could be in some years tho' the writer of them had intended it which did not appear But they being only the present crude and private thoughts of a man for the exercise of his own understanding in his studies and never shewed to any or applied to any particular case could not fall under the Statute of 25 Ed. 3. which takes cognizance of no such matter and could not by construction be brought under it such matters being thereby reserved to the Parliament as is declared in the Proviso which he desired might be read but was refused Several important points of Law did hereupon emerge upon which your Petitioner knowing his own weakness did desire that Council might be heard or they might be referr'd to be found specially But all was over rul'd by the violence of the Lord Chief Justice and your Petitioner so frequently interrupted that the whole method of his Defence was broken and he not suffer'd to say the tenth part of what he could have alledged in his defence So the Jury was hurried into a Verdict they did not understand Now for as much as no man that is oppressed in England can have relief unless it be from your Majesty your Petitioner humbly prays that the Premises considered your Majesty would be pleased to admit him into your presence and if he doth not shew that 't is for your Majesties Interest and Honour to preserve him from the said oppression he will not complain tho' he be left to be destroy'd An Abstract of the Paper delivered to the Sheriffs on the Scaffold on Tower-Hill December 7. 1683. by Algernoon Sidney Esquire before his Execution FIRST having excused his not speaking as well because it was an Age that made Truth pass for Treason for the proof of which he instances his Trial and Condemnation and that the Ears of some present were too tender to hear it as because of the Rigour of the Season and his infirmities c. then after a short reflection upon the little said against him by other Witnesses and the little value that was to be put on the Lord Howard's testimony whom he charges with an infamous life and many palpable perjuries and to have been byassed only by the promise of pardon c. and makes even tho' he had been liable to no exceptions to have been but a single Witness He proceeds to answer the charge against him from the writings found in his Closet by the Kings Officers which were pretended but not Lawfully evidenced to be his and pretends to prove that had they been his they contained no condemnable matter but principles more safe both to Princes and People too than the pretended high-flown plea for Absolute Monarchy composed by Filmer against which they seemed to be levelled and which he says all intelligent men thought were founded on wicked Principles and such as were destructive both to Magistrates and People too Which he attempts to make out after this manner First says he if Filmer might publish to the World That Men were born under a necessary indispensable subjection to an Absolute King who could be restrained by no Oath c. whether he came to it by Creation Inheritance c. nay oâ— even by Usurpation why might he not publish his opinion to the contrary without the breach of any known Law which opinion he professes consisted in the following particulars 1. That God had left Nations at the liberty of Modelling their own Governments 2. That Magistrates were instituted for Nations and not Econtra 3. That the Right and Power of Magistrates was fixed by the standing Laws of each Country 4. That those Laws sworn to on both sides were the matter of a contract between the Magistrate and People and could not be broken without the danger of dissolving the whole Government 5. The Vsurpation could give no Right and that Kings had no greater Enemies than those who asserted that or were for stretching their Power beyond its Limits 6. That such Vsurpations commonly effecting the slaughter of the Reigning Person c. the worst of crimes was thereby most gloriously rewarded 7. That such Doctrines are more proper to stir up men to destroy Princes than all the passions that ever yet swayed the worst of them and that no Prince could be safe if his Murderers may hope such rewards and that few men would be so gentle as to spare the best Kings if by their destruction a wild Vsurper could become Gods Anointed whiâ—â— he says was the scope of that whole Treatise and asserts to be the Doctrine of the best Authors of all Nations Times and Religions and of the Scripture and so owned by the best and wisest Princes and particularly by Lewis 14 th of France in his Declaration against Spain Anno 1667. and by King James of England in his Speech to the Parliament 1603. and adds that if the writer had been mistaken he should have been fairly refuted but that no man was ever otherwise punished for such matters or any such things referred to a Jury c. That the Book was never finished c. nor ever seen by them whom he was charged to have endeavoured by it to draw into a Conspiracy That nothing in it was particularly or maliciously appplied to Time Place or Person but distorted to such a sense by Innuendo's as the Discourses of the expulsion of Tarquin c. and particularly of the Translation made of the Crown of France from one Race to another had been applied by the then Lawyer 's Innuendo's to the then King of England never considering adds he that if such Acts of State be not allowed good no Prince in the World has any title to his Crown and having by a short reflection shewn the ridiculousness of deriving absolute Monarchy from Patriarchal Power he appeals to all the World whether it would not be more advantagious to all Kings to own the derivation of their Power to the consent of willing Nations than to have no better title than force c. which may be over-powered But notwithstanding the Innocence and Loyalty of that Doctrine he says He was told he must die or the Plot must die and complains that in order to the destroying the best Protestants of England the Bench was fill'd with such as had been blemishes to the Bar and instances how against Laâ— they had advised with the King's Council about bringing him to Death suffer'd a Jury to be pack'd by the King's Sollicitors and the Vnder-Sheriff admitted Jury-men no Free-holders received Evidence not valid refus'd him a Copy of his Indictment or to suffer the Act of the 46 th of Ed. 3. to be read that allows it had over-ruled the most important Points of Law without hearing and assumed to themselves a Power to make Constructions of Treason tho' against Law Sense and Reason which the Stat. of the 25 th of Ed. 3. by which they pretended to Try Him was reserved only to the â—arliament and so praying God to forgive
Ink bid the Gentlemen write the Discharge as effectually as he would which he signed Adding that he was now sensible my Lord Chancellor had been a very ill Man and done very ill things If he was thus censur'd by his Master for his former Services he had a bad Opinion of him Without Prophecy any man might predict his Service and Interest was ceased and his Life would have been like the Scape Goat he must have born all their Crimes and been beheaded for his own for no less indignation than Death was couched in the Words Thus may be seen what would have been his end The Court by this time beginning to scatter and the Prince of Orange approaching the King thought fit to withdraw himself upon notice of which the Lord Chancellor betook him self to Wapping disguised like a Sea-man in order to his escape to Hamborough in a Collier but being discovered he was brought before Sir J. Chapman Lord Mayor of the City London in a strange disguise very different from the Habit in which he formerly appeared And by reason of the Lord Mayors Indisposition he not being able to Commit him he offered to go to the Tower to be out of the hands of Rabble who there in great numbers with clubs and staves threatned him with present destruction But having a Guard of the Train'd-bands to conduct him he got thither safe and soon after was charged in custody by a Warrant of Commitment from the Lords at White-hall where he continued under much affliction aâ—d indisposition having since moved for his Habeas Corpus to be bailed but was not able to attain it He had not been in the Tower many days but as 't is said whether true or no I cannot affirm he had a Barrel of Oysters sent him upon sight of which he said to the bearer Well then I see I have some Friends left still but upon opening the Barrel he he found them to be only Friends that were impatient till they gave him a prospect of his future destiny for verily the mighty Present was nothing but a good able Halter Now as I sâ—id before whether this passage be true or no. I cannot say but this I am sure if we consider his Lordships Life and Cruelties the Moral of it is veâ—y good The Humble Petition of the VVidows and Fatherless Children in the West of England WE to the number of a Thousand and more Widdows and Fatherless Children of the Counties of Dorset Somerset and Devon our dear Husbands and tender Fathers having been so Tyrannously Butcher'd and some Transported our Estates sold from us and our Inheritance cut off by the severe and harsh Sentence of George Lord Jeffreys now we understand in the Tower of London a Prisoner who has lately we hear endeavoured to excuse himself from those Tyrannical and Illegal Sentences by laying it on Information by some Gentlemen who are known to us to be good Christians true Protestants and English-men We your poor Petitioners many hundreds of us on our Knees have begg'd Mercy for our dear Husbands and tender Parents from his cruel hands but his thirst for Blood was so great and his Barbarism so cruel that instead of granting mercy for some which were made appear to be Innocent and Petitioned for by the flower of the Gentry of the said Counties he immediately executed and so barbarously that a very good Gentlewoman at Dorchester begging on her Knees the Life of a worthy Gentleman to Marry him and make him her Husband this vile Wretch having not common Civility with him and laying aside that Honour and Respect due to a Person of her worth told her come I know your meaning some part of your Petition I will grant which shall be that after he is Hanged and Quartered you shall have thaâ— Member you best like when living and so I will give Orders to the Sheriff These with many hundred more Tyrannical Acts are ready to be made appear in the said Counties by honest and credible Persons and therefore your Petitioners desire that the said George Jâ—ffreys late Lord Chancellor the vilest of men may be brought down to the Counties aforesaid where we the good Women in the West shall be glad to see him and give him another manner of Welcome than he had there three Years since And your Petitioners shall â—ver Pray c. Thus he continued for some months in the Tower his Chronical Indispositions the Stone c. encreasing very fast upon him The ingenious Dr. Lower was his Physician But Nature being now tired out by a tedious Combat with his Disease and the Guilt of his former bloody Life we hope it touched his Conscience He having besides by his intemperate Life notoriously known contracted an ill habit of Body he at last very happily for himself if not his Relations too dy'd in the Tower the Morning about Nine of the Clock An. Dom. 1689. Thus Reader you have seen the Rise and Fall of this Unfortunate Great Ill Man And so at present after we have endeavoured at his Character we take our Farewel Jeffreys's Character HE was of Stature rather above a middle sort than below it his Complexion inclining to Fair his Face well enough full of a certain briskness tho' mixt with an Air a little malicious and unpleasant He was a man of tolerable sense and had as of necessity he must by so long practice and going through such Publick Places got some Law tho' as little as 't was more than he had occasion to make use of since the Dispensing Power having as good as seated all Law in the Kings Breast he by that found out a more compendious method of attaining it than was formerly known He had a pretty large stock of Ill Nature and Wit in which lay his greatest Excellency tho' a very unenvy'd one But in fine His Brow and his Tongue were absolutely the two best Accomplishments he was master of By the help of which and that before mentioned by his brisk sudden and sharp Interrogatories he sometimes put falshood and perhaps oftner the truth it self out of countenance But that ill-favour'd Wit which he had lay all of the wrong side much like that of those unlucky Animals all whose Wit lyes in tricks and mischief He spoke many pleasant things but very few handsom ones disgracing all with intolerable Railing mean passions and perfect Billings-gate and would commonly even upon the Bench it self fall into Heats both as to words and actions not only unworthy of a Judge but even of any prudent man He seem'd without wronging him to have a great deal of baseness and cruelty in his Nature having a particular delight and relish in Cruelty and Blood and such things as give horrour and aversion to all the rest of mankind He was in this case worse than even Nero for whereas that monster had once so much good Nature or at least pretended it that when he was to sign a Warrant for the execution of
A New Martyrology OR THE Bloody Assizes NOW Exactly Methodized in one Volume Comprehending A Compleat History of the Lives Actions Trials Sufferings Dying Speeches Letters and Prayers of all those Eminent Protestants Who fell in the West of England and elsewhere From the Year 1678 to this present time With the Pictures of the most Eminent of them in Copper Plates To this Treatise is added the Life Death of George L. Geffreys The Fourth Edition Containing several Speeches Letters Elegies and New Discoveries sent out of the WEST never Printed before so that the whole Work is now Compleat With an Alphabetical Table annext to it Written by THOMAS PITTS Gent. LONDON Printed according to the Original Copies for John Danton at the Raven in the Poultrey 1693. To the Memory of those Worthy Protestants who Suffer'd in the West and elsewhere from the Year 1678 to 1689. SInce that free Agent who conducts the World His Wheels of Providence has backward whirl'd And by the Turn Men to their Senses brings To loath their Idol-Priests and Idol-Kings Finding a Popish Promise proves all one From an Ignatian Chair and from a Throne Since over-indulgent Heaven has been so kind To op'n our Eyes by Miracles we find All men admiring they 've so long been blind Surpriz'd they should so long their Friends oppose And with a credulous Trust caress their Foes Amidst the numerous Wonders of the time 'T is no small Wonder not to say a Crime We reverence no more their Memory Who for their Countrey 's Welfare dar'd to die Whose quarter'd Limbs imbru'd with Native Gore Still cry for Vengeance on the Western Shore Why should we with ignoble Triumph tread Vpon the silent Ashes of the dead And with insulting Feet their Dust profant Whose free-born Souls spâ—rn at a slavish Chain Souls not so sensless so supine as ours That early saw the drift of Romish Powers Early disdain'd those Yokes with generous Scorn Which our more servile Necks have tamely born That saw the hovering Storm approach from far Threatning a thousand mischiefs worse than War And boldly rush'd upon th' impetuous Waves Rather to die like Men than live like Slaves To save their Native Country bravely try'd Fail'd in th' attempt and then as bravely dy'd In vain would envious Clouds their Fame obscure Which to eternal Ages must endure â—n vain do virulent Tongues attempt to slain The Solid Glory noble Patriots gain If ill designs some to the Battle drew 'T is Iâ—pious to condemn all for a few If fawning Traytâ—rs in their Councils sate 'T is base 〈◊〉 â—ather lament their Fate Tho God or England's sins râ—fus'd to bless Their bâ—ave dâ—signs with the desâ—'d success 'T is an unequal bâ—utish Argument Always to judge the Cause by the â—vent Thus the unthinking giddy Multitude A suffering Jesus Criminâ—l conclude Well 't is enough Heav'n now crowns with applause And gives pâ—otection to that righteous Cause Nay did ordain that Spot to be the Scene Where the Cause dy'd sor't to revive again Great Nassau favour'd by the Powers above Their special câ—re anâ— their peculiar love An Atlas to our siâ—king State does prove Auspicious Stars on all his Councils smile That breath vast Blessings on our joyful Isle And now methinks their Manes who of late Fell worthy Martyrs of our bleeding State Râ—proach us with Ingratitude and say ' Is nothing due unto our murther'd Clay ' Vnto our murther'd Names is nothing due ' Who sacrific'd both Lives and Names for you ' Does no Tongue daign to move in the dâ—fence ' Of wounded Honour and wrong'd Innoâ—ence ' If th' All-wise God tho just don 't yet seâ— good ' With swift revenge t'appeasâ— our crying Blood 'Save us at least from Envy's darker Grave ' And let our Fame a Resuâ—rection have Great Souls too great for our Inferiour Praâ—se You for your selves the Noblest Trophies raise Your Dying Words your Monoments become More bright more lasting than a Maâ—ble Tomb To future Times your Fame shall freâ—hly bloom And speak aloud tâ—ll it strike Envy Dâ—m'â— THE INTRODUCTION NOthing can be plainer to any man that is but moderately vers'd in History than that upon any Turn of Affairs whoever has won or lost or whatever Party is uppermost the great Enemy of Mankind has some way or other advanced his own Interest and got some plausible Argument for Atheism or Profaneness And the reason of it is evident for those who are in the Highest Stations by a weakness incident to most we might perhaps say all of Mankind are apt immediately to conclude themselves the Beloved of Heaven and that Providence favours only them as it did the Jews to the neglect if not detriment of the rest of the World But no sooner is the Wheel turn'd and either by the inscrutable Providence of God or the Wickedness of Men or their own Male-administration of Affairs those who are uppermost thrown out of the Helm to make room for the next set of Governours when those who ascend take the same Notions with their Predecessors while such as are gotten under with all whom Interest or Guilt or Prejudice more closely united to the former Administration grow discontented and uneasie and if their Designs and Expectations are more and more frustrated morose and melancholy The more devout among 'em will be sure to call whoever Suffer in opposition to the established Government Heroes and Martyrs and be ever prophesying of some sudden turn and visible appearance of Heaven to confound their Enemies But the profane or hypocritical Party which we may without breach of Charity suppose very large on all sides very naturally run into the other extream They 'll fly out into frets and passions and because God does not think fit to govern the World according to their Minds impotently pronounce That there is no God at all That Religion 's a meer Cheat and Heaven and Hell but Priest-craft and Fable But notwithstanding the difference in opinion and all sides arrogating as much as possible to themselves there are yet hardly any Men to be found so senslesly sceptical as to deny the differences of Right and Wrong Good and Evil. That it hugely alters the Case to consider whether opposition has been made against a lawful or unlawful Power whether the means be legal or no or the Reasons sufficient to countervail all the mischiefs that may arise from such undertakings Whether such as do it have any right or concern to warrant their Actions whether for or against in defence or opposition to the Laws of Nature and Nations VVhether those that suffer meet with their misfortunes in the discharge of their Duty or opposing others in theirs Or if the Quarrel be Religion VVhether that Religion on which it is grounded be a false or a true one And 't is from the Examination of such particulars as these whence 't will appear whether they are Patriots or Rebels stubborn Enthusiasts or holy Martyrs Now as oft as the iniquity of
the Times encourages Vice and depresses Vertue Raises those who are consent to be Slaves themselves so they may but make others so and trample on others while they are kick'd themselves while it industriously opposes the very sparks of Ingenuity and Liberty and takes off as fast as possible either by Clandestine Plots or open Cruelty whoever dare be any braver or better or honester than their Neighboâ—rs while Providence all the while seems to nod and sit an unconcerned Spectator of the Ravage that 's made in the VVorld then there 's no little danger lest even those who are truly though weakly religious and virtuous should yet be hurried away in the stream of sour and melancholy Thoughts be tempted to think with the Royal Prophet that all things were carried caeco impetu that they have cleansed their Heart in vain and be almost ready with him to condemn the Generation of the righteous 'T is a question whether ever any Age in the VVorld gave more advantage and colour for these kind of Thoughts than this last wherein we have had the sad experience of Debauchery and Villany rampant and triumphant and to all appearance most prosperous and happy wherein 't was much more dangerous either to be distinguishingly vertuous or to forsake Villany than to continue in one and laugh at t'other when so many of the Flower of our Nobility and Gentry either lost their Lives or Estates or Liberties or Country whilst a Crew of Parasites triumphed and fluttered in their Ruins To see a Russel die meanly and ignobly in the Flower of his Age an Essex or a Godfrey sacrified to the insatiable ambition and revenge of their Enemies who yet not content with their Lives would like the Italian stab on after Death and tho' they could not reach their Souls endeavour to damn their Memories These and too many other such melancholy Instances would be ready to make a short-sighted Man exclaim with Hercules in the Tragoedian That Vertue is but an empty Name or at least could only serve to make its Owners more sensibly unhappy But altho' such Examples might a little work on a weaker Vertue that which is more confirmed and solid can more easily resist it 'T is not impatient nor uneasie but still beliâ—ves that Heaven is awake that the Iron Hands of Justice will at length overtake the Offenders and by their destruction vindicate the Honour and Innocence of those whom they have ruin'd It considers any Riddles in Providence as a curious piece of Opticks which if judged of either before 't is finished or by piâ—ce-meal here an Eye and there another distorted Feature appears not only unpleasing but really dreadful which yet if viewed when 't is compleat and taking all the Features together makes a Figure sufficiently regular and lovely VVho almost could have imagined without some such Reflections as these that those brave Men we have seen for some years past pick'd out and cut off one after another with as much Scandal and Obloquy as cou'd be thrown upon 'em by the ungenerous Malice of their Enemies when the very attempt to clear their Reputation has been made almost Capital and involved those who had courage enough to attempt it in little less mischief than what they themselves endured That over these Phoenixes should rise again and flourish in their Ashes That so many great Pens should already have done some of 'em Justice and the VVorld as much to all the rest And with how much more Joy if'twere possible would those Heroes have received their Crowns could they have foreseen their Deaths wou'd have tended so far to work up the Nation to such a just resentment as wou'd at last have so great an Influence as we â—â—d it had on our late glorious Deliverance But since we have yet no form'd History of all those who have suffer'd under the Cruelty and Injustice not to use so harsh a word as Tyranny of late years since such a design may be of no little use both to show what our former Discords have cost us and to vindicate the memories of the Sufferers as well from the malice of their Enemies as hasty kindnâ—ss of their Friends and besides to leave Posterity so many great Examples of those who preferr'd their Liberty and Religion before all else that was dear in the VVorld and because they could not live Free dy'd so For such Reasons as these this VVork is undertaken which if it deserves the acceptance of the Reader no doubt will find it there being few good Books written which have not been favourably received in the VVorld If any be so weak to object that the Subjects of this History are ill match'd some of 'em being of one Communion and some of another It might be enough to send 'em to Fox's Martyrology for an Answer tho' some few years since 't is granted this Objection wou'd have look'd more dreadful whâ—re they may find Hooper and Ridley differing in their Opinions but yet agreeing at the Stake and accordingly ranged by that great Man in the same noble Army The Kindness and Gratitude of the Courts of England and Rome made no distinction between 'em nay not so much as to eat either of them last but as occasion served took one or t'other Fas est ab hoste and since they made no difference in their Deaths altho' they endeavour'd it as much as possible in their Lives since there 's no doubt there 's none betwixt 'em now but they all agree in Heaven I see no Reason why any Party should envy the other that Glory which for suffering in the same Cause they 〈◊〉 deserve There has been formerly some Discourse about Town of a weak or malicious Design a-foot to publish an History of Persecutions and charge it on one particular Party of Protestants But as such a thing wou'd be most pernicious to the Common Cause so God knows if it should go round it would be endless This design is quite contrary as ' its hoped its effects will be 'T is to lay the Fault where it ought to be and make those Friends who have been too long impos'd upon almost to each others Ruine Others may be offended with the Title of Martyrs and Martyrdom which so often occurs in the following Papers both because some of those concerned were accused for Plots against the Government and others were in actual Arms. But 't is possible for a Person at the same time to be a Church and State Martyr Naboth's accusation was for speaking blasphemous VVords against God and the King The Apostles of our Saviour and the Christians afterwards were accused as those who turned the VVorld upside down and Enemies of the Empire These Answers 't is own'd may be accommodated to any Party being general things but in the Body of the Discourse we hope to fix 'em and to prove in particular of the Persons mention'd that they deserv'd that great Name both on account of the Cause and their dying
