THee art an early man to day , methinks Neighbour , to have been abroad , and are coming back already .

I must be so now ; I have been to see my folks at work in the field ; for he that will have business go forward , must be both at the begining and end of it himself , or else it will wont do ; And the Weather of late hath been pretty catching , which makes me willing to improve my time as well as I can , and according to the antient Proverb , To make Hay whil the Sun shines .

Thou art in the right on 't , and I commend thee for thy industry : Well wilt come in , and smoak a pipe of Tobacco ?

I don 't care if I do ; for now I have set my folks to work , I am a little at seisure ; besides I have a mind to talk with you .

With all my heart , Neighbour : Well , what is it thou wouldst talk with me about ?

Abut ! Why , I wou'd ask you , What 's the best news ? for I know you must hear it , if there be any , your business calls you so much abroad .

Why truly Neighbour , as to news , I know none ; for tho' I can't , as thee says , but here a great deal , yet I seldom regard it ; for , for there is scarce one in twenty , that is to be credited

Nay , that 's true enough : But what I intended was , What do you hear about the Tryal of the Gentleman for the Murther of Mrs. Sarah Stout ? It makes a great nose in the world , I assure you : I suppose you have heard it .

No , I didn't ; for I was out of Town then , or else I believe I shou'd . But I have read the Printed Account of it , which I suppose is truth , because it is attested by the Judge .

Yes , so it is , for I have read the Book , and heard the Tryal from the beginning to the end . Well , fince you have read it , what do you say to that Tryal ?

Why , I say , the persons Indcted for that Murther , were every one acquitted .

That 's true enough every body knows : But do you think they were acquitted fairly , or not ?

't is none of my place to censure the proceedings of the King's Courts of Justice ; I believe the King desires Justice may be impartially administred , and I believe to that end the King makes choice of the best Judges . But after all , to be plain with thee , I am of an Opinion Sarah Stout was Murther'd .

If she Murther'e herself , she was Murther'd ; so that your words are equivocal : Do you think she was Murther'd by the Gentlemen that were Try'd for it ?

Wou'dst have me to condemn those whom the Law has acquitted ? Or , is 't not possible she may be Murther'd , and yet not Murther'd by them ? And as to her Murthering herself , I belive nothing of it .

That she was found dead in the water , that 's plain ; & if she did not throw herself in , she was thrown in by some body else : But there 's no such thing appears , and therefore I believe she Drowned herself .

What reason hath thee to think so .

Reason enough : For first , That she was not Murder'd for Money , appears plainly , because there was six Pounds found in her Pocket when she was taken up out of the water ; and therefore it was not don by Thieves or Robbers , for they wov'd have taken away her Money at last , if they had not stript her too . Nor did it appear upon the Tryal , that Mr. C. had any Bonds or Mortgages of hers in his hands , by which he might make any Advantage : Nor had he got her with Child , by which any shame might have been prevented . And therefore , sin●e he cou●d no interst in it , why shou'd it suppos'd he did at all ? Nay , there had kindness past between'm that day , and in all probability might have been more . We don't herr of any quarrel between'em , that might give him any distaste , or provoke him to such a barbarous villany : And to think that a Gentleman should Murther a young Woman that had a kindness for him , meerly for Murther's sake , apperrs to me a very unreasonable thing

Thou seem'st to imply , I think , that Sarah Stout was murder'd by S. C. and I have already told thee , that I have nothing to say either to him , or the others that were indicted for her Murder , for the Law has acquitted them , or otherwise I could easily answer all that thou hast saide I could tell thee , That be might have an interest in her death , tho' it did not appeer in Court , that some men are so tenacious in receiving an affront , that many have been killed for giveing it . Nay , the very kindnesses that some persons have done , has been the occasion of their Death ; and the refusing to do such kindnesses as have been desired of them , has procur'd the death of others : That there might be something desir'd of Sarah , that she was not willing to grant , is what might be , tho' she did not think it proper to make any one acquainted with it ; and that such kindness being refus'd , might be a sufficient ground of revenge , to such persons as made no conscience of what they did , for none but such persons could be guilty of so barbarous a Crime . Now it appears by the Tryal , that one of the persons indicted , has pretended Love to her , which she refus'd ; what if he had stomach'd that refusal of hers to that degree , tha● he was resolv'd to be reveng'd of her for it ? Does not this appear rational enough ? And , does not the discourse of the Persons at the Inn , at the very time when either this murder was perpretrated , or very near it , seem to countenance this ? Why else should one of them say , Her Business was done , and , that he would pass his word her Courting days were over ? And , this to be spoken by pretended Strangers , that very Night she was murther'd , was enough to have made it suspicious to me : And to confute what thou h●st offerred , that there could be no Interest in it : it being plain that there might be ( I don't say there was ) the interest of serving a Friend , which is counted by some ( tho in as bad a Cause as this ) a piece of generosity .

