THE TREPAN: BEING A true RELATION, full of stupendious variety, of the strange practices of Mehetabel the Wife of Edward Jones, and Elizabeth Wife of Lieutenant John Pigeon, Sister to the said Mehetabel. Wherein is Discovered The subtle Method whereby they Cheated Mr. Wessel Goodwin, a Dyar in Southwark, and all his Children of a fair Estate: With sundry Copies of Letters, perfumed Locks of Hair, and Verses they sent him, and many other notable devices Belonging to The ART of TREPANNING. Prov 6.26. For by means of a Whorish Woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread, and the Adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Printed in the year, 1656. Mr. Goodwin being a man professing Religion, they put on a great seeming show of Holiness, whereby they with feigned words stole into the very heart of this poor old man, and then made merchandise of him, & finding his wife a judicious discreet woman, not to be gained neither with the lute nor the music of their deceitful tongues, they secretly insinuate to Mr. Goodwin that his wife did not show that duty & respect as she ought, but aimed to govern her Husband, though all the neighbourhood will justify her to have been a most virtuous woman, & a faithful, loving, respectful wife; how far they prevailed with this device to make division between them, is well known to some, but seeing they are both dead, I forbear any mention, but Doct. Mayerne her Physician told me, that the Disease she died of was Grief; she died, ann. 1647. and very opportunely for their purpose. A little before her death, with the help of some friends, she prevailed upon him to take his eldest son Andrew into Partnership with him, who having newly married a virtuous young maid of good Parentage, might be a stay and comfort to the old man after her decease. Well, Mrs. Goodwin is dead, & Mr. Goodwin now more than ever frequents Pauls-alley in Red cross-street, the place of these two sister's abode, now they begin to act strongly, and close first with him in this manner, they tell him Mr. Jones is a wicked man, and in the sight of God no husband, having forfeited his interest, & she free to marry whom she please, & having muffled this shallow old man's conscience by many subtle insinuating devices, draw him first into a league of love with her, then for the fairer carrying on of the business, Mr. Hansard Knowles is employed to draw a Bill of Divorce between Mr. Jones and his wife, although he had lived 18. years in lawful wedlock with her, and she have by him 5 Children: then by many practices they endeavour one while to persuade Mr. Jones to be gone beyond Sea, Mrs. Pigeon offering him a sum of money if he would so do; but that failing, they arrest him in feigned actions & cast him in Prison, & by those practices so afflicted him, that at last he yielded to quit the City, and so went into Norfolk, where to this day he abideth. Mrs. Goodwin and Mr. Jones thus removed, the game plays fair, now Mr. Goodwin is there day & night, nothing but dalliance & entertainments, carrying them into the Country, spending his own & his son & partner's estate upon them, now they possess him at pleasure, cause him at two several times to make his Will, wherein he gave to Mrs. Jones 600. l. that so they might have that for a Pledge in case he died before the Design were perfect; one of which Wills at the request of Mr. Goodwin, by the direction of Mrs. Pigeon, was drawn at the Mewse by Lieut. Pigeon, husband to the said Elizabeth, though much against his mind, but to buy his peace with his imperious wife: & the other by Mr. H. Coleborn, Scrivener, at his house in Budge Rowe. And here having mentioned Mr. Pigeon, I must give you a brief account what life he leads with this projecting woman, who being thus active for her sister, you may imagine is not idle for herself; she was formerly the widow of one Mr. Starkey an Apothecary at London-stone, whose death (as she hath since confessed to Mr. Pigeon) she procured; soon after she married Lieut. Pigeon, than an Officer in the Army, a man of good parts and a fair estate; shortly after their marriage she woes him to make her a promise upon Oath, in case he died, to give her all his estate; which he for good reasons refusing, she peremptorily refuseth him her Bed, and yet at the same time uses all the amorous practices she could imagine, plies him with high provocative meats & drinks to inflame; & then after all, will you swear to give me all? if you will not, if you touch me I will cry murder; by these & many other practices, not fit to be mentioned, at the last she obtained her end, and prevailed with him to make over all his estate to Hen. Coleborn & some other poe sons in trust for her: and whereas by this he thought he had won her for ever, she now is more insolent than before; now she makes him a drudge in all her Projects, and if he stick at any thing, than two Beds, and then if you touch me I will cry murder, and now consults with her Confessor Mr. Knowles how she may be Divorced from him, till at last Mr. Pigeon overcome with their practices, gave some words to Mr. Knowles which occasioned a fray, in which Mr. Knowles, Mrs. Pigeon, and some rude persons that Knowles called in were sound beaten; but this beating they so improved, that at a Court-martial they procured Mr. Pigeon to be Cashiered the Army and Imprisoned; and to make all yet surer, she with some persons fit for her purpose makes Oath before the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, That she went in danger of her life, and so obtained a Writ of Special Supplicavit, which she kept dormant by her to awe him from coming near or disturbing of her, and so Mr. Pigeon quit of imprisonment, withdraws also into the Country: Now they carry all before them, all things favour them, now they ply Mr. Goodwin to take heed of his Children; now they draw all Mr. goodwin's servants into their confederacy, excepting on Roger Crey that detested their practices, he falls suddenly sick, they Physic him, and boasting of their Skill, charge his master to use no other Physician, and that he counterfeited, till the Disease grew so high, that Andrew Goodwin privately carried his Water to Doctor Burnet, who said he was a dead man, and that he died for want of means in time, & accordingly that night he died in their hands. Another obstacle was young Mrs. Goodwin, who hath often, before good witness, affirmed, That her heart was broke with their wicked practices, in making dissension between Father and Son, and the apprehension of the Ruin she saw coming upon the Family; but the Grand Rub in the Project was Andrew Goodwin, whom they sought all ways imaginable to cast out of Partnership, by daily exasperating his Father against him, by breaking open his Countinghouse and Trunks in his absence, Mrs. Pigeon sending for the Smith, and causing him in the old man's name to do it, and taking thence all his Papers and Accounts, then causing Mr. Goodwin to employ one Mr. Lewis an able Accountant, to make up the Accounts between Father and Son in order to his casting out and their getting in, to whom as the said Mr. Lewis affirmed before the Commissioners, she offered 30. l. as a Bribe, if he would so draw up the Account as that Andrew might have nothing in the Stock, and so be cast out as a Bankrupt: And the better to colour their coming in, which they were now ready for, they draw into their snare James Goodwin the youngest son, a silly schoolboy, who was then fitting to be put to apprentice; this Boy they having first principled, draw into a marriage with Mrs. Jones her eldest daughter, as mere a Child as he, and presently they are married, and so these two successful projecting sisters with their Children and Servants come all to inhabit at the Dye-house, where now they bestir them: they first warn Andrew, the Partner, to departed the house within 14. days, Mrs. Pigeon telling him, She never undertook any Design but she brought it to perfection: the 14. days expired, being in November, 1653. about midnight, they send out their engine, James Goodwin, for two Sergeants, and two Bailiffs they had hired, having before entered an Action of 1000 l. against the said Andrew for pretended breach of Covenants, these Officers are brought in as thiefs over the ditch, Andrew having the Keys of the Gate in his Chamber where he was fast asleep in bed, Mrs. Pigeon brings them up, furnishes them with an Iron Crow; and the Door proving difficult to be forced, she cries, Mr. Goodwin, Let them break down the Wall, it is your own House; so they seized and carried him away to Prison, and then by assignments, and bills of sale from old Mr. Goodwin, and such like devices, with Mr. Hen. Coleborn's help, she got possession and title to Mr. goodwin's and his Sons whole Estate; what followed you will find in the ensuing Relation, and the Report drawn up by the Worshipful Commissioners, by Order of His Highness the Lord Protector, to which I refer you. ERRATA. PAg. 3. line 20. for do, interest read so interest: pag. 7. line 33. deal all: line 35. for sharp read strange: Pag. 8. line 28. for into his Grave, read into disgrace. THE TREPAN. IN the precedent Relation of Mistress Jones and Mistress Pigeons practices, you have seen them by many subtle and wicked steps, become possessors of all old Mr. goodwin's and his Son's Estate: While old Mr. Goodwin was alive, they wrought at a distance, drawing from the old man, now and then, sums of ten, twenty, thirty pounds at a time, as upon Oath hath been witnessed; besides much good Provision he supplied them withal, both for back and belly. But she, now dead, this would not satisfy them, they saw they had an admirable subject, and that encouraged them to a higher design: An old man, that though he had a weak head, yet an obstinate will; a man, though inexorable to the faithful counsel of true friends, especially if it thwarted his appetite, yet