BLOODY ACTIONS PERFORMED.  
OR, A brief and true Relation of three Notorious Murders, committed by three Bloodthirsty men, 2. upon their own Wives.  
The one was done in the County of Kent, in the Isle of Tenet, Decemb. last.  
The other was done at Islington, near unto London, this present year, 1653.  
The third was done upon a Major in Coven-Garden near London.  
Arthur Knight and Thomas Laret was executed, March 2. 1653.  
This Copy was drawn up on purpose to give the world satisfaction, whereby to know in what manner the murders was committed: Being the very truth, and no more but the truth.  
Printed for W. Gilbertson, at the sign of the Bible in Gilt-spur-street, without Newgate, 1653.   

A Note of the Names of those that were hanged.  
HEnry Atkinson for picking a pocket of three shillings. Thomas Moral for several burglaries. Richard Dove, and John Coney for Robbing the Norwich Post. William Silver for burglary. Thomas Hanscombe for burglary. Rob●rt Woodstock for burglary, Robert Keys for wives and Linen. Silvester Stanbridge for Robbing a Major's house near Watford, and for other burglaries.   

To the Readers and Hearers.  
THat Conscience is fled, and Promises broken, is a thing that is too well known in these our froward and distracted times, as it may appear by these three unhuman Murderers, which made slaughter of their Lawful wedded Wives.  
The manner whereof shall directly be here Related, to the end that all Desperate, Dangerous, and Hasty spirited Men may take a special care by these Examples, that through the Temptations of the Devil, they fall not into the like relapse.  
So with my Prayers to Almighty God for all Men that will endeavour to serve the Lord, and keep the Fear of God before their Eyes,  
I remain your Friend, Laurence Price. and so go forward with my woeful Discourse.   

Here followeth a brief and true Relation of one Master Spralling an Esquire, who lived in KENT.  
THE World is come to such a pass, that many men make it their common practice and daily pastime to run headlong into the pitfall of mischief: some delights in swearing, some in whoring, some in drunkenness. some into o●e si●●e, 〈◊〉 some into others: and some there be that are become so bloody minded, that they make no more conscience to kill a Neighbour, a Brother, or a wife, than they do to kill a dumb Beast or a Dog: As this sad example makes manifest.  
How that in the County of Kent in the Isle of Tenet, in the Parish which is called the Town of Saint Lawrance: there lived a wealthy Esquire called-Master Spratling by name, who delighted much in keeping of Dogs for his pleasure.  
And as it is supposed, be loved his Dogs better than he loved his wife: and many times would wrangle and fall out about his Dogs, who in his rage and fury, there was none that could pacify his wrath so well as his wife could do.  
One night amongst the rest, being Saturday at night, December last 11. 1653. This Master Spratling came home in a madding rage, and finding so much fault about his dogs, that no one could tell how to qualify his anger, in so much, that he made them all afraid that came near him: at last his loving wise, with kind peswastons, came unto him and desired of him that he would be pleased to pray unto the Lord, and call upon him for mercy, and that he would forbear to swear and to curse; whereby he offended his Maker, and wronged his own soul.  
But the more she sought to persuade him the worse he was, so swearing and calling his wife many ill names: said that he would be her butcher before the morrow morning: and there withal charged his man that was then present witch them, to keep his wife in hold till he went forth to unloose a point and came to them again: for said he to his man, if thou let her go, I will presenily be the death of thee  
The young man fearing what his Master would do to him if he let his Mistress go, kept her in the room where she was, till such time that his Master had been forth and come in again, and this is the truth of the matter that he brought a Cord and a Cleaver with him, and so he bond his man hands and feet and cast him unon the ground.  
His Wife seeing that, ran speedily to the Door, and laying her hand on the Latch, thought to get out of the Room and scape away, but he quickly stopped her passage, and with his Cleaver gave her such a Chop, that he had almost cut off her hand at the first blow. whereat his wife with much patience spoke to him and gave him never a bad word, but prayed him that he would be so good as to let her fetch a Chirurgeon to cure Her Wound and all things should be well: No said he, 〈◊〉 can cure you myself; And with that word he gave her such a terrible stroke with the Cleaver, that be clove her head asunder; when he bade cut her, and mortified her, that the like was never seen, and that her blood ran all about the Room: he took a Vessel which he had, and laded up the Blood of his Wife, and put it in the Vessel. After that he went into another Room where his Dogs were, who when they had smelled the sent of the blood, they fell a bawling and barking at him in a most wondrous sort, as if they had been sensible of the Barbarous murder which he had done to his wife.  
But to make short dispatch, he killed all his Dogs, and threw the Carcase of his dead Wife amongst his dead Dogs: then he took his Dog's blood and mingled it with his Wife's blood, and went to the young man which lay bound, and washed his face and his own hands in the blood, and sprinkled blood upon the walls, and upon every thing that was in the Room: when he had so done, he unbound his Man, and told him that he had given him his life.  
Last of all, he took his Cleaver in one hand a Pistol charged, and so stood on his Guard all day on Sunday, till such time that the Deputy of the Island came and disarmed him, and brought him to Sandw●tch Prison, where he now remameth: His Daughter and other Servants which were in the House where he murdered his Wife, had o●kt up themselves in another Room, and by that means they saved their Lives through God's Mercy.  
Now since Master Spratling hath been in the Prison in Sandwich Goal some certain people that are of his acquaintance, have been to talk and discourse with him: where as one ask him whether he was not sorry for that he had so bloodily murdered his Wife; He answered, that if it were to do again he would do it: and all that he was sorry for, was because he had killed no more of them.  
The Lord in mercy grant that all Men that goes by the name of Christians, may behave themselves as Christians oft to do, so that they may not take delight in spilling innocent blood,  
AMEN.   

