Restoration there has been no free nor Lawful Parliaments and he thinks by reason albeit the Members thereof were Elected in the ordinary way Yet when the Members Meet there was unlawful Oaths imposed upon them and there upon severals of them left the Parliament and so he understands that it is not a free nor lawful Parliament and thinks that Episcopacy and Erastianisme is established in that and subsequently Parliaments were contrary to the Word of God and that the Supremacy herein established is most horrid Blasphemy I added here to the Chancellor that I hoped his Lordship would not be offended at this seeing he had sworn the same in the Test but they refused to write this in my subscribed Declaration Being Interrogate if he owned the Proclamation and Declaration at Sanquhair and Hamilitoun Declares he does not own the Sanquhair Declaration as being inconsistent with his Principles such as the cutting off of the wicked and having himself read the Hamiltoun Declaration Declares he owns the same and that when they were invaded and assaulted by any Persons whatsoever in their Exercises of Reformed Religion and Worship they were obliged to stand to their own Defence and owns the Lawfullness of Field Conventicles and their being in Arms to Defend themselves in case of being Molested And he himself was ever ready to own and defend his Brethren in Arms when invaded for Religion And declares that the Invasion made against them at Pentland and Bothwell they being in the Exercise of his Religion was Service done to the Devil and Resistance made by them was Service done to GOD. Confesses that before Bothwell Bridge he had riden in Arms with Mr. Welsch through the Countrey and blesses God for it Confesses he was at a Meeting at Lesmehago before Bothwell when Lieutenant DalÈiel with a Party came upon them and was one of these that engaged against that Party Denies he was at Drumclogg But confesses he was at Bothwell and thinks that Mr. John Welsch stayed about half a year in the Countrey thereafter but he was only about eight days in Company with him after Bothwell in this Kingdom Confesses the King is lawful King Born and came Lawfully to the Crowns of these Kingdoms and that he is lawful King of this Kingdom and owns the Kings Authority conform to the Word of GOD that is to say That he is impowered to Govern for GOD's Glory and the good of his People and to be a Terror to evil doers and encourager to well and Declares that the Act of Supremacy as it is explained by the Act of Parliament that the turning out of Presbyterian Interest and overturning the Work of Reformation most unlawful Acts and being expresly contrary to the Word of God can not be Binding upon the Declarent and that Covenants are binding upon the Nations and shall be so while Sun and Moon endures and that that Oath called the Test is a most unlawful and horrid Oath and he is not obliged to take the same He Declares As to killing the Archbishop of St. Andrews he cannot give Judgment anâ—â—nt it it not being an Act of his own but that some of these that were called the Actors whom he knew and particularly one William Dingwal were Godly and Just Men. sic subscribitur John Dick. The last Day of August 1683 There being many Noblemen in the Court which day Mr. John Dick being present was Examined in presence of the Justices then sitting in Judgment and the abovewritten Confession â—mitted by him in presence of the Council being read he acknowledged the same and every particular of the same in presence of the said Justices Sic subscribitur John Dick Maitland James Fowls John Lockhart Alexander Seton Upon September 4 1683 I Mr. John Dick Son to David Dick Writer in Edinburgh being Called before the Lords of Justiciary being then present it was demanded if I had any thing to say for my self I answered Yes my Lord I have somewhat to add to my Lyble they asked what was that then I proceeded as follows I Mr. John Dick Prisoner in Name and by the Appointment of Our Blessed Lord and Master Jesus Christ Declare That the Blood of all the Presbyterians that have been Executed for their Principles is horrid Murder by whatsomever Law they have been judged and that in the Person of every Individual one who have suffered simply on this Account Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ hath been as really crucified as He was by Pilate and the Jews at Jerusalem And this I desire may be holden as a part of my former Declaration and Confession emitted before the Council and Justices This I called for and subscribed blessing the Lord that had given me a hand so to do They refused to add it to my Declaration judging they had too much already I required all that were present Witnesses that I had declared the same and Appealled them all to Christ's Bar at the Great Day to Answer for what they had done and were doing They asked if I would have an Advocat I said My Lords that is ordinarly denied to Persons in my condition they declared I should have as many as I pleased I said I would have none but my Blessed Lord Jesus Christ Blessed be His Holy Name for it He is both with me and in me The Justice Clerk asked