IN Wistocke , a verie ancient place in Deuonshire , distant from Plimmouth some tenne miles , dwelt a worshipfull Gentleman , called Maister Fites , who hauing longe time beene married without anie children , had at length , for a blessing to his expectation , a Sonne : whome after he had brought vppe in lavdable rudimentes , as well beseemed a careful father , as if his aged yeares hadde seene the hope of his owne posteritie , hee perfourmed the course of Nature , leauing large possessions to his young heir , ( being as yet in his Minoritie ) of whom the world hoped nothing but a fruitful ripenes , of so towardlie a springal , his comelinesse of personage increasing with his yeares , and his descretion with his personage : he was in his nonage a Ward vnto sir Arthur Gorge , a worsh . knight . He took to wife the daughter of sir Wil. Courtney , a man grac'st with all perfection of an honorable mind . A man louing his countrey , and for his worthie cariage , iustly beloued of his country : neither did this his faire daughter degenerate from the auncient stocke of her father , of whose praise ( since vertue chieflie commendeth it selfe ) I cannot sufficiently speake , neither in setting forth of it , can I bee deemed partiall , since her deserts exceed the measure of partialitie : for as she was a modest maiden , so being married she gaue euident proofes of a vertuous wife . But her young husbande sir John ( although not then knighted ) little regarding the happines of so rare a bedfellow , followed such errors as youth councelled , & follie led him into ; truth it is , if his actions had beene equally agreeable to his person , or his guiftes of mind , as plentifullie bestowed , as the naturall lineamentes of his bodie , he hadde beene the compleate mirrour of an accomplisht Gentleman .

But it is commonly seene , where God indueth vs with more special tokens of fauor , weby our owne pronesse to vicious iniquity , deface his Image , and euermore indeuor to pollute his benefits with our wicked transgression ; jt was well said ;

This was too trulie verified in sir Io. Fites , who a while after fell into the carelesse race of a dissolute life , and althogh by the often instigation of his tender harted wife , he was many times withdrawne from sundrie temptations of lewd retainers , yet hadd not the countenance of his better friends , and their friendly perswasion counsailed him , doubtlesse he had fallen into misfortune , ere misfortune had been ready for his fall . Manye friends and wel-willers he hadde , whose account might of right challenge the rancke of gentilitie and reputation .

Amongst manie , to ( whom in the links of perfect friendshippe , he was ingaged ) one gentleman most especiallie in all rightes of loue and reguarde , tendered him , ( and as it seemed ) was as much of him againe respected , his name was maister Slanning , a worshipfull Esquire and a proper Gentleman , of goodlie liuing , and deserued credite , of whom most men could but speake wel , since of almen he was generalie reputed wise and courteous . This Gentleman euer inwardlie affected Sir John Fites , so that the Countrie noted them ( for firme and mutual loue ) to be vnfained friends , and so indeed they wer , vntil mishap ( euer fatal to sir Iohn his proceedings ) crossed their affectionat association with this mischance .

Meeting on a time at Tauestocke ( neere which S. Iohn dwelt ) at dinner with manie of their neighbors and friends , with great varietie of merriments , and discourse , they out stript the noon-tide : Amongest other their table talk , S. Iohn was vanting his free Tenure in holding his land , boasting that hee held not a foot of any but the Queen in England ; to whome maister Slanning replied , that although of courtesie it were neglected yet of dewe and common righte , hee was to pay him so much by the yeere for some small Land held of him , the rent beeing by reason of friendship long time intermitted . Vpon which wordes , Sir Iohn ( grounding his occasion vpon choller , and heating that choller with disdaine and pride ) told him with a great oath , hee lyed : & withall , gaue fuell to his rage , and reines of spight , to the vniustnes of his anger , offering to stab him .

But Maister Slanning , who was known to be a man of no lesse courage , and more curtesie , with a great knife that hee had , warded the hazard of such threatnings , vppon which grew both multiplication of wordes , and increase of hatred on both sides ; vntill by the fayre mediation of theyr friends than present , they were accorded to a fained reconciliation : so that in briefe , after a while , Maister Slanning priuately with his man departed homewards .

