A
True
Relation
of
the
cruell
Murthering
of
a
young
Boy
,
not
fully
three
yeares
olde
,
whose
Sister
likewise
had
her
tongue
cut
out
of
her
head
,
hard
by
the
rootes
:
which
murther
and
massacre
was
done
by
a
woman
called
Mother
Dell
,
and
her
Sonne
,
dwelling
at
Hatfield
in
Hartfordshire
,
for
which
monstrous
fact
,
they
were
both
hanged
at
Hartford
this
last
Sises
.
The
onely
witnesse
to
proue
the
Murther
was
the
tongueles
Childe
,
most
mightily
preserued
from
death
,
to
which
Childe
it
pleased
God
to
lend
the
vse
of
speech
,
notwithstanding
the
want
of
her
tongue
.
IN
Hatfield
in
the
Countie
of
Hartford
,
dwelled
an
olde
Widdowe
,
called
Mother
Dell
,
who
had
abiding
with
her
in
the
house
,
onely
her
Sonne
,
named
T.
Dell
:
Into
the
house
of
this
old
woman
(
some
foure
yeares
since
)
was
seene
goe
in
two
prettie
Children
a
Boy
and
a
Girle
,
the
Boy
seemed
not
three
yeares
of
age
,
and
the
Girle
not
much
aboue
foure
.
These
Children
were
led
into
the
said
house
by
a
wandring
Pedler
&
his
wife
(
or
Puncke
.
)
The
going
in
of
these
children
was
noted
by
diuers
,
but
especiallye
by
a
Taylor
dwelling
in
the
towne
called
A.
C.
which
Taylor
markt
them
so
much
the
more
,
for
that
they
were
hansomelye
appare●●●d
and
their
coates
made
with
new
winges
,
skirtes
and
●ags
,
such
as
he
had
not
seene
the
like
of
before
,
which
made
him
presentlye
vpon
the
sight
of
them
,
to
make
a
patterne
of
those
winges
and
Iagges
:
But
doubting
that
he
had
not
taken
a
true
patterne
,
he
watched
to
haue
another
sight
of
those
Children
,
But
when
for
two
or
three
daies
space
hee
could
not
see
them
,
hee
went
to
the
house
of
Mother
Dell
,
and
did
aske
her
for
those
Children
?
shee
answered
him
verye
shortly
saying
:
they
were
safe
enough
,
for
they
were
gone
againe
with
them
that
brought
them
.
With
this
answere
the
Taylor
was
satisfyed
,
because
it
no
further
conscernd
him
then
the
getting
of
a
peece
of
a
new
fashion
.
But
within
a
while
after
the
boy
was
found
dead
in
a
ditch
or
water
not
farre
from
the
Towne
,
with
a
great
peece
of
wood
tyed
to
his
backe
.
The
Childe
being
taken
out
,
it
did
plainely
appeare
that
hee
was
murthered
before
he
was
throwne
in
,
The
poore
harmelesse
Infant
being
found
thus
cruelly
murthered
,
and
none
that
looked
on
him
taking
knowledge
of
him
.
His
pretty
litle
coate
was
taken
and
hanged
vp
in
diuers
market
townes
and
proclamation
made
in
euerie
one
of
those
Townes
to
this
effect
,
that
if
any
one
whatsoeuer
could
and
would
tel
where
the
Father
or
Mother
of
the
murthered
Childe
(
which
wore
that
Coate
)
dwelt
,
he
should
haue
fortye
shillings
for
his
paines
,
and
his
charges
borne
to
bring
him
from
and
to
the
place
where
hee
dwelt
:
But
all
this
prooued
to
little
or
no
purpose
,
till
at
the
last
,
this
newes
came
to
the
hearing
of
the
Taylor
,
who
comming
to
the
place
where
the
Coate
was
to
bee
seene
,
and
taking
good
notice
of
it
,
he
presently
calde
to
his
remembrance
,
that
,
that
coate
was
worne
by
one
of
those
Children
which
hee
had
seene
goe
into
the
house
of
Mother
Dell.
