Joan White Cromwell Trelake and the uncertain death.

In the year of our Lord, 

September, 1573

My dearest brother Oliver, 

It is my hope that this letter finds you well. I hear through rumours that there are times you eat foods which cause you grief. Know, my dear brother Oliver, that I could not bare another burden of ill health relating to any of our family. I am writing to ask you to advise me during our Mother’s tumultuous time. My darling husband believes it would be better that you relieve me of further duties and so I am trusting your further instructions until you arrive. 

Mother is quite ill and I fear it has gotten worse. The doctors, they have done their duties and regardless of all their opinions they know not one reason of her declining health. Mother has refused to accept their diagnosis and their remedies. A few months ago Mother went to Mr. Throgmorton’s estate to seek a special servant. She was looking for another Deidre. Do you remember that very dedicated servant to grandmother? Deidre was a witch and she served grandmother with devotion.

Our neighbour, Mr. Thorgmorton, assured Mother that he knew of such a woman, in fact not only a woman, but a whole family who would make excellent servants. Mother was only looking for one servant but may have had to suffice with the woman and her whole family. Another fact that Mother had to contend with was that the family would not move from their current location. Mother was distraught. But, she sought no support from us, her children, as she thought we would persuade her against her wishes to employ Alice Samwell and she would lose her independence and control over her own servants. Mother needed a wise woman, a conjurer with herbal skills and Mr. Thorgmorton assured her that Alice Samwell was such a woman.  

Upon reflection, I am wondering why Mr. Thorgmorton was so willing to let the very same family out of his employ and into Mother’s? Finding healthy working servants are far and few between with the, hopefully, last of the Black Death. I realize that the poll tax on Mr. Thorgmorton’s estate has been exasperating on him. Mother still gave him credit and was willing to relieve his responsibility towards this family by employing them herself. 

I met Alice Samwell in April, a week after you and I met in London. Alice is quite an elderly woman. Mother insists on keeping Alice as she trusts her tinctures which she takes for her weaker days. Mother is becoming very dependant upon Alice, both medicinally and for company and there are days when I come to visit, Mother will not see me but stays secluded in her room. She does emerge, later, and acts as if all was planned, all is well, and that I not be alarmed.

If you please, my dear brother, would you please come and tend to Mother and take over the management of this household. I am done. I am of no use nor authority here. As the older brother, it rightfully falls into your realm of responsibility, but I will do as much as I can until you arrive.

Your most humble sister,

Francis.

In the year of our Lord, 

October 15, 1573

My dearest brother Oliver,

As always I am pleased to hear of your success at court and I understand your overwhelming workload. Also, I received your note asking for more information and that you would be delayed.

I am barely spending time with Mother. I wish our other brothers and sisters would come and spend time with Mother. I have written all of them, but they are occupied with their personal affairs. I am imploring you will come as not a single servant in this house will adhere to my requests as they say they are bound to Mother’s wishes. I fear she is not making wise choices. I am also kept more often behind locked doors as Mother will not let me in. Alice Samwell has the key to her room, she comes and goes and with stern grandmotherly looks she assures me that Mother is better than I believe. I see food go into her room and I see plates of food return to the kitchen untouched. I implore Mother to open the door when Alice is not present but I hear no word, not a footstep from Mother. Alice assures me she is giving Mother the tinctures of cure and how Mother is rising in spirits. John Samwell, Alice’s husband, has kept himself busy around the property, he cuts the wood, he has become the groundskeeper and oftentimes brings back herbs for Alice and sometimes for the cook. I cannot think of any herb that would be a problem that is on the property.

Our neighbour, Mr. Thorgmorton, has lost several of his servants to illness. Mr. Thorgmorton has suspected that there was a disagreement between a few of his servants and another family and his servants were poisoned. Mr. Thorgmorton came over last week and inquired if any of our servants had dropped. We thought it prudent to keep our servants within the property. As you know, the Samwell family have it in their agreement that they do not have to be confined to our household and so they continued to come and go as they please. I have tried to discuss this with Mother, but she is not answering me. When I have tea with Mother she is either in contemplation, prayer, or pain. So as you can see, asking her to confront the situation has no results. I am beginning to feel as though I am the one who is mistaken about life, it is I who has gone mad. Mr. Thorgmorton has advised me to be very careful of John Samwell and his family, yet there is nothing I can do without Mother’s permission. 

