the said Lord Chancellor in whose Name the Grant was to pass whether in his Lordships or Mr. Pitts The Chancellor Reply'd That the King had Granted him the Ground for Ninety Nine Years at a Pepper-Corn per Annum and that he was to make over the said Grant to his Landlord Pitt's for the same Term of Years without any Alteration in consideration of his said Landlord Pitt Building him a Cause-Room c. and his the said Lord Chancellor's Enjoying the same during his living in the said Pitt's House and withal urg'd him the said Pitt immediately to take down the King's Park-wall and to Build with all Expedition for he much wanted the Cause-Room and that I should not doubt him for he would certainly be as good as his Agreement with me My Witnesses are Sir Christopher Wren Their Majesties Surveyor Mr. Fisher deâ—easâ—d who belong'd to Sir C. Harbord Their Majesties Land Surveyor Mr. Joseph Avis my Builder Mr. Thomas Bludworth Mr. John Arnold both Gentlemen belonging to the said Lord Chancellor and several others upon which I had a Warrant from Mr. Cook out of the Secretary of State 's Office in the Lord Chancellor's Name with King James's Hand and Seal to pluck down the King's VVall and make a Door and Steps Lights c. into the Park at Discretion which said Warrant cost me 6 l. 5 s. Upon which in about Three or Four Months time I Built the Two Wings of that Great House which is opposite to the Bird-Cages with the Stairs and Tarrass c. which said Building cost me about Four Thousand Pounds with all the inside-work My Work-men being imploy'd by the said Lord Chancellor to sit up the said House and also Offices and Cause-Room for his Use for all which he never paid me one Farthing When I had finished the said Building I demanded of him several times my Grant of the said Ground from the King he often promised me that I should certainly have it but I being very uneasie for want of my said Grant I wrote several times to him and often waited to speak with him to have it done but at last I found I could have no Access to him and that I spent much time in waiting to speak with him altho I liv'd just against his door and also I consider'd that he could not be long Lord Chancellor of England King William being just come I got into the Parlour where he was many Tradesmen being with him that he had sent for I told him that I did not so earnestly demand my Rent of him which was near half a year due but I demanded of him my Grant from King James of the Ground we hâ—d agreed for in consideration of my Building He told me That he would leave my House and that he should not â—arry away the Ground and Building with him which was all the Answer I could have from him And the very next day he went into White-â—all and had the Jesuite Peter's Lodging where he â—ay till that Tuesday Morning King James first Abdicated and went away with Sir Edward Hales the said Lord Chancellor should have gone with them but they dropt him so that Morning finding them to be gone he was fain to shift for himself and to fly with a Servant or at most Two with him and soon after taken and sent to the Tower where he since Died. But to return to the thrid of this Discourse passing by his vehement and pressing Discourse to the Jury against William Lord Russel on his Trial at the Old-Baily which some say greatly influenced them to find him Guilty and add that he did it out of a pique in remembrance he was one of the Members of the Parliament before whom he was brought on his Knees We find him by this time Trying of Dr. Titus Oates upon two Informations upon the Account of his Swearing to the White-Horse Consult and Ireland's being in Town and after a long Debate wherein many sharp Reparâ—ees passed the Jury made a shift to find him Guilty as to the Circumstances I refer you to the Tryal but the Sentence was severe and of its effects few are ignorant wherefore I shall pass it over as also that of Mr. Tho. Dangerfield another of the Evidences in discovering the Contrivanceâ— and carrying on of the Popish Plot which the Papists by these manner of Proceedings accounted to be effectually stifled And now before any thing remarkable happened the Kingdom was alarm'd by the Landing of the late Duke of Monmouth at Lyme in Dorsetshire and the Earl of Argyle in Scotland but however these two unfortunate Gentlemen miscarrying and losing their Lives left a great many of their miserable Followers to feel the severity of Punishment and as for the gleaning the bloody Fields in England they came to the sifting of this Person who with others going down with a Commission to Try them all the Indignities the Dissenters had put upon him came fresh into his remembrance so that he made them find the Laws more cruel than the Sword and wish they had fallen in the Field rather than have come to his handling for he breathed Death like a destroying Angel and sanguined his very Erminâ— in Blood A large Account of which you shall have in its proper place But by the way for the sake of the West-Country Reader I shall here add a true and impartial Narrative of the late Duke of Monmouth's whole Expedition while in the West seeing that was the Prologue to that bloody Scene that you 'll hear by and by was acted by George Lord Jeffreys the â—â—bject of our