Long had he not ridden , but commaunding his man to walke downe his horses in the way , himselfe the whiles taking the greene fieldes for his more contented walke , looking backe , hee might beholde Sir Iohn Fites with foure more galloping amaine after him . Which sight , as it coulde not but breede doubtfull and fearefull suspition , so could it not but bee a great amazement to Maister Slanning , who little thought on the desperate plot of so vicious a minded blood-sucker .

Sir Iohn no sooner drewe neere him , but Maister Slanning assuring himselfe of his purposed malice , and most malicious drift , asked him the occasion of his comming : to whom Sir Iohn ( in the rude language of scorne and wrath ) made aunswer , he would now reuenge himselfe for his disgrace , and so at once they fell all vpon him , who with as determinate a resolution defended himselfe , beeing indeed a man of an vndaunted spirit . And seeing before his face shame impudent , and hope of lifes securitie , altogether desperate , he with as bold stomacke as a wounded dying man , stoode vppon the guarde of his owne ablenesse , whiles Sir Iohn beeing prickt on by the bloody vrging of one Crosse his man , grewe to be handned in his butchery : so that one comming behind Maister Slanning with a blowe , ( guided by the hand of a villaines hart ) strooke him on the head , who falling and staggering backward , was by Sir Iohn run through the body , leauing his liuelesse carkasse a monument of terrors , to affright the guiltie consciences of vnmercifull homicides : but as the one is hastning to the graue , so is the other making preparation for flight to escape death , not shame .

Great was the lamentation that the country made for the death of so beloued a gentleman as Maister Slanning was . As for Sir Iohn . hee soone got himselfe away , leauing the fulmouth'd report of infamous rumour , to rumour abroade , the report of so infamous a deed : but as for his wife & mother , ( vertuous Gentlewomen ) the torment of theyr sorrow , is easier to be imagined then felt : who in the anguish of theyr greefes did pennance for his rashnesse , and in the zeale of theyr prayers , laboured for his harty contrition .

Hee for the space of a yere , or neere there about liued in Fraunce , of whose carriage there , it is to bee coniectured that it was no otherwise then indifferent , yet can I not excuse him in this his exile for a penitent conuertite , howsoeuer the worlde generally deemed the best : But in his absence , the good Gentlewoman led a widdowed lyfe , and by as many means as the procurement of her woorthy freendes could effect , or her owne industry labour , shee got some hope of a promised pardon , vpon which after a twelue monthes absence Syr Iohn returned home , with a seeming likelihoode of repentant sorrow for his former misdeede , shewing outwardly euident promises of new reformation and amendement , as seeming a mortified man for his trespasse past , and assuring farre better hopes to come .

In thys meane tyme he had procur'd for his more quiet content , at least a repriuall , if not a pardon , but with thys prouiso , of his good behauiour euer after . There awhile he lyued welcommed of all , curteous to all , and therefore of all welbeloued : but as it is commonly seene , a man naturally hardned in ill , can hardly amende his deformity of wickednes , with cunning of dissembling pretended glosse , so afterward chaunced with thys man , who in continuance of tyme , did not onely proceed in vnlawful courses of abuse , but would oftentimes glory in his former execrable fact , & beeing now in a manner prest , in the high-way of all abhomination , he began to roote his thoughts to plot nothing but mischiefe , insomuch as first , he by little and little lothed his lawful bed , turning his pleasures to lawlesse desires , neyther could the sweete remembrance of his wiues earnest affection , with draw him from consorting himselfe with loose prodigals .

A lamentable sight it was to see a man of his rancke , place , and calling , to be so vainly carried away with following the depraued humours of light company : neyther could the intreaty of Freendes , the perswasion of his allyes , the counsel of his wel-wishers , nor the common scandall of the world , make him blush at his own follyes . Strange it was that a man beeing so forewarned , should not be forearmed , for his owne harmes could not make him beware , neyther could the greatnes of Gods fauour shewed to him , enforce him to consider the foulenes of his former offences detestation , and conforme his after age to a more serious meditation of the infinite benefites bestowed vpon him , but the longer hee liued , the worse he liued .