so unjustly many ways from â—he Perjury of their Accusers or the Inequality of their Judges or corruption of Juries and that really because they would not yield themselves but made a vigorous opposition against Popery and Slavery For the VVestern Martyrs we intend a distinct account of 'em at the beginning of those Transactions One thing more â—â—at may choak such as have a mind to quarrel is the 〈◊〉 faults and in some or at least one Instance vicious habits and ill Life of those whom we give that high Character But if little Failures if Heats and Weaknesses were any valuable Objection against the Worth or Honesty of a Person 't would be impossible to make any tolerable defence even for many of those great Men who were the happy Instruments of our Reformation Tho it may seen an excuse dull and common yet there 's none who does not find it necâ—ssary on his own account That allowances are to be made for the best of Men. Cranmer and the rest of our Reformers as the Learned Dr. Burnet observes in his Letter to Mr. Thevenot Tho' we piously believe 'em Saints and Martyrs yet never pretended to be infallible They were Men and so were these tho' they suffer'd for the same Causes and almost in the same manner For such as liv'd ill if there is more than one instance this certainly will be sufficient that they dy'd well and gave all the tokens of a hearty repentance for their not having liv'd up to so good a Profession Let us then do 'em Justice now they are dead who so nobly defended the Cause of our holy Religion while they were living and at last so freely and joyfully at their Death seal'd it with their dearest Blood If in any accounts met with here some Persons shou'd find some particular Words or Phrases not so usual with 'em let 'em not be so weak or unjust to condemn them as Cant or Nonsense What reason is there why every Man should not express himself in that way which likes him best and with which he has been more acquainted And what matters it if I 'm discours'd to in Yorkshire or London Dialect so I talk with an honest Man and our Sentiments agree tho' our words may a little differ Especially when as before was remark'd all of 'em suffer'd for the same Causâ— and with this considerable Circumstance that the first and some of the last Victims of Popish Cruelty were entirely agreeable in their Judgments as to the manners and merits of their Death Sir Edmondbury Godfrey who begins the Rubrick having notoriously declared some days before his Death That he believed in his Conscience he should be the first Martyr And some of those who went last to Glory as will appear below mentioning this as one of their greatest Comforts that they should in after Ages be enrolled among the rest of the Protestant Martyrs Advertisement To make the Book Pleasant as well as Profitable there are inserted some Poems and Elegies made by an ingenious Person who was particularly acquainted with many of those who are the Subjects of ' em An Emblem of our late Martyrs Sr. Ed Bury Godfrey I. DUKE of Monmouth The Earle of Argile Arth Earle of Essex Wm. Ld. Russell Collonell Sydney Alderman Cornish Mr. wm Hewling Mr. Wm. Ienkins The Lady Lisle M rs Gaunt Sr. Tho Armstrong These all dyed in Faith Heb 11.13 A NEW MARTYROLOGY OR THE Bloody Assizes c. Sir Edmond-Bury Godfrey HAD the Person who wrote that Scandalous Libel upon Sir E. B. G. which he calls The Mystery of his Death but always confin'd himself to as much Truth and Reason as we meet with in the very first Lines of his Preface to it he might have gone both through the World and out of it with more Reputation than now he is like to do There will saith he be a time when Truth shall be believed and the Witnesses of it justified But notwithstanding all his boasted Sagacity in winding Alterations at such a distance we may safely affirm that when he writ that Sentence he little thought 't would ever have been apply'd in this manner That Truth would come to life again after all the care he had taken to stifle it and the highest Judicatures in the Nation in one day remove all the black dirt which so many years he had been throwing on its Witnesses and in so Publick and authentick a manner justifie 'em again 'T was in the heat of those Mischiefs and Miseries which all thinking men cou'd long before easily foresee wou'd be the Consequences of such Notions as he broached and were too greedily swallow'd that he publish'd the book before mentioned at such at time when he knew 't was in one sense unanswerable wherein he pretends both to confound all the Evidence given in before the Parliament and Publick Courts of Justice for Sir Edmond's being murthered with Papists and over and above That he was a self-murtherer No better than a second running him through with his own Sword after his Death 'T is some plausible insinuations he has there heapt together which will make it necessary to be a little larger on him than those who came after especially since he led the way both to the Sufferings of the Protestants and Malice of their Enemies Sir Edmond-Bury Godfrey was born of a good Family his Relations are sufficiently known and as justly respected in the City of London But 't is not the intention of this Piece to write the Lives but the Deaths of those who are the Subjects of it at least no more of one than is requisite for describing the other The occasion of his Knighthood is reported to be the good Service he did in giving Directions for quenching a Fire which happend some years past at St. James's which Honour the then Duke of York obtain'd for him having been under a great Consternation at the apprehension of the danger This very probably might be the beginning of his so great Intimacy with the Papists which Sir Roger so often hints in his History and which afterwards cost him so dearly He was a Person of known Vertues For the Instances of his secret Charity the World is oblig'd to that Reverend and Learned Person who preach'd his Funeral Sermon For his Piety and Integrity even his worst Enemy here gives us several Instances thereof that particularly when after those Prophetick bodings of his approaching Martyrdom he took care to settle all things and adjust Accompts exactly and even in Parish Matters to right such as he thought had formerly been injur'd Lastly how vigilant and careful he was in the Execution of that Office the Law had intrusted him with his Death as well as his Life may testifie One thing cannot without great Injury to his Memory be omitted 'T is his extraordinary Conduct and Courage in the time of the Plague in this City whence he never stir'd all the while it rag'd so dreadfully but reliev'd the Poor and fed
Money but stood on the Bill of Exclusion 't was pretence enough to swear a design to seize the King at Oxford When this same Heins very pleasantly says 'T was a Judgment upon the King and the People and the Irish-men's swearing against 'em was justly fallen on 'em for outing the Irish of their Estates When others of 'em swear That since the Citizens deserted 'em they would not starve That they would have Colledge's Blood That tho they had gone against their Consciences 't was because they had been persuaded to 't and could get no Mony else and when they had said before tâ—ey believed Colledge had no more hand in any Conspiracy against his Majesty than the Child unborn When they would have hired others to swear more into the same Plot when the Bench was so just and kind Counsel for the Prisoner as to tell the Jury The Kings Witnesses were on their Oaths the Prisoners not and so one to be credited before the other in which case 't is impossible for any man living to make a defence against a perjur'd Villain Lastly When the Prisoner himself very weightily objected â—hat there was no proof of any Persons being concern'd with him in the design of seizing the King and 't was wisely answer'd That he might be so vain to design it alone A thousand times more Romantic Improbability than an Army 's lying conceal'd at Knightsbridge and of the same stamp with Draweansirs killing all on both sides Taking all these things together hardly ever was a man at this rate banter'd out of his Life before any Judicature in the World in any place or Age that History hath left us Nor ought the great Service he did to the Nation in general to be ever forgotten since notwithstanding all the disadvantages he was under the publick stream running so violently against him and his Witnesses and the surprize which such strange Treatment when he was on his Life might cast him into he yet made so strong a Defence by shewing what sort of Witnesses were brought against him hindring them ever after from being believ'd and thereby certainly saved many anothers Life tho he could not his own Nor can the undaunted Courage and firm Honesty of the man be hardly ever enough admired Since besides what he shewed in his defence after he was condemned as he himself said as good as without a Tryal he boldly ask'd When he was to be executed without any the least seeming concern And tho he had time considerable before his Execution to consider on 't refus'd to save his Life so meanly as to make other innocent men's the price of his own without which design they had hardly been so kind to have given him so long a Reprieve As for his Behaviour at his Execution ' Twaâ— such as convinc'd more than a few of his greatest Enemies and made 'em entertain a much better opinion of him than before From his last Speech we shall remark several Passages as another argument for his Innocency But before we proceed any further in 'em 't will be needful to fix one assertion which we may presume few modest unprejudiced Persons will deny and which we shall have occasion to make further use of 'T is That a Protestant who believes an Heaven and Hell and is not a Man of no Principles or debauch'd and atheistical would go out of the World into the Presence of that God who must Judge him with a Lie in his Mouth This none will deny but those who have a very great kindness for the Papists and yet of all men in the world such as these must not offer to do it since 't was the very argument they made use of for the Innocence of the Jesuits and other Traytors Tho' on that side we know there are unanswerable Arguments not to believe them their Religion recommending Peâ—jury and all sorts of Villanies to 'em as meritorious when Holy Church is concerned Their Church besides allowing 'em Dispensations before and Absolution after and Purgatory at the worst whence a few Masses would fetch them out again Things being thus what can any Man of Modesty say to Mr. Colledges Protestations over and over both in Prison and at his Death that he was perfectly innocent of what he dy'd for I did deny it then says he that is before the Council and do deny it upon my Death I never was in any manner of Plot in my days nor if I had had any such design as these have sworn against me I take God to witness as I am a dying Man and on the terms of my Salvation I know not one Man upon the face of the Earth which would have stood by me And lower I knew not of any part of what they swore against me till I heard it sworn at the Bar. Again All the Arms we had was for our Defence in case the Papists should have made any attempt by way of Massacre c. God is my witness this is all I know And in his solemn Prayer and some of his almost very last Words 'T is thee O God I trust in I disown all Dispensations and will not go out of the World with a Lie in my Mouth And just after to the People From the sincerity of my Heart I declare again That these are the very Sentiments of my Soul as God shall have mercy upon me Now upon the whole I 'd ask any sober man what he would answer to this and how he can forbear without the greatest Violation to all Principles of Good Nature and Ingenuity to pronounce this Person innocent Thus dy'd Mr. Colledge whose Blood as he himself desir'd it might sufficiently spoke the Justice oâ— his Cause who seem'd in his Speech to have some Prophetick Intimations that his Blood would not be the last as indeed it was not but rather a Praelude to that which follow'd the Edge of the Laws being now turn'd against all those who dar'd defend it He has one Daughter yet living whose Gratitude and Generosity to those who were kind to her under the Misfortunes of her Family is at present the wonder and entertainment of the Couâ—t of England and whose brave Soul speaks her the true Child of such a Father For his Character How great and undaunted his Courage was both his Tryal and Death testifie He was very vigorous and earnest almost to a Fault in his undertakings But certainly there are so few who err on that hand that we may without flattery account this his warm zeal for his Country if it did a little exceed a happy as well as a very pardonable error He was extraordinary ingenious in his own Trade and imployed amongst great Persons for his dexterity therein He had an entire love for the City of Lâ—ndoâ— and stood up for its honour and priviledges as highly as any man living He haâ— a Soul so very great and generous that many who knew him well have said considering his Education they wondred how
he came by it He was a man of very good sound sense considerably more than those of his Rank generally have which he had much improved in his latter time by conversation with Persons of Honour and Quality In fine he liv'd sufficiently belov'd by those who knew and did not fear him and dy'd lamented by his Friends and admired and esteemed by his very Enemies Some time after his Death his Picture was sold about Town which as I remember very much displeased the Observator Under it were these Lines engraven By Irish Oaths and wrested Laws I fell A Prey to Rome a Sacrifice to Hell My guilty Blood for speedy Vengeance cries Hear hear and help for Earth my Suit denies Part of a Poem written by Mr. Stephen Colledge a while before he was sent to Oxford where he suffered Death Aug. 31. 1681. WHat if I am into a Prison cast By Hellish Combinations am betray'd My Soul is free although my Body's fast Let them repent that have this evil laid And of Eternal Vengeance be afraid Though Racks and Gibbers can my Body kill My God is with me and I fear no ill What boots the clamours of the giddy Throng What Antidote 's against a poysonous Breath What Fence is there against a Lying Tongue Sharpen'd by Hell to wound a man to Death Snakes Vipers Adders do lurk underneath Say what you will or never speak at all Our very Prayers such Wretches Treason call But Walls and Bars cannot a Prison make The Free-born Soul enjoys its Liberty These clods of Earth it may incaptivate Whilst heavenly Minds are conversant on high Ranging the Fields of Blest Eternity So let this Bird sing sweetly in my Breast My Conscience clear a Rush for all the rest And sure of this the World 's so well aware That here 't is needless more for me to say I must conclude no time have I to spare My winged hours do flie too fast away Mâ— work Repentance must I not delay I 'll add my Prayers to God for England's good And if he please will Seal them with my Blood ARTHUR Earl of Essex THat Party and those Persons who were engag'd to manage the Designs before-mention'd were now entred on the most compendious way of introducing what they desir'd as well as avoiding what their own Consciences and all the World knew they deserv'd Having those in their own hands who had the Executive part of the Government in theirs and finding no doubt a sort of malicious pleasure as well as advantage in destroying People by those Laws which were made to preserve 'em a Villany to be compared with nothing but the Treason of that Monster of a Priest who gave the Emperour Poison in the Blessed Sacrament Having wrought up the Nation and all Parties therein to a high ferment making one side mad for Slavery as if they had all been at Constantinople as well as their Sheriff and learnt the Doctrine of the Bow-string some of 'em treated others cajoled others frightned and some few reason'd into the Belief of Absolute Authority in Kings and Obedience Active as well as what is call'd Passive to be paid to all their Commands Some honest several learned more witty men joyning in with all their power to advance the Transactions at that time on the wheel And on the other side exasperating that Party who were more tenacious of their Liberties as much as possible against the Constitution which they saw so horridly abused both in Church and State perswading 'em all the Clergy were for making 'em Slaves and themselves and the Court great to ride upon 'em whereas really it was only a Party tho' too large who made more noise tho' they had neither more sense nor number than those who differ'd from 'em and by this means rendring many of the trading part of the Nation especially so dissatisfied with 'em and eager against 'em that they began to think they had reason to fear as bad Effects thereof as they had experienced in the last Age and so sided more closely with that Party whence they expected Protection When things were in this posture and a great many Persons either taken off from their natural Love to a lawful Liberty which is so much of the very nature of an English-man the Managers of the great Intrigue which was to accomplish our ruine resolv'd after they had begun with Colledge to rise higher and flie at nobler Game and take off all those whom they cou'd not win over or against whom Interest or Revenge had more keenly engag'd 'em and who were most likely to make the most vigorous opposition against their Attempts But finding the London Juries unmoveably honest and no way to accomplish their Designs on these Persons while their Witnesses wou'd not be believ'd and no way to get Juries fit for their turn but by having Sheriffs of the same stamp and finding the Party they had gotten after all their tricks which many of those who then knew are now ashamed of visibly and fairly out-numbred by those who were not yet ripe for Slavery they bethought themselves of one way to rid themselves of that Inconveniency which was by a Quo Warranto against the City of London that they might more effectually and with less noise have what Sheriffs they pleas'd or in effect hang whomever they thought their Enemies and not be forc'd almost to blush at those visible and sensible Illegalities with which they had forc'd those Officers upon the City This they had accomplish'd in the Year 1683. when Judgment was given against the Charter of London whose Liberties had been confirm'd to 'em by William the Conquerâ—r and deliver'd down before from immemorial Ages and this by two Judges only in Westminster-Hall tho' the greatest Cause one may venture to say that ever was legally try'd therein Now by this time they had after so many former fruitless endeavours brought something of a Plot to bear and with this Advantage above all their former that there was really something in 't altho' as Bays says in another Case That Truth which was notoriously blended with Lies and Perjuries The occasion of it we may best meet with in Holloway's most ingenuous Acknowledgment By Arbitrary and â—llegal ways and force of Arms they had got Sheriffs to their mind Witnesses they had before but wanted Jurors to believe them Nâ—w they have got Sheriffs who will find Jurors to believe any Evidence against a Protestant and so hang up all the King's Friends by degrees None being suffered to come near the King but those who have been declared Enemies to the King and Kingdom who to save themselves do endeavour to keep all things from the King's knowledge and perswade him against Parliaments c. Thus much for the Occasion The Design seems to be the same with what was intended at first by many of those great and eminent Persons both Clergy and Laity in their late appearance in Arms tho' by the Providence of God for