more facile than a Child to yield to the seductions of glavering Flatterers; for which trade these two Sisters are most tightly qualified: and to all this they had the advantage of many years' acquaintance, had studied his Temper, and could work him to their pleasure. In brief, by many deceitful stratagems, which the unwary old man perceived not, they wrought him, as you have heard, to make a sinful adulterous Contract of Marriage with Mistress Jones, to give her by Will a great part of his Estate, to a most unnatural hatred of all his dutiful Children, to betray his Son James, a child, into marriage with Lydia Jones, a mear child also, that so they might have entrance into the house to cast out his Son and Partner Andrew in a most inhuman manner; and in fine, by Judgements, Bills of Sale, Assignments, and such practices, to make over all his own, and his Son's Estate, to Mr. Henry Coleborn for the use of Elizabeth Pigeon; who thereupon takes Possession of the House, Stock, and Trade, utterly excluding Andrew and the rest of the Children from an Estate of 2000 l. which Mr. Goodwin, by assistance of a provident Wife, had been almost 40. years labouring for. Thus far the former Relation gives you account; now I proceed to a Discovery of what they have since acted, wherein (besides my promise not to prevaricate from the truth) the Reader shall have such unquestionable proofs as will silence all Cavils; and stranger things than these you hear not often. But first I must here give you an account of Mr. Edward Jones: In the former Relation you have seen how after five years' absence from London, being constrained in his affections, he comes to London; and going to Pauls-Alley to see his Children, was, by these two sister's procurement, in five several Actions, in all to the value of about 1000 l. arrested and cast into prison, though of all this he owed not one penny, and of divers of those men, whose names they had used, had never seen their faces: There he continued many months, and had he not been supplied by his Tenants in St. John's street, must there have perished. During his imprisonment, they often send his Children to him, who are instructed to ask him ensnaring questions, that so they may feel how he resents his Condition: and when they found him (as they thought) indifferently mortified, than they endeavour to draw him to their wicked Conditions: the chief of which were, First, That he make over all his Estate to his Wife by trusties; and, Secondly, and chief, That he immediately depart the City with engagement to return no more, that so she might be free for old Mr. Goodwin: The first part he inclined to upon Conditions; but the second he utterly rejected, and so the Treaty broke off. And now Mr. Jones somewhat encouraged by the honesty of some of his Tenants, who supplied him with the Arrears of the Rent due five years in their hands, ever-since his departure; all which Mistress Jones might have received Quarterly upon Mr. Jones his Acquittances which he sent her from Norwich, but she utterly refused, because by those Receipts she must acknowledge Mr. Jones to be her Husband: and Mr. goodwin's purse being then full, she let the Rents (as aforesaid) rest in their hands, which proved happily for Mr. Jones in this Condition. And now observing Mr. E. C. the Counsellor to be very active with these two sisters; and judging that it must be upon some Consideration that a person of Mr. C is rank should do, interest himself in his Wife's Cause, he procured a trusty Friend to go to Mr. C his house at Marybone, who there saw several parcels of Mr. Jones his Goods in a Parlour, viz. Two ancient Pictures of value; but not being admitted into any other Room, he cannot tell what there was more, but these he knoweth to have been Mr. Jones his Goods. Whereupon Mr. Jones exhibited a Bill in Chancery agaist Mistress Pigeon, Mr. C. and several others for the examination of the Counterfeit Actions he was Arrested for, and the Discovery of his Goods; and by this means got a Release of those Counterfeit Actions, and was quitted and immediately went again into the Country: During this unjust imprisonment, he spent almost 80. l. which he affirmed he intended to divide every penny amongst his Children. And so concluded that Trepan, with loss and disgrace to the two Sisters. And here having made this degression, I shall also insert the Trepaning of one Esay Aspinwal by Mistress Pigeon: He was some years since Apprentice to one Mr. Hardy a Salter near Guildhall, and now living in Lambeth. Near to this youth there lived a Maidservant, one Mary Northcote, aged about 36 years; this wench leaving her Service, was after entertained by Mistress Pigeon: where after a while Mistress Pigeon overhearing her in the night to Sigh and Groan much, she tells her Husband she must know what this meant; Mr. Pigeon checking her pragmatic nature, still prying into the secrets of others, dissuaded her all he could, but she vowed she would know: and to be short, the next day got this Wench into her Inquisition, and never left raking in her Conscience till she discovered to her, There had been some love between the said young man and she; and further confessed, That he had lain with her above forty times, and had promised her marriage. Whereupon Mistress Pigeon sends for the young man; Mr. Pigeon still dissuading her from meddling in this matter, and advising her rather to turn her away: but she replies, You are a fool; Now will I have out of this Wench what Service I please: the young man came, she Catechises him into a Confession, causes him to write and subscribe it, and so dismisses him; who having after some few years finished his apprenticeship, and set up a little Shop for himself; which Mistress Pigeon informed of, sends for the young man, and having beforehand all her instruments in readiness, demands of him if he will now marry her Maid? The young man replies, That he was new set up, his Stock small, and did not yet see how he should subsist with a Wife, and therefore desires some respite: But Mistress Pigeon not rhus satisfied, gives the Trepan-watch-word, and presently two Sergeants appear, who hale him away to a Tavern in Wood-street to capitulate, where Mistress Pigeon follows; the poor young man by this time had sent for his Brother, a Countryman in Town, who hearing the Case, and seeing into what hands his Brother was fallen, overcome with grief before he could utter himself, swollen so, that the very buttons burst from his doublet, and at last fell into a most bitter lamentation; and then representing to Mistress Pigeon his Brother's youth, his Father's affection to this Son, who so soon as he should hear of this, (being an ancient godly Gentleman in the Country) would die with grief, and therefore begged, that rather than engage him in this unequal scandalous match, he might make her some reasonable satisfaction with Money; (which was the word Mistress Pigeon watched for) she demanded 500 l. for a Dowry to this old cracked Vastal, for whom a clean Whip had been a fit recompense for seducing a poor youth to such wickedness: But the Brother urging his Father's poverty, and the unreasonableness of such a Sum; in short, to rescue his Father's grey hairs from the grave, and Mistress Pigeon being informed that their Father had given him and his Brother 50. l. a piece, she urged, that if they would give her all, he should go quit; which at last they yielded to, and Bonds were sealed, and after a short time the Money paid to Mistress Pigeon, to the utter undoing of both these young men; the said Esay not able by this means to keep open his Shop, went away, and could never since be heard of: Fifty pounds of this Money was bestowed in marriage with this flawed piece to a Shoemaker, one Mr. Cheval, next to Algate under London-Wall: and for the other 50. l. whether Mistress Pigeon have since given to this huswife, or (as is most probable) reserved in her own hands for Brocage, is uncertain: and so also concluded that Trepan. And now I return to the main story. Mistress Pigeon now in possession of all Mr. goodwin's and his Son's Estate, casts about how she may improve it, and make it a standing thievery; she first plods to all the Customers, and with her dissembling pretences, alleging all is still done for the good of old Mr. Goodwin, prevailed with some to continue their Work to the house, and some new Customers are acquired, as Mr. John Gold of Clapham their very great friend. And because some scrupled the safety of their Goods, she procures Mr. Coleborn to give his security, as he, in whose Name she bought and sold, retained and discharged all, and Christmas now at hand, that being the usual time of Payments, she hastens and importunes them to pay into Mr. Coleborn the last years Money, about 1200. l. and earned in the Partner-ship, who gives them Discharges; and encouraged with the visible gains she saw in that Trade, she plies it on all hands, while Mistress Jones (a heavier piece) acts her part with old Mr. Goodwin to keep him in a good humour: now that he and his Children are stripped of all; but active Mistress Pigeon is every where at the Merchants for Work, at the Salters for Wares, prying and watching that the Servants shall get no vayls, except honest Mr. Anthony Rawlin that for former good services must be a little connived at. In the mean time, that Andrew may not disturb her, one while she threatens to bring him to Trial of the 1000 l. Action she had formerly caused him to be Arrested in: Another while commends his good nature, but seduced by his wicked Brother Vernon: and now having settled all, she thinks she may a little retire herself, partly to attend other Projects, and partly to abate the clamour of people that speak of her and her Sister Jones, as those that had Cheated Mr. Goodwin and all his Children of all. Mistress Jones then is left in deposito, yet Mistress Pigeon between