The free and voluntary Confession of Alice Clarke , the 18. day of May , 1635. concerning the Death of Fortune Clarke her husband , at the time she was in Prison .

A Iust cause , all persons may conjecture , was given on her part , of great dissensions likely to arise betweene her Husband and her selfe , unto selfe-will shee to be so addicted , disobediently to frequent the company of one White , of whom oftentimes her Husband hand had interdicted her his society and familiarity : which acquaintance of theirs was begun , before Clarke her Husband , entred into Marriage with her , and therefore with no small difficulty could be forgotten , or shaken off , such former ancient entertainments . No admonitions or threats to either parties could prevaile , that proceeded from Clarke unto his wife , or unto White , of continuall private meetings betweene them : Which Clarke perceiving , outragiously fell from words unto blowes with his wife , the smart whereof she feeling , incontinently begot in her heart dislike , and resolution of revenge on her Husband Clarke for the same , a fit humour for the devill to worke on , and to her old friend White , to give occasion , not of dislike , but content to put in practice what she intended , which he might easily perceive by many pensive declamatitions , in private utter'd betweene themselves of her Husbands unkinde usage : The confirmation whereof appeares by the words that proceeded out of her owne mouth .

First , she confessed , because she often companied with White , that stirred up her Husbands iust anger against White and her selfe .

Secondly , that unawares unto them both , her Husband finding her and White shut up together privately in a Chamber in the house , on Ascension-day last in the afternoone , was thereat so with fury enraged , that hee did beate White going out of the doores , and after that , freshly fell foule upon her , and so cruelly added blowe upon blow upon her body , that the markes thereof were very visible on her body at this present . Her old Love , White , instantly taketh this unto heart , and in a rage ( as she said ) uttered these words , That it were better for one to be hanged , then to endure so discontented a life , and presently putting his hand into his pocket , he tooke out 4 Tokens , and gave them unto Alice Clarke , saying unto her , if he had had more money , hee would have given it unto her : which 4 Tokens so given unto her , she went ▪ unto Vxbridge forthwith , and that , afternoone bought a penny-worth of Mercury of an Apothecary in Vxbridge , intending the same unto her Husband , with a further reservation , that if her Husband had not taken it , she would have administred the same unto herselfe , and so put an end unto all her sorrows , as she vainely supposed .

Thirdly , she said , that she was not the cause of her Husbands death , because shee gave not unto him the poyson whereof he died , but he tooke it himselfe violently out of her pockets , which her Husband had rifled , upon hope to finde some chinke or money there : but of such hopes he altogether was disappointed and deluded . Whether this be not a lame excuse , or strange delusion , I referre it unto the censure of the Judicious ; and no further discovery of the fact , could I get from her at that time .

Shee further said , that on Ascension-day her husband violently attempted to drowne himselfe , which shee prevented by her language upon him : but in short space afterwards dyed that Night of the Mercury , taken by himselfe out of her pocket , as afore-said .

Fourthly , shee seemed to be very much afflicted in conscience , that shee was a yeare since gotten with Child by her Master , with whom shee last dwelt withall ▪ who perceiving the same , with a small summe of money , matched her unto Fortune Clarke her Husband , about Alhallontide last , whom she could not love , or have any matter of maintenance , but relied upon her Masters former promises for the same : and hee fayling of giving her meanes , fell into folly and wickednesse . A great clog unto such a mans conscience , if it be true ; to seduce a woman unto his will , and so leave her .

A SHORT TRACT VPON THE hainousnesse of Poysoning .

THough there be sundry sorts of Murther with their severall degrees , as open , or secret , acted upon a friend , a stranger , or ones selfe , yet in my opinion , I know not any of them which containes so much villany , neither including so many deepe circumstances in them , as that of poysoning : That I thinke is the reason that there are so few examples of it in Holy writ , this way either being then not knowne ; followed , or practised ; therefore to descrbe the quality of it and to aggravate it , I must wish you to consider these foure things .

First , the Duplicem modum , secondly , the Duplicem effectum : Modus prior , the first Manner , Deliberando , Meditando , Is an Act done by Deliberation , or Meditation , no waies carried , and hurried by the violence either of will or of passion , but done upon a cold blood , and not seldome upon fixed resolutions .

Modus posterior , Celando , obtegendo , by a secret intent to hide it and conceale it from God if it were possible , so it is to the Patient under the shadow of some Physicke , or other medicine , coloured with an outward shew of an honest intent , and as far as they can from the Publick Magistrate ; or else to make a distance of time , either to excuse themselves , or flye away from the hands of Justice : though ,

Secondly , Effectus prior , sensus 〈◊〉 by changing , stupifying , or absolutely taking away the senses , and depraving the operative Organs of the soule , and sometimes infecting all the principles of life ; as the head , the heart , and the liver , howsoever altering and overthrowing the frame and constitution of mans body in generall , and making him unfit for a prepararation of himselfe for death , though it be upon him , so that without the speciall Mercy of God , the party thus abused , dyes without either knowledge of his sinnes , or repentance for them .

Secondly , Effectus posterior , creaturarum abusus , the abusing of the Creatures , contrary to the end of their Creation : They ▪ being brought forth for the use and health of Mans Body , by this meanes they are made deadly , nay this manner of killing any , makes not onely the prime Agent guilty , but infects , and makes guilty others too ; or at least , causes them to be examined strictly by the Magistrate : so that howsoever their good name for the present , is blotted and blemished , and what more is , they have but two wayes to comfort themselves , the first , is the witnesse of their owne Consciences Integrity , the second , is the Judges knowledge of their Innocence and Ignorance , by a prudent examination , of the fact perpetrated by all circumstances , and suspicious Arguments : And in this kinde the Apothecary for selling , the Messengers for buying , the Composers of it , and the deliverers of it to the party , stand in an hazard either of their lives , or fortunes , or both .

Laying aside all these together , I hope it will easily appeare what a haynous sinne it is , when it is thus committed first , with Deliberation : Secondly ; with Secresie : Thirdly , with disabling the party to fit himselfe for mercy , and with the abusing the blessings of God and their owne knowledge : and lastly , for bringing others into danger as well as themselves , yet what is more , all this done under the Gospell ; and often , as at this present , against one whose life , credit , goods , and good name , the offender ought to cherish and maintaine to the uttermost : So I may take up that saying of Iacob to his two Sonnes , My soule come not into their secrets , neither bee ioyned with their assemblies : nor have to doe with their practises , whose conclusions are so deepely dyed with the blood of Innocents .

The second Confession of Alice Clarke this 10. day of May , 1635. at the place of Execution , concerning the poysoning of her husband , Fortune Clarke .

PHysitians of the Soule ought to immitate those learned Physitians of the body , frequent visitations of those sicke patients , whose diseases are desperate and inveterate ; and sometimes it chanceth , that they must desire , necessity so requireth , the advice and sound opinions of others their Colleagues . Even thus it happened betweene this obdurate Malefactor and my selfe , who in Adultery was so Rooted , and insensible of the heavy burthen , and most intollerable plagues insuing for it . That at the first and second times of my visiting of her , little or no Repentance I found in her , or her heart to be touched for her most horrid clamorous crimes . This is apparant , if you compare her first confession unto this , how different in truth , how improbable the one are unto the other ; nay what she confessed on Munday , shee was so far off to proceede in a further revealing of her selfe , that what touched her home , concerning her husbands death , she would have denied , though formerly confessed by her most confidently true .

I was thereuppon inforced to hold her unto it , and to extract the truth , and trye her spirit , called two of the Keepers of the Goale , to her unknowne , whom I appoynted to obserue and remember the speeches that passed betweene us , to verifie them unto her face , which attestation both of my selfe , and of them , shee would out-face , but could not .

Vppon Wensday morning , on which shee was executed , there assembled unto Newgate multitudes of people to see her , and some conferred with her , but little good they did on her , for shee was of a stout angry disposition , suddainly inraged , if you began to touch her to the quicke of her husband poysoning . Being that morning of her death accompanied and also assisted by divers of my worthy , grave , and learned brethren in the Ministery , before and at the time of her Execution , for which I doe most heartily thanke them , but that God whose worke it was , their reward for it with him is layd up in store . Like my selfe , they stood as men amazed , to perceive that none of theirs , or any other serious perswasions could for a great while prevayle with her , ioyned in opinion with me , that she was no fitting guest for the Table of the Lord Iesus thereupon , I made as though I would have excluded her thence , in denying the benefit of the holy Communion , of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ , inferring the benefit of the unspeakeable blesse , by the worthy receiving of it by Repentance and Faith , and the most woefull malediction to all impenitent and unworthy receivers . Whereupon , it pleased God , so to mollifie her heart , that teares from her eyes , and truth from her tongue proceeded , as may appeare by this her ensuing Confession at the very Stake , where she was executed , unto Mr. Cordall , Sheriffe of London , relating the same with as loud and audible a voice , as possible she could , that many others besides , there present , were also witnesses of such her ensuing Confession .

First she confessed that Henry White , who was arraigned as a party with her , consenting unto her Husbands death , did give unto her one Ascension day in the after noon , foure brasse tokens , advising her therewith to goe and buy one penyworth of Mercury , and give it unto her Husband , saying , if that her husband were dead , she should live more quietly and contentedly with him , & after such his death , that he the said White would marry with her ; whereupon she went unto Vxbridge , and that afternoone bought the Mercury .

Secondly , shee confessed that her Master got her with childe a yeare since , which was her overthrow , and mediated for the Marriage , betweene her and her Husband , whom shee could not love , nor no way affect . By her Masters perswasion , who sent her up to London to be Married , and payed the costs thereof , and further promised her maintenance during her life , if she did condescend unto his desiers , which were most unlawfull , dishonest , and unchaste , before and after her Marriage , with Fortune Clarke her Husband .

Thirdly , shee confessed , that one of Hillinden inticed her , to run away from her Husband , with him beyond the Seas , and that she did lodge in that mans house , and lay with him a whole fortnight , and speaking unto him of her Husband , that shee would not forsake him , hee thereupon advised her to pop him up with white bread and milke , and to put some thing else into it , to choak or stuffe up his throat .

Fourthly she confessed , for the Mercury which she bought , shee intended it unto her Husband , but having no conuenient opportunity to dispose of it , she put it into her sleeve , which her Husband as she said tooke it out of her hand , and then being over charged with drink he immediatly swallowed it down , which she perceiving , was thereat so perplexed , that she uttred these words unto her Husband , that he had undone both him selfe and her .

And heere give me leave to note unto the World , what a deale of comfort she found , after shee had disburdned her loaded conscience by confession , beeing demaunded at the same instant of her death , yea , or nay ; that after such her confession , shee was by it the better prepared unto death , with comfort , and willingnesse to suffer the same : Shee thus replyed with harty thankefulnesse unto God , that shee had better resolutions unto death , then formerly she had , and by her countenance , which was very ruddy confirmed her inward new begotten chearfulnesse , and that with harty prayer , and sweet tone of voice , surrenderd her soule into the hands of the Lord Iesu , who will have mercy on whom he will have mercy , unto whom wee all stand and fall .

Heere is nothing contained in her confession , but that which true , and what she uttered with her owne mouth ; which I was a witnesse off .

H. Goodcole . FINIS .