if I was a Quaker or a Fifth Monarchry Man I told him I abhorred both yet my Affection was relevant being Blessed of my God with the Grace of Faith And then they read my Indictment and asked at every Article to which I answered affirmatively Then did the Justice Clerk ask if I had any thing to say for my self I said I Blessed the Lord I had they Desired me to proceed Answer I expect my Lords being a Free Born Scots Man I shall have the Priviledge allowed me that the Christians in former days had among the Heathens the Justice Clerk bids me proceed there are two things which I hope your Lordship will grant e're we proceed further first do you not Acknowledge that the Almighty God Jehovah is Supream Lord Governour of Heaven and Earth that all Kings in the Earth are but his Deputs Servants the Justice Clerk sayes yes The Second Do ye not Acknowledge that all the Law in the World among Christians must Strike Sail to the great Law the Law of God to which I got no Answer whereupon I took Witnesses and Protested that it might be Recorded in Heaven then they press'd me to proceed I told him the Advocat offering to follow his own method had drawn out my Declaration my Lords you have been at much pains to seek my Accusation I have been so Ingenuous to Exhibite it to you my self for which I Bless the Lord first Article that I own my self to a Presbyterian and to be bound to continue so conform to a Covenant that can not be Infringed by no Power under Heaven Now my Lords I being under such strong Impressions of those my
to be the Supream Judge and his Word the Supream Law which both were Refused in that the Lâ—tter was not Granted and yet both by my Blessed Lord and Master in my Escape proâ—â—â— The first in this that though the Great one in the Earth Bad Decreed my Death upon the 26 of Sept. 1683 â—et now see my blessed Master having Decreed the contrary has proven himself Supream The latter in this that though the same was Enacted in a Law by you yet by his Word which is yet the Supream Law my GOD having moved me to cast mine Eye upon that Promise He that loseth his Life for my sake shall save it and upon the back of this on that Word in the Psalms According to thy Righteousness do thou deliver me I say my blessed Lord helping me to cast mine Eye and not a little to Confide in the Promise though I must confess by my too eager gripping thereto at first and in so doing limitting my blessed Lord I Bred my self not a little Disquiet yet I say my Lord according to this his Word having set me at Liberty though you had Enacted the contrary has ad hominem sufficiently proven my second Principle also I say are you at a Point what to answer when all this Blood comes to be inquired into Know you not that the Blood of Saints is precious in the Lord's sight Or will ye yet with Pharaoh harden your hearts possibly under this consideration that you live Remote from the Red-Sea But know you not that our Omnipotent Master can for you make a Sea of your own Blood if it be Red enough for you to Drown in And who knows but such a thing may come to pass Especially considering that it is an ordinary thing with the Lord in punishing either Friends or Enemies to do it so as their sin may be Reâ—d in their Judgement and I am indeed the rather inclined to think it shall be so when I remember the saying of that Worthy Man of GOD I mean Mr. Semple late Minister of Corsfairn in Galloway who fell under no small Eclipse in his Latter Days through his closing with that fatall Indulgence fatall indeed to the poor Churches in Britain and Ireland who in his better days had this Expression As the Lord lives for every Drop of the Saints Blood has been or shall be shed by these his Cruel Enemies speaking of the Malignant Prelatical Papistical and Atheistical Party in these Kingdoms there shall Tuns Tuns Tuns of their's fall to the Ground and I know few of this Great Seer Threatnings have fallen to the Ground What Dream you I say you shall have to Answer in that Day Dare ye whisper these things were done conform to your Laws which upon the Matter was all I got answered to me standing at your Bar here upon Earth for which I have no fewer than 500 Witnesses and upon which I have an Instrument standing Recorded in Heaven do you think you will dare to Mutter this then Sure if you knew what you were saying you would never do it here nor there for it is no less upon the Matter than to Ratifie the Sentence past upon our blessed Lord and Master himself by the Jews for which he got no other reason but we have a Law the same I get but what if our blessed Lord your Judge say but you know I had a Law to the contrary and your Law should have Ceded to mine dare you think you shall contradict this there as you have indeed done here upon Earth I know you dare not consider then what you will answer for I can assure you it is of your Concern May Sixth Question shall be what think you to Answer for your Mock Thanksgivings of which I shall Instance two one is for Gowries Conspiracy the other for this Pretended Deliverance from a Mock Plot these two Twins I bring in together the rather that they resemble other as much