whiles comes in her Hackney Coach to take accounts, and see how all is managed: and thus she runs through 1654. and part of 1655. boasting of her great Gain. But now the Trade began to sink a pace, and they as fast in their reputation, nor could they with all their art keep on the paint which daily peeled off from their bold deluding faces: which Mistress Pigeon observing, and well knowing that the Dyers Trade, if not supplied with Work, is rather fit to bring her behind hand, than to advance her; she therefore in a manner quite withdraws both her purse and presence, leaving Mehetabel to help up the old man; but she that by this time saw through her sister's Craft, who had used her only as a bait to Catch old Mr. Goodwin, while Mistress Pigeon caught the Estate, and had now secured it under Mr. Colebourns Name to her own use, and being now unwilling to abide all the reproach, while her sister had all the gain, she also with draws to the old Den in Pauls-Alley, where her sisters leads her a sad life. But in what a case now is old Mr. Goodwin, bereft of Estate, Trade, Credit, and which he values more than all, of the Company of his two precious friends; now must he to his old march again to Red-Crosse-street, where he often comes, but finds not his former entertainment: when the two sisters used to come and meet him at the Garden-door with How do you, dear Sir, precious Mr. Goodwin? Very well, I thank you: Indeed Sir you are not well: Indeed I am very well: Indeed, Sir, you are not, the Lord knows you are not well, you look as if you were not well: Indeed I am very well: Are you indeed? Then the Lord be praised: and this with such accent and gesture, as made the poor old man's bowels and brains melt within him; and then out came the Capon, and the stuffs, and then nothing but merriment mixed with, Dear Sir, have a special care of your Son Andrew that he do not undo you; and be sure you take no Counsel of your Children, for that were to be ruled by your Cradle: Thus would they draw this poor inconsiderate old man into their snare under pretence of Love and care of his Person: but the Fish once caught, off goes the bait. Now that all is in their hands, and that he comes to them stripped, with his empty pockets hanging out, now nothing but quarrelling and cavilling questions about the Trade, railing because he goes not amongst the Customers for Work, quarrelling at every word he saith; and when he shows her how they are necessitated for Money and Wares, she having drawn all dry, and that he and the Servants are fain to take up Wares and Provisions upon their own Credit, then like one of King Pharaoh's Tax-masters that would have them make Bricks or Money without straw; she tells him plainly she will pay none of his Debts, and bids him work for his living. About this time Mr. Henry Coleborn, Mistress Pigeons great Friend that had sheltered all her wicked Projects, falls very sick of a sharp Disease, the Physicians doubt him, and send him to Tunbridge, there he grows worse and worse, and perceiving himself not like to live, he comes back for London; Diligent Mistress Pigeon meets him upon the Road about the midway, and by her feigned care of his welfare, never leaves till she have persuaded him into her Coach, and so bring him to take up his Lodging at the Rat-trap in Pauls-alley: The pretence of his coming there was, that he might be out of the noise of business: but the design that she might perfect some Projects that she had in her head, whereof one was to have made a Match between his only Son and her Daughter; but that failing, her next great business is, that he assign over all the trust both of Mr. Pigeons and Mr. goodwin's Estates to her Brother Edward Thorold, a shallow harmless creature of himself, whom she had sent for out of Lincolnshire to supply that part; her Trade being just like the Cutpurses, that when he hath done his feat in a throng, he hath his bonesetters at hand to receive the Purse and convey it away. Mr. Coleborn had not been there long, but he extremely dislikes both his entertainers and entertainment, and was often heard say with much passion, Oh that I were out of this house, these be strange women! I suppose he meant in Solomon's sense; These women (quoth he) are a delusion, pray let me go to Betty, (a kinswoman he had at Darking) but M stris Pigeon kept him so long vexing his heart with her Conveyances and Assignments, that he could not be removed, but there expired to the shame and grief of all his friends; many of whom (for the very dislike of that infamous house) would not come to his burial; and to the wonder of all men that so Politic a man as Mr. Coleborn should suffer himself, in that last act of his Life, to be so Trepand into his Grave. Presently after Mr. Coleborns Death, came Mr. Pigeon to Town, who appears like one from another world, having with much patience for four years born all his Wives insolences, and seeing no amendment, but that every day she grew more violent and mischievous, (as appeared by the late ruin of Mr. Goodwin and his Children, and now awakened with his own wrongs, and the cries of Mr. goodwin's Children) he resolves once more to take her into his custody, and try if he can yoke this untamed Heifer: in short, he appears with a Coach and four Horses, and half a dozen Servants, and having sufficient authority, enters this Dragon's den, seizes and fairly conducts her into the Coach, and so carries her into the Country to his house; all the street looking on, and rejoicing at the riddance (as they hoped) of such a troublesome neighbour. To tell you her behaviour by the way, her throwing a glass of Wine into Mr. Pigeons Brothers face, while she bowed and made show as if she would drink to him; her crying Murder, and accusing herself to have spoke Treason against the Lord Protector; her confessing herself a Whore, and desiring the Justice to send her to Bridewell; her affirming Mr. Pigeon to be none of her Husband, and Doctor Homes that married them, a knave: and many other such freaks, would be tedious: But this I must not omit, at her first night's lodging on the way, Mr. Pigeon took her in private, and began to this effect; Wife (quoth he) have we not yet played the fools enough, shall we yet proceed in these scandalous contestations, making ourselves Town talk, so that our Children, when grown up, will be ashamed to own us for their Parents. When she presently replied, Are you in earnest, would you have a Reconciliation, fall down at my feet and ask me forgiveness. This, and suchlike, was her behaviour. In short, a Justice of the Peace, at her request, undertook to draw up an Award between them, the substance whereof was, That whereas she denied and disclaimed Mr. Pigeon for her Husband, and no hopes of Reconciliation, he Awarded Mr. Pigeon his Land again, and 500 l. in Money, part of his former estate; and she to have liberty to return to London, and live from Mr. Pigeon till they can better agree. But now Mr. goodwin's Children seeing all desperate, their Father deaf to all persuasions, Resolve at last to Petition His Highness the Lord Protector, who was pleased to refer the Business to several worthy Gentlemen in the Burrow of Southwark; who presently summon Mr. Goodwin and his Women before them; where, to avoid repetition, the substance of all the former Printed Relation was fully proved, in so much that Mr. Goodwin, seeing how things were likely to go, went home and presently took his Bed, from whence he never risen more: his sickness caused some intermission of this Examination, and indeed many ways gave great seeming advantage to the Women as you shall see; and if formerly in his health they plied him with their pestilent flatteries, now more than ever; so that for six or eight days before his death, they were scarce an hour absent (one or other of them) from his Bedside, with great expressions of seeming tenderness to him, yet scarce suffering his Children to look upon him; and when at any time any of them came to see him, and with bleeding affections minded him of his Spiritual Estate, then, Pray forbear, you trouble your Father, he would fain take his rest; Dear Sir, Do they not trouble you? And knowing that of a long time they had so tutored him, that he durst not answer but as they dictated to him; Mistress Pigeon would say, Mr. Goodwin, Have I ever wronged you, is it we or your Children that have ruined you? And then comes Mehetabel, Dear Sir, Speak as in the sight of God, was I ever Naught with you? was I ever Contracted to you? Thus would they, especially, before such persons as they thought for their purpose, worry this poor dying man, making him spend his last breath (that should have been spent in making his peace with God) in justifying of their wickedness. The last of December, 1655. he departed this life; so soon as he was dead, Mistress Pigeon sends for his Children to know if they would bury him; and if not, she would: They asked, Who had his Estate? She replied, Alas! He hath not left one penny: all here is mine. In short, notwithstanding the Children were robbed of all: they agreed, and so told her, That they would bury him. And Mistress Vernon in her haste said, If we bury him, we will know how he came by his death. This word (it seems) stuck with Mistress Pigeon, and therefore contrary to this agreement, at Nine of the Clock that night, she sends them word, That she had forgot herself, and now remembered that Mr. Goodwin had charged her upon his deathbed, That none of his Children should have any hand in his burial; and that if they came to bury him, she would oppose then: this alarmed the Children, who went that night (though very late) to the Justices of the Borough, from whom they obtained an Order requiring these Women to permit them quietly to have access to the Body, and perform such offices as were requisite. This Order Mistress Pigeon peremptorily before good witness