WEll did the Apostle say that Covetuousnes was the root of all Evil, there is scarce any vice whatso­ever but hath covetuousness for his source and original, it is covetuousness which causeth the breach of al­most all laws both Humane and Divine; men woulsd not steal, did they not covet other mens goods. Trade men would not couzen and cheat, did they not covet to grow rich by unlawful practises, though most commonly what is bad gotten is as evily spent: it was covetuousness which caused Judas to betray our Saviour, Subjects since to sell their King, some for covetousness have betraied their Ma­sters, others detected their dearest Friends and relations [Page 2] is that which causeth so m [...] [...]its in law, so many dissenti­ons and devisions among [...] [...]hem which should be Brethren, it makes many to wear a mask of Religion, and to have God in their mouthes, and the Devil in their heart, nay to so great a height doth covetousness come that it reaches even to life it self, causing cruel and horrible Murthers to be com­mitted as shall be instanced in a most sad and lamentable ex­ample lately committed in Glocester-shire, by one who car­ried a vizard of Religion, and seemingly served God, but really had the Devil to his Master.

This Miscreant of whom we thus write, was one Farmer Restal of Stoke near Tueksbury in Glocester-shire, a great follow­er of the sect called Quakers, a seeming Saint but real Devil, one that could thee and thou it with the best, turn up the white of the eye, and exclaime against the ungodliness of the times, when Satan had taken possession of his heart, and was no further religious then onely to serve his own wicked and covetous ends. I do not speak this against any that are zealous professors of the truth, I wish the number of them were more, who do worship God in the sincerity of their hearts; but only to shew you how that many people take upon them the vizor of Religion only for sinister ends, some that are poor to get maintenance by it, others under the colour thereof to rebel against their superiours, some that they may cousen with t [...]e less suspition, and others not to be afraid to act the h [...]ghest villanies thereby, thinking the pre­tence thereof w [...]uld carry them above the thoughts of being suspected for such persons.

This Farmer Restal was indebted to one Robert Hammond the sumn of thirty pounds, for which Hammond had his Bond and the time of payment being now expired, and he then in Ireland, and wanring money to go forwards with his busi­ness, [Page 3] he sends his wife over into [...] get the [...]ame, thinking her presenc [...] [...]vaile more for the procurement thereof then if he [...]nd Letters, which many times miscarry, and if rece [...] [...]yer oftentimes faile of what they are sent for, as wanting that moveing force which a mans presenee may procure.

Over into England comes this innocent woman, little dreaming the date of her life was so near exspiring, the poor woman was glad she had escaped the dangers of the Sea, little mistrusting a far greater danger attended her on land: and that an English mans heart should be more bloody then an Irish woolves, who only seize to satisfie hunger, and not to kill whom they pretend to love. Being come to Stoke where this Restal lived, she demands the money of him due to her Husband, Restal gives her very good words, pretends he is heartily glad to see her, and thou (sayes he) shall not faile to have thy money, the woman being something earnest for the same, as desirous to return quickly againe to her Husband, he bid her go to Cheltnham, a Town some three miles distant from Stoke, and to carry the Bond with her, where he would not faile to come unto her, and give her full satisfaction.

O damn'd hypocrisie! O deep dissimulation! O that men should be of such a bloody merciless disposition, as to seek the ruine of their fellow Creatures, man was born without any offensive weapons, and yet none more cruel against those of his own sex then he, serpents bite not each other: Wolves will not kill Wolves, Bees sting not but their E­nemies, but man (far worse herein then beasts) for the lucre of a little gain will not fear to deface Gods Image in man, and to imbrue his hands in his brothers blood.

Now the devil begins to work, the Father and Son lay [Page 4] their heads together, and as Pharoah said, come let us work wisely when he did the most foolishly of all, so they consult together, they have away to pay the bond without money. it is but killing the woman and taking it from her, they can do it privately and not be seen, never considering the all­seeing eye of God from whom nothing is hid, nor regarding that old but true saying, that murder will b [...] revealed, by whom­soever committed.