Assassination it must have been by the Rumbalds if not by them as has been proved then not at all If no assassination in this Plot then nothing is left of malignity in it but a lawful and laudable opposition to the breach and ruine of our good Laws and Government and even that as will be proved not proved against most of those that by the iniquity of the times suffer'd for the same We have been forced to give this fair and impartial Scheme or Idea of that design which was at that time represented so formidable and dreadful before we could handsomly proceed to the Death of this Noble Lord or those others that followed him and that as well from the order of the History as for his Vindication And as has been remark'd 'T was necessary for that Party who manag'd our ruine that the forementioned business of the Assassination should be believed and nothing like a real one actually performed to gain Credit to a feigned one onely pretended For what could be a greater Argument that there was some black wickedness at the bottom some sin of an extraordinary stain like the Murder of Princes bearing too hard on his Conscience could possibly induce so great a Man to so unchristian an attempt on his own Person Hence they might and no doubt did argue Hence the very rabble may easily reason Certainly there was more in it than onely just consultations and necessary measures taken for the Publick Safety by the Peers of the Realm by the King and Kingdoms best Friends to deliver his Majesty from those Familiars that haunted him There was more than this and this Lord was conscious of it or else certainly he had never acted what he has Now this would effectually excite that aversion which must necessarily follow from all honest Men to a Party who could be guilty of such horrid designs This must of necessity as in effect it did sway much with those Juries who were to sit upon the Lives of any accused or concerned in the same business had there not been more weighty reasons to be produced below towards the finding 'em guilty Altho 't is certain by their own confession the best excuse they could make for Innocent Blood particularly in Russel's Case was that Confirmation they had to the Evidence sworn against ' em ' by Essex's Murder Besides There might be a barbarous kind of a pleasure in opening this Plot with a Scene so like that which began the Popish one and that in all probability by the same Actors whose hands were deep in the others There was a Gentleman kill'd which contributed very much towards the credit of that Plot tho in another way Here must be one to undergo the same Fate for the same reason And both of 'em too pretendedly to kill themselves Just one as much as another These Preliminaries being cleared 't will be now time to come to the Person of this Noble Lord his Family and former manner of Life Every one knows he was of the Illustrious Family of the Capels whose Father dy'd for a Family whence he deserved better Treatment for his sake and had received it had he not fallen into the Hands of Popish Gratitude and Mercy which his Enemies knowing too well and doubting the Sweetness of temper which all the world ever acknowledged in King Charles the Second would not give him over to their publick Revenge in all probability resolved to take a shorter course with him He had been some years before in the highest place under the King in Ireland and there behaved himself with that Wisdom and Candor inseparable from all the actions of his Life and lived above Blame though not above Envy Being recalled thence unexpectedly and dealt with not very handsomly which yet he bore with a Spirit like a brave man and a Christian. My Lord of Essex was a Person whom 't was no doubt the highest Interest of the Popish Faction to have gotten out of the way even tho' there had been no such extraordinary Reason as has been mentioned He had large Interest a plentiful Estate a great deal of Courage understood the World and the Principles and Practices of the Papists as well as any man having been of several Secret Committees in the Examination of the Plot on which very reason there was as much necessity for his dying as Sir E. B. Godfrey's He was besides all this they very well knew of Inflexible Honesty and so true a greatness of mind they could no more expect to gain him than Heaven it self to be on their side As for the immediate Subject of his Death the manner and cirâ—uâ—stances thereof It must first be granted and a very reasonable demand it is that for the present only supposing he was murder'd by the Papists they would we may be sure make it their business to render the manner of it as dark as the Hell in which 't was contriv'd Murders especially of that magnitude don't use to be committed in the face of all the world and at Noon-day When Power is engaged in any Villany when the same Power is still continu'd or encreas'd and can be easily exercis'd in taking out of the way the Traytors tho' it loves the Treason and when so many years have interven'd since the Fact 't is no wonder at all if things are more in the dark than they would have been had at that very instant Liberty been given to have enquired into it which was so loudly and passionately demanded But this we are yet certain of tho' no more be yet publickly known in this matter than what has formerly been Printed and tho' there may be several reasons both of State and Decency which may perhaps make it convenient that things should always be as they are yet there are already such violent probabilities both that he was murthered and murthered by Papists And of the other side such at least next to impossibilities in his acting it himself that as long as the World stands no modest man will be able either to get by 'em or over 'em nor the most impudent or cunning to out-face or give them an answer For the probability that he was murther'd by Popish Contrivement besides those already named Why they should do it here are these following Arguments That they did it Their Principles too openly known to be deny'd Their Practices in all Ages and this present Sir E.B.G. the very Prototype of Essex Arnold all the pretended Legal Murders all that has since happened But if 't is said some Papists are better and braver than others Let 's come nearer Would those that formerly burnt London those who have since broke all the Obligations of Gratitude and Good Nature nay Publick Faith and the most solemn Oaths which 't is possible for a man to take Who if the Testimonies of such as have confirmed it with their dying Breaths and last drop oâ— Blood may be credited who have encouraged hired paid men for
not the Assassination If my Lord Howard knew him Guilty of that for which he was committed tho' not the other How cou'd he then say 'T was unjustly done After all this ' twoud be almost superfluous to go any further or insert the Evidence given by Dr. Tillotson Burnet Cox and others not onely of his vertuous and honourable Behaviour but especially of his Judgment about any Stirs or Popular Insurrections That he was absolutely against 'em that 't was folly and madness till things came to be regulated in a Parliamentary way and that he thought 't would ruin the best Cause in the World to take any such ways to preserve it All this and more wou'd not do Dye he must the Duke order'd it the Witnesses swore it the Judges directed it the Jury found it and when the Sentence came to be pass'd the Judge ask'd as is usual What he had to say why it should not be pronounc'd He answer'd That whereas he had been charg'd in the Indictment which was then read to him with Conspiring the Death of the King which he had not taken notice of before he appeal'd to the Judge and Court whether he were Guilty within the Statute on which he was try'd the Witnesses having sworn an Intention of levying War but not of Killing the King of which there was no proof by any one Witness The Recorder told him That was an Exception proper and as he thought his Lordship did make it before the Verdict Whether the Evidence did amount to prove the Charge was to be observ'd by the Jury for if the Evidence câ—me short of the Indictment they cou'd not find it to be a true Charge but when once they had found it their Verdict did pass for Truth and the Court was bound by it as well as his Lordship and they were to go according to what the Jury had found not their Evidence Now I 'd fain know what 's the reason of the Prisoners being ask'd that Question What he has to say for himself Is 't only Formality or Banter He makes an Exception which the Judge himself confesses proper But who was Counsel for the Prisoner Is not the Bench or does it not pretend to be so and why was not this observ'd by them in their Direction to the Jury The Recorder seems to grant it fairly that the Evidence did not prove the Charge and says the Court was to go Not according to the Evidence Well Evidence or none the Truth is was not the Question for being found â—uilty Sentence past upon him whence he was removed to Newgate While he was there the Importunity of his Friends as he says handsomely in his Speech lest they shou'd think him sullen or stubborn prevail'd with him to sign Petitions and make an Address for his Life tho' 't was not without difficulty that he did any thing that was begging to save it But with how much Success it may easily be guess'd by any who knew the Duke's temper nor is it forgotten how barbarously his Lady and Children were repuls'd and the King 's good Nature not suffer'd to save one of the best men in his Kingdom Dr. Burnet and Dr. Tillotson were with him much of the time between his Sentence and Death where to the last he own'd that Doctrine which other good men who were then of another Judgment have since been forc'd into namely the lawfulness of Resistance against unlawful Violence from whomsoever it be After the fruitless Applications for his Pardon after a Farewel and last Adieu in this World to one of the best of Women who stood by him and assisted him in his Trial and left him not till now he at last on Saturday the 21 st of Octob. went into his own Coach about Nine a Clock with Dr. Tillotson and Dr. Burnet whence he was carried to Great Lincolns-Inn-Field to the Scaffold prepar'd for him where among all the numerous Spectators he was one of the most unconcern'd Persons there and very few rejoyc'd at so doleful a Spectacle but the Papists who indeed had sufficient reason my Lord Powis's People expressing as 't is said a great deal of Pleasure and Satiâ—faction There after he had again solemnly protested his Innocency and that he was far from any Design against the King's Person or of altering the Government Nay That he did upon the words of a dying man profess that he knew of no Plot against the Kings Life or Government And delivering one of the finest Speeches in the World to the Sheriff he prayed by himself and with Dr. Tillotson's assistance and embracing him and Dr. Burnet he submitted to the fatal strokes for the Executioner took no less than three before he could fever his Head which when 't was held up as usual there was to far from being any shout that a considerable Groan was heard round the Scaffold His Body was given to his Friends and convey'd to Cheneys in Buckinghamshire where 't was buried among his Ancestors There was a great Storm and many loud Claps of Thunder the day of his Martyrdom An Elegy was made on him immediately after his Death which seems by what we have of it to be writ with some Spirit and a great deal of Truth and Good-will only this Fragment on 't could be retriev'd which yet may not be unwelcome to the Reader 'T is done he 's crown'd and one bright Martyr more Black Rome is charg'd on thy too bulky score All like himself he mov'd so calm so free A general Whisper question'd Which is He Deckt like a Lover tho' pale Death 's his Bride He came and saw and overcame and dy'd Earth wept and all the vainly pitying Croud But Heaven his Death in Thunder groan'd aloud The rest are lost But he has better Justice done him by this honourable Parliament and if the World should possibly be so malicious and silly in after Ages as some are in this and ask What have they done since their Meeting Had we not a Nation sav'd Peace preserv'd and many other almost Miracles to answer 'em yet this one thing wou'd be sufficient That in this Sessions they had Reversed the Judgment against this vertuous pious and honourable Lord. For his Character if we 'll believe the best men and those who knew him best 't is one of the most advantagious the Age or indeed our Nation has yielded Those are great words which Mr. Leviston Gower speaks of him on his Trial but yet not a Syllable too big for his Merit tho' they are very expressive of it That he was one of the best Sons the best Fathers the best Husbands the best Masters the best Friends and the best Christians By others That he was a most vertuous prudent and pious Gentleman A man of that vertue that none who knew him could think him guilty of such a Conspiracy A man of great Honour and too prudent to be concern'd in so vile and desperate a design A Person of great Vertue and
ill their Character yet seem to be no way concerned in so bloody and barbarous a Conspiracy how home soever it might be charg'd upon ' em West and Rumsey were the main Pillars and almost only Witnesses on which the Credit of that Action depended who appear all through the great and almost sole Managers thereof and who accuse others for being concerned in it What and how much their Credit weighs we have already hinted but shall yet confront it with further Testimonies relating to this matter and that of dying men who could expect no pardons in this World nor 'tother for a Falshood Besides Rumbold's solemn Protestation see Walcot's Speech and Paper wherein he as deeply affirms as a man can do That West bought Arms for this Villanous Design which can't be express'd with Detestation enough without any direction of his nay without any Direction Knowledge or Privity of his West says in his Answer to this as well as in his Evidence That Walcot joyn'd in the direction about the nature and size of those Arms that he was very Intimate and Familiar with this Rumbold who was to be the principal Actor in the Assassination But Rumbold's Death before recited clears himself and Walcot and shews us what West is In another place he affirms That Walcot told him Ferguson had the chief management of the intended Assassination Rumbold's hard-name as has been said already Ferguson's ill Name and the absence of 'em both brought 'em in all probability into the business and Walcot's being past answering for himself or them made it very advisable to charge so much on him So in the same nature Ferguson was the Author of that Expression Walcot had from West Ferguson undertook for the Duke of Monmouth Ferguson proposed to see for an opportunity between Windsor and Hampton-Court The Men to commit the Assassination were all provided by Ferguson Rumbold c. And I remember another of 'em or he himself talks of fifty men engag'd for the very Action Now as meer Good Nature and the Love I have to my Countreymen will never suffer me to believe there could be so many Englishmen found and Protestants too who would consent to kill their King never any one having acknowledged such a design besides poor Hone who was so stupid he could not give one sensible Answer to what Cartwright ask'd him at his Death So plain Testimony and Dint of Fact and Reason forces me to conclude these Persons here charged were not guilty See what Rouse says of it He was told they did not intend to spill so much as one drop of blood But most particularly Holloway He could not perceive Ferguson knew any thing of the New-Market design but Rumsey and West were deep in 't Again Holloway ask'd West who was to act the Assassination To which he could give but a slender Answer and could or would name but Two Men Rumbold and his Brother Just such probable stuff as Colledges seizing the King by himself at Oxford So that he goes on we found they had but few Men if more than two and no Horses only a parcel of Arms he shew'd at a Gunsmith's And lower at another time West only named Rumsey and Rich. Goodenough as concerned in the Assassination West again proposed the Assassination but none seconded him Rumsey was for the old Strain of killing the King to which not one consented He could never find above five concerned in it He heard Walcot speak against it I knew Ferguson to be against any such Design Upon the whole the World is left to its Liberty to believe at least Three Dying Mens Asseverations against those who so plainly swore others Necks into the Halter to get their own out that West himself is not ashamed to own in his forementioned Answer That he was still in danger of Death though not so eminent as it had been not at the apparent point of Death And at the close of this Paper If it shall please the King to spare my Life for my Confession it is a great happiness c. Which part of his Evidence every body will easily believe From all which here lies a fair Supposition of the Innocency of this Captain and others of what they were Accus'd found Guilty Sentenc'd and Dy'd for it being on West's Evidence and such as his that he and others were Arraign'd and Condemn'd the Captains Defence being much the same with what he says in his Speech 'T is well known that the Witnesses against Captain Walcot swore for their own lives with Halters about their Necks and it 's as true that most of the Witnesses had talkt at a mad rate in the hearing of some of those whom they destroyed but see what Captain Walcot in a most solemn manner declared with his last breath An Abstract of Captain Walcots Speech Captain Walcot denied any design of killing the King or of engaging the Guards whilst others killed him And said that the Witnesses invited him to Meetings where some things were discoursed of in order to the asserting our Liberties and Properties which we lookt upon to be violated and invaded That They importuned and perpetually solicited him and then deliver'd him up to be hang'd That They combined together to swear him out of his Life to save their own and that they might do it effectually They contrived an Vntruth That he forgave them tho' guilty of his Blood But withal earnestly begg'd That they might be observed that Remarks might be set upon them whether their end be peace and he concluded with what made Sir Roger L'Estrange a great deal of Sport but yet Heaven has made it good That when God hath a Work to do he will not want Instruments With him was try'd Rouse who was charg'd with such a parcel of mad Romance as was scarce ever heard of and one wou'd wonder how Perjury and Malice which use to be sober sins cou'd even be so extravagant as to hit on 't He was to seize the Tower pay the Rabble uncase the Aldermen to be Pay-master and Flea-master General and a great deal more to the same Tune In his Defence he says no great Matter but yet what looks a thousand times more like Truth than his Accusation That the Tower Business was only discourse of the feasibleness of the thing as Russel's about the Guards but without the least in tent of bringing it to action That all he was concern'd in any real Design he had from Lee and was getting more out of him with an intention to make a Discovery But it seems Lee got the whip-hand of him they were both at a kind of Halter-Combat Rous's foot slipt and Lea turn'd him over and sav'd his own Neck His Dying Words MR. Rouse declared that he was told that They did not intend to spill one drop of Blood and affirmed that Lee the Witness against him did by his Evidence make him the Author of the very Words that came out of his the said Lee's own Mouth
Holloway says he had for not pleading But Sir Thomas the Atturney goes on deserv'd no favour because he was one of the Persons that actually engaged to go on the King 's hasty coming from Newmarket and destroy him by the way as he came to Town and that this appeared upon as full and clear Evidence and as positively testified as any thing could be and this in the Evidence given in of the late horrid Conspiracy Now Id fain know who gives this clear and full Evidence in the Discovery of the Conspiracy Howard's is meer Supposition and he 's all who so much as mentions a syllable on 't that ever cou'd be found on search of all the Papers and Trials relating to that Affair To this Sir Thomas answers in his Speech That had he come 'to his Trial he cou'd have prov'd my Lord Howard 's base Reflections on him to be a notorious falshood there being at least ten Gentlemen besides all the Servants in the House cou'd testifie where he Dined that very day Still Sir Thomas demanded the Benefit of the Law and no more To which Jeffreys answer'd with one of his usual barbarous Insults over the Miserable That he shou'd have it by the Grace of God ordering That Execution be done on Friday next according to Law And added That he shou'd have the full Benefit of the Law repeating the Jest lest it should be lost as good as three times in one Sentence Tho' had not his Lordship slipt out of the World so slily he had had as much benefit the same way and much more justly than this Gentleman Then the Chief Justice proceeds and tells him We are satisfied that according to Law we must Award Execution upon this Outlawry Thereupon Mrs. Matthews Sir Thomas's Daughter said My Lord I hope you will not Murder my Father For which being Brow-beaten and Checkt She added God Almighty's Judgments Light upon YOV The Friday after he was brought to the place of Execution Dr. Tennison being with him and on his desire after he had given what he had to leave in a Paper to the Sheriff Prayed a little while with him He then Prayed by himself and after having thanked the Doctor for his great Care and Pains with him submitted to the Sentence and died more composedly and full as resolutely as he had lived 'T is observable that more cruelty was exercised on him than any who went before him not onely in the manner of his Death but the exposing his Limbs and Body A fair warning what particular Gratitude a Protestant is to expect for having oblig'd a true Papist Another thing worth remembring in all other Cases as well as this tho occasion is here taken to do it is That whereas in Holloway's Case Jeffreys's observ'd That not one of all concern'd in this Conspiracy had dared to deny it and lower to deny the Truth of the fact absolutely T is so far from being true that every one who suffer'd did it as absolutely as possible They were Try'd or Sentenc'd for Conspiring against the King and Government that was their Plot but this they all deny and absolutely too and safely might do it for they consulted for it not conspired against it resolving not to touch the King's Person nay if possible not to shed one drop of Blood of any other as Holloway and others say For the King's Life Sir Thomas says as the Lord Russel Never had any Man the impudence to propose so base and barbarous a thing to him Russel and almost all besides say They had never any design against the Government Sir Thomas here says the same As he never had any Design against the King's Life nor the Life of any Man so he never had any Design to alter the Monarchy As he liv'd he says he dy'd a sincere Protestant and in the Communion of the Church of England tho' he heartily wish'd he had more strictly liv'd up to the Religion he believed And tho' he had but a short time he found himself prepared for Death and indeed as all his Life shew'd him a Man of Courage so his Death and all the rest of his Behaviour did a Penitent Man a Man of good Sense and a good Christian. At the place of Execution Sir Thomas Armstrong deported himself with Courage becoming a great Man and with the Seriousness and Piety suitable to a very good Christian. Sheriff Daniel told him that he had leave to say what he pleased and should not be interrupted unless he upbraided the Government Sir Thomas thereupon told him that he should not say any thing by way of Speech but delivered him a Paper which he said contained his mind he then called for Dr. Tennison who prayed with him and then he prayed himself In his Paper he thus expressed himself That he thanked Almighty God he found himself prepared for Death his thoughts set upon another World and â—eaned from this yet he could not but give so much of his little time as to answer some Calumnies and particularly what Mr. Attorney accused him of at the Bar. That he prayed to be allowed a Tryal for his Life according to the Laws of the Land and urged the Statute of Edward 6. which was expresly for it but it signified nothing and he was with an extraordinary Roughness condemned and made a precedent tho' Holloway had it offered him and he could not but think all the world would conclude his case very different else why refused to him That Mr. Attorney charged him for being one of those that was to kill the King He took God to witness that he never had a thought to take away the King 's Life and that no man ever had the Impudence to propose so barbarous and base a thing to him and that he never was in any design to alter the Government That if he had been tryed he could have proved the Lord Howard's base Reflections upon him to be notoriously false He concluded that he had lived and now dyed of the Reformed Religion a Protestant in the Communion of the Church of England and he heartily wished he had lived more strictly up to the Religion he believed That he had found the great comfort of the Love and Mercy of God in and through his blessed Redeemer in whom he only trusted and verily hoped that he was going to partake of that fulness of Joy which is in his presence the hopes whereof infinitely pleased him He thanked God he had no repining but chearfully submitted to the punishment of his Sins He freely forgave all the World even those concerned in taking away his Life tho' he could not but think his Sentence very hard he being denied the Laws of the Land On the Honourable Sir Thomas Armstrong Executed June 20. 1684. HAd'st thou abroad found safety in thy flight Th' Immortal honour had not fam'd so bright Thou hadst been still a worthy Patriot thought But now thy Glory 's to perfection brought In exile and in
