A full and the trueſt Narrative of the horrid, moſt barbarous, and unparralled Murder, Committed on the Perſon of John Knight, Apprentiſe to Mr. Arthur Worth, Silkman, in Milk-ſtreet, London.
NOt to trouble the Reader with a needleſſe and tedious Introduction to a Relation of this nature, which uſually ſome do? and make a Porch bigger than the houſe it ſelf, which is ridiculous: But to come unto the matter before us. It is a Narration of the moſt horrid, barbarous and unparralell'd Murther that hath been heard of in this age.
All ſins offend the great, dreadful and juſt, yet Good God; and ſeldome eſcape his puniſhments in this world, but without repentance and faith never in the other. But the Cry of blood is loud! and Murther open mouth'd! not to inſtance in that of Cain at this time, ſince a clear Teſtimony of Gods Providence and Juſtice hath faln out lately in Milk-ſtreet; in the diſcovery of a barbarous Murther, and the Murtherer Nathaniel Butler, who had his chiefeſt accuſer within himſelf, and was dogged by his own conſcience. He was Apprentice by Indenture to Mr. Munday in Carter-lane, and turned over to John Abbot a Drawer of Cloath in the Old-change, and afterwards turned over to one Mr. Goodday of the ſame Trade in Carter-lane as aforeſaid, in the time of whoſe ſervice he committed this horrid Murther, or, rather to ſerve the Devil he committed this deſperate Murther. And the manner how he did it ſhall hereafter in its place be declared; but the opportunity2 and occaſion in the firſt place was thus: Mr Worth (one deſerving his name) a worthy Citizen of London, a man induſtrious and active; who upon the affairs of Trade or Merchandiſe being gone to Briſtol Fair, and having taken one of his Apprentices with him for his aſſiſtance; left at home his other Apprentice John Knight to mannage the affairs of his trade, here at his ſhop in London. Now it is ſuppoſed that he was a youth ſomewhat timorous, and fearing to lye alone, in his Maſters abſence he requeſted Nathaniel Butler to be his Bedfellow until his Maſter and fellow Apprentice ſhould return from Briſtol: Thirteen or fourteen nights they lay together, and as it ſeems they were very familiar and intimate: All this while not any of Mr. Worth's houſhold (excepting John Knight himſelf) did know of Nathaniel Butler's lying in the houſe with him, for things were ſo ſecretly carried between them, that he came ordinarily towards Bed-time, about nine or ten of the clock at night, and returned in the morning with the firſt up in the houſe, which was his bed-fellow. Whether Mr. Goodday Nathaniel Butler's Maſter, or his fellow Apprentice at leaſt did know thereof, reſteth much in ſuſpicion. But that all entruſted by their Maſters or Miſtreſſes, may henceforth be wary whom they entertain into ſuch familiarity: Behold! The ſad iſſue! This new bed-fellow murthers his intimate and boſome Friend for the baſe lucre of money, which having thus got, he was as reſtleſs as before: The ſight of ſome baggs of money took his nightly reſt from him, all Tweſday night he could not ſleep. On Wedneſday he makes ſhew of love and friendſhip, and they agree to go a drinking together, and then a Fiſhing: After this they Sup together; but what miſchief is at the bottome of that heart which diſſembles Love? Let the iſſue prove.
On the Wedneſday night he could not ſleep.
On the Thurſday morning by break of day he cut the mouth and throat of his bedfellow, and ſtrangled him on his bed, being3 both in their ſhirts. A ſad ſpectacle is diſcovered by a bloody ſhirt found (lying on the Counter in the Shop in the morning,) by the maid ſervant of the houſe, who preſently called in ſome of the neighbours, who going to the chamber where the Appprentice lay, they found him lying with his feet on a corner of the boulſter, and his head towards the lower end of the bed, in gore blood, and with a lock of hair in his right hand, and ſome ſcattering hairs were found in his left-hand alſo; they were all ſtruck with amazment! The houſe is raiſed! The neighbourhood called in! A tumult about the doore! The murder viſible! The Murderer unknown and eſcaped in the morning, preſently after the fact.
