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
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
Battiscomb HE was another Young Gentleman of a good Family and very great hopes and of a fair Estate which lay in Dorsetshire somewhere between Dorchester and Lyme He had studied sometime at the Temple and having Occasions in the Country about the time of my Lord Russel's Business he was there seiz'd on suspicion of being concern'd in 't and clapt into the County Goal at Dorchester where he behaved himself with that Prudence and winning Sweetness and shew'd so much Wit and innocent pleasantry of Temper as extreamly obliged both all his Keepers and Fellow-Prisoners and even Persons of the best Quality in that Town 'T is indeed a genteel well-bred place as almost any in England at such a Distance from London The Streets are fair and large and Buildings pretty regular two sweet plentiful Rivers running by it It stands on a Chalky Hill but wants not store of good Water The Market-house is a pleasant little Pile that very much sets off the Town There are three Churches in 't and one in its adjoyning Parish 'T is endowed with several Alms-houses a good Grammar-School well enough provided which has had the happiness of ingenious Masters and by their Care produced no inconsiderable number of good Scholars There are two or three fine old Roman Fortifications near the Town which Camden and Speed take notice of The People on 't are generally Civil and Gallant enough if not a little on the extream that way They knew how to value such a Gentleman as Mr. Battiscomb and made him such frequent Visits in the Prison till the place it self was so far from being Scandalous that there was generally all the Conversation and where you might be sure to meet the best Company in the Town of both Sexes Mr. Battiscomb had the happiness not to be displeasing to the Fair Sex who had as much Pity and Friendship for him as consisted with the Rules of Decency and Vertue and perhaps their Respect for him did not always stop at Friendship tho' it still preserved the other bounds inviolable Pity is generally but a little way from Love especially when the Object of it is any thing extraordinary But after he had been there some time and nothing could be prov'd against him which could any ways affect him he was at length almost unwillingly deliver'd from this sort of happy slavery And when the Duke landed appear'd with him and serv'd him with equal Faith and Valour till the Rout at Sedgmoor when he fled with the rest and got up as far as Devonshire where he was seiz'd in a Disguise and brought to his Old Palace the Prison at Dorchester He behav'd himself there the second time in the same courteous obliging manner as he did at the first tho' now he seem'd more thoughtful and in earnest than before as knowing nothing was to be expected but speedy Death Tho' his Courage never droop't but was still the same if it did not increase with his Danger At his Tryal Jefferyes rail'd at him with so much eagerness and barbarity that he was observ'd almost to foam upon the Bench. He was very angry with him because he was a Lawyer and could have been contented all such as he should be hang'd up without any Trial and truly 't was no great matter whether he or the rest had had that Formality or no. Mr. Battiscomb was as undaunted at the Bar as in the Field or at Execution How he demeaned himself in Prison before his Death take this following Account verbatim as 't was written by his Friends Tho' that which occur'd most remarkable after his Sentence must not be omitted Several Young Ladies in the Town among whom one who is particularly mention'd in the Poem went to Jeffreys to beg his Life who repulst 'em at such a bruitish rate as nothing with one Spark of humanity would have been Guilty of and in a manner even too uncivil to be mentioned The Particulars may be seen in the Petition of the Widows and Orphans of that Country The Account given of him by his Relations HE was observed to be always serious and chearful ready to entertain Spiritual Discourse manifesting Affection to God's People and his Ordinances he seem'd to be in a very calm indifference to Life or Death referring himself to God to determin it expressing his great satisfaction as to some Opportunities of Escape that were slipt saying That truly he sometimes thought the Cause was too good to flee from suffering in it tho' he would use all lawful means for his Life but the Proâ—idence of God having prevented this he was sure it was best for him for he said be blest God he could look into Eternity with Comfort He said with respect to his Relations and Friends to whom his Death would be afflictive that he was willing to live if God saw good but for his own part he thought Death much more desirable He said I have enjoyed enough of this World but I never found any thing but Vanity in it no rest or satisfaction God who is an Infinite Spiritual Being is the only suitable Object for the Soul of Man which is spiritual in its Nature and too large to be made happy by all that this world can afford which is all but sensual Therefore methinks I see no reason why I should be unwilling to leave it by Death since our Happiness can never be perfected till then till we leave this Body where we are so continually clogg'd with Sin and Vanity frivolous and foolish Trifles Death in it self is indeed terrible and Natural Courage is too low to encounter it nothing but an interest in Christ can be our comfort in it he said which Comfort I hope I have intimating much advantage to his Soul by his former Imprisonment The day he went from Dorchester to Lyme after he had received the News of his Death the next day he was in the same serious cheerfulness declaring still the same Apprehension of the desirableness of Death and the great supports of his Mind under the Thoughts of so sudden passing through it alone from the hope of the Security of his Interest in Christ taking leave of his Friends with this Farewel Tho' we part here we shall meet in Heaven Passing by his Estate going to Lyme he said Farewel Temporal Inheritance I am now going to my heavenly eternal one At Lyme the Morning that he died it appeared that he had the same supports from God meeting Deâ—th with the same cheerfulness and after he had prayed a while to himself without any appearance of Reluctancy yielded up his Spirit Sept. 2. 1865. A Poem on a Lady that came to my Lord Chief Justice to beg Mr. Battiscomb's Life Sister to one of the Sheriffs in the West which he denied HArder than thine own Native Rocks To let the Charming Silvia kneel And not one spark of Pity feel Harder than sensless Stones and Stocks Ye Gods what showers of Pearls she gave VVhat precious Tears enough
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
Memory of these Martyrs who suffered for their vigorous appearance against them and lastly to thank God sincerely and in good earnest that we may now if occasion be defend our Religion and Liberties with our Swords which they could only do by laying down their Lives FINIS An Impartial HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF GEORGE Lord JEFFREYS LATE Lord Chancellour OF ENGLAND The Fourth Edition with large Additions LONDON Printed for Iohn Dunton at the Raven in the Poultry 1693. TO GEORGE Lord JEFFREYS LATE Lord Chancellour of ENGLAND My Lord I Know not to whom I could more properly Dedicate a Treatise of this Nature than to your Lordship who lately was Lord Chief Justice of England and have set such remarkable Copies to inferiour Magistrates What is here offered may serve as a Mirrour in which future Administrators of Publick Justice would do well to look for you may remember my Lord if your Lordships present Afflictions have not made you forget as much Law as you ever learnt Common Law â—uns much upon Presidents And if a Man happen to have none of the best Physiognomies there is no reason why he should streight grow angry and fling stones to break all the Looking-Glasses he meets with only because they represent the true Figure of the Object My Lord The following Treatise is a true Account of your Lordships Life and Actions most of which are ready to be attested upon Oath of your unheard of Cruelties and barbarous Proceedings in your whole Western Circuit In which all may see at what dear rates our Western Martyrs puchased their Religion and how that it cost those glorious Sufferers thaâ— so lately went off the Stage under your Lordships Sentence both Whippings and cruel Imprisoâ—ments â—nd the most exquisite Tortures which none could invent or inflict but your Lordship whose good nature is sufficiently experienced nor any endure but they whose gallant and noble Souls were born up with heavenly Cordials and a Power from on high But my Lord rest assured that their Blâ—od still cries for Vengeance and will be a lasting Monument of your Lordships Câ—uelties whilst History can speak or transmit to incredulous Posterity the Remarkables of elapsed Ages for Hang Draw and Quarter and Try Men afterwards Witness Sir Thomas Armstrong's death c. has been your peculiar Talent But you Lordship will now â—t last do well to remember that King Alfred caused fourty four Judges in one year to be hangâ—d as murderers for their false Judgments I hope your Lordship will pardon this present Address seeing 't is a priviledge we modern Authors hold by Prescription to put any great Body's Name in the Front of our Book Princes have not been able to exempt themselves or their Families from the Persecution of Dedications nor ever was there I humbly conceive any Rule made in your Lordships Court to forbid them Suffer then I beseech your Lordship this Address to remain a Monument to Posterity of the sentiments this Age has of your Lordships Conduct and Merits and Witness to all the World how much its Author is Your Lordship 's Most humble Servant JAMES BENT A POEM To the MEMORY of GEORGE Lord JEFFREYS I Cannot hold hot struggling Rage aspires And crowds my free-born breast witâ— noblâ— fires Whilst prudent fools squeak Treason through the Nose And whine a quivering Vote in sneaking Prose My Muse soars out of reach and dares despise What e're below atteâ—pts to Tyrannize Tho I by some base Nero shouâ—d be clad In such a Gown as the old Christians had In Clouds of Satyr up to Heaven I 'de roul For he could burn my shell but not my Soul Tho Nature her auspicious aid refuse Revenge and Anger shall inspire my Muse Nature has given me a complaining part And murder'd Protestants a resenting Heart Then room for bloody Jeffreys or he 'll swear By all the Aps from St. Cadwalladar Prutus hur creat Cranfather if hur enquire And Adam's Cranfather was Prutus sire Famous ap Shâ—nkin was hur elder Brother Some Caledonian Sycorax hur Mother Or some she De'il more damn'd than all the rest At their blaâ—k Feast hur lustful Sirâ— comprest Thence do I thâ—nk this Câ—codemon rose Whose wrathful Eyâ—s his inward baseness shows His shape is all inhumâ—n and uncouth But yet he 's chiefly Devâ—l about the MOUTH With care this Brat was nurs'd for fear it shou'd Grow tame and so degen'rate into good With City charteâ—s he was wrap'd about And Acts of Parliament for swadling-clout As he grew up he won a noble Fame For which Squire Ketch hath sworn him publick shame And won't it be a pretty sight to see 't The Hang man Rope and bloody Jeffreys meet Jeffreys who cherisht spite as all can tell Jeffreys who was the darling Brat of Hell Oft with success this mighâ—y Blast did bawl Where loudest Lungs and biggest Words win all And still his clenched Arguments did end With that home-thrust He is not Caesar's Friend Sometimes that jaded Ears he might release Good Man he has been fee'd to hold his Peace Hear him but never see him and you 'd swear He was the Cryâ—r not the Counseller He roars as if he only chanc'd to find Justice was now grown deaf as well as blind This Dâ—my fiâ—nd this Hurricane of Man Was sent to butcher all i' th' West he can 'T was him the Popish Party wisely chose To splutter Law and the dinn'd Rabble pose They have a thousand Tongues yet he can roar Far louder tho they had a thousand more Unto long winded Cook he scorns to go But Pleads His Majesty will have it so He 's for all Mischief set by Nature bred He rails at all before him and is fed Hyaena like by tearing up the Dead Th'unluckiest Satyrist alive that still Writes his own Character in all that 's ill Of all the World most fit a Vice t' expose That all its Cause Effects and Motions knows Stranger to none can no advantage lose Big with conceit the empty shape looks great His own dear self obligingly doth treat Rewards his Soul in any garb will lap His ductile Soul will put on any shape Vice hath his Patronage and there 's no fear But Hell in time may his Protection share The rather'cause the God of Gold is there He courts loud rumour but lâ—ts truth alone Conscious of guilt he shuns being justly known And by 's oft changing flyes a definition Learn'd but in ill Ingenious but in spite Virtuous by accident by chance a Wit Modest when beat in suffering valiant Honest when forc'd and moderate when in want True but for interest Civil but for dread Devout for Alms and Loyal but for bread Thy mushroom Greatness I dare now arraign For all thy Hectoring now will be in vain Here take this Pass ere we for ever part Then run and then Farewell with all my heart The Lawyers yelling in their feign'd debate And the fleec'd Client's Wisdom all too late The keeping Cully's