At what tyme his excellent Maiesty our King , ( after his coronation , ) was pleased to honor our English Gentlemen with that auncient rewarde of true deserts , woorth Knighthoode , it likewise pleased his royall Grace amongst many of all Shires throughout his Realme to inuest in that order thys Sir Iohn Fites , who vnder this title of honor thought to maske his deeds of vice , & with the very sounde of Knight , to boulster out the community of his ryots : insomuch as wheras before he was forward he was now both forward , & bold : forward to attempt , bolde to iustifie , any vniust wrong that his loose behauiour should vnder goe . Nowe began hee to thinke that the world should wink at his impieties , his credit and knighthoode was a sufficient priuiledge . Now began hee to entertaine into his society , ( as associates ) men both of dissolute & desperate fortunes , amongst whom was one ( as ringleader to the reachlesse content of his pampered desires ) named commonly Lusty Iacke , one whose meanes were indeede meane , whose good qualities altogether none : but for that as many as knowe him , knowe him without description , the sequell shall testifie the honesty of his conuersation .

This lusty Royster beeing by Sir Iohn easily accepted , and for a more speciall grace that hee had in dooing ill , admitted into his society , suncke so far into his lyking , as that hee was not himselfe without this his companion : insomuch as that Towne of Tauestocke , though otherwise orderly gouerned with sobriety , & wisedome of graue Magistrates , was thereby infected , with the beastly corruption of drunkennesse . Sir Iohn by his own inclination apt , and by his retained copesmates vrged , persueered the more , to run head-long into such 〈◊〉 , as vile sensuality and pleasures inclined into , spending theyr tyme in riotous surfeiting , surfeyting in abhominable drunkenness being drunke , they blaspheme and sweare , and in thys theyr blasphemy , they teare the diuine name of their almighty Creator into a thousand peeces , neyther regarding hope of redemption , or dreading feare of damnation , plucking men by night out of theyr bedds , violently breaking windowes , quarrelling with Ale-conners , fighting in priuate brabbles amongst themselues : all which hazard , ( eyther of particuler dangers , or common course of Law ) could not moue Syr Iohn to breake of his disordered route , but when they had abused the townesmen , and disturbed theyr neighbors , Syr Iohns own house was their safest sanctuary , or receptacle to cloake theyr out-rages : so as it seemed , they liued as in tyme of old the common Outlawes of thys Land dyd , neyther worshypping God nor honouring Prince , but wholy subiect to theyr contents alone .

In such like intollerable courses of abuse , beyond vertue , or gentility , did Sir Iohn euer with his accomplices , in all his disorders spend his time , little studying to benefite his Country , by being a profitable member of the Common-weale , or little reckoning to be a good subiect , by obseruing the peaceable statutes of his Prince , but continuing daily to increase the multitude of his riots , hee said with the Poet ,

Wine and women bring most men to perdition , for one is so ineuitably awayted by the other , that a roysting drunkard is most commonly noted for an incontinent lecherer . This was not falsifyed in Sir Iohn Fites , who so wholy addicted himselfe to all detestable and vicious defamations , that it shamed him not ( after his distemperatures abroade ) to bring queanes home with him , not esteeming the precious modestie of his wiues bed , and the chast deserts of so vertuous a Lady , who heereafter may very well serue as a rare patterne to all wiues , ( that are vnblest in hauing such husbands ) howe to carry themselues with humility , and winke at it with patience . So did this Lady , vntill her vnthankfull husband ( glutted in his owne lust ) thought her very presence to be an obstacle , and bar to vpbrayd his incontinence : for which cause ( without cause ) hee beganne to fall into dislike with her , and at length , would neyther vouchsafe her maintenaunce , or house-roome , but with words of disgrace turned her out of his doores , not leauing her attended by any to conduct her .