I confess what you urge has more weight in it , than I at first imagin'd : But tho' I think this was sworn , yet it was afterwards confuted by several Witnesses ; which I think appears by the Trial Printed at large .

Had that been done , it would have given great satisfaction b●th to me , and several more , but all that ever I could find of it in the Printed Tryal ( for I have already told thee I did not hear it ) is that the Persons charged with it , absolutely deny it ; which a doubt they would do , had they been never so guilty . There was two Witnesses possitive to the very Words , and against this , they have nothing to s y , but that they possitively deny it ; and yet are forc'd to acknowledge , there was some discourse of Sarah Stout ; but so far from what the Witnesses deposed , that it was not possible they should so mistake'em . And thee may'st likewise observe , That the Witnesses not only deposed th●● , but that the trouble that was upon their Spirits , by reason of these w●●ds , ( after they had heard of Sarah Stout's Death ) was so great , that they could not rest till they had reveal'd it : For Martha Gurry dep●●ts , That she was so troubled in Mind she could not rest Night not Day : And that she told her Husband , if he would not tell of it , ( that is , if he would not discover those suspicious Words spoken by those persons in their House the Night bef re Sarah's Death ) she would tell of it her self , for she was not able to live . So that it appears to be only love to Truth and Justice , that put Gurry and his Wife updiscovering these Words , and not any Malice or Prejudice ; for their Interest lay on the contrary side : They might have ●xp●cted those men to have been their Guests again , had they not disclos'd this : which now they could not expect : And therefore I do not doubt at all , but what they deposed was the truth . Which , I must tell thee , look● very suspiciously in my Judgment .

This does indeed bear a little hard upon 'em ; but yet I think I have something to offer , that will take off the force of very good worth and quality appeard in their beh●●f and declar'd 'em to be men of an unsported Reputation ; One says , He believes 〈◇〉 th●●s●●d Pounds wou'd not tempt one of 'em to do such a Feet . Another sa●● He knew him ever since he was two years old , and never knew him but a cro●z'd man , given to no debauchery . Another says ▪ He has known him twenty Years , that he has 〈…〉 good Ch●●●● 〈◇〉 ●is Neighbours , for a man fair in his pr●●●●ce , an honest man , and a man of a good Conversation . And then , as 〈◇〉 another of ' em . a person of Quality testifies , not only that He was alwaies reckon'd an honest man in his practice , but has the general character of a good natur'd man , one will provided for by his Father , has a good Estate , and is in a good place , and in good practice ; and ●onsequently not like to do such an Action . Another perso● of Quality testi●es . He has always beh●v'd himself well , and ha● the Character of an honest Gentleman . Another testifies both as to him and Mr. M. that He beli●ves they would not have been guilty of 〈◇〉 an ill thing , to have gain'd the Country . And as to the other several Gentlemen give the like Character of him , and say 〈…〉 believe money could not tempt him to do any Act of that kind . B●●●●at I have farther to offer , is that which I think is more convincing ; and that is , That it is not at all probable that Gentlemen that were not either mad , or drunk , or both should be to foolish and imprudent , as to discourse-publickly in the presence of several Persons after that rate that is sworn against these , if they either ha● , or design d to have a hand in such a thing : Could they possibly abandon themselves to so much inconsideration , as not to think that such Discourses might be remembred to their prejudice , and tend to the discovery of themselves as the Murtherers ? These must be granted to be sensible men , well skill'd in the Law ; and therefore well knew the danger such Discourses would expose them to ; and knowing all this , it would argue them to be guilty of the highest degree of madness and folly to talk at that rate ▪

And , as to what thee think'st is so unanswerable , to wit , That unless they were mad , or drink , 〈◇〉 ●●th , the● would never have expos'd themselves by discoursing as they did so publickly ; to that I have a sufficient answer ; First , That they did so discourse , there is the Prisoners themselves does in part acknoledge it ; for he saye , page 14 of the printed Tryal , Possibly I might say these words , My friend may be in with her ; but feftens it with saving , It was in jocular conversation . But Thirdly , Notwithstanding their den●ing i● , and making their publick discoursing th●s , a plea for there innocence ( which by the way , might be one reason of their talking so publick ) yet the Judge in his charge to the Jury , seems not to make the least question of the words being spoken , as I think indeed he had no reason , and telis the Jury , They talked at a strange rate ; and that the● were very strange expressions ; and so leaves it to the Jury ; which was all that be could do . So that I do not find , that those words testified by Jurry , or his wise , to wit ; That ●e● business was done . That there was an end of courting days . And , That a friend of theirs was even with her by this time . Were at all invalidated : And I am sure thee and I must own , that ( as the Judge said ) They were very strange expressions , considering the time when they were spoken .