The Coroner Mr. Edward Moreton, being ſent for, came immediately and having ſummoned a Jury of twenty foure Neighbours, did ſit upon Enquiry, concerning the Murder and Murderer: People were admitted of all degrees to go up into the room and view the bloody murdered Corps, and ſome were examined concerning the ſame; whoſe innocencies were apparent.
On Fryday the Murdered young-man was decently Interred in the Church of Magdalen Milk-ſtreet, accompanied with the ſighes and tears of many of his dear and good Relations, Neighbours and many others.
But all this while, the Coroner and Jury were at a ſtand, they found the Murder, but not the murderer; yet endeavours for diſcovery thereof were ſtill uſed with much ſedulity; and all perſons laid hold on upon the leaſt ſuſpicion. It happened that a young man who on Wedneſday came down-wards by Water, hearing of this Murder, did acquaint ſome Friends of Maſter Worths, that he did ſee John Knight a Fiſhing on the ſame Wedneſday; the Youth was further examined, whom he ſaw with him? and he deſcribed the Perſon and Habit of the Perſon whom he ſaw, as well as he could; in ſo much that one gazing at the door among others, was taken upon ſuſpicion, by his Habit, and4 under ſtrict examination untill credible aſſurance cleared him; his Apparrel being very like as the youth had deſcribed.
But in a perfect and full diſcovery of the Murderer, the onely hand of God was manifeſt: though much ſearch was made in purſuance thereof. Being informed by a Neighbours ſervant that one Nathaniel Butler, was an acquaintance of John Knights, and on ſuppoſition that he might know what other acquaintance he had, not then having the leaſt ſuſpicion of him; and having learned that his Maſters houſe was in Carter-lane, the ſaid Servant with an other young man were ſent to Maſter Goodday's houſe to enquire after this Nathaniel Butler, where they were told, that he was gone to a Turners ſhop at the Corner of Bread-ſtreet, thither they went and found him accordingly; and asking him whether he knew one John Knight, he being as it ſeems ſmitten in his own heart, faltered in his ſpeech, & made out of the ſhop with a dejected Countenance; at firſt denying that he knew him, but preſently after confeſſed that he did know him; whereupon they asked him to accompany them to Milk-ſtreet? but he pretended buſineſſe and ſaid he could not go then, and went his way: In this diſcourſe with him, having perceived his hands to be ſcratched, they began to be ſuſpicious of him, ſo that they followed him at a diſtance, till they ſaw him in his Maſters houſe in Carterlane. After which they related what had paſſed to Mr. Worth at his houſe in Milk-ſtreet, who preſently ſent one of the Martials men of this City, being then about the doore, together with thoſe young men for his Aſſiſtance unto Mr Gooddays houſe in Carterlane on Saturday in the Evening, who going to enquire there for Nathaniel Butler, they ſpied him croſſing the way from his Maſters door, going to a houſe over the way, they purſuing him, found him in the Entry; and then the Martials man laid hold of him, and charged him with ſuſpicion of Murder; and ſtraitway they brought him to Maſter Worth's houſe without any reſiſtance, where he was cauſed to be ſtript, and in ſearching him, his Leather5 Drawers were found to be bloody, and ſome blood about his Cloathes; alſo ſtains of blood on his Stockings, which with the ſcratches on his Face and Hands, were ſtrong preſumptions, that he had a hand in this Murder, with which he being charged, ſeverall times denyed. During the time of this ſearch of him, the Martiall of this City with another Gentleman went down to his Maſters houſe, and enquiring for Butlers Trunk, a new Trunk was ſhewed them, which being inſtantly broke open, they therein found two Bags of money, one of which Bags had Mr. Worths Mark on it, which being brought by the Martiall to Mr. Worths houſe, and being thrown down upon a Table with acclamation! that they had not onely found out the Murderer, but the money alſo: The Martial's man then called for a Cord, wherewith he bound his Hands; Some of his Hair being plucked off to be compared with the Hair which was found in the young mans hand that was Murdered; and being ready to carry him away: He then began in a crying manner to Confeſſe; the Coroner and ſome of the Jury with two Conſtables being preſent, he began by degrees to acknowledge one thing after another; and at laſt confeſſed the whole Murder, and the manner thereof before them.
