Hail!

A true relation of a most dismal accident that happened in the Strand, the 14th of this instant May, 1686, by the fall of the Bull Inn, and part of another adjacent house, together with the number of the persons killed, and those that were taken out alive amongst the ruins thereof, which in all are to the number of fifteen persons.

Amongst the various means ordained to bring us to our graves, that of sudden death is one of the most deplorable, and possibly a sadder scene of that kind has not been than this following relation will testify.

Mr. Jonathan Tooth, Master of the Bull Inn in the Strand, over against Ivy Bridge, had been in some late apprehensions of the weakness of his house, especially of that part of it next to the street, and had accordingly been advised to prevent the falling of it. More particularly, the very morning of this unfortunate accident, when happening to be about five o’clock, a carpenter that had some business in a yard near his house came to him and assured him that his house was sinking, and that it would fall in some very little time. Hereupon, he immediately sent some workmen (with all speed) to the waterside to fetch props, such as we see daily made use of for the supporting of houses; but, alas, this ill-timed endeavour came too late, for before their return, the fatal ruin came. Nevertheless, the landlord’s fears increasing, he thought it not prudent to wait the coming back of the workmen, but being solicitous for the lives both of his guests and family, he first called up his chamberlain, and bade him alarm his lodgers with the danger they were in, and endeavour to raise them to prevent that mischief that threatened.

The persons that lodged in that front part of his house were about thirteen, all men, some but newly came thither, and others that had lodged there longer. The chamberlain obeyed his Master’s order, and instantly ran up to each person’s door to awaken them and gave them all notice of the danger they were in, but he had scarce finished his message and returned to the staircase when the whole front of the next house, insomuch that few or none reaped any benefit by the warning given, all fell with it, scarce one escaping being buried in the ruins.

Diverse are the reports of the number, both of the persons killed and wounded, but this relation is grounded upon a firmer authority than flying fame, that but too often errs in accidents of this kind, being taken from a servant of the house, and an eye-witness to this miserable disaster. The persons that were took up dead are one John Martin, who had rented the wine cellar of the Inn, and a coachman that came up out of the country the day before; also the child and maid-servant of Mr. Pullen Oylman, next door to the Bull Inn. The persons taken up alive, but very much wounded, are seven, the coachman to the Lady Wallet, two servants of Sir John Bickerstaff, a soldier, and three other servants of other gentlemen. The coachman who escaped with only his legs broken, or very much bruised, is supposed may recover, the others are in much greater danger of death, as being bruised more upon their vital parts, though no endeavours are wanting for their recovery, if possible.

This is all the discovery that hitherto can be made, there being two or three more persons suspected to be buried in the rubbish which cannot be truly known yet. There have been diverse reports of [more] ladies and gentlemen that perished in this woeful disaster, but it is altogether false; such indeed lay there some days before, but it was their peculiar blessing to be gone away the very day before. But notwithstanding their happier deliverance, there have been but too many sufferers in this dismal blow and not a few sad eyes at so dreadful a spectacle. And though no man’s fate, though never so tragical, but comes by the peculiar decree of heaven, yet ought this miserable relation be no little warning-piece to the timely care of other men in preventing the like dangers. The falling of this house being long threatened before it happened, and which care and timely endeavours might have escaped.

A true narrative of the proceedings at the Sessions House in the Old Bailey, beginning on the 11th of this instant July, 1677, wherein is contained the trial of the woman for committing that odious sin of buggery with a dog; and likewise of the man for buggering of two mares. With the trial of the young maid that poisoned her mother, a maid, and two gentlewomen, and all the rest of the most remarkable trials there, with an account of how many are condemned to die, how many burned in the hand, to be whipped and transported.

One of the first and most talked of trials at this Sessions was for such an abominable crime, attended with such odious circumstances as it is thought scarce any story can parallel it, especially in this, our more modest and chaster climate, hitherto a stranger to such unnatural wickedness; and we hope the justice executed on this wretched criminal will deter all others from any the like detestable inclinations for the future.

