, and unto dust may go,
Who knows not that, himself he doth not know.

20.

But ‘tis to save my soul, that I may be,
Before the judgement seat spotless and free;
And have my sentence given among the good,
Gaining that place for which Christ shed his blood.

21.

O Royal King, who sits in princely seat,
And all the bishops of this kingdom great:
Do they not know the truth? Then how dare you
Breed such dissentions, in God’s Church most true.

22.

God grant all men by me may warning take,
And grant my fact may make all men forsake
This crying sin of Murder, and convert
All Non-conformists, lest they feel my smart.

Thus you hear the poor wretched man’s repentance; the heinousness of the fact, and his sorrow for the same:  you hear moreover how lamentably he complains, how viciously hath been misled by these reproaching Sectists, who as well in their doctrine publicly, as in their persuasions privately, oppose our ecclesiastically jurisdiction:  if there are many such in this kingdom?  I, for mine own part, could wish them fewer, or if any?  That there were none at all:  for bad must needs be the cause, which produces such evil effects:  how the country may be pestered, or infected with such separatists, I know not, but most sure I am; that London the most famous metropolis of this kingdom, notwithstanding, the Gospel so laboriously and orthodoxly continually preached, is of such Sectarists not altogether cleared: for every term new sects and conventicles are discovered:  and it is worthy observation, the condition and quality of these men, who are the fathers and chief supporters of these families:  many of them lately, and now at this present in question, as a most eminent Button-maker, another also, by trade a Porter, who will christen his own child, church his wife, and preach to his small family, and other of his like affected neighbours:  another a Heel-maker; a third a Cobbler; a fourth a Shettle-man; a fifth a Firkin-man; and to these we may add a woman, a Wool-comber, who will preach to her Family standing in a chair, and a table before her; take a text, and expound the scriptures, according to her own pleasure and fancy: and are not these think you brave novelists? Or to what would religion grow to in time?  Or what manner of church-government should we have, if no conformity were observed, and every man might frame a church according to his own fancy?  But this is no head on which I purpose to insist, only the argument in hand presented me such relation, that I must of necessity in some small measure reflect upon it, and I leave it to their graver considerations whom more particularly and essentially it may concern, wishing with myself that all people may take warning by this remarkable precedent:  how either by the blind instigations of men, or malicious allurements of the Devil, they are drawn to be made any such deplorable example.

            This man’s name was Enoch ap Evan (a Welshman no doubt) howsoever he might be born in Shropshire, which is in the skirts or borders of Wales:  He was a young man, and of indifferent good aspect, neither known to be of any despised condition:  his behaviour indifferently fair, and his carriage rather inclining to courtesy then churlishness, never till this time branded with any notorious or infamous action; something addicted to that which we call company, and good fellowship:  a great frequenter of the church, and sermons, pure outwardly, howsoever corrupt inwardly, and had a title amongst the godly brethren, to uphold whose opinions and maintain whose sect, he held no fact (how foul and nefarious ‘soever) to be unlawful:  he was born, and for the most of his time, brought up at a town called Clunn, within three miles of the Welsh-pool:  of the manner of his horrible fact, his flying, his taking, and sending to prison he hath plenteously informed you, withal the ground, and occasion which drew him unto it; he was arraigned, convicted, and condemned at Shrewsbury Size last, being about the eleventh of August; after executed, and hangs now in chains, some threescore yards from a place called Welsh-pool; the rareness and monstrousness of the fact, drew many to be present at his death, who by reason of his great repentance and detestation of the deed, the more lamented his cruel and hard fortune, which drew from them the greater pity; in regard he took his death with such patience, desiring the spectators even to the last minute of his life to be warned by him, and beware from him how they abandoned regularity in religion, to apply themselves unto new conformity in opinions, or by studying to please a few, to take a desperate and damnable course here to offend God, and all good men.

"Vacuas, Cadis habete manus."

Ovid de art.lib.I

 

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