IF we consider the strict Obligations which both Nature and Religion lays upon Man and Wife each to other, one would wonder such discontents, hatreds, and cruel­ties should happen between them, as dayly and in every place almost we see practised. But 'tis no miracle if we minde that the grea­test part of men and women take up that sacred Ordinance, and abuse that Divine In­stitution by profaning it, and enslaving them­selves out of particular and unjust designes: [Page 4]So rate it is, but the Devil of covetousness for a good Portion, the unclean Spirit of Lust for a pretty charming Face, or some other sinister Bias interferes and chops in, whilst Vertue and Equality or Agreement, as well in Fortune and Quality, as Humour (the great or rather onely Cement that can firm­ly knit the Matrimonial Bond) are slighted and neglected. From this infected Spring do all the waters of Bitterness, which over­flow so many Families, originally arise: which beginning in railing, quarrelling, and fighting, seldom conclude without destru­ction to both parties, or what at least is e­quivalent, to the murther of one.

Of this we have just now a dreadful Ex­ample before our faces; which we desire may be a warning to all men, not to abuse their Wives, nor in fury to violate the Nu­ptial Laws, by acting the madmen in beating those whom God and Nature have obliged them to cherish and maintain; it being cer­tain that Whosoever pretends just cause to beat his Wife, deserves severely to be cudgel­led himself for not cusing a better.

But to proceed to the too long expected Narrative of this too rashly executed Fact, the Reader is given to understand, That on this 15th of May 1677, a certain person, by Trade a Lighterman, living not far from the Armitage, took some impertinent occasion to quarrel with his VVife; and after several words (the common Bellows of Sedition) had pass'd, fell to blows: to avoid which, the poor woman fled out of the house, ho­ping to escape her Husband's bruitish fury; but he seeing her fly, gets down an Half pike and violently pursues her; nor could any body that saw him, judge otherwise than that he had an intention at that time to have kill'd her, though Fortune directed the un­happy Pass another way: For it happened at the same fatal moment a certain Tub-man, dwelling on Salpeter bank neer Rosemary-lane, a person frugal industrious, and (what is the necessary product of those commend­able qualities) pretty well thriving in the world, passing by and wearied with his bur­then, sat down on his Tubs just against this [Page 6]persons door; where observing the unna­tural Cobat between two that were (or at least should be) both one flesh, and that the Head was going to spit the Rib, to prevent Murther, steps in between them, and with fair and gentle words requested the man to forbear further beating or abusing his Wife; who was so incensed thereat, that in the same ungovernable posture he made at him, (I mean the Tub man that endeavour'd to part them) and with one Pass laid him on the ground stone-dead; as well he might, ha­ving ('tis said) pierced part of his very heart.

The woman by this luckly unluckly means made her escape, and the dead person taken up, and all means endeavour'd for his reco­very, but in vain: for he was gone beyond the retrieval of Art; so frequent a thing it is for those that endeavour to quench an un­ruly Fire to be scorched therewith; and those that intermeddle in a Squabble to be more durtied and abused than such as origi­nally begun i [...].

The person that did this wicked deed was so overcome with Passion, that at first he could scarce be convinc'd he had committed it; but upon examination before a Justice, did confess, he believ'd he had kill'd the man, but not without provocation, hindring him to correct his Wife, &c. A very poor ex­cuse! because a Friend or Neighbour seeing me in an extravagant Passion, endeavours to reclaim me to more quiet and sobriety, shall I therefore kill him? God forbid; but ra­ther thank him for his good advice and coun­sel.

But I conceive all sober and and discreet men will abhor so bloody a Fact, and learn to live with their Wives in that love and ten­derness that meekness and condiscention each to other, as becomes persons under so strict a Vow, and so many ties of Nature, Custom, Interest, and Religion; all which are vio­lated when man and wife live at variance: Nor did I yet (though I have above twenty years curiously observ'd it) ever know a Couple that thriv'd in the world, who nou­rished [Page 8]Debate at home between themselves; but rather that Loss, Beggery, and Misery, and too often Murthers and untimely Ends to some of the parties have ensued, as in this lamentable Example is too sadly apparent; the Husband being at this instant a Prisoner in Newgate, there to remain for his final Doom next Sessions, according as the Law shall direct.