THE BLOODY HUSBAND, AND CRUEL NEIGHBOUR.  
Or, A True History Of TWO MURDERS, Lately committed in Laurence Parish, in the Isle of Thanet in Kent, near Sandwich:  
One Murder By the hands of Adam Sprackling Esquire, who upon the 12th day of December last, being Sabbath day; in the morning, cut, mangled, and murdered his own wife; for which fact he was hanged at Sandwich upon Wednesday the 27th day of April last, 1653.  
The other The Murder of Richard Langly, of the same Parish, whose blood also (as is here showed) cried against the said Mr. Sprackling,  Numbers 35.33. 
Blood defileth the Land, and the Land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.  
Written by one that lives near the Place where the said Murders were committed, and was present at Mr. Sprackling's trial; And published for the warning, and good of all.  

May 13. 1653. Imprimatur,  
Edm. Calamy   
LONDON, Printed by Tho. Warren. 1653.   

THE BLOODY HUSBAND, AND Cruel Neighbour, etc.  
GOD that made man after his own Image, made a Law, Gen. 9.6. Who so sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for, in the Image of God made he man. Against this sin of Murder, the wrath of God hath been revealed from heaven, by his just and daily revenging of innocent blood upon Murderers. Treasurers of Examples of Judgements in this kind, both old and new, lie before us; From the time of bloody Cain, to the blood thirsty Popish Rebels in Ireland, to which slaughter men of the Scarlet whore of Rome, God hath given plenty of blood to drink. We see bloody men daily cut off by the Sword of Justice in all places. The late Execution of the Wife-murtherer at Islington, near London, And the late Murders in the Isle of Thanet in the County of Kent, and the judgement of God on the Murderers, call for a book, wherein they may be written for examples to the Generations present and to come.  
Adam Sprackling Esquire, of St. Laurence Parish in that Isle, about 20. year since, married Katherine, the Daughter of Sir Robert Leukner, of Kent; This Gentleman having a fair estate in Lands, and being above thousands of his Nelghbours in Estate, wanting the grace of Humility, exalted himself above measure, affected pre-eminence in all Companies, used, in his braveries, long hair, etc. to ride about the Island, and frequent Tap-houses, and there to Rant and roar, game and swear exceedingly, upon the least provocation, and used to quarrel and draw his weapon, etc. He regarded not the Sabbath, but profaned it at home; The public worship of God, and Preaching of the Word, he seldom or never attended; delighted much in the company of drunken Ministers. This man, having much wasted his estate by his riotous courses, was of late pursued with arrests and suits at Law for debts, which he had contracted; and divers that entered into bond for him left to ruin, and imprisonment; Master Sprackling had Executions out against him, and Bailiffs ready to apprehend him, whereby he was constrained to make his own house his prison, to keep home, and could not domineer abroad, and ride about as heretofore. Upon this occasion he grew sad, choleric, and petulant, and full of rage in his house; His Wife being divers times constrained to lock up herself from him. She was a woman of precious report for many virtues, and (with Mary) did choose the better part: But upon Saturday at night December 11. last, Master Sprackling being resolved to mischief her, as the sequel manifested, He then being in the Kitchen of his house, had one Lambing a neighbour of his with him, and he then sent for one Knowler a Seaman to come to him; but it being ten of the clock at night, he desired to be excused, saying he was in bed; whereupon Master Sprackling sent for one Martin, a poor old man, a Tenant, and neighbour of his, who (though in bed) did arise and come to Master Sprackling, and then Lambing desired that he might go home, which request Master Sprackling granted. So there remained Master Sprackling and his Wife, and Martin, and one Ewell, servant to Master Sprackling, these four only in the Kitchen; His Daughter and Maidservant got away (seeing his rage) and locked themselves all night in an out-room far from the Kitchin. Mr. Sprackling would not go to bed, though it grew late, but commanded Martin to bind Ewells legs, which he did accordingly with a dogs couple, and so Ewell sat bound all night after on the ground. Martin and Ewell conceived it only a frolic or ranting fit or humour come on him, such as they had been formerly acquainted with.  