present Discourse To begin then May 24. Old Style We left Amsterdam about two of the Clock being Sunday Morning and in a Lighter sail'd for the Texâ—l our Vessels being sent before us thither but meeting with extream cross Winds all the way we arrived not till Saturday Night and then went all on Board Here our Man of War with about 32 Guns where the Dukes Person was was under an Arrest by order of the States of Amsterdam on the Complaint of our Envoy they presuming we had been clear but we broke through our Arrest and Sunday Morning at break of Day set Sail for England We had in all three Ships that of 32 Guns carried most of our Men the other two were for our Ammunition We met with exceeding cross Winds most part of the time we spent on the Seas and Arrived not at Lyme till Thursday June 11. so that from Amsterdam to Lyme we wanted but two days of three Weeks We Landed without any the least Opposition and were received with all expressions of Joy imaginable the Duke as soon as he jump'd out of his Boat on Land call'd for silence and then desir'd we would joyn with him in returning God Thanks for that wonderful preservation we had met with at Sea and accordingly fell on his Knees on the Sand and was the mouth of us all in a short Ejaculation and then
he was very much above but meerly from the true respect he had for 'em and a sense of that imminent Danger they were in which his piercing Judgment and long Experience made him more sensible of and his Courage and Vertue more concern'd at than others not only those who sat unconcern'd Spectators or shar'd in their Ruins but even then most of them who were engag'd with him in the same Common Cause of their Defence and Preservation Nothing of such an impatience or eargerness or black melancholy cou'd be discern'd in his Temper or Conversation as is always the Symptom or Cause of such Tragical-Ends as his Enemies wou'd perswade us he came to Lastly What may be said of most of the rest does in a more especial and eminent manner agree to the illustrious Essex and than which nothing greater can be said of Mortality He liv'd an Hero and dy'd a Martyr Upon the Execrable Murther of the Right Honourable Arthur Earl of Essex MOrtality wou'd be too frail to hear How ESSEX fell and not dissolve with fear Did not more generous Rage take off the blow And by his Blood the steps to Vengeance show The Tow'r was for the Tragedy design'd And to be slaughter'd he is first confin'd As fetter'd Victims to the Altar go But why must Noble ESSEX perish so Why with such fury drag'd into his Tomb Murther'd by slaves and sacrific'd to Rome By stealth they kill and with a secrect stroke Silenâ—e that Voice which charm'd when e'er it spoke The bleeding Orifice o'reflow'd the Ground More like some mighty Deluge than a Wound Through the large space his Blood and Vitals glide And his whole Body might have past beside The wreaking Crimson swell'd into a Flood And stream'd a second time in Capel's Blood He 's in his Son again to Death pursu'd An Instance oâ— the high'st Ingratitude They then malicious Stratagems Imploy With Life his dearer Honour to destroy And make his Fame extinguish with his Breath An Act beyond the Cruelties of Death Here Murther is in all its shapes compleat As Lines united in their Centre meet Form'd by the blackest Politicks of Hell Was Cain so dev'lish when his Brother fell He that contrives or his own Fate desires Wants Courage and for fear of Death expires But mighty ESSEX was in all things brave Neither to Hope nor to Despair a Slave He had a Soul too Innocent and Great To fear or to anticipate his Fate Yet their exalted Impudence and Guilt Charge on himself the precious Blood they spilt So were the Protestants some years ago Destroy'd in Ireland without a Foe By their own barbarous Hands the Mad-men dye And Massacre themselves they know not why Whilst the kind Irish howl to see the Gore And pious Catholicks their Fate deplore If you refuse to trust Erroneous Fame Royal Mac-Ninny will confirm the same We have lost more in injur'd Capel's heir Than the poor Bankrupt age can e're repair Nature indulg'd him so that there we saw All the choice strokes her steddy hand cou'd draw He the Old English Glory did revive In him we had Plantagenets alive Grandeur and Fortune and a vast Renown Fit to support the lustre of a Crown All these in him were potently conjoyn'd But all was too ignoble for his Mind Wisdom and Vertue Properties Divine Those God-like ESSEX were entirely thine In his great Name he 's still preserv'd alive And will to all succeeding times survive With just Progression as the constant Sun Doth move and through its bright Ecliptick Run For whilst his Dust does undistinguish'd lye And his blest Soul is soar'd above the Sky Fame shall below his parted Breath supply William Lord Russel THE next who fell under their Cruelty and to whose Death Essex's was but the Prologue was my Lord Russel without all Dispute the finest Gentleman one of 'em that ever England bred and whose pious Life and Virtue was as much Treason against the Court by affronting 'em with what was so much hated there as any thing else that was sworn against him His Family was ancient tho' not rais'd to the Honours it at present enjoys till King Edward's time