find Acceptance with him There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we can be saved but the Name of Jesus Then speaking to the Officers he said Labour everyone of you to be fit to die for I â—ell you you are not fit to dye I was not fit to dye my sâ—lâ— 'till I came in hither but O blessed be God he hath made me fit to dye and hath made me willing to dye In a few moments I shall have the fruition of the blessed Jesus and that not for a day but for ever I am going to the Kingdom of God to the Kingdom of God where I shall enjoy the Presence of God the Father and of God the Son and of God the Holy Spiâ—it and of all the holy Angels I am going to the genâ—ral Assâ—mbly of the first-born and of the Spirit of Just men made perfect O that God should ever do so much for me O that God should concern himself so much for poor Creatures for their Salvation blessed be his name for this was the Design of God from all Eternity to give his only Son to dye for poor miserable Sinners Then the Offiâ—ers going to tye his hands he said What must I be tied then well a brown Thred might have served the turn you need not tye me at all I shall not stir from you for I thank God I am not afraid to dye As he was going out he said Farewel Newgate Farewel all my Fellow prisoners here the Lord comfort you the Lord be with you all Thus much for his Behaviour in the way to his Martyrdom The Place of it was mâ—â—t spitefully and ignominiously ordered almost before his own door and near Guildhall to scare any Good Citizen from appearing vigorously in the Discâ—arge of his Duty for his Countreys Service by his Example If any thing was wanting in his Trial from the haste of it for the clearing his Innocency he sufficiently made it up in solemn Asseverations thereof on the Scaffold God is my Witness says he the Crimes laid to my Charge were falsly and maliciously sworn against me by the Witnesses for I never was at any Consult nor any Meeting where Matters against the Government were discoursed of He adds I never heard or read any Declaration tending that way Again As to the Crimes for which I suffer Vpon the words of a dying man I 'm altogether Innocent Lower he adds He died as he had liv'd in the Communion of the Church of England in whose Ordinances he had been often a partaker and now felt the blessed effects thereof in these his Agonies He was observ'd by those who stood near the Sledge to have solemnly several times averr'd his absolute Innocence of any Design against the Government and particularly that which he died for There were some Persons who are sufficiently known who were present at and exprest a great deal of barbarous Joy at his Death the open publication of their Names is here spar'd in hopes they have or will repent of so unmanly and unchristian a Behaviour tho' some of them then were so confounded with his Constancy and Chearful Bravery as wickedly to report That he was Drunk or Mad when he died His Quarters were set up on Guildhall in Terrorem and for the same Reason no doubt before mentioned for which he was Executed so near it There was such a terrible Storm the day of his Death as has scarce been known in the memory of man and will never be forgot by those who were in it ten or a dozen Ships being founder'd or stranded in one Road and a vast many more in other places And as Heaven then did him Justice and vindicated his Innocence so Earth also has done it the Judgment against him being Reverst by that honourable ever memorable Parliament which under God and our King has setled the Happiness both of this Age and Posterity There wanted not a sort of men at this time who would have perswaded the World that Murder was a Royal Sport for at this time was Printed a Ballad call'd Advice to the â—ity sung to the King at Windsor wherein are these entertaining Lines Then London be wise and baffle their Power And let 'em play the old Game no more Hang hang up the Sheriffs Those Baboons in Power Those Popular Thieves Those Rats of the Tower The Instruments of shedding this Blood may do well to reflect upon the Fate of Clowdesly one of the Iury-men and upon some others since that were concern'd in that Bloody Tragedy His Character HE was a Person of as known Prudence as Integrity a good Christian a compleâ—t Citizen a worthy Magistrate and a zealous Church of England man He was so cautious and wise that he was noted for it all thro' those worst of times and often propos'd as an Example to others of hotter and more imprudent Tempers nor could the least imputation be fix'd on him of hearing or concealing any unlawful or dangerous Discourses any other ways than by plain force of Perjury being known to have shunn'd some Persons whom he as well as some other prudent men suspected to have no good Designs and to be indu'd with no more honesty than discretion as it afterwards prov'd But he was design'd to glorifie God by such an End as all his care could not avoid which he submitted to with bravery rarely to be met with unless among those who suffered for the same Cause in the same Age or their Predecessors Queen Marys Martyrs There was seen the same tenour of Prudence and Piety thro' all the Actions of his Life tho' most conspicuous in the last glorious Scene of it There was such a firmness in his Soul such vigour and almost extatick Joy and yet so well regulated that it shin'd thro' his Face almost with as visible Rays as those in which we use to dress Saints and Martyrs with which both at his Sentence and Execution he refresht all his Friends and at once dazled and confounded his most bitter Enemies Mr. Charles Bateman THE next and last was Mr. Bateman the Chyâ—uâ—geon a Man of good Sense good Courage and good Company and a very large and generous Temper of considerable Repute and Practice in his Calling A great Lover and Vindicator of the Liberties of the City and Kingdom and of more interest than most of his Station He was swore against by Rouse's Lee and Richard Goodenough upon the old Stories of seizing the Tower City and Savoy We had had a better Defence had he himself been able to have made it But being kepâ— close Prisoner in Newgate the Windows and Rooms all dark and little or no Company he being a free jolly Man and us'd formerly to Conversation and Diversion soon grew deeply melancholy and when he came on his Tryal appeared little less than perfectly distracted on which the Court very kindly gave his Son liberty to make his Defence The first Instance to be sure of that Nature since he himself might
reconcil'd the best of any one he had as much Address as perfect and great a Presence of Mind in whatever Exigences as can be met with He was the best Companion the best Friend in the World and as generous an Enemy He did nothing but what lookt very handsom and there was a Charm in the meanest and something most bewitchingly pleasant in the most indefensible of his Actions He could do almost every thing and 't is hard to say what he did with the greatest Grace In a word all that knew him must say That he wanted nothing but an Estate to have made him as compleat a Gentleman as most in England An ELEGY upon Mr. Thomas Dangerfield GO then mount on wing through the midway Air And Godfreys hovering shade shall meet thee there A thousand Martyrs thou a wound all o're Thy mighty mind leaps out at every Pore My rising heart boils high the ungrateful World shall see Something Immortal something worthy thee Larger within the Noble Image grows Free like thy blood the uncall'd Satyr flows But not one Tear to affront thy pious Grave Russel and generous Essex died less brave Love Pity Friendship all their Claims begin But Vengeance drowns 'em all and roars aloud within And thou Hell 's Ehud by black Rome decreed Hallow'd and blest to do the glorious deed If his dear Name can ought of Passion move If there are any Stings in Blood or Love Ev'n at Hell Gates I 'll reach and stab thee there Nâ—r can so just a Rage be too severe Tho' my wild Satyr means a nobler wound Others I strike thee but at the rebound Like him we 'll tell 'em to their Teeth 't is true Defie a stab and give the Devil his due And if you bright exalted Names above Know any thing but how to Sing and Love Look down dear sharer of my Soul and see A Vengeance worthy of thy Friend and thee A Friend's Revenge may thy black Murtherers feel Oh may my Pen dart Groves of poison'd Steel Till through their lustful Veins the Venom rolls And with a double Rot consumes their very Souls None none shall 'scape the just and deadly blow None that these Grand Intrigues of Murder know From Conclaves down to little Kings below Let Laureats belch a pocky Heroe's Fame When Candied o're with some cramp Hebrew name As thâ—ir good-fellow Catholick Jews before Nick-name a Calf Jehovah and adore No well-wrote Story no Romance can yield A greater nobler Name than Dangerfield Nothing he wants tho' Fate no Title brings That single Name 's above an Earl's a Duke's a King 's When Ease and Plenty their brisk Forces joyn Or the high Veins are swoln with lusty Wine When we on Honours lofty Turrets go And look with scorn ore little Crouds belâ—w Ev'n Fools and Cowards bold and witty grow When Jeffreys on the Bench Ketch on the Gibbet sits Some take ev'n them for Courages and Wits Nay nobler Souls than those if Fortune frown Oft broke and conquer'd meanly tumble down If Fate unjust Success to Tyrants give Ev'n the Heroick Brutus dares not live But greater he 's still what he was before Nay greater yet is all himself and more Tho' Man ungrate he ever yet has known Tho' they forsake him he 's not yet alone For some too honest and for some too brave How shou'd he thrive when neither Fool nor Knave He 's not alone another Spirit attends A nearer Comfort than a thousand Friends Heavens see how bravely he maintains his ground Tho' with whole Hells of Devils baited round Charge on charge thicker yet he stands he stands The blest above look down and clap their hands Envy the ungrateful World so great a Bliss And almost wish to change their place for his Unbrib'd he stands with hopes of Victory Knowing his greatest Conquest was to die Thus the brave Lion when base Hounds pursue And seize on every Pass and Avenue Tho' from within his mighty Genius call And knells of sudden Thunder bode his fall Walks careless on walks on and looks about Terrour and Death thro' all the ignoble Rout And sells his Life so dear tho' pleas'd to die 'T is hardly worth the while for them to buy Nothing his equal Temper ere could move No tho' a very Jeffreys sate above Had some good Heathnish Pilate been preferr'd To fill the place he had at least been heard But he so fair a measure must not find For Justice now 's grown deaf as well as blind Juâ—â—ice is deaf but yet her mouth 's so wide So loud she yells as deafens all beside If she 's returnâ—d from Heav'n as all must say Sure she call'd in at Billingsgate by the way Raving her Collar from her neck she tore Knowing another would become it more Thus the gay Mad-man twists Straw-wreaths then He knows not why tears 'em to dust again Ah Mystick Fate who can thy Methods know Jeffreys above and Dangerfield below But since nor Friend nor Poet can invent Deeper Damnation for his punishment May he be Jeffreys still and ne're repent And now the fatal Day begins to dawn The Curtain of the last sad Scene is drawn Pale let it ever rise with doubtful Light Hardly distinguisht from preceding Night May Birds obscene and ominous round it stray May troubled Ghosts keep dismal Holiday Curse on eaâ—h hour But hold for he looks down And over his calm Face has drawn a frown Forgive bright Soul the starts of a distracted mind The Poet now the Christian leaves behind Withdraw that Just that now unusual frown Blest be the happy Day that brought thy Crown Thy Radiant Crown of Martyrdom which brings A thousand Joys more than the Crowns of Kings A thousand Joys without a thousand Stings Soon rose the Sun so great a Day to see Soon rose the Sun but not so soon as he A brighter Sun's Assistance down he calls He draws all Heav'n within his dusky Walls So laught the Apostles at Hell's baffled Rage And sung in spite of Fetters and a Cage Around Heav'nâ— Battlements bright Legions wait And crouding Seraphs open wide the Gate One who of Martyrs has peculiar care Is sent to whisper in his Soul Prepare Or else his Guardian friend had made him know That long expected Message he must go For sure he knew the worst their Rage could do He knew he saw it all and scorn'd it too Pray on great Soul and like thy Master be For those that now begin to murder thee Thy Master thus thus thy Lord Jesus dy'd He must be scourg'd before he 's crucifi'd Tho' milder Jews far more good Nature have They forty Stripes Jeffreys four hundred gave Far more had he at first from Virtue fell Ten times a fitter Friend for Rome and Hell Ten times less â—han this Torment would alone For ten times worse and ten times more attone Blood might ha' done had not fair Tears done more And Penitence washt him whiter than before Nay were I Papist too
I 'd say those precious Showrs which from him fell Might rescue ev'n a Jeffreys out of Hell But this is Mercy tâ—nder Mercy all One Death is for a Dangerfield too small All Hell had doubly sworn he should not live â—nd they 'll as soon repent aâ— they 'll forgive High rampt great Lucifer above his Throne Where Monarch absolute he Reigns alone â—haking the Scaly horrour of his Tail He swore this last Plot could not should not fail A Pursuivant was sent nor far he sought But soon their Engine to the presence brought The milder Furies started when he came The Ghosts div'd down thro' Seas of melted flame And heard and felt new Torments at his Name Th' Old Dragon only smil'd and thus began Dear part of me dear something more than Man Let Parry Clement Ravilack combine And cram their Souls great Murderer into thine I love a Man that 's resolute and brave Not silly Conscience or Customs Slave Safety you 're sure of that at least is due Nor must we Sir forsake such Friends as you Go then and prosper thus I thee inspire VVith Sparks of my own noble gen'rous Fire Chuse what you like Rewards you need not fear Be Chancellor or Observator here Go on and act a deed so worthy me That Hell may both admire and envy thee Away he comes a double Francis now Half Devil half Papist ravell'd on his brow Two strings to 's Bow for fear one should not do Stelletto's sometimes fail take Poison too Against such powerful Reasons who'll presume To speak These these are the two Keys of Rome These to blest Peter's Successors were given Opening Hell to themselves to others Heav'n Poison which o're so many a Convert brings Poison the safest Pill for resty Kings Not all the Reasons in strong Box e're pent Can châ—llenge half so much of Argument Steel that can sometimes work as great a Cure VVhere Patients th' Operation can endure Steel which tho' so unlike it poison Apes Drest in as many neat convenient shapes A Knife when the French Harry is to die Anon a Sword a Razor by and by But now since holy Church requires it 't will Turn Coward and sneak into Canes to kill Close by the Heroe now Hell's Viceroy stood And views him crusted o're with Wounds and Blood Who all unmov'd tho' all one Clod of Gore His Masters Characters undaunted wore Such marks he wore as Scythians ne're invent At which all but a Francis would relent He Hell and his great Master does invoke Then with a gen'rous fury gives the stroâ—e Wretch well thou aim'dst too well thou 'st struck his head Thou 'st pierc'd his Eye or else he 'd lookt thee dead Tho' wounded all tho' like great Sampson blind Ah could he too like him his Enemies find No Friend no Devil should have repriev'd at all He 'd crusht thy pois'nous Soul away kill'd thee with his fall Run Monster for thy cursed Life and see If Vengeance cannot run as fast as thee The very Rabble's mov'd the unthinking Croud Th' unweildy Clock's wound up and strikes aâ—oud Tho' Hag-rid now so long yet 't is not â—am'd Revenge they name but ah 't is only nam'd Ah had their Clacks but held Heav'n had lockt dowâ— And with kind Thunder fir'd the ungrateful Town Pity the bloudy stain was washt with â—lood It like a Noble Canker shou'd have stood Consuming rotting poys'ning great and small Cottage and Pallace Beams and Stones and all 'T is well at last he merits their esteem Now now they love yes now they pity him Revenge they with unknown good nature cry With unsuspected ingenuity But to please Fools ' twan't worth the while to dye Yes Brutes at last no doubt you 'l think him brave O he 's done well his death will charges save Revenge revenge runs through the opening Town Revenge they cry and hunt the murd'rer down The Beast was earth'd indeed but 't was in vain Cain fled but God had set a mark on Cain Close close they hunt and lug him out again May Conscience and the Rabble him attend While we our duty pay to such a Friend Some Tears e'ne by Religious leave are due Some Tears and some well meaning Curses too Can Mothers weep when their soft Infants Bones Kind Papists crush against the kinder Stones When the dear pledges from Chast Nuptials Born Are for their milder Hounds in pieces torn Sleeping and smiling from their quiv'ring Breast Are broacht on Pikes and sent to longer rest Can man himself restrain unmanly cries When his dear other self is rape't before his Eyes Nay can he groans curses tears themselves forbear To see his Babes hang in their Mothers Hair All this have the good Catholicks done before All this they now prepare agen or more And he the handsel of their malice trys To see if yet their hand be in he dies Tare off his useless Plaisters you that can You that have more or less than Hearts of Man Look there he floating lies o're flown and drown'd In Tides of poyson'd gore roll'd from the weltring wound All o're beside it dropt in gentle Rains But here burst down in Seas and Hurricanes What dire convulsions shake that beauteous frame None of its self is lest besides the Name How ghastly horror rears its dismal Throne Where once sat charms that cou'd be there alone Dreadful distortions rack that bloated face And gone are every Beauty every Grace His gloomy Eye-ball rolls in mortal pain And feels for the departed light in vain Where are those Eyes that cou'd so well inspire Loves soft fair charming harmless lambent fire Blood flows without as Poison flows within And half bears up his black distended Skin Where manly friendship reign'd and softer love Blood blood is all below and horror all above Pitty be gone and nobler rage succeed Others besides a Dangerfield shall bleed Bring forth the Prisoner let him let him live For I no more than Jeffreys can forgive O for an age of torment might he lye Like Titius rack't like the keen Vulture I· Jove 's own Ambrosia can't be half so good As his broy'ld flesh nor Nectar as his Blood But what 's one mouth loose him and cry 't is he Lose him among the well-oteeth'd Mobile The 'yl quarter him not by the Arm or Leg But into Atoms tare Hells Scanderbeg What a bare hanging such a death were fit For some well meaning harmless Jesuit One who poor Soul knows but their little things Burning proud Cities poys'ning stabbing Kings He hath a deed well worth Damnation done And perfected those strokes they but begun Hanging Why they almost deserv'd that curse Who dared but think that he deserv'd no worse The best the bravest thing for which almost I cou'd be foolish and forgive his Ghost Is that he triumphs in the Blood he spilt And bravely stands and glory's in his guilt Hes hit me full and I 'd no worse invent No no 't was pitty he shou'd e're
