A Wonder of Wonders. BEING A faithful Narrative and true Relation, of one Anne Green, Servant to Sir Tho. Reed in Oxfordshire, who being got with Child by a Gentleman, her Child falling from her in the house or Office, being but a span long, and dead born, was condemned on the 14. of December last, and hanged in the Castle-yard in Oxford, for the space of half an hour, receiving many great and heavy blowes on the brests, by the but end of the Souldiers Muskets, and being pul'd down by the leggs, and was afterwards beg'd for an Anatomy, by the Physicians, and carried to Mr. Clarkes house, an Apothecary, where in the presence of many learned Chyrurgions, she breathed, and began to stir; insomuch, that Dr. Petty caused a warm bed to be prepared for her, let her blood, and applyed Oyls to her, so that in 14 hours she recovered, and the first words she spake were these; Behold Gods Providence! Behold his miraculous and loving kindness! VVith the manner of her Tryal, her Speech and Confession at the Gallowes; and a Declaration of the Souldiery touching her recovery▪ Witnessed by Dr. Petty, and Licensed according to Order.
Behold Gods providence.
A Wonder of Wonders, &c.
ON the 14. of December last, there happened a very strange passage concerning a Maid, Anne Green by name, which was got with Child, by an Oxford-shire Gentleman, the particulars whereof follow.
This Anne Green, Servant to Sir Thomas Read, being very busie at turning of Mault, over-reaching her self, found her self to be very ill; whereupon she immediatly went into the house of Office, remaining about a quarter of an hour, full of pain; at last, a Child, about a span long sprung from her, but abortive, which much impair'd her health and strength; but being exceeding fearful, that a discovery should be made thereof, she laid it in a Corner of the aforesaid house, and covered it with dust and rubbish.
During which time, one of her fellow-Servants, admiring that she staid so long, and hearing many heavy groans, went to see what was become of her, who found her in a very sad and deplorable condition, and asking her what the matter was? she reply'd, she was utterly undone, undone, undone; Why Anne, I hope thou art not with Child? Alas, alas! Mary, that ever I was born, to live and die in shame and scorn: I was, but now I am clear of it; Why? what is become of it? she answered, look yonder, where it lies, and going to the place, casting off the dust, ran shricking out into the house, acquainting her Master and Mistriss, with this sad accident; in so much, that they presently sent for her in, and demanded who it was, that had committed that foul act, and contemptible crime with her? who answered, a Gentleman of good birth, and kinsman to a justice of Peace.
But after half an hours discourse, she was carried before a Justice, who upon examination, confessed, that she was guilty of the Act, in committing of the sin, but clear and innocent of the crime for murdering of it, for that it was dead born; yet notwithstanding, after further examination, the Justice caused her Mittimus to be made, inditing her to answer it at the next Assizes, and forth-with sent her to the Castle Goal at Oxford, where she remained till the Sessions; at which time, she was arraigned for her life, who being brought to the Bar, pleaded, not guilty; but after a short tryal, she was convicted for her life, and received sentence to be hanged on Oxford Gallowes, which was accordingly performed; and being brought to the place of execution, she fell down on her knees at the ladder foot, humbly desiring of God, that his Divine Majesty would be pleased, to shew some remarkable judgement on her, for a signal [Page 3] and testification to the world of her innocency, which most miraculously was evidenced to her, to the great and wonderful admiration to all that shall either hear of, or read these ensuing lines.
But before I insist upon this miraculous deliverance, it is requisite that I should communicate her speech and deportment upon the Ladder, which was with great comfort, and undauntedness of spirit by this poor soul performed, to the great admiration of the spectators.
At the going up the Ladder, she fixt her eyes on the Executioner, saying, God forgive my false accusers, as I freely forgive thee, and then turning her self on the Ladder uttered these words.
YOur business hither to day, is to see a sad spectacle, an innocent woman to be in a moment cut off, in the prime of her years, which sudden change doth not in the least strike dread or terror to my heart, but rather incites me to a motion of eternal joy and happiness; for I conceive, there is no more but this Rope and Ladder between me and Heaven, and I doubt not but that I am now going to receive that blessed Portion, which my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ hath purchased for me, by ransoming my soul with his precious blood, and bitter passion.
And as for this untimely end, I do unfaignedly acknowledge and confess, that it is Gods just judgement and wrath upon me, for sins long unrepented, of many judgements withstood, and mercies slighted: therefore God hath whipped me by his severe rod of correction, that he might not lose me.
I pray joyn with me in prayer, that it may not be a fruitless rod, that when by this rod I have laid down my life, by this staffe I may be comforted, and received into glory.
One thing more I desire, and to you dear Cousen, being a young man, standing at the foot of the ladder) I represent my suit, That when the doomful turn from off the ladder comes, that you would use all possible means to dispatch me of my pain; and then casting up her eyes to Heaven, being prepared for a new change of life, breathed forth her last words, saying, sweet Jesus receive my soul; upon the uttering of which words, the Executioner did his Office; and being turned off the ladder, her kinsman took hold of her feet, and hung with all the weight and force of his body on them, that so he might the sooner rid her of her pain.
A Souldier standing by, gave her 4. or 5. blowes on the brest, with the but end of his Musket, and having hung half an hour, she was cut down, (being quite dead) and put into the Chyrurgions Chest, (who had beg'd her for an Anatomy) and carried to Mr. Clarkes house, an Apothecary, where the Physitions met to try their skill; and having prefixed a time for the reading a Lecture over her, (being usual upon the anatomizing of either man or woman.)
When they were all met, her body was taken out of the Coffin, and laid upon a large Table, where in the presence of them all, she began to breath, which was no [Page 5] small terror nor admiration, to all that were then present; whereupon a large dispute arose about her, and one amongst the rest, Dr. Petty by name, went to her, took her by the hand, and laid his eare to her temples, and perceiving life, declared that there was a great hand of God in the business, and imediately let her blood in 3 places. After which he caused a warm bed to be prepared for her, and a woman to lie with her, and applied several Oyls unto her, using many other circumstances of art, until she recovered, which was within 14 hours: And even in the last minute of the 14 hour, she opened her eyes, uttering these words. Behold Gods providence, and his wonder of wonders, which indeed, is a deliverance so remarkable, since the ceasing of Miracles, that it cannot be parallel'd in all Ages, for the space of 300 years, And withall, it may remain upon record, for a president to all Magistrates, and Courts of Judicature, to take a special care in denounsing of sentence, without a due and legal process, according to the known Laws of the Land, by an impartial and uncorrupted Jury, either of men or women, &c. This poor Creature, which God of his infinite mercy hath evidently manifested [Page 6] his love unto, is now indifferent well recovered, and can walk up and down her Chamber, but her neck is very sore, and black withall, her brest and stomack much bruised, yet her pain disswages daily, and divers both in City and Countrey frequent hourly to behold her. At her first recovery she seemed to be much agast, and lookt strangly, her eyes being ready to start out of her head; but by the great pains of honest and faithful Dr. Petty, she is m [...]raculously recovered which moved some of her enemies to wrath and indignation, insomuch that a great man amongst the rest, moved to have her again carried to the place of execution, to be hanged up by the neck, contrary to all Law, reason and justice; but some honest Souldiers then present, seemed to be very much discontented thereat, and declared, That there was a great hand of God in it, and having suffered the Law, it was contrary to all right and reason, that any further punishment should be inflicted upon her, which words brought a final end and period to their dispute and controversie; where I shall (at present) desist from reciting any further circumstances, and remain,