In thys plight of distresse , the vertuous Lady ( seeing , & by experience hauing had too firme a proofe , of the misery of such a husband ) could not but thinke herselfe vnhappy , howsoeuer indeede shee in this vnhappines was blest ; for by these meanes she auoyded further perrill of death , which hee in his steame of wine , had bin likely to haue offred vnto her . In breefe , beeing thus left to her misfortunes , shee returned to her worthy Father , who with much ioy , receiued his distressed Daughter , with a young daughter of hers also : so that herein she was most fortunate , that she was safe , where she might heare of her Knights outrages , but not indure them . This Lady beeing by him in this wise turn'd away , hee noweknewe himselfe to be the onely maister of himselfe , and might as he thought now be imboldened to follow his own loosnes . Nowe was his owne house without contradiction , or controlement , open to his associates , where nowe ( if they please ) they may erect a little Common-wealth of many iniquities , and much imputation . His purse they abused , his goods they consumed , and of his person they made a stale to theyr misdemeanors : all feard him , few loued him , neither was his worshippe as much to be reuerenced , as his lewd manners to be abhorred : for continuing and insisting in his licentious , and odious courses , not long before his comming towards London , being in the heat of his old disorder , he , ( beeing backt by his retainers ) fell out with an Officer of the Towne , and after with many reprochfull words and vpbraydings , that he reuiled him withall , forgetting both himselfe , the person , and the place , hee with many blowes of his dagger . broke his head in such sort , as the man beeing carried home , & layd in his bed , it was greatly feared , that hee could not escape death : which had it hapned , questionlesse it had not onely been a great preiudice , but also an indangering to Sir Iohn his own life , who after thys deed , was so farre from doubtting the worst , as that hee little regarding the hatred of his act , stoutly perseuered in the accustimation of his former breaches of all commendable carriage . But it is euermore notable , that men ouer whom sinne hath greater predominance , are reserued for more especiall misfortunes , vntill at last , being ouer-ripened , they fall by theyr owne rottennesse , which on this wise happened to Syr Iohn Fites .

Maister Slanning after his death left behind him for pledges of Gods blessing toward him , two sonnes , and one daughter , his heyre beeing inward to a Knight of that Country of good account and credit , which heyre of Maister Slannings , beeing come to yeeres of discretion , vpon aggreeuaunces of his Fathers death , beeing , ( as iust reason was ) loath to sell his deere Fathers blood , and bearing a minde to reuenge himselfe by course of right , and Law , vpon the butcher of his Fathers life : knowing that Syr Iohn had but a conditionall and no speciall pardon , ( as Syr Iohn himselfe gaue foorth , and falsly blinded the worlde withall ) vsed meanes for his attachement , eyther to procure better meanes , or aunswer the proceedings of Iustice in that case prouided .