as ever Twins did and no wonder since they are of one Father I mean the Devil one Mother the Pope of Rome one Nurse the Jesuitical Papists who having brought up these Brats till they are able to walk alone send them over here to their Friends in Britain and Ireland and what day is pitched upon here for bringing them forth to publick View Even the Lords day in which these young Monsters must get on all their Gay Cloathes and of them must all the Churches in the Nations spend that day in speaking though to the mocking of GOD with abominable Lies yet to the admiration of this Monstrous Birth And then when all is done there must be Bonefires Ringing of Bells and fireing of Cannons and what not that this Monstrous Generation can devise for provocking of and fighting against Jehovah O Heaven shake Earth tremble and all flesh be astonished at such Hellish madding against our glorious Master and because contravia juxta se posita clarius elucescunt I would have you to take a glance of the industrie of that Limb of Antichrist the Duke of York in hindering the procedure of the Parliament of England in their so just and Legall procedure in inquiring into that Hell-hatched Popish Plot which is in no small measure now advanced by this last mock one of yours And I am sure none who are not altogether Strangers to the Constitutions of England will refuse that Treason of the Nature that a Popish Plot is really and this mock Plot of theirs as to its pretended Nature is pretended to be ought to come under Tryal by his Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament as only competent Judges thereto but there is no remedy for open and irresistible violence but patience I say what are you at a Point what to Answer for these things I fear not and I hope none who knows that I am a Presbyterian and Consequently whom I am concerned to Defend here I mean all such as are either indeed Presbyterians or longing for the time when the Nation shall be Universaly such which the LORD hasten and Pardon any who have been any way Instrumental in hindering when the matter was brought to a very hopefull pass will think I have been out of the Road in medling in matters wherein the Glory of GOD is so much concerned for to Charge any such Plotts upon such as are indeed of our Principles I dare Averr to be not only a wrong for us but of our Blessed LORD also in and though us Now I Pray you consider what you shall Answer for these things My Seventh Question is what you think to Answer who have Refused our Blessed LORD and his People a Spot of your Ground to meet together upon who have Refused his People a Nights Lodging who have Concurred in Dragging his People to Scaffolds and Prisons and others whom we have Classed together with you above when you shall meet that Day with your Particular Charges Is it not of your concern to consider this especialy the rather
Concerned might be put down off the Scaffold then he with a Smilling Countenance turns to the People and gives them all a Cowngie as he did when he went first up the Scaffold and turns to his Father who was also upon the Scaffold with him and Embracing him very Chearfully he gave several Kisses and Rounded some of his last Advises to him and so parted with him saying LORD be with you my Dear Father And then turned to his Brother who was also by him upon the Scaffold and after the same manner Embracing him Kissing so parted with him with Words to the same purpose that he had to his Father with an Exhortation that he should amend his Life and forbear his Idle Company But especially his ways with several others of that Nature telling him the Hazard thereof and encouraging him if he would follow his last Advices Then he turns to two Gentlemen which were also with him and after the same manner Embraced Saluted and parted with them and then he gave another Bow to the whole Multitude and so went up the Ladder and turning his Face to the North East he Cryed out saying I am come here to surprised nor terrified with Death or the manner of it And here I do declare would not Exchange my Lot with what the greatest King Prince or Emperor Enjoyments could afford me and what I Speak once I say it again I lay dowâ— my Life willingly and Chearfully for Christ and his truth Blessing him that evâ—â— I had a Life to lay it down for him yea I am now no more Troubled with or for Death then if I were to ly down in the Finest Bed that the Earth could afford with thâ— most Dear and Intimate Friend that the World could allow me and here I do Declare that I do Heartily and freely forgive all Men whatsoever they have done tâ— or against me and Prayes that the LORD would forgive them I forgive them that sentenced me to die here first and last and I forgive all that apprehended mâ— first and last or was any way accessory thereto and I forgive all that has broâ—ghâ— me here and are guarding me here and I forgive this Poor Man pointing with hiâ— hand behind him to the Hangman who is to be my Executioner Now I desire you all especially you who pretend to be righteous Study to be Sincere in the Way oâ— GOD and in working out of your Salvation for there are many