BLOODY NEWS FROM St. ALBAN. BEING, A perfect Relation of a horrible Murder Committed on Wednesday last, upon Mistress Bass a Widow living at the Sign of the Green-Tree in the said Town; and how she was most cruelly torn, mangled and dismembered, her brains being dashed out against the walls in the room where she was murdered. Since which some persons are apprehended for the same, and committed to Hartford Goal. As is averred by Mr. Gunter, Gent, Mr. Younger, Mr. New, Mr. Tho●owgood the Carrier, and several other Gentlemen of St. Alban, who now lodge at the Bell in Aldersgate-street and will witness the truth.  
Also, a barbarous and inhuman murder, committed by a Farmer near Colchester, upon his wife, how he stopped her Mouth, stuck an Awl in her Head and sowed up her Privities, for which being discovered by the Crowner and his own Guilty Conscience, he was tried at Chelnsford, condemned and executed, this last Assizes.  
Likewise a cruel and Devilish Plot discovered at Wem in Shropshire by Mr. Page a Surgeon, with the manner how the chief Actor was taken, and committed by the Mayor of Shrewsbury.  
The is confirmed by several Gentlemen of Shrewsbury, and also by Mr. Ashley, a Gentleman living near Cripplegate.  
LONDON, Printed for John Johnson, 1661.   

BLOODY NEWS FROM St. ALBAN.  
Sent in a Letter from thence by a Gentleman of quality, to a friend of his in London.  
HAving lately received many Courtesies from you both by intelligence in manuscript, and also in those printed Occurrences I have daily been furnished with, by your industrious and diligent care, since I last was in your company at London; in which papers have been some things miraculous and strange to all who have perused them, Wherefore I thought good (having an opportunity) in part of requital, to gratify your courtesy by sending you true account of a lamentable murder committed lately in this Town, the exact Narrative of which is as followeth, viz.  
The Widow Bass, of whom I writ this sad and ●●christian act, was a lusty Host who kept a house of entertainment, and lived gallantly at the Sign of the Green-man in this ●own.  
She was a woman that was an early riser, her constant hour being four in the morning.  
But this last week proved a black week and clouded the glory of this lusty Dame: for on Wednesday in the morning she rise early, according to her former custom, to attend on the Company then in her house, and departing from the room. where they were, about half an hour after missing her so long, they sought after her, and could not hear any thing of her.  
At length coming to the room where she was murdered, on a sudden they were smitten with amazement, discovering th●● she was barbarously massacred, her brains and some flesh st●●●ing against the wall round the said room.  
Since this the whole Town are in great trouble, seeking daily how to find out the Authors of this cruelty, and several neighbours resort thither, and some do conjecture that it was done with a Hatchet, others that a left-handed man must be the Actor, but the truth cannot as yet be known; for her Brains are so divided and fa●●ned to the Walls, that it doth work great astonishment in the hearts of all that behold it.  
There are some taken upon suspicion, but upon their examination confess nothing, utterly denying that they have any hand in this bloody and cruel Tragedy;  
Notwithstanding, it is believed that she was a woman well to live in the world, and that she had great flore of means, which as they do conjecture is the chief cause why this barbarous and unchristian Murder was committed; it being indeed more likely to be acted for lucre rather than any thing of envy or malice, thus having given you a full account of what hath b●●● thus 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 these parts.  
What shall hereafter happen here you need not trouble any other in, for no passage shall here fall out worthy your perusal, but I shall (according to your desire insert it, Having nothing more to trouble you at present, or worth your observation, time being more hasty than my opportunity, I remain  
Yours to serve you, whilst R. W. August, 11. 1661.  
For further confirmation of this sad and woeful murder these persons following were resident in the Town when it was committed.  