a Malefactor he is said to have wish'd He had never learn'd to write Jeffreys on the other side then only seem'd in his Element when in the midst of Destruction and Murther For his Religion What a sort of one 't was his Life past sufficiently tells us tho he and his good Brother Commissioner the Balswagger of Chester maliciously persuade thâ— world that they were of the Church of England that after they cou'd do it no more mischief with their Liveâ— they might disgrace it by their Deaths pretending both to die in that Communion But 't is mean to follow 'em any further unless with a wish somewhat like that handsom one History leaves us That all K. William and Q. Mary's Enemies were as honourable bury'd Or in the inspired words of a great Person So O Lord let all thine Enemies perish A Letter to the Lord Chancellor exposing to him the Sentiments of the People with some pertinent Advice in the conclusion My Lord I 'De praise your Lordship but you 've had your share Of that before if not too much by far And now a nobler Field for curses are Yet I 'll not curse but leave you to the crowd Who never baulk their Rage but speak aloud In all the Labrynth's of your crimes they 'll track ye Worse than ten thousand Furies they 'll attack ye We talk not here of Penal Laws or Test Nor how you King of Terrours in the West With more than human Cruelty opprest Those whose Shades now stab through your Anxious Breast To these I leave you each with brandish'd Dart Throughly revenge his Quarrel at your Heart For me I 'll only let your Lordship see How they resent your chang'd Felicity Now may you hear the People as they scoure Along not fear to Damn the Chancellor The Women too and all the tender Crew That us'd to pity all now laugh at you The very Boys how do they grin and prate And giggle at the Bills upon your Gate Nay rather than be frustrate of their hope The Women will contribute for a Rope And those fine Locks that no bless'd Spark might touch On this account Ketch may they love my Lord so much Oh for Dispensing now ah now 's the time Your Eloquâ—nce will hardly blanch the crime And all the turnings of your Proteus-wit With all your little tricks won't help a bit Ev'n that fine Tongue in which your Lordships trust is Now won't altho sometimes it baffled Justice No Ignoramus Juries shall perplex ye But with their Billa vera's now they 'll vex ye From their dire claws no hiding hole you 'll find They speak their own now not a Parties mind Not now as heretofore when on the Bench Flattery and daubing had such Influence And Jeffreys for a Gift would with the Laws dispence But granting all our Laws be out of joint Why yet they do not fear to gain the point A High commission may the Cause decide Your Lordship by a Butcher may be try'd When by commission he is dignify'd His Power you must not doubt if he be satisfy'd This 't is they mean 't is this they wou'd have done But I wou'd chouse 'em ' ery Mothers Son Troth I 'de ' en hang my self ' en quickly done If you 've no Halter never make a pother Take but a Greater one's as good as to'ther For Lord should such a Man as you submit To be the publick Laughter of each grinning Cit Else my Lord take a Razor never fear And cut your Lordships Throat from Ear to Ear. 'T is feasible enough you know who did it Cut both the Jug'lar Veins thro' if you can Else you 'll say Essex was the stouter man I am your Lordships in any thing of this Nature From the little House over against Tyburn where the People are almost dead with expectation of you Jeffreys ELEGY I Very well remember on a Night Or rather in the peep of Morning Light When sweet Aurora with a smiling Eye Call'd up the Birds to wonted Melody Dull Morpheus with his weight upon me leant Half waking and yet sleeping thus I Dreamt Methoughts I saw a Lawyer at his Book Studying Pecunia but never Cooke He scorned Littleton and Plowden too With Mouldy Authors he 'd have nought to do Next Stage I saw him on was Hicks's Hall And heard him mightily to roar and bawl Never did City cryer louder yaul The People star'd at such a noise uncouth Who is 't cries one why 't is the cities Mouth Then straight I saw him plac'd the more 's the pity To be the Speaking Trumpet of the City Knight and Recorder he was made together This Man thought I will live in any Weather Money came in he then grew mighty rich And to climb higher had a deadly Itch. Then presently a Popish Priest came to him That Square Cap Curr thought I will sure undo him Wilt thou now be prefer'd come hither come And be but reconciled unto Rome And for Advancement thou maist rest upon her None of her Sons e're wanted Wealth or Honour Do but declare against the Whiggs and say Thou hates the Ill-contriv'd Fanatick way With that methoughts I saw him tack about And straight he Courted the Curs'd Romish rout Esteem'd it happiness enough to go And kiss his Holinesses stinking Toe Next place I saw him in was Justice Chair Who fled away because she saw him there He with Commission rid the Land about But still he aim'd to keep fair Justice out With angry Look he Brow-beat Rightful Cause And his bold hand did Sacrifice the Laws Tore 'um or Trampled on 'um with his Paws Poor Justice being frighted fled from Earth To Heaven whence she did derive her Birth To the Eternal Justice she did go And made report what Monsters sate below Inquisitor like Spain in England sate And at their pleasure steer'd the Helm of Fate He rid the Western Circuit all around But where he came no justice to be found He improv'd his Talents Martyrs to Condemn Hang draw and Quaâ—ter was his daily Theam He bid 'um to Confess if e're they hope To be Reprieved from the fatal Rope This seem'd a favour but he 'd none forgive The favour was a day or two to live Which those had not that troubled him with Tryal His Business Blood and would have no denyal His Entrails Brass his very Heart was steel Poor Souls he made his Judges Courage feel How valiant to Condemn when in his Power Two hundred he could sentence in an Hour Guilty or not to him was all a case On Martyrs Bodies did his honour raise And to destroy by Retail thought it base The Blood of Protestants for vengeance cry And will I fear to all Eternity Altho' kind Death hath made him scape mans Doom And quietly hath hurl'd him in his Tomb. Then next methought I saw him placed higher O whither will this Canibal aspire The Purse the Mace and all the Honour that Belongeth to Lord Chancellour of State Made
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
place which sure he was capable of knowing having been himself there to see it after the Body was found He repeats it and says twice 'T was in that very place And Harwood says as much who hunted the day after One Circumstance there is which makes this Evidence yet more conclusive 'T was depos'd in the Trial of Farewell and several other places that the Body stunk extreamly when 't was found which was but the next day after Now I 'd ask any unprejudic'd man Whether was so much as possible that this very place shou'd be beat two days after one another and the Hounds not Scent the Body even tho' the Hunters might perhaps over-see it But besides this there was yet a narrower search made on another occasion in that same Field The Story is told in a Paper call'd An Account of the Murther publish'd by Thompson himself who with another Printer was present and avouch'd the Matter of Fact on their own Knowledge 'T is this That while the Body lay at the White-house and the Jury were about it one of the Jury-men themselves declar'd That a servant of his Mother a Butcher and two Boys made a very strict and narrow search in all parts of the Ground for a Calf that was lost there and this both on Munday and Tuesday and at that time there lay no dead Body Belt Gloves or any thing else there But were all these too on the wrong side of the Hedge or where did they look for this Calf in the middle of the Field or in the Ditches and Hedges where 't was impossible they cou'd have mist of the Body had it been there There 's one great Objection which Sir Roger makes very much of in this matter tho' not quite so strong now as 't was some years since and that is There was no Popish Plot at all therefore no Popish Murther which he expresses in his own peculiar Merry-Andrew way They hang both upon the same string and whoever overthrows the one trips up the heels of the other Nor indeed is he singular in his Opinion as to a great part of it for my Lord Chief Justice Pemberton says on the Trial of Farewell I think 't was If they cou'd have made it out that he had killd himself all of them wou'd have cried out the Popish Plot was a Sham raised by the Protestants against the Papists and all the Plot must have gone for nothing But now to retort the Objection If there was a Popish Plot 't is a terrible Argument that there was too a Popish Murther But that there was one we must be forc'd to believe till we find these things among many others answer'd 1. Coleman's Letters and that Expression The Extirpation of this Northern Heresie 2. The Letter produc'd in Harcourt's Trial wherein the very Consult of April 24. is mention'd and A Design then on foot among 'em which they were to manage with all imaginable secrecy 3. The positive Oaths of so many men Some of 'em of a fair Character and blameless Conversation others no more able to invent such a Plot than their Enemies to disprove it 4. The Endeavours of the Papists to assassinate disgrace buy off or any way divert the Evidence against 'em which they were not such Fools to do for nothing 5. The behaviour of the Witnesses ever since One of 'em testifying at his death after the Sacrament Another by his life their Malice reaching to his barbarous Murther A third with his Blood and so much as wou'd have perhaps cost any two or three other men their Lives to the Truth of their Depositions And lastly What Transactions we have felt and seen since the late King came to his Throne till his departure are no great Evidence that all that Plot was a Forgery From these things 't is plain there was a Popish Plot from these and what went before that this was a Popish Murther There needs no Exaggeration of the Fact nor Tragical Exclamations 'T was as foul as Hell cou'd make it and perhaps we have not yet seen the full Revenge that Heaven intends for those who were concerned in it tho' 't is after so long a time miraculously begun and will in due time be accomplish'd Two Anagrams there were made on this brave Gentleman which for the peculiar luckiness of 'em it may not be ungrateful to the Reader to have 'em inserted Sir EDMVNDBVRY GODFREY Anag I FIND MURDER'D BY ROGUES Another BY ROME'S RUDE FINGER DIE Having thus vindicated the Memory of this great Person without any mean expectation either of Applause or Reward who was the first Martyr for our holy Protestant Religion we shall address what has been written on this subject not only to Posterity as Sir Roger very wisely does where he shall never hear his Fault but to all the sober unprejudic'd men of the present Age and so dismiss it and go on to the rest for whom he only made way after we have presented you with one of the best pieces of Wit that the Age has yielded on Sir Edmond's death 'T is a part of that ingenious Poem call'd Bacchanalia or The Drunken Club. Well Primrose may our Godfrey's name on thee Like Hyacinth inscribed be On thee his Memory flourish still Sweet as thy Flower and lasting as thy Hill Whilst blushing Somerset to her Eternal shame shall this Inscription wear The Devil's an Ass for Jesuits on this spot Broke both the neck of Godfrey and the Plot. Mr. ARNOLD BUT though the Providence of God was pleas'd no doubt for wise Reasons to suffer this last worthy Person to fall a Victim to the Malice and Cruelty of our Popish Enemies tho' there was perhaps a sort of a sad necessity that this one man shou'd die to alarm a stupid Nation and rouze 'em from that careless believing temper which since that has gone so fair towards their Ruine and tho' 't was to cost England more and nobler Blood before its entire deliverance yet the Government of the World is not so absolutely given up to the disposal of him who is call'd the Prince of it as that in every Attempt Villany should be triumphant and Vertue miserable However kindly 't was meant the Stroke here was not home enough and Mr. Arnold prov'd only a Confessor tho' they intended him a Martyr One wou'd have thought their ill Success in taking off one Justice of Peace shou'd have cool'd their Fury a little and hinder 'em from venturing upon another But this 't is when men list themselves of a Religion where they must be given up to the Salleys and Transports of a blind Zeal and refuse the Conduct either of their Senses or Reason Mr. Arnold had been a vigorous Prosecutor of the Priests and Jesuits which sculkt about in his own County of Wales This was a crime not to be forgiven nor any ways attoned by less than his Destruction In order to which he was assaulted by several Villains fit for such a
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
