WHat Reason poor Mankind hath to take care of himself, let any Judg, since he hath Three such Potent Enemies to Encounter, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, they being so considerable, that our Divines have thought it in all Ages their principal Care and Endeavours to prompt all people to a serious and strict consideration of them, and de­parting from Evil, the conquest of them being of more esteem and value then that of Kingdoms.

But since we find by sad and woful Experi­ence, by the unhappy mistake of our first Parents and Original, that without the assistance and Protection of Almighty God, and Merits of his Blessed Son, we are liable to all the inconvenien­ces of their unhappy miscarriage, (let us beg his Assistance to prevent) to take warning by the sad Examples of others (not only their Punish­ment but Actions) of which by a most sad and dreadful Relation I shall give you an Account from the Spectators of this Bloody Tragedy begot by Drunkenness and Adultery.

The wife of this William Dennis the Murtherer, (who was a Literman) from what Reason I can­not certainly Learn, but supposed from the true cause of Jealousy, found him in Bed with a lewd woman on May day, she was one that used to cry Strong-water about the Streets, (the common first occasion) of the succeeding Sin.

From whence (as justly it might) begot great discontent and strife between them, which pro­cured the poor woman several severe Bastinadoes, which grew to such a degree, that the Neigh­bourhood took notice of it.

But more particularly on this Fatal day, the fifteenth Instant, when he going abroad, and re­turning home drunk, and abusing his wife as for­merly, occasined not only the whole Neighbour­hood, but Passengers, who came to hinder the mischief design'd his wife, but he being as full of mischief as drink, without any consideration or occasion, wickedly Swore he would Kill the next Man, which he villanously performed upon the body of one Thomas Gately a Tubman, an Inno­cent Spectator, by wounding him in the Groin with a half pike, of which he immediately died.

VVhich being done as if he had been Infatua­ted or stupid, returns to his own House, and throws in the aforesaid half pike, after which he endeavoured a seeming escape, but Vengeance pur­suing him, he was soon stopt to give an account of his prodigious Murther, to which purpose he was carried before Justice Wood, who being not at home, was transmitted to Justice Rycrofts, but no body being there at present, who were Spec­tators of the Murther, and the great disorder he was in by drinking, he was respited for some time.

But afterwards upon a stict examination the Horridness of the fact which was highly ag­gravated by his wilfulness and stubbornness being proved by the strength of the Evidence, He was by the Common Guard of the Constable and his assistance easily convey'd to New-Gate, from whence he must expect the Just reward of his Errour.

But 'tis feared this sad Tragedy will not end in this one person, for besides his Wife who is cruel­ly maimed by him, and whose Life is much suspected, the Daugh­ter of the Murthered Party, who having been lately brought to [Page 5]Bed, hearing of the untimely and unexpected loss of her dear Fa­ther, being Transported into a passion begot by affection and Nature, forgetting all care of her self, and contrary to the use of Women in that condition, runs out of her Chamber, Imbraces the Corps of her Dead Father from which she could not be disingag­ed by any intreaties or perswasi­ons till such time as 'tis fear'd the danger she ran hath destroyed her, I hope this sad warning will be a Just occasion to deter all People from committing such e­vils, and make them stand upon their Guards, and make them op­pose [Page 6]that great Enemy of Man the Devil who goes about seek­ing whom he can devour.

He's a subtle Vigilant Enemy, he doe [...] not only take advantage from our inclinations, but hu­mours and minds. To prevent which. Let us beg the assistance and Guardianship of Almighty God, who is able to subdue all things under his feet, to whom as his just due, be Honour and Glory for Evermore.