The
newes
of
this
comming
to
the
eares
of
Sir
Henry
Butler
and
one
other
Knight
,
being
both
Iustices
,
and
both
dwelling
neere
to
that
place
,
a
warrant
was
made
,
by
veride
whereof
,
the
said
Mother
Dell
and
her
Sonne
were
brought
before
them
both
,
and
strictlye
examined
,
where
they
both
confest
the
two
such
Children
as
the
Taylor
spake
of
,
came
into
the
house
with
a
Pedler
and
his
wife
,
and
that
they
verily
thought
the
Boy
at
that
time
had
that
coate
on
his
backe
:
but
all
this
was
nothing
to
them
,
for
they
neither
knew
the
Penlar
nor
his
wife
,
onely
they
came
thether
to
see
if
they
had
neede
of
any
of
their
ware
,
(
as
it
is
a
common
vse
for
traueling
Pedlars
to
cal
at
diuers
houses
)
&
when
they
had
bestowed
some
little
money
with
them
,
both
hee
his
wife
,
and
those
Children
(
which
they
saide
were
theirs
)
went
out
on
the
backside
of
the
house
,
and
what
after
became
of
them
,
they
knew
not
.
Vpon
this
their
confession
,
they
were
both
bound
ouer
to
appeare
and
answere
at
the
next
Assizes
,
the
Iustices
hoping
ere
that
time
to
finde
out
the
actor
or
actors
of
that
more
then
monstrous
tragedy
.
But
alas
their
hopes
were
deceiued
,
for
the
time
was
not
yet
come
wherein
God
had
decreed
to
bring
this
cruell
,
barbarous
,
and
bloody
masacre
to
light
:
yet
notwithstanding
,
they
were
still
bound
ouer
from
Sise
to
Sise
,
almoste
for
foure
yeares
,
in
which
time
,
the
saide
Mother
Dell
bestowed
great
cost
in
altering
repayring
,
and
furnishing
of
her
house
,
which
made
many
of
her
neighbors
much
to
wonder
,
for
that
they
knew
not
from
whence
shee
should
haue
wherewith
to
defray
that
charge
.
But
now
let
vs
leaue
both
her
and
her
Sonne
to
the
bel
and
horror
of
a
guiltie
conscience
,
which
alwaies
waytes
and
attends
on
murtherers
,
and
let
vs
now
speake
of
the
poore
mangled
and
dismembred
Girle
,
who
was
now
in
farre
worse
case
then
her
dead
Brother
,
had
not
hee
which
prouides
for
the
whose
world
,
in
his
good
appointed
tyme
prouided
for
her
:
For
her
tongue
was
first
cut
out
of
her
head
by
the
rootes
,
then
was
shee
led
by
this
said
Mother
of
mischiefe
and
her
Sonne
,
(
at
a
time
when
they
were
not
seene
)
to
the
side
of
a
wood
,
which
was
sildome
frequented
,
in
which
place
stood
an
old
great
hollow
tree
,
which
was
not
very
high
.
Hauing
brought
this
helplesse
and
hopelesse
child
to
this
tree
(
which
they
ment
should
be
her
graue
)
the
sonne
got
vp
to
the
top
,
and
rudely
halled
vp
after
him
this
harmles
girle
,
who
hauing
seene
her
brother
murthered
before
her
face
,
had
no
reason
to
hope
of
life
,
yet
did
she
not
cease
with
teares
and
signes
to
begge
for
pitie
of
these
pittilesse
wretches
,
whose
hearts
being
much
harder
then
stone
,
would
not
relent
:
for
this
mercilesse
villaine
let
her
slippe
into
the
tree
where
they
left
her
,
in
hope
neuer
more
to
see
her
,
or
heare
of
her
.