Fraught thus with murderous intentions, having Bills in their hands away they hie to overtake the poor innocent woman, who to secure her Bond, had put it in her bosome next her skin, they having overtook her, demand it of her, she poor woman (little dreaming the price of her life lay thereon) denyes to give it them. The Devil who had gotten possessioo of their hearts,, prompts them to take no denyal, but to ad murther to their intentional theft, better not to begin at all then not to go thorowly on, thus when men are going down the road to Hel, they run amain, they made no more adoe but with the Bill cleft her head, so that the poor soul presently dyed, and now the two murderers think with Jesabel to kill and take posession, they question not now the having of the Bond, and think by this act their debt is ful­ly and wholly satisfied.

But whiles they were searching for the Bond, they were affrighted with the fear of discovery by the appearance of a young woman, one that had been married but four dayes be­fore, and now accidentally came by that way, what shall they do now in this case: the Devil puts it into their hearts that they had no wayes but to proceed on in murder, as much danger of being hanged for one as two, they res [...] [...]e shall tell no tales of them, her mouth must be [...] death, the woman perceives what they had done, [...] [Page 5] intentions, and flees away so fast as she could, but alas her legs could not carry her away fast enough, she is overtaken and by those bloody inhumane villaines murdered also.

O monsters of Nature, more savage then Lions, Bears or Tygers, O viperous brood fleshed in wickedness; whose hearts are hardned, and consciences seared! O cruel hypo­crysie that men who carry the vizards of Religion should so degenerate from all goodness, that neither the love of God, nor fear of punishment can deterre from such barbari­ty! O who can think of ye without horrour, or speak of ye without detestation, you have purchased ye a lasting name by infamy, and without the greater repentance, ever­lasting torments in hell fire.

When they had thus murdered the two women, looking about they espyed a Boy who was also coming that way, whom when they saw they intended to have sent him on the same errand with the two former, for now their hands was in the shedding of blood was not a tertour to them; but pro­vidence disapointed them of their thoughts, the Boy per­ceived what they had done, and thought he also should be a guest at that bloody banquet, he therefore to prevent it be­took him to his heels, and fear adding wings to his feet he out ran them, who pursued him hastily, being vexed that they had lost their prey, the Bird being thus escaped out of the hunters nets, the Townesmen are raised, the murderers are taken, and had before Justice, the matter was too manifest to be denyed, they are committed to Gaol, the whole Coun­try being filled with wonder and admiration of so horrible a murder.

O that men professing Religion should dare to commit such horrid actions, had they not spilt the blood of those two helpless innocent women, with what face could this [Page 6] Restal have taken away the Bond from Hamonds wife, know­ing the money justly due unto her, had it not been a plain th [...]ft, may we not justly say the Devil hath stolen such mens consciences away,! O how does these times outstrip the for­mer in wickedness, sins of a scarlet dye, hardly to be para­leld, nay even amongst those Nations whom we term bar­ba [...]ous.

At the assizes at Glocester they pleaded not guilty, when suddenly the young mans mouth (whose hands had been so deeply imbrued) now gushed forth with blood, to the great astonishment of all the people, and to the horror and confusi­on of that bloody murderer.

In breif they were both proved guilty, and therefore had justly the deserved sentence of condemnation pronounced a­gainst th [...]m, and in execution thereof, the young man was executed the 7 day of this instant moneth of July. the old man was for the present repreived.

I wish their sentence and the young mans untimely end, may be a warning to all that are alive, to beware of covetu­ousness, which brings with it a chain of other sins, and was no question the original of these Restals, or rather Rascals bloody acts, and let all people be warned to provide for their latter end, seeing though we rise well and lusty in the morning, we know not by what accident the thred of our life may be cut off before night, and take this for a true max­ime that there is no man whatsoever that never so much de­spizeth his own life, but yet is master of another mans.