AN Answer to the Hertford Letter; IN A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A Quaker and his Neighbour, Concerning the murder of Mrs. Sarah Stout.  Quaker. 
THee art an early man to day, methinks Neighbour, to have been abroad, and are coming back already.  Neighb. 
I must be so now; I have been to see my folks at work in the field; for he that will have business go forward, must be both at the beginning and end of it himself, or else it will wont do; And the Weather of late hath been pretty catching, which makes me willing to improve my time as well as I can, and according to the ancient Proverb, To make Hay while the Sun shines.  Qua. 
Thou art in the right on't, and I commend thee for thy industry: Well wilt come in, and smoke a pipe of Tobacco?  Neigh. 
I don't care if I do; for now I have set my folks to work, I am a little at seizure; besides I have a mind to talk with you.  Qua. 
With all my heart, Neighbour: Well, what is it thou wouldst talk with me about?  Neigh. 
about! Why, I would ask you, What's the best news? for I know you must hear it, if there be any, your business calls you so much abroad.  Qua. 
Why truly Neighbour, as to news, I know none; for tho' I can't, as thee says, but here a great deal, yet I seldom regard it; for, for there is scarce one in twenty, that is to be credited  Neigh. 
Nay, that's true enough: But what I intended was, What do you hear about the trial of the Gentleman for the murder of Mrs. Sarah Stout? It makes a great nose in the world, I assure you: I suppose you have heard it.  Qua. 
No, I didn't; for I was out of Town then, or else I believe I should. But I have red the Printed Account of it, which I suppose is truth, because it is attested by the Judge.  Neigh. 
Yes, so it is, for I have red the Book, and heard the trial from the beginning to the end. Well, fince you have red it, what do you say to that trial?  Qua. 
Why, I say, the persons Indcted for that murder, were every one acquitted.  Neigh. 
That's true enough every body knows: But do you think they were acquitted fairly, or not?  Qua. 
'tis none of my place to censure the proceedings of the King's Courts of Justice; I believe the King desires Justice may be impartially administered, and I believe to that end the King makes choice of the best Judges. But after all, to be plain with thee, I am of an Opinion Sarah Stout was murdered.  Neigh. 
If she Murther'e herself, she was murdered; so that your words are equivocal: Do you think she was murdered by the Gentlemen that were tried for it?  Qua. 
wouldst have me to condemn those whom the Law has acquitted? Or, is't not possible she may be murdered, and yet not murdered by them? And as to her murdering herself, I believe nothing of it.  Neigh. 
That she was found dead in the water, that's plain;& if she did not throw herself in, she was thrown in by some body else: But there's no such thing appears, and therefore I believe she Drowned herself.  Qua. 
What reason hath thee to think so.  Neigh. 
Reason enough: For first, That she was not murdered for Money, appears plainly, because there was six Pounds found in her Pocket when she was taken up out of the water; and therefore it was not don by Thieves or Robbers, for they wov'd have taken away her Money at last, if they had not stripped her too. Nor did it appear upon the trial, that Mr. C. had any Bonds or Mortgages of hers in his hands, by which he might make any Advantage: Nor had he got her with Child, by which any shane might have been prevented. And therefore, sin●e he cou●d no interst in it, why should it supposed he did at all? Nay, there had kindness past between'm that day, and in all probability might have been more. We don't herr of any quarrel between'em, that might give him any distaste, or provoke him to such a barbarous villainy: And to think that a Gentleman should murder a young Woman that had a kindness for him, merely for Murther's sake, apperrs to me a very unreasonable thing  Qua. 
Thou seek'st to imply, I think, that Sarah Stout was murdered by S. C. and I have already  told thee, that I have nothing to say either to him, or the others that were indicted for her Murder, for the Law has acquitted them, or otherwise I could easily answer all that thou hast said I could tell thee, That be might have an interest in her death, tho' it did not appear in Court, that some men are so tenacious in receiving an affront, that many have been killed for giving it. Nay, the very kindnesses that some persons have done, has been the occasion of their Death; and the refusing to do such kindnesses as have been desired of them, has procured the death of others: That there might be something desired of Sarah, that she was not willing to grant, is what might be, tho' she did not think it proper to make any one acquainted with it; and that such kindness being refused, might be a sufficient ground of revenge, to such persons as made no conscience of what they did, for none but such persons could be guilty of so barbarous a Crime. Now it appears by the trial, that one of the persons indicted, has pretended Love to her, which she refused; what if he had stomach'd that refusal of hers to that degree, tha● he was resolved to be revenged of her for it? Does not this appear rational enough? And, does not the discourse of the Persons at the Inn, at the very time when either this murder was perpretrated, or very near it, seem to countenance this? Why else should one of them say, Her Business was done, and, that he would pass his word her Courting days were over? And, this to be spoken by pretended Strangers, that very Night she was murdered, was enough to have made it suspicious to me: And to confute what thou h●st offered, that there could be no Interest in it: it being plain that there might be( I don't say there was) the interest of serving a Friend, which is counted by some( tho in as bad a Cause as this) a piece of generosity.  Neigh. 
