THE MANNER OF THE CRUEL OUTRAGEOUS MURDER OF WILLIAM STORRE Mast. of Art, Minister, and Preacher at Market Raisin in the County of Lincoln:  
COMMITTED By Francis Cartwright one of his parishioners, the 30. day of August Anno. 1602.   printer's or publisher's device 
AC: OX  
AT OXFORD, Printed by joseph Barnes. 1603.   

ABout Lammas last viz. Ann. 1602. there happened some controversy between the Lords and the rest of the Inhabitants of Market Raisin in the county of Lincoln, concerning their commons & liberty in the Towne-Fields, and the matter being moved by one of them in the Church immediately after evening prayer, on a Sabbath day, diverse hot intemperate speeches passed among them. Whereupon their Minister, whose name was M. Storre, much disliking so indiscreet a course, willed them to have respect both to the time, and place where they were. And further advised; seeing the cause in hand concerned a multitude, amongst whom some of the least government, would always be the readiest to speak: that they would therefore make choice of two or three of the fittest, and most substantial men to answer, and undertake for all the rest. This motion seemed to please them well, and thereupon they entreated him, that he would, as a man indifferent, speak first what he thought concerning the cause. But he not willing to intermeddle in that matter, twice, or thrice denied their request. And the rather for that there was present one Francis Cartwright, a young man of an unbridled humour: the only son, & heir to one of the same Lords of the Town, betwixt whom, & himself there was grown no small unkindness. Yet in the end being pressed thereunto by their importunity, with the consent of both the parties, he delivered his opinion, using therein such discretion, and reasons to confirm the same, that they could not directly except against him. Notwithstanding seeing him incline more to the right of the freeholders, and the rest of the commons, than to favour their intended purpose, they seemed to dislike his speeches and to cavil at the same.  
Young Cartwright standing by, not able any longer to contain himself, took occasion hereupon to break forth abruptly into these words. The Priest deserveth a good fee, he speaketh so like a Lawyer, M. Storre having often aforetime had experience of his hot stomach, & hastiness aswell towards others as himself, thought it best to reply little against him for that present. But the other respecting neither the time, nor place, nor yet the dutiful regard he should have had to his father's presence, uttered many more such base & odious terms, that for modesty sake, I forbear to rehearse them. The next morning as Mr Storre, & some others of his neighbours were talking with the elder Cartwright about these his sons abuses, he came unto them, where they were, interrupting their conference, & fell into the like outrageous railing as he used the night afore. The Minister seeing this second incursion more violent than the former, replied to some of his words, retorting them back again, as more properly to be applied to himself.  
This reply he took in such high disgrace, that had not his father hindered it, he had there presently with his dagger effected some part of that mischief, which afterward he put in practice. But being not suffered to do what he would, he departed from them into the open market place, & there proclaimed, That Storre was a scurvy, lousy, paltry priest: that whosoever said he was his friend, or spoke in his cause, was a rogue, & a rascal: that he would (but for the law) cut his throat, tear out his heart, & hung his quarters on the maypole.  
These speeches, & many more of the same quality being daily given out, occasioned Mr Storre to think it now high time to provide for his own safety, & therefore he went to some justices near adjoining: acquainted them with these proceed, & desired the good behaviour against the said Cartwright. But they doubting whether they might grant the same in this case, or not, offered him for his present safeguard the peace, and the other at the next quarter sessions, if occasion so required.  
He not resolved what were best to be done, whether to except of this offer, or to complain himself before the high commissioners, came home, & the next Sabaoth took his text out of Isaah Chap. 1. vers. 9 in these words. Except the Lord of Hosts had reserved unto us, even a small remnant, we had been as Sodom, and like unto Gomorah. The which words by the general report, even of his enemies that heard him, he handled very learnedly, and delivered out of the same many points of necessary doctrine. young Cartwright seemed to note it diligently with his pen, but as the stomach filled with raw humours corrupteth all good nourishment that cometh therein, so this man's mind fraught with rancour, & malice, wrested all things he heard into the worse sense, as purposely spoken against him, and after that, more, and more thirsted for revenge.  
