A POISON MYSTERY OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
The Strange Case of Sir Euseby Andrew
A long-forgotten mystery which comes down to us tinged with the romance
of past centuries is that surrounding the death of Sir Euseby Andrew.
This worthy baronet, whose family seat was at Charwelton in
Northamptonshire, was descended from an ancient stock well known in that
county. His father, when sheriff of the county, had attended on Mary
Queen of Scots at her execution at Fotheringay Castle. The interesting
story of the strange circumstances which attended Sir Euseby’s death are
recorded by Dr. John Cotta, a physician, who practised in Northampton in
the early part of the seventeenth century, and who committed it to
writing at the time.
It is evident from the account given by Doctor Cotta that the baronet
had been ailing for some time and that rumours of foul play were abroad
when he was summoned to attend him. We give the narrative in the quaint
phraseology of the period as penned by the physician in his manuscript.
“I was sent for by Sir Euseby Andrew,” he states, “in his last
extremities whereof he died, twice. First, by his apothecary Nicholas
Rawlings upon the Sunday before his death. Secondly by his servant
Euseby Barbon upon the Tuesday before he died. I came then unto him
altogether ignorant of any project matter or mention of Poyson. After my
coming he tolde me as he was able in weake manner of fainting speach
that I was welcome and that he desired to speake with me before he died.
After these words I left him a while and went downe to seeke my servant.
When I returned, he asked me whether I had ever seene him sicke formerly
in that strange manner and torment wherein nowe he was. My answer was
that I had never seene him in that manner. He then tolde me that he had
been tormented in that manner ever since he had taken a broth or gellie.
“I demanded who gave him that gellie, whether his Physition. He answered
No, but said there was fault therein and further at that time did not
proceede his strength sences and speech so farr faylinge that no life
was expected a great space.
“Upon certain cordials administered, he, beyond all expectation both of
myself and all present obtained unexpected ease and remission of his
extremities a large time though not freed from them. Upon this hope by
him conceived of his recovery, the next day he abruptly uttered unto me
these words, videlicet, Doctor, how am I beholding unto you, I hope now
I shall live. If I live I will discover the strangest practise or wonder
that was ever heard of in Northamptonshire, but if I die God will
revenge it and I hope my brothers will call my wrong into question—
“Hereto I answered nothing that day or the next; he relapsed againe and
then uttered these words unto me, videlicet, Good Doctor lett me goe
with you into Northampton, I objected, his weakness for such a journey
and his unfittness; he said he might be carried in his Coatch with a bed
therein. And the journey being objected as too much for him he then
desired he might go into Daventry being neare hand, wherein I seemed no
forward to satisfie him, he burst out into these speeches, ‘I am not
safe, I am not secure in my owne house, I would I were a poore sheppard
that I might lie in the fieldes.’ After the passions uttered (the
distance of time I do not remember) the Ladie Andrew his wife came unto
him, and had some speeche with him (but what it was I do not now
remember) but his reply was ‘It is enough for you that I have desired
it, but since you brave me in my owne house and in this poore distresse
wherein I am, get you from me and come no more at me untill I sende for
you. You make her (quoth he) your bedfellow your companion, I wot she is
no companion for you; at another time Sir Euseby fallinge into a new
passion because Mistress Moyle was not removed out of his house the Lady
Andrew intreated me to tell him that Mistress Moyle was gone, which I
was loth to say because I knew the contrary, I notwithstanding to
quallifie his discontented moans and complaints did tell him, that I did
heare that she was gone, which my Ladye confirming likewise unto him, he
suddenly and briskly looked up and said ‘you lie you know she shall not
goe.’ About the same time or before, I do not well remember, it was
bruted by some in the house that Sir Euseby did talke idly which he
understanding by whom or what means (I know not) he did call me unto him
and wishing some that stoode near to stand apart, he uttered these
words, videlicet, ‘Doctor, they would make you believe that I do talke
idly but because you shall know that I do not talke idly I will give you
my reasons why I suspect Mistress Moyle.’ He then related that Jaquinto
had told him of a bason stained with gellie wherinto Mistress Moyle had
cast salte, that Jaquinto told him she was a bad woman and meant him no
good, and warned Mistress Francis his daughter to take heede that
Mistress Moyle came not neare her father’s brothes or gellies. He
further said, that she was too officious aboute him to rise at 3 or 2 a
clock to give him gellie or broth. He said further that after his taking
of a gellie he immediately did fall into vomiting and purging 20 times a
day, 3 dayes together, and into those torments of his stomache sides and
gutes which I did then see.