refused to obey: and while Mr. Vernon went to the Justices to acquaint them with this Contempt of their Order, and was now returned with the Constable, and their Warrant to apprehend and bring them before them, he finds Andrew and Thomas Goodwin in the Bailiffs hands, Arrested Prisoners, for Trespass of coming upon Mistress Pigeons pretended Ground, and coming to the house, finds the doors barricadoed up, and a peremptory refusal to obey either the Officer or the Warrant: and here I cannot but affirm, That I believe Mr. Goodwin died not a natural death, and omitting what might be charged upon them by altering his Diet from wholesome Kitchin-food to Sage-Ale, Marmalade, strong Extracts, which though in this kind sparingly used may be good, yet being turned to a constant Diet must needs destroy Nature and burn up the radical moisture of his body; insomuch that his Apothecary, a judicious skilful man affirmed to me that those excellent Cordials he gave him in his sickness, revived him no more than cold water. I say omitting all this, I judge they were yet more directly instrumental to his death by using some wicked practice upon him to destroy him; and there are these signs, First, That for three or four days before his death he constantly complained of a great burning in his bowels: Secondly, His frequent violent retching to vomit, in one of which retching fits he died; both apparent signs of poison: that which seems to confirm this, is their refusing to suffer his Children to bury him, or to see the Body, though backed with the Magistrates Authority. After they once heard their intention to have the Body Dissected, 'tis true, the third day after his death, they sent to the Doctor to tell him that he might come and visit the Body outwardly, but by no means they would not have it opened and Dissected: if you ask why they should so wickedly rid themselves of their old friend who loved them so dearly to his last? I answer first, the trade was now utterly lost and henceforth he could be but a cl●g and a reproach to them: Secondly, the trade being gone, and he having no maintenance but from the covetous churlish hands of Mrs Pigeon; & his Children still following him with their prayers, he might come to have his eyes opened. But lastly, Mrs Pigeons great fear was, that now that the whole project was before the Commissioners in Examination, who being judicious quick-sighted-Gentlemen, and Mr. Goodwin being a shallow weak man, and perhaps examined privately, might so ill manage h●s Defence as might spoil all; of which she had a shrewd example the first day of Examination, where when she was accused by Mr. Pigeon to have brought old Mr. Goodwin six years ago to the Mouse, and there caused him to make his Will, by which he gave by her direction 600. l. to her Sister Jones; which when Mistress Pigeon was Examined upon, she with dreadful asseverations and appeals to God, utterly denied; saying it was lies in every circumstance: yet when Mr. Goodwin, who by reason of his deafness scarce heard what they said, was Examined, whether it were so or no, he Confessed all, thereby putting a deadly affront upon Mistress Pigeon: add to this their being constantly at his Bedside in his sickness, not suffering, as I said, his Children scarce to speak to him; and at one time warning Mistress Vernon, while she was carefully attending her Father, to go off the ground, or they would Arrest her Husband for Trespass, whereby they had opportunity to do what they would, and they (she-Doctors or Quacksalvers, whereof they have both for many years made profession) prescribing Physic as confidently as if they were Members of the College: These are some grounds of my belief, which the Reader may judge of, and the full discovery thereof I refer to the great Day. But to return; The door being fast barred up, and the old man nailed in his Coffin, mistress Pigeon once again falls to new devices. The third day at night, when the body began now to putrify, she sends messenger after messenger at ten of the Clock at night to the Children, requiring them to come and bury the Body, or it should for good and all remain unburied: But they being now advised by the Magistrate not to proceed, and by the Doctor that it was too late to make Dissection, the thing they aimed at, they positively refused▪ by this proffer mistress Pigeon thinks to take off all suspicion of his death, and now seeing this Project fail, she resolves on the sudden to bury him in state: she invites all the chief of the Parish; and amongst the rest, forgets not the Worshipful Commissioners, giving them to understand they should all be served with Gold Rings and Gloves: but they all, except Mr. Samuel Hyghland, (who presently bitten at the bait) with just scorn rejected this bribing Device: Seventy or Eighty Rings are provided: The Posy by mistress Pigeons device out of 1 Cor. 15. Sown in dishonour, raised in glory. She can for all purposes make use of abused Scripture to colour her sin, though at other times she saith, she cares not if the Bible were burnt, as was proved; but let any man look on the Context, and see any Exposition that ever was made upon that Scripture, they will find the Apostle meant not the least in her sense, but speaks only of the Body, which by death is become a loathsome spectacle devoid of all beauty and lustre. There is another text which with a little of mistress Pigeons straining, would have done better, viz. His death to me is Gain. What think you mistress Pigeon after you had cheated a shallow old man of an Estate of 2000 l. and when he could do you no more drudgery, to go, or be sent out of the world, than a parcel of fine Gold Rings, with Mors mihi lucrum, would it not have argued your ingenuity? Well, the Fourth day at night was the burial: and Mr. goodwin's Children, considering all the passages, though invited, refused to join with them that had brought their Father with so much disgrace to the Grave, but went and attended the Corpse at the Grave, which at last comes; and next the Corpse, in a Coach, Mr. Hat, mistress Pigeon, and mistress Hat; whom Politic mistress Pigeon brought with her to be her buckler and awe the people; she having of late been several times assaulted by the Boys, but now look to yourselves, here is Mr. John Hat, the Guildhall Attorney, that if you be uncivil shall make his Actions of Assault and Battery fly about your ears: yet the people railed upon them all the way, now and then saluting them with handfuls of kennel dirt; and I am persuaded in that emotion of the people, had any of Mr. goodwin's Children but held up a finger, they had run great hazard of their lives; there as I am informed was Cousin Charles Thorold and his Lady, who followed not as the people after Absolom, in the simplicity of their hearts, but in the simpleness of his understanding. As for Mehetabel, she was so overcome with Passion, not of Grief for the loss of her dear friend, but of fear of the losing her dear life that she kept under lock and key at the Dye-house: indeed had she appeared, I think the best of her bargain would have been to be sent to gauge the depth of the mud in the mill-pond. Mr. Goodwin buried, the Commissioners proceed to a final Examination of the Business; and upon the whole, finding clearly how they had cheated Mr. Goodwin and all his children, they made a Proposition to Mris Pigeon, That whereas she pretended the Estate hers; first, by Assignment to Mr. Coleborn for her use; & then, by his Assignment to her Brother Thorold; by which, as Mr. Hat then pleaded for her, she had a legal Title at Law, which he enforced with all his Guild-hall Rhetoric, till the Commissioners commanded him out of doors, that if she would deliver up the Estate as it was when she invaded it, and give a true Account as well of her Receipts as Disbursments, they would repay her all her Charges with 100 l. advantage: which she with scorn refused, saying, It was hers by Law, and by Law she would keep it. So the Examination ended, and the Worshipful Commissioners, according to what was alleged and proved, drew up a Report of the Case to His Highness, which is here annexed verbatim, with the Attestation of Mr. Kiffins Church, and Mr. Pigeons Affidavit. The REPORT. ACcording to your Highness Command upon the Reference of Mr. goodwin's children's Petition unto us, we have several times Met, and called before us the Persons concerned in the said Petition, Complainants, Deffendants, Witnesses; We take leave upon the whole to submit this Account unto your Highness, as the Result of our Consciencies upon an impartial search. 1. That there hath been just Scandal given to the People of God by the too familiar Converse of Wessel Goodwin (since deceased) and Mehetabel the Wife of Edward Jones, when being admonished by the Elders of their respective Churches, yet after the said admonitions, and promises on their parts of forbearance, they not only came together as before, but justified their so doing; and that after the Exclusion of them from the Ordinances and Congregations, as is alleged in the Petition. 2. For a covering to the shame of this evil familiarity, there have been an agreement of Marriage contracted with the assistance of Elizabeth Pigeon, sister to the said Mehetabel, between Mr. Goodwin and Mistress Jones aforesaid, and they have endeavoured to prove it lawful, notwithstanding that Mr. Jones, husband to the said Mehetabel, be yet alive. 