About a week after, he espied Mr. Storre walking about eight of the clock in the morning alone by the south side of the town in his cloak, went to a cutler's shop, took out of the same a short sword, which he had formerly provided, and made very sharp, & presently overtook him. The other hearing one at his heels looked back, & saw him drawing his sword as he came: noting also by the paleness of his visage, how mightily he was incensed to mischief, & seeing no means either to escape, or to defend himself, was greatly aghast, & purposed to use some speeches (if it were possible) somewhat to assuage his passions.  
But he being double armed both with force, & fury, would abide no parley, but presently at the first blow cut his left leg almost of, & then making at his head, the other casting up his arms to defend it (for other weapon had he none) he gave him two mortal wounds on the forepart thereof thorough the brainpan: cut of three of his fingers: & gave him other two grievous wounds on the outside of either arm, between the elbow, & the hand, the one to the midst of the arm, & the other more than half in sunder, dividing the main bone above two inches one part from another. Thus massacred he fell backward into a puddle of water, and striving to recover himself, the splinter bone of his leg half cut thorough afore, knapped in two, & his heel doubled back to the calf of his leg. Cartright not yet satisfied with the blood, which he had already gotten, continued his rage, still more fiercely upon him, & gave him another gash on the outside of the right thigh to the very bone. And again on the left knee, his leg being bended, as he lay, he cut him the fashion, & compass of an horse shoe battering in pieces the whirlbone, & the neither part of the thigh bone, that it was most grievous even to behold. Some smalller wounds he had, & sundry other blows which came not to his skin, as appeared by the mangling of his apparel.  
A maid coming that way by occasion of business cried out, whereupon he fled, and many of the neighbours came presently to the place, and beholding this woeful spectacle, their Minister thus wallowed in the mire, and his blood so extremely, gushing out, ran some of them into the town with such a confused noise, and outcry of murder, that others hearing it, supposed on the sudden there had been fire, and went with all speed to toll the bells. Thus was all suddenly in an uproar, yet few, or none could tell what the matter was. The rest of more discretion took up the wounded man, carried him to the next house, where one of the constables dwelled, and made very good, and speedy means to bind up his wounds, and to staunch his blood.  
Against the next day was provided a bonesetter, and three or four of the best surgeons thereabout, who when they came to dress him, were of opinion, that, if he died not at the opening of his wounds, and forcing together of his bones, he would at the least be very subject to often sounding. Yet he beyond all their expectation endured all extremities, which necessity in that case imposed on him to abide, for three hours space at the least, and never fainted, or changed colour. The which thing induced them to alter their mind, and to hope (as it were) past all hope, that he would escape it. But the deadly blows had so perished his brains, and let out so great a quantity of his blood in other parts of his body, that it was not possible he should recover. So that after he had languished in very great pain from monday morning till the next Sunday after midnight, which was at the change of the moon, he ended his life.  
The time that he thus continued, he spent much to the profit of himself, and to no less comfort of those that came to visit him. For besides many divine meditations he daily uttered, & thanks to God for his so merciful a visitation, in giving him both such time, and memory to prepare himself, he also heartily forgave, & continually prayed for his greatest, & deadly enemy, whom he esteemed now in worse state, and more miserable than himself.  
Now to leave the dead man (as no doubt he is) with the Lord: it is not amiss briefly to declare by what means the offender escaped.  
Presently after he had committed this cruelty, he posted home to his father's house, on the backside, and the truth of his fact being now known, many that were already assembled, & knew not at the first about what matter; came to apprehend the felon. But his father fearing least in that desperate heat he should do some more mischief, did what he could to pacify the tumult until the constables came, and then delivered him. They sending for three or four of such as they thought best, which had some of them seen the wounds, aswell as one of the constables himself had done, carried him to a justice. Where either for lack of their due information of the truth, or by the corrupt, and favourable affection of the magistrate, or both, there was a very slender bail taken, and the malefactor by this sleight sent away.   