“He farther saide that Mistress Moyle had given forth that he would not
live past Tuesday, which daye (saide he) I had died in my owne feeling
and in all others expectation, that were present, if your coming into
Charleston that night had not by your Cordialls revived and kept me
alive. He saide farther, that Mistress Moyle did talke of burying him
the next day. He added farther, that Mistress Moyle when he was in a
sounding fitt did take the pillows and bolster from under his head which
afterward reviving he did misse and call for as he saide. These things
as his reasons of suspecting Mistress Moyle he did deliver unto me,
while I replied that I was sorry that his minde was troubled with such
things and wondered that a stranger who seemed unto me a sober and
modest gentlewoman should intende any such mischief, he thereto answered
‘Good Doctor, be not led by them. You are an honest man,’ said he, ‘they
are too subtle for you.’ Thus we brake of conference for that time. Some
hours before his death he called for his clothes and said he could arise
and die in his clothes and not in his bed. In the mean season some
gentlemen did offer him a writing or instrument to seal which he then
refused, saying, ‘I am now distracted and troubled bring it again anone.
I doubt the parson will controvert some part of it.’ After his clothes
were put on he did point and was ledd unto a chair near his bed, where
he did sit down and called for the formerly mentioned writing and viewed
it, sett his hand unto it, sealed and delivered it. He then called for
his will which he untied and brake the seal and taking a pen begann to
rase something therein, but Mr. Thomas Andrews stayed his hand saying,
‘Good brother don’t alter your will, I hope she will prove a good mother
unto her children,’ by which Sir Euseby not seeming much moved, another
gentleman upon his knees thus spake unto him, ‘Good Sir, remember that
you have almost been married together these 20 years and you have had
many sweet children together and as you met in love so part in love.’
Hereunto Sir Euseby answered, ‘I am contented,’ and threw the pen from
him and delivered the will back again.
“Then he required to be laid upon his bed in his clothes and called for
the preachers to pray with him, which they did until his strength and
speech and senses failed him, and he drew his wind very short and from
that shortness of breath did fall and lie gaping and now and then did
take a gasp.
“After we nerby now supposed him dead he again revived and feeling for
his pocket did draw there out a seal and offered it, saying, ‘the boy,
the boy.’ He was demanded whether he meant his eldest son—he answered
‘Yea,’ and putting again his hand into his pocket he drew out a key, and
added it unto the seal. He then relapsed again a short time unto drawing
his wind short and gasping and then reviving again said, ‘My brothers,
my brothers,’ Who being called unto him said ‘Norton, Norton, I would
have an honest use made thereof and no more but an honest use.’ This
said, he then relapsed again so long a space that I supposed him passed
reviving any more and I went down into the Court. There after I had
stayed some space and was called up again unto him. When he did see me
he said, ‘O Doctor, I cannot die,’ ‘Do you know the cause.’ I answered,
‘No.’ He said, ‘I will tell you. The angels have been about me this hour
and will not suffer me to die until I have made known that Mistress
Moyle is the cause of my death.’ I did answer that I was sorry to hear
him so say for that it may now be deemed he died not in charity for that
he did not forget and forgive. He hereto replied, I do forgive her, but
God commanded the Angels and they would not suffer me to die until I had
thus spoken and now I shall die.’ Upon these words a Knight standing by
said unto one Mr. Harrison a preacher, ‘By God you Divines are
flatterers you should now tell him that these angels are Devils.’
Hereunto I answered I did not take those words fitting but if Mr.
Harrison, said I, you will tell Sir Euseby that those his wordes may be
deemed to proceed from a sick brain or unto such purpose you may do very
well.
“Then Mr. Harrison said, ‘Sir I beseech you remember yourself, you speak
such things as may breed much trouble and you know you are going out of
the world I pray you take heed what you say.’
“Sir Euseby looking upon him shaking his head and gently moving his hand
towards him said, ‘This is no time to lie now.’ And then did relapse
again and never did look up nor speake any more until he died.”
