A Full RELATION Of A Barbarous Murder, Committed upon the Body of Esq Beddingfield, On Sunday the 20 th'. day of July, 1684. BY Mr. Barney: As Also The further Account of the Trial and Conviction of the said Mr. Barney, who is to be Executed for the same, at the Market-Cross IN NORWICH, On Friday the First day of August, 1684.  
IF we look abroad in the World, and take a survey of the Actions and Transgressions of Mankind, we may observe that God very rarely suffers Sin to go Unpunished even in this World: and more especially his Justice takes notice of the Sin of Murder, making good his own Word therein; that he that sheddeth Man's Blood, by Man shall his Blood be shed: yet so it is, that even this Sin is grown so Common amongst us, that scarce a Week passes over our Heads, but we meet with one or other Instance of this Kind, it being looked upon as one of the first Principles of Honour amongst the Sparks of the Age, to Vindicate the least Affront, (or what they shall please to term such) with a Stab or Thrust.  
An Instance of this kind the following Relation will Furnish us with. The Judges of Assize, Assigned to hold Pleas for the City and County of Norwich, having opened their Commission on Monday the 14 th'. Day of July Instant, Mr. Justice Windham happening to be taken Violently Ill; the Business on the Nisiprius and Crown-side, both was Managed by the Right Honourable the Lord Chief Baron Montague, which occasioned the dispatch thereof to be of longer Continuance than otherwise it would have been; so that the Grand-Jury could not be Discharged on the Saturday Succeeding; but their Attendance was Adjurned till the Monday following: the Gentlemen of the County attending the same. Amongst which Number Mr. Barney the Prisoner, and Esquire Beddingfield, being Drinking together on the Saturday Night, continued together till about two of the Clock the next Morning: at which time, happening upon a Discourse that raised some Dispute and Difference between them: Mr. Barney being a Person very Quarrelsome, Words arose between them, and increased to such a height, that Mr. Barney Drew upon the Esq and by 8 several Wounds in his Body: Four of which were found in his Back. the Esq was Slain in the Place, and Mr. Barney endeavoured his Escape, but the Noise thereof raising the House, the Gates were Immediately shut; and the Pursuit was such that Mr. Barney was forthwith Taken: and being for that Night Secured, the next Morning he was Committed to the Common-Goal: and the Monday following a Bill was peferred against him; the Grand-Jury not being then Discharged, as aforesaid; upon which they immediately brought in the same Billa vera. And coming the same Morning to be Arraigned thereupon, the Evidence against him was very plain that he both raised and continued the Quarrel; that he Dishonourably Killed him, and that he was a very Contentious Person, and had before that time Wounded several Persons, upon very slight Occasions; it being very familiar with him when he wanted Moneys, if he asked any Person to accommodate him with a Supply, in case of a refusal, he would threaten them with his Sword; and had Wounded several upon the like Quarrel.  
The Prisoner had very little to say for himself, only that he was in Drink: thinking by one, to Excuse another Crime; and that the Words that had passed between them, had provoked him into an Extraordinary Passion: in the Heat whereof, he had rashly perpetrated a Crime for which he was extremely sorry: and for which he was not only ready to beg Pardon of God Almighty, but of the Relations of the Gentleman he had Slain. But this was not looked on as any thing of a Defence, but rather an aggravation of the Fact. So that the Petty Jury without stirring from the Bar, brought him in Guilty of the Indictment and Murder aforesaid; whereupon he immediately received his Sentence: and a Rule was forthwith Issued forth for his Execution on Friday the first Day of August next ensuing, at the public Market-Cross in the City of Norwich. In expectation of which Sentence, he was remanded back to Gaol, where he now continues. Whence it may be observed as a Warning to others how they fall into the like Crimes: how justly the Judgement of God pursues the Criminal: and more especially for those Crimes which are Committed upon his own Day, which he hath set apart for himself, and for his Worship. Under a due consideration whereof, it is hoped the Prisoner will consider his Condition, and prepare for the Sentence against him. Esquire Beddingfield, was a Gentleman of great Worth and Loyalty, and well beloved by all the Gentlemen: it being attested in his behalf by divers Persons of great Eminency upon the Trial, that he was free from the Vices of the Age, and never given to Quarrels or Contentions; insomuch that he is extremely Lamented by all the County, and none but acquiesse in the Sentence as just upon the Prisoner: though he be likewise one of a very Good Family, being the second Son of an Ancient Baronet in that Country, and a Person of known Worth, Loyalty and Integrity. But the best of Men may often meet with unhappiness in their Relations Grace, seldom running in the Veins of Generation: whence this may likewise be as a caveat to others how they bring Grief on the grey Hairs of their Parents, and put all Men upon remembering and serving their Creator in the days of their Youth, before the Evil days come, and the Years draw on wherein there is no Pleasure: to hasten which days upon ourselves is doubly a Sin: and that Person who is guilty thereof, especially by the Crime of Murder may be looked on not only as Murderer of another but of himself, and at one stroke hazards his own Soul and Body at the expense of another's Blood. From which Crime may the Grace of God be so prevalent upon us that we may not fall therein: nor ought the best of us be secure since, if we give way to our Passions and leave the conduct of God's Grace and Spirit, the Devil takes Advantage: and having the Rule and Sway over us, many times leads us into the paths of Destruction; and then leaves us Miserably to expect his just Judgement upon us, and the Terrors of an evil Conscience to Rack and Torment the Criminal.   

LONDON, Printed by George Croom, at the Blue-Ball, over against Baynard 's Castle, in Thames-street, 1684.