For thus it is, after receipt of this Letter late yesterday being Tuesday Mr. Gunter gentleman, Mr. Younger a Schoolmaster living in the Abbey at the said Town, and Mr. Thorrowgood the Carrier, who not only justified, but also gave an exact account thereof, and will confirm the same, they being at present in London, and some of them lodging at the Bell in Aldersgare-street.  
A sad accident fell out this week at Westminster, for yesterday they went out together very good friends, took Coach and by the way some difference arose, and the words did not decide the controversy, for after they had a while treated it came to blows, and they went out of the Coach, where they (though unfriendly) yet with noble spirits assaulted each other, both being wounded, but the one of them in a short time gave up the Ghost.  
Here follows a true and exact account of that strange, and indeed wonderful Scarecrow which happened to the Country people at VVe● Parish in Shr●p-shire, viz.  
It happened to the aforesaid Parish that their dwelled one Waddow Weston with her Kinsmaid Martha, whose house was continually c●mbred and molested by vehement throwing of stones about it, sometimes to the breaking of the Windows, sometimes up and down the Chimneys and other places of the house, not only within, but without in the Air, to the great prejudice of sundry persons which passed by.  
Insomuch that through the long continuance thereof, the neighbours waxed angry, and raised the Country to know the mystery thereof.  
Hereupon several eminent Ministers Assembled together at the next house, to the said Widow, to pray for the allaying of the said stones, and withal sent for the said Widow, with her said Kinswoman to pray with them.  
And it so sell out, that whilst they so prayed together by long continuance the stones throwing ceased, but immediately after they desisted, they began again as furious as ever.  
This continuing in so strange a manner, one Mr. Page 2 Chirurgeon, who watching an opportunity, betook himself to a private Corner which he thought convenient for that purpose, and looking in at the Window, he discovered the Maid spinning, and as she turned the Wheel, she fling now and than a stone at the Window, some up the Chimney, some at those as passed by, which she still continued as formerly.  
Mr. Page having made this discovery, got a Warrant, apprehended her, and brought her before a Magistrate, by whom she was committed upon complaint of the Neighbours who had been disturbed by her.  
The Country round about gathered together, and coming to the Mayor of Shrewsbury, made a great complaint against her, declaring how they were daily affronted by her flinging of stones as they passed by.  
Upon their complaint, according to his Order she was brought before him, and being strictly examined, she confessed that she had done all that they had said, and withal that she could not help it, for some evil spirit had personed her, and she must in spite of her teeth do it, for she was compelled to it by some means or other, but how, she knew not, but so long as she was in that house it would continue so.  
She likewise acknowledged, that at any time when she went forth, she took an opportunity to fill her lap full of stones, and that when she came in, she fell to her labour, and so disposed of them as formerly, for she was daily vexed with some Spirit; who aggravated her to do it, and she could not be in peace till she had performed it.  
The Mayor upon this strict examination, considering of the heinous offence committed by her, ordered that she should be whipped for her obstinacy, which was performed accordingly, after which she was acquitted.  
The truth of this story is so really set down, that it will be at any time averred by several Gentlemen of quality in Shropshire, and also by Mr. Ashley a Gentleman, living near Cripplegate in London.  
Thus have you the true account of this wicked & devilish design, with a sufficient justification of the same, which may give satisfaction of the truth thereof to every ingenuous Reader.  
At Chelensford in Essex the present Assizes held there, was a man tried for murdering his Wife who was discovered by the Crowner of Colchester in manner following, viz.  
The day being come wherein he intended to bury the dead body of his Murdered Wife, he ask the people, whether the Crowner had been there or no? they answering he had not as yet● Whereupon as be●●ent after the Corpse he saw the C●●●●er, and threatened to arrest him for not looking after his charge, upon which the Crowner caused the Coffin to be opened, and found that she was murdered in a most barbarous manner; her private parts being sowed up, and an 〈…〉 in her ●ead, and her mouth ●●opt, all which he confessed at his examination, received ●entence for the fact, and is before this time executed for this bloody and inhuman murder.  
FINIS.