After which the Martial and the Conſtables with the Coroner and ſome of the Jury carryed him before Sr. Robert Titchbourn, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of London, where he voluntarily made the like Confeſſion, and ſeemed to be very repentant and deject in his minde: From whence he was Committed, and ſtrongly guarded to Newgate Priſon about Nine or Ten of the Clock on Saturday Night, the eighth of Auguſt, where he was put into ſafe Cuſtody.
On Monday the tenth of Auguſt, the Coroner and Jury ſate in the Pariſh Church of Magdalen Milk-ſtreet, and did fully agree upon their joynt Verdict, both as to the Murder, and Murderer; Nathaniel Butler by name.
On this Monday alſo, it pleaſed the Right Honorable the Lord6 Mayor of London, to ſend Mr. Yearwood his Lordſhips Chaplain unto this Priſoner in Newgate, with whom came Mr. Venning alſo, both godly and able Miniſters of the Word: And on the afternoon, they had opportunity to ſpeak with this ſad but deſperate Murderer; and finding him very willing to make Anſwer to what they propoſed; they dealt very conſcienciouſly and plainly with him, concerning the Point of Repentance, as to the Truth and Realty of it; in conſideration of his Offence and ſin againſt the juſt and righteous God: and not ſo much eying his own preſent ſad condition, or apprehenſion of the fear of after ſhame or puniſhment: Maſter Venning cloſed the meeting with a comfortable Prayer, over, and with the Priſoner, and ſo parted.
But now take the Confeſſion from his own mouth, to the Queſtions then put; and theſe were his very Anſwers, word for word to every of them.
Monday Auguſt 10. 1657.
NAthaniel Butler born in Alton in Hamſhire ſeven miles beyond Farneham in Surry, maketh this confeſſion, in the preſence of Mr. Worth and others.
I have deſtroyed the Image of God in John Knight, no perſon Woman or maid had any hand in the Murther of him but my ſelf.
I ſaw the money on Tueſday morning laſt, when I was combing of my Hair in the Shop, I looked into the Till.
I had then a Pen-knife in my Pocket, which John deſired of me.
I had then in my pocket a knife of my fellow-ſervants Thomas Falconer.
Wedneſday morning laſt, we went to the Black-Sw•n on the back ſide of the Shambles, and there drunk our mornings draught, and we concluded to go a Fiſhing; and John bought me a Fiſhing•od, and bought himſelf one that coſt foure or five ſhillings; we appoin•ed to7 meet at two of the clock in the Afternoon, at Pauls Wharff, at which time John came to my Maſters houſe, and preſently within a quarter of an houre we met at the Sun-Alehouſe at Pauls Wharff, and there bought Bread to make ground-baits; and thence went a Fiſhing till five or ſix of the Clock; after which we parted and I went home to my Maſters houſe: We appointed to meet together at eight of the clock that night, which we did at Honey-lane end, and thence went into Fiſh-ſtreet to the Maiden-head, and drunk three half pints of Sack, and eat a piece of Salmon of twelve pence.
I never had but one Forty ſhillings of him.
There was One hundred and ten pounds in both Bags, and there is taken out about ſeven pounds.
I came afterwards about ten a clock to Mr Worths houſe, and was in the back Warehouſe when they came to ſee the Doores lockt in.
We went to bed together, and I could not be at quiet till I had done the Fact.
I made proffer many a time with my knife to the intent to cut Johns throat, and once put my knife up again: And between three and foure of the clock, on Thurſday morning, I took my knife and cut his Mouth to his Ear, at which he ſchrieked out and cryed Murder. Then I put my right hand into his Mouth, and ſo lay ſtrugling together for about half an houre, and at length I ſtrangled him: after which I looked about the Chamber, and the Devill inſtigated me to cut his Throat, which I did with my right hand, we being both naked.