repent But ye who hallow with deserv'd applause A better Martyr for a better cause You who to fate and fortune scorn to yield Who still dare own you 're friends to Dangerfield And you dear partner of his Joy and Grief The worthiest him the best the tend'rest Wife Who most who best adore his memory Who only I must grant lov'd more than me Bring his dear all which at your bottom lies His fair remains which I shall ever prize Whose fathers vigorous soul plays round her eyes All all in a full ring together come And Join your Prayers and Curses round his Tomb. Curst be the wretch who did him first ensnare Too mean to let his name have here a share A double curse for them that thought it good Such a Wife shou'd sell such a Husband's Blood Still double double till I 'm out of breath On all that had a hand a finger in his Death My Curse a Friends a Wives an Orphans too For all of this side damning is their due The little plagues of Egypt to begin Ashwe'nsdays curses for each lesser sin With whate're angry heaven since could find To bait and lash impenitent mankind Gouts Feavers Frenzies Claps Consumptions Cramps Whatever may put out their stinking Lamps May kind Abortions in some lucky hour The fruit and hope of their vain lust devour Or if they 're born may the unwholesome fry Creep only like young Toads abroad and dye Heartily thus let 's curse and if vain pitty move Straight think agen on manly rage and love Swear by his Blood and better while we live This on our selves if we his blood forgive And may who e're his Murd'rers death deplore Feel all these curses and ten thousand more Dangerfield's Ghost to Jeffreys REvenge Revenge my injur'd shade begins To haunt thy guilty Soul and scourge thy sins For since to me thou ow'st the heaviest score Whose living words tormented thee before When dead I 'm come to plague thee yet once more Don't start away and think thy Brass to hide But see the dismal shape in which I dy'd My Body all deform'd with putrid Gore Bleeding my Soul away at every Pore Pusht faster on by Francis less unkind My Body swoln and bloated as thy Mind This dangling Eye-ball rolls about in vain Never to find its proper seat again The hollow Cell usurpt by Blood and Brain The trembling Jury's Verdict ought to be Murder'd at once by Francis and by Thee The Groans of Orphans and the pond'rous guilt Of all the Blood that thou hast ever spilt Thy Countreys Curse the Rabbles spite and all Those Wishes sent thee since thy long wisht Fall The Nobles just Revenge so bravely bought For all the Ills thy Insolence has wrought May these and more their utmost force combine Joyn all their wrongs and mix their Cries with mine And see if Terror has not struck thee blind See here a long a ghastly Train behind Far far from utmost WEST they crowd away And hov'ring o're fright back the sickly Day Had the poor Wretches sinn'd as much as Thee Thou shou'dst not have forgot Humanity Who ' ere in Blood can so much pleasure take Tho' an ill Judge wou'd a good Hang-man make Each hollows in thy Ears Prepare Prepare For what thou must yet what thou canst not bear Each at thy Heart a bloody Dagger aims Upward to Gibbets point downward to endless Flames Mr. NOISE AMong those who suffer'd innocently for Lea's Plot this poor young Gentleman was one tho' omitted in due place who tho' he lost not his Life immediately by it was yet put to such Extremities as both injur'd his Reason and ruin'd his Fortunes He was born of a good Family not far from Reading in Barkshire and being a younger Son was bound Apprentice to a Linnen-Draper in London In which capacity he was a great Promoter of the Apprentices Address intended to be presented to the King for redress of Grievances and further Prosecution of the Popish Plot. A Crime which those concern'd cou'd never pardon and which was now lookt on both by himself and all his Friends as the Cause of these his Troubles Lea swore against him that he was concern'd in this Plot which he absolutely denying tho' no other Witness came in against him and he was ne're brought to a Trial he underwent a long and severe Imprisonment loaded with Irons and kept from his Friends so long till his Trade was ruin'd before he was set free and he himself then rendred so unfit for business that he was forc'd entirely to leave it off and betake himself to Travel where never quite recovering himself he in a little time after fell sick and dy'd And here 't will not be improper to remind my Readers that about this time things running very high for Popery and Arbitrary Power the consideration thereof was very afflicting to Mr. Noise Yet notwithstanding all this he was silent a long while and minded onely the proper business of his Calling resolving not to concern himself with State-affairs as deeming them above his Sphere and Condition which Silence and Resolution he had still kept notwithstanding the great and ineffable Evils he saw impending over us which were much the more apparent upon the Prorogations and Dissolutions of so many Parliaments in so dangerous and so critical a Juncture but that casually reading one of the VVeekly Intelligences he happen'd therein to meet with something Entituled An Address from the Loyal Young Men Apprentices of the City of London To His Majesty The Title he thought concern'd him as being a Loyal Apprentice of the same City and therefore he deliberately read it over At first it seem'd to bear a fair aspect as it was a Tender of Thanks to His Majesty for His most Gracious Declaration but considering that this Declaration contain'd in it several severe Reflections on the Proceedings of the late Parliaments terming them Arbitrary Illegal and Unwarrantable Mr. Noise dreaded the coâ—sequence of such Reflections as believing that 〈◊〉 stood not with Modesty for Apprentices to charge the Great Senate of the Nation with Arbitrary Illegal and Unwarrantable Proceedings and resolv'd what in him lay to Vindicate himself and Fellow-Apprentices which is thought to have been the cause of all his Sufferings before-related and to satisfie the whole World that the far greater part of the Apprentices of London have too great a Veneration for Parliaments which under His Majesty are the Bulwarks of our Lives Liberties and Properties for to be concern'd in any thing tending to Reproach or Reflect upon them he advisâ—d with several sober Persons about it who did not disapprove of his Design but Advice therein they would not give Wherefore Mr. Nâ—ise thinking to Petition the Lord Mayor would be the most modest and proper way to demonstrate a dislike of and detestation to all such actions he caused the following Petition to be drawn up and Presented viz. To the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London the humble Address
see and hear what they did from such Young Men. A near Relation that went into the West to see the issue of things and to perform whatever should be necessary for them gives the following account At Salisbury the 30 th of August I had the first opportunity of Converse with them I found them in a very excellent Composure of Mind declaring their experience of the Grace and Goodness of God to them in all their Sufferings in supporting and strengthning and providing for them turning the Hearts of all in whose hands they had been both at Exon and on Ship-board to shew pity and favour to them although since they came to Newgate they were hardly used and now in their Journey loaded with heavy Irons and more inhumanely dealt with They with great chearfulness profess'd That they were better in a more happy Condition than ever in their Lives from the sense they had of the pardoning Love of God in Jesus Christ to their Souls wholly referring themselves to their wise and gracious God to chuse for them Life or Death Expressing themselves thus Any thing what pleases God what he sees best so be it We know he is abâ—e to deliâ—er but if not blessed be his Name Death is not terrible now but desireable Mr. Benjamin Hewling particularly added As for thâ— World there is nothing in it to make it worth while to live except we may be serviceable to God therein And afterwards said Oh! God is a a strong Refuge I have found him so indeed The next Opportunity I had was at Dorchester where they both were carried there remaining together four days By reason of their strait Confinement our Converse was much interrupted but this appear'd that they had still the same Presence and Support from God no way discourag'd at the approach of their Tryal nor of the event of it whatever it should be The 6 th of September Mr. Benjamin Hewling was order'd to Taunton to be tryed there Taking my leave of him he said Oh! Blessed be God for Afflictions I have found such happy Effects that I would not have been with out them for all this World I remained still at Dorchester to wait the Issue of Mr. William Hewling to whom after Tryal I had free Access whose Discourse was much fill'd with Admirings of the Grace of God in Christ that had been manifested towards him in calling him out of his natural State He said God by his Holy Spirit did suddenly seize upon his Heart when he thought not of it in his retired Abode in Holland as it were secretly whispering in his Heart Seek ye my Face enabling him to answer his gracious Call and to reflect upon his own Soul shewing him the Evil of Sin and necessity of Christ from that time carrying him on to a sensible adherence to Christ for Justification and Eternal Life He said Hence he found a Spring of Joy and Sweetness beyond the Comforts of the whole Earth He further said He could not but admire the wonderful goodness of God in so preparing him for what he was bringing him to which then he thought not of giving him hope of Eternal Life before he called him to look Death in the face so that he did chearfully resign his Life to God before he came having sought his Guidance in it and that both then and now the Cause did appear to him very glorious notwithstanding all he had suffer'd in it or what he further might Although for our Sins God hath with-held these good things from us But he said God had carry'd on his blessed Work on his Soul in and by all his Sufferings and whatever the Will of God were Life or Death he knew it would be best for him After he had received his Sentence when he returned to Prison he said Methinks I find my Spiritual Comforts increasing ever since my Sentence There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus it 's God that justifies who shall condemn When I came to him the next morning when he had received News that he must die the next day and in order to it was to be carried to Lyme that day I found him in a more excellent rais'd spiritual Frame than before He said He was satisfi'd God had chosen best for him he knows what the Temptations of Life might have been I might have lived and forgotten God but now I am going where I shall sin no more Oh! it 's a blessed thing to be free from sin and to be with Christ. Oh! the Riches of the Love of God in Christ to Sinners Oh! how great were the Sufferings of Christ for me beyond all I can undergo How great is that Glory to which I am going It will soon swallow up all our Sorrow here When he was at Dinner just before his going to Lyme he dropt many abrupt Expressions of his inward Joy such as these Oh! the Grace of God the Love of Christ Oh that blessed Supper of the Lamb to be for ever with the Lord He further said when I went to Holland you knew not what Snares Sins and Miseries I might fall into or whether ever we should meet again But now you know whither I am going and that we shall certainly have a most joyful meeting He said Pray give my particular Recommendations to all my Friends with acknowledgements for all their kindness I advise them all to make sure of an Interest in Christ for he is the only Comfort when we come to die One of the Prisoners seemed to be troubled at the manner of the Death they were to die to whom he replied I bless God I am reconciled to it all Just as he was going to Lyme he writ these few Lines to a Friend being hardly suffer'd to stay so long I am going to Launch into Eternity I hope and trust into the Arm of my Blessed Redeemer to whom I commit you and all my dear Relations my Duty to my dear Mother and Love to all my Sisters and the rest of my Friends William Hewling As they passed through the Town of Dorchester to Lyme multitudes of People beheld them with great Lamentations admiring at his Deportment at his parting with his Sister As they pass'd upon the Road between Lyme and Dorchester his Discourse was exceeding Spiritual as those declar'd who were present taking occasion from every thing to speak of the Glory they were going to Looking out on the Country as he pass'd he said This is a glorious Creation but what then is the Paradice of God to which we are going 't is but a few Hours and we shall be there and for ever with the Lord. At Lyme just before they went to die reading John 14.18 He said to one of his fellow-Sufferers Here is a sweet Promise for us I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you Christ will be with us to the last One taking leave of him he said Farewel till we meet in Heaven Presâ—ntly I shall be with
Christ Oh! I would not change conditions with any in this World I would not stay behind for ten thousand Worlds To another that ask'd him how he did now he said Very Well he bless'd God And farther asking him if he could look Death in the face with Comfort now iâ— approach'd so near he said Yes I bless God I can with great Comfort God hath made this a good Night to me my Comforts are much encreas'd since I left Dorchester Then taking leave of him said Farewel I shall see you no more To which he replied How see me no more yes I hope to meet you in Glory To another that was by him to the last he said Pray remember my dear Love to my Brother and Sister and tell them I desire they would comfort themselves that I am gone to Christ and we shall quickly meet in the Glorious Mount Sion above Afterwards he prayed for about three quarters of an hour with the greatest fervency exceedingly blessing God for Jesus Christ adoring the riches of his Grace in him in all the glorious fruits of it towards him praying for the Peace of the Church of God and of these Nations in particular all with such eminent assistance of the Spirit of God as convinced astonish'd and melted into Pity the Hearts of all present even the most malicious Adversaries forcing Tears and Expressions from them some saying They knew not what would become of them after Death but it was evident he was going to great happiness When he was just going out of the World with a joyful Countenance he said Oh! now my Joy and â—omfort is that I have a Christ to go to and so sweetly resign'd his Spirit to Christ the 12 th of September 1685. An Officer who had shewed so malicious a Spirit as to call the Prisoners Devils when he was guarding them down was now so convinced that he after told a Person of Quality That he was never so affected as by his chearful Carriage and fervent Prayer such as he believ'd was never heard especially from one so young and said I believe had the Lord Chief Justice been there he could not have let him die The Sheriff having given his Body to be bury'd although it was brought from the place of Execution without any notice given yet very many of the Town to the number of about 200 came to accompany him and several young Women of the best of the Town laid him in his Grave in Lyme Church-yard the 13 th of Septemb. 1685. After which his Sister Writ this following Letter to her Mother ALthough I have nothing to acquaint my Dear Mother withal but what is most afflictive to Sense both as to the Determination of Gods Will and as to my present Apprehension concerning my Brother Benjamin yet remaining yet there is such abundant Consolation mixt in both that I only wanted an opportunity to pay this Duty God having wrought so glorious a Work on both their Souls revealing Christ in them that Death is become their Friend My Brother William having already with the greatest Joy declared to those that were with him to the last that he would not change Conditions with any that were to remain in this world and he desired that his Relations would comfort themselves that he is gone to Christ. My Brother Benjamin expects not long to continue in this World and is exceeding willing to leave it when God shall call being fully satisfied that God will choose that which is best for him and us all by these things God doth greatly support me and I hope you also my dear Mother which was and is my Brothers great desire there is still room for Prayer for one and God having so answer'd though not in kind we have encouragement still to wait on him Honoured Mother Your Dutiful Daughter Hannah Hewling When I came to Taunton to Mr. Benjamin Hewling he had received the News of his Brothers being gone to die with so much comfort and joy and afterwards of the continued goodness of God increasing it to the end He express'd to this effect We have no cause to fear Death if the Presence of God be with us there is no evil in it the sting being taken away it 's nothing but our Ignorance of the Glory that the Saints pass into by Death which makes it appear dark for our selves or Relations if in Christ what is this World that we should desire an abode in it it's all vain and unsatisfying full of sin and misery Intimating also his own chearful expectations soon to follow discovering then and all along great seriousness and sense of spiritual and eternal things complaining of nothing in his present Circumstances but want of place of retirement to converse more uninterruptedly with God and his own Soul saying That his lonely time in Newgate was the sweetest in his whole Life He said God having some time before struck his Heart when he thought of the hazard of his Life to some serious Sense of his past Life and the great consequences of Death and Eternity shewing him that they were the only happy Persons that had secured their eternal States The folly and madness of the ways of sin and his own Thraldom therein with his utter inability to deliver himself also the necessity of Christ for Salvation He said it was not without terror and amazement for some time the fight of unpardon'd sin with eternity before him But God wonderfully opened to him the Riches of his Free-grace in Christ Jesus for poor Sinners to flee to enabling to look alone to a Crucified Christ for Salvation He said this blessed Work was in some measure carried on upon his Soul under all his business and hurries in the Army but never sprung forth so fully and sweetly till his close confinement in Newgate There he saw Christ and all spiritual Objects more clearly and embraded them more strongly there he experienced the blessedness of a reconciled State the Excellency of the ways of Holiness the delightfulness of Communion with God which remained with very deep and apparent impressions on his Soul which he frequently express'd with admiration of the Grace of God towards him He said Perhaps my Friends may think this Summer the saddest time of my Life but I bless God it hath been the sweetest and most happy of it all nay there is nothing else worth the name of happiness I have in vain sought satisfaction from the things of this World but I never found it but now I have foundrest for my Soul in God alone O how great is our blindness by Nature till God open our Eyes that we can see no excellency in spiritual things but spend our precious time in pursuing Shadows and are deaf to all the invitations of Grace and Glorious Offers of the Gospel How just is God in depriving us of that we so much slighted and abused Oh! his infinite patience and goodness that after all he should yet sanctifie any methods to
bring a poor sinner to himself Oh! Electing Love distinguishing Grace what great cause have I to admire and adore it He said What an amazing Consideration is the sufffering of Christ for sin to bring us to God his suffering from wicked Men was exceeding great but alas what was that to the Dolours of his Soul under the infinite Wrath of God This Mystery of Grace and Love is enough to swallow up our thoughts to all Eternity As to his own Death he would often say He saw no reason to expect any other I know God is infinitely able to deliver and I am sure will do it if it be for his Glory and my Good in which I bless God I am fully satisfied it 's all my desire that he would choose for me and then I am sure it will be best whatever it be for truly unless God have some work for me to do in the World for his Service and Glory I see nothing else to make Life desirable In the present state of Affairs there is nothing to cast our Eyes upon but Sin Sorrow and Misery And truly were things never so much according to our desires it 's but the World still which will never be a resting-place Heaven is the only state of Rest and Happiness there we shall be perfectly free from Sin and Temptation and enjoy God without interruption for ever Speaking of the Disappointment of their expectations in the work they had undertaken he said with reference to the Glory of God the Prosperity of the Gospel and the delivery of the People of God We have great Cause to lament it but for that outward Prosperity that would have accompanied it it s but of small moment in it self as it could not satisfie so neither could it be abiding for at longest Death would have put an end to it all Also adding nay perhaps we might have been so foolish as to have been taken with that part of it with the neglect of our eternal concerns and then I am sure our present circumstances are incomparably better He frequently express'd great concern for the Glory of God and affection to his People saying If my Death may advance Gods Glory and hasten the Deliverance of his People it is enough saying It was a great comfort to him to think of so great a priviledge as an interest in all their Prayers In his Converse particularly valuing and delighting in those Persons where he saw most holiness shining also great pity to the Souls of others saying That the remembrance of our former Vanity may well cause Compassion to others in that state And in his Converse prompting others to Seriousness telling them Death and Eternity are such weighty concerns that they deserve the utmost intention of our Minds for the way to receive Death chearfully is to prepare for it seriously and if God should please to spare our Lives surely we have the same reason to be serious and spend our remaining days in his Fear and Service He also took great care that the Worship of God which they were in a Capacity of maintaining there might be duly perform'd as Reading Praying and Singing of Psalms in which he evidently took great delight For those three or four days before their deaths when there was a general Report that no more should die he said I don't know what God hath done beyond our expectations if he doth prolong my Life I am sure it is all his own and by his Grace I will wholly devote it to him But the 29 th of September about ten or eleven at Night we found the deceitfulness of this Report they being then told they must die the next Morning which was very unexpected as to the suddenness of it but herein God glorified his Power Grace and Faithfulness in giving suitable Support and Comfort by his blessed Presence which appeared upon my coming to him at that time finding him greatly composed He said Tho' Men design to surprize God doth and will perform his Word to be a very present help in trouble The next Morning when I saw him again his Cheerfulness and Comfort were much increased waiting for the Sheriff with the greatest-sweetness and serenity of Mind saying Now the Will of God is determined to whom I have referr'd it and he hath chosen most certainly that which is best Afterward with a smiling Countenance he discours'd of the Glory of Heaven remarking with much delight the third fourth and fifth Verses of the 22 th of the Revelations And there shall be no more Curse But the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his Servants shall serve him and they shall see his Face and his Name shall be in their Foreheads and there shall be no Night there and they shall need no Candle nor Light of the Sun and they shall reign for ever and ever Then he said Oh what a happy State is this shall we be loth to go to enjoy this Then he desired to be read to him 2 Cor. 5. For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolv'd we have a Building of God a House not made with Hands eternal in the Heavens to the tenth or eleventh verses In all his Comforts still increasing expressing his sweet Hopes and good Assurance of his Interest in this glorious Inheritance and being now going to the possession of it seeing so much of this happy Change that he said Death was more desireable than Life he had rather dye than live any longer here As to the manner of his Death he said When I have consider'd others under these Circumstances I have thought it very dreadful but now God hath call'd me to it I bless God I have quite other apprehensions of it I can now chearfully embrace it as an easie passage to Glory and tho' Death sâ—parates from the Enjoyments of each other here it will be but for a very short time and then we shall meet in such Enjoyments as now we cannot conceive and for ever rejoyce in each others Happiness Then reading the Scriptures and musing with himself he intimated the great Comfort God convey'd to his Soul in it saying O what an invaluable Treasure is this blessed Word of God in all Conditions here is a store of strong Consolation One desiring his Bible he said No this shall be my Companion to the last moment of my Life Thus praying together reading meditating and conversing of Heavenly things they waited for the Sheriff who when he came void of all Pity or Civility hurried them away scarce suffering them to take leave of their Friends But notwithstanding this and the doleful mourning of all about them the Joyfulness of his Countenance was encreased Thus he left his Prison and thus he appear'd in the Sledge where they sat about half an hour before the Officers could force the Horses to draw at which they were greatly enraged there being no visible obstruction from weight or way But at last