That Mistress Moyle was charged with poisoning Sir Euseby Andrew may be
surmised from the concluding portion of Doctor Cotta’s manuscript, in
which he relates his “evidence given in open Court at the Assizes at
Northampton three several times upon commande.”
He states: “My first reason that bredd suspition was for that Sir Euseby
Andrew did not seeme to me to die of that disease whereof he had so long
before languished, but of another kinde.
“That he died of another kind is manifest. First, for that the last
disease whereof he died was an acute sharpe and swift disease. The first
disease whereof he had so long before languished, was a chronicke
ling’ring disease into which two kinds Phisitions do divide all
diseases.
“That the last disease was an acute disease is manifest, for that as is
the manner of an acute disease it was in his motion swift and in his
accidents and qualitie sharpe. This was planely seene, for that
immediately after the approach of this latter disease Sir Euseby Andrew
was driven to keepe his chambre, was unable to stand upon his leggs, to
sett up in his bed whereby a general extreame anxietie and distresse of
all his body by continual vehement faintings and soundings, by extreme
torment of his stomache sides and gutes, he was in a few days compelled
to yield up the ghost.
“That the latter disease was of another kind different from the first,
is yet farther manifest, namely, for that it had accidents which were
not in the first, that is a blackness of the tongue, soreness and
rawness of the throate and a frank excoriation in the stomake found
after his decease.
“If he died of a new disease that was a new cause and that remaineth to
be inquired into, whether poyson yea or noe, which in my opinion may too
justly be doubted for three reasons following.
“1. The first reason is, for that in the stomake of Sir Euseby Andrew
after his decease was found an usual effect of a corroding fretting
poyson namely an excoriation in the stomake before mentioned without any
probable or manifest cause thereof within the body. That there was no
manifest or probable cause thereof within the body doth seeme to me. As
there was nether staine nor substance of any inbred humour, so of some
outward corroding matter there were manye presumptions in court deposed,
namely, a bason and porringers stained, the bason staininge gellie in
the takinge disliked, distasted after the takinge, within short time
cast up againe, and after it following extreme purginge, vomiting,
torments of stomake sides and gutts, continuing untill death wherof were
many witnesses of note and worth.
“2. The second reason is, for that the excoriation found in the stomake
had so suspitious a proportion with the suspected gellie which was
deposed in Court to staine the Bason and porringers and speedily after
the taking to cause Sir Euseby Andrew to grow sick, to purge, to vomit,
to be extremely tormented in stomake, sides and gutts. The first liquor
of the suspected gellie was all cast away and fresh liquor was added
unto the same ingredients both which were in Court deposed.
“That Sir Euseby Andrew his tonge was black and his throate sore and raw
was partly complained by himself while he lived and partly seen by
others, and as I conceive is not denied by any—
“In Sir Euseby Andrew as also seene staines or spotts upon his liver,
and in his mouth, but whether without probable cause thereof within the
body I referr unto the consideration of the number and weyht of the
signes of poyson from without.
“There were many signes of some corrodinge matter or poyson taken from
without in or about Sir Euseby Andrew. The signes deposed were these.
“First, a bason and Porringers stained with a gellie.
“Secondly, Sir Euseby Andrew his distate of that gellie as soone as it
was in his mouthe.
“Thirdly, his growing extreme sicke immediately after it was swallowed
downe.
“Fourthly, after his growing sicke a vehement purging and vomiting, a
fainting, and sounding and extreme torments of his stomake sides and
gutts, from which accidents in that intense and vehement degree he was
formerly free, as was deposed in Court by a Physition whom he had
formerly used and who did see him in his last extremes likewise and as I
myselfe do know.
“Thus all signes of poison taken from without concurring, and so many
circumstances consenting in one and the selfe same kinde and
affirmative. I suppose I have sufficiently made good my opinion.
“Therefor, Sir Euseby Andrew his disease accompanied with all those
signes concurring did arise from poyson taken from without and not bredd
within—And I take it the office of every honest physition to speake the
truth in the behalfe of his distrissed patient espetially by himselfe
when dying therto required. This I hope will satisfie all intelligent
ingenuous minds.
“JOHN COTTA.”
Whether Mistress Moyle was found guilty of the crime or not, the worthy
physician does not say. Certainly his evidence goes to prove that a
crime had been committed, but by whom, he gives us no indication, and
the strange death of Sir Euseby Andrew still remains among the mysteries
which have never been solved.