I confess what you urge has more weight in it, than I at first imagined: But tho' I think this was sworn, yet it was afterwards confuted by several Witnesses; which I think appears by the Trial Printed at large.  Qua. 
Had that been done, it would have given great satisfaction b●th to me, and several more, but all that ever I could find of it in the Printed trial( for I have already  told thee I did not hear it) is that the Persons charged with it, absolutely deny it; which a doubt they would do, had they been never so guilty. There was two Witnesses positive to the very Words, and against this, they have nothing to s y, but that they positively deny it; and yet are forced to aclowledge, there was some discourse of Sarah Stout; but so far from what the Witnesses deposed, that it was not possible they should so mistake'em. And thee mayst likewise observe, That the Witnesses not only deposed th●●, but that the trouble that was upon their Spirits, by reason of these w●●ds,( after they had heard of Sarah Stout's Death) was so great, that they could not rest till they had revealed it: For Martha Gurry dep●●ts, That she was so troubled in Mind she could not rest Night not Day: And that she  told her Husband, if he would not tell of it,( that is, if he would not discover those suspicious Words spoken by those persons in their House the Night bef re Sarah's Death) she would tell of it her self, for she was not able to live. So that it appears to be only love to Truth and Justice, that put Gurry and his Wife updiscovering these Words, and not any Malice or Prejudice; for their Interest lay on the contrary side: They might have ●xp●cted those men to have been their Guests again, had they not disclosed this: which now they could not expect: And therefore I do not doubt at all, but what they deposed was the truth. Which, I must tell thee, look● very suspiciously in my judgement.  Neigh. 
This does indeed bear a little hard upon 'em; but yet I think I have something to offer, that will take off the force of very good worth and quality appeared in their beh●●f and declared 'em to be men of an unsported Reputation; One says, He believes 〈◇〉 th●●s●●d Pounds would not tempt one of 'em to do such a Feet. Another sa●● He knew him ever since he was two years old, and never knew him but a cro●z'd man, given to no debauchery. Another says▪ He has known him twenty Years, that he has 〈…〉 good Ch●●●● 〈◇〉 ●is Neighbours, for a man fair in his pr●●●●ce, an honest man, and a man of a good Conversation. And then, as 〈◇〉 another of' em. a person of Quality testifies, not only that He was always reckoned an honest man in his practise, but has the general character of a good natured man, one will provided for by his Father, has a good Estate, and is in a good place, and in good practise; and ●onsequently not like to do such an Action. Another perso● of Quality testi●es. He has always beh●v'd himself well, and ha● the Character of an honest Gentleman. Another testifies both as to him and Mr. M. that He beli●ves they would not have been guilty of 〈◇〉 an ill thing, to have gained the Country. And as to the other several Gentlemen give the like Character of him, and say 〈…〉 believe money could not tempt him to do any Act of that kind. B●●●●at I have farther to offer, is that which I think is more convincing; and that is, That it is not at all probable that Gentlemen that were not either mad, or drunk, or both should be to foolish and imprudent, as to discourse-publickly in the presence of several Persons after that rate that is sworn against these, if they either ha●, or design d to have a hand in such a thing: Could they possibly abandon themselves to so much inconsideration, as not to think that such Discourses might be remembered to their prejudice, and tend to the discovery of themselves as the Murtherers? These must be granted to be sensible men, well skilled in the Law; and therefore well knew the danger such Discourses would expose them to; and knowing all this, it would argue them to be guilty of the highest degree of madness and folly to talk at that rate▪  
And, as to what thee thinkest is so unanswerable, to wit, That unless they were mad, or drink, 〈◇〉 o, the● would never have exposed themselves by discoursing as they did so publicly; to that I have a sufficient answer; First, That they did so discourse, there is the Prisoners themselves does in part acknoledge it; for he say, page. 14 of the printed trial, Possibly I might say these words, My friend may be in with her; but feftens it with saving, It was in jocular conversation. But Thirdly, Notwithstanding their den●ing i●, and making their public discoursing th●s, a plea for there innocence( which by the way, might be one reason of their talking so public) yet the Judge in his charge to the Jury, seems not to make the least question of the words being spoken, as I think indeed he had no reason, and telis the Jury, They talked at a strange rate; and that the● were very strange expressions; and so leaves it to the Jury; which was all that be could do. So that I do not find, that those words testified by Jurry, or his wise, to wit; That ●e● business was done. That there was an end of courting days. And, That a friend of theirs was even with her by this time. Were at all invalidated: And I am sure thee and I must own, that( as the Judge said) They were very strange expressions, considering the time when they were spoken.  Neigh. 