Thys beeing heard of Syr Iohn , ( who amidst his ryots little dreamed on any such incumbrance ) it draue him to diuers shyfts , but beeing well befreended , ( if his carriage had bin such to haue deserued theyr friendships who indeed were his freends ) he hauing now no hopes , but such as relay vpon theyr credit , for his better discharge was driuen to consider better of the vneuen race of his life past , assuring himselfe that he was become to the world so rediculous , in himselfe so faultie , and of his owne ablenesse so insufficient to accomplish his desires , that if hee could not procure a newe and absolute Pardon , the old offence of his , being laid to his charge , and his riots since , likely to be agrauated by the vulgar knowledge of the whole Country , it would surely put , not onely his reputation , but also his lyfe in double ieopardy : These reasons well cancelled , feare , not shame , made him hasten some other course to be presently thought on , and in some measure to beware of perrils to come , though scarce repent his misdeedes past , Oderunt peccare mali formidine penae , doubt of trouble , not hartie contrition , pricketh the wicked to auoyde further lapses , when as the loue of vertue maketh the vertuous abstaine from doing euill . So Syr Iohn , seeing how by his inordinate disorders he had impaired his estate , seuer'd himselfe from his wife , wedded himselfe to wilfull obstinacie , abused his neighbours , murthered his freends , consorted himselfe with villaines , & caused himselfe to be so odious , as his life was now in new danger , he now thought it behooued him to make freends , and to that intent hee posted toward London , where by the way , ( continuall Furies tormenting his minde ) ere he came to his hopes , he ended his lyfe . For in his iournying towards London , an accident of great ruth and pitty hapned in thys lamentable sort . Syr Iohn , ( harboring euen in despight of his owne will a guilty conscience in a grieued breast ) euen as he rode by the way , often ranne ouer the whole course of his former euil life : and neuer til now did he begin to ballance his own rashnes , & to consider the reason of his intended iourney , which feares of his , nowe doubting least that worthy Gentleman his Father in law , vrged by the wrongs done to his daughter , would not only deny him his befriending fauour , but also be a plaintife against his inordinate course of life , ( though grounded vpon no certainty but the guiltines of his own conceit ) he began to fal into a desperate kind of lunacie , as by the sequell of his detestable deede it plainly appeared . For hastning towards London , he appointed his footeman to meet him by the way , who enquiring as hee went for his Maister , met him by hap at Kingstone vppon Thames , where he allighted into his Inne , & hauing supped ( as his order was ) hee soone betooke himselfe to his bedde : but as a man that hath committed some notorious and memorable crime , beeing followed by the Country , flyeth into a large vast house , and hideth himselfe , at euery creake of the wind feareth the entrance of some searcher , or at euery styr of a rat doubteth the attachment of some officer , euen so Syr Iohn , hauing committed the crime of murther , and riot , and flying into the sanctuary of a dispersed and molested mind , was amidst his quiet followed and affrighted , by the officers of vengeance , guilt , and terror . In his dreames he muttered fearefull wordes , grieuous sighes , & deep-fetcht grones : most fearefull were his visions , and so terrible vnto him , that where hee lay in rest hee suddainly start vp , and called for his horses , intending to post presently away , for that as he said , Sir William Courtney , with a number in his company were at hand to apprehend him , neyther could they of the house perswade him to the contrary . Moreouer , so strange & dreadfull was his owne minde vnto him , that hee would not stay , euer-more crying , that Syr William was at hand to apprehend him , insomuch as his gelding being brought him , in the dead tyme of night riding through the Towne , hee met the watch in the streetes , at the sight of whome he cryed alowd , they were come , they were come : but the watch being by his man more certainlie informed of this his so sodaine malladie , assured him that they were not sir William , but the neighbors of the towne ; adding withall , that he need not doubt , for Sir William was neither comming , nor meante to followe him : with whose admonitions beeing somewhat for the time quallified ( not perswaded ) hee rode ouer Kingston Bridge , towardes London ; but in the waie betweene Kingston & Twicknam , after hee had straied vppon the Heath a long while , at last hee came vnto a Gentlemans house , which stood somewhat out of the waie , and there he knocked , desiring that as they were gentlemen , they wold respect a Gentleman , and helpe him to som lodging , and vsed such wordes to perswade therevnto , as that those of the house ( the time of the night considered ) thought him to haue either had some other companie , entending to rob the house , or else to be ouerseene in drinke , or some such matter , insomuch that loath they were to trouble the house with such a guest , and so sent him away as he came , directing him vnto the next towne . When as trauailing vp and down a long time , somtimes in the waie , somtime out of the waie ; at laste hee attained about two of the clocke after midnight , vnto a little Village , called Twicknam , som two miles from Kingston ( the towne from whence he laste came ) and there by chance , oh cruell chance ! hapned to light vppon the signe of the Anchor , ( feare and terrour of his conscience suffring him to passe no further : ) the maisters name of that house , being called Daniell Alley , where he caused his footman to knocke and beate , and knocked himselfe also vntill such time that he had awaked the goodman of the house , who beeing awakened , rose vnto the window and demanded who was there ? Sir Iohn Fight aunswered , Here is a Gentleman , and I want lodging ; therefore I pray you open the dore and let me in . The Host of the house replyed , that he was but a poore man , and kept no Inne , but only a victualling house , and that his lodging was verie slender to entertain such a Gentleman of sort , as he tooke him to be . But the Gentleman sir John Fight answered , that the worst bed that was would serue his turne at that time , and that he coulde be content to lie any where . The good-man of the house , in meere comiseration of his case pittieng him , and in tender compassion of his present estate regarding him , opened the doore , let him into the house , set up his gelding , caused his wife to arise , and lay a clean paire of sheets vpon their owne bed , and a clean pilow , her self going to bed in another room , with her mayd and children . Now as soon as sir John came into the house , without any farther adoe , hee sent his footeman at that time of the night ( being vnacquainted with the Way ) vnto London , and tolde him that there hee would staye vntill his returne . His footeman being wearie , would-faine lodge there also , but hauing no lodcing and no man being vp at any other Inn , he was constrained to departe , and so hee tooke on his waie to Brainford , wher he lay that night .