Then I ſlipt off my bloody Shirt, and wiped the blood off me, and put on my cloathes, and having taken the Keys of the Till, where the money lay, out of John's pocket: I brought down my bloody ſhirt, and laid it on the Counter in the ſhop, and opened the Till and took out two Bags of money, and went away with them, leaving the Keys in the Till, and the ſhop doore open ſtanding a char.
I went home to my Maſters houſe in Carter-lane, which hath two doores, and at the back door in the yard, it being open, I went in and waſhed my hands and face; and after took water in my hand and waſhed the blood off my ſtockings.
8Then put off all my cloathes and went to bed, and put the two Bags of money in the Bed with me.
In the morning after I was up, I bought a Trunk, which coſt eight ſhillings, and put the money in that Trunk; I knew not what to do.
I came to Milk-ſtreet on Friday night, but knew not what to do.
BY all that is paſſed you may eye the Divine Providence of God in detection of Murther. And now ex ore is he condemned, and a ſure ground for Bills of Indictment prepared, as to Murther and Theft; and as providence willed this timely diſcovery: So likewiſe as opportunely did it fall out (that Juſtice might not be delayed) that the Seſſions in the Old-Balie London, did begin on the Wedneſday following, and he was there accordingly on the twelfth of Auguſt arraigned for his life upon two Indictments, the one for the Murther, and the other for taking away the money; to both which he pleaded guilty: Command was given that he ſhould be returned to Newgate. His guilt & condemnation lying ſo plain before him, his only ſuit to the Honourable Court was, the favour of ſome time for his repentance, and preparation for Death: It is ſaid the Right Honourable the Lord Major of the City of London (the Recorder being abſent) did anſwer, You gave the young man no time of Repentance, or to that effect; whereat the Priſoner was dread and full of horror! yet nevertheleſſe, favour was granted him by the whole Court, for more than a fortnights time to the end deſired: Which that it might have its true end, and that it might be a means to bring him to a true and through repentance of that his Capitall and grand crying crimſon Crime; and of all other his ſins, through the whole courſe of his miſled life; and that God would give him Faith and Intereſt in the Blood of Chriſt, for the Pardon of all: Doubtleſſe to God, who heareth Prayer, were the hea•ty deſires and breathings of many godly and good Chriſtians ſent up on his behalf.
9On Fryday Auguſt the fourteenth, he received the Sentence of Condemnation, viz. That he ſhould be led back again to the place from whence he came; and from thence carried to the place of Execution (which was appointed to be in Cheap-ſide, looking into Milk-ſtreet) and there be hanged by the Neck untill he were dead.
All the time of his Impriſonment, he had the aſſiſtance of many able and godly Divines, Miniſters of London, and elſewhere to converſe with, almoſt every day one or more (yea, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of London, himſelf vouchſafed to confer and pray with and for him; as is ſaid more than once) to whom he was very open hearted, and condemned himſelf in his generall ill led life, as having been addicted to gaming, drinking, and abuſing himſelf with women, and other vices whereto the Devil had inured him, in order to this his black or rather bloody ſin of Murder.
He hath been often heard to cry out of his too licenſious courſe of life, And as oft hath he cryed out of the ſight of the money, which led him into the ſnare of temptation to this vile Act.
Withall he hath declared ſome of his Complices, and what an ill inſtrument he had been for them, with their wicked practices in wronging of their Maſters, and many other things tending to their Maſters wrong, and their own ruines; which in time will be further enquired into.
But now we ſhall attend him in the manner of his execution, and his deport, laſt words and actions therein.
On Monday the 31th. of Auguſt 1657. No tree was ever more ready for the Axe of Juſtice, than the peoples expectations greedy of ſeeing the execution thereof. About ſeven of the clock in the morning the condemned priſoner Nathaniel Butler was brought in a Coach from Newgate to Cheapſide, where a Gibbet was erected on purpoſe facing Milk-ſtreet, in view of the houſe where he had done his bloody Act, where ſtepping out of the Coach, after a little while, he aſcended the Ladder, and began his laſt Speech10 unto the People; and but for the Preſſe and Noiſe of the Multitude he might have been heard afar off; for he ſtretcht his voice exceedingly to be heard, inſomuch that ſpending himſelf in reading of his Papers, he was ſeen to ſweat very much, which occaſioned his often wiping of his Face, and encreaſed delay, ſo that he was deſired to abreviate himſelf in what he had to ſay, which accordingly he did; and delivered his Papers into the hand of Mr. Yearwood or ſome other of his acquaintance; the ſubſtance whereof, in ſhort was this.