3. In Order to the gaining of Mr. goodwin's estate (which was the Design laid between them 8. or 9 years since) by the said Mistress Jones and Mistress Pigeon, they found it requisite to remove Andrew Goodwin, eldest Son of Wessel Goodwin, settled upon Marriage in partnership with his Father in the Dye-house-stock and Trade; we say they Outed the said Andrew by fraud and force in this manner; they broke open his Countinghouse and Trunks, taking out thence his Accounts & Books whereby he is disabled to make good his Stock; then they brought an Accountant to Balance the Accounts between the Father and Son, and to this Accountant Mistress Pigeon proffered thirty pounds as a bribe to falsify the Accounts that no estate might be found due to the said Andrew, that so he might be cast out of the said partner-ship for the ends aforesaid. Then they proceed to warn the said Andrew out of the house; which he refusing to obey, they brought in Bailiffs at midnight and brake open his Chamber door and took him by violence, Mistress Pigeon standing by encouraging and abetting the Bailiffs who haled him thence to prison; In which extremity the said Andrew was forced to confess a Judgement to one of his Creditors, to whom he owed one hundred and thirty pounds, whereby part of the estate was taken in execution; which being by Mistress Pigeons procurement appraised at a very under rate, she brought her friend in trust to pay down the money; and by other subtle practices got possession of that whole estate to the value of above fifteen hundred pounds, and by this means framing a kind of Title by colour of Law doth keep and dispose of this estate at her pleasure, defrauding thereby the Children, your Highness Petitioners. 4. That we did according to your Highness' Advice endeavour to compose the whole business impartially according to rules of Justice and Conscience, proffering to Mistress Pigeon (she being the chief Patroness, Contriver, and Manager of this Project) upon her giving us a true Account of all her Disbursments upon the estate to repay her all with an advantage. But all our tenders in behalf of the wronged Petitioners were by her rejected with scorn, she pleading her pretended Title and Property by Law. Now lastly, Whereas your Highness requireth our Opinion in this Case, we take leave in this our capacity to declare, That the merits and matter of the Petition are true, and the Petitioners greatly injured, not only by the said Wessel, but principally by the two Sisters, Mistress Jones and Mistress Pigeon, who had wholly captivated the weak understanding and affections of the said old Mr. Goodwin even to his death, and now impudently possess the whole estate; And our Opinion further is, That it were a righteous thing in the sight of God and man to repair this loss and injuries upon the said estate, and the Usurpers of it; yea, and that something exemplarily penal be inflicted upon these Women, that others may be deterred from the like attempts. And seeing your Petitioners are utterly disabled to wage Law, their Adversaries having the Estate, we conceive it a most Honourable Work that your Highness interpose your Authority, that some compendious way be taken to determine this business. Christopher Searle. William Cooper. Cor. Cook. John Hardwick. Whitehall, March 14. 1655. His Highness referreth this Report to the speedy and special Consideration and Order of His Highness' Privy Council. Intr. Nath. Bacon. The Attestation of Mr. Kiffin's Church. THe Church having by several Witnesses heard that Mrs. Jones did frequently give entertainment to one Mr. Goodwin, did make further enquiry thereinto by some Brethren appointed to that end, who speaking to her about it, received this Answer, That it was only upon a Christian account, they being long acquainted together, having at that time no particular proof of any thing, did at present desist any further dealing with her, only ordered some Brethren that lived nearest her to exercise more than ordinary watchfulness over her; and after some time we by them understood that she had dispossessed her Husband Jones of all he had, and was gone into the Country and Mr. Goodwin with her; and making further enquiry into her conversation in that matter, had proof that she did use very familiar unseemly carriages to Mr. Goodwin, and promised that if all things were clear, she would take him to be her Husband; which words and carriages she being dealt withal in the Church for, she denied the carriages, but confessed she did use words to him to that effect, and with many tears presented her condition to the Church, touching the evil conversation of her Husband Jones; and did promise that for time to come, she would not frequent the company of Mr. Goodwin; upon which promise the Church solemnly admonished her, and so left it: not long after we understood that Mistress Jones did more frequently than ever we heard before, give entertainment to Mr. Goodwin, he being daily at her house, & very late at night, if not all night, which neighbours taking notice of, took occasion thereby to speak very reproachfully of Profession, to the grief of several of our Members which lived near her; who reporting the same to the Church, she was sent for by the Church: and when she came and was charged with this Scandalous Conversation, together with her breach of Promise, she then laboured to justify her Practice; and told the Church, That she had been with several learned Divines, who had given in their Opinions that she was free from the Law of her first Husband by the Law of God: We finding her obstinate in the evils she was charged withal, and resolved to go on in the same without any regard to the honour of God, scandal of Religion, or former Engagement, did judge it our duty to cast her out of the Church, which accordingly was done for the abovesaid evils. Witness our Hands, George Gosfright. William Angel. William Warren. John Sowdin. William Kiffen. John Battey. But to draw to a Conclusion, Mr. goodwin's Children pursue the Report, and present it to His Highness with all the Commissioners hands, except Mr. Highland, who refused to subscribe, not (as he affirmed before good witness) that he doubted the Fraud, but questioned the matter of Scandal; now hereby hangs a tale, but it is an old one, and therefore I forbear. Now the Children having presented the Report to his Highness, who expressed a high Resentment of it, and commanded an extraordinary Order to be drawn referring it to the speedy and special care of his Highness privy Council; who after two months' attendance by the Children, were pleased to cast it out, and refer them to the Law: And the Children considering Mistress Pigeon is in Possession, and they ruined and stripped of all, do refer it to the Great Judge of Heaven and Earth. Thus you have seen Mistress Pigeon Rampant in all her Projects which hath since emboldened her to a new strange attempt: For observing Mr. Pigeon very active to assist Mr. goodwin's Children both before the Commissioners, and at Whitehal, first she attempts him by M Hat, who advised him in presence of good witness, not to meddle to assist those beggarly people goodwin's Children; but seeing Mr. Pigeon out of an honest sense of their wrongs, not to be taken off, he then threatened him with the Gaol: but Mr. Pigeon still pursuing the honest Cause of the Children, they consult and at last resolve upon an old Writ of special Supplicavit, long since taken out of the Chancery upon articles that Mrs. Pigeon and her bold Maid Mary Mason, and one Mistress Newton had delivered upon Oath; in which they affirm, That she had been grievously beaten by Mr. Pigeon (not half enough) and that she went in danger of her life: and upon these Articles they procured the Writ; which directed to the Sheriffs, they issue out a Warrant for Mr. Pigeons apprehension: this they deliver to a hair-braind Sergeant one Capt. Bunne, whom they instruct; and he contrary to the Warrant which directed him to take Mr. Pigeon and carry him before the next Justice, and there that he put in security for the Peace, and so be discharged: But Cap. Bunne who now is in the briars for his pains, refusing to carry him before the Magistrate, throws him into Prison, where Mr. Pigeon having put in Bail, was Released, and is now in pursuit of the Discharge of the Writ, and so of his Bayl. Here follows the Copies of several Letters written by Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Pigeon to old Mr. Goodwin, as they were found in his Study after his death; which Letters, with several Locks of Mrs. Jones her Hair, remain in the hands of Mr. Samuel Vernon at the lower end of St. Marry Acts, for all that desire to peruse; and good proof upon Oath, that these Letters are their own hand-writing. The First is a Letter from Mrs. Lydia Walsal, the elder Sister to these Women, and late Wife to Doctor Walsal of Sandy in Bedfordshire directed to Mr. Goodwin. My very much esteemed good Brother, I Am very glad to hear of your health, and the health of yours: but sorry to hear your oppression of business: the Lord for his Christ's sake, either increase strength, or take off trouble. Brother, I much thank you for your good leave to enjoy my good Sister, by whose means I have received ease: I hope I shall find more good: and besides I am not yet satisfied with her good Company, and therefore beg your leave that I may enjoy her one week more at least, that we may be refreshed each by other, for hitherto my poor dear Sister hath done nothing but toiled: ☞ If you receive her two inches less in the wa●●e, who can help it? For up be-time she will, and to her day-labour, but her Wages must come from Heaven, for I can never requite her Love and pains: My Husband and good Sister remember their Loves. Your ever loving Sister, Lydia Walsal. Can any other Inference be made from this, than that Mrs Jones was either Mr. goodwin's Wife, which (for that her Husband is yet alive) she cannot lawfully be or his Concubine; such Embraces can hardly allow any other construction: but Mrs. Pigeons distinction salves all; Mr. Jones is her Husband by the unjust Law of man, and Mr. Goodwin her Husband in the sight of God. The next is from Mrs Jones. HOnoured Sir, I have been much troubled about my leaving you, and could wish myself with you again if I could, because I was never-more restless than now: let me receive a Word or two