Then he began to rage against his Wife, who sat quietly there: her words to him were full of loving and sweet expressions; but he on a sudden drew his Dagger, and struck her with it on the face, which blow hurt her jaw; but she was very patiented, and said little to him; but he still raged against her; And towards morning the good Gentlewoman being weary, and in great fear, risen up to go out of the room, and lifting up her hand to open the door, her Husband following her with a chopping-knife in his hand, cut her wrist therewith, so, that the bone was cut in sunder; her hand hung down only by the sinews and skin; No help was near, Ewell bound, and Martin old and weak, and fearing his own life, durst not interpose, but only prayed his Mistress to stay and be quiet, he said he hoped all would be well; And Martin got a napkin and bound up her hand with it. After this, towards morning, Mr. Sprackling, raging and railing at her, dashed her on the forehead with the Iron Cleaver or Chopping-knife. Then she fell down bleeding, but recovered herself on her knees, and kneeling cried, and prayed to God for pardon of her own sins, and of her Husband's sin, beseeching God to forgive him, for she forgave him. But, in the time of her praying thus, her Husband chopped her head in the midst into the brains, so that she fell down stark dead instantly, lying in her own blood; Then he killed six dogs, four of which he threw besides his wife, and after she was dead, he cut her in the leg in two places, and compelled Martin to wash Ewells face with her blood, he also dipped linen in her blood, and besmeared Martin's face with her blood, and bebloudied his own face with it.  
For this Fact Master Sprackling was apprehended that night, having his Dagger in one hand, and Pistol in the other hand; but he was surprised, and taken by one Martin Brook. The next day he was carried to Sandwich Jayl: And after the Mayor of Sandwich (being Coroner) and his Inquest had sat upon the death of this Gentlewoman, Martin also was sent to Prison. The Sessions at Sandwich followed on Friday the 22. of April last. The Steward of the Court Mr. Peter Peak a Counsellor of Grays-inn, gave a godly and learned charge to the Grand Inquest, and, after mention of many sins, he spoke of the crying sin of Murder, what a land-defiling and God-provoking sin it was, as he evidenced by many examples; As, of the Sword not departing from the house of David, for his murder of Uriah, by the Sword of the Ammonites; For the blood of Naboth, the dogs lickd the blood of Ahab, and threescore and ten sons of his had their blood shed afterward, and dogs did eat bloody Jezabel; The sons of bloody Saul hanged up, etc. And, for the direction of the Court, he came to some cases of Murder, showing in such cases there was malice expressed, malice employed, malice supplied. Malice expressed, and Murder thereupon, is ordinary: but if a man intent maliciously to kill one, and it fall out, that he kill not the party, which he desired to mischief, but another, it is murder. He shown out of his Law-books, that a Father-in-law procured physic for his sick Son-in-law; The Physician prescribed a comfortable Medicine, which the Apothecary made accordingly of several Ingredients; The Son-in law took some of it, but it had almost killed him, though cordial Physic; The Father-in-law went to the Doctor of Physic, and told him how the Cordial wrought; Hereupon the Apothecary was sent for, and examined touching the Ingredients; He replied, he had put nothing in, but as the Physician directed, and that he knew the physic so Cordial, that he would take it himself, and, to justify himself, did take part of that Medicine; but, he soon died: Afterwards it was found out, that the wife of the sick man had put poison in the Medicine, thinking thereby to poison her Husband; but, he being of a stronger nature than the Apothecary, did escape, though hardly: but the woman was executed for the Apothecary's death, though she intended not his death, because there was malice expressed, murder intended.  
Malice employed was where no expression of malice in words, etc. appeared in the slayer; as if a Son put his aged Father out of doors in a frosty night, and he die, its murder; Non refert an occidat, an causam mortis praebeat. If two be together, and, no provocation given or known, one kill the other, there is malice implied; it's Murder.  
Malice supplied, this he shown in two Children in King Henry the seventh's time, one nine year old, the other eleven; one killed the other, and, because the slayer denied the fact, and cunningly by excuses sought to hid it, and to acquit himself of it, it was found Murder; Malice was supplied in Law, to be in the Child though not of competent age, and the Child was thereupon executed.  
