The tract itself informs us that in the course of a conversation with some gentlemen, Mrs. Haughton observed with great warmth that “the Puritans and Independents deserved all to be hanged,” and concluded her uncharitable remarks by uttering a fervent wish that neither she nor any one belonging to her might ever become Roundheads; upon which “answer was made to her, that her children, if she had any, might (if God so pleased) have their eyes opened, and see that good which she was ignorant of. Mrs. Haughton retorted in these words: I pray God that rather than I shall be a Roundhead, or bear a Roundhead, I may bring forth a child without a head.” In course of time, as we learn from the pamphlet, she was delivered of a monster child, being attended in her confinement by “widow Greenacres, the midwife, formerly wife to Mr. Greenacres, some time vicar of this parish,” who, “being a godly woman, could not be eased in her mind until she had discharged her conscience in making it known to Mr. Fleetwood.” “For better satisfaction Mr. Fleetwood caused the grave to be opened, and the child to be taken out and laid to view, and found there a body without a head, as the midwife had said, only the child had a face on the breast of it, two eyes near unto the place where the paps usually are, and a nose upon the chest, and a mouth a little above the navel, and two ears, upon each shoulder one.”
The certificate of the vicar relating to this discovery, together with a manuscript account of the circumstances connected with it, were “brought up to London by Colonel Moore (of Liverpool) a member of the House of Commons, and shewed to divers of the House; who commanded the tract to be printed so that all the kingdom might see the hand of God therein; to the comfort of his people, and the terror of the wicked that deride and scorn them.”[157]
In the context are enumerated a few records of the “Thirty men,” in order that the reader may have a clearer conception of their duties, and gain some information, not devoid of interest, respecting the more common-place matters associated with the history and regulation of parochial and church affairs in the town:—
“1571.
“Nov. 2. Recᵈ for burial of a child of Mr. Veale (of Whinney Heys) in the church XIId.
“Paid for a scholar verifying the ch’wardens’ acct.ˢ
“The great bell taken down this year and a new one put up.”
“1577.
“The churchwardens were ordered by the vicar and 30-men to continue in office another year, by way of punishment, because they had not repaired the bells or levied the gauld of xˢ per township.”