be expected from such young Soldiers being entirely satisfied in the Cause they fought for since 't was â—o less than the Interest of all that was dear to 'em in this World or t'other The Eldest had particularly signaliz'd himself in several Skirmishes and was sent with a Detachment of his own Troop and two more to Myn-head in Somersetshire to bring Cannon to the Army at the very instant the Duke engaged the Kings Forces at fatal Sedgmore and came not up till after the Field was entirely lost to whose absence with so considerable a Party of the Dukes Horse and the most resolved Men of all he had the loss of the day was principally owing Finding all things in Disorder and the Rout beyond recovering he was forc'd to disperse his Troops every one shifting as they could for themselves He and his Brother kept together where what befel 'em after their Friends have given an exact Account which is here following inserted An Account of the Behaviour of Mr. William and Benjamin Heâ—lings before and at their Execution with several Letters to divers of their Relations THe Gracious dealings of God manifested to some in Dying Hours have been of great advantage to those living that heard the same giving them an occasion thereby to reflect on their own State and to look after the things of their Peace before they be hid from their Eyes as also a great encouragement to strengthen the Faith of those that have experienced the Grace of God to them To that end it is thought necessary by Parents especially to preserve to their Children that remain those blessed Experiences that such have had which God hath taken to himself Here therefore is presented a true account of the admirable appearances of God towards two young Men Mr. Benjamin Hewling who dyed when he was about 22 Years of Age and Mr. William Hewling who dyed before he arrived to 20 Years They Engaged with the Duke of Monmouth as their own VVords were for the English Liberties and the Protestant Religion and for which Mr. VVilliam Hewling was Executed at Lyme the 12 th of September 1685. and Mr. Ben. Hewling at Taunton the 30 th of the same Month and however severe Men were to them yet the blessed Dispensation of God towards thâ—m was such as hath made good his Word that out of the Mouths of Babes he hath ordained Strength that he may still the Enemy and the Avenger Then Reader would you see Earthly Angels Men that are a little too low for Heaven and much too high for Earth would you see poor frail Creatures trampling this World under their Feet and with an holy serene Smiling at the Threats of Tyrants who are the Terrors of the Mighty in the Land of the Living Would you see shackled Prisoners behave themselves like Judges and Judges stand like Prisoners before them Would you see some of the rare Exploits of Faith in its highest Elevation immediately before it be swallowed up in the Beatifical Vision To conclude would you see the Heavenly Jerusalem pourtrayed on Earth Would you hear the melodious Voices of ascending Saints in a ravishing Consoâ—t ready to joyn with the Heavenly Chorus in theiâ— deâ—ighâ—ful Hallelujahs Then draw near come and see If thou be a Man of an Heavenly Spirit here is pleasant and suitable entertainment for thee and after thou hast conversed a while these Excellent Spirits it may be thou wilt Judge as I do That dead Saints are sweeter Companions in some respects for thee to converse with than those that are living And when thou shalt see the magnificeâ—â— Acts of their faith their invincible Patience their flaming Love to Christ their strange contempt and undervaluings of the World their plainness and simplicity in the profession of the Gospel their fâ—rvent and brotherly love to each other their ravishing Prâ—spects as it were on the top of Mount Pisgah â—f the Heavenly Canaan their Swan-like Songs and Dying Speeches And Reader You know the first Lisping of little Children and last Farewels of Dying Saints are always most sweet and charming Those Fore-tasts of the Rivers of Pleasure the transporting Glimpses they had of the Crown of Glory I say when you see and read these Exemplary Truths wonder not that the Pious Hewlings long'd so vehemently to be in a better World though they were to pass through a thousand Deaths or the Fiery Tryal to it But to come to our intended matter After the Dispersing of the Dukes Army they fled and put to Sea but were driven back again and with the hazard of their Lives got on shore over dangerous Rocks where they saw the Country fill'd with Soldiers and they being unwilling to fall into the hands of the Rabble and no way of defence or escape remaining to them they surrendred themselves Prisoners to a Gentleman whose House was near the place they landed at and were from thence sent to Exeter Goal the 12 th of July where remaining some time their behaviour was such that being visited by many caus'd great respect towards 'em even of those that were enemies to the Cause they engaged in and being on the 27 th of July put on board the Swan Frigate in order to their bringing up to London their Carriage was such as obtained great kindness frome the Commander and all other Officers in the Ship and being brought into the River Captain Richardson came and took them into his Custody and carryed them to Newgate putting great Irons upon them and put them apart from each other without giving Liberty for the nearest Relation to see them notwithstanding all endeavours and entreaties used to obtain it tho in the presence of a Keeper which though it did greatly increase the Grief of Relations God who wisely orders all things for good to those he intends Grace and Mercy to made this very Restraint and hard usage a blessed advantage to their Souls as may appear by their own Words when after great importunity and charge some of their near Relations had leave to speak a few words to them before the Keeper to which they replied They were câ—ntented with the Will of God whatever it should be Having been in Newgate three Weeks there was Order given to carry them down into the West in order to their Tryal which being told them they answer'd They were glad of it and that Morning they went out of Newgate several that beheld them seeing them so chearful said Surely they had received their Pardon else they could never carry it with that Courage and Chearfulness Altho this must be observed that from first to last whatever hopes they received from Friends they still thought the contrary never being much affected with the hopes of it nor cast down nor the least discouraged at the worst that man could do In their Journey to Dorchester the Keepers that went with them have given this account of them That their Carriage was so grave serious and christian that made them admire to
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
that intent nor did I believe there was any such design or ever heard of any disappointment in such an Affair or Arms or Time or Place save what after the Discovery of the General Design Mr. West spoke of as to Arms bought by him And as to my self I was in the North when the late King was at New-market and the first News I had of the Fire was at Beverly in Yorkshire As to my coming over with the late D. of Monmouth it was in prosecution of the same ends but the Lord in his Holy and Wise Providence hath been pleased to blast all our undertakings tho there seemed to be a very unanimous and zealous Spirit in all those that came from beyond the Seas And as to the D. of Monmouth's being declared King I was wholly passive in it I never having been present at any publick Debate of that Affair and should never have advised it but complained of it to Col. Holmes and Captain Patchet I believe the Lord Gray and Mr. F the chief Promoters of it As to the temptation of being an Evidence and bringing either into trouble or danger the meanest Person of his Life upon the Account for which I suffer I always abhorred and detested the thoughts of it both when in and out of danger and advised some very strongly against it except when under my Distraction in Prison that amongst other temptations did violently assault me but through the goodness of my dearest God and Father I was preserved from it and indeed was wholly incapable and could never receive the least shadow of comfort from it but thought Death more eligible and was some time asore out of my distracted and disquieted condition wholly free from it though not without other Temptations far more Criminal in the sight of men I bless the Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations that I find a great Resignedness of my Will to his finding infinitely more comfort in Death than ever I could place in Life tho in a condition that might seem honourable every hour seeing the Will of God in ordering this Affair more and more cleared up to me God hath given God hath taken blessed be his holy Name that hath enabled me to be willing to suffer rather than to put forth my hand to Iniquity or to say a Confederacy with those that do so I am heartily and sincerly troubled for what hath happened many mens Lives being lost and many poor distressed Families ruin'd the Lord pardon what of sin he hath seen in it He in his wonderful Providence hath made me and others concerned Instruments not only for what is already fallen out but I believe for hastening some other great work he hath to do in these Kingdoms whereby he will try and purge his People and winnow the chaff from the Wheat the Lord keep those that are his faithful unto the end I die in Charity with all the World and can readily and heartily forgive my greatest Enemies even those that have been Evidences against me and I most humbly beg the pardon of all that I have in the least any way injur'd and in a special manner humbly ask pardon of the Lady Lisle's Family and Relations for that my being succoured there one Night with Mr. Hicks brought that worthy Lady to suffer Death I was wholly a Stranger to her Ladiship and came with Mr. Hicks neither did she as I verily believe know who I was or my Name till I was taken And if any other have come toany loss or trouble I humbly beg their pardon and were I in a condition I would as far as I was able make them a requital As to my Faith I neither look nor hope for merey but only in the Free-grace of God by the Application of the Blood of Jesus my dearest and only Saviour to my poor sinful Soul My distresses have been exceeding great as to my Eternal State but through the infinite goodness of God tho I have many sins to answer for yet I hope and trust as to my particular that Christ came for this very end and purpose to relieve the Oppressed and to be a Physician to the Sick I come unto thee O blessed Jesus refuse me not but wash me in thine own Blood and then present me to thy Father as righteous What tho' my Sins be as Crimson and of a Scarlet Dye yet thou canst make them as white as Snow I see nothing in my self but what must utterly ruine and condemn me I cannot answer for one action of my whole Life but I cast my self wholly upon thee who art the Fountain of Mercy in whom God is reconciling himself to the World the greatest of Sins and Sinners may find an All sufficiency in thy Blood to cleanse 'em from all sin O dearest Father of Mercy look upon me as righteous in and through the imputed Righteousness of thy Son he hath payed the Debt by his own own Offering up himself for sin and in that thy Justice is satisfied and thy Mercy is magnified Grant me thy Love O dearest Father assist me and stand by me in the needful hour of Death give thy Angels charge over my poor Soul that the Evil One may not touch nor hurt it Defend me from his power deliver me from his rage and receive me into thine Eternal Kingdom in and through the alone Merits of my dearest Redeemer for whom I praise thee To whom with thy self and holy Spirit be ascribed all Glory Honour Power Might and Dominion for ever and for ever Amen Dear Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Amen R. NELTHROPE Newgate Octob. 29. 1685. Mrs. Gaunt ONe of the great Reasons why Mrs. Gaunt was burnt was 't is very possible because she lived at Wapping the honest Seamen and hearty Protestants thereabouts being such known Enemies to Popery and Arbitrary Government that the Friends of both gave all who oppose it the Name of Wappingers as an odious Brand and Title She was a good honest charitable Woman who made it her business to relieve and help whoever suffer'd for the forementional Cause sparing no pains refusing no office to get them assistance in which she was the most industrious and indefatigable woman living Among others whom she had thus relieved who were obnoxious persons was one Burton whom with his Wife and Family she had kept from starving for which may the very name of 'em be register'd with Eternal Infamy they swore against her and took away her Life Tho she says in her Speech there was but one Witness against her as to any mony she was charg'd to give him and that he himself an Outlawed person his Outlawry not yet revers'd he not being outlawed when she was with him and hid him away That which she writ in the Nature of a Speech has a great deal of Sense and Spirit and some strange Expressions which were mention'd in the Introduction to all these matters which she concludes with these words addrest to her