when John Russel a Dorsetshire Gentlemen who had done many Services and receiv'd many favours from the Crown both in Henry the Seventh and Henry the Eighth's time being by the latter made Lord High Admiral and at his Death Lord High Steward of England for the Solemnity of the Coronation obtain'd such a Victory for his young Master against his Rebels as was rewarded with the Title of The Earl of BeÌ„dford The Occasion of it thu Idolatry and Superstition being now rooting out by the Publick Authority and Images every where pulling down the Loyal Papists mutined and one of their Priests stabb'd a Commander of the Kings who was obeying his Orders and ten thousand of the deluded Rabble rise in the Defence of that barbarous Action and their old Mass and Holy-water Against whom this fortunate Lord was sent with an Army who routed 'em all relieved Exeter which they had besieg'd and took their Gods Banners Crucifixes and all the rest of their Trumpery wherein the deluded Creatures trusted for Victory Thus the Family of the Russels were early Enemies to the Romish Superstition tho' this brave Gentleman only paid the Scores of all his Ancestors The Son and Heir of this John was Francis second Earl of Bedford who was as faithful to the Crown as his Father an Enemy and Terror to the French and a Friend to the Protestant Religion as may appear by the Learned Books of Wickliff which he collected and at his Death bequeath'd to a great Man who he knew wou'd make good use of ' em His eldest Son William Lord Russel the present Earl of Bedford is sufficiently known to every true English-man and his Person and Memory will be honoured by them as long as the World lasts But 't is necessary good men should not be immortal if they were we should almost lose their Examples it looking so like Flattery But to do 'em Justice while they are living with more safety and less censure we may discourse of that Noble Gentleman his Son and Name-sake William Lord Russel who made so great a Figure in our Courts and Parliaments before he was sacrificed to the Cruelty and Revenge of his Popish Enemies If we 'd find his first Offence which lay behind the Scene and was indeed the Cause of his Death though other Colours were necessary to amuse the Publick we must look some years backward as he himself does in his last Speech wherein he tells the World He cannot but think his Earnestness in the matter of the Exclusion had no small influence on his present Sufferings Being chosen Knight of the Shire for Bedfordshire where the evenness and sweetness of his Behaviour and his virtuous Life made him so well-beloved that he 'll never be forgotten He began sooner than most others to see into that danger we were in
from Popery and all those fatal consequences which have since happened and described them as plainly as if he had more than the ordinary inspection of a prudent man into Futurities Thus in his first Speech on the Discovery of the Popish Plot in 78. He has these words I am of Opinion that the Life of our King the Safety of our Country and the Protestant Religion are in great danger from Popery and that either this Parliament must suppress the power and growth of Popery or else that Popery will soon destroy not only Parliaments but all that is near and dear to us And lower I humbly move that we may resolve to take into our consideration in the first place how to suppress Popery and prevent a Popish Successor without which all our endeavours about this matter will not signifie any thing And how much he was in the right as to all these Guesses which then no doubt were nick-named Groundless and Factious Fears and Jealousies all the World is now satisfied Nothing can be more handsom than what he says on this Subject in his last Speech which gives the reasons of his acting at that time and being so earnest for the Bill in which indeed is as fair a State of that great Question as we shall any where find in so little a compass I cannot says he but give some touch about the Bill of Exclusion and shew the reasons of my appearing in that business which in short is this That I thought the Nation was in such danger of Popery and that the expectation of a Popish Successor as I have said in Parliament put the Kings Life also in such danger that I saw no way so effectual to secure both as such a Bill As to the Limitations which were proposed if they were sincerely offer'd and had pass'd into a Law the Duke then would have been excluded from the Power of a King and the Government quite alter'd and little more than the name of a King left So I could not see either sin or fault in the one when all People were willing to admit of the other But thought it better to have a King with his Prerogative and the Nation easie and safe under him than a King without it which must have bred perpetual Jealousies and continual struggle Thus far that Noble Lord with whom concurred at that time very many great and good Men as true Lovers of the Regulated Monarchy of England as of the Protestant Religion and indeed all were at that time unanimous in the House of Commons and other places except some honest Men who despaired of obtaining his Exclusion Others who strained their Charity almost as far as Origen who hoped well even of the Devil and