AN ACCOUNT Of a most Strange and Barbarous Action How a Prisoners Wife of Ludgate threw herself from the Leads into Blackfriars, on Sunday the 22th of this Instant March, between Twelve and One in the Afternoon.  
HOW sad and dismal a thing it is to consider, especially when we seriously reflect on the various and most inhuman Cruelties and Barbarities that are so frequently acted and committed among us, but I am sure there can be none more strange, or indeed unaccountable than this I am now about to give you a Relation of, being it was committed against all Laws, even that of Nature, for self preservation is implanted in our very Being's, but how frail and weak we are when left to ourselves, and how cunning and subtle an Enemy we have to deal with, that continually encounters us, and maketh the strongest Assaults upon our weakest Guards, insinuating into our most private concerns and conditions, and taking all advantages to work our Ruin, there being none more prejudicial or destructive than bringing us to despair, as this most sad and lamentable Instance here plainly demonstrates.  
For, on Sunday the 22d. of this Instant March, between Eleven and Twelve a Clock, one _____ Smith (the Wife of Michael Smith Sawyer, who lived in Holy-day-yard in Greed-lane) went as her accustomed use was to Visit her Husband, who has been a Prisoner in Ludgate for the space of Fifteen or Sixteen Weeks, which long and tedious Imprisonment had reduced them to a very poor and low condition, as having been forced to sell even their very Household goods for a present maintenance, and that being almost expended, utterly despairing of his enlargement, asked him after they had dined to go upon the Leads of the said Prison, having been there some time discoursing together, he went down to the Cellar to fetch some drink, and leaving her there walking alone, she about Twelve a Clock (by the Instigation of the Devil) took that opportunity to throw herself over the. Battlement of the Leads into Blackfriars, which is at least Four Stories high, so that she was bruised to pieces, and was carried to a House adjacent till the Crowner's Inquest sat● upon her.  
Thus you see how the Devil tempts us to Sin, and attaques us when least suspected, therefore may this Circumstance affright us by this sad Example from the Commission of tha● horrid Sin of Self-murder.   

LONDON, Printed by Tho. Moor. MDCLXXXV.