Murder Will Out

Reader,

THOV hast here a Discovery of one of the most inhumane and barbarous Murthers that any Age or Story can parallel, especially if you consider the Person who, the Place where, the manner how he was Murthered, and the Consequences of them all.

1. The Person, it was the Earl of Essex, one of the greatest men in the three Nations, the Son of the great Capell, who laid down his Life for the late King, and who himself had sustained so many honourable and great Offices and Imployments in these Nations, filling up no less than a Vice-King-Ship, for many years in the Neighbour Nation, and as he was great in eminent Loyalty, excellent Qualifications, large Patrimony, and honourable Allyes, so no less a sincere Lover of his King and Country, and a zelous Assertor of the Protestant Religion, and Interest against the cursed Machinations of the Popish Party, which was therefore become his Crime, and rendered him so obnoxious.

2. The Place where he was Butchered, which was no other than in his Majesties Royal Prison and Palace, where (by design as it appears) he was brought the better to fall a Sacrifice to his Enemies. Being first lodged in the Lieutenants House, then removed to his Slaughter-house Capt. Hawleys, and there kill'd the day after.) Where being now the Kings Prisoner, and out of his own defence, and for whom the King and Kingdom were respondent, as Sir Fran. Bacon observes in Sir Tho. Overberries Case, in the E. of Somersets Tryal, was a thing that greatly aggravated the Fact, for certainly, saith he, Sir Tho O. was the first Man that was murthered in the Tower of London, save the Murther of the two young Princes, by the appointment of Richard the 3. this being it seems the second, with this further Aggravation, that it was done at the very instant the K. himself was there in Person.

3. The manner how, viz. The Popish Conspirators (his mortal Enemies) having thus gotten him within their reach, do by hired Cut-throat Villains and Traytors, most barbarously and Treacherously surprize, assault, and bloodily assassinate this great Worthy in his own Chamber; cutting his Throat, almost to the cutting off of his Neck, and afterwards by other Ruffians (and that against the K. express Command) inhumanly drag, shamefully strip him, and basely expose his naked Body to publick view. And as tho this was not sufficient to satiate their malice and Blood-thirstiness, thus to murther his Person, they proceed (to the out-doing of Cain himself) to murther his Reputation, by charging their horrid Guilt upon himself; making him the Fellonious Self-murtherer: And pursuing to the utmost Revenge, Slaughter and Cruelty, any that should dare to speak the Truth, or contradict the same.

4. And as for the dismal Consequences, (some whereof have direfully appeared) which being unpossible to express, is left to every ones Consideration.

But he who makes Inquifition for Blood, who sees in secret, and brings to light the hidden Works of Darkness, hath by his Providence, greatly detected the same, both as to Persons and things: Some Account whereof you have for your satisfaction, in the following compendiou◊ 〈…〉.

p. 2The Proofs both Circumstantial and Positive, that the E▪ of E▪ did not Felloniously Murder himself, but was Barbarously Murdered by others.

1. THat he did not Murther himself you have evinced. 2. From the Improbalities that he should do it. 3. From the Impossibilities that he could so do it.

2. That he was Murthered by others you have made good. 1. By undenyable Circumstances. 2. By Positive Proofs offered.

1. That the E. of E. did not Murther himself, as the Inquest declares: appears.

1. From the Improbabilities that he should so do;

1. Because of that excellent sedate and well composed Natural temper he was well known to be of, and free from such Melancholy and Frensical fits, which might incline and expose him to such a mischief, what ever maliciously and falsly had been said to the contrary.

2. Because of that grace and fear of God, he was so eminently endowed with, which would secure him from such impiety.

3. Because of that abhorrency by Principle which he was well known to have of such unnatural practises (whereof he could not speak without great emotion of Spirit) what ever the better to colour the Murther, and fix it upon him, had heen most villanously reported, and spread abroad, to the contrary.

4. Because of the careful Provision he made for his own preservation, after he came into the Tower fearing the worse, 1. By sending for his own Silver Vessel to dress his Meat in by his own People. 2. By that store of all sorts of Wine, he had ordered to be laid in for his own drinking. 3. By the direction he had given to his Servant, to take Notes of my Lord Russels Tryal, that very day for his own use, all ample indications he designed self preservation; not self destruction.

5. Because, as his Conscience was clear from any Treasonable Guilt, (whatever to the contrary has most wickedly been suggested) so was he free from either Legal Witnesses, or Conviction, there being no Bill of Indictment found against him, as against others the day before, which might sufficiently secure him from needless fears, or any such desperate course, tho had his zeal and affection to his King, Country, and Religion, (whom he might apprehend to have been in danger) transported him to any irregularity, his Fathers, as well as his own, extraordinary merits, from the Crown; might well be supposed (from so grateful and compassionate a Prince) would plead his Pardon, and free him from such desperation.

p. 26. Because of that intire Love and Friendship he bore to his most dear Friend the Lord ◊ which both in Honour, and Conscience▪ would forbid p. 3and deter from such an Action, which must so necessarlly tend to the certain ruin and destruction of his best Friend, and which fell out accordingly from the sinister construction they made thereof.