from you, it may be that may a little satisfy me, which shall for ever engage me to you. Your faithful friend, Mehetubal Jones. This agrees with the former from Mrs. Walsal, and confirm there was a secret union between them. Another from Mrs. Jones, and hath for Superscription, To my dear Sister, Mrs. Montague at Ockingham; but the inside Contents are, GOod Mr. Goodwin. I desire to hear how you do, and how you have digested your double meat of two Goose's: truly one will stick by you longer than I hope the other will stick in your stomach: however the ribs of one is devoured by you, yet the other will stick by the ribs, and be as the rib taken forth of the left-side, ever before you, bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh: so I rest. Yours to serve you, Mehetabel Jones. This wants a Commentary in a Letter written by Mrs. Montague, there is mention of a Goose sent as a present to be eaten by the two Sisters and Mr. Goodwin, it should seem in their merriment Mr. Goodwin jestingly called Mrs. Jones Goose, a word frequent with him; and upon this Mrs. Jones writes this Letter, and now riddle my riddle. A Fourth Letter from her says, GOod Brother, I had a wearisome journey: yet if I could have possibly got my Sister's leave, I had come to London as this day: truly my heart is there; for I am willing as the Lord hath commanded, to help to bear your burden more than formerly: having recovered a little breath, I am willing to draw in this easy yoke of Christ, if it must be so, but humbly beseech him to make it somewhat easier than it hath been: viz. When she lived with her Husband Jones: ☞ here is adultery and blasphemy together. The rest of this Letter is a parcel of Instructions in a Religious dress, whereby she captivated the silly old man; but being tedious and impertinent, I omit them. In a Fifth she saith, HOnoured Sir, I wish I could conveniently write at this time to you: but I thought fit to let you know, That I fear it is intended that your Cousin Armstrong shall serve in Richard's place. I doubt not but the Lord will give you wisdom and directions in all things; which shall be the Prayer of Your faithful friend till death, Mehetabel Jones. This Letter was written seven years ago, by which you see they governed all at the Dye-house long before they came there; for a beck from her, or her Sister, was a Command to him; indeed Richard Armstrong was one that hated their practices upon Mr. Goodwin, and therefore though an excellent Workman, must not be entertained. And that you may further see how they governed him, in a Sixth she saith, SIR, if any one whosoever should send for you, or come to speak with you, know they do it to entrap you: I pray if so, go not to them, till you come to me: but if you hear not from any, I shall not look for you till to morrow in the afternoon. This is the same hand, but hath neither Super, nor Subscription, was ever poor man so barnacled with a cunning Strumpet: let the business be of what consequence soever, he must not speak with any till he have consulted with her, and have her leave; it should appear that some of her Roguery was now in danger of discovery. In a Seventh, she says, HOnoured Sir, The Lord hath made our journey very comfortable: but now I fear our return will be embittered by the want of that, which of all earthly things is most desired, viz. Mr. goodwin's company: ☜ It will not be convenient for us to come to you in regard of many satisfactory reasons which I can give you: Dear Sir, let us see you. And in a Postscript Mrs. Pigeon writes thus, SIR, Now God hath put you to the Trial of the strength you thought you had: you said you could submit to the Will of God though it should be the loss of your dearest Friend (viz her Sister Jones) now therefore cheer up, ☞ and know this stroke is the love and good will of our dear Father: I need say no more. Do you not think that Dame Celestina, the famous Spanish Bawd, was a Fool in comparison of Mrs. Pigeon? she wanted this rare art of Canting in a Religious tone: the sum of all is, That about this time Mrs. Jones by the Justices and Mr. Kiffins Church, was warned out of Mr. goodwin's company, and had engaged to them to refrain it because of the Scandal. Now see how Mrs. Pigeon can dress this trade of Harlotry, thereby to caiole the conscience of this deluded old man. The Eighth from Mrs. Jones. WOrthy Sir, whom I do truly honour, let me beseech you have a special care of taking cold, or working to morrow: our next neighbour is dead of a looseness, consider your age and weakness. I have been very ill, but am something better: since I heard from you I have sent you a Waistcoat, pray send me word if you will wear it. I exceedingly fear your falling into a Fever, if you take pains before you have recovered your strength. Your faithful friend, M. Jones. Who would not part with Estate, Credit, Children, Friends, a good Conscience and all, to keep such a friend in a corner? So truly saith Solomon, The lips of a strange Woman drop as a honey Comb, and her mouth is more soft than oil. The tongues of these two Sisters being tipped with, Dear Sir; Honoured Sir; Precious Sir; and pretending to admire his wisdom, while they laugh in their sleeves to see his extreme weakness and credulity. But by these arts they held him fast and were admired, while his Children and friends that deal plainly with him, were reviled and scorned. Yet again this Cogging Huswife in a Ninth. EVer honoured Sir, Dear Brother, I humbly beseech you not to be offended at my going so suddenly away, for the truth is, I was necessitated to go to the farther end of the Garden, ☜ (viz. The House of Office) and then my Sister Montague fell instantly sick, so sick that she thought she should have died, so that I was forced to be with her a little, but instantly I came down: Sir, I beseech you that I may speak with you: please not to trouble yourself for any thing whatsoever: for if you know as much as I, you would rejoice: Take heed of your Son Andrew. Thus Harlots and Hypocrites discover their rotten hearts while they over do: Is not this a strange obsequiousness that Mrs. Jones cannot go to unburthen Nature but she must Apologise for it: What a dutiful Concubine is Mr. Goodwin like to have. But all this Dissembling is but to prepare him for the close, to alienate him from his children. Once again in a Tenth Letter. SIR, I hear that Mr. Tarleton is to be to morrow at Mr. Vernons; I beseech you give me leave to put you in remembrance of your former wise discreet Carriage, never to be forgotten, which was when you have been in the like Surprisal: First, A Reserved strangeness: Secondly, Not to enter the Lifts of Argument: Thirdly, If they come directly upon you, either to entrap you, or else to Examine or Charge you with that which you are not willing to disclose, or justify to them the lawfulness of (viz. The Adulterous Contract with her) than I have observed your Serpentine wisdom to daunt their boldness with a seeming angry displeasure, ☜ fenced with Resolution to seek Wisdom from the Wise and wonderful Counsellor, in such matters wherein his Glory and your good is so nearly concerned, ☞ (viz. His Marriage with her) Sir, this hath been the Armour wherewith the Lord hath destroyed all their Goliahs, Counsels, Plots, and Stratagems: I hope a Monitor will be doubly welcome to you, which brings no Reproof, but an Olive-branch, a Remembrance, or Memorial of your former Virtues: for such a friend I remain, Mehetabel Jones. Was there ever such a Trepan, such glavering in a bold dissembling Woman, and such obtuse folly in an old man; at one time she tells him there hath not lived a wiser man than he since King Solomon: and in this rabble of impudent nonsense of Serpentine wisdom, and discreet Carriage, never to be forgotten; and yet thus laden with deep understanding, he must have an enchanted pad-lock hung upon his lips, not be trusted to utter one word: and being thus clawed with imputation of wisdom, as it is strange to see how greedily weak and shallow persons do affect to be accounted wise; and this was one of the snares they held him fast with: you would wonder how exactly he would follow those directions: Urge what you would, ask him twenty questions, not a word. At this very meeting, being earnestly pressed about the Contract with this Woman, by myself and others; Mr. Goodwin, Are you married to mistress Jones? are you Contracted to her? and such questions as he was not willing to disclose to us, or justify the lawfulness of them, as Mrs. Jones saith, With a Reserved strangeness, and a seeming angry displeasure, fenced with Resolution to be wholly guided by Mrs Jones, his wise and wonderful Counsellor, it being a ma●ter that so nearly concerned; their being preserved from shameful Punishment; d●d he with silence and frowns answer all our demands: So that you would have thought him enchanted. The Eleventh is a Copy of a Letter written with Mrs. Jones own hand, with direction to Mr. Goodwin to transcribe, and send it to her Sister Pigeon as from himself, and gins thus, Mistress Pigeon, THrough the unusual, unheard of, unnatural dealing of my Children, who joining with my Son Andrew, and using his Name and Power, which Power was given him for his and my Good, to be used for the good of the Trade: But he drawn aside by his own evil Heart, and the temptations of Satan, and seduced and seconded by his wicked Brethren and Sisters, whom the Prince of Darkness hath used as his Instruments to bring upon me all these sore Calamities as are visible this day, which as I think I may say my Case is without compare, & that in my old age (excepting david's and Jobs) But not to reason with flesh and blood, in that although I would say it were far better to have them taken away Obedient Children, then to have them live as Absoloms as mine does, and their Printed Libels does witness (God knowing my innocence, to whom I appeal