That he did confeſſe himſelf to have been a moſt grievous ſinner, in the whole courſe of his life; and deſired that all others, eſpecially all that had been his Companions, to take heed of ſin; ſhewing them how horrid and bitter a thing it was to ſin againſt God; adviſing them likewiſe above all things to beware of preſumption, and that they would be more carefull in their walkings hereafter, and be warned henceforth by his preſent Example; for ſaid he, If you will go on in ſinfull practiſes and hope for Pardon, God will keep his Pardon, and you ſhall keep your ſins: And then declared that he hoped, yea was ſtrongly aſſured, that his own Pardon was ſealed in the blood of Chriſt: Then he prayed very audibly: Mr. Yearwood alſo the Miniſter there preſent did pray for him; then himſelf alſo prayed again ſomewhat lower in his voice than he had ſpake and prayed before: For what he delivered at firſt, was with much Chriſtian boldneſſe; then he commended his ſ•ul to God through Chriſt; and ſaid, Now I am lanching into the Ocean of Eternity, (and fitted himſelf for a turn off the Ladder,) having in the cloſe of his Prayer ſaid, Lord Jeſus receive my ſpirit: Inſtantly, the Executioner performed his Office.
So ſoon as he was dead, he was cut down, put into a Coffin and carried away in the ſame Coach wherein he was brought, in order to his interment, which at night by the care of ſome of his Relations and Friends was decently performed, in the Church yard11 of Gregories by Pauls, and Mr. Yearwood who the night before had ſate up all the night with him, with other Friends and Acquaintance of his; the night was ſpent in heavenly conference and prayer (excepting for about three houres that the dying priſoner took ſome reſt.) He, was pleaſed to make an Oration over his corps, when in the grave; and did then forbear to ſpeak any thing of or concerning him, as to the ſeveral conferences and diſcourſes formerly had with him in priſon (but declared that poſſibly hereafter they ſhould be printed) only that he died as to his and others apprehenſions a true penitent, and in a hopeful condition as to his after eſtate.
Fiat Juſtitia aut ruat mundus.
Obſervations and reflections upon the whole, intended to deter others from the ſin of Murder, or any ſin tending to the endangering both of body and ſoul.
1. ALl ſins offend the great, dreadful, juſt, yet good God: Sin ſeldome eſcapes puniſhment here.
2. Murder a Crying ſin: Witneſs this example.
3. No good ſign in a Servants oft removes: The rowling ſtone gathers no moſs, and it is apparent, he removed not for the better, but for the worſe.
4. That a mans lawful and juſt undertakings, may unawares become diſadvantagious unto him: Happening through the weakneſs or wilfulneſs of ſervants, the firſt being in this caſe.
125. It is dangerous to be too confident of a new acquaintance: The ſubject of this Narration is a Comment.
6. It is commendable in a Family, that at night the Maſter or Miſtreſs ſend all to bed before them, ſee all faſt, and then take up the Keys; and if weakneſs or ſickneſs hinder not, to be firſt up in the morning: This Order had prevented this late ſad accident.
7. Covetouſneſs is the root of all evil: The ſight of ſome ba•gs of money, and a deſire after them; cauſed him to Murder his Friend, to the hazzard of his own body and ſoul.
8. Youthful delights and pleaſures may be bought at too dear a rate: Witneſs their Drinking, Fiſhing, Feaſting, &c.
9. Confidence and guilt inconſiſtent: Witneſs his ſuddain Change of countenance upon denial.
10. Conviction and dejection uſual: And a ſign of more grace than obſtinacy.
11. Penitents (though in the greateſt ſins) to be dealt warily with, for fear of deſperation: Such was the Honourable Lord Major of London's care to ſend his Chaplain and others to confer and prepare the Priſoner for Death.