A married woman lately living without Cripplegate who appeared to be between 30 and 40 years of age was arraigned for that, she having not the fear of God before her eyes nor regarding the order of Nature, on the 23rd of June last, to the disgrace of all womankind, did commit buggery with a certain mongrel dog, and wickedly, devilishly, and against nature had venereal and carnal copulation with him, etc. It was proved that the prisoner was a person of a lewd conversation, and lodging in a room into which there were several holes to look in at from the next house, they had often seen her in the very acts of uncleanness with villains that followed her. But one day one of the witnesses (a young woman) happening to cast her eye in, saw her use such actions with a dog as are not fit here to be recited, at which being amazed, she called up another woman, and after that a man, who all saw her several times practising this beastliness, and fully evidenced the same in court, where the dog was likewise brought, and being sat on the bar before the prisoner, owned her by wagging his tail and making motions as it were to kiss her, which it was sworn she did when she made that horrid use of him. For herself she had nothing to say, but denying the fact, alledging it was malice in the witnesses which her husband, who appeared on her behalf, likewise suggested, but could not make out any quarrel or occasion of any such malice in the least; whereupon after full consideration of all circumstances she was brought in guilty.

Yet cannot the bearded sex, though pretending a stronger reason, jostle on this unhappy precedent upbraid the weaker vessels or tax them with this dishonour, for the very next arraignment was of a fellow for buggery of a mare. The evidence against him testified that they saw him in the fields beyond Shoreditch on Sunday the 17th of June amongst the brick kilns, driving a white mare to a small heap of bricks which he had laid together, and there used most unnatural and brutish endeavours several times, and after that to another bay mare, but being near threescore yards distant, they could not make that direct and positive proof which the law exacts, so that he was acquitted on that indictment. At the bar he behaved himself as one insensible, scarce speaking a word for himself, save only that he did no harm. He confessed he lately came out of Kent to seek as he said for work, and within 3 or 4 days after his coming up was apprehended in this beastly action.

The last Sessions an ancient man keeping a victualling house was arraigned for stealing a black mare. The case was somewhat strange: on the 9th of May last between 4 and 5 in the morning, a person leading this mare tied her to the pales of this house and went in to drink, and after one pot went away, pretending to come again presently, the mare stood there till 4 o’ clock in the afternoon. Then, the victualler took care of her, put her to grass and shortly after was taken on her back by the owner who thereupon indicted him last Sessions, though two men who saw the person that brought her thither, attending then to give evidence on behalf of the victualler, happened to see and seize one in the Sessions House Yard (between the time of his arraignment and trial) whom they said was the man that brought the mare; whereupon the court being ready to break up, the victualler’s trial was put off, and this person taken into custody. The witnesses now spoke home that he was the man, but he absolutely denying it, endeavouring to prove where he was that night, and several people of fashion attesting his former good conversation, credit, and estate, and it not being improbable but the witnesses might mistake one they never saw but once, and then only transiently without any occasion to take particular notice of him, the jury thought fit to bring him not guilty; as likewise they did the said victualler; but (according to the proverb) the man has his mare again, and all is well.

A carman who unhappily run his car over a child in Busts Lane was indicted for murder, but it appearing to be by the child’s accidental falling from a bench just as he was passing, without his seeing of it or any default in him, he was acquitted.

A young wench was convicted for stealing four small gold plates off a silversmith’s stall, whereof one was taken upon her.

A boy not above eleven years old being sent by a gentleman in his master’s house up stairs to fetch a pair of pistols, not suspecting them to be loaded, and thinking to frighten the servant maid with flashing a little powder which was in the pan, discharged it, and thereby unhappily killed her, for which he was brought in guilty of manslaughter.

A fellow being indicted for stealing a piece of cloth out of a shop in Cheapside. One of the witnesses was a porter who could not directly prove the felony. The other that could have done it was a young man who out of a foolish bigotry refused to take an oath, and after the court had long endeavoured from scripture and reason to answer all his erroneous scruples, finding him still obstinate, committed him to the bail-dock to be proceeded against and fined according to the statue in that case provided; and his master who was bound to prosecute being sent for, he affronting the court by putting on his hat and the like insolent carriage, was committed to keep his man company till he should find sureties for his good behaviour; but in the mean time the felon escaped and wishes all the town of this silly religion.

An old notorious offender indicted for breaking a house and stealing a flitch of bacon and other things, for want of exact proof escaped thereupon; but it appeared he was lately transported on a conditional pardon, and had come over within the time to practice his rogueries afresh, whereby his life was legally forfeited.