But
he
that
preserued
Daniel
in
the
Lions
den
,
and
made
the
blinde
to
see
,
the
lame
to
goe
,
and
the
dumbe
to
speake
,
did
not
onely
preserue
the
life
of
this
childe
,
but
also
did
giue
vnto
her
an
extraordinarie
strength
and
vigor
,
whereby
she
was
able
,
and
did
make
such
a
noyse
,
that
a
man
comming
by
that
way
(
not
by
chaunce
,
but
surlye
by
the
prouidence
and
appointment
of
God
)
hearing
a
strange
humming
,
and
hollow
crying
,
drawing
neare
to
that
tree
,
perceiued
the
noyse
and
crie
to
come
from
thence
,
which
made
him
get
vp
to
the
top
of
it
,
where
being
and
looking
downe
into
it
,
he
behelde
that
pittifull
,
ruthfull
,
and
bloody
spectacle
:
which
when
he
had
a
while
looked
on
with
pittie
and
compassion
,
and
hauing
spoke
to
her
,
and
perceyuing
by
her
signes
that
she
could
not
answer
him
,
he
made
meanes
to
drawe
her
out
.
Which
when
he
had
done
,
he
began
(
as
may
be
easily
imagined
)
to
bethinke
with
himselfe
,
what
great
trouble
hee
might
come
into
if
hee
were
found
with
the
childe
,
he
being
a
stranger
,
as
it
seemes
he
was
.
And
this
feare
of
trouble
(
as
was
supposed
by
the
graue
and
wise
Iudge
and
Iustices
of
the
Bench
,
when
the
matter
came
to
their
hearing
)
made
this
man
after
he
had
pulled
her
out
of
the
tree
,
to
make
from
her
with
all
the
haste
he
could
.
But
the
poore
soule
pursued
him
with
all
the
haste
she
could
,
crying
and
calling
vnto
him
for
succor
and
helpe
in
the
best
manner
she
could
,
being
therevnto
vrged
by
paine
and
hunger
,
the
least
of
which
will
force
a
man
of
a
resolute
and
resolued
spirit
to
breake
silence
,
had
hee
vowed
the
contrarie
:
much
more
then
being
ioyned
both
together
must
they
force
a
childe
.
In
briefe
then
,
when
she
had
lost
the
sight
of
him
,
God
knowes
what
became
of
her
,
but
no
one
man
or
woman
can
tell
any
certaine
place
of
her
abode
for
almost
these
foure
yeares
.
Many
say
they
haue
seene
such
a
dumbe
child
wander
vp
and
downe
a
begging
,
And
she
herselfe
hath
confessed
(
since
the
time
that
God
hath
lent
her
vse
of
her
speech
and
vtterance
,
that
she
may
bee
easily
vnderstood
by
any
that
shall
heare
her
)
that
she
did
beg
for
her
foode
all
that
time
.
And
questionlesse
,
the
Lord
who
had
reserued
her
,
both
to
bring
so
monstrous
a
murder
,
and
cruell
a
massacre
to
light
,
and
also
to
make
manifest
his
almightie
power
to
many
misbeléeuing
and
vnbeléeuing
miscreants
(
Atheists
I
meane
)
he
,
I
say
,
as
may
most
euidently
appeare
,
did
both
preserue
her
,
and
prouide
for
her
.
And
now
the
time
drawing
neare
,
wherein
it
pleased
God
to
giue
these
wicked
wretches
some
part
of
of
their
reward
,
he
so
directed
the
course
of
this
poore
wandring
childe
,
that
she
came
backe
againe
to
the
towne
of
Hatsield
,
where
she
receiued
her
wrongs
,
hauing
yet
no
vse
of
speech
nor
vtterance
,
whereby
she
might
be
vnderstood
.
And
wandring
vp
and
downe
the
towne
,
little
thinking
she
had
beene
neare
the
place
where
her
innocent
brother
lost
his
life
,
and
herselfe
the
instrument
of
her
speech
:
but
going
along
the
streete
▪
gasing
here
and
there
,
as
children
will
doe
(
yea
and
olde
folkes
too
)
when
they
come
into
a
strange
place
,
At
last
shee
came
by
the
house
where
this
bloodie
tragidie
had
beene
acted
:
which
house
she
no
sooner
sawe
,
but
she
knew
,
as
did
appeare
by
the
signes
of
griefe
and
sorrow
,
which
she
made
at
the
sight
thereof
.