as a Righteous judge) But I leave all this as a long parenthesis and come to the Business: When they were thus suffered to be Scourges, Scourges said I, nay Vipers, Scorpions, endeavouring to eat out the Bowels from whence they proceeded, than the Lord God used you as the only means to keep me from a visible Ruin, as far as the eye of Reason could reach: Now therefore my desire is, if you have any farther thoughts towards me, through your love and tenderness, That you would not do any thing for me in any of my children's Names how Obedient soever at present: ☜ for I had far more Cause of Hopes of those that have endeavoured my Ruin then hitherto of James: I therefore desire that you would do that which you shall do for me in those Names that you can Trust and Confide, ☜ neither shall I now nominate any for sufficient Reasons known to myself (viz. to Mrs. Jones) and having found your faithfulness all along, I leave to you, ☞ desiring you to Nominate whom you shall think fit: only this I desire, That the Power I have formerly had in the House I now dwell in, may be continued to me, and Notice given me when things are settled: and I shall leave it in Writing how my Desire is, That that Estate I shall have, shall be Disposed of after my Death: for which, I shall have great Cause to Remain, Your thankful Friend. This Letter is a Compendium of all the Villainy these Women have acted; where first you plainly see how they governed this poor weak man at their pleasure, making him own all their wicked Projects and Designs, as if they were his own Desires. See here how they to accomplish their own purpose the better, to fill his heart with bitterness against all his Children: No marvel when his Daughter Vernon several times upon her knees with tears in her eyes, hath besought him to refrain the scandalous Society of these Women, she could obtain no better answer then, You are a cursed Cham: And thus did they wh●● him continually against them, that so they might possess him and all his Estate. Again, see with what Atheistical boldness they direct him to appeal to God of his innocency, when their own hand Writing discovers to all the world, that the bottom was an Adulterous Contract with Mrs. Jones, and manifest injustice and cruelty to all his Children; by their appointment stripping them of that which by the Law of God and of Nature belonged to them: and see how blasphemously they paint all this with Religion. Again, see how they make him grossly Lie, to pleasure and justify them, when they had been eight years plotting to cheat him of all his Estate, and have now effected it; then must this poor besotted Creature tell Mrs. Pigeon, That the Lord God raised her to keep him from Ruin: This is the sublime Art of Trepanning, to gull a man of an Estate of 2000 l. and then make him write a long Epistle of Gratulation, and slavish Acknowledgement of her Love and tenderness. Here also you plainly see James Goodwin was used as a mere Property; he must (a silly young Schoolboy, though to his utter Ruin, the scandal of Religion) be married to Lydda Jones, a she Baby, that so these Women may have a door opened to get in, and throw out Andrew and his Father, and possess all the Estate: and this no sooner done, but Mrs. Pigeon calls him Loggerhead and Puppy; and Mrs. Jones his Mother directs his Father to exclaim against him in this Letter to Mrs. Pigeon. You see also how she directs Mr. Goodwin to beg of Mrs. Pigeon that as she had hitherto cheated him, so she would go on and perfect this model of Thievery. Lastly, you see what provision Mrs. Jones makes, that nothing after his Death may come to his Children, he must reserve a Power in the house, that at his death he may bequeath it to her, which accordingly he performed by his Nuncupative Will on his deathbed, desiring the House might go to his dear Sister Jones. Now having made him do all this dutiful drudgery, to make him amends, she writes him a Love Letter which gins thus. MY D. P. H. viz. My dear precious Heart: My D. K. H. viz. My dear kind Heart, I much desire to see you, which let me when your first opportunity will permit, and spare so much time from your sleep while as to write a large Epistle, not in Characters, but at large in long-hand, not with H. and ● till death: but in words at large and full, so full, as may put me fully in a whole Sheet filled on both sides, which shall be more welcome to me than my Winding-shéet, and be the Messenger yourself, ☜ (else how shall the Sheet be filled on both sides?) so you shall not fear miscarrying: I have wanted such Shéets long: and truly, now I long for such a Shéet brought with your hand, which shall be most kindly welcome: and for which if you bring, I shall ever be yours till death. This Letter is subject to a double construction, if in charity you will take the literal meaning, why does she so urge over and over for him to come in person; but I leave every man to his freedom, and make the best of it you can; it is stark naught, and wicked. And further, that the old man may see she is all on flame in Love to him, she is turned Poet, and inspired with a Bottle of S●ge-Ale, she greets him in these strains. We have drunk your Ale, and for it send▪ the commendations of your dearest friend; although the liquor be but small, the giver's Gift doth equal all. This is the Gift which you did send, grave pye-baked Sage-ale to your friend: but as you sent it in good part, so drank it we, with all our heart. In drinking it, we did remember him that was the Bottle sender. If me you blame for want of wit, it was the Ale that out with it. And with the Bottle back I have sent, for him that wants more than is spent. Your Friend, Mehetabel Jones. Who can blame poor Mr. Goodwin for telling his Daughter Vernon, That his former Wife deserved not to be named the same day with her, she could not Poetize and scratch Ribaldry Rhymns till they bleed again. Many other parcels of her venereous Poetry I find, but being hob-nayl tattered stuff I omit; only beg leave for one Sample more of her enchanting Madrigals; which with a parcel of her Hair richly perfumed (though all will not keep it from stinking) was found with the rest; and thus it Chimes, forth: Accept this Bracelet from your friend, the owner knows it is your due, because she belongeth unto you. This paper read, let it see the flame; if you grant not this, you are to blame: For she that writ it, would for you burn paper, and her fingers too to light your snuff; which she has done, and burned both fingers and her thumb, Burn it, than your friend I will rest; if not, say not you love her best: The hours I count, the minutes too, make haste, farewel, adieu, adieu. Here is a Stanza of thirteen to the dozen: might not this think you be sung to the tune of Down Turn-bull street as she did pass, she heard a Bird sing in a Glende, the chiefest of whose Note it was, no pleasure to a bounteous friend, in a corner. But set jesting apart, here you do plainly see by Mrs. Jones her own acknowledgement, what Propriety Mr. Goodwin had in her: again, here she vaunts her practices upon his old ●ge by lighting his snuff with her Adulterous enticements. And lastly, see how in a secret consciousness of her wickedness she directs him to burn her Letters, that her wicked deeds might not come to light. I conclude with a Letter from Mrs. Pigeon, the great architect of all this villainy, written with her own hand for Mr Goodwin, with order to transcribe it & send it to Mr War●up the Bailiff of the Burrow; for not only Mr. goodwin's tongue, but his hands must be cramped, and he must not dare to write one word but by their Copies, though as wise as Solomon, they dare not trust him with the least service, which by the way confirms me in the opinion, That when the Project was brought to examination before the Commissioners, they saw an absolute necessity of his being translated to another world. The Letter gins thus: Much honoured Sir, being Coheirs with me of my gray-hairs, it is my great encouragement to beseech you to end this strife, and at least to Repay my two third parts of the Goods taken in Execution by the Son of my own Loins, taken by me into Copartnership in a Third of my Trade, and the Stock given by myself: Know Sir, it was to have Rest in my old age by him who is the saddest Trouble: Now God hath made you my Umpire, for the Lords sake let it be such as may not bring my grey Hairs with Sorrow and Suits to the Grave; but with Peace give me back my two Thirds, for which I shall say, Let a Blessing rest on the head of yours for the sake of Your Servant, Wessel Goodwin. Thus though this Serpent wind in secret paths, upon the Rock in many places her slime discovers her: You have heard before, how Andrew Goodwin being in that manner cast out, confessed a Judgement to a Creditor, and the Goods thereupon taken in Execution, and by Mrs. Pigeons Craft undervalved and sold by the Bailiff to Hen. Coleborn for 403. l. of which the Creditor Recovered only the one Third part; and Mrs. Pigeon by this Letter procures the other two parts to be paid back to her; and accordingly she Received it, pretending for Mr. Goodwin. But what should fools do with money: let Mr. Coleborn and Mrs. Pigeon have money that are wise and subtle, and know how to improve it. Many other Letters to this purpose there are from Mrs. Pigeon and Mrs. Jones, but fearing to nauseate the Reader with this gear, I forbear. I shall conclude with Mrs. Pigeon, and as it is a custom in foreign parts when notorious malefactors have by some stratagem escaped the hand of Justice, than they draw their picture as near as may be to the life, which being fixed upon public places of Execution, gives notice to all men what manner of person he was, that so he may be discovered: So will I, as near as I can, draw Mrs. Pigeons picture, which I refer to all to judge: for her outward Person, she is somewhat taller than the ordinary