Chapter XVI: 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.