they came not far short believing a Papist would be honest or grateful Some who were indifferent Their private Obligations to the Duke byassing their Judgments too much on his side Others fearful that the contrary Tide ran so strong they could have no safety but under his Protection and perhaps more than all these others who fairly bought and sold their Religion and Liberties the Blood and Souls of themselves and honester men whom 't is not doubted but our Chronicles will mark as long as our Nation has any in 't that can but write themselves or read what others have written The Reader will pardon this little Digression and go on with me to remark some strange Expressions in another Speech of his 'T was on a Debate in the House for Mony to be given for the Relief of Tangier Doth not says he the Dukes Interest indanger the Kings Life and are not our Lives and Fortunes in danger to be snatch'd up by his Power and shall we yet make him stronger by putting Mony into his hands And a little lower When his Majesty shall be pleased to free us from the danger of a Popish Successor and remove from his Council and Places of Trust all those who are for his Interest because there can be no distinction made between the Dukes Interest and the Popish Then I shall conclude that what Mony we shall give will be disposed of according to his Majesties own Royal Pleasure and for the true Protestant Interest and I shall be ready to give even all that I have in the World if his Majesty shall have occasion for it I have been the larger in this to undeceive the World as to that clamouring against those Parliaments for not giving the King Mony the true reason of which we may here plainly perceive But there is one passage so very remarkable and I know not how to call it less than Prophetical in the beginning of this same Speech that it must by no means be omitted 't is as follows If ever there should happen in this Nation any such Change that I should not have Liberty to live a Protestant I am resolv'd to die one And I think he was as good as his Word For being mark't out and among others appointed for the Slaughter he was taken up and imprisoned for that end and purpose in the Tower and brought to his Tryal above all days in the year on Essex's day the 13th of July 1683. He was brought to the Old Baily arraigned and the same morning tryed for High Treason He earnestly desired he might have respite and might not be tryed that day since he had some Witnesses that could not be in Town till the Night nay they were in such post-hast and so hot a scent for his Blood that on his earnest desire they would not stay so much as till the Afternoon pretending 't was against President and they could not do it without the Attorney General 's Consent tho 't is notorious that both Plunket the titular Irish Primate and Fitz-Harris before spoken of were both of them try'd a whole Term after they were arraign'd tho in both Cases the Attorney opposâ—d it and even here in the case of Treason at the Old-Baily too Whitebread's Tryal was put off to another Sessions If 't is pleaded The Case is different and that there was reason for the one but not for the other 'T will be readily granted Tho my Lords Evidence were not ready theirs was They had concerted business better and just at that time News was brought hot into the House That my Lord of Essex had this Morning prevented Justice as has been before remarked in the Story of Essex as also That several of the Jury had said They had never found Russel Guilty had it not been for that Accident And indeed were that all in the Case there would be still room for a great deal of Charity For though that was no proper Evidence against the Prisoner yet very few Persons in the World perhaps could have been found whose Minds would have been so firm and Reason so clear as not to be whether they wou'd or no hing'd and byass'd by such a sudden report as this brought in among 'em when they had no time
could be in some years tho' the writer of them had intended it which did not appear But they being only the present crude and private thoughts of a man for the exercise of his own understanding in his studies and never shewed to any or applied to any particular case could not fall under the Statute of 25 Ed. 3. which takes cognizance of no such matter and could not by construction be brought under it such matters being thereby reserved to the Parliament as is declared in the Proviso which he desired might be read but was refused Several important points of Law did hereupon emerge upon which your Petitioner knowing his own weakness did desire that Council might be heard or they might be referr'd to be found specially But all was over rul'd by the violence of the Lord Chief Justice and your Petitioner so frequently interrupted that the whole method of his Defence was broken and he not suffer'd to say the tenth part of what he could have alledged in his defence So the Jury was hurried into a Verdict they did not understand Now for as much as no man that is oppressed in England can have relief unless it be from your Majesty your Petitioner humbly prays that the Premises considered your Majesty would be pleased to admit him into your presence and if he doth not shew that 't is for your Majesties Interest and Honour to preserve him from the said oppression he will not complain tho' he be left to be destroy'd An Abstract of the Paper delivered to the Sheriffs on the Scaffold on Tower-Hill December 7. 