But hoes it 〈◇〉 ●●●●●ly appear that for was melancholly ? And , might she not in a melanch●lly 〈◇〉 being under some great temptation , fling herself into the water and so be drowned ?

I cannot deny , indeed , but that such a thing might be ; but there is a great deal of difference between What might be , and What was ? For no such thing was prov●d : It is did not appear ●ce was ●e wholly , by her sending for S. C. to dinner ; nor inviting him af●erwa●ds i● supper ; nor b● the care she took to have a fire in his chamber , and his bid we●● war●'d . These did not appear to be Actions of a melanchooly or distracted person . A●● a● to her being drowned , that neither is not so evident ; for it appears that there was no water in her body ; and it is a common opinion , that when persons are thrown in●● the water dead , they won't sink , as it seems she did not .

But I ●●●k nothing cou'd be made out more clearly , than that Mrs. Sarah was in love with ●r . C. and would willingly have co-habitted and have lain with him that night : bu●●●e refusing to comply with her , and going to his Lodging as Mr. Barefoot's , she were and drowned herself So that there is not only her melancholly proved , but the cause of it likewise : And I have heard , that love melancholly is the most dangerous .

I do not set this so clearly made out , as you seemest to imagine . Sarah was a young Woman , and of good fortune ; and f he lik'd not to have any of our Friends , there were Hath was en●●gh to be had , without courting a married Man : And yet , ev'n if she had been so fo● left to herself , as to have done that , I have heard that person has had a g eater ●ir●●●ss for the Femal Sex , than to let any of 'em to make away themselves for want of giving 'em a nights Lodging . And to do him justice , it doth not appear to me , that ●●●e●ed her at that rate as to cause her to dispare of obtaining such a kindneses from 〈◇〉 : If indeed ●e had told her ( as I think if the case had been so , he might very well b●● d●ne ) that he could no● but a ●nite at her impudence to desire such a thing of him ; that he made he●self thereby a shame to her Sex , a scandal to her Profession , and a reproa●● to her Retations ; that there were other Men enough to satisfy her La●st ; that for his 〈◇〉 part , he was a married Man , and upon that account , could not possibly gratify he●●●clinations . Or if he had said to her , as another good Man did , 〈◇〉 the like occasion How shall I do this great wickedness , and sin against God ? And to had ●●●●●●●ed her to wortify those vnruly affections , that could not but issue in her eternal rai● 〈◇〉 her desires should be gratified ; and that however they might think to conceal it fr●● 〈◇〉 eye of the W●ld , yet that their wickedness wou'd be open to the omniscient eye of 〈◇〉 Divine Being . Hed he indeed taken this method , Sarah might have had some rea●●● to despair of obtaining her ends of him , ( if any such end she bad .

But for ought a●●eare to●e , the case was quite otherwise ; and Sa●ah had more reason , to hope , than to dispair , by those Topicks that were 〈◇〉 to 〈◇〉 ●●at ●●●ht : For , the Objections were only That it was an accide●t that had obliged him to take up his lodgings in an●ther place ; that the family where he was so oblig'd to lye , was sitting up for him ; that his 〈◇〉 her house under these circumstances , would in probability , provoke the censu●● of the Town and Country ; That therefore ( only ) he could not stay whatever his inclination otherwise might be . Now 〈◇〉 to thee , whether there be any thing on these Objections that might cause Sarah to despair , if she had any such desires of obtaining them : Here was no positive denyal , no mention of the unlawfulness of it ; but only there happened an accident which rendered it nor so convenient that time , as it might be another .

But since you believe that the Gentleman gave her no occasion to despair of obtaining her ends from him ; and consequently that she had no reason to make away her self , which you believe she did not ; I say then , what reason can you have to think , that he should murder her , who , as you suppose , g●ve her so much hotes of obtaining her desi●●● another t●●e .