An apprentice was indicted for stealing 80 l. from his master; but it appearing that satisfaction had been already accepted, and that the sum embezzled was far less, he was brought in only guilty to the value of 10 d.

A young man that occasioned the death of a man near Bow Church in Cheapside in the last Whitson Holidays took a trial for the same, a woman that was in company with the person killed swore that the prisoner gave the first affront by pushing by the other as they met, but three others witnessed that the deceased first quarrelled with and beat the prisoner, and being like to choke him with pulling his cravat, after several entreaties to be quiet, the prisoner drew his sword, and wthout making any pass, as they were struggling together, the man unhappily received a mortal wound; which was brought in manslaughter, and the prisoner burned in the hand for the same.

There succeeded a long and remarkable trial of a young girl for murdering her own mother by poison. The prosecution was grounded wholly upon her own voluntary confession, and several worthy persons proved that she had acknowledged it to them, and also that she for several times endeavoured to poison a Lady with whom she lived, though through mercy she had recovered and was in health again. But that not immediately concerning the present case, and the girl denying the poisoning of her mother now at the bar, as likewise for that it did not appear that her mother was at all poisoned, or any suspicion raised thereon, she was brought in not guilty.

There were in all ten burned in the hand this Sessions. Two men and five women received sentence of death, amongst whom that monster who prostituted herself to a dog was one; the rest incorrigible thieves, and three for petty crimed ordered to be whipped.

Printed in 1677.

Distressed Child, or the Cruel Uncle: being a true and dismal relation of one Esq. Solmes of Beverly in Yorkshire who, dying, left an only infant daughter of the age of two years to the care of his own brother who, with many oaths, vows, and protestations, promised to be loving to her. But her father was no sooner dead, but out of a wicked covetousness of the child’s estate of three hundred pounds a year, carried it into a wood and there put it in a hollow tree to starve it to death, where a gentleman and his man hunting two days after found it half famished, having gnawed its own flesh and finger-ends in a dreadful manner.

With an account of how the cruel uncle, to hide his villainy, had caused the child’s effigies to be buried in wax and made a great funeral, as if it had been really dead, with the manner of the whole discovery by a dream and taking the wax-child out of the grave. With the uncle’s apprehension, examination, and confession before Justice Seubbs, and his commitment to jail, in order to be tried at the next court for that barbarous action.

The love of money is the root of all evil, and is the cause of the most barbarous vices, as may be seen by this following example.

In the town of Beverly in Yorkshire, about two months ago, there lived one Squire Solmes, a very honest gentleman of about three hundred per annum. His wife dying, by whom he had one little daughter about two years of age, he continued some months a sorrowful widower. He could not well enjoy himself after the loss of his dear spouse, and it so happened that partly out of grief, partly from a violent fever, he was brought to his bed of sickness where he continued not long, for he died within a fortnight after he was taken by that fever. He expressed a great concern for the little girl, and therefore called his brother, a gentleman that lived about 14 miles from him, and begged him to take care of his daughter upon him. “Brother,” said he, “I leave with you the dearest thing that I have in the world, my little daughter, and with her to you I entrust my estate. Manage it for her use, and take care of her education in virtue and religion; use her as if she were your own, and for my sake see her married to an honest country gentleman.”

All which was faithfully promised by the brother. Thus when all things were setlled, the gentleman dies, and the brother takes home the child to his house, and for some time used her kindly. But at the last the D—l* of Covetousness possessed him, nothing run in his mind so much as making away with the child and so possess the estate. After many ways, he at last concluded to take her with him, and hide her in a hollow tree. Which one morning he effected, and left the poor infant with her mouth stopped that she might not cry. For he had so much grace, not actually to murder her, therefore he left her alive in the hollow of the tree and the better to hide it gave out that the child was dead, and therefore caused an effigy of wax to be made, laid it in a coffin, and a shroud, and made a great funeral for the child. Thus the effigy was buried, and no notice at all taken of the matter.

At the same time, a neighbouring gentleman dreamt that that day he should see something that would sufficiently astonish him. He told it to his lady, who dissuaded him from going hunting that day, but he was resolved, not giving any credit to dreams, and so took his horse in the morning. As he was hunting, he happened to be in the wood where the child was, and as he was riding by the tree, his horse gave a great start, so that he had liked to have fallen down, and turning about to see what was the matter, he saw something stir in a hole, and being inquisitive to know the cause, his dream presently came in his head.