1683. by Algernoon Sidney Esquire before his Execution FIRST having excused his not speaking as well because it was an Age that made Truth pass for Treason for the proof of which he instances his Trial and Condemnation and that the Ears of some present were too tender to hear it as because of the Rigour of the Season and his infirmities c. then after a short reflection upon the little said against him by other Witnesses and the little value that was to be put on the Lord Howard's testimony whom he charges with an infamous life and many palpable perjuries and to have been byassed only by the promise of pardon c. and makes even tho' he had been liable to no exceptions to have been but a single Witness He proceeds to answer the charge against him from the writings found in his Closet by the Kings Officers which were pretended but not Lawfully evidenced to be his and pretends to prove that had they been his they contained no condemnable matter but principles more safe both to Princes and People too than the pretended high-flown plea for Absolute Monarchy composed by Filmer against which they seemed to be levelled and which he says all intelligent men thought were founded on wicked Principles and such as were destructive both to Magistrates and People too Which he attempts to make out after this manner First says he if Filmer might publish to the World That Men were born under a necessary indispensable subjection to an Absolute King who could be restrained by no Oath c. whether he came to it by Creation Inheritance c. nay oâ— even by Usurpation why might he not publish his opinion to the contrary without the breach of any known Law which opinion he professes consisted in the following particulars 1. That God had left Nations at the liberty of Modelling their own Governments 2. That Magistrates were instituted for Nations and not Econtra 3. That the Right and Power of Magistrates was fixed by the standing Laws of each Country 4. That those Laws sworn to on both sides were the matter of a contract between the Magistrate and People and could not be broken without the danger of dissolving the whole Government 5. The Vsurpation could give no Right and that Kings had no greater Enemies than those who asserted that or were for stretching their Power beyond its Limits 6. That such Vsurpations commonly effecting the slaughter of the Reigning Person c. the worst of crimes was thereby most gloriously rewarded 7. That such Doctrines are more proper to stir up men to destroy Princes than all the passions that ever yet swayed the worst of them and that no Prince could be safe if his Murderers may hope such rewards and that few men would be so gentle as to spare the best Kings if by their destruction a wild Vsurper could become Gods Anointed whiâ—â— he says was the scope of that whole Treatise and asserts to be the Doctrine of the best Authors of all Nations Times and Religions and of the Scripture and so owned by the best and wisest Princes and particularly by Lewis 14 th of France in his Declaration against Spain Anno 1667. and by King James of England in his Speech to the Parliament 1603. and adds that if the writer had been mistaken he should have been fairly refuted but that no man was ever otherwise punished for such matters or any such things referred to a Jury c. That the Book was never finished c. nor ever seen by them whom he was charged to have endeavoured by it to draw into a Conspiracy That nothing in it was particularly or maliciously appplied to Time Place or Person but distorted to such a sense by Innuendo's as the Discourses of the expulsion of Tarquin c. and particularly of the Translation made of the Crown of France from one Race to another had been applied by the then Lawyer 's Innuendo's to the then King of England never considering adds he that if such Acts of State be not allowed good no Prince in the World has any title to his Crown and having by a short reflection shewn the ridiculousness of deriving absolute Monarchy from Patriarchal Power he appeals to all the World whether it would not be more advantagious to all Kings to own the derivation of their Power to the consent of willing Nations than to have no better title than force c. which may be over-powered But notwithstanding the Innocence and Loyalty of that Doctrine he says He was told he must die or the Plot must die and complains that in order to the destroying the best Protestants of England the Bench was fill'd with such as had been blemishes to the Bar and instances how against Laâ— they had advised with the King's Council about bringing him to Death suffer'd a Jury to be pack'd by the King's Sollicitors and the Vnder-Sheriff admitted Jury-men no Free-holders received Evidence not valid refus'd him a Copy of his Indictment or to suffer the Act of the 46 th of Ed. 3. to be read that allows it had over-ruled the most important Points of Law without hearing and assumed to themselves a Power to make Constructions of Treason tho' against Law Sense and Reason which the Stat. of the 25 th of Ed. 3. by which they pretended to Try Him was reserved only to the â—arliament and so praying God to forgive