Here followeth another bloody Example, which is full as bad or worse then that which was done in KENT.  
IN the Parish of Islington near unto London there dwelled a man whose name was Thomased Laret a Carpenter by Trade, he having married a ●ise which was known to be a very honest woman, and one that laboured and took great pains for her living, and oftertimes would put the money in his hand that she got about at good men's Houses by scouring, and washing and such like labours, yet he vild wretch would beat her, and kick her, and pinch her, and beat her with his fists about the head, so that many times when he came home in his devilish fits, he would beat her with Staff, or Club, or any thing the that came next to his hand, till he had made her all of a gore blood.  
His come course of life was to dominéer and vapour in all houses to Swagger, drink, roar and fight, and would curse and swear, as if be would tear down the Heavens, and when he had brought himself out of quiet, he would come home and abuse his poor Wife in such a horrible manner, shalt it would make a cender heart to bleed, to think of the Torments that the poor Creature ●…dures: and although that many times his honest Neighbours would, and did gently and meekly chide him, and give good Counsel, he would swear and curse at them, and deal the worse with her: Saying, if he crippled her, he must keep her, if he killed her, he must be hanged for her: with these and many such unreasonable unseasonable answers, he would send them packing.  
But now behold what after came to pass? the poor woman which is here spoken off, having been amongst some of her friends, and received some small parsell of money for work which she had done, and hoping to please her froward Husband, she bought a Sheep's head to make him some Pottage against he came home but all that she did or could do, could not prebaile, for he having been amongst same of his back Companions, came home in a desperrts rage, idtending to kill his wife, and taking a Stool in his hand, he struck her on the head till she fell to the ground: then drawing forth a Tool out of his Case, which was like unto a Knife, he stabbed and gave her many deadly wouds, whilst she cried out in this mournful manner, saying, good Husband do not kill me, I pray you spare my life, even for the Lords sake, consider dear Husband that I am with Child, and not above six weeks to go of my time, and thérefore I pray you if you will not spare me for my ore sake, yet spare me for your Child's sake which is in my womb, yet nothing could move the merciless Villain to remorse, he never left stabbing and striking till he had wounded her to death: one of the Neighbours that dwelled next to the place stood at the window whilst he was beating his wife, and hearing her make a pitiful moan, durst not go into the house, but called to him as she stood and bade him not to kill his wise, but he gave her such a villainous answer which made her run away for fear he should kill her also.  
A his was done on wednesday morning, Ianua●y 12. the next morning he went to buy her a Coffin, thinking to bury his Wife with speed, and so to colour the matter that his Villainy should not be known: But before he could bring the business to pass, he was by means of the Wom●n that heard her cry, and another of the Nesghbors taken and borough before the justice of the Peace.  
And being examined the was by the Cvidence found guilty and was sent by Order of Law unto Newgate Prison, there to remain till the next Sessions: For its thought that others that had a hand in the murdering of the Woman shall then come to try all with him.  
And now to conclude, the Woman that was murdered had above thirty grievous wounds and stobs in her B●…y, some in the Head, and Neck some in the ●ides, and under the Arm pits some throug the Bowe●s, and Secret part. The like Villainous Act, all them that saw it, said that they never saw the like before.  
That this is true, there need no further witness, for there went more than a thousand people out of London to behold the Corpse of the murdered Woman before she was buried. The Lord send all honest Women better Husbands.  
Thus have I laid open to the view of the world, such matters of Murder, that if it were not too well known to be true, and that it was done so near at hand it would never be believed.  
It is said that since the time was limited, that every one might use their own conscience, that it is lawful for every one to do as they list: but those things are contrary carried: for all though there be liberty of Conscience allowed in some matters, there is no liberty allowed to do Murder.  
And although the Devil hath taught his Deciples such a Lesson that they care not who they kill, yet God's word saith plainly, thou shalt do no murder.  
And now & would have all wilful and desperate men and women to fear God and take heed what they do. For if a man have the Conscience to kill his wife: or if a woman have no more conscience but to kill her Husband, the Law will proceed against them: and whosoever kills his Wife shall be hanged for his wife: and although these two vile Wr●…ches have not as yet had their full trial. yet certainly they are kept fast in Prison till such time that their trial is to be acted, and then no doubt but they shall be sure to have their desert: and it is verily supposed that oneof them, if not both is to be hanged in Chains, God give them grace to call for Mercy, and to repent them of their evil Actions.  
And now to draw to a concluston, I leave it to the discretion of all conscientious people to judge of the matter, whether it be fitting for any man to go abroad and make himself drunk amongst evil and perverse companions, and afterwards come home in an antic humour and call his wife whore and bi●ch, to swear and to curse, to kick and to spurn, to cut, strike or stab his harmless wife, as 'tis known that Thomas Laret did oftentimes do.  
It is written in the second Chapter of the Book of Genesis, that a man for that cause shall forsake both his Father and Mother, and all other Friends and Kindred and cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh, Gen. 2.23, 24.  
I hope there is no man nor woman that is called by the name and title of a Christian, so wicked as to think the word of God not to be true: moroo●er, if we belieué Gods Word to be true, that a man and his wife when they are married together are termed to be both one flesh: what man will be so wicked as to strike, and beat, and ban, and curse his own flesh which is his lawful & absolute wife: again, what woman, if she beliedes in God will go about to wrong her Husband, and to be an offence to him whom she oft to be a helper, Gen. 3.  
But this which is here set down is printed to the end for Men and Women not only to hear it and look upon, but also to consider of, and to conclude with the old Proverb, hap are they that can take warning by other folk's harms.  
Thomas Laret for murther●… of his wife was a judgd to be hanged on a gibbet at Islington near unto the place wherere he did the murder.   