And therefore he calls his man, and bids him examine what was in the hole, who having searched the tree discovers the child in the tree. He took it out and his master carried it to his lady almost dead. He told her his dream was out, declaring how he found the child, and begged her to take care of it. The child was revived, and in a little time brought to itself again, till at last it happened that some women came to the gentleman’s house singing at Christmas, and seeing the child, knew it, and declared whose it was, and that it was supposed to be dead and buried. The gentleman goes and prevails with the minister of the parish to have the grave opened, and found the waxen effigy of the child in the grave. He went to the Justice of the Peace to whom he declared the matter, who sent his warrant for the child’s trustee, who being convicted of the matter, was not able to deny it, but confessed all the business. But seeing the child was alive, it is supposed he will not be tried for his life, but it is thought a severe punishment will be inflicted on him, and the Justice appointed the gentleman that found the child to be its trustee until the court hearing. The child is now at the gentleman’s house, who loves it as if it was his own for he has no children himself and is a man of a good estate, and is likely to augment very much the child’s fortune.

Postscript

We have further account from Huttington concerning the child aforesaid, that when the gentleman and his man found it in the hollow tree, it was almost quite dead, it having been put there by the inhumane uncle two days before, so that the poor innocent creature for mere hunger had in a lamentable manner sucked and gnawed its own finger-ends till the blood ran about its cheeks and mouth to such a degree that when it was brought to the gentleman’s lady, she fell in a swoon at the sight of it.

Printed in 1700.

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*This word is clearly meant to be “Devil”, but appears in the original as “D—l”. The word is printed in full elsewhere around this time, but perhaps this writer thought it inappropriate to use the word in full.

A true and perfect relation of the taking and destroying of a sea-monster, as it was attested by Mr. Francis Searson, a surgeon, who was present at the killing of him.

On the 10th of September last we discovered this Sea-Monster upon the coast of Denmark, which at first surprised us, for the female was also with him, tumbling in the water very near him, thereby causing great waves both about and before them, which, as we came near, we perceived they performed by plunging themselves sometimes under water, and other times by tossing up their tails, which were very large and broad. The female was much less both in length and bulk than the male, and being advanced nearer, we had full view of them both, their upper parts being visible above water.

We were now within cannon-shot, whereupon the Captain ordered some guns to be forthwith fired at them, and 2 or 3 balls very happily wounded the male in the head, which made them separate, and the male immediately made to the shore, which was about 2 leagues distance. Upon which the Captain gave orders to sail after him and when at some convenient distance, manned out two boats with men, each to attack him. The Monster made resistance by moving about in the water, and with his tail killed 3 of the men in one boat, which so terrified the boat’s crew, that they threw one of their oars at him, which he hastily arched up in his hand, and mounted aloft into the air, and for some hours forced blood out of his nose (like water out of an engine) which fell in great quantities into the boats, and upon the men, which encouraged them to attack him more vigorously, perceiving that he was wounded. He continually tumbled about in his defence, gaped, foamed and made a most hideous noise at his mouth, and stunk excessively, and we were 24 hours in destroying him.

The female kept at some distance all the time, and appeared to be very disconsolate, and made sometimes towards the 2 boats, and other times the ship, who sent several shots after her, which caused her to keep at the greater distance. In this attack his head and one of his hands were much shattered, so that we cut off only one of his hands, by reason of the prodigious weight of the other parts, being also in fear of the females attacking our boats in our return to the ship, having spent much time in viewing and measuring the several parts, which are as follows:

The whole creature weighed (according to computation) at least 50 tons, and was 70 feet in length. The upper part resembles a man, from the middle downwards he was a fish, had fins, and a forked tail. His head was of a great bulk, contained several hundreds of weight, and had a terrible aspect. He had short, coarse and curled hair upon his head. His nose was long and large. His eyes were also large, and so were both his ears. His mouth was answerable, for when he opened it, it was at least 2 yards wide. His teeth were thick, long and sharp. His chin was 2 feet long, and had a beard 16 feet long. His neck was 1 yard long and 4 yards round. His arms large […] each. This hand is 5 feet and a half long, 2 feet 3 inches broad, and weighs near […]

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Printed in 1699.