Kingdom have heard in the Publick Letters their names mentioned Some may think they were concerned with the Duke but I never heard there was so much made appear against them as could have made them been brought in guilty of High Misdemeanours had not the Good Gentleman and his Lady been vertuous People abhoâ—ring the Debaucheries of the times and of such a competent Estate able to spare ten or twelve thousand pounds the hard usage this honest brave Gentleman and his vertuous Lady had and their sufferings to relate thâ—m would be to large and besides it is so well known in most places in the West that I shall without saying any more proceed And next for Mr. Parret who was executed at Taunton if I mistake not he said he was a Londoner and a Brewer When he came to the place of Execution he seemed a Man almost unconcerned at Death After some time he began to deliver himself somewhat low in voice to the People and after rising by degrees he seemed more like a Minister in a Pulpit preaching devoutly than a prisoner just going to Execution but I being then not well could not tarry to see his End But the Character I had was That he desired all not to be faint-hearted because of their fall and to think that there was no hopes remaining He said He verily believed God would yet work out deliverence for them and at the time they were in the greatest Extremity that would be God's Opportunity Put your whole trust and confidence and dependence on the Lord and he will never leave you nor forsake you and much more but having no more exact Copy I shall not enlarge but come to some other A further Account of the Behaviour of Mr. Christopher Battiscomb of his lâ—st Speech and Prayer immediately beforâ— he suffâ—red at Lyme 12 th Septemb. 1685. which Account should have been inserted after the Figures 1685. in p. 373. HE was a true Protestant to the last well beloved among the Gentry of that Country But it was his fortune to be concerned with the Duke of Monmouth and was very faithful to him to the last during the time of the Bloody Assizes at Dorchester where he received his Sentence of Death he was divers times sent for to the Chamber of the then L. C. J. and promoted with offers of Life to betray some Gentlemen which he always refused saying he scorned to purchase his Life by such indirect means and he accordingly chose Death rather than Life seeing it could not be purchased but by such unworthy means The day being come he prepared himself and received the Holy Sacrament walking down to the place of Execution with much chearfulness and Christian Courage when he was mounting the Ladder smiled and said I am not afraid of this I am going to a better place from a poor and miserable World to a Celestial Paradise a Heavenly Jerusalem I might have chosen whether I would have undergone this Death if I had hearkned to the L. C. J. but it was upon such unworthy terms that should I have accepted of my Pardon it would have been troublesome to me I die a true Protestant I am in Charity with all Men God preserve this Nation from Popery the Lord bless you all So taking his leave of them he knew after Prayer he launched into Eternity A further Account of Mr. John Sprage of Lyme which should have been inserted after the word Souldiers in pag. 444. but was there omitted through the Printers mistake WIth Mr. John Sprage there were Executed Twelve in the County of Dorset Mr. John Sprage of Lyme a Man more fit to die than he that Condemned him was fit to live He was a zealous Christian and a Man that in a manner lived in Heaven while on Earth he was but of an ordinary Estate in this World But to be short his Praise his Worth his Fame will never die in those places where known he went about doing good even in his worldly Employments as I have been credibly informed hardly any thing coming that way but what his Spiritual Meditations were upon He was apprehended near Salisbury brought to Dorchester where I saw him several times and was conversant with him before his Tryal he carried himself very moderately to all some of divers Principles in matters of Religion he continually prayed with them advising and instructing them to those holy Duties which were necessary to Salvation Being asked how he could endure those hardships he had undergone since his being taken Says he If this be all 't is not so much but my Friend if you were to take a Journy in those ways you were not acquainted with you would I hope desire Advice from those that had formerly used those ways or lived near by them Yes says he Then said he The ways of Affliction which I have lately travelled in I had Advice many a time from a Minister who hath often told his Congregation of the troublesomness of the Road and of the difficulty of getting through and has given me and hundreds of others to understand the pitts and stones in the way and how to avoid them he has been a Man used to those Roads many years I have taken his Advice I am got thus far on comfortably and I trust shall do so to the end I am not afraid to fight a Duel with Death if so it must be Now I thank God I can truly say O Death where is thy Sting and O Grave where is thy Victory Two or three days after their Sentence they were drawn to Execution but were very rudely and opprobriously dealt with to the shame of those that then had the charge over them their Rigor unto them was more like Turks than Christians But to conclude being come to the place of Executition he prayed very devoutly with them all but by the rudeness of the Guards there could be no Copy taken to be said to be true All of them dyed very Couragious especially this stout Christian Champion who spake to them in these words looking on the Souldiers saying Little do you think that this very Body of mine which you are now come to see cutt in pieces will one day rise up in judgment against you and be your Accuser for your delight in spilling of Christian Blood the Heathens have far more Mercy O 't is sad when England must outstrip Infidels and Pagans but pray take notice don't think that I am not in Charity with you I am so far that I forgive you and all the World and do desire the God of Mercies to forgive you and open your hearts and turn you from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the Lord Jesus Christ and so Farewell I am going out of the power of you all I have no dependence but upon my blessed Redeemer to whom I commit my dear Wife and Children and all the World A further Account of the Behaviour of Collonel Holms in Lyme and at
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
business in a little dark Lane near the Temple as he was passing through it pretty late in the Evening and had no doubt dispatch'd him and either found some way to make the World believe he had done it himself as they wou'd have done in the former instance or started some other Sham to have remov'd the Odium from their own Party But the Gentleman having had apprehension of some such Accident made better use of it than Sir Edmond before him and having luckily a Sute of private Armour on receiv'd several Stabs the Villains gave him upon that and so sav'd his life But they finding their Attempts that way unsuccessful were resolv'd to take another course with him and having got him down with some desperate weapon or other fit for the purpose made several Trials to cut his Throat and gave him some dangerous wounds about that part which while he was strugling with them to preserve a Boy providentially goes by with a Light which their Deeds of Darkness not being able to endure they all ran away and left Mr. Arnold weltering in his Blood who yet by God's Providence recoverâ—d again and liv'd to see Justice done to one of the Villains that used him in that barbarous manner His name was Giles and was discover'd by a wound in his Leg which one of his Accomplices ran through in the scuffle as he was making a Stab at Mr. Arnold He was try'd for the Action found Guilty of it and Sentenced to stand in the Pillory for the same which was accordingly executed with a liberal Contribution over and above from the enraged Rabble who sufficiently made up for the Gentleness of his Sentence though as Severe a one as our mild Laws could inflict upon such Offenders Mr. COLLEDGE NO Body can doubt but that 't was now very much the Interest of the Papists to get off if possible that foul Imputation of a Plot which stuck so deep upon 'em which had been confirm'd by Sir Edmond's Murther Coleman's never to be forgotten Letters Arnold's Assassination and a great deal of Collateral Evidence which fell in unexpectedly many of those who gave it being utterly unacquainted with the first Discoverers After several unfortunate attempts they had made to this purpose after the Living had perjur'd themselves and the Dying done worse to support their desperate Cause after Attempts to blast and ruine some of the Evidence and buy off others of 'em in both which publick Justice took notice of and punish'd 'em being of a Religion that sticks at no Villany to serve an Interest and certainly the most indefatigable and firm People in the World when they set about any Design especially where Diana is concern'd not being yet discouraged they resolv'd to venture upon one Project more which prov'd but too successful to the loss of the bravest and best Blood in the Kingdom and that was to Brand all those who were the steddiest Patriots and so their greatest Enemies of what Rank soever they were with the odious Character of Persons disaffected to the Government or in the old Language Enemies to Caesar They pretended to perswade the World that after all this great noise of a Popish Plot 't was onely a Presbyterian one lay at the bottom This they had endeavour'd in the Meal-tub Intrigue the Names of most of the worthy Persons in England being cull'd out to be sworn into it But this miscarrying like the Mother on 't Mrs. Celiers Miscarriage in Newgate they had by this time taken breath form'd new Designs and procur'd new Witnesses which might do business more effectually and tho' they cou'd not write nor spell their Names and so were not very well skill'd in Book-learning yet at Buke-blawing they were admirable by which Character you may easily guess they were Irish-men Nor did they want Fools to believe any more than Knaves to manage this Design by their continued unwearied Contrivances a great many easie and some well-meaning People having by this time been wrought upon to believe almost as implicitly as they themselves whatever the Priests wou'd have ' em One thing whatever happen'd they were pretty sure of That whether this Plot were believed or no they shou'd carry on their Intrigue by it If 't was they had what they wish'd If it shou'd be discover'd 't wou'd yet confound and amuse Peoples minds and make 'em so sick of Plot upon Plot that it might make 'em almost stagger in their belief of the other They had besides all this a strong Party at Court to favour their Enterprizes The King was the Duke's and the Duke all the World know who 's T was necessary to flesh their Blood-hounds by degrees to bring People on by little and little to attempt some of inferiour Rank for a beginning and not split the Cause for want of good management And who so fit as poor Colledge to be the first Victim of their Perjury and Malice by whose Death besides being rid of a troublesom Fellow and breaking the Ice to make room for those to follow they might also expect this advantage That the middle sort of People wou'd be discourag'd in their just hatred of Popery and Papists and prosecution of the Laws against them 'T was by such Methods as these that Mr. Colledge began to signalize himself in the VVorld Being a Man of Courage Industry and Sharpness he made it much of his Business to serve his Country as far as possible in searching after Priests and Jesuits and hunting those Vermin out of their lurking Holes in which he was very serviceable and successful and for which no doubt they did not fail to remember him The first time we meet with him in Publick is I think in Stafford's Trial where he 's brought in for Mr. Dugdale as a Collateral Evidence But by that time the VVind was a little upon turning and the Tide of Popular Aversion not quite so strong against Popery being by the cunning of our common Enemy diverted into little Streams and private Factions and Arbitrary Power driving on as the best way to prosecute the Designs of Rome to which the City of London in a particular manner made a vigorous Resistance which displeasing the grand Agitators no wonder they endeavour'd as much as possible to do it a mischief their kindness to it having been sufficiently experienced in 66. and even since In order to which the K. was pleas'd by the advice of his Ghostly Brother to alter the common and almost constant course of Parliaments and call one at Oxford instead of London Many of the Members whereof and especiallâ— those of London were apprehensive of some design upon 'em there having formerly in the Gun-powder Treason and ever since sufficiently found the Love of the Papists to Protestant Parliaments and knowing very well what they were to expect from their kindness if they shou'd be attempted upon by 'em and found defenceless And more ground of Suspicion they had because as Colledge protests in
him will believe to be in his part of the Design 't would be an Injury to his Memory to do any otherwise It appears then from his own acknowledgment that Howard Armstrong and such others had sometimes discoursed of ill Designs and Matters in his Company And as he says in his Speech What the Heats Wickedness Passions and Vanities of other Men had occasion'd he ought not to be answerable for nor cou'd be repress ' em Nay more he did sufficiently disapprove those things which he heard discours'd of with more Heat than Judgment But for himself declares solemnly again and again That he was never in any design against the King's Life or any Man's whatsoever nor ever in any Contrivance of altering the Government If so what then becomes of all the Story of the Council of Six and is 't not to be thrown among the same Lumber with the old famous Nagshead Tavern Business 'T will be still said he was an Ill Man in being Guilty by this very Confession of Misprision of Treason Supposing this true That was not Death and he dy'd as he says Innocent of the Crime he stood condemned for And besides every Lord has not Brow hard enough nor Tongue long enough nor Soul little enough to make an Informer against others to save his own Life I hope says he no Body will imagin that so mean a thought could enter into me as to go about to save my Life by accusing others The part that some have acted lately of that kind has not been such as to invite me to love Life at such a rate But all this does not depend on his naked word since the Evidence who swore against him being such as were neither credible nor indeed so much as legal Witnesses the Accusation of it self must fall to the ground If legal they were not credible because as my Lord Delamere observes in this Case they had no Pardons but hunted as the Cormorant does with strings about their Necks which West in his Answer to Walcot's Letter ingenuously acknowledges and says 'T is through God's and the King's Mercy he was not at the apparent point of Death That is in a fair construction was not just turning over but was upon trial to see whether he 'd do Business and deserve to scape hanging Much such an honourable way of getting Pardon as the Fellow who sav'd his own neck by turning Hangman and doing the good Office to his own Father Nor indeed was the great Witness the honourable Lord who cast this Noble Person so much as a legal any more than a credible Witness No Man alive has any way to clear himself from the most perjur'd Villains Malice if he swears against him Point-blank but either by Circumstance of Time or invalidating his very Evidence Let any think of another way if they can The first of these was precluded 'T was that which had before been made use of to sham off a truer Plot and much more valid Evidence But here