But hoes it 〈◇〉 ●●●●●ly appear that for was melancholy? And, might she not in a melanch●lly 〈◇〉 being under some great temptation, fling herself into the water and so be drowned?  Qua. 
I cannot deny, indeed, but that such a thing might be; but there is a great deal of difference between What might be, and What was? For no such thing was prov●d: It is did not appear ●ce was and wholly, by her sending for S. C. to dinner; nor inviting him af●erwa●ds i● supper; nor b● the care she took to have a fire in his chamber, and his bid we●● war●'d. These did not appear to be Actions of a melanchooly or distracted person. A●● a● to her being drowned, that neither is not so evident; for it appears that there was no water in her body; and it is a common opinion, that when persons are thrown in●● the water dead, they won't sink, as it seems she did not.  Neigh. 
But I ●●●k nothing could be made out more clearly, than that Mrs. Sarah was in love with ●r. C. and would willingly have co-habitted and have lain with him that night: bu●●●e refusing to comply with her, and going to his Lodging as Mr. Barefoot's, she were and drowned herself So that there is not only her melancholy proved, but the cause of it likewise: And I have heard, that love melancholy is the most dangerous.  Qua. 
I do not set this so clearly made out, as you seemest to imagine. Sarah was a young Woman, and of good fortune; and f he liked not to have any of our Friends, there were Hath was en●●gh to be had, without courting a married Man: And yet, even if she had been so fo● left to herself, as to have done that, I have heard that person has had a g eater ●ir●●●ss for the female Sex, than to let any of 'em to make away themselves for want of giving 'em a nights Lodging. And to do him justice, it doth not appear to me, that ●●●e●ed her at that rate as to cause her to despair of obtaining such a kindneses from 〈◇〉: If indeed and had  told her( as I think if the case had been so, he might very well b●● d●ne) that he could no● but a ●nite at her impudence to desire such a thing of him; that he made he●self thereby a shane to her Sex, a scandal to her Profession, and a reproa●● to her Retations; that there were other Men enough to satisfy her La●st; that for his 〈◇〉 part, he was a married Man, and upon that account, could not possibly gratify he●●●clinations. Or if he had said to her, as another good Man did, 〈◇〉 the like occasion How shall I do this great unsettledness, and sin against God? And to had ●●●●●●●ed her to wortify those unruly affections, that could not but issue in her eternal rai● 〈◇〉 her desires should be gratified; and that however they might think to conceal it fr●● 〈◇〉 eye of the W●ld, yet that their wickedness would be open to the omniscient eye of 〈◇〉 Divine Being. head he indeed taken this method, Sarah might have had some rea●●● to despair of obtaining her ends of him,( if any such end she bad.  
But for ought a●●eare to●e, the case was quiter otherwise; and Sa●ah had more reason, to hope, than to despair, by those topics that were 〈◇〉 to 〈◇〉 ●●at ●●●ht: For, the Objections were only That it was an accide●t that had obliged him to take up his lodgings in an●ther place; that the family where he was so obliged to lie, was sitting up for him; that his 〈◇〉 her house under these circumstances, would in probability, provoke the censu●● of the Town and Country; That therefore( only) he could not stay whatever his inclination otherwise might be. Now 〈◇〉 to thee, whether there be any thing on these Objections that might cause Sarah to despair, if she had any such desires of obtaining them: Here was no positive denial, no mention of the unlawfulness of it; but only there happened an accident which rendered it nor so convenient that time, as it might be another.  Neigh. 
But since you believe that the Gentleman gave her no occasion to despair of obtaining her ends from him; and consequently that she had no reason to make away her self, which you believe she did not; I say then, what reason can you have to think, that he should murder her, who, as you suppose, g●ve her so much hotes of obtaining her desi●●● another t●●e.  Qua. 
