A cruell murther committed lately upon the body of Abraham
Gearsy, who livd in the Parish of Westmill, in the County of Harford; by one
Robert Reeve, and Richard Reeve, both of the same Parish: for which fact Robert was prest to
death, on Munday the 16. of March, and the Tuesday following Richard was hangd; and
after both them were hangd up in chaines, where now they doe remaine, to the affright-
ment of all beholders. 1635. To the tune of Fortune my Foe.
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I Pray give eare unto my tale of wee,
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Which Ile declare that all may plainly knowe.
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Neare Harford lately was a murder done,
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O twas cruell one, as ever was knowne.
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The good with evil herein was repaide,
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Him that did good the evil hath betraid,
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The world is lately growne to such a passe,
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That one may feare another in this case.
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This money is the cause of manies death,
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As twas the cause that one late lost his breath,
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The devill and the money workes together,
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As by my subject you may well consider.
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With teares of woe I am inforst to write,
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That which may cause a tender heart to sigh,
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And sighing say, this was a wofull case,
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That man should be so much voide of all grace.
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Two brethren were there that did doe the same,
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The first calld Robert Reeve, the others name
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Was Richard Reeve, these did a horrid deed,
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As in my following verses shall proceede.
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Behold these lines, you that have any care,
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And from bloodshedding alwayes doe forbeare;
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Though murder be committed secretlye,
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Yet for revenge to God it loud doth crye.
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And that sinne goes not long unpunished,
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Therefore let all men of this sinne take heede:
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Many are daily for such crimes accused,
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And yet alas too commonly tis used.
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One of these brothers was in debt I heare,
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Unto that man, which was his neighbour neere,
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But hee repaid him with a envious mind,
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As in the story you shall plainly find.
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Abraham Gearsie was his name, that was kild,
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By those two brothers, as the Devill wild:
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He on a day demanded mony due,
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I pray give eare and marke what doth insue.
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They wishd him to come home for to be paid,
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But for his life it seemes they wait had laid:
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For one day twas his chance for to come there,
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N[o]t dreading that his death had bin so neere.
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Now these two brothers kild him instantly,
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No neighbour was there that did heare him cry:
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And being dead floung him in a sawpit,
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And coverd him with such as they could get.
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Now having hid this murder in that kind,
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Great search was made, but none this man could find
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His friends lamented for him very sore,
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And made inquirie all the country ore.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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SIx weekes it was ere it was plainly knowne,
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And many were examind hereupon:
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But these two brothers much suspected were,
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And at the last the truth it did appeare.
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Some murmured and sayd that they did owe
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Him mony, and desired for to know
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Whether they had given him satisfaction,
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Who said, they had, and they did owe him none.
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About this mony all did come to light,
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Now being put for to approve this right
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They could in no wise justifie the same,
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When they to true examination came.
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Now they were asked for a quittans made,
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But they had none, then others present said,
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Where is your bond or witnes of the same?
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This must be provd, or you will suffer blame.
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They being taxed on this wise confest,
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How they in bloudy murder had transgrest:
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Then were they sent to Harford gaile with speed,
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Where they did answere, for this wicked deed.
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This lenton sises last their fact was trid,
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Where they were cast, condemnd and for it did,
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Robert was prest to death because that hee
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Would not bee tride by God and the country.
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Richard was hangd by his owne Fathers dore,
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Which did torment and grieve his friends full sore,
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Now hee ands brother both do hang in chains,
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This is a just reward for murders gaines.
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I would intreat all men for to beware,
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Eschue this crying sinne and still forbeare,
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Good Lord, me thinkes it is a cruell thing,
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Of all sins else this may each conscience sting.
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This being done, what is hee can forbeare,
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With troubled conscience to shed many a teare?
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Tis fearefull sure for to be thought upon,
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Although that it be nere so secret done.
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Our God is love, and he doth charg us all,
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To love each other, but we often fall
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From love and unity, to envious evill,
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Thus leave we God, and runne unto the Devill.
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This may be warning for all other men,
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That doe but heare of those vile bretheren:
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And more consider tis a fearefull sight
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To see them hangd, it would our hearts afright:
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Yet some there are that will not frighted be
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At all, the warnings that they dayly see:
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Too many doe esteeme such things as nought,
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Or else there would not be such murther wrought.
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Thus to conclude, pray lets to God for grace,
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And alwaies have his feare before our face:
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Fly bloody murther, and such horrid sinnes,
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Then God will keep you from such shamefull ends.
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