Rumsey and the rest came to no determinate Time but only about such a time about the end of October or beginning of November and others cloud the precise time in so many words that 't is impossible to find it All then that could be done was as to the Person Now what thing can be invented which can more invalidate the Evidence any person gives than his solemn repeated voluntary Oath indubitably prov'd against him that such a Person is innocent of that very Crime of which he afterwards accuses him If this be the Case or no here let any one read the following Depositions and make an indifferent Judgment My Lord Anglesey witnesses He was at the Earl of Bedford 's after his Son was imprisoned where came in my Lord Howard and began to comfort him saying He was happy in so wise a Son and worthy a person and who could never be in such a Plot as that That he knew nothing against him or any body else of such a barbarous Design But this was not upon Oath and onely related to the Assassination as he says for himself in his paring-distinction Look then a little lower to Dr. Burnet whom the Lord Howard was with the night after the Plot broke out and then as well as once before with Hands and Eyes lifted up to Heaven did say He knew nothing of ANY Plot nor believ'd ANY Here 's the most solemn Oath as he himself confesses voluntarily nay unnecessarily tho' perhaps in my Lord Bedford's Case Good-nature might work upon him Here 's the paring of his Apple broke all to pieces No shadow no room left for his Distinction between the Insurrection and Assassination but without any guard or mitigation at all he solemnly swears he knew not of ANY Plot nor believed ANY But 't was no great matter for the Jury were resolv'd to know and believe it whether he did or no. There 's but one little Subterfuge more and the Case is clear All this Perjury all these solemn Asseverations he tells us were only to brazen out the Plot and to out-face the Thing for himself and Party This he fairly acknowledges and let all the World be the Jury whether they 'd destroy one of the bravest Men in it on the Evidence of such a Person But there 's yet a farther Answer His Cousin Mr. Howard who was my Lord's intimate Friend who secur'd him in his House to whom he might open his Soul and to whom it seems he did he having made Application to Ministers of State in his Name that he was willing to serve the King and give him Satisfaction To him I say with whom he had secret Negotiations and that of such a Nature will any believe that he wou'd out-face the Thing here too That he wou'd Perjure himself for nothing where no danger no good came on 't No certainly his Lordship had more Wit and Conscience and Honour he ought to be vindicated from such an Imputation even for the credit of his main Evidence for my Lord Gray he tells us was left out of their Councils for his Immoralities and had he himself been such a sort of a Man those piercing Heads in the Council wou'd have certainly found him out before and never admitted him among them As for the very Thing Mr. Howard tells it as generously and with as much honest Indignation as possible in spite of the Checks the Court gave him He took it says he upon his Honour his Faith and as much as if he had taken an Oath before a Magiâ—â—rate that he knew nothing of any Man concern'd in this Business and particularly of the Lord Russel of whom he added that he thought he did unjustly suffer So that if he had the same Soul on Monday that he had on Sunday the very day before this cou'd not be true that he Swore against the Lord Russel My Lord Russel's suffering was Imprisonment and that for the same matter on which he was try'd the Insurrection
so mean a thought as that of going about to save his Life by accusing others for Crimes that they only talkt of and that as we may partly gather from his discourse he had effectually disswaded them from too so that his Intention was good and his part in that Transaction even in the strictest sense of Law but a Misprision of Treason and therefore he declares he cannot but think the Sentence of Death past against him to be very hard and he by a strange fetch brought within the compass of the Statute of Treason of Edward the Third He moreover adds that he had so convincing a sense of his own Innocence in that Case that he would not betray it by flight tho' much pressed to it He next excuses his saying so little at his Trial saying he hoped it lookt more like Innocence than Guilt Adding that he was advised not to confess Matter of Fact too plainly because it would certainly have brought him within the guilt of Misprision and so he thought it better to say little than by departing from the Ingenuity he had always practised by using little Tricks and Evasions to make the last and solemnest part of his Life so notably different from the preceding course of it as such a Conduct would have made it He farther subjoyns that he never pretended great Readiness in Speaking and advises those Gentlemen of the Law that have it to use it more conscientiously and not to run men down and impose on Easie and Willing Juries by Strains and Fetches c. the Killing unjustly by Law being the worst of Murthers He then as in several other places repeating his wishes that the Rage and Revenge of some men and the partiality of Juries may be stopped with his Blood and so after a small hint how by the importunity of his Dearest and most Virtuous Lady and some other Dear Friends he had been prevail'd upon against his Inclinations to Address tho' ineffectually for his Life he concludes with a fresh Protestation of his Innocency and a Devout Prayer to God suitable to that sad occasion Captain WALCOT c. CAptain Walcot and his Fellow-sufferers in order of time should have gone first he being convicted before my Lord Russel and executed the Friday as he on Saturday But my Lord Russel's Fate having so immediate a dependance on the Earl of Essex's and all the Plot hanging on him especially they two making the greatest Figure of any who suffer'd on this occasion it look'd more proper and natural to begin with them and reserve the other to this place Captain Walcot was a Gentleman of a considerable Estate in Ireland but more remarkable for the rare Happiness of having Eight Children all at once living and most of all for his Love to his Country which cost him his Life We can have but little dependance as has been before hinted on the publick Papers relating to these concerns especially in his Case where Cartwright was engaged What appears to us and we may believe most reasonable and what 's agreed on of all hands is ' That West Rumsey and I think one more of 'em had frequent Discourses at least of killing the King and Duke so horrid and barbarous a thing and so like the Practice and Principles of those worst of men the Papists that as every true Englishman and good Christian must needs conceive a detestation and horror at the very mention of it so no doubt it will be very acceptable to such to find when the thing is enquired closely into which has partly been done before and shall now be finished to find no probability of any thing real in the bottom none engaged in it but two or three Knaves and one Fool. No Person of Honour or Character who had heard so much as any Discourse of it but what immediately disapproved or detested it as much as every good Man ought to do Tho' some of 'em if there were more than Walcot might hear such mad Discourse as my Lord Russel says the Wickedness passions and vanities of other men might have occasion'd and yet not believing any thing in it more than words nor think they were obliged to turn Informers and Hangmen which because they did not do they suffer'd themselves And this any reasonable man will I doubt not upon a little free thinking acknowledge to be Walcot's Case and no further The pretended Crime for which Walcot suffer'd and which West and others witness against him was Consulting the Death of the King and charging the Guards at his return from New-market while the dreadful Blunderbuss was to be fired into the Coach by Rumbold or some others His Privacy to Discourses about the Kings Death was but Misprision For his acting in it they could not have pitch'd on a more unlikely man to command a Party in so desperate an Attempt as charging the Guards than one that was sick and Bed-rid of the Gout as about this time and often besides the Captain was Nor seems West's pretence more likely That he refused to be actual in the Assassination because of the baseness of it but offer'd to charge the Guards while others did it much as wisely and tenderly as if he had denied to cut a Man's Throat but consented to hold his hands while others did it This he denies with indignation in his Speech and Appeals to all that knew him Whether they thought him such an Idiot that he should not understand 't was the same thing to engage the Kings Guards whilst others kill'd him or to kill him with his own hands Here then 't is plain lies the pinch of the matter West and Rumsey c. had been frequently discoursing at that bloody villanous rate West was most impatiently eager of having it done He proposed the Lopping 'em at a Play which he said would be in their own calling For some of those who are charged with this foul business as Promoters or so much as Approvers thereof were the innocent or guilty as to that particular I can assure the Reader I have the same thought of 'em that Juvenal had of Sejanus and can say as he does Nunquam si quid mihi credis amavi But however one may add as he does Sed quo accidit sub crimine Quisnam Delator Quibus indiciis Quo teste and almost resolve all these Questions to the same way with a Nil horum Never was any Party without many ill men This no doubt had too many whose ill Lives both discredited and in probability ruined the best Cause in the World as my Lord Russel intimated in his Speech Some of these not having the fear of God before their Eyes might have such traiterous Designs nay and by their own Confession it appears they had so But let 's not however be hurried away in a popular Stream which generally runs very muddy to condemn those who whatever personal Faults they may have had how turbulent their Nature or bad their Morals or
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
A Brief Extract of Captain Walcots Prayer O Lord our God Thou art a God of present help in time of Trouble a God that hast promised to be with thy People in the Fire and in the Water O Lord we pray Thee that thou wilt afford thy Presence to thy poor suffering Servants at this time O Lord thy Servant that speaketh doth confess that the Iniquities at his Heels have justly overtaken him O do thou bathe each of our Souls in that Fountain set open for Sin and for Vncleanness O do thou enable every one of us from the inward Evidence of thy Spirit to say with thy Servant Job That we know and are assured that our Redeemer lives O give us some inward Tasts of those Heavenly Joys that we hope through the Mercy of Jesus Christ in a little time to have a more full Fruition of O Lord do thou speak Peace to every one of our Consciences though we lie under a Sentence of Death from Man we beg that we may have a Sentence of Life Eternal from our God and though we meet Thee O Lord in a Field of Blood we beg that Thou wilt come to meet with us in a Field of Mercy O Lord though we have been Prodigals we desire to return unto our Fathers House where there is Bread enough O enable us to come unto Thee as Children to their Parents Lord put to thy helping Hand Lord teach us truly to leave no Sin unrepented of in any one of our Hearts And O Lord we beg that with us thou wilt give us leave to recommend unto thy Care our Poor Wives and Children Thou hast promised to be the Father of the Fatherless and the Husband of the Widow and thou hast commanded us to cast the Care of them upon Thee O do thou make Provision for them and enable them to hear this severe stroke with Patience O Lord we also beseech Thee in the behalf of these Poor Kingdoms wherein we are that Thou wilt be merciful to them prevent Divisions among them heal all their Breaches compose their Differences make all that are thine of one Heart and Mind in the things of thee our God Lord favour us with thy Mercy assure us of thy Love stand by us in the difficult Hour take us into thine own Care cause thy Angels to attend us to convey our Souls as soon as they are divided from our Bodies into Abraham 's Bosom All which we beg for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ in whom O Lord this little time do thou give us Hearts to give thee all Glory Honour and Praise now and for evermore Amen Sweet Jesus Amen Hone was accused and owns himself Guilty of a Design to Kill the King and the Duke of York or one or neither for 't is impossible to make any Sense of him When they came to suffer Walcot read a Paper in which was a good rational Confession of his Faith Then comes to the Occasion of his Death for which he says he neither blames the Judges Jury nor Council but only some men that in reality were deeper concern'd than he who combin'd together to swear him out of his Life to save their own and that they might do it effectually contriv'd an untruth c. He forgives the World and the Witnesses Gives his Friends advice to be more prudent than he had been prays that his may be the last Blood spilt on that account wishes the King wou'd be merciful to others says he knew nothing of Ireland and concludes with praying God to have mercy upon him He had then some Discourse with Cartwright wherein he tells him That he was not for contriving the Death of the King nor to have had a Hand in 't and being urg'd with some Matters of Controversie tells him He did not come thither to dispute about Religion but to die Religiously But tho' dying be a serious Business yet 't is almost impossible to read his Discourse with the Dean without as violent temptations to laughter as Compassion Never was so exact an Imitation