For
what
with
her
crying
,
and
the
extraordinarie
noyse
which
shee
made
,
shee
drewe
people
about
her
,
who
did
in
some
sorte
seeme
to
greeue
at
the
moane
shee
made
:
but
surely
they
could
not
chuse
but
wonder
,
and
desire
to
knowe
what
the
sorrow
and
signes
ment
which
the
childe
made
.
For
one
while
she
would
gape
wide
with
her
mouth
,
drawing
her
fore
finger
to
and
fro
it
,
as
though
she
had
beene
cutting
of
some
thing
:
then
would
she
with
her
finger
poynt
into
the
house
.
And
when
this
mother
Dell
and
her
sonne
came
to
the
doore
,
then
her
crying
and
her
signes
did
séeme
much
to
encrease
,
which
made
the
lookers
on
to
suspect
much
,
but
alas
they
knew
not
what
.
But
at
last
amongst
other
folkes
,
came
the
Tailer
before
spoken
of
,
and
hee
no
sooner
saw
the
child
,
noted
her
signes
,
and
remembred
the
other
Childe
found
in
the
water
and
murthered
as
is
aforesaide
,
but
straight
he
saies
,
that
this
was
the
other
of
those
Children
,
which
was
ledde
into
that
house
long
since
by
the
Pedler
and
his
Wife
.
Then
some
of
the
Neighbours
together
with
the
Taylor
,
tooke
the
childe
and
led
her
into
the
house
,
shee
being
within
,
stood
staring
wildelye
round
about
her
,
at
last
shee
spied
a
paire
of
stayres
,
to
which
shee
went
directlye
,
and
comming
to
them
,
shee
looked
earnestlye
on
them
,
looking
about
the
house
againe
,
she
first
pointed
to
the
stayres
,
and
then
to
a
Corner
of
the
house
,
as
who
should
say
,
these
stayres
did
stand
there
.
This
signe
the
neighbors
vnderstood
well
,
because
they
knew
the
stayres
had
bene
remooued
and
that
made
them
thinke
some
foul●
matter
would
bee
pickt
out
of
her
other
signes
.
Heereupon
they
beganne
to
lay
handes
on
the
Mother
and
her
Sonne
,
to
haue
them
againe
(
now
with
the
Childe
)
before
the
Iustice
,
at
which
the
childe
seemed
to
reioyce
.
Being
brought
before
Sir
Henry
Butler
,
who
was
the
next
Iustice
,
(
and
had
examined
them
diuers
times
before
concerning
these
Children
)
the
Constable
or
Head
borough
beganne
to
tell
vnto
his
Worshippe
the
cause
of
their
comming
,
and
hauing
related
vnto
him
from
point
to
point
,
what
they
had
seene
,
the
Childe
marking
,
and
vnderstanding
them
well
,
fell
to
her
former
signes
againe
before
the
Knight
.
Whereupon
hee
did
with
greate
wisdome
and
discretion
,
examine
them
aparte
,
one
from
another
.
But
they
both
remained
still
obstinate
,
and
in
their
olde
tale
,
confessing
nothing
,
nor
would
anye
of
them
acknowledge
,
that
they
had
euer
seene
the
Girle
before
,
notwithstanding
the
Taylor
did
still
affyrme
it
to
their
faces
,
that
that
was
the
Girle
which
the
Pedler
and
his
wife
led
into
their
house
long
since
with
the
boy
.
The
Iustice
assuring
himselfe
now
,
that
these
were
the
actors
of
that
bloody
Tragedy
,
&
hoping
that
God
would
in
time
make
it
yet
more
plaine
then
if
was
,
hee
caused
a
Mittimus
to
be
made
&
sent
them
to
the
Iayle
,
there
to
remaine
with
out
dayle
or
maine
prise
vntill
the
Assises
.
And
further
hee
willed
the
Constable
to
take
the
Childs
backe
againe
with
him
to
the
Towne
,
and
to
haue
a
great
care
that
she
might
be
wel
looked
vnto
,
and
to
see
the
house
of
Mother
Dell
safely
shut
vp
.
All
this
being
doone
according
to
the
Knightes
commaund
,
&
the
childes
lodging
&
diet
being
much
better
,
then
it
had
beene
long
before
,
she
began
to
gather
both
strength
and
spirit
vnto
her
,
and
to
take
delight
to
playe
amongst
Children
.