who pretends to be Godly thâ—t know little of the Life and Power thereof therefore I entreat youâ— labour to know what is the Power and Life of Godliness for there are many if noâ— the most part who pretends to be righteous that knows least of it I say be noâ— satisfied with the Shell but labour for the Kernel and Marrow of Religion Now my Friends Remember I tell you here upon the Ladder and as a Dying Man steping out of Time to Eternity that notwithstanding all the Dark Clouds that has been and now are yet there are a thicker and darker coming and it is not far off yea it is at hand But I say Trust in GOD Trust in GOD and he will not disappoint you I say Trust in GOD whatever Afflictions befall you yet Trust in GOD and give him Credite At the hearing of these Words the Bailie calls to Beat the Drums and so they were Beat a little at which he looked down to the Bailie and said what Sir do ye Beat Drums because I desire the People to trust in GOD and the Drums were silenced Then he Cryed out again trust in GOD and ye shall be born through if once ye get in him and keep in him Then he said I will Sing a part of the twenty fifth Psalm from the sixteen Verse to the close for it has been many a time very sweet to me and so I will sing it as my last Song in Time I shall be immediatly where my Heart shall be so Tuned pointing with his Hand to his Breast that I shall never be able to stop the Melody and Harmony thereof then having Sung these Verses he Prayed in which among other things he had this Expression Lord take a Course with thine Enemies and these of them whom thou has a Purpose of Love to Lord bring them in and let them see the evil of their ways and these that are thine incorrigible Enemies make the Wheels of thy Chariots go over their Backs And now Lord leave me not and leave not thine to the evil of the Enemies hasten and return to thine Heritage that's now in reproach turn to thy Church and People for thy Glorious Names sake thou knowest I dare say before thee and in thy sight that I preferred thy Work and Interest to my very Life which I as I am a Rational Creature is as sweet to me as another Mans is Yet I durst not purchase at any Rate to the prejudice of thy Truth and so I lay it down freely and willingly So having called his Father to him a word with you Sir and so having spoken what he had to say to him he again took his Leave of him delivering him a Book to be given to another so parted with him And he perceiving his Brother who was on the Ladder with him trembling he said to him Smyling and Clapping him on the Cheek what Sir are you Trembiing for what Sir are you afraid do you perceive any thing like fear in me And so his Brother puts his Nâ—pkin on his 〈◊〉 and it being Tyed and his Brother offering to pull it over his Face he putting away his Hand with his said let alone I will draw it down my self so he put his Hâ—nds into his Pocket and takes out the Cover of his Bible and putting the same therein he gave it to his Brother Charging him straitly to give it to his Sister Then he looked round about him saying farewell all my Friends in CHRIST pointing with his Hand to some that he knew both in Windows and on the Street to one fixing his Eyes upon him he said my Dear Billie the Lord be with you the Lord be with you and having fixed himself upon a Step of the Ladder said I Remember a Passage of Abraham who was Commanded to Sacrifice his Son Isacc he having in Obedience to the Command brought his Son to offer him up a Sacrifice Reared up an Altar and Isaac says to him here is the Altar and there is the Wood but where is the Sacrifice and then he said Pointing to the Gibbet here is the Altar and then Pointing to the Ladder on which he Sat said here is the Wood and then he said laying his Hands on his Breast and Blessed be GOD here is a free will offering and I will give it willingly and Chearfuly yea I can say it here even upon the Brink of Eternity that these several Years I have Preferred the Glory of GOD the wellfare and Prosperity of the Work â—nd Interest of Christ and his People to my own Private and Particular Interest and I might have Shuned such a Death as this but GOD knows I durst not do it And now I know yea I am firmly perswaded That my Dear Lord even my Exalted and Glorified Lord Jesus Christ will carry me safely throw this Dark Valley and Saddow of Death and will receive my Soul immedatly after I go off this Ladder unto Glory where I shall ever be with him Then he said again crying with a Loud Voice now when I can Hardly get Speaking for the Rope about my Neck Farewell all Freinds and followers of Christ again I say Farewell and Adiew all Earthly Enjoyments and so having given the Hangman a Sign when he would be ready he Prayed alitle within himself and when he had done he gave the Sign and at the giving thereof he drew the Napkin over his Face and Cryed out Farewell all Friends in Christ into thy Hands O Lord do I Commit my Soul So he was Turned over And so ends the Life of this Faithful and now Glorified Martyr for Christ And to GOD the Father Son and Bessed Spirit be Eternal Praise and Glory for ever and ever Amen FINIS