the Mayor and Sheriff hall'd them forwards themselves Balaam-like driving the Horses When they came to the place of Execution which was surrounded with Spectators many that waited their Coming with great sorrow said That when they saw him and them come with such chearfulness and joy and evidence of the Presence of God with them it made Death appear with another Aspect They first embraced each other with the greatest Affection then two of the elder Persons praying audibly they joyn'd with great seriousness Then he desired leave of the Sheriff to pray particularly but he would not grant it only ask'd him if he would pray for the King He answered I pray for all men He then requested they might sing a Psalm the Sheriff told him It must be with the Ropes about their Necks which they cheerfully accepted and sung with such heavenly joy and sweetness that many present said It both broke and rejoyc'd their hearts Thus in the experience of the delightfulness of praising God on Earth he willingly closed his Eyes on a vain World to pasâ— to that Eternal Employment Sept. 30. 1685. All present of all sorts were exceedingly affected and amazed Some Officers that had before insultingly said Surely these Persons have no thoughts of death but will find themselves surprized by it after said That they now saw he and they had something extraodinary within that carried them through with such joy Others of them said That they were so convinc'd of their Happinâ—ss that they would be glad to change Conditions with them All the Souldiers in general and all others lamenting exceedingly saying That it was so sad a thing to see them so cut off they scarce knew how to bear it Some of the most malicious in the place from whom nothing but railing was expected said as they were carried to their â—rave in Taunton Church voluntarily accompanied by most of the Town That these Persons had left a sufficient Evidence that they were now glorified Saints in Heaven A great Officer in the King'â— Army has been often heard to say That if you would learn to die go to the young Men of Taunton Much more was utter'd by them which shew'd the blessed and glorious frames of their hearts to the Glory of Divine Grace but this is what occurs to memory Mr. Benjamin Hewling about two hours before his death writ this following Letter which shew'd the great composure of his Mind Mr. Hewlings last Letter a little before his Execution Taunton Sept. 30. 1685. Honoured Mother THat News which I know you have a great while feared and we expected I must now acquaint you with That notwithstanding the Hopes you gave in your two last Letters Warrants are come down fâ—r my Execution and within these few hours I expect it to be peâ—formed Blessed be the Almighty God that gives comfort and support in such a day how ought we to magnifie his holy Name for all his Mercies that when we were running on in a course of sin he should stop us in our full career and shew us that Câ—rist whom we had pierced anâ— out of hiâ—â—ree Grace enable us to look upon him with an Eâ—e of Faith believing him able to save to the utmost all such as come to him Oh admirable loâ—g suffering and patience of God that when we were dishonoâ—ring hiâ— Name he did not take that time to bring honour to himself by our destruction But he delighteth not in the death of a sinner buâ— had rather he should turn to him and live And he has many ways of bringing his own to himsâ—lf Blessed be his Holy Name that through Affliction he has taught my heart in some measure to be comformable to his Will which worketh patience and patience worketh experience and experience hope which maketh not ashamed I bless God I am not ashamed of the Cause for which I lay down my life and as I have engaged in it and fought for it so now I am going to sâ—al it with my Blood The Lord still carry on the same Cause which hath been long on foot and tho' we die in it and for it I question not but in his own good time he will raise up other Instruments morâ— worthy to carry it on to the glory of his Name and the advancement of his Church and People Honoured Mother I know there has been nothing left undone by you or my Friends for the saving of my Life for which I return many hearty acknowledgments to your self and them all and it 's my dying request to you and them to pardon all undutifulness and unkindness in every Relation Pray give my Duty to my Grandfather and Grandmother Service to my Vnkles and Aunts and my dear Love to all my Sisters to every Relation and Friend a particular Recommendation Pray tell 'em all how precious an Interest in Christ is when we come to die and advise them never to rest in a Christless Estate For if we are his it 's no matter what the World do to us they can but kill the Body and blessed be God the Soul is out of their reach for I question not but their malice wishes the damnation of that as well as the destruction of the Body which has too evidently appeared by their deceitful flattering promises I commit you all to the care and protection of God who has promised to be a Father tâ— the Fatherless and a Husband to the Widdow and to supply the want of every Relation The Lord God of Heaven be your Comfort under thesâ— Sorrows and your Refuge from these Miseries we may easily foresee coming upon poor England and the poor distressed People of God in it The Lord carry you through this vale of Tears with a resigning submissive Spirit and at last bring you to himself in Glory where I question not but you will meet your dying Son Ben Hewling Their Characters THey were both of very sweet and obliging Tempers as hâ—s appeared in their History it being a very hard matter for their worst Enemies when they once knew 'em well not to honour and love ' em Mr. Benjamin the elder reconciled the Lamb and the Lion exactly In the Field he seem'd made only for War and any where else for nothing but Love He without flatterry deserv'd to be call'd a very fine man of a lovely proportion extreamly well made as handsom a Meen good an Air as perhaps few in England exceeded him His Picture is pretty like him The younger Mr. William somewhat taller and more slender His Face fresh and lively as his Spirit being Master of an extraordinary vivacity and briskness of Temper Both of 'em vertuous pious and couragious far above their years and indeed seem'd to be Men too soon one of 'em not being Twenty the eldest but Two and twenty when they dy'd verifying that common Observation That whatever is perfect sooner than ordinary has generally a shorter Period prefix'd it than what 's more base and ignoble Mr. Christopher
Death he replyed Nay a greater than the Apostles our Lord himself died not only a shameful but a painful Death He further said This manner of Death hath been the most terrible thing in the World to my thoughts but I bless God now am I neither afraid nor ashamed to die He said The parting with my Friends and their grief for me is my greatest difficulty but it will be but for a very short time and we shall meet again in endless Joys where my dear Father is already enter'd him shall I presently joyfully meet Then musing with himself a while he with an extraordinary seriousness sung these two Verses of one of Herbert's Poems Death is still working like a Moâ—e Digging my Grave at each remove Let Grace work so on my Soul Drop from above Oh come for thou dost know the way Or if to me thou wilt not move Remove me where I need not say Drop from above He then read the 53 d of Isaiah and said He had heard many Blessed Sermons from that Chapter especially from the 16 th Verse All we like Sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way but the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquities of us all seeming to intimate some impress made on his Soul from them but was interrupted then he said Christ is all When the Sheriff came he had the same chearfulness and serenity of mind in taking leave of his Friends and in the Sledge which seemed to increase to the last as those present have affirmed joyning in Prayer and in singing a Psalm with great appearance of Comfort and Joy in his Countenance insomuch that some of his Enemies that had before censured his chearfulness for unthoughtfulness of his Danger and therefore expected to see him much surprized now professed they were greatly astonished to see such a Young Man leave the World and go through Death as he did Mr. Jenkyn's Letter to Mrs. Scot on the 26 th of September 1685. Dear Sister THE News which came in my Brothers Letter of the 22 d Instant to Mr. Dewy did not at all surprize me for indeed I expected no other and seeing all hopes of saving my Life are blasted I thought my self bound to write a Line or two to so near a Relation as your self wherein I might take my leave of you and bid you farewel till we shall meet again in Glory and never be separated more As for my own part tho such a sort of Death as I am like to suffer be that which I always dreaded when at a distance I have sometimes thought of it yet I â—hank my God now it draws near even but a few hours off I find my self supported under the thoughts of it and hope by his strength who will never forsake his own I shall be enabled chearfully to undergo it with Glory to his Name and comfort to my own and the Souls of others that are more nearly concerned for me and as I have made it my own endeavour to submit to the Will of God in this sad Dispensation without murmuring or repining I hope you have been sensible of your Duty in the same respect which is Patiently to submit to his Will and eye his Hand in this severe stroke And though God has been pleased to deny success to your endeavours for the saving of my Life yet I am satisfied nothing has been wanting on your parts and for all the trouble you have been at on my account tho I do not live to shew my Gratitude yet I render you my dying thanks and beg your Prayers for my support in the last moments of my Life If you receive this before my Death the certain time of which I have not notice of pray remember my Love to My Brother and Thanks for all Kindnesses and as for my young Relations my Prayer for them shall be That they may see more happy days than I have done and die a more peaceable I can't say more happy Death And now Dear Sister I take my leave of you and commiâ— you to the protection of that God who hath made every thing beautiful in his time and will shew you the meaning of this Providence which now we do not understand to whom I trust I am now going and into the enjoyment of whose Presence I doubt not but ere long you will meet Dear Sister Your affectionate Brother WILLIAM JENKYN Mr. Jenkyn's Letter to his Mother on the 29 th of September at 12 at Night Taunton Dear and Honoured Mother I Have even now received the News of Execution to morrow which tho I have so short notice of yet I hope I am prepared for it and by God's strength enabling me I shall joyfully be carryed through it The kindness you have been pleased to shew in your great Concern for me since I have been under this trouble as well as the Duty I owe to so near a Relation as your self engages me to acquaint you with my present condition for your satisfaction which truly is such that I must beg you to accept this present Letter for my last Farewel And tho this sad Providence cannot but be grievous to so near and affectionate a Relation as your self yet I hope it already has and still does yield the peaceable fruits of Righteousness to your self and me who have been severely exercised with it As for my own part I hope I can truly say that God has by this Providence weaned mâ— from the World and made me willing to leave anâ— to be dissolved that I may be with Christ which iâ— far better And now I am come to die I hope I caâ— truly say I have nothing else to do but to die anâ— having fought a good Fight and finished my Coursâ— I am now in expectation of that Crown of Rewarâ— which God the righteous Judge of the whole Earth hâ— promised to all those that love his appearing and 〈◊〉 it is my great work to be now every moment fitting 〈◊〉 self for my great and last change so 't is the 〈◊〉 which belongs to you and the rest of my dear Relationâ— to resign me up into the hands of that God whose 〈◊〉 am and to whom I am going and not repine at 〈◊〉 righteous Will which we ought quietly to submit 〈◊〉 I bless God I die with a clear Conscience and thouâ—â— I have deserved much worse at the hands of God 〈◊〉 my past sins than I am like to undergo yet I counâ—â— with respect to Man I die a Martyr for the Protâ—stant Religion and meerly for doing my duty in oppâ—sing of that flood of Popery which seem'd to be just oveâ—whelming the Church and Interest of Christ in theâ—â— Nations and I wish that the Prudentialists of ouâ— Age that have withdrawn their helping hand froâ— so glorious a Design do not within a few days 〈◊〉 the smart they have deserved by this their basenesâ—â— But being now just leaving the World it 's grievous to look back on
these things wherefore dear and honoured Mother I take leave of you also hoping that I shall again meet with you in that place of happiness where all Tears shall be wiped away from our Eyes and we shall sorrow no more I have nothing more to say but to return you my dying Thanks for all the Trouble and Care you have been at for the saving my Life which though God has not thought fit to make successful yet my thankfulness is equally due to you for your endeavours as if he had therefore I shall end with the subscribing my self Dear and Honoured Mother Your thankful and dutiful Son WILLIAM JENKYN Mr. Jenkyn's Letter to Mrs. Gourden on the 30 th of September 1685. at 4 Morning Taunton Dear Sister THO you are at a great distance from mine Eye yet you are very near my Heart so that to leave the World before I have wrote a Line or two to bid you farewel and comfort you under this sad Providence would be uncomfortable to me I hope you have by this time learnt how to welcom evil as well as good tydings and submit to the wise disposer of all things who knows what is good for us better than we do for our selves Tho I question not but the newâ— of my Death especially in such a violent manner aâ— within a few hours I am to suffer it will be afflictive to you yet I would beg you to consider the Happiness which I am gone to but a few years sooner taken out of a wicked and troublesome World unto the quire of Triumphant Martyrs in Glory which place of Happiness though I have not deserved by any thing of my own Merits yet for the Merits of my Mediator and Saviour who has purchased more for me than can enter into my Heart to conceive I doubt not but I have a Mansion prepared for me in that place where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest And now Dear Sister I have nothing more to do in this World but to be preparing and fitting my self for this place of rest which within a few hours I am going to I therefore leave you and yours to the protection and blessing of God who is able to keep and Support you under this and all other his afflictive Providences and bring a good issue out of them and who will in his own good time conduct you safe to that place of happiness where you will meet alone for Christ sake Dear Dear Sister Your loving and affectionate Brother WILLIAM JENKYN Pray remember my Love and Respects to my Brother and all that enquire after me His Character HE was a very promising and ingenious young Gentleman he had a great deal of ready Wit and an extraordinary briskness and gaity He was a very good Scholar had run â—hrough a Course of Philosophy but his pâ—rticular Inclination was to the Mechanical part of it wherein he had a very happy Genius and performed many pretty things He wrote â—ery good clean Latin He was indifferent tall â—retty thin a fair Complexion his Nose a â—ittle inclining to one side being hurt in his Inâ—ancy He led a sober vertuous Life and dy'd 〈◊〉 happy Death at Taunton September 30. 1685. Lady Lisle HAD those Persons who suffer'd about Monmouth's business fell only into the hands of â—annibals some of 'em at least had scaped betâ—â—r than they did from Jeffreys Those more â—â—me and civil Creatures would have spared the 〈◊〉 and withered though they had devoured the â—â—ung and tender But no Age no Sex made â—â—y difference here and as those who were just â—â—me into the World Children and Girls of ten 〈◊〉 a dozen years old were refused Pardon so those â—ho were half out of it would not be suffered 〈◊〉 tumble into the Grave intire tho as Juvenal â—â—ys of Priam they had scarce Blood enough lest to singe the Knife of the Sacrifices An Instance of this was my Lady Lisle of such an Age that she almost slept on her very Tryal condemned for as small a matter as has been known by one of those dormant Laws made only in terrorem but hardly ever executed only for corresponding with Nelthrop an out-law'd Person and as was pretended giving him Shelter at her House and Hicks who brought him thither For Hicks he was not then convicted nor in any Proclamation and so 't is a question whether she could even in rigour of Law deserve Death on his account For Nelthrop he himself says in his last Speech That he was wholly a Stranger to thâ—t worthy Lady neither did she as he verily believes know who he was or his Name till he was taken For this she was found Guilty and lost her Head at Winchester Her Case was thought so hard that the Honourable Court of Parliament have now reverst her Judgment At hâ—r Death she made the following Speech The last Speech of the Lady Alicia Lisle GEntlemen Friends and Neighbours it may be expected that I should say something at my Death and in order thereunto I shall acquaint you that my Birth and Education was 〈◊〉 near this place and that my Parents 〈◊〉 me in the fear of God and I now die of 〈◊〉 â—eâ—ormed Protestant Religion that if ever 〈◊〉 should return into this Nation it would be a very great and severe Judgment that I die in expectation of the pardon of all my sins and of acceptance with God the Father by the imputed Righteousness of Jesus Christ he being the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believes I thank God through Jesus Christ that I do depart under the Blood of Sprinkling which speaketh better things than that of Abel God having made this Chastisement an Ordinance to my Soul I did once as little expect to come to this place on this occasion as any person in this place or Nation therefore let all learn not to be high-minded but fear The Lord is a Soveraign and will take what way he sees best to glorifie himself in and by his poor Creatures and I do humbly desire to submit to his Will praying to him That I may possess my Soul in Patience The Crime that was laid to my Charge was for entertaining a Nonconformist Minister and others in my House the said Minister being sworn to have been in the late Duke of Monmouth's Army but I have been told That if I had denied them it would not at all have affected me I have no excuse but surprize and fear which I believe my Jury must make use of to excuse their Verdict to the World I have been also told That the Court did use to be of Counsel for the Prisoner but instead of Advice I had Evidence against me from thence which though it were only by hear-say might possibly affect my Jury my defence being but such as might be expected from a weak Woman but such as it was I did not hear it Repeated again to the Jury which as I have been
comfort when we may say to them with David Psal. 59.3 Not for my transgession nor for my sin O Lord. Nor are we by fraudulent pusillanimous Compliances in wicked Courses to bring sin upon our selves Faint Hearts are ordinary false Hearts choosing Sin rather than Sufferings and a short Life with eternal Death before Temporal Death and a Crown of Glory Such seeking to save a litle loses all and God readily hardens them to proceed to their own destruction How many like Hazaâ—l 2 King 8.13 run to excesses they never thought they were capable of Let Rulers and others read seriously and weigh Prov. 1.10 to 20. 2 Chr. 28.6 to 17. Prov. 24.11 12. and Prov. 2â— 10. and avoid what is bad and follow what is good For me I hope by Gods strength to joyn with Job chap. 13.15 and the Psalmist Psal. 22.4 and 167. and shall pray as Psal. 74.19 to 24. And Psal. 122.6 to 9. And Luke 1.74 75. and shall hope as Psal. 94.14 15. I do freely forgive all that directly or indirectly have bâ—â—n â—he cause of my being brought to this place first or last and I pray God forgive them I pray God send Truth and Peace in these Three Kingdoms and continue and increase the glorious Light of the Gospel and restrain the Spirit of Prophanity Atheism Superstition Popery and Persecution and restore all that have back-slidden from the Purity of their Life or Principles and bless his whole People with all Blessings spiritual and temporal and put an end to their present Trials And I intreat all People to forgive me wherein I have offended and concur with me to pray That the great good and merciful God would sanctifie my present Lot and for Jesus Christ his sake Pardon all my Sins and receive me to his Eternal Glory It is suggested to me That I have said nothing of the Royal Family and it remembers me that before the Justices at my Trial about the Test I said That at my Death I would pray That there should never want one of the Royal Family to be a Defender of the True Ancient Apostolick Catholick Protestant Faith which I do now And that GOD would enlighten and forgive all of them that are either luke-warm or have shrunk from the Profession of it And in all Events I pray God may provide for the Security of his Church that Antichrist nor the Gates of Hell may never prevail against it Colonel Rumbold AT the same place died Colonel Richard Rumbold Jun. 26. 1685. most of what occurr'd considerable in his Defence and Speech you have had already in the business of the Assassination Two or three Passages more there are worth Remarks in the same as Arguments of his Sense and Courage For this Cause he says were every hair of his Head and Beard a Life he 'd joyfully sacrifice 'em all That he was never Antimonarchical in his Principles but for a King and Free Parliament the King having power enough to make him great and the People to make 'em happy That he died in the Defence of the just Laws and Liberties of the Nations That none was markt by God above another for no Man came into the World with a saddle on their backs nor others booted and spurr'd to ride upon 't And being askt if he thought not his Sentence dreadful answer'd He wisht he had a Limb for every Town in Christendom The Last Speech of Col. Richard Rumbold at the Market-Cross of Edinburgh with several things that passed at his Tryal 26 Jun. 1685. AT the same place died Colonel Richard Rumbold about Eleven of the Clock he was brought from the Castle of Edinburgh to the Justices Court in a great Chair on Mens Shoulders where at first he was asked some Questions most of which he answer'd with silence at last said He humbly conceived it was not necessary for him to add to his own Accusation since he was not ignorant they had enough already to do his Business and therefore he did not design to fret his Conscience at that time with Answering Questions After which his Libel being read the Court proceeded in usual manner first asking him If he had any thing to say for himself before the Jury closed His Answer was He owned it all saving that parâ— of having Designed the King's Death and desired all present to believe the words of â— Dying Man he never directly nor indirectly intended such a Villany that he abhorred the very thoughts of it and that he blessed God he had that Reputation in the World that he knew none that had the Impudence to ask him the Question and he detested the thoughts of such an Action and he hoped all good People would believe him which was the only way he had to clear himself and he was sure that this Truth should be one day made manifest to all Men. He was again asked If he had any exception against the Jury He answered No but wished them to do as God and their Consciences directed them Then they withdrew and returned their Verdict in half an hour and brought him in Guilty The Sentence followed For him to be taken from that Place â—o the next Room and from thence to be Drawn on a Hurdle betwixt Two and Four of the Clock to the Cross of Edinburgh the Place of Execution and there to be Hang'd Drawn and Quartered He received his Sentence with an undaunted Courage and Chearfulness Afterwards he was delivered into the Town-Magistrates Hands they brought to him two of their Divines and offered him their Assistance upon the Scaffold which he altogether refused telling them That if they had any good Wishes for him he desired they would spend them in their own Closets and leave him now to seek God in his own Way He had several Offers of the same kind by others which he put off in like manner He was most serious and fervent in Prayers the few-hours he lived as the Sentinels observed who were present all the while The Hour being come he was brought to the Place of Execution where he saluted the People on all sides of the Scaffold and after having refreâ—hed himself with a Cordial out of his Pocket he was supported by two Men while he spoke to the People in these words Gentlemen and Brethren Iâ— is for all Men that come into the World once to Die and after Death to Judgment and since death is a Debt that all of us must pay it is but a matter of small moment what way it be done and seeing the Lord is pleased in thiâ— manner to take me to himself I confess something hard to Flesh and Blood yet blessed be his Name who hath made me not only Willing but Thankful for his honouring me to lay down the Life he gave for his Name in which were every Hair in this Head and Beard of minâ— a Life I should joyfully sacrifice them for it as I do this And Providence having brought me hither I think it most