After the Grand Inquest had received the Bill of Indictment, which was presented in Court by Mr. Steward Leukner, brother of Mr. Spracklings wife, the Inquest going together, returned to the Bar, finding both Mr. Sprackling, and Martin guilty of the Murder of Mistress Sprackling. After dinner the Jury of life and death was called, Mr. Sprackling and Martin pleaded not guilty; and referred themselves to a fair trial: Mr. Sprackling held up his trembling hand at the Bar; but when the Jury came one by one to be sworn, he excepred against, and put by 20. of them, showing no reason for it; but, he not being permitted by Law to except against any more, without showing reason for it, a Jury was at last filled up and sworn. And the murder as before rehearsed, was proved by Ewell; (for Martin being a Prisoner and party, could give no evidence.)  
Mr. Sprackling pleaded for himself, that he was mad when he killed his Wife; and that he knew not what he did: but Lambing, being deposed, testified, that when he left Mr. Sprackling, that Saturday night, he perceived no distemper in him, but that he was as he used to be at other times: And Joseph cowel his Tenant, who saw him that Sabbath after the Murder done, testified that he was as he used to be, only he spoke thick, and often of blood, blood, blood. And it was testified by Roger Streven, who saw him next morning after the fact, when he went to Prison; He deposed that he saw no sign of distraction in him, but was rational in his discourse, and provided a Wagon with a bed in it for his conveyance to Sandwich Prison; And Roger Streven deposed, that he heard it affirmed that Mr. Sprackling said after his wife was dead, now let us kill the Dogs, and then they'll say we are mad indeed.  
And since the Trial, it is known that Mr. Sprackling writ a Letter that Saturday morning to Roger Hooper, a Seaman, to buy him Goods at London, and such, and such Books; and, to pay money at London for him; which Letter was rational, in his usual form of writing. And since the trial also, Mr. Hopestill Tilden of Sandwich affirmed in the hearing of many, that he being divers times with Mr. Sprackling in Prison, heard him say, he killed his Wife, because she was a traitor to him, and said, that if it were your case Hopestill, you would do the like to such a Wife that went about to betray you, and undo you, and deliver you to the Bailiffs. And, I since hear, he affirmed the same to another, that morning he went to Prison, saying, she left the doors open on purpose, etc. And for further Evidence at the trial, many witnesses were called and sworn, that testified, that this bloody Ox did use to push in former time; and, that it was not a fit of frenzy at that time of the Murder rehearsed; but, that he was of an habitual bloody disposition and practice. One John Russell deposed, that about twenty year before, he saw Mr. Sprackling endeavour to run one John Simons through with his naked Rapier, in St. Peter's Parish, at a Taphouse there, and had nailed him to the wall, had not he took hold on the hilt of the Rapier; and, that in another Taphouse there, he saw Mr. Sprackling quarrel with one Giles, and drew his Sword at him; but, the Deponent did not follow Master Sprackling into the next Room where Giles was; but, he saw Giles come bleeding out.  
One Robert Lister deposed, that Mr. Sprackling being worsted in a quarrel in a Taphouse in that Parish, lay there at one Homans all night, and sent for his man Corslet, his Champion, and next day morning, in cold blood, commanded his man Corslet to fall on the said Robert Lister, which he did presently, and struck the said Lister on the jaw with a cudgel, whereby a tumult arose; but, company parted them: And one Goble, a Shoemaker, was run into the bowels, in that Parish, another time, when Mr. Sprackling was in the affray.  