of the Scene of the Fisherman and Kings in the Rehearsal when he tells 'em Prince Pretty-man kill'd Prince Pretty-man One wou'd think him very near in the same Case with Bateman who came after him His Replies are so incongruous that there 's hardly either Sense or English to be made out of ' em But the poor Fellow talks of Snares and Circumstances and no body knows what and says in one Line He was to meet the King and Duke of York but he did not know when where nor for what In the next he was for killing the King and saving the Duke and when askt the Reason answers the only sensible thing he said all through That he knew no Reason that he did not know what to say to 't And when the Dean charges him with the Murderous Design That he knew as little of it as any poor silly man in the World Rouse comes next gives an Account of his Faith professing to die of the Church of England tells his former Employment and manner of Life acknowledges he heard of Clubs and Designs but was never at 'em and a perfect Stranger to any thing of that Nature Gives a Relation of what past between him and his Majesty on his Apprehension Talks somewhat of Sir Thomas Player the Earl of Shaftsbury and accommodating the King's Son as he calls it tho' not while the King reign'd Then falls upon Lee and the Discourse they had together who as he says swore against him on the Trial those very words he himself had used in pressing him to undertake the Design Speaks of a Silvers Ball which he proposed to be thrown up on Black-Heath and after some Discourse with the Ordinary gives the Spectators some good Counsel Then they all three singly prayed and then the Sentence was Executed upon ' em Algernon Sidney Esq THe next Victim to Popish Cruelty and Malice was Colonel Algernon Sidney of the ancient and noble Name and Family of the Sidneys deservedly famous to the utmost bounds of Europe who as the ingenious Mr. Hawles observes was meerly talkt to death under the notion of a Common-wealths Man and found Guilty by a Jury who were not much more proper Judges of the Case than they wou'd have been had he writ in Greek or Arabick He was arraign'd for a Branch of this Plot at Westminster the 17 th of Novemb. 1683. where tho' it cannot be said the Grand Jury knew not what they did when they found the Bill against him since no doubt they were well instructed what to do yet it must that they found it almost before they knew what ' t was being so well resolv'd on the Case and agreed on their Verdict that had he been Indicted for breaking up an House or robbing on the High-way 't was doom'd to have been Billa vera as much as 't was now For tho' the Indictment was never presented to 'em before they came
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
account only did not believe this nor know any thing of his Intention of being proclaim'd King nor approved of it when 't was done and tho' had he been able to make out his Title or let his Pretensions alone he had not wanted in all likelyhood a sufficient Assistance from the Nobility and Gentry none of whom for those Reasons coming in to him yet on the other side 't is hardly doubted that these men who thought he had a right were really obliged to follow the Dictates of their Conscience though mistaken and do whatever lay in their power to the utmost Venture of their Lives to fix him on his Father's Throne to which they verily believed he had a proper Right and Title And these Men too acting on the same Reasons with the foremention'd for deliverance of their Country as well as defence of him whom they thought their King The earnest Zeal and Concern and Love which most of 'em manifested for the Protestant Religion being besides so conspicuous in their Lives and Deaths I know not how they can without impudence be branded with the infamous Name of Rebels nor think 't will be any Arrogance to honour 'em with the just and dear-bought Title of Martyrs One thing there is very observable in most if not all of those who laid down their Lives in this Cause both in England and Scotland that besides that extraordinary Divine courage and chearfulness with which they dy'd they had Expressions plainly boding that great Deliverance which Providence has since that miraculously accomplished for these Kingdoms 'T would be endless to give almost all the innumerable Instances of it Mr. Nelthrop says God had in his wonderful Providence made him and others Instruments not onely in what was already fallen out but he believed for hastning some other great VVork he had yet to do in these Kingdoms Mrs. Gaunt says God 's cause shall revive and he 'd plead it at another rate than yet he had done against all its malicious Opposers And speaks yet more strangely of those then uppermost and likely to be so That tho' they were seemingly fixt and using their Power and Violence against those they had now got under 'em yet unless they could secure Jesus Christ and all his Holy Angels they should never do their Business but Vengeance would be upon 'em ' ere they were aware Capt. Ansley whose Speech is as pretty a neat thing as close and Christian and couragious as perhaps any that ever was made by Man in his Condition after he had said He did not repent what he had done but if he had a thousand Lives would have engag'd 'em all in the same Cause adds just after Though it has pleased the wise God for Reasons best known to himself now to blast our Designs yet he will deliver his People by ways we know not nor think of Rumbold said just the same Mr. Hewling says I question not but in his own time God will raise up other Instruments to carry on the same Cause they dy'd for for his own Glory Mr. Lark That he was confident God would Revenge their Bloods Now it will be very harsh to say all these and several more to the same purpose were nothing but Enthusiasm since spoken by Persons of all Sexes and Ages in twenty different places in the most calm and serene Tempers and the Persons not wild or fanciful and their Words miraculously made good by the Event which shews God honour'd 'em with being Prophets as well as Martyrs To proceed to the Persons who suffer'd in this Cause here and in the West and other places chiefly under Jeffrey's Insulting Cruelty His dealing with 'em is not to be parallel'd by any thing but the new French Dragoons or the old Cut-throats and Lords Chief-Justices of the poor Albigenses or Waldenses at Merindol and Cutrices Had the Great Turk sent his Janisaries or the Tartar his Armies among 'em they 'd scaped better Humanity could not offend so far to deserve such punishment as he inflicted A certain Barbarous Joy and Pleasure grinn'd from his Brutal Soul through his Bloody Eyes whenever he was Sentencing any of the Poor Souls to Death and Torment so much worse than Nero as when that Monster wisht he had never learnt to Write because forc'd to set his Name to Warrants for Execution of Malefactors Jeffreys would have been glad if every Letter he writ had been such a Warrant and every Word a Sentence of Death He observ'd neither Humanity to the Dead nor Civility to the Living He made all the West an Aceldama some places quite depopulated and nothing to be seen in 'em but forsaken VValls unlucky Gibbets and Ghostly Carcases The Trees were loaden almost as thick with Quarters as Leaves The Houses and Steeples covered as close with Heads as at other times frequently in that Country with Crows or Ravens Nothing could be liker Hell than all those Parts nothing so like the Devil as he Caldrons hizzing Carkases boyling Pitch and Tar Sparkling and Glowing Blood and Limbs boyling and tearing and mangling and he the great Director of all and in a word discharging his Place who sent him the best deserving to be the late King 's Chief Justice there and Chancellor after of any Man that breath'd since Cain or Judas Some of the more Principal Persons who fell under his Barbarous Sentences 't is thought worth the while to treat distinctly and particâ—larly of throwing the reâ—t together after 'em and onely Reprinting the former Account if any are lest out it being necessary to hasten to prevent Shams If the Book be accepted and come to another Edition they shall be Inserted and if any Faults or Mistakes found acknowledged and regulated And the first whom we shall make especial Remarks on are The Hewlings IF any one would see true Pure Popish Mercy let 'em look on these two Gentlemen the onely Sons of their virtuous and sorrowful surviving Parents the Comforts Props and Hopes of their Name and Family carefully educated virtuously disposed both of them after all repeated applications if but for one of their Lives barbarously Executed A particular Care was taken by their Father in their Education forming their Minds by his own Example and constant Instructions and Prayers as well as other pains of Ingenuous Masters to the strictest Rules of Piety and Vertue Nor was their pious and very tender Mother less careful in that particular The Elder Mr. Benjamin Hewling had Tutors in the Mathematicks and other parts of Philosophy a course of which he went through successfully enough and so as to render him as compleat in his Mind as Nature had form'd his â—ody After which he went to Holland as his Brother Mr. William Hewling from whence this last returned with the Duke Both of 'em had Commands in the Army the Elder had a Troop of Horse the younger was a Lieutenant of Foot and discharged their Places with much more Conduct and Bravery than could
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
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
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 submit to thy Will patiently Pardon all our sins remove them out of thy presence as far as the East is from the West and accept of us in the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ thou who art the Searcher of Hearts and Tryâ—r of Reins let there not at the moment of Death be the least spark of sin indwelling in us nor the strivings of Flesh and Blood that may hinder us from a joyful passage unto thee Give us patience also under these Sufferings and a deliverance to all others from undergoing them and in thy good time work a deliverance for poor England let thy Gospel yet flourish among them hasten the downfall of Antichrist we trust the time is come Prevent O Lord this effusion of Christiaâ— Blood and if it be thy will let this be the last Lord bless this Town let them from the highest to the lowest set the fear of God before their Eyes Bless all sorts and conditions of Men in all Ranks and Qualities pardon all their sins give them all true Repentance and the Grace of thy Holy Spirit fit and prepare us for the chearful fulfilling of thy Holy Will let the Comforter be still with us be merciful to all our Friends and Relations and Acquaintance forgive our Enemies accept of our thankfulness for all the Mercies and Favours afforded us and hear and graciously answer us in these our Requests and what else thou knowest needful and expedient for us and all for our Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ his sake who died for us that we might Reign with him for ever and ever to whom with thee and thy blessed Spirit of grace be ascribed as is most due all honour glory and praise both now and for ever After having ended his Prayer he took occasion to speak to his suffering Brethren taking a solemn leave of them encouraging them to hold out to the end and not to waver observing that this being a glorious Sun-shining day I doubt not though our Breakfast be sharp and bitter it will prepare us and make us meet for a comfortable Supper with our God and Saviour where all sin and sorrow shall be wiped away so embracing each of 'em and kissing of them told the Sheriff You see I am imperfect only one Arm I shall want assistance to help me upon this Tragical Stage which was presently done and Execution suddenly followed Now follows the Execution of Mr. Sam. Larke MR. Sampson Larke who was a very eminent pious man and had lived in that Town but little bâ—fore many years he was there well acquainted and all People that knew him had a value for him behaving himself with that Humility and Circumspection as no body could have any other occasion but to value him He design'd to have spoken somewhat on a portion of Scâ—ipture and was beginning having mentioned the place he intended to speak upon but was interrupted and told the work of the day being great they should want time So then he stopt and reply'd He could make application where he should not meet with interruption And so apply'd himself to Prayer which he performed with great Devotion and Zeal for a quarter of an hour to the great satisfaction of the Auditors and so taking leave of his suffering Brethren he mounted the Stage which was to be the last Act he made in this World being on the Ladder he saw some of his Friends and Neighbours weeping and mourning for him to whom he spake Pray weep not for me I am going to a place of Bliss and Happiness wherefore pray repair to your Houses and ' ere you get thither I doubt not but I shall be happy with my God and Saviour where all tears shall be wiped away and nothing shall remain but Hallelujahs to all Eternity There was also Mr. William Hewling of London a young Gentleman under Twenty who came over with the Duke of M. he seemed to be in a calm and composed frame of Spirit and with a great deal of Courage and Seriousness he behaved himself There is already something said of his Converse and Discourse which amongst others is printed therefore we shall say noâ—hing more of him but that in all manner of appearance he di'd a good Christian a true Protestant and doubtless now enjoys the benefit of it There were several worthy men more there executed viz. Mr. Christ. Baâ—tiscomb Dr. Temple Capt. Madders Capt. Marthews Captain Kid c. in all Twelve who all of them died with that Courage and Resolution as became Christians and such who eminently had adventured their Lives and Fortunes in defence of what