But
now
(
Gentle
Reader
)
let
mee
intreate
thee
as
thou
readst
,
not
onelye
to
admyre
and
wonder
,
but
to
prayse
&
and
magnifie
the
mightie
maker
and
preseruer
of
vs
all
,
for
his
great
mercy
and
might
shewed
to
this
poore
childe
,
in
this
next
succeeding
action
,
which
if
wee
looke
into
but
with
the
eyes
of
naturall
reason
and
humane
sence
,
it
will
be
thought
incredible
and
impossible
.
But
with
God
nothing
is
impossible
,
&
this
ought
not
to
be
thought
incredible
,
because
it
was
so
lately
and
so
neere
vnto
vs
done
,
and
for
that
the
Childe
is
yet
liuing
in
Harfield
,
to
affirme
for
truth
,
all
that
is
heere
written
of
her
.
Now
you
shal
vnderstand
,
that
this
girle
being
playing
with
other
children
on
the
backe-side
of
some
mans
house
in
the
towne
,
where
cocks
,
hens
,
&
chickens
were
féeding
,
It
pleased
God
at
that
time
,
to
make
a
cocke
to
be
(
as
it
were
a
tutor
to
the
child
,
and
)
his
first
messenger
of
this
mightie
miracle
,
like
as
a
bird
of
the
same
name
and
nature
,
vsing
the
selfe
same
note
,
put
Peter
in
minde
that
hee
had
denied
his
maister
:
from
which
his
remembrance
,
sprung
his
true
and
heartie
repentance
.
But
to
proceede
:
This
child
being
playing
(
as
I
said
before
)
one
of
the
cocks
in
the
yard
began
to
crow
,
and
another
answered
him
and
thus
they
continued
aprettie
while
.
At
last
one
of
the
children
began
(
after
their
maner
)
to
mocke
the
cockes
,
crying
cocke-adoodle-doo
:
in
the
end
this
dumbe
child
,
strayning
her selfe
,
cried
as
t●●
rest
had
done
,
cocke-adoodle
doo
,
which
made
all
the
children
amazde
:
and
one
of
them
that
stoode
next
her
,
said
:
what
,
canst
thou
speake
now
?
I
that
I
can
(
said
she
)
speaking
it
so
plainly
that
they
all
vnderstoode
her
.
The
hearing
of
this
made
the
children
breake
vp
their
play
,
and
runne
home
with
ioy
to
the
house
where
this
child
was
kept
,
to
carrie
newes
.
And
when
she
came
home
to
the
house
where
she
was
kept
,
and
the
folke
of
the
house
finding
the
report
of
the
children
to
be
true
,
with
exceeding
ioy
(
after
the
asking
of
her
some
few
questions
,
to
which
she
did
answere
verie
directly
)
they
led
her
againe
to
the
knight
before
named
,
to
whom
they
tolde
what
had
happened
.
Which
when
he
had
heard
(
he
being
furnished
with
the
feare
of
God
,
which
is
indeede
the
true
fountaine
and
foundation
of
wisedome
)
hee
first
of
all
gaue
thankes
to
God
,
and
then
he
did
aske
her
who
cut
out
her
tongue
?
she
said
,
the
olde
woman
and
her
sonne
,
that
killed
her
brother
,
and
put
her
into
the
trée
:
then
he
asked
her
who
tooke
her
out
of
the
tree
?
and
she
saide
,
a
man
,
that
when
hee
had
done
did
runne
away
from
her
because
she
could
not
speake
to
him
.
He
likewise
asked
whither
she
went
then
?
but
alas
she
could
not
tell
him
:
then
he
did
aske
her
,
who
brought
her
to
the
old
womans
house
first
?
and
she
said
a
man
and
a
woman
that
had
killed
her
father
and
her
mother
,
and
taken
a
great
bagge
of
money
from
them
.
And
she
said
that
the
man
and
woman
had
giuen
a
great
deale
of
that
money
to
the
olde
woman
:
and
that
the
olde
woman
did
at
that
time
lift
vp
her
hands
thrée
times
,
and
did
sweare
thrée
times
,
that
she
would
neuer
tell
any
body
who
they
were
.