Edward Taddy deposed, that he being Constable, did assist Humphrey Pudner, the Mayor of Dovers Deputy, at St. John's parish, and Richard Langley, Deputy to the Mayor of Sandwich, at St. Laurence Parish, when they three had an Order to disarm Mr. Sprackling, and, having taken and secured the Arms in his house, Mr. Sprackling assaulted the said Edward Taddy, when he met him some months after; And Humphrey Pudner deposed, that he drew upon him also in the street; and, that he being Officer, disarmed Mr. Sprackling in an affray, which he made in a Taphouse in St. John's Parish; And William Grant deposed, that in that Parish he drew at him, and had cleaved his head with his Cutlash, if he had not put by the blow. Others were ready to depose many such bloody assaults done by Mr. Sprackling: But (above all) the death of Richard Langley of St. Laurence Parish, was mentioned in Court. This Richard Langley was a very godly man, zealous for God and the State, had seized on Mr. Spracklings Arms, and Articled against him, so that Mr. Sprackling was secured at Canterbury, at the first of the Parliament: But Mr. Sprackling (being at liberty in the year 1648.) the day before the Kentish Insurrection burst out, armed horse and men, and went down from his own house to the Sea-town there, called Ramsgate; that is Romans-gate, where the Romans first Landed when they subdued this Nation: And Richard Langley living there, was sought for; but, he hide himself in his house for a time; but, hearing that Mr. Sprackling was there at the Tavern with Horse and Arms, and a rude crew with him, Langley crept out of his own house, and stole away, and got to one Mistress Jonson's house, and making his sad case known, how Mr. Sprackling sought his blood, The good Gentlewoman lent him her Mare, and Langley presently fled out: but, Mr. Sprackling, hearing that Langley was got away, his two men, Allen and Emersom, went after him; One Master John Johnson deposed, that he saw them ride af●er Langley, so soon as Langley was got on horseback, and that Mr. Sprackling's horse pursued, and they had their Pistols presented, as they rid by Mistress Jonson's Gate after Langley, whom they overtook about two miles off, and there he was shot through his body with a brace of bullets, which entered his back, and came forth at his breast, and so he was left wallowing in his blood, and died presently, leaving behind him a Widow and thirteen Orphans in a sad condition. Whereupon Paul Allen fled, and is not yet taken: But Emersom, though he were afterwards a Soldier in that Insurrection, Yet he was apprehended and Executed at Canterbury. It was not proved that Mr. Sprackling commanded them to kill Langley; But it's certain, that Mr. Sprakling was Commander in chief there that day, and acted as Commissioner, and sent for divers honest men, and imprisoned some in his house, and afterwards went to Sea, and continued with the Revolted Ships. And it was deposed at Master Sprackling's trial, that he had often threatened Richard Langley, and that before Richard Langley was murdered, M. Sprackling seeing him in the street, drew his Sword at him, and flourished it over his own head, and was ready to assault Richard Langley, but was prevented by others. And it was deposed also that before the Murder of Richard Langley, Mr. Sprackling went out of the Tavern and pursued Langley to his own house with naked weapon in his hand, and there called for him, and sought him, but not finding him departed, and going out, let fall his Pistol in the entry of Langley's house, which Pistol the Witness saw there, and took it up.  
After the Court had heard the Evidence against Master Sprackling, leave was given him to speak for himself, and to bring what witness he pleased in his defence, he and they should be fairly heard. He named two Lawyers for his assistance in form of Law, but none appeared. Two Physicians appeared in Court for him, and some women, to prove he was mad: but they spoke only general things; only one Physician deposed, that he had let him blood four times together in a fever, about a year before, and that then he was in a distracted fit; but none could swear he was distracted, near, at, or after the Murder committed; only that he used to be outrageous in passion, etc.  
The Jury, giving up their Verdict, said, they found Mr. Sprackling guilty of wilful Murder.  
But they acquitted Martin, having no proof that he had Combined to kill the Gentlewoman, or assisted in killing her; but that, merely out of fear of death to himself, he was willing to humour his Master in binding Ewell, and in praying Mrs. Sprackling to stay: and Ewell upon oath said, that he could not swear that he saw Martin lay hands on her, to keep her from going out, and Martin having also a good testimonial of all his neighbours, of his peaceable and harmless life. The sentence of death being pronounced by the Mayor of Sandwich against Master Sprackling; Master Peak, the Steward, made a pathetical exhortation to Mr. Sprackling to repent; he shown him the heinousness of the fact, and aggravated it in regard of the murdered Gentlewoman's worth, in the admirable graces and virtues that shined forth in her, etc. But Mr. Sprackling answered; No man can judge between man and wife, but God alone, and showing small token of Repentance, or of care for his soul, He only requested then, that his body might be delivered to four women, which he named in open Court. Being returned to Prison, he refused Conference with any, from his Judgement to his death. Divers godly Gentlemen and Ministers desired to speak to him, but he would admit none. There was a Lecture at Sandwich upon the day of his Execution. The Jail joined to the yard of the Church, where the Lecture was preached; yet he would not so much as send to be prayed for: But the Lecturer (Master John Durant) prayed earnestly for him. In Prison he spoke of Receiving the Sacrament by the ministering of Mr. Edward Fellows, but did not receive it.  