12. What Nathaniel Butler meant by the Image of God: If the inner man? what horrour ſhould have poſſeſſed him, in conſideration of his damnable act?
13. Complices uſually ſtrict in their appointments: Witneſs their Preciſe meetings.
14. Moneys ill got, uſually ſoon ſpent: As of one hundred and ten pounds, about ſeven pounds gone•n three dayes.
15. There is a lawful deſire and uſe of money, but the love of money breeds reſtleſneſs, and is too often got by Hook or by Crook: His reſt and quiet failed him upon the deſire of the money, before and after the fact, and in the enjoyment of his deſires; for it is ſaid he ſlept not in ſix nights after ſight of the money.
1316. From the time of the enjoyment of our moſt earneſt deſires, eſpecially if unlawful; the Devil uſually a diſturber of enjoyment: He had got his deſired Devil in two baggs, in bed with him, then in a Trunck; and yet he knew not what to do?
It is thought his coming to Milk-ſtreet that Friday night on which John Knight was buried, was to have reſtored the money again and confeſſed the matter to Mr. Worth, and referred himſelf to Juſtice, but he returned; not knowing what to do?
A few lines will be requiſite to detect the groſs misinformations (though care was taken to prevent them) which ſome Pamphleteers have ſpread in print to the deceiving of people.
ANd firſt it is not to be believed by any wiſe man that there ſhould be found a mouth ſo black as to ſay, his being of opinion, that this Age hath covered and countenanced more horrid Murder than ever were committed ſince the world began, and would make one believe that Murder was almoſt priviledged, & that the Sun hath ſeen and ſmiled on ſuch Murders, at which in modeſty of former times he would have ſtarted back, or withdrawn himſelf behind a Cloud rather than to have beheld them; What an aſperſion this is to the whole State in general, and worthy what puniſhment, I leave to judicious men to infer?
Secondly, from Aſperſion of the State in generall, he deſcends to particulars, and begins with as ſad an Object as ever was (and yet as innocent) the Murdered Servant of Maſter Worth, John Knight, who was about nineteen years of Age, deſcended of Worſhipfull Anceſtors (his Father having been a Juſtice of14 Peace in Berkſhire) born to a faire eſtate and beginning in his Trade of a Silk-man; and as hopefull therein, for in one years time or there abouts, he was grown ſo expert, that his Maſter did truſt him with the ſole mannagement of his Affairs in his abſcence; and he performed it to good liking, and might have continued ſo to have done, had not this ſad diſaſter faln out. Yet a Sheet Pamphleteer aſperſeth him with a preſumption of the lending of great ſums of money to Nathaniel Butler, to endulge his opinion of him; and that he ſhould defraud his Maſter of forty ſhillings to lend the ſaid Nathaniel Butler: Which aſperſions may poſibly be examined in time, and what the Law and a conſiderate Jury will award, will be the juſt puniſhment of ſuch Defamers: For the Youth had a little before received more conſiderately (then what he had lent,) from his Mother out of the Country; ſo that he needed not to defraud his Maſter, nor doth he charge him in the leaſt with ſuch an act; as having clearer teſtimonies of his better Service.
Thirdly, It's ſpread abroad and thought that they were Chriſtned in the ſame Font, and had been School-fellows, but its evident they were born at too far a diſtance each from other, that the firſt could not be; and its as certain that untill he became an Apprentice here in London, they knew not each other.
Fourthly, Another Pamphleteer endeavours for a ſin in the Son to Aſperſe and defame the Father; and to take a way his Name and Credite at once, this relates to Nathaniel Butler his Father.
Fifthly, One Relator, or rather Paper-ſtainer, ſince his Death, hath theſe words; Who ſo ſhall read this engeniouſly, or have any diſcourſe with him, will &c. And in another place, prayeth; The Lord ſtrengthen him, and ſtand by him, with other abſurdities, not a few.
Laſtly, Other paſſages as well lying as Non-ſenſicall are ſpread though their Pot Pamphlets, and Paper Murderers: for a mans good Name and Honour, is moſtly accounted as dear as his Life.