Of all my brothers and sisters, you my dear brother, have the greatest authority in this house, in fact, in the whole of England. For our Mother’s sake, I am asking you to visit.

Your devoted sister,

Francis

In the year of our Lord, 

October 30, 1573

My dearest brother Oliver,

I spend very little time away from Mother now. She is crippled in pain and the medicines that Alice gives her seem to do little good, except to make her thinking slower. The doctors refuse to come since she will not see them willingly nor will she take their medicines. Mother still believes in Alice and her tinctures. The doctors will not share information with Alice, nor will Alice share information with them. Alice dismisses all practical medicine and claims it is a reason for such wealthy doctors, not cured people. I do understand the learned men have much to offer but I am desperate to have their contributions yet they will not come forward if Alice is present and I cannot send Alice away since Mother is the only person Alice will listen to. Alice has to be present to be able to administer whatever the doctors prescribe, so you see dear brother, I am caught between heaven and hell. 

I went to see Mr. Thorgmorton and he was beside himself in grief. Seven servants and five of his daughters have died this past season and with hesitation, he told me he believed it was because of the Samwell family. He confessed to me that they parted on poor terms and he now believes his daughters and his servants were poisoned. Mr Thorgmorton did not say what the matters were that were so severe that would cause such upset in his household, just that there was a serious breach. He urged me to be very careful as to what I say and do around them. He quoted old Alice Samwell, she said to him, “I did not intend harm to you, yet.” What an odd statement to make. I shall not send any further letters through them to the city as they may be intercepted. I do not trust that the seal on this letter will stay secure. I am sending this letter through our stable boy. 

Please come as soon as possible. 

Your sister

Francis.

In the year of our Lord, 

October 1573,

My dear brother,

Mother has died. I spent the last two weeks in tears outside her door begging her to allow me in. I had the stable boy kick in the bedroom door for me when Alice and her family were absent. I found Mother dead and I am not sure how long she had been dead, except that when the Sheriff and the Bailiff and their men came to remove the body, she was more like a statue than newly passed over. I am searching for Mother’s last will and testament. The cook tells me that Alice and her family expect to be bequeathed something important, but it could be gossip. We shall know for sure when the lawyers have unravelled this case, I am sure they have a copy of her will. I suspect murder and yet I have no proof.

I am calling the priest immediately. 

I implore your aid, and my husband is arriving on the morrow to assist me with other details that Mother has left outstanding.  

Your sister, 

Francis.

In the year of our Lord, 

Late October 1573

My dearest brother,

I am so thankful for your assistance with the situation of the Samwells. They are no longer employed here and there is no room for them to continue in Mother’s house yet the other servants are still here and waiting for you to step into the household role of master upon your return. With regards to the Samwells, in fact, they left in rather a hurry the day Mother died. I could not see any direct evidence of Mother’s death and their exit. In the meanwhile, my husband is willing to run both ours and your household until you return, as this is now your property. My husband has appointed a head butler which relieves us of having to deal with trifling matters.  

The Sheriff and the Bailiff have informed me that you requested an autopsy on Mother. I wept another night wondering if God would allow such a travesty upon the body but as it was explained to me, if we were to know for sure the cause of death, if it truly was God’s will, then we are only confirming that God is still in charge and there is no harm in that. The doctors were quite glad to receive the body and will inform me as soon as the results are known. I am also looking forward to seeing Mother’s will and to see for my own eyes that the Samwells are not mentioned within as the cook had commented.  

Your devoted sister,

Francis.

In the year of our Lord, 

November 1573,

My dearest brother,

I must write you immediately as I am not thoroughly aware, was it you who had the Samwell family arrested? The cook and the stable boy have informed me that the three Samwells have been taken under arrest for the murder of our Mother and the five Thorgmorton girls and their seven servants. Mr Thorgmorton was talking in the public house about how his daughter moaned and withering in pain before they died, and his servants did too, only days after the Samwelll family left. The stable boy has told me that the community is now afraid of what will happen to them if the family are permitted to leave the jail if they are not hung for witchcraft. 

I trust this will be handled well in your care as your influence will be appreciated.