the Security of the Nation and Reason of State it has since been carried farther than theirs was ever to have been Seeing fair means says Holloway would not do but all things on the Protestants side misrepresented to the King by such great Criminals and none more in favour than those To take the King from his Evil Council and that as the late wonderful Turn was transacted and as 't is impossible to be otherwise in business of so large a Concern by a general Insurrection in several parts of England at ones All those who have had any share in the present Transactions which are upon the matter all the Nation have shewn themselves plainly of the same mind with those who were engaged in this on which the Dispute runs as to tâ—e Reason of the Thing and the Principles on which they proceeded And their only difference is about Matter of Fact Whether Things were then at that heighth as to need desperate Remedies If it be objected That such Attempts are only glossy Pretences vali'd under the specious name of the Publick Good The Answer is as ready as the Objection Is there any difference between Reason and no Reason Truth and Falshood There is a right and a wrong and if ever Liberties were invaded and the Ends of Government vacated and annulled never were the Foundations of such a Design plainer than on this Occasion So that 't was indeed what was of it a Counter-Plot rather than a Plot against the Government and Laws of England and that when no other Remedy could without a Miracle be expected That this was the heighth and utmost of the then Design and that no brave good man need to be asham'd on 't I think all or most men are by this time pretty well satisfied But alas this would not serve the turn of the Managers Even this might not nor perhaps could not be as certainly 't was not fairly prov'd against several who suffered for it This was a thing so necessary and defensible that there was occasion of laying fouler colours upon 't to fright and amuse the World and let 'em stand by patiently and see their best and bravest Patriots sink with much such Prudence and Wisdom as the Sheep in the Fable suffer'd those bloody Mastiffs to be destroy'd who so often broke the Peace between them and the harmless Wolves and were afterwards in their turns handsomly worried and justly eaten up for their Reward 'T was convenient to make somewhat more of it There must be an Assassination grafted on this Insurrection or else all would not be worth an Halter 'T was the business and interest of the Popish Party to render their Enemies odious as possible to the people of whom for their steddy Zeal and Love to their Religion and Liberties they had long been the Darlings To accomplish this 't was very necessary to get some Persons to insinuate into their Counsels to inflame things higher to make black and odious Proposals of Assassinations and Murders and such bloody Villanies as alarm the good-nature of an English-man with the very mentioning of ' em Which yet some of the honester and wiser looking upon as mad hot words only or if any more intended having it in their power to prevent such wickedness another way would not yet turn Informers nor ruin those Persons who in all probability were only Trapans to ruin them In all the Papers relating to this matter we shall find all Discourses of this nature center'd in West and Rumsey West was very much for the Lopping business for killing 'em in their Calling and was full and eager of it Tho' Walcot Holloway and all whoever heard it propos'd receiv'd it still with the greatest Detestation imaginable as a most base and bloody Action which they never wou'd have their own Hands imbru'd in nor their Posterity stain'd with That all the great Persons of Birth and Honour were absolutely against any so foul an Action and abhorr'd it from their Souls we may find even without the forc'd Confession of their worst Enemies by the Lord Russel's concern when such a thing was mutter'd and the Duke of Monmouth's Answer God so Kill the King I will never suffer it The account we have of it is from him who shou'd best know and that 's West who in his Discourse with Holloway on this Occasion tells him of the New-market and Rye-house Design That the King and Duke were to be kill'd as they came by for which they had provided Arms for fifty Men and were promis'd Rumbald's House which lay in the Road. When ask'd VVho was to act it who were to fire these Arms for fifty Men Pistols Carbines and Blunderbusses He cou'd name but two Men Rumbald and his Brother who certainly must have been very dexterous to have discharg'd all those dreadful Businesses themselves without Assistance and is much such a likely Story as Colledges being so vain to attempt seizing the King by himself without any Assistance But if even these two Brothers who very likely were pickt out by the Evidence for the King-killers meerly for their hard Names the very sound of which wou'd be as shrew'd an Argument of their Guilt to VVomen and Children and with as much Justice as some of the odd Names of the poor People in the VVest were made at least a strong Presumption against 'em and almost as mortal as an Innