A true reporte or description of an horrible, wofull, and moste lamentable murther doen in the citie of Bristowe by one Ihon Kynnestar, a sherman by his occupation, declaryng howe wickedly he murthered his owne wife, in the monethe of August laste paste, and beyng taken, was ha[n]ged the same moneth 1572 and now newly set forth in print the .xxv. daie of the monethe of Ianuary. 1573.

A true reporte or description of an horrible , wofull , and moste lamentable murther , doen in the citie of Bristowe by one Ihon Kynnestar , a Sherman by his occupation , declaryng howe wickedly he murthered his owne wife , in the monethe of August laste paste , and beying taken , was hanged the same moneth 1572 and now newly set forth in print the .xxv daie of the monethe of Ianuary . 1573.

¶ At London By Henry Kirkham .

¶ These bee the witnesses that this is true . Thomas Pepper Dauie Floyde , Willyam welche . Richard Barwicke vicare of the Temple in Bristowe .

AS I a slepe in bedde did lye , In a stormie and windie night : I hard a voice full loude did crie , Beholde a dolefull sight . A woman here lieth dedde on grounde , God knoweth here I dead haue her found , Drawe nere and see her deadly wounde , Whiche greuous is to me : Beholde he saied , and cried faste , She is out of a windowe caste , The people then in all the haste , Drewe nere that facte to see . And I drewe nere emong the reste , This vglie sight to vewe : Alas I sawe it was no geste , His saiynges was to true . For there the corps of one laie dedde , At night she merie went to bedde , But now the peoples eyes she fedde , As she laie on the grounde , I musyng how this facte might bee , One saied , O man doest thou not see , It is her husbandes worke truely , That hath giuen her deathes wounde . Then for her husbande I did call , And asked where he might bee : No newes of hym there was at all , For no man did hym see . Then to his doore I did procede , In all the haste I knockt with spede , Then came he forthe that did the deede , He knewe it was not well , And when he came he was agaste , Because he heard me knocke so faste , Where is thy wife , I askte at laste , Saied he I can not tell . I tooke hym then faste by the arme , His wife to hym did showe : I askte of hym who was the same , Saied he , I doe not knowe , O man saied I , were thou distracte , When thou committest this wicked facte , If thou haddest tolde , what was thy lacke , Or opened once thy mynde , If thou to God haddest often praied On thee had neuer come this daie , Come man with me , thou must awaie , Leaue house and gooddes behynde . Then to the Sherief I hym brought , Within a little space : And by the waie I hym besought , To call to God for grace . Saiyng thou hast not long to leue , Wherefore the self to praier geue , From God see nothyng thee remeue , But in hym put thy truste , The Sherief beyng scarcely raied , To here this facte , was halfe dismaied , Game forthe , and to this man he saied , To prison now thou muste . I tooke hym then faste by the hande . Awaie with hym I went : Thou kildest thy wife , I vnderstande , Tell me for what intente . Was there betwene you suche debate , That in thy harte sprong mortall hate , For to kill her that was thy mate , The deuill was greate in thee . His wordes thei were to me againe , This mynde in me did long remaine , She is now rewarded for her paine , That she hath doen to me . But yet I askt hym this before , Saiyng , some doeth beare in hande , Thou haste money , and that good store , Let me it vnderstande . That parte of it maie now thee helpe , While thou art in this miserie , Where it doeth lye , therefore tell me , Giue some before thou dye , If I should neuer goe here hence . I haue no more but one fiue pence , That God doth knowe , who is my defence I speake vnfainedly . Vnto the place I brought hym then , Imprisoned for to bee : And this I saied to hym againe , Loe here now thou maiest see . In prison here thou shal be caste , In yron colde thou shal be faste , Cause of the deede that doen thou haste , Whiche greuous is to see . But how that thou diddest kill thy wife , Was it with dagger or with knife , Or how thou tookest awaie her life , I praie thee tell it me . Seyng you request so earnestly , The truthe of me to knowe , I will it tell you certainly , And all thyng to you showe . This night before we were merie , As any man and wife could be : And that the neighbours did vs see , Betwene vs was no strife , And after I had slept a while , I did not thinke her yet to spoile , Till in my head was put this stile , A rise goe kill thy wife . Then was I in a marueilous rage , I could not long lye still , Ther was nothyng my wrath could swage But I must worke my will . Then from my wife there did I goe , Recountyng her to be my foe , Wherefore I thought to worke her woe , What meane you man she saied , And if thou be a very man , Tell me whether thou doest goe than , My aunswere was , I will come anan , It forceth not to thee . Then doune I went immediately , To the haule I did procede : I knowyng where the knife did lye , The whiche should doe the deede . When in my hande I had it take , I of her death accoumpte did make , Came vp and sodainly her strake , In bedde where she did lye . And when she felt her fleshe so smarte , Out of the bedde anone she starte . O man saied she . you haue perced my hart , That I am like to dye . Yet for all that I did not leaue , But wounded her in deede , Her woundes I could not well perceiue , But as I felte them bleede . Alas she saied , no more , O man , For Christes sake now holde thy hande , I am nere death , I vnderstande , Sweete man no more , she cried . But when she sawe no remedie , O man she saied , God forgeue thee , And Christ take mercie vpon me , And so fell doune and died . A candle then in all the hast , I went to light with speede , For sorowes none my harte did taste , For all my wicked deede . If light I could haue gotte at all , My neighbours in I would haue call , To see what had betwene vs fall , My wife there dedde should see . But seyng that I no light could gette , Into the bedde againe I lepte , Thinkyng a while for to to haue slept , Alas it would not be . A thousande thoughtes came in my minde My wittes were not myne owne , To seé how blouddely I was fedde , With seedes whiche the diuell had sowen , For then my wife on grounde laie dedde , Before a slepe she was on bedde , And yet my mynde was alwaies ledde , Against her for to be . For I no sorrowe yet did taste , Rose vp againe in all the hast , Out at a windowe I her cast , Cause people should her see . O what a harte man hadst thou , To wound thy wife so sore , A wound or twoo had bene enow , If it had been no more . But all the while she was aliue , Thou neuer ceasest but still did striue , Till she had twentie wounds and fiue , Whiche one her all were tolde , After that I had once begonne , Greate hast I made till I had doen , Thereby my death I haue now wonne , That all men maie beholde . Then was he brought vnto the hall , For to receaue his meede , And there by name they did hym call . Touchyng his wicked deede , One saide to hym holde vp thy hande , Thou kildest thy wife I vnderstande , How saiest , is it true , speake O man , Art thou giltie , yea or no. It was my deede I not deny , Wherefore good people praie for me , He to the iudge againe did saie , Giltie the trouth is so . The iudge then iudgement on him gaue And saied now thou must dye : Worse death thou hast deserued to haue , But take this paciently . From whence againe thou shalt retourne , Vnto the place from whence thou come , With these thy fellowes all and some , That were so leudely ledde , To Mighels hille , then thou shalt procede , There for to receiue thy meede , Because thou diddest a wicked deede , Hang there till thou be dedde . When to his death then that he went , The preacher went hym by , Exhortyng hym , saiyng repent , Prepare thy self to dye . This worlde now that thou must leaue , And that thou seest and well perceiue , God will thy soule no doubt receiue , For all this wicked deede . Trust then in Christ saued to be , Beleue I saie , that onely he , Thy wickednesse hath forgiue thee , He hath it so decreed . But when he came vnto the place , In deede where he should die : One saied , beholde the ende and race , Of all thy miserie . Anon thy soule in heauen shal be , Where thou shalt God beholde and see , With greate ioye and felicitie , Feare not to die therefore , There sainctes and angels doeth still syng , We praise the lorde our heauenly kyng , And then with them thou shalt begin , To praise hym euermore . Finis . qd D. S.

¶ An admonishment of the same . YE that on yearth with liuely sence , are now adorned right : Perpende and notifie this facte , expressed here in sight . He bare the name of honestie , as by his outwarde showe . Appered no lesse , for but a fewe , the contrarie did knowe : Yet in his harte such deadly sinne , for want of seruyng God. There did remaine that vainly he , did nought regarde his Rodde : And as a stock whiche outwardly , is trim bedeckt with Golde . Beset with pearles and precious stones , yea more then twentie folde : But yet within is nothyng els , but Timber rough and plaine : Euen so was he a persone light , and of opinion vaine . As by his deades it doeth appeare , the greater is my care : That suche as Christians haue to name , should so with sinne compare . Therefore let al men take good heede how they doe leade their life : And how thei doe behaue them selues , in liuyng with their wife . If that thou canst not well agree , with her and with her vse : Or if thou doest perceiue and see , her self she doeth abuse . Admonishe her the contrarie , if that will not preuaile : Doe separate thy self from her , suche grudgyngs for to quaile . T is better that thou liue alone , in peace and so to rest : Then for to greeue thee with thy wife , or yet thy self molest . If this vnrighteous persone here , had followed this aduise : To slaie his wife from out his bedde , he would not seme to rise . But Sathan who had hym subdued , did egge hym to the same : That he obliuious of the Lorde , did nothyng waigh the shame . That would ensue , nor yet the woe , wherein he should remaine : But rashly did put forthe hym self , with Sathan for to raine . A lamentable case it is , for any christian harte : To thinke that he a Christian should , so rudely plaie his parte . And yelde hym self as Sathans thrall , who ought in deede by right : To be his foe , and also vnder , Christ his Banour fight . For Sathan roareth vp and doune as Lions for their praie : Sekyng whom he maie deuour , and bryng vnto decaie . If we did well remember this , or beare it in our braine : We would not séeme to grée vnto , such fancies fonde and vaine . But we are so be witched still , with diuelishe operation : That in the end it bringeth nought vnto vs but damnation . Example well your selues with this same tyraunts doyng here : And iudge if any feare of God , in hym there did appeare . ●f none , why then shunne you thesame and learne to mende your misse , That after death you maie remaine , in comfortable blisse . And serue the Lorde in holines , and puritie of life : That euery man maie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his family and wife . And that there maie suche vnitte ; appere betwine the● swaine : That God maie still be glorified , where glorious he doth raigne . God graunt vs all to folowe this , and then we maie be sure● With God the son and holy ghost , for euer to endure . Vnto the whiche I saie amen , and so let all the rest : That loue the lorde and feare his name , for so I thinke it best . Psalme . xxv : All the waies of the Lorde are verie mercie , and faithfulnes vnto suche as keepe hi● Testament and couenaunt . Psalme . xxviij . Recompence them after the workes of th●● handes , and paie theim that they ha●● deserued . Finis qd Iude Smith .