I bid farewel to all my Friends and dear Relations Farewell my poor Wife and Children whom I leave in the good hand of him who is better than seven Husbands and who will be a Father to the Fatherless Farewell all Creature Comforts Welcome everlasting Life everlasting Glory Welcome everlasting Love everlasting Praise Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me Sic Subscrib JOHN KING August 14 th 1679. Tolbooth Circa horam Septimam A brief Account of the last Speech of Mr. John Kidd at the place of Execution at Edinburgh on the 14th day of August 1679. Right Worthy and well beloved Spectators and Auditors COnsidering what bodily Distempers I have been exercised with since I came out of the Torture viz. Scarce two hours out of my naked bed in one day it cannot be expected that I should be in a Case to say any thing to purpose at this Juncture especially seeing I am not as yet free of it however I cannot but Reverence the good hand of God upon me and desire with all my Soul to bless him for this my present Lot It may be there are a great many here that judge my Lot very sad and deplorable I must confess Death it self is very â—eâ—rible to Flesh and Blood but as it is an out-let to sin and an in-let to Righteousness it is the Christians great and inexpressible Priviledge and give me leave to say this that there is something in a Christian Condition that can never put him without the reach of insufferableness even shame death and the Cross bâ—ing included And then if there be peace betwixt God and the Soul nothing can damp peace with Goâ— through our Lord Jesus Christ this is a most supporting ingredient in the bitterest Cup and under the sharpest and firiest Tryal he can be exposed unto thiâ— is my mercy that I have something of this to lay Claim unto viz. The intimations of Pardon and Peace betwixt God and my Soul And as concerning that for which I am condemned I Magnifie his grace that I never had the least challenge for it but on the contrary I Judge it my Honour that ever I was counted worthy to come upon the Stage upon such a consideration another thing that renders the most despicable Lot of the Christian and mine sufferable is a felt and sensible presence from the Lord strengthening the Soul when most put to it and if I could have this for my Allowance this day I could be bold to say O death where is thy sting and could not but cry out Welcome to it and all that follows upon it I grant the Lord from an act of Soveraignty may come and go as he pleases but yet he will never forsake his people and this is a Cordial to me in the Case I am now exposed unto Thirdly The exercising and putting forth his glorious Power is able to Transport the Soul of the Believer and mine above the reach of all sublunary Difficulties and therefore seeing I have hope to be kept up by this power I would not have you to look upon my Lot or any other that is or may be in my Câ—se in the least deplorable seeing we have ground to believe that in more or less he will perfect his Power and Strength in Weakness Fourthly That I may come a little nearer to the purpose in hand I declare before you all in the sight of God Angels and Men and in the sight of that Son and all that he has Created that I am a most miserable Sinner in regard of my Original and Actual Transgressions I must confess they are more in number than the Hairs of my Head They are gone up above my Head and are past numbring I cannot but say as Jacob said I am less than the least of all God's Mercies yet I must declare to the exalting of his Free Grace That to me who am the least of all Saints is this Grace made known and that by a strong hand and I dare not but say he has loved me and washed me in his own Blood from all Iniquities and well is it for me this day That ever I heard or read that faithful saying that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief Fifthly I must also declare in his sight I am the most unworthiest that ever opened his mouth to preach the unsearchable Riches of Christ in the Gospel Yea the sense of this made me altogether unwilling to fall about so great a Work until by the importunity of some whose Names are precious and savoury to me and many others I was prevailed with to fall about it and yet I am hopeful not altogether without sâ—me fruit and if I durst say it without Vanity I never found so much of the presence of God upon my Spirit as I have found in Exercises of that Nature though I must still confess attended with inexpressible Weakness and this is the main thing for which I must lay down my Tabernacle this day viz. That I did preach Christ and the Gospel in several places of this Nation for which I bless him as I can That ever such a poor obscure person as I am have been thus priviledged by him for making mention of his Grace as I was able In the next place though to many I die desired yet I know to not a few my Death is not desired and it is the rejoycing of my heart that I die in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ who has loved me and given himself for me and in the Faith of the Prophets and Apostles and in this Faith of there 's not a Name under Heaven by which Men can be saved but the Name of Jesus and in the Faith of the Doctrine and Worship of the Kirk of Scotland as it is now established according to the Word of God Confession of Faith Catechisms larger and shorter and likewise I joyn my Testimony against Popery Perjury Profanity Heresie and everything contrary to found Doctrine In the Close as a dying Person and as one who has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful I would humbly leave it upon godly Ministers to be faithful for their Lord and Master and not to hold their peace in such a day when so many wayâ— are taken for injuring of him his Nâ—me Way Sanctuary Ordinances Crown and Kingdom I hope there will be found a party in this Land that will continue for him and his Matters in all Hazzards and as faithfulnesâ—â—s called for in Ministers so Professors would concern themselves that they Countenance not nor abet any thing inconsistent with former Principles and Practices Let the Land consider how Neutral and Indifferent we are grown in the Matters of God even like Ephraiâ— long ago a Cake not turned As concerning that which is the ground of my Death viz. Preaching here and there in some Corners I bless my God I have not the leasâ— Challenge for it and tho' those that
to those poor Prisoners to be hereafter tryed and Lord if it be thy holy Will stop this issue of Christian Blood and let my guiltless Blood be the last spilt on this account Gentlemen all farewel farewel all the things of the World Then singing some few Verses of a Psalm and putting up some private Ejaculations to himself said O Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit and so submitted to the Executioner Sept. 7. 1685. The Behaviour and Dying Speech of Mr. Joseph Speed of Culliton AT the same time and place as he came near the place of his Execution he spying his Country-man and Friend called him and said I am glad to see you here now because I am not known in these parts being answered by his Friend I am sorry to see you in this Condition He replies It is the best day I ever saw I thank God I have not led my Life as Unchristian-like as many have done having since the years of 16 always had the Checks of Conscience on me which made me to avoid many gross and grievous Sins my course of Life hath been well known to you yet I cannot justifie my self all Men err I have not been the least of Sinners therefore cannot excuse my self but since my confinement I have received so great comfort in some assurance of the Pardon of my Sins that I can now say I am willing to die to be dissolved and to be with Christ and say to Death Where is thy Sting and to Grave Where is thy Victory Being ask'd by some rude Soldiers Whether he was not sorry for the Rebellion he was found guilty of He couragiously reply'd If you call it a Rebellion I assure you I had no sinister ends in being concerned for my whole design in taking up Arms under the D. of M. was to Fight for the Protestant Religion which my own Conscience dictated me to and which the said Duke Declared for and had I think a lawful Call and Warrant for so doing and do not question that if I have committed any sin in it but that it is pardoned Pray Mr. Sheriff let me be troubled no farther in answering of Questions but give me leave to prepare my self those few minutes I have left for another World and go to my Jesus who is ready to receive me Then calling to his Friend who stood very near him said My dear Friend you know I have a dear Wife and Children who will find me wanting being somewhat incumber'd in the World let me desire you as a Dying Man to see that she be not abused and as for my poor Children I hope the Father of Heaven will take care of them and give them Grace to be dutiful to their Distressed Mother and so with my dying Love to all my Friends when you see them I take leave of you and them and all the World desiring your Christian Prayers for me to the last moment then repeating some Sentences of Scripture as Colossians chap. 3. v. 1 2. If you then c. and praying very fervently said I thank God I have satisfaction I am ready and willing to suffer shame for his Name And so pouring forth some private Ejaculations to himself and lifting up his hands the Executioner did his Office Tâ—e Soldiers then present said They never before were so taken with a Dying Mâ—n's Speech his Courage and Christian-like Resolution caused many violent Men against the Prisoners to repent of their Tyranny towards them some of whom in a short time died full of horror And thus fell this good Man a true Protestant and one that held out to the end An account of those that suffer'd at Bridport and Lime AT Bridport one John Sparke who was a very good Man and behaved himself with a great deal of Christian-like Courage to the end His Speech and his Devotions c. must be omitted not being possible to take them by reason of the rudeness c. and the shortness of the time allowed him by the Souldiers Next place was Lime where many of Note died Particularly Col. Holmes who was the first of those there executed near the same place where they landed when they came ashore with the Duke of M. Being brought to the place after some difficulty for the Horses that were first put into the Sledge would not stir which oblige-those concerned to get others which they did from the Coachman who had that morning brought them to Town when they were put into the Sledge they broke it in pieces which caused the Prisoners to go on foot to the place of Execution where being come as I told you before the Colonel began thus at the foot of the Ladder he saâ— down with an Aspect altogether void of Fear but on the contrary with a kind of smiling Countenance so began to speak to the spectators to this purpose That he would give them an account of his first undertaking in the design which was long before in London for there be agreed to stand by and assist the D. of M. when opportunity offer'd in order to which he went to Holland with him and there continued until this Expedition in which God had thought fit to frustrate his and other good Mens Expectations He believed the Protestant Religion was bleeding and in a step towards Extirpation and therefore he with these his Brethren that were to suffer with him and Thousands more had adventured their Lives and their All to save it but God Almighty had not appointed 'em to be the Instruments in so glorious a Work yet notwithstanding he did verily believe and doubted not but that God would make use of others that should meet with better success tho the way or means was not yet visible but of this he did not doubt He also was satisfied of the D's Title so that matter did not afflict him on account of his engaging on his Score And going on further with a Discourse of this nature he was asked by a Person Why he did not pray for the King He with a smiling Countenance answer'd I am sorry you do not yet understand the difference between Speaking and Praying And having ended his Discourse he then prepared himself by Prayer for his Dissolution which was very devout and pious for half an hour which was as follows Colonel Holme's Last Prayer MOst glorious most great and most merciful God there is none in Heaven or in Earth that is like unto thee Heaven is thy Throne and the Earth is thy Footstool who shall say unto thee What doest thou Here we are poor deplorable Creatures come to offer up our last Prayers and Services unto thee we beseech thy favourable Ear to our Prayers and the comfort of thy holy Spirit at this time we praise and magnifie thy name for all the Dispensations of thy Providence towards us especially for this thy Providence in bringing us to this place and at this time to suffer shame for thy Name Help and assist all of us
being Rebels that we might have their Absolution I bless God he has hitherto helped me to be faithful and I hope he will not leave me in â—he most needful time I must conclude being ready to be called away my dear Love to all my Christian Friends and especially those in the Goal The Lord be with you all Amen Your dying Friend in hopes of Eternal Life through Jesus Christ Amen SAMPSON LARKE From the House of my blessed Bondage in Dorchester Sept. 7. 1685. An Account of those Executed at Sherborn AT Sherborn in the same County were Executed Twelve who all died Couragiously especially one Mr. Glisson of Yeovel in the County of Somerset his extraordinary deportment and carriage at the place of Execution was so very considerable as gave great satisfaction to his Friends and amazement to his Enemies He declared to the World that he died a true Protestant and had not ingaged with the Duke of Monmouth but judged it high time to stand up for the Defence of the same though God Almighty had thought fit to frustrate his Designs and to bring him to that place to Seal the same with his Blood Also John Savage and Richard Hall of Culliton in the County of Devon suffered at the same time and place in their particular Conversation they valued those most that they saw most of Piety in and pitied others that they saw not so well prepared saying that the remembrance of our vanity may cause compassion towards such as were in such a Condition exhorting all to be serious and to consider their latter end which deserved the greatest attention of Mind the way to die comfortably being to prepare for it seriously and if God should miraculously preserve us from this Death now before our eyes it should be the duty of us all to spend the remaining part of our time in such a manner as now when we see Death just at the door At the hour of Execution their chearfulness and comfort was much increased saying Now the Will of God will be done and be hath most certainly chosen that for us which is best with many other such like Christian Expressions too tedious here to be inserted because we design to keep to our first Intentions and not to swell this Tâ—eatise too big Upon the whole afâ—er they had with much earnestness recommended their Souls to the All-wise God by Prayer they all with much content and satisfaction submitted themselves to the Executioner not doubting of a happy Translation and accordingly were executed and quartered before the rest of the Executions in this County as at Weymouth Pool Shafton Wimborne c. not being there we shall pass over and only give you particular touches which we saw to our perfect knowledge and so we retuâ—n to Culliton in the County of Devon where John Sprague and William Clegg both of that Town were condemned at Exon and there brought to be Executed Before they were brought into the place a Messenger came from the Prisoners with a Request to the Vicar of the Parish to desire his Company and Assistance in this their Extremity and to Administer those spiritual Helps that were suitable to Men in their Circumstances Accordingly the said Minister came very readily and did demand of them VVhat they had to desire of him The dying Persons answered They desired his Prayers Accordingly he prayed with them a considerable space of time And after that he asked of them several Questions for to give him and the World satisfaction of the prepared Condition they were in in order to their lanching into Eternity especially about the Doctrine of Non-Resistance John Sprague very soberly and moderately replied but whether satisfactory or not we leave to the Reader He believed that no Christian ought to resist a lawful Power but the Case being between Popery and Prostantism altered the matter and the latter being in danger he believed that it was lawful for him to do what he did â—hough God in his Providence had thought fit to bring him to this place of Execution After reading a Chapter out of the Corinthians and singing a Psalm suitable to the occasion he very vehemently and fervently recommended his Soul to the All-wise God by Prayer for near half an hour to the great satisfaction of all that heard him then his Wife and Children coming to him weeping bitterly he imbraced them in his Arms saying VVeep not for me but weep for your selves and for your sins for that he had that quiet satisfaction that he was only going to be translated into a state of Bliss and Happiness where we should sin and sorrow no more but that all Tears should be wiped away wishing them to be diligent in the Service of God Then recommending his Wife and Children to the protection of the Almighty God who had promised to be a Husband to the VVidow and a Father to the Fatherless who was faithful and able to make up their loss in him in that which should be bettâ—â— for them than he could be desiring God to be a Refuge for them to fly to for security and preservation from the Troubles that seemed to threaten this poor Nation the which if they did conscientiously perform though Death here made a separation he doubted not of meeting them in Heaven at last And so the Executioner did his Office During which time his Brother-sufferer VVilliam Clegg was all the time on his Knees praying to himself with a seeming Zeal suddenly after which his turn being come to follow his Brother he only told the People That his Fellow-sufferer has spoken what he thought was necessary and they were also his Sentiments And so submitted to Execution An Account of those Executed at Axminster and Honiton AT Axminster one also was Executed his Name Mr. Rose he was a Gunner that landed with the Duke of Monmouth he had a great Resolution and not at all started with the fear of Death He said That he defy'd death and all them that were the occasion of it He was very couragious and died so He spent some time in private Prayer and was not allowed time because there was to be Execution at Honiton so that his Execution being over we past on to Honiton where four were executed one of which was a Chyrurgeon his Name if I do not mistake was Mr. Pott who behaved himself with that extraordinary Christian Courage that all the Spectators were almost astonished he being but young about Twenty his Prayers being servent his Expressions so pithy â—nd so becoming a Christian of greater Age that drew pity and compassion from all present a rude Fellow just before he was to be executed called for a Bottle of Wine and so began the Kings Health to one of the Guard which he perceiving Poor Soul said he Your Cup seemeth to be sweet to you and you think mine is bitter which indeed is so to Flesh and Blood but yet I have that assurance of the fruition of a future Estate
