THE TRUE NARRATIVE OF THE EXECUTION Of John Marketman, Chirurgeon, of Westham in Essex, for Committing a Horrible A Bloody Murder Upon the Body of his Wife, that was big with Child when he Stabbed her. Printed 21. April. 1680.  
TOo frequently do we hear of such Bloody Murders acted by such Miscreants as have no regard to God's Glory, nor the comfort of their own Souls; as may appear by this person whose Name was John Marketman a Sea Chirurgeon by Profession, a Minister's Son by Descent; and worse than a Tyrant for this his Bloody inhuman act, as by the sequel I will give you to understand, It happened not long since that this Marketman took to Wife one Mary Snerlin, with whom he lived some time in Content and Peace, but not long after suggesting to himself strange conceits of his Wife, begun to be possessed with Jealousy, whether with or without just Cause, I refer it to those who were better acquainted with her than myself but yet I hope all rational people will allow that where Jealousy once finds entertainment in the heart of any Man or Woman, there is little hopes of any quiet life, and often begets ardent desires of secret Revenge, which oftentimes launches forth into such extremes, whose productions are miserable and ends in Shame and Reproach as you may see by the above named Marketman, who not long since being restless in his Mind, and fearing lest every time she was out of his Sight that she was in the Company of him whom he believed she respected far beyond himself, at least was too familiar with, which Report says was a Bayliff living not very far from them, grew extremely disconsolate, and that which more grieved this already discontented Soul, was, that he oftentimes was affronted and jeered about the aforesaid Bailiff, which he so evilly resented that he gave way to the Temptation of Satan, who presently infused into his heart desire of Revenge, and did strongly animate him to this prodigious Cruelty, which too soon he barbarously acted in manner following.  
It happened one day that he came home very much debauched and distempered in Drink, which his Wife taking notice of, persuaded him to lie down on the bed, which he accordingly did, and sleep soon taking possession of his drowsy Brain quickly became Master of his Senses: In the mean time his Wife not doubting but that he was secure for some considerable space, went out and locked the door, intending to return  his nap had been ended; but in the interim he awaked, and hearing no noise in the house, began presently to make a bad Construction of her absence, and starting up, looked about for her who was not there to be found, which so perplexed his Jealous mind, That he violently broke open the Door and went upon the search for her whom he feared was accompanied with her friend, but not finding her there, he returned, where he found her at a Neighbour's House: Now began Satan to prompt him on to the execution of that he had predetermined in his mind, This poor woman who was big of her first Child, not dreaming that his passion was so violent that nothing could assuage it but the loss of her own and her poor Babes life, and the letting out of her immortal Soul for the expiation of her supposed Crime, She I say when she see her Husband abroad whom she left locked up in the House was somewhat amazed, but not fearing any harm went to him, who took her about the neck Judas like as if he intended to kiss her, a and all on a sudden thrust his accursed Knife into, if not through her poor Heart, so that she fell down dead upon the spot, and that Soul wounding blow proved fatal to both Husband Wife and Child, for which Bloody and execrable Murder he was committed to the County Goal at Chelmsford, and there at the last Assizes received a just Judgement of Condemnation, and was ordered to be Hanged at the common place of Execution; but he on his bended Knees did beg as his last request of the Judge, that he might be brought to the Town where he did perpetrate this wicked Act, there to be Executed according to his Sentence, which was Granted, and on the 17th. day of this present Month of April 1680, after a Sermon was Preached before him in the presence of some Thousands of sorrowful-Spectators, was lead to the place of Execution by his own Mother, who poor Soul drowned in Sorrow when she came to the Gibbet fell in a Swoon, hardly to be recovered, and when he was upon the Ladder made a very long Speech to this purpose, That he had been very disobedient to his too indulgent Parents, and that he had spent his Youthful days in Profanation of the Sabbath and licentious evils of Debaucheries beyond expression, and that he had been over penutious in his narrow observance of his Wives ways, desirous that all should pray to the Eternal God for His everlasting welfare, and with many pious expressions ended this mortal life. That being ended, he recommended his Soul to the Almighty, and the Executioner did his Work.  
FINIS,