Here followeth another bloody murder committed on the body of Maior Furnifall a gentleman of good rank and quality  
A worthy gentleman of good account called by the name of Maior Furnifall which had formerly been a Commander in the wars, in which time he behaved himself so well, that he gained the love of all sorts of people, as wellin the City as the Country, and wheresoever he came be had a diligent care that his soldiers should do no wrong: yet we may see that the best of us all can no ways prevent danger: but by heavenly providence, as may appear by this gentleman here spoken of, for one day he having been merry with some of his friends, his chance was to light on two of his mortal enemies, being brothers in wickedness for they met with Mayor Furnifall, saluted him so they betrayed him with saying, God save you noble sir, and after their false friendship, they desired his company to drink a cup of Wine or Beer: which Mayor Furnifall consented unto so they went all three together into a Cook's house to drink, which house is in Russel-street in Coven-Garden next unto the rose Tavern, the Cook and his Wife are known to be very honest people, and have the good will and love of all their neighbours, the name of the Cook is Edward Bowers: the two brothers which are here spoken of, one of their names was Arthor Knight, and the other his his name was Thomas Knight, they having gotten the Mayor in a room alone, without any one to ●…d or assist him, Thomas Knight held fast the Chamber door whilst his brother Arthor Knight in a most bloody manner full upon the Mayor and wounded him with his knife, stabbed him in several places, cu● h●● nose in a most grievous manner, and hauling of him down stamp upon with his feet till he left him for almost dead, which having done, took the money out of his pocket and so run forth into the street swearing god d●mme, that now they were throughly revenged, the Cook when he saw what was done, followed after them thinking to have stayed them, Arthur Knight began to draw his Sword, and swoore he would do● as much to him, whereupon the Cook manfully ran to him and took a Weapon, and by that means he escaped with life, so the Cook's wife being a good spiririted woman, ventured her life in her Husband's behalf, and held one of the Brothers or else her husband might have lost his life. But to conclude the Gentleman died with the wounds and bruises which they had given him, one of the Brothers is fled and gone, the other by order of Law condemned to die, and to be hanged upon a Gibbet near unto the place where the Murder was committed: God in his mercy give all men grace to take heed what company they come into, for in these times a man can hardly tell who to trust.  
FINIS.