Transcript

of

The Apprentices' Warning-Piece

Devon Notes & Queries, vol. I, (January 1900 to January 1901), pp. 219-24.

by

T.N. Brushfield

Prepared by Michael Steer

Dr Brushfield’s Note focuses on a murder by poison in Exeter in the mid 1600’s involving an apothecary family named Bidgood through the application of white mercury, the silvery white poisonous metallic element, by an apprentice, Peter Moore; as well as the justice meted out to the perpetrator. The extract, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from  the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researcher.

Note 183. THE APPRENTICES' WARNING-PIECE. The accompanying reprint of a tract or chap-book, with a facsimile of its title page (unknown to bibliographers), and is of much interest as recording a murder which took place in Exeter just prior to the commencement of the Civil War, with the justice meted out to the one who committed it.

In what parish in the city Humphry Bidgood, Apothecary, lived is unknown, but he kept an open shop and supplied many drugs to John Hayne, a resident in the parish of St. Mary Arches, whose MS. Diary, penes me, contains many entries relating to such purchases. He must have been well known, as his name appears in the list of bailiffs for the year 1628.

The following extract from the Diary evidently refers to him:

"1638-9. March 13. More paid x^s paid D^r Vilvaine for his advice in writing w^th a Byll to direct an Apothecary. 10.-"

Dr. Robert Vilvaine was the principal medical practitioner in the city, at that date, and was the author of the well-known lines in Izacke's Memorials of Exeter, under the year 1640, descriptive of "twelve Doctors of several Professions born within this City." The last entry in the Diary in which Hayne refers to him runs thus:

"1640. Dec. 16. More vij^s I paid m^r Bidgood in his owne shopp, viz, for pilles twice, for a Cordiall for my Wife in March last, for fumus pectoralis, and some other very small things, amounting in all to x^s odde mony, but I paid him this in full of all demands to this day, and saw him crosse his booke being a long thin paper booke. I say paid him. ... 7.-." (There is an evident discrepancy in the account.)

This shows the murder to have been committed most probably early in 1641, by his apprentice, Peter Moore, who "put powdred white mercury" (probably corrosive sublimate) into his Master's "messe of pottage," and so poisoned him. Moore was taken, "upon a sledge," to "the common place of execution" at Heavitree.

There can be little doubt that any remarks that may have been made by him immediately prior to the completion of the sentence, have been considerably expanded in his so-named confession ; and the attempt to throw the onus of the act upon others is a feature by no means uncommon in such cases.

Other members of the Bidgood family were residents of the city. Another Humphry Bidgood, most probably a son of the Apothecary, was an actor in Monmouth's Rebellion, and although one of those who received sentence from Lord Jeffries, he escaped with his life. Nevertheless the Treasury Letter Book,, 1684-6. III. 189, records the following as one of seven names under the heading of "Prisoners fined at Exeter for Words and other Misdemeanors" :-

"For speaking seditious Words severally fined and Whipt. Hum. Bidgood repreived."

A later note states he had been recommended "to his Ma^ty for his gratious pardon."

Another son was Dr. John Bidgood, a man of considerable eminence in his profession. He is thus referred to in a MS. book belonging to the Sainthill family (for which the writer is indebted to Mrs. Dymond)

He died on Jan. i3th, 1690, and was interred in Exeter Cathedral. By his will he bequeathed £600 to St. John's Hospital. A long memoir of him will be found in the Roll of the Royal College of Physicians (1878), 1.348-350.

Prince (Worthies, 1810, p. 74) asserts the poison to have been intended for Mrs. Bidgood, but this tract disproves this.

THE APPRENTICE'S WARNING-PIECE.

To heare good counsell is not sufficient, but to make use of it is the thing which is required of al men. Here is example prescribed for al young men, that they may learne to rule themselves according to Gods holy Statutes; let them marke well the relation of this penitential confession, and by him which made it bee sure to take warning. But first of his parents, which are a very sufficient couple ; their chiefe delight was in him their sonne Peter Moore. Whilst he was young they sent him to Schoole, where he proved an indifferent good proficient. At length he grew to such ripenesse of yeares, that they bound him as an Apprentice to Master Humphrey Bidgood, an Apothecary in Exeter ; with whom for a certaine space he lived very well, and was willing to obey their commands in everything.

But the devill (which doth envy the happinesse of all mankinde) was vext to see him tread the paths to goodnesse, wherefore he by his alluring bait, called pride, provoked him to forsake piety, and imbrace iniquity ; as you shall now perceive by his confession writ with his owne hand.