size of women, a little thick shouldered, and inclining to fatness; indeed her outside is tolerable, were it beautified with an honester mind. In this and the former Relation you may judge somewhat of her Nature by her practices, but all that falls short, nor is it possible to describe all the furniture of that dark Charnel-house of sin: 'tis true that she hath very good natural endowments, an excellent memory to retain, a quick fancy to invent, an eloquent tongue to persuade, which improved in honest actions would much adorn her; but being abused, to deceive, to work mischief, spoil, ruin, and as is feared murder also, renders her but so much more guilty to God, and hateful to all good men: these abilities joined with her artificial helps, as an insinuating gesture, harmonious accent in speech, tears, smiles, deep sighs, shutting her eyes as if she were the contracted model of piety and modesty: these will she use with such cunning advantage, that she creeps into the bosoms of many that hear her, and with these she hath been heard to say she can make a fool of the wisest man alive: and when she hath bleared and muffled the understandings of those that harken to her; she turns her about to her Gossips, and brags how she hath caught them. She hath the skill to observe all tempers, and frames her speech, gesture, actions suitably, she will endeavour to catch a wise man with sophisticated Reason, as Mr. Hen. Coleborn; a weak man with a pretended love and care of their good, as Mr. Goodwin; a covetous man with bribes, as Mr. H; a choleric man with provocation, as Mr. Pigeon; yet notably commanding her own temper, so that as I have seen her, especially when she hath some Web of mischief upon the Loom, let the injured person vilify her never so much with upbraiding of her wickedness, call her never so many uncouth Names, she discovers no more passion then if she understood not one word of what is spoken. A Religious man she orders as she pleases, let him be of what Principle he will, she will turn herself into such an Angel of light, that he shall cry out she is a most Angelical Creature; would she work a Revenge (as she is of a most vindictive nature) she considers what defamations are most easily received, and hardest to wipe off; amongst others, her most frequent is, Such a man took Physic, his wife knew not of it, it must needs be the French Pox; and to persons of whom was never the least cause of such suspicion, she will say before company, Have you never had the French Pox? speak as in the sight of God: let them Reply what they will, some dirt will stick; she is the very Proteus of this age, can shape herself into all forms; in one Company speak of nothing but heaven; in another, as at Islington before good company, call for a filthy bawdy song; nay, she can make every thing about her act a part; would she win compassion from her Judge, she appears all in mourning, melting like Niobe in tears; nay, where it may stand her instead, by art can make her face as black as her garments, as 'tis affirmed she did before the Court Martial; but if she be before such as she thinks another bait may take better, she will appear in gorgeous Apparel, her neck and breasts bare, her complexion beyond a natural fairness; these are some of her Moral parts: I conclude with her Religion, which to tell you what it is, were to shape a Coat for the Moon; and as one saith, 'Tis impossible to draw a face that is so often varied. I have thought sometimes that had she been of the Masculine Sex, she is rightly qualified for a dangerous Heretic. She is Proud, Wilful, Eloquent, and vafrous; with these she hath run through all the forms of these times; and having examined their Principles how they would tend and square with her Projects, hath quitted one after another, and is now settled in Quakerism, which she extols for the only way that fits her designs; in this fond way there is a Principle that carries it smooth, a declining of the written Word of God for an infallible rule of Practice; and therefore (as was proved before the Commissioners) she said she cared not if the Bible were burnt: and being guided by a light within, Ah, quoth Mrs. Pigeon, here's a way fits me; I have a light within that directs me to Renounce my Husband, make another man's estate my own, to rob, spoil, ruin, work mischief, murder, any thing, the light within guides me to it, and warrants me in it: As for that other Principle of the simpler sort of Quakers, of making Restitution, that is to be imputed to their ignorance, being but Babes in knowledge to me; and their weakness is to be pitied. These are some few life-touches, by which you may know Mrs. Pigeon. I Conclude with a humble Request; 1. To every godly Magistrate in this Nation, that shall come to an understanding of these things, that they will (out of zeal to the glory of God, the honour of Religion, the public welfare, love to Justice, hatred to Sin, compassion to the poor ruined persons herein mentioned, as they shall have opportunity) do impartial justice upon these women, that they may be a terror to all evil doers, and a shelter to the oppressed. 2. To every godly Minister in this Nation by this example to watch diligently over the souls of their people, that they keep up with all care the authority of the Scripture as the infallible Rule of all our practice, and that they in their places beg of God either to convert or bring to speedy shame such Apostates that have brought so much shame and disgrace upon Religion. And Lastly, To every Religious Lawyer, that shall by reading this, come to the knowledge of this woeful Case, that they will in tender commiseration of the sufferings and wrongs of these poor undone Children (who by the wicked insinuations of these women were made Fatherless many years before their Father died, and are divers of them now reduced to extreme poverty) find a vacant our to consider of some way of Relief in some Court of Justice or other, and that they will give them their best assistance, and this let them be assured of, though they have no Money, they shall have a double fee of hearty Prayers for rich blessings from him that hath promised to hear the Fatherless and oppressed. A Postscript to Mr. John Hat. SIR, YOu were lately warned by a wise religious Gentleman to take heed by Mr. Coleborns example of burning your fingers in Mrs. Pigeons Projects, you slighted that Admonition; you are now warned again, remember Mr. Coleborn, no persuasion of Friends could prevail with him to abandon Mrs. Pigeons company; fat Fees would not let him see his folly till death and a guilty Conscience stared him in the face, and then too late he abhorred them: Mr. Goodwin; Children, in the bitterness of their sorrows, did make their complaint to God, and they did then summon Mr. Coleborn, these women, and yourself, (they being by cunning tricks of Law made destitute of Relief on earth) to appear at the impartial Bar of God's Tribunal to answer this great wickedness; since that Mr. Coleborn is gone, and you and they must suddenly follow: what think you, will this business of Mr. goodwin's and his children's Ruin hold Water when you shall come to gasp for breath, as Mr. Coleborn before you? and that you shall remember there was a poor weak man, Mr. Goodwin, he had four dutiful Children, and by almost forty years painful labour and the assistance of a virtuous provident Wife in an honest calling he had gathered a competency of 2000 l. to support his Family: Mistress Pigeon, a woman of an infamous name, without consent of her Husband fees me, by subtle slights of Law she compasses this Estate, I go up & down with her from place to place and justify her Purchase, avowing that she hath as good a Title to Mr. goodwin's Estate as any of the Commissioners had to theirs; and tell them, the Complaints of goodwin's Children are but as the shearing of Hogs, A great cry, and a little wool; I counselled her, after she had gotten all the Stock, to pick the bones, fall upon the house, break up Coppars, Cisterns, Pipes, convey, sell, make havoc of all, not leave so much as the little household Goods given by old Mrs. Goodwin at her death (by her Husband's consent) to his Children, but carry all away; and when any made scruple to buy these stolen Goods I tendered them my Security to warrant their Bargain: let the Children beg, starve, no matter, I have my Fee: I persuaded Mr. Pigeon with all the Art I could to have no hand in assisting those beggarly people old goodwin's Children, and when that would not prevail, threatened him with the Jail, and effected it. I say, when you shall remember all this, and a great deal more I am not privy to, what will you say? you say now she is your Client, and yet Lawyers do not usually lodge their Clients in their houses, and send their Children to board at their houses, nor wait upon them about streets from place to place. I could say ten times more, if you have any spark of Grace or Humanity, repent and endeavour a restitution, and know that your doom is before you, and by that time you can well turn about you, there will be no Remedy. Sennor Juan Gold. HArto se maravillan muchos personas Discretos que un hombre de vuestra calidad choir poner so nombre y reputacion en tanta peligro para con amenazes rabiosas y loores mentirosas sostentar la fama destas malditas mugeres, como sy le yva de la vida en despecho de la verdad averi guarlas por santas y angellicas aunque su hechas las declaran por Diabolicas: sy V M. fuesse hombre necio como el pobre Sr Goodwin difunto lafoy escusa seria facile, pero siendo hombre d'entendimiento da lugar a muchos de creer que no es sin causa q'uel marido le ha' defendido lafoy frequentation de su muger, paraque V. M. se desanganne enterament mira y considera la Historia precedente, y sy de aqui adelante not aboresce y huye estas infamas mugeres yo con otros creere, que no es oro todo que reluze. FINIS.