was most dear to them and namely our Religion which though God did not think fit to desend and secure it yet in his wisdom we hope it will be in some measure secured by other Instruments the Glory of the same being only due to him So that now leaving this Place we proceed to other parts of the Country where with the like Butchery were only five executed amongst whom was one Mr. Taylor of Bristol who had Command in the Dukes Army where he behaved himself very stoutly to the last after the Army was dispersed he among others was taken received Sentence of Death at Dorchester and here brought for the completion of the same and from thence we hope was translated to Heaven He spent his time between the Sentence and Execution very devoutly in confirming and strengthning those that were to be his Fellow-Sufferers And made it his business to bring them to a willingness to submit to and a preparedness for Death The day being come and he brought to the place of Execution he thus spoke My Friends You see I am now on the Brink of Eternity and in a few Minutes shall be but Clay You expect I should say something as is usual in such Cases as to the matter of Fact I die for it doth not much trouble me knowing to my self the ends for which I engaged with the Duke of M. were both good and honourable Here being stopp'd and not suffer'd to proceed further he then comforted his Fellow-sufferers desiring them to joyn with him in singing an Hymn which he himself composed for the occasion as followeth A HYMN made by Mr. Joseph Tyler a little before his Execution 1. O Lord how Glorious is thy Grace And wondrous large thy Love At such a dreadful time and place To such as Faithful prove 2. If thou wilt have thy Glory hence Though a shameful Deaâ—h we die We bless thee for this Providence To all Eternity 3. Let these Spectators see thy Grace In thy poor Servants shine While we by Faith behold thy Face In that bless'd Son of thine 4. Though Men our Bodies may abuse Christ took our Souls to rest Till he brings forth the joyful news Ye are my Fathers blest 5. Appear for those that plead thy Cause Preserve them in the way Who own King Jesus and his Laws And dare not but obey 6. O God confound our
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
Fact And so for the First As a Dying Man I now declare that when I entred my self with the Duke of Monmouth to be his Chyrurgeon it was on no other account but to serve him in the West-Indies where I knâ—w no other design whatsoever but to possess himself of some of those Islands until I had been at Sâ—a two days wherein one privately told me We are absolutâ—ly bound for England and I should take it from him it was true It much surprized me but knowing no way to avoid it or to get on shore though it was at that time contrary to my Inclinations if I could have avoided it I would not lâ—t others see that I had that dissatisfaction within me After our Landing at Lyme I knew it was never the nearer to attempt my escape the Country being so beset on the other hand if the Duke of Monmouth did win the day I might have raised my Fortunes as high as I could expect These were the Arguments that Flesh and Blood did create in my Breast for self-preservation While I was with the said Duke I did him as much Service as I could and faithfully After it pleased God to disperse that Army under his Command I endeavour'd to secure my self but by Providence was taken at Honiton from thence committed to Exon and after removâ—d to Dorchester where I received my Sentence and am now as you see just going to Execution the Lord prevent all of you from such ignominious Deaths and I advise you all that you never take any great thing in hand but what you have a Warrant for from the Lord I assure you I had no satisfaction in this but this I am sure that if I have done any thing amiss in it it is pardoned I bless God I have that satisfaction I diâ— a Professor of the Church of England I desire Pardon of all those I have any ways wronged or abused as I freely forgive all those that have wronged or abused me I am in Charity with all men Lord have mercy upon me give me strength to go through these pains give me full assurance now at this last moment Come Lord Jesus come quickly Also one Samuel Robbins of Charmouth in the County of Dorset that was Executed or rather murthered at Warham in the said County I cannot pass him by in silence his Case being so exâ—raordinary hard that to speak moderately betwixt the King and his Case I do say this that I verily believe nevâ—r man suffered innocenter as I hope you will be satisfied in after you have heard his Crime and on what small grounds he was Guilty or so supposed by my Lord Chief Justice He used generally in the Summer to use the Craft of Fishing to get a competent maintenance for his Family and happened to be out at Sea a-Fishing before Lyme that day the Duke came in to Land and was commanded on board one of the Duke's Ships he not knowing who they were and they bought his Fish of him after which they told him that was the Duke of Monmouth pointing at him and that he was just going to Land He desired to go on shore which was refused and told that as soon as the Duke was landed he should have his Liberty so accordingly he came on shore and was never after with him or ever took up Arms under him I leave the Reader to judge whether this was High Treason or no. This was all he was guilty of except that he was a good honest Men a zealous Christian a man of a very good Life and Conversation as I think his Neighbours will attest it in most Towns and Parishes where he lived But alas he had a good Book in his House when taken called The Solemn League and Covenant This was the High Treason he must be guily of which was aggravated to the Lord Chief Justice by one or two hot Spirits his Neighbours But to be short he received his Sentence of Death with great â—ourage and not at all dismayed saying very often in Prison before If it pleased God to call him now to glorifie his Name by this Providence of his to Death he should be ready but said he I am as innocent of any thing I have done against any man that may deserve this punishment as the Child now unborn When he came to the place of Execution he very chearfully declared his Innocency to the Spectators as before and so praying very devoutly for some time he was Executed His Prayer I have no exact Copy of Also one Mr. Charles Speake of London a Gentleman of good Extraction being Son to the Worshipful George Speake Esq near Illminster in the County of Somerset where he was Executed His Case also was extraordinary hard but there may be two great Reasons given why he was Executed The first was Because he came from that good Pious Family which always have been Opposers to Popery and suffered deeply for their Courage that way Secondly The said Mr. Charles Speake had purchased some great place in the Kings Bench-or Common-Pleas which was very profitable to him so that by his Fall there being a Forfeiture much money may be made of it all intercession could not avail with the L. C. J. for his Life He hâ—ppened to be at Illminster at the time of the Dukes being there which was the greatest Crime he was guilty of the Validity of his Evidence I leave to those in the West which know how far it was carried that way He was a fine Courteous loving Gentleman and notwithstanding his Youth he acted the part of an old Christian Soldier at his Death preparing himself to undergo those pains saying very often They were nothing to his Deserts from God Almighty but as for what I am accused of and Sentenc'd for I hope you will believe I am not so guilty as my Judge and Accusers have endeavour'd to make me If it had pleased God I should have been willing to have lived some time longer but God's time being come I am willing I will be contented to drink this bitter Cup off Being at the place of Execution the croud was so great that I suppose he was shorter than otherwise he would have been but alas how could it be for on every side of him as well as up and down the Town the Inhabitants were weeping and bewailing him Oh ' t is the worst day that ever we saw in this Town Must this good Gentleman die here Oh! yet save his Life I am ready to die for him and the like He prayed very heartily for near an hour and sung a Psalm and so we hope was translated to Heaven there to sing everlasting Praises and Hallelujahs His Father and Mother you may easily judge were not a little concerned about him but their Adversaries malice ended not here but Father and Mother must be brought in and how many thousands of Pounds it cost them I think is too well known in London and most Parts of the
be married to my Husband and to be given to the Embraces of my Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever Learn not to repine at the Holy Determination of an infinite wise God but rest satisfied in his Will knowing that he doth all things for the best to them that fear him Weep not for me who am only changing this World of Temptation of Troubles and Affliction It hath pleased God to call me a little before you but you must soon follow after keep therefore the Fear of God before your Eyes and then you will have cause to rejoyce and not to mourn when at the time of departure you may have cause to say with me I have run my Race I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Glory which fadeth not away which that you may be able to say is the Hearty Prayer of Your Friend and Servant Josias Askew The Account his Friend gives of him TO prevent your further trouble in suing for a pardon I think it convenient â—o lâ—t you know I do not question but my dear Cousin hath had his Pardon Sealed by the King of Kings and is in everlasting Blessedness singing Hallelujahs Salvation Glory and Honour to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever For God did so carry him through to drink that bitter Cup with so much Courage and Chearfulness to the last as was to the Admiration of all Spectators notwithstanding the terrible Sight he sâ—w at the Place of Suffering and so vehemently as he was tryed by the Adversary yet it did not in the least discompose him or alter his Countenance for he continued with a smiling Countenance to the last and was transported above measure I want words to express it he was like one wrapt up in Heaven with his Heart there and his Eyes fixed thereon I could wish you had been there it would have driven away all cause of Sorrow from your Heart to see his Deportment and hear the Gracious Words that proceeded out of his mouth He remembreth his Duty to you both and left Pâ—ul's Blessing with you Grace Mercy and Peace his Love to his dear Sister he desires her not to be troubled for him for he hath made his Peace with God and was assured he should go to eternal Happiness he would have written more to you and to his Sister but that he had so short a time after Sentence that he wanted Opportunity when he went out of Prison he said Gentlemen Now I am going and it is the time I much longed for I would not change with him that passeth Sentence upon me for a World I was with him to the last and seeing his Courage did very much encourage me though I never saw such a sight with my Eyes The behaviour of John Holway before and at the place of his Execution at Warham in the County of Dorset HE lived in Lime where the Duke Landed and Appeared in Arms at that time until his Captain left him then took up Arms under the Duke of Monmouth and went with him until the Kings Proclamation came forth That all that would lay down their Arms before some Justice of the Peace in four days after and take a Certificate for their so doing they should be acquitted and have his Majesties pardon which this Person did though one day too late which Blot my Lord Chief Justice hit being very good at it and passed the Sentence of Death on him Before his Tryal he was not much concerned at his Case and thought himself almost out of danger But to be short he received his Sentence with much Courage and Resolution and by the means of one Mr. Tiller who was to suffer with him was brought to that setled frame of Spirit as is fit for one in that Condition As he was riding in the Cart toward the place of Execution the Troopers being just behind the Cart he told them They shewed like brave Fellows but said he If I were to have my Life for fighting the best five of you I would not question it At the place of Execution he said not much But that he thought his and other mens Blood would be revenged on time or another and said Forgive me have Mercy on my poor Soul pardon all my Sins and the like and so the Executioner did his Office The Last Speech and Prayer of Mr. Matthews at the place of Execution HE was much concerned the Morning before he died to see his Wife weep and to be in such a passion for him which drew Tears from his Eyes and taking her in his Arms said My Dear Prithee do not disturb me at this time but endeavour to submit to the Will of God and although thy Husband is going from thee yet I trust God will be all in all unto thee sure my Dear you will make my passage into Eternity more troublesome than otherwise if you thus lament and take on for me I am very sensible of thy tender love towards me but would have you consider that this Separation will be so much for my Advantage as your Loss cannot parallel I thank God I am willing to die and to be with my Jesus be satisfied the Will of God must be done thy Will be done O God in Earth as it is in Heaven So embracing her took his last farewell of her and prepared to go to the place of Execution where being come he with a very modest sober composed Frame of Spirit stood while he saw several Executed before him his turn being come he thus spake Dear Countrimen I suppose We are all of one Kingdom and Nation and I hope Protestants O I wonder we should be so cruel and Blood-thirsty one towards another I have heard it said heretofore that England could never be ruin'd but by her self which now I fear if a doing Lord have Mercy on poor England turn the Hearts of the Iâ—habiâ—â—nts thereof cause them to love one another and to forâ—et one anothers Infirmities Have meâ—cy O Lord on me Give me strength and patience to fulfil thy Will Comfort my dear and sorrowful Wife be a Huâ—bâ—nd unto her stand by her in the greatâ—st trouble and affliction Let her depend upon thy Pâ—ovidenceâ— be merciful to all men preserve this Nation from Popery find out yet a way for its deliverance if it be thy good Will and give all Men Hearts to be truly thanâ—ful Comfort my fellow sufferers that are immediately to follow Give them strength and comfort unto the end I forgive all the World even all those that have been the immediate Hastners of my Death I am in charity with all Men. And now blessed Lord Jesus into thy Hands I commend my Spirit Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Eâ—rth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that
trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation But deliver us from Evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen After which going up the Ladder he desired the Executioner not to be hard to him who answered No and said I pray Master forgive me To which he said I do wiâ—h my whole Heart and I pray God forgive thee but I advise thee to leave off this bloody Trade The Executioner said I am forced to do what I do it 's against my mind So lifting up his hands to Heaven the Executioner did his Office The Behaviour and Dying Words of Mr. Roger Satchel who was executed at Weymouth in the County of Dorset THis Gentleman at the time of the Dukes landing at Lyme lived at Culliton about five Miles West of that Town and was supposed to be concerned in the design with the Duke He always was a great Admirer of him which got him many Enemies among the Gentry of that County He always hated the name of a Papist and as it fell out he did foresee Popery advancing as his Words to divers of his Neighbours can testifie As for his Disposition he was of a very generous and Heroick Spirit But to proceed No sooner had he the news of the Dukes being landed but he sets himself to work to serve him desiring all he knew to joyn with him and was one of the first that went to him to Lyme and was with him to the end But after the Rout travelling to and fro to secure himself was at last taken at Chard by three Moss Troopers under no Discipline who made it their business to ruine their Neighbours in those parts they are so well known I need not say any more He was from thence carry'd to Ilchester and so secured in Ilchester Goal and at the Bloody Assizes at Dorchester took his Tryal and received his Sentence with the rest Great application was made for him but my L. C. Justice Jeffreys Ears were deaf and so was order'd to be executed at Weymouth After Sentence two of his Friends came to him and told him There was no hope He answer'd My hope is in the Lord. After which he spent most of his time before Execution in Prayer and Meditation and conferring with many good Persons The morning being come he prepared himself and all the way drawing to Execution was very devout Being come to the place there was a Minister I think of that place who sung a Psalm and prayed with them and would have some Discourse with this Person which he avoided as much as possible but he asked him What were his Grounds for joyning in that Rebellion who answered Had you Sir been there and a Protestant I believe you would have joyned too but do not speak to me about that I am come to die for my sins not for my Treason against the King as you call it So pointing to the Wood that was to burn his Bowels he said I do not care for that what matters it what becomes of my Body so my Soul be at rest So praying to himself near half an hour and advising some he knew never to yield to Popery he was turned off the Ladder He was a couragious bold spirited Man and one of great Reason Just and punctual in all his business and one that did much good amongst his Neighbours There was at the same time and place one Mr. Lancaster executed whose Courage and Deportment was such that he out-braved Death and in a manner challenged it to hurt him saying I die for a good Cause and am going to a gracious God I desire all your Christian Prayers 't is good to go to Heaven with Company And much more he spake concerning the Duke of Monmouth whom he supposed at that time to be living and so praying privately for some small time he was turned or rather leaped over the Ladder If I mistake not he said he was born or lived in Bridport The last Speech of Mr. Benjamin Sandford at the place of Execution at Bridport HE with Nine more were brought from Dorchester to Bridport to be Executed Coming to the place of Execution he held up his Hands to Heaven and turning himself to the People said I am an Old Man you see and I little thought to have ended my days at such a shameful place and by such an ignominious Death and indeed it is dreadful to Flesh and Blood as well as a Reproach to Relations but it would have been a great deal more if I had suffered for some Felonious Account Says one to him Is not this worse do you think than Felony He answered I know not any thing that I have done so bad as Felony that this heavy Judgment should fall upon me except it be for my sins against my God whom I have highly provok'd and must acknowledge have deserved ten thousand times more Lord I trust thou hast pardoned them Seal my pardon in the Blood of my Saviour Lord look upon and be with me to the last Moment There was also Executed at the same time one John Bennet a poor Man but pious and of good Report with his Neighbours in Lyme where he lived I have heard that when he was on Trial a certain Person inform'd his Lordship that the Prisoner then at the Bar had Alms of the Parish And that his Lordship should reply Do not trouble your selves I will ease the Parish of that trouble In Prison and at the place of Execution he behaved himself so to all that many of his Enemies pitied him and would if it had lain in their power as they said have saved him His Son being then present offered to have died for him and was going up the Ladder if it might have been suffer'd He prayed some short time and so was translated as we have hopes to think from this troublesome World into Celestial Joy and Happiness Next follows many Excellent Hymns made by several Worthy Persons that were Prisoners for the sake of Christ. TRiumphing Songs with glorious Tongues Let 's offer unto him That loved so to undergo The product of our Sin Leaving his Throne from Heaven came down Sinners for to Redeem From Hell and Wrath and second death Christ underwent great pain His side was gor'd his hands were bor'd His feet were nailed down And all was for the Redemption Of sinful wicked Man O how straitned prest and pained Was Christ to be Baptized And in Affliction to be plunged His Body Sacrificed Let God be blest for Jesus Christ Who is our splendid King Hallelujahs sweet with spirit meet High praises to him sing For Blood for Wounds for Love whose bounds Extended unto all For scoffâ— and smites for jeers for flouts Which upon Christ did fall Now Christ haste unto us again Thy Scepter for to sway Thy Kingdom come thy will be done Come Jesus come away With glorious bands and shiâ—ing trance Of Angels in the Skye Which forth
the Cruelty of Men when in their Power and how the Devil stirreth up his Instruments to pursue those that adventure for the Cause of God and Religion Here were in this County Executed 239. the rest that were Condemned were Transported except such as were able to furnish Coin and that not a little for an account was taken of Mens abilities according to which the purchase for Life must be managed by two of his Favourites who had a small share the rest went into his Lordships Pocket according to the Actions of Rome where Sins of any kind may be pardoned for mony This indeed was a glorious Design in the Eye of Mother Church to root out Heresie by Executions and Transportations to make room for a pack here Expedition must be made to conclude at Wells for that a great Man being fallen our great Judge designing his Chair which in short he had as the Reward of so eminent and extraordinary a piece of Service as he did for the Advancement of the Roman Catholicks Interest which is cruel always where it prevails Thus we leave the Town of Taunton after awarding Execution to many there and their Quarters to be scatter'd up and down the County and so we proceed to Wells where divers Prisoners that had been carried from Goal to Goal in expectation of Evidence against them were in Carts removed to Wells in which place to finish this Expedition the same Method as was at the former Assizes was also taken here by a severe Charge affronting the Gentlemen of this County as he had done in all the Counties before terrifying the Juries when any pleaded to make them to bring in the persons Guilty some of which being over-awed and it is doubted contrary to their Judgments which if so the Lord forgive them Here were many eminent and worthy persons that received the Sentence of Death but the Executions of the County being put together as you have before seen we make no particular Division of the Number here and the Number at Taunton the whole being recited before We shall therefore endeavour to be as brief as we can to give you what we think material and truly matter of Fact my Lord now being come to conclude this extraordinary Commission and in haste to be elevated maketh all manner of dispatch to repair to the King then at Windsor to give an Account of his Transactions and to receive the Reward of his meritorious service in this Butchering of Protestants which is so acceptable to his Holiness and his bigotted Disciples as nothing can be more and indeed if you will believe them a Work that merits Heaven at last besides what Temporal Preferments are thought fit in this World If this cruel Judge were a true Protestant his Case is much the worse being made use of as a Tool to destroy and carry on Popish Designs Thus the Affairs being ended the Country filled with Heads and Quarters of those that were Executed the rest that had not wherewith to purchase their Lives left in Custody in order to Transportation I shall next add the Charge given by the Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys at the City of Bristol Monday September 21. 1685. In his Return from his Western Campaigne Gentlemen I Am by the Mercy of God come to this great and populous City a City that boasts both of its Riches and Trade and may justly indeed claim the next place to the great and populous Metropolis of this Kingdom Gentlemen I find here are a great many Auditors who are very intent as if they expected some formal or prepared Speech but assure your selves we come not to make neither set Speeches nor formal Declamations nor to follow a couple of puffing Trumpeters for Lord we have seen those things Twenty times before No we come to do the King's business a King who is so Gracious as to use all the means possible to discover the Disorders of the Nation and to search out those who indeed are the very Pest of the Kingdom To this end and for this purpose are we come to this City But I find a special Commission is an unusual thing here and relishes very ill nay the very Women storm at it for fear we should take the upper hand of them too for by the by Gentlemen I hear it is much in fashion in this City for the Woman to govern and bear sway But Gentlemen I will not stay you with such needless Stories I will only mention some few things that fall within my knowledg for Points or Matters of Law I shall not trouble you but only mind you of some things that lately hath happened and particularly in this City for I have the Kalender of this City in my Pocket and if I do not express my self in so formal or set a Declamation for as I told you I came not to make Declamations or in so smooth Language as you may expect you must attribute it partly to the pain of the Stone under which I labour and partly to the unevenness of this days journey Gentlemen I may say that even some of the youngest amongst us may remember the late horrid Rebellion how men under colour of Law and pretext of Justice after they had divested a most Gracious and most Merciful Prince of all his Royal Power by the Power of the Sword they I say under colour of Law and pretext of Justice which added the more to the Crime that it was done under colour of such pretended Justice brought the most Mild and Meekest Prince next to our ever Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ if we may but compare him to a Man to die a Martyr the first blessed Martyr pardon the expression besides our most blessed Jesu who suffered for us on the Cross I say besides that Blessed Son of God this I say was the first Royal Martyr not suffering him to speak for himself or make his defence a Liberty which is given to the vilest Traitor and this was done not to descant on the number by Forty one The Rebels not resting here for Rebellion is like the sin of Witchcraft Divested the Lineal Legal and Rightful Heir of the Crown of all his Power and Prerogative till the Mighty God of Heaven and Earth God Almighty restored him to his Just Right And he as if begot in Mercy not only forgave all Offences and pardoned voluntarily even all that had been in actual Arms against him excepting those accursed Regicides but also made it a Crime for any one that should but remember or upbraid any of their past Crimes and Rebellions Good God! O Jesu that we should live in such an Age in which such a Prince cannot be safe from the seditious contrivances of Pardoned Rebels Had we not the Rye Conspiracy wherein they not only designed to have Murthered that Most Blessed for so now we may conclude him to be with God Almighty and Gracious King but also his Most ever Dear and Victorious Brother Had we not the Bill
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