Upon the 27. day of April last, Mr. Sprackling being ready to go to Execution, desired the Sheriff of Sandwich to make a guard, that no man, Minister, or other, might come near to speak with him. He had notes in writing at his Execution to look on; He confessed in general that he was a sinner, and deserved death, etc. Two Ministers pressed near him, and called upon him to consider his condition, and to glorify God by a free Confession, and exhortation to the people, there being (as was conceived) at least 2000 at his Execution; but he desired the Ministers not to trouble him: But one of the Ministers pressed Langley's death upon him, and desired him to discharge his conscience in that, whether he were guilty or not; now was the time; as the tree falls, so it lies; But Mr. Sprackling's answer was; Sir, I have made my confession to God, I pray trouble me not; man hath nothing to do with it, I pray speak no more of it.  
This is a sad presumption of his guiltiness of Langley's death; and that the report is true, which saith that Master Sprackling, when he sent Allen and Emerson after Richard Langley, and bid them bring him dead or alive: If he had not appointed them to kill Langley, he would now have disclaimed the fact; And who would not have believed a dying man? It was the saying of many godly wise people, when they heard of Mr. Sprackling's murder of his Wife, that they were persuaded that the cry of Richard Langley's blood did move the bloodavenging God to leave Mr. Sprackling to fall to that Wife-murther, that such a bloodthirsty man might not go to the Grave in peace.  
He was hanged in his Cloak, And afterwards put into a Coffin  and all at the Gallows, and after stripped, and laid forth, and coffined at the sign of the three Kings in Sandwich; and the next day towards night carried from thence six miles on men's shoulders over the Ferry to St. Laurence Church, where in the night he was buried near his Wife.  
This is the true History of these bloody practices: God brings light out of darkness, and the glory of his Justice out of the sin, shame, and destruction of the wicked; They are not all sweet flowers from which the Bees gather honey: All truth is written for our Instruction.  
Learn  
1. Let him that stands take heed lest he fall; All men are subject to the same infirmities, and temptations; Walk circumspectly, pray continually, lest ye enter into Temptation.  
2. Forsake not God, by forsaking his Sabbaths, Ministry of the Word, etc. lest God's Spirit forsake thee, and thou be given up to Satan to be led captive by him at his will.  
3. Let all ranting and prodigal ones, my young Masters and others, learn here the bitter sequels of riot and waste: Besides a world of evils, it brings want, want distraction, discontent between the nearest Relations.  
4. Take heed you marry in the Lord. 'Tis not a brave Spark that can manage his Rapier well, etc. that you can expect to live well with, if there be not grace in the heart.  
5. Take heed of malice and wrath, and bloody mindedness, and of bloody attempts and practices: Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God.  
6. Take heed of the company of the wicked, especially of bloody men: It had like to have cost poor Martin his life.  
7. Pray that our Higher powers moy take to heart the want of Government in the Port part of the Isle of Thanet in Kent, which part is so far from Justice, that it is full of profaneness; When the shire-part of the Isle, where Justice is near and active, is better Reform. I do humbly wish that all the Isle be made Shire, or a Corporation set up in the Port-part: Drunkenness, Swearing, Sabbath-breaking, etc. none to put such to shame; a Mayor's Deputy hath no power, the remedy is worse than the disease, to go so many miles to Complain to the Majors; But God's Justice acts where man's doth not. Not a year passeth there, but a Drunkard breaks his neck off his horse, or over the Cliff: Two have hanged themselves within a year last passed, one on Easter Monday last, being actually drunk, hanged himself.  
8. Pray that a settled godly able Ministry may be established in the Parish where this Master Sprackling lived; where these bloody and ungodly Practices prevail: The dark corners of the Earth are full of the habitations of Cruelty. There are many thousand souls, yet not ten pounds a year settled for the maintenance of a Minister: Richard Langley procured the casting out of the unsavoury salt there; And be died in the time of his zealous actings to procure maintenance for an able Minister.  
9 Look upon this godly Gentlewoman, and Richard Langley, lying in their blood, mangled and slain, and see what may befall the dearest servants of God in this world: and prepare for the like trials. They that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.  
FINIS.