Sir Iohn , his gelding set vp , the dores shut in , himselfe gone to bed , his footman departed with money in his pursse for his expence and all thinges ( as it seemed ) well , but that the host and his wife obserued a certain wild and stearne looke in his countenance , at last being in bedde , called and knocked for the Hoast of the house to come vnto him , who being come into the chamber ( for the good man himselfe had no place to go to bed in ) sir Iohn said vnto him , I pray thee mine host sit by me a while : I will , said the goodman , and so fetching his cloake to wrappe about him , returned and sate downe by his bedde side . But the Gentlemans mind being troubled , he could by no meanes sleepe , or take any rest , but ( oftentimes starting verie suddenlie as if he had been scard ) alwaies hee would be talking of some ydle matter or other , vttering much disiointed talke ; as telling the goodman of the house , that he had lyen in a better bed than that was , whereunto the poore man replyed , in the pleasingst speaches that he could ( because hee noted him to looke somewhat wildly ) I make no question thereof sir , but surelie I haue no better at this time , ( the bed being sufficient for an honest Man ) If I had better your worship should haue it , I am sorrie for your sake that it is no better . Thus would hee oftentimes speake vnto him . At another time he saide ; I am in Minde troubled , I am disquieted : Then woulde he turne him from one side to the other . Somtimes he woulde saie that sir William Courtneys men were com to aprehend him : for the goodmans wife of the house lyeng in the next roome , and another Man named Robert Goddart , who was a day-laborer , and lodged in another room adioyning also , heard both his talke and his vnquiet rest .

Thus troubled in mind , and oppressed , ( as by the sequele shall God willing , apear ) either with the remorcefull thoughtes of an accusing conscience , or with the despairing remembrance of his forepassed euill life , or with the fearefull appearance of that dread full day of iudgement , when all fleshe shall be called to an account for their deeds don , euerie one to receiue according to that hee hath done , either good or evill ; or with the threatninges of Sathan , who visibly ( it may be ) appeared vnto him , menacing him with eternal damnation for his fourmer wickednesse , or with what other dreadfull apparition , illusion , apprehension , terror or temptation , hee who knoweth all thinges ( and none else ) certainlie knoweth . Thus I saie , being disquieted , the good-man of the hous remained with him , vntill betweene foure & five of the clocke in the morning ; at what time , seeing that the morning was faire and he had businesse to goe about , hee lefte the Gentleman alone , betweene sleepinge and waking ( as it were ) and softly stealing away , because hee woulde not awaken him if hee could choose , called vnto good-man Goddart ( who laie in the Chamber close by ) to arise , and so went in to his wife and told her ; Wife , I must leaue you with this Gentleman , for I must goe my selfe forth to work . Nay , good husband do not so , said she ; wil you leaue me at home with him alone , and goe forth your self ? I pray you do not , for I am afraid of him , methinkes he talks as if he were frantick . Thus did her minde presage the future mischance , which present after fel out . The good-man answered his wife , if I can get another to worke for me , I will stay at home . By this time , the labourer goodman Goddart was vp and ready , being prepared to go mowe some Vetches , and there fore the goodman of the house and he went to fill a bottle of drink to take vnto the field ; but as they were together filling the bottle , they heard somthing giue a iumpe . I think said one of them vnto the other , the gentleman be either leapt , or fallen out of his bed : which wordes they had no sooner vttered , but foorth comes Sir John in his shirt , with his naked rapyer in his hande , his eies looking as if they hadde sparkled foorth fire ; his countenaunce so terrible and gastly , as that it was of power to haue scarred a mann out of his wittes ; and his strength so forceable ( as it seemd to them ) it was bootles for on or two to withstand him , ( for needs must he go whom the diuell driues ) the men fear fully gaue back , and he slips out at the back dore and so towards the gate which led out of the street into the back-side , and beeing gon forth of the gate , the men stept into the backside likewise , wher being , said the good man softlie to the other ( the present sighte of his naked weapon , causing a presumption of such a matter ) God graunt hee haue not murdered my wife and children ; and some made towards the gate , purposing to shutte the gate after him , which he perceiuing , suddenly retires ( for his feet were swift to shed bloud ) and espyeng the man going to shut the Gate , desperately cried out : Ah villain ? Art thou one of them that should aprehend me ? Art thou he that shoulde laie holde of me ? I will surely kil thee ( swearing a blodie oath , if there were no more Men liuing ) & therewith suddenly and violentlie ran at the goodman of the house with his Rapier , but feare made the man nimble and swift , for before Sir Iohn could retyre , the goodmanne had closed the gate , and his Rapier point hitting in a little hole of the gate ( a fatal hole it was ) thrust him quite through the bodie , be tweene his shoulder and his breast , so that the man fell downe presentlie and died , onlie with a woful noyse and hydeous shrieck , crying out ; I am kild . The other man who was close by him , ( but that the gate was shut ) might wel haue beene serued with the same sawce likewise : wherefore being strucken into such a terrible feare at the death of the goodman of the house as that the scarcely knew which waie hee went , euen as the fearefull byrd , which hearing the sounde of the Havkes bels , creepeth into euerie bush , thereby thinking to escape death ; euen so , I saie , he runs vppe and downe , to seek som place to hide himselfe , from so furious an Enemie . Sir Iohn Fites , being without the gate , runs rounde about by the pale on the streate side , still raging and rauing in moste terrible manner .