Your sister,

Francis  

In the year of our Lord, 

December 1573,

My dearest brother,

My husband would not allow me to attend the trial of the Samwell witches. I was told that many went and spoke freely of their abilities to interrupt God’s plan and furthermore work with the devil by way of allowing some to live, some to die, and some to linger in pain as they so desired. My husband tells me that they were very involved in rebellious acts, they refused to pay taxes, and furthermore, it was their intent to become well acquainted with the nobility to ingratiate themselves into their financial graces and last will and testaments. I find the ethics behind these people immoral and am grateful that people of standing, such as yourself, have matters in hand.

In Mother’s will there is no mention of the Samwells. I thought it wise to share this with you if you did not already know. 

Your dearest sister,

Francis.

In the year of our Lord, 

January 1574

My dearest brother,

As you know, my husband did not want me to be involved with the trial of the Samwell witches. My husband is aware that I gather information from the staff, but he would prefer that than my presence at the hanging. One of our neighbouring ladies came to visit me and deliver the news that we need not fear any further of the influence from the Samwells. I was also told that someone in the crowd, a good Christian, swung on the feet of the Samwells so their death would hasten and they would meet their maker that much faster. I heard the crowd cheer as they hung. I am of the sincere belief that the community is breathing much easier now that the fear of the Samwell witches has ended.  

My dearest brother, I thank you for your touch upon this case. I love you deeply and dearly.

Your sister,

Francis.

In the year of our Lord, 

February 1574

My dearest brother,

We were approached by the Sheriff regarding any outstanding debts the Samwells might have had with Mother’s estate. We informed him there was none to our knowledge.

Furthermore, dear brother, we were asked about previous employers and we advised the Sheriff of the Thorgmortons estate. Mr. Thorgmorton has reportedly said he wishes nothing from their estate even if anything is outstanding. He does not wish to be compensated for the death of his daughters nor his servants. 

Dearest brother, the Sheriff has informed me that there was unusual property in their home. They had items far above their station in life. That would explain why they would not live on the property with Mother as their comfort was far greater at their own home than Mother could ever provide. The Sheriff said he recognised some of the property, but before distributing it, he wanted to be assured of taking care of any debts before going any further with their estate, which, shockingly, seems to be of some amount. They had 40 pounds hidden in their home, and some of the items belonged to the Queen’s College in Cambridge. The stable boy said he had seen some of those very same items in the home of Mr Thorgmorton.  

There was 40 pounds forfeited to Sir Henry, as Lord of the Manor of Warboys the place where the Samwells lived; but Sir Henry was unwilling to profit himself of the supposed stolen goods. He gave them to the church, with cooperation unconditionally, that they procured from Queen’s College in Cambridge, a doctor, or bachelor of divinity, to preach every day of the annunciation of the blessed virgin, a sermon against the sin of witchcraft. 

Please eat and drink wisely dear brother.

Your loving sister,

Francis.

In the year of our Lord, 

Late February 1574,

My dearest brother,

I have to share this news with you, in confidence, and with a heavy conscience. The stable boy admitted he lost a letter that was to be delivered to me months ago, it had both your name and mine on the outside - To Sir Oliver Cromwell and Francis Cromwell. Someone forgot my married name. I fear it has spent the last six months in the bottom of a horse stall by its appearance.

The delinquent letter was from the doctors who had completed the autopsy. We can rest easy that there was no poison in Mother’s body. She died of a disease that began years before. The doctors wrote, “... her uterus full of petrified blood, and that this caused her death. In addition, her liver was in very bad shape, together with her lungs, which had begun to attack her kidneys. So that if she had not died of this illness, she would have fallen into consumption.” My dear brother, I pray that our good court system stayed true and if the Samwell’s were hung due to murder by witchcraft, that there was truth in that for the Thorgmortons as there was no proof of murder with our Mother. I must have faith in the courts, in our king, in our God, and within yourself. Therefore if you did not receive a copy of the autopsy before myself, at least you have the most important information. The herbs found within the body were only those that could alleviate pain and lift the person, by way of opiate, into a state of relaxation.

I wonder if the outcome of the trial would have been different if the letter from the doctors had been handed to the courts before they hung? I cannot bear to think I may be living with the hanging on my conscience as I put forward an affidavit. 

My dearest one, I shall be attending church at every mass offered. The house and all its contents, servants, and crofters are in your care. I return my attention, once again, to my husband and our family. May God forgive me.

May your time in court be successful. 

Your beloved sister,

Francis.