I know not what reason thee hast to ask me such a question , for I never said that I thought he murder'd her , nor any other of the persons indicted for it . I do indeed believe she did not murder her self , because I see no reason I have to think so ; and I have shew'd the that those reasons alledged , are not sufficient to cause me to change my opinion . And 〈…〉 there are sen●e●●e it ●●●stances relating to persons indicted , that to my look v●●r suspitious . There is one thing that I think wou'd give a great deal of ●igh● into the business , which I indeed wonde . 't was never enquir'd into , neither by the Judges , the King's Council , nor the Grand Jury . But yet when I consider how long that Tryal lested , and what great variety of Evidence there was , it is no wonder a● all that something might be omitted ; but that which I intended was this , Thee may'st remember , ( for thou it seemest was at the Tryal● ) that Sarah Walker deposes , That when she went up stairs , to warm the bed , she left her mistress and S , C. in the room together , and about a quarter of an hour after , she heard the do●e ●out , and when she came down , there was neither of them in the house . Now , methinks it would have been necessary to have enquir'd , Whether Sarah went out with him ; and if so , how far , and where they parted ? For Sarah Walker says nothing of hearing the door shut , but once ; and then she thought he was going with his Letter . I think a full account of his leaven her , might have been given much more light into the matter . But being omitted at the Tryal , I only mention this , as my particular th●ughts . However I cannot be satisfy'd at all about the Tryal , more especially since I have read the Hertford Letter newly co●e●●an● ; at the latter and of which , the Author , after having Lernedly handled the point , c●oses with his Sentiments of her death , and two strange remarks in the Tryal . viz.

If this Gentlewoman was not Drowned , as the Doctors and Surgeons for the Prisoners seem to insinuate , the Query then will be , How she came to her End ? With submission to better Iudgments , I shall here offer my private Sentiments concerning it : I am induced to believe , she was knocked down with a Blow on her lest Ear , from the large Settlement of Blood there , which , as Mrs. ●impson Swears , was as much as he● Hand could cover , and more ; after she was fell'd to the Ground by the Blow , it is prob●ble , with the Gripe of a strong Hand , she was T●rotled , from the Stagnation of Blood on both sides of her Neck , under her Ears , which Mr. John Dinisdale Jun. Swears there was ; and from the Settlement of Blood on her Brest , I am in lined to believe , That the Person that Throtled her , to support his Hand , that he might Gripe the stronger , rested his Arm on her Brest , which occasioned the Stagnation there . His remarks are , How Mr. Stephens was taken with a strange Fit , just after the Petty Jury went out , which disturbed the whole Court ; and how a Wine-Cooper in Southwark , who came down as an Evidence for the Prisoners , fell into a sort of Distraction ; and all the time of the Tryal was mightily discomposed in his Mind , so that he was fain to be tyed in Bed , yet would often ask how the Tryal went , and whether they were like to be cleared ; and would often tell the People about him , that he had done a very bad thing , but would not confess what , tho' often urged to it .

The Tryal lasted many hours , and many Witnesses were examined , and both Judge and Jury were so fatieg'd with the rediousness thereof , that it was impossible to think of every thing . But it did appear plainly , tho' her Body had no violence offer'd to et ; that it sunk in the water as low as the Stakes would give it leave ; that Mr. C — r went immediately out of the house to the Glove and Dolphin , and from thence to his own lodgings ; from whence he went out no more that night : And , by comparing all what the Witnesses said , as to point of time , it was impossible he should do it ; and what was impossible to be done , we may be sure was not done : So that I think the Jury brought in a very honest Verdict , especially as to him . As to the other Gentlemen , they appear all to be of fair reputations , and I could heartily wish , no such words had been spoken ; and then I think , that they neither could not have been under the least suspition of guilt , tho' I am still of the mind they are all innocent .

For my part , I do'nt accuse 'em ; and for their own sake● wish they may be so . But tho' they be all as truly innocent as the has pronounc'd them ; why may not Sarah have been murdered by some other persons , and from some other motives that we know nothing of ? For she had not without reason , by her sober and blameless conversation , acquir'd the reputation of a verious and modest young woman from our whole Town ; and I appeal to thee , whether ever thou sawest any one action , by which she might forfeit it ; or that might lay any imputation upon her ? And not only accounted vertuous , but prov'd she dy'd so by the following Certificate .

For my part , I must do her memory that justice , however she came by her death as to declare I never knew her guilty of any unbecoming action , though I have known her from her child-hood : She was not indeed so brisk and airy as other young Women are ; but that I always attributed to her being one of your opinion .

Well , Neighbour , I have told thee my Sentiment , of it . And tho' I neither do , nor can accuse any ; yet I believe she never made away with her sel● : But by what means she came by her Death , we must leave to Him , who in His due tim● , will bring to Light all t is sudden Works of Darkness ; with every secret thing , whether it be Good , or whether it be Evil .