Thus did he expostulate with himselfe a while , and after this manner did hee deale with himselfe .

Now a man would iudge that the Deuill himselfe should be glutted with bloud , but yet , Sir John , ( miserable and wretched man that hee was ) takes againe the point of his bloudyed Rapier , and setting it some twoe or three inches from the same place , ( what pitty could be expected to bee shewed vnto other , from one who would shew non vnto himselfe ) with all his mighte , ranne againe thereupon , goring himselfe quite thorough the body : And yet again , a second time pulling it out ( for Sathans mallice is boundles ) ( Oh worthie courage , had it been in a good cause ) he runs into the house after the Woman , but his strength fayling him , downe he falles in the floore of the house , where hee was anon ( for as yet few had the courage to hinder his attempts , were stirring ) found wallowing in his owne bloud , like a Pigge that had beene latelie sticked . Oh heauye spectacle ! Oh Tragicall and rufull sighte ! Pitty it was , if God had so beene pleased , that it had not falne out otherwaies .

NOw tell me , thou that readest ; Didst thou euer read a thing more tragical ? Didst thou euer looke vppon a more wofull spectacle ? Didst thou euer heare of a more horrible , strange , and lamentable fact ? Again , if thou enter into a further consideration of Gods Justice , is it not a sufficient warning , to make a man giue himselfe to prayer vnto the Almighty God of heauen , to bee deliuered from the like temptation ? Hereby may a man perceue what the worm of a mans conscience ( of a guilty consciense and the guilt of murder depressed with desperation ) is . Hereby may al young Gentle men and Gallants , take heed and bee warned , that they giue not themselues ouer vnto to their lustes , to follow after and lay holde on the least meanes that may be to do euill , and shun such meanes , as might leade them vnto goodnesse . Hereby may wilde heades perceiue what it is to follow luste , drunkennesse , and excessiue riot , the verie true badges of a dissolute and vnrulie life , and lastly ( if God call not to repentance ) a wicked & vngodly end . Hereby may al Ruffians and swearing swaggerers ( if any sparke of grace remaine in them ) bee warned to leaue off their wicked liues , and to turne vnto the most iuste God , least hee in his iustice suffer them to be so tempted likewise . Herby may the Stabbers , and killers of this age , be warned to staie their hands , and not to shedde the bloud of Gods saintes ( for it is precious in his sight ) otherwise hee in his Iustice will giue them ouer to be tempted of Sathan , to be the Butchers of their owne selues , as this man was . But let me now proceed to make an ende of this wofull and heauye Narration .

Neighbors being by this time gathered togither about the house , came in & found the man of the house quite dead , hauing yeilded ( no doubt ) his soule into the handes of his Redeemer . But Sir Iohn Fites not altogither dead , but fainting for want of strength , laie tumbling and wallowing in his own gore , ( hauing a strong heart , and myghtie courage , but yet willing ( as it should seem ) to die if he could , vntill that company beeing assembled came in , and findinge him in that wofull case , tooke him vp , and carried him into the chamber , and presentlie Surgeons were sent for to seeke meanes to cure him : but he ( as vnwilling now to hear of life as he was before eager of death ) woulde by no meanes endure to hear of any Surgeon . But notwithstanding diuers were sent for , as namely , maister Quinsie of Brainford with others : who being come tented the wounds perforce , but he still pulled them out again , alwaies crying out , that he would die , and not liue . Thus hauing done diuers times , at last he was let bloud , and diuers meanes vsed for his recouerie , but all preuailed not , for after he had liued some 48. houres after his hurts , he gaue vp the Ghost .