I know not what reason thee hast to ask me such a question, for I never said that I thought he murdered her, nor any other of the persons indicted for it. I do indeed believe she did not murder her self, because I see no reason I have to think so; and I have shew'd the that those reasons alleged, are not sufficient to cause me to change my opinion. And 〈…〉 there are sen●e●●e it ●●●stances relating to persons indicted, that to my look v●●r suspicious. There is one thing that I think would give a great deal of ●igh● into the business, which I indeed wonde. 'twas never enquired into, neither by the Judges, the King's Council, nor the Grand Jury. But yet when I consider how long that trial lested, and what great variety of Evidence there was, it is no wonder a● all that something might be omitted; but that which I intended was this, Thee mayst remember,( for thou it seemest was at the Tryal●) that Sarah travailer deposes, That when she went up stairs, to warm the bed, she left her mistress and S, C. in the room together, and about a quarter of an hour after, she heard the do●e rout, and when she came down, there was neither of them in the house. Now, methinks it would have been necessary to have enquired, Whether Sarah went out with him; and if so, how far, and where they partend? For Sarah travailer says nothing of hearing the door shut, but once; and then she thought he was going with his Letter. I think a full account of his leaven her, might have been given much more light into the matter. But being omitted at the trial, I only mention this, as my particular th●ughts. However I cannot be satisfied at all about the trial, more especially since I have red the Hertford Letter newly co●e●●an●; at the latter and of which, the Author, after having learnedly handled the point, c●oses with his Sentiments of her death, and two strange remarks in the trial. viz.  
If this Gentlewoman was not Drowned, as the Doctors and Surgeons for the Prisoners seem to insinuate, the Query then will be, How she came to her End? With submission to better Iudgments, I shall here offer my private Sentiments concerning it: I am induced to believe, she was knocked down with a Blow on her lest Ear, from the large Settlement of Blood there, which, as Mrs. ●impson Swears, was as much as he● Hand could cover, and more; after she was felled to the Ground by the Blow, it is prob●ble, with the Gripe of a strong Hand, she was T●rotled, from the Stagnation of Blood on both sides of her Neck, under her Ears, which Mr. John Dinisdale Jun. Swears there was; and from the Settlement of Blood on her breast, I am in lined to believe, That the Person that throttled her, to support his Hand, that he might Gripe the stronger, restend his Arm on her breast, which occasioned the Stagnation there. His remarks are, How Mr. Stephens was taken with a strange Fit, just after the Petty Jury went out, which disturbed the whole Court; and how a Wine-Cooper in Southwark, who came down as an Evidence for the Prisoners, fell into a sort of Distraction; and all the time of the trial was mightily discomposed in his Mind, so that he was fain to be tied in Bed, yet would often ask how the trial went, and whether they were like to be cleared; and would often tell the People about him, that he had done a very bad thing, but would not confess what, tho' often urged to it.  Neigh. 
The trial lasted many hours, and many Witnesses were examined, and both Judge and Jury were so fatieg'd with the rediousness thereof, that it was impossible to think of every thing. But it did appear plainly, tho' her Body had no violence offered to et; that it sunk in the water as low as the Stakes would give it leave; that Mr. C— r went immediately out of the house to the Glove and Dolphin, and from thence to his own lodgings; from whence he went out no more that night: And, by comparing all what the Witnesses said, as to point of time, it was impossible he should do it; and what was impossible to be done, we may be sure was not done: So that I think the Jury brought in a very honest Verdict, especially as to him. As to the other Gentlemen, they appear all to be of fair reputations, and I could hearty wish, no such words had been spoken; and then I think, that they neither could not have been under the least suspicion of guilt, tho' I am still of the mind they are all innocent.  Qua. 
For my part, I don't accuse 'em; and for their own sake● wish they may be so. But tho' they be all as truly innocent as the has pronounced them; why may not Sarah have been murdered by some other persons, and from some other motives that we know nothing of? For she had not without reason, by her sober and blameless conversation, acquired the reputation of a verious and modest young woman from our whole Town; and I appeal to thee, whether ever thou sawest any one action, by which she might forfeit it; or that might lay any imputation upon her? And not only accounted virtuous, but proved she died so by the following Certificate.  
Hertford. April, 28. 1699.  
WE whose Names are here underwritten, having examined the Body of Mrs. Sarah Stout, Deceased, do find the Uterus perfectly Free and Empty, of of the natural Figure and Magnitude, as usually in Virgins. We found no Water in the Stomach, Intestines, Abdomen, Lungs or Cavity of the Thorax.  


John Dimsdale, Sun  
Robert Dimsdale.  
John Dimsdale, Sun.  
William Coatsworth.  
Samuel Camlin.  
Daniel Phillips.    Neigh. 
For my part, I must do her memory that justice, however she came by her death as to declare I never knew her guilty of any unbecoming action, though I have known her from her child-hood: She was not indeed so brisk and airy as other young Women are; but that I always attributed to her being one of your opinion.  Qua. 
Well, Neighbour, I have  told thee my Sentiment, of it. And tho' I neither do, nor can accuse any; yet I believe she never made away with her sel●: But by what means she came by her Death, we must leave to Him, who in His due tim●, will bring to Light all tis sudden Works of Darkness; with every secret thing, whether it be Good, or whether it be Evil.   

London, Printed for the Author, and Sold by the booksellers of London and Westminster, 1699.