To the Reader.  
FOr that some of Cartwrights' favourites wanting colour to excuse altogether the foulness of his fact, do yet endeavour to qualify the same in what measure they can, affirming that he being a young man, was provoked, and stirred up by evil words to commit that in the heat of his blood which otherways he would never have committed: And some others being themselves either of a lose conversation, or at the least enemies to the ministery of the Gospel, would seem to extenuate the crime, by imputing it, as a just reward due, not only to the party murdered, but also to the most of his calling for their overbold checking, and (as they term it) domineering over their betters, because indeed, they reprove the general corruptions that so abound in every corner: And lest also it might happily be surmised by some indifferently affected, that many things in this relation might partially proceed in favour of the dead man from some of his friends, it is therefore thought fit for the better satisfying of the later sort, to assure them that there is nothing set down, but that which is to be justified by very sufficient proof: and for the better answering of the former scandals, and such like, here be annexed the testimony (as it were) of four substantial juries, which speak of their credit what they knew concerning the man. The first doth consist of the better sort of his parishioners where he remained: the second of the chief of such Ministers among whom he conversed: the third of the worshipful in the country to whom he was best known: and the fourth, of the learned in the University where he was brought up.   

The testimony of his Parishioners.  
FOrasmuch as some uncharitable people not satisfied with the guiltless blood of M. Storre our late Minister, give out slanderous speeches against him now dead, as proceeding from us his parishioners: we therefore willing to clear ourselves from such untruths do give to understand to whom these presents shall come, that as (no doubt) the fact was heinous before God, so is it a thing most grievous unto us, aswell in regard of his wife, and five small children, whose staff of bread (as himself said) by this means is broken, as also chief that such a man should thus perish among us, whose learning diligence, and dexterity in teaching the word of God was equal (as we are persuaded) to the better sort of his fellow Ministers: his conversation so answerable to his doctrine, and his carriage such in all his affairs, that (in our judgement) it might have been a precedent to direct a civil, and christian life. Thus having witnessed the truth in the premises, we cease.  
From Market Raisin this 17. of April. 1603. 

Edmund Wright.  
Hum. Chapman.  
john Da●●otte.  
john Rutter.  
Rich. Pockley.  
Alexan. Lambing.  
Robert Lillie.  
Tho. Brakes.  
Mich. jesoppe.  
Rich. Wright.  
Chri. Gyfford.  
Will. Wright.  
Christ. Wright.  
Mich. Hanson.  
Hen. Parker.  
Pet. Parker.  
Thom. Harwicke.  
William Dannotte.  
john Cater.  
William Hansley.  
Leonard Hill.  
john Tailor.  
james Robinson.  
Edw. Fawsitte.     

The testimony of Preachers, half of them Doctors, & Batchelare of Divinity, and the rest Masters of Art.  
WHereas upon the late murder of William Storre Mr. of Arts and preacher of market Raisin in the county of Lincoln, there have been set abroach certain reports tending to his disgrace in favour (as it is thought) of the offender, we therefore the Ministers to whom he was best known either by nearness of dwelling, or by conversing with him, do signify to all those to whom this our testimony shall come, that we always held, and reputed the said William Storre, not only for his learning & sufficiency in his calling, a man far passing many others: but also of such honest and commendable bearing of himself in his life, and conversation, that his greatest adversaries could never while he lived (as we are verily persuaded) justly take exception against him.  
In witness whereof we have subscribed our names this present April 1603. 

Law. Stanton.  
Greg. Garth.  
Alex. Southwicke.  
john Chadwicke.  
Roger Parker.  
Rich. Turswell  
Theo. Tanzey.  
Tho. Burton.  
Mich. Reniger.  
George Eland.  
Hen. Nelson.  
William Mason.  
john Downes.  
Amos Bedford.  
Cuth. Dale.  
john White.  
David Hatcliffe.  
Will. Symonds.  
William Lownd.  
Hugh Browne.  
Samuel. Allen,  
Paul Balgaie.  
Richard Bateman.  
Nic. Clarke.     

The testimony of Knights and Esquires,  
BEing requested for some special causes to deliver under our hands what we knew concerning Mr. Storre late Vicar of market Raisin, we whose names are subscribed, neighbours somewhat near adjoining, thought it our Christian duty to yield testimony therein accordingly. And therefore do signify that as we account the manner of his death a part of most barbarous cruelty, so we much lament that it happened to a man so well approved generally for a good scholar, a painful preacher, and for many other commendable parts, which (if by untimely death he had not been cut of) might otherways have been greatly beneficial both to the church, and common wealth.  
Given at Lincoln the 29. of April 1603. 

George St poll.  
Edward Ayscoghe.  
Edward Tyrwhitt.  
Char. Metham.  
Ric. Rossetter.  
Fran. Bullingham  
Philip Tyrwhitt.  
Thomas Grantham.  
Thomas Dalison.  
Vincent Ful●●●by  
Richard Ged●ey.  
Edward Saltmarsh.     

The testimony of Doctors, and Bachelors of Divinity in the University.  
FOrasmuch as we are entreated by certain ministers of the county of Lincoln to signify what opinion we held of William Storre Mr of Arts, & late fellow of Corpus Christi College, we whose names are underwritten do by these presents give him this testimony; that for the time of his abode in our University he showed himself very sober, and honest in his conversation: he was of quiet carriage in his place, studious, learned, and religious: of great, & special hope to prove a worthy member in the Church of Christ.  
Oxon. june. 29. 1603. 

john Howson Vicecan. Oxon.  
Edmond Lillie.  
Richard Kylby.  
Ralph Kettell.  
john Aeglionbee.  
Nicholas Higges.  
Thomas Luddington  
Chri. Membry.  
Chri. Chalfount.  
Robert Burhill.  
john Rainolds.  
john Perin.  
john Williams.  
Leon. Hutton.  
Rich. Crakanthorpe.  
Sebestian Benfeld,  
Peter Hooker.  
john Barcham.  
Thomas Holland.  
George Abbott.  
Henry Asray.  
William thorn.  
Edward Hyrst.  
Thomas Burton.  
Henry Hindle.  
Richard Alleyne.    
FINIS.