These
and
many
other
questions
the
Knight
did
aske
her
,
to
all
which
she
did
answer
,
with
more
reason
and
sense
,
then
is
common
to
one
of
her
age
.
To
conclude
,
the
Sises
being
come
,
an
Inditement
was
preferd
against
the
mother
and
the
sonne
,
to
which
inditement
they
pleaded
not
guiltie
,
and
put
themselues
to
the
ordinarie
triall
.
Whereupon
the
childe
was
brought
before
the
Bench
,
and
stoode
vpon
the
Table
betweene
the
Bench
and
the
Iury.
.
Where
after
that
the
foresaid
knight
had
opened
some
part
of
this
foule
offence
,
the
childe
was
asked
diuerse
of
the
former
questions
:
to
which
she
answered
as
before
.
The
taylor
likewise
was
there
,
who
tolde
vnto
the
Iurie
what
he
had
seene
.
Then
the
Iurie
was
willed
to
goe
togither
:
but
before
they
went
,
they
did
looke
into
the
childes
mouth
,
but
could
not
see
so
much
as
the
stumpe
of
a
tongue
therein
.
The
Iurie
staid
not
long
before
they
returned
with
their
verdite
guiltie
,
wherevpon
they
had
sentence
of
death
pronounced
against
them
,
and
were
both
hanged
at
Hartfort
the
fourth
day
of
August
.
1606.
Thus
farre
(
gentle
reader
)
haue
I
set
down
briefly
and
truly
the
maner
of
this
monstrous
massacre
.
And
how
farre
it
hath
pleased
God
to
reueale
some
of
the
Authors
:
and
for
some
secrete
purpose
best
knowne
to
himselfe
,
to
conceale
the
rest
,
which
questionlesse
shall
be
made
knowne
in
his
good
appointed
time
,
when
it
shall
bee
most
for
his
honour
and
glorie
.
In
the
meane
time
,
let
me
intreat
all
you
which
doe
reade
or
heare
this
ruthfull
discourse
,
to
meditate
(
as
I
doe
and
will
)
on
the
many
miseries
and
mischances
mankinde
is
subiect
to
,
which
if
you
doe
,
questionlesse
you
will
make
lesse
ioy
at
the
birth
of
your
children
,
and
lesse
sorrow
at
their
death
then
commonly
you
doe
,
and
rather
secke
(
in
some
sort
)
to
imitate
those
Heathens
,
which
did
sing
and
daunce
at
the
death
of
their
children
,
then
those
Christians
which
doe
mourne
and
sorrow
as
men
past
hope
.
As
for
the
loue
which
ordinarily
men
beare
vnto
their
children
,
it
may
more
fitlye
bee
called
loue
to
themselues
,
then
to
their
children
.
For
notwithstanding
we
all
know
or
ought
to
know
,
that
no
one
is
truly
happy
till
his
end
,
if
he
die
well
,
yet
many
(
nay
most
of
vs
)
doe
rather
desire
to
haue
our
children
suruiue
vs
,
then
to
see
them
fairely
bestowed
before
vs
.
Neuer
thinking
,
respecting
,
or
regarding
,
what
may
come
to
them
after
our
death
:
so
our
humors
be
fed
in
our
liues
.
And
if
this
may
not
truly
be
said
to
be
selfe-loue
,
I
know
not
what
is
selfe-loue
.
Therefore
let
vs
all
and
euery
one
of
vs
,
referre
and
put
our
willes
to
Gods
will
,
assuring
our selues
,
that
all
things
shall
worke
togither
for
the
best
,
for
them
that
loue
and
feare
him
.
As
for
the
Pedler
and
his
wife
,
which
the
child
hath
confest
to
haue
robbed
and
kild
her
father
and
mother
,
they
are
not
yet
found
out
,
nor
is
the
place
and
above
of
her
too
vnfortunate
Parents
yet
knowne
But
yet
all
in
good
time
,
if
it
be
the
will
of
the
Amightie
,
both
the
one
and
the
other
shall
come
to
light
.
Amen
.