The confession of Peter Moore at the place of Execution.

Being brought to the common-place of execution upon a sledge, bowing his body to the people round about him so wel as he could, he spake after this manner.

All you good Christian people which are come hither to see me dye, let me desire you to give attention to what I shall now declare, who have now scarce one quarter of an houre to live : my parents are scarce unknowne to any here present: but as for my unhappy master, (the more wretch I for making him so) he was better knowne to you. I was an Apprentice to Master Humphry Bidgood, Apothecary, too good a master for so ungracious a servant ; notwithstanding, for a time my service was not disliked of, neither had it still, had I not wanted grace. Being in the prime of my youth, the devill by his allurements and wicked inticing, made me partaker of each damned vice, so that my heart being puffed up with ambition, I began to scoffe at Gods holy Minister, prophaning Sabbaths, and taking Gods holy name in vaine. But yet still was I provoked further to evil courses, so much alas, that you could scarce name a sinne wherein I had not beene an actor.

Pride waxed daily more and more strong in me, in so much that I beganne to kicke at service, my time seeming too long and tedious to me, wherefore in all haste I did run to my parents, that they out of hand might buy out my time, which they rebuking me denyed, saying, I made more haste then good speed, in so much as I had not skill enough as yet to manage a shop of any consequence.

Then went I againe to my master, seeming to be contented to serve out my Apprenticeship, and so had done, had not my mistresse beene too cruell toward me ; never permitting me to remaine quiet ; for daily she was cause of such strife, that I grew desperate, and as one weary of life which makes me now to pray that never any young man may have so bad a mistris as she was to me.

Dayly was my heart more and more filled with discontent, still meditating of nothing but mischiefe, which at length thus did worke my fatall overthrow, for being still greedy to bee freed from my Apprentiship, I acted a deed which now doth make each Artery to quake, and totall body to tremble : for I seeing a messe of pottage about dinner time provided for my Master, I most unnaturall servant put powdred white Mercury into it, so privately that no man could perceive me, which so soone as he good man had tasted, presently began to swel, and a while after died.

Thus ludas like traterously did I betray my master unto death, but yet was not found out, but yet the Lord whose judgments are alwaies just and true, caused many towards me to have a great mistrust, and layd the fault to my charge, which I most impudently denyed, which so soone as my father and mother did heare, upon their knees weeping with brinish teares came and desired mee to confesse the truth, which I denied, notwithstanding my conscience told mee that I lyed ; in the same minde I went to my fathes [sic] house and received the Sacrament, still denying the hainous murder committed upon my Master, but God at last revealed it, and I was sent to prison, to answer for the Death of my Master, where I thought my selfe to be secure from being found out, because I did the act unseene. All the while I lay in prison, I had the keies thereof in my own custody, with which I might have both freed my selfe and others ; the divell daily tempted me to runne away, but God hee would not have it so, for to goe thence I had not the least of power, until such time as the Assizes did begin, that I should answer the death of my

Master, where I was most justly judged to die, my conscience still telling mee no man did the deed but I. One there is in this City whom I pray that the Lord may forgive, God he knowes that I speake nothing concerning him at this present for any malice I beare to him, but to clear my owne conscience.

His name is White a Papist, who did often times seduce me to abuse Gods Ministers, and to spend my time in that Diabolicall study of reading Magicke, in which I tooke too much delight, which now doth very much oppresse my soule : All young men which are here present, and did behold me drawne hither upon a sledge, take warning by me, and let your study be, first, to please your heavenly Master, and then your Masters upon earth.

Contemne the divell, despise the world, and abhore lust ; Hence, hence, with pride which is the devils darling, away with lust which is the divells chiefe attendant, away with magicke spells which lead unto the divell.

When I am dead let the cause of my dying bee engraved upon a stone that all may know wherefore I did die, and thereby take example. Pray, pray for my soule good Christian people, that notwithstanding my horrid offence, the gate of heaven may not be barred against me : Againe, againe, and againe I earnestly intreat your prayers

Now farewell dear father, a thousand times farewell O mother also farewel to all my dear friends and kinsfolks.

Wipe, wipe, your eyes, and each one cease his mourning, for I am now exchanging a lump of mortall clay, for immortall blisse ; which that I may receive, grant, grant most mercifull father. O receive me, receive me into thy bosome, for behold I come, I come, I come ; so soone as which words were spoken he was turned off the ladder and so died.

Finis.