not only of Commission but of Omission also Hereby I have been brought to a more thorough deep inward sense and feeling of the absolute necessity of the righteousness of Christ to justifie me and he hath been made much more dear and precious to my Soul than ever he was before Hereby my Soul hath been more refin'd from the Drofs of sensuality wrought into a more Heavenly Frame raised up to a higher pitch of Spirituality hereby I am made more meek and humble and so judge more charitably of others that differ from me in Opinion and Judgment so though by Gods most righteous Judgment I have been apprehended and most justly and deservedly undergo this Suffering for my Sins yet I hope they have wrought for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory fitting and preparing me making me a better qualified Subject for and far more meet to be a Partaker of the same â—y the Grace and Strength of God I will not purchase my Life by the Death and Blood of my Protestant Brethren but choose to die rather than be a Betrayer of them the impetuous and violent assault of this I dreaded more than Death it self Blessed be God I was not exposed unto it and conquered by it as some have been having such full boâ—ily vigour and strength being in such perfect Heâ—lth notwithstanâ—ing my Age predominating in me it hath made it more difficult to die than if I had been clogged and incumber'd with infirmities made to bow and stoop under them by pâ—evailing Diseases and Distempers gradually worn out therewith which many times makes men weary of Life and to desire to die and this in Conjunction with many things which I forbâ—ar to mention highly gratifying and pleasing to sense which I must leave for ever strengthens and heightens the Difficulty and begets a gâ—eater Regret and Reluctancy in my Will to have the Earthly Tabernacle of my Body dissolved and my Soul to dislodge and quit the same But now when the black and gloomy Shades of Death do overspread me I can say to the glory of Gods most Free and Powerful Grace True Faith in some measure hath changed the difficulty into a Facility and easiness of dying It hath very much subdued the reluctancy of my Will against it for it makes Future things present and invisible things visible and doth realize and substantiate the same to me and as by it I penetrate and pierce into Eternity and behold invisible and immortal things so hereby blessed be God I have obtained a greater Victory over Sense The World is crucified to me and I to the World and all the most pleasant and delightful Objects therein all finite faâ—â—ing Creatures Comforts and Enjoyments are become minute and small despicable and contemptible to me in comparison thereof being infinitely câ—ntained and comprehended therein Shall my Soul clasp and cling about these mortal and perishing things Shall it cleave and be glued to them Shall it be confin'd and captivated into what is kept in the narrow bounâ—s of Time and in this lower World shall it earnâ—stly desire and thirst for muddy Streams yea Rivers of Flesh-pleasing good when by an Eye of Faith I can look into the Indeficient Inexhaustible purest Fountain the Immense Immensurate Ocean of Divine Good hoping to drink thereof to swim and bathe my Soul therein for ever and ever And when I consider how long my Ears have been bound up and tyed to their innumerable and horrid Oaths and cursed Blasphemies and mine eyes to see the Profanation of the Day of God and when I beheld such an overflowing Flood of most prodigious Impiety such an inundation of most monstrous Iniquity and so much Hell upon Earth and that there is so much decay of holy Zeal and true Piety and Christian Religion among the Professors of it such seeming incurable Breaches and Divisions such expiring Love and Charity and parting 's among 'em it hath powerful influence on my Soul to reconcile it more to Death and makes it electively and from choice to leave this present World and to take up my abode in that which is unseen and future where there shall be nothing but perfect love and holiness a sinless state and serving God with all unweariedness and perfection with the highest complacency and delight that immortal Souls can be capable of there is perfect peace and concord the innumerable Company of Angels and the Spirits of Just Men made perfect all fastned together with indissolvible and uninterrupted Chains of most pure Love and all continually wrapt up in and transported with the highest Admiration of God's Love his infinite and incomprehensible excellencies and perfections singing Halelujahs to him without ceasing and triumphing in his praise for ever and ever The Consideration also that I know so little of these sublime profound and Divine Mysteries of the most glorious Mystery of Salvation by Jesus Christ that I am so uncapable to fathom the depth of the Providences of God whose ways are in the Sea and whose paths are in the deep Waters and whose footsteps are not known and particulaâ—ly in the late stupendous and amazing one and that I am so ignorant of the Nature of Angels and Spirits with their Offices and Operations and of their high and glorious exâ—ellencies and that I am so little acquainted with the Nature of my own Soul as at present dwelling in and united to my Body and as disunited and separated from it how without Corporeal Organs it shall most vivaciously and vigorously peâ—form all its proper Functions and Offices and more than ever strongly and indefatigably serve the Lord Jesus most fervently and abundantly love him and delight in him every way much more obtain the supream and highest end of its Creation and Being and this makes me much more willing to die that I may have the knowledg thereof with innumerahle other things that I am now either ignorant of or do but imperfectly know and so be made happy by a plenitude of fulness of injoying intellectual Pleasures which are of all other most suitable sweet and satisfactory to immortal Souls And also I see that he that departs from iniquity makes himself a Prey and so many plunging themselves into the ways of Iniquity lest they should be accounted odious and vile which makes them so much degenerate not only from Christianity but from Humanity it self as if they were scarce the Excrement of either contemning even that most Noble Generous Heroick Spirit that dwelt in many Heathens who accounted it most honourable and glorious to contend for their Rights and Liberties yea to suffer Death and the worst of Deaths in Defence of the same and judge them accursed and most execrable in the World that do so and not only so but for their own profit and advantage have many of them inslaved their Posterity by it and are most industrious and laborious most fierce and furious to destroy them whereby they are become as unnatural as Children
King's Mercy from being extended tâ— me as I am told but the Will of the Lord be done the Life to come is infinitely better than this Many more things are laid to my Charge which I am no more guitly of than your self If your Vncle be in Town go speedily to him and give him my dear Love I pray for you who am Your most Affectionate Uncle J. H. Octob. 5. 1685. A Letter to his Wife Sept. 23. 1685. My Dearest Love I Hope you received a few Lines from me by the way of London once more I write to you by your faithful and trusty Friend W. D. who hath been at Exon. If there be need for it he knows many of my dear and faithful Friends there who wish you would come and live among them and if your Estate fail I think iâ— very advisable so to do I hope God will stand by you and defend you My dear seâ— me in God as I must you I must now bid adieu to all Earthly and Worldly Comforts and all the pleasant and delightful Objects of Sense I bless God for all present Mercies and Comforts hitherto I have had what will be after this day I know not but the Will of the Lord be done My Dear Be very cautious not to speak one Word lest it be wrested to a wrong Sense which may ruinâ— you I have not writ what I would of this Nature take the Advice of Friends and of what I send by our Friend O let not the Everlasting Arms of God be with-drawn from you one Moment and let him strengthen you with all Might according to his glorious Power and to all Patience and Long-suffering with Joyfulness Pray hard for Victory over Passion and be much in private Closet Prayer with God and often read the Holy Bible and other good Books the Lord continually guide direct and counsel you My Dear I return you a thousand thanks for all the Love you have shew'd me and my Children and particularly for the high and great Demoâ—stration you have given hereof in this day of my distress I hope my Daughters will be as dutiful to you and be as much concerned for your comfort and welfare as if you had travelled with them and brought them into the world God bless my dear little Ones and them together I shall die their most affectionate and praying Father God I hope will uphold support and comfort me at the last hour and enable me to overcome the Temptations I shall violently be assaulted with before I die God by his infinite and freest Mercies in Jesus Christ pardon all the neglect of Relative Duties which I have bitterly lamented and bewail'd before God with all the Sins I am guilty of for the sake of our dearest Lord and Redeemer The Lord make you grow in all Gracâ— more than ever and make this great Affliction so humbly purifying and spiritualizing to you as wâ—ll as me that it may work for us both a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory Let him take your Soul into his most dearest Embraces and lodge it in the bosom of his Love here and make us to meet in the full and everlasting Fruition and Enjoyment of him hereafter Though it be daâ—gerous for you to vindicate that I die for yet be not too much cast down for it I will say no more as to that My hearty and affectionate Respects to all my dear Friends I need not name them I hope to meet them with your self to inherit Eternal Life through the Merits of Christ's Death Farewel my Dear farewel in the Lord until we meet to be married to him for ever My heart is as full of Love to thee as it was the first day I married thee and if God spar'd my Life it should have been as fully manifested until death Therefore I rest Your most Affectionate and Endeared Husband J. H. Sept. 23. 1685. Another Letter My Dearest Love I Received your Letter by Mr. Skinner I bless God that you and my Babes are well the Lord continue their Lives to be a Blessing and Comfort to you and enable you to see them well Educated in the fear of God and when God takes me away let him be a Husband to guide direct succour comfort and support you and to lodge your Soul in the Bosom of his Love and let him be a Father to them and their Portion for ever Monday last my Brother went to London to try what could be done for me what the success will be I know not I desire the Lord every day to prepare me for Death and carry me above the Fear of it by the discoveries of his everlasting Love unto my Soul and clearing up my Right and Title to everlasting Life and by Sealing up to me the Pardon of all my Sins through the most precious Blood of Jesus Chrâ—st Let uâ— pray hard and much for each othâ—r When I leave this world it shall be with Prayer foâ—â—hee if God give me life how shall I study to be a comfort to thee and to live up to my Marriage as well as Baptismal â—ovenant to all my Friends Tendâ—r my affectionate Respects I hope their Prayers will one way or other be heard for me let the Almighty be your Proâ—â—ctor Supporter and Comforter There be two Books I do recommend to you to read when you are retir'd as well as in your Family Pierce's Preparation for Death and Fox's Redâ—mption of Time Now let our Soulâ— meet together in one most Blessed God in our dearest Jesus and sweetest Saviour let them clasp and cling about him and be sick for the love of hâ—m and that we may meet to enjoy him fully to Etâ—rnity and be satisfied with his Love for ever A thousand Loves if I had them I would send to thee next to my dearest Lord Jesus and the things that are heavenly spiritual and immortal I love thee what I can spare for thee is convey'd to thee and my dear Children from Thy most Affectionate and Faithful Husband and their most loving Father J. H. Another Letter My most dear Love I Hope you have received my last once more as a dead aâ—d living Man through difficulty I write to you though I yet do not know when or where I shall die but expect Death every day when that Message is brought to me I hope through the Grace and Strengâ—h of Christ it will be no surprize to me that neither my Lips Flesh nor Heart will tremble when I hear it I know the cause for which I suffer God hath and has singled me out from many of my Brethren which I never have been without some apprehensions of for above these twenty years to lay down my Life how far it is for his Cause will be judged at the last day I bless God who hath kept me from all Temptations to Conformity though it has brought me to ruine and destruction in this world it will be no fit Season for you to Vindicate
Jealousie and Care The slighted Lover's Maggots and Despair A Womans Body every day to dress A fickle Soul little as theirs or less The Courtiers business th' Impudence o' th' Stage And the defeated Father Peter's Rage A Clock â—ork Spouse with loud eternal Clack A Shop i' th' Change still ty'd to What d' ye lack Worse than these last if any Curses more Ovid e're knew or fiercer Oldham's store 'Till not one part in Body or Soul be free May all their barbed Vengeance show'r on thee Presâ—'d with their weight long may'st thou raving lye Enâ—ying an Halter but not dare to dye And when Condemn'd thou dost thy Clergy plead Some frightful Fiend deny thee Power to read Madness Despair Confusion Rage and Shame Attend you to the Place from whence you came To Tyburn thee let carrion Horses draw In jolting Cart without so much as straw Jaded may they lye down i' th' road and tyr'd And worse than one fair hanging twice bemir'd May'st thou be maul'd with Pulchers Sexton 's Sermon 'Till thou roar out Hemp-sake Drive on Car-man Pelted and Curst i' th' road by every one E'ne to be hâ—ng'd may'st thou the Gauntlet run Not one good Woman who in Conscience can Cry out 'T is pity Troth a proper Man Stupid and dull may'st thou rub off like Hone Without an open or a smother'd groan May the Knot miss the place and fitted be To plague and torture not deliver thee Be half a day a Dying thus and then Revive like Savage to be Hang'd agen In piâ—y now thou shalt no longer Live For when thus satiâ—fi'd I can forgive John Carter THE LIFE and DEATH OF GEORGE Lord JEFFREYS REader Think it not strange if I present you with the memorable Life and Actions of a Person so well known in this great Kingdom And peradventure Fame has not been silent in other Countreys especially since he has been advanced to be a Chief Minister of State and sat as it were steering at the Helm of Government Various indeed are the Changes of Worldly Affairs and the Actions of Human Life which have been more particularly exemplified in the Rise and Fall of the Person the Subject of this Discourse who from almost a mean obscurity soar'd to the losty Pyramid of Honour where for a while like an unfixed Star he appeared to the Eyes of the wondring Nation giving an imperfect lustre till by the sudden turn and change of unsteady Fortune he dropt headlong from his Sphere and lost at once his Grandeur and his Power To let Mankind see how little trust there is to be given to the smiles of flattering Greatness especially when attained by violent and pressing motions I now proceed to trace this unfortunate Favourite in the sundry Capacities and Stations that have hitherto made up the Series of his Life He was born at Acton near Wrexam in Denbighshire in Wales about the Year 1648. his Fathers name was Jeffreys being reputed a Gentleman in that Country though of no large Fortune or Estate however he lived very comfortably on what he had improving his yearly Income by his Industry and gain'd by his plain and honest Endeavours a good repute amongst the Gentry of those Parts Insomuch that it was not long before he upon the recommendation of some Person of Interest and Ability gain'd a Wife of a good House and they lived very comfortably together in their rural Habitation being far from Ambition or striving for Court-favour but contented with what God had blessed them with and the fruits of their own Industry they found a solid Happiness in that Contentment Nor had they lived together any considerable time but amongst other Children the fruits of Wedlock God was pleased to bestow on them the Person who is intended the Subject of this Discourse who was in due time Baptized by the Christian Name of George whether he had Godfathers c. it does not occur however he under the care and diligence of his industrious Parents grew up and appear'd to all that studied him of a very prompt and ready Wit active and striving for Preeminence even among his Compeers in his tender Age which lively demonstrated that an Air of Ambition was inherent to his Person As soon as he was capable to receive Learning he was put to a Country School where he was furnished with such Education as that afforded which was not extraordinary yet his Natural Parts set it off to the best Advantage and growing to years of somewhat a ripe Understanding and not very tractable his Father by the Advice of some of his Confidents caused him to be brought to London and finding him not inclinable to any Trade but rather addicted to Study he entred him or by his procurement he was entered into the Free-School of Westminster where he profited much so that he was by the care of the worthy Master thereof soon enabled to understand the Languages or at least so many of them as were convenient for the study of the Law which above other things he aimed at tho' his Father seemed not very plyable to his desires for perceiving in his Soul a more than ordinary Spark of Ambition fearing it might kindle into a flame and prove one day his ruine he laboured to hinder the ways he conceiv'd most likely to bring it upon him and is reported to say when he found he could not dissuade him from what he purposed gently clapping him on the back Ah George George I fâ—ar thou wilt die with thy Shoes and Stockings on What he meant by that Expression I determine not but leave the Reader to interpret Upon the Coming in of King Charles the Second and the restoring the Face of Affairs in the Kingdom the Law reviv'd again and began to flourish the Practitioners liv'd in much Credit and Reputation and many of them purchased large Estates which served to wing the desire of this Person with impatience and some say he was the rather incited to it by a Dream he had whilst a Scholar at Westminster School viz. That he should be the chief Scholar in that School and afterward should enrich himself by Study and Industry and that he should come to be the second Man in the Kingdom but in conclusion should fall into great disgrace and misery This is confidently reported and some say himself told it to sundry Persons since when he found the second part of it was fulfilled by acquiring the Chancellourship and standing high in the Favour of his Prince However We find the latter part did not deter him from his purpose for having enter'd himself in the Inner-Temple House one of the Chief Inns of Court after his performing such things as are conformable to the Customs of the House we find him call'd to the Bar by the Interest he made with the Benchers and Heads of that Learned Society earlier than had been usual leaping over the Heads of elder Graduates This happening about the Twentieth year of the Reign of
to save A Bleeding Monarch from the Grave By every hapless Virgin Curst VVinter Blasts not more unkind Deaf as the rugged Northern VVind By some Welsh Wolf in Murders nurst Hast thou Eyes or hast thou none Or are they worse than Marble grown Since Marbles weep at Silvia's moan Rebels stiff and supple Slaves All the frantick VVorld divide One must stoop and to'ther ride Cringing Fools and Factious Knaves Tho' falling on the losers part Gently Death arrests my Heart And has in Hony dipt his Dart. Life farewel thou gaudy Dream Painted o're with Griefs and Joys VVhich the next short hour destroys And drowns them all in Lethe's Stream VVhat blest Mortal would not die Might he with me Embalmed lye In preâ—ious Tears from Silvia's Eye His Character ALL that knew or saw him must own Mr. Battiscomb was very much a Gentleman Not that thin sort of Animal that flutters from Tavern to Play-house and back again all his Life made up of Wig and Crevat without one dram of Thought in his composition but one who had solid worth well drest and set out to the World His Body made a very handsom and creditable Tenement for his Mind and 't had been pity it shou'd have liv'd in any other He was pretty tall well made I think inclining to Black not altogether unlike Mr. Benjamin Hewling as He has bin thought to resemble the Duke of Monmouth He was Witty Brave exactly Honourable Pious and Virtuous and if ever that Character belong'd to any Man it did eminently to Mr. Battiscomb That he liv'd universally belov'd and dy'd as generally lamented Mr. William Jenkyns HIS Father was sufficiently known and his Circumstances hard enough being seized only for his Opinion and clapt up close in Newgate where the inconvenience of the place and want of the Exercise he formerly enjoy'd quickly kill'd him as he used to say before his Confinement 't would certainly do if ever it happen'd Thus was he requited by that very person for whom with Mr. Love he ventured his Life so deeply and so hardly escaped with it 'T was his inhuman Treatment which edg'd and animated his Son and the revenge of his Fathers Blood may be presum'd to have gone very far in pushing him on to engage his Life and Fortune in this undertaking he having given Funeral Rings for his Father with this Posie VVilliam Jenkyns murder'd in Newgate He was his Fathers only Son who had taken care to have him educated suitable to his ingenuous Birth and Inclinations he improved â—â—fficiently in all useful Learning and was now about one or two and twenty He and several Young Gentlemen rode down from London a little before the Duke landed and were taken on suspition and laid up in Ilchester Goal till the Duke himself came and relieved them He continued in his Army till the Rout when if I mistake not he got to Sea and was forc'd back again with the Hâ—wlings or some others He was condemned at the Bloody Assizes in Dorchester A Friend discoursing to him at Dorchester about his Pardon and telling him the doubtfulness of obtaining it he replyed Well Death is the worst they can do and I bless God that will not surprize me for I hope my gâ—eat work is done At Taunton being advised to govern the Airiness of his Temper telling him it made People apt to censure him as inconsiderate of his Condition to which he answer'd Truly this is so much my natural Temper that I cannot tell how to alter it but I bless God I have and do think seriously of my eternal Conceâ—ns I do not allow my self to be vain but I find cause to â—e chearful for my Peace is made with God through Jesus Christ my Lord this is my only ground of Comfort and Cheerfulness the security of my Interest in Christ for I expect nothing but Death and without this I am sure Death would be most dreadful but having the good hope of thiâ— I cannot be melancholy When he heard of the triumphant Death of those that suffered at Lyme he said This is a good Encouragement to depend upon God Then speaking about the mangling of their Bodies he said Well the Resurrection will restore all with great advantage the 15th Chapter of the first of Corinthians is Comfort enough for all Believers Discoursing much of the certainty and felicity of the resurrection at another time he said I will as I think I ought use all lawful means for the saving of my Life and then if God please to forgive my sins I hope I shall as chearfully embrace Death Upon the design of attempting an escape he said VVe use this means for the preserving our Lives but if God is not with us it will not effect it it is our business first to to seek to him for Direction and Success if he sees good with resigning our Lives to him and then his VVill be done After the Disappointments when there was no prospect of any other Opportunity he spake much of the admirableness of God's Providence in those things that seem most against us bringing the greatest good out of them for said he VVe can see but a little way God is only wise in all his Disposals of us if we were left to chuse for our selves we should choose our own Misery Afterwards discoursing of the Vanity and unsatisfyingness of all things in this World he said It is so in the enjoying we never find our Expectations answer'd by any thing in it and when Death comes it puts an end to all things we have been pursuing here Learning and Knowledge which are the best things in thiâ— world will then avail nothing nothing but an interest in Christ is then of any worth One reading to some of his Fellow-Prisoners Jer. 42.12 I will shew mercy unto you that he may have mercy upon you and cause you to return to your own Land he said Yes we shall but not in this World I am perswaded September the 29 th at Night after he heard he must die the next morning he was exceedingly composed and chearful expressing his Satisfaction in the will of God The next morning he was still more spiritual and chearful discovering a very sweet Serenity of Mind in all that he said and did Whilst he was waiting for the Sheriff reading the Scriptures meditating and conversing with those about him of Divine things amongst other things said he I have heard much of the Glory of Heaven but I am now going to behold it and understand what it is Being desir'd to disguise himself to attempt an escape he said No I cannot tell how to disturb my self about it and methinks it is not my business now I have other things take up my thoughts if God saw good to deliver me he would open some other Door but seeing he has not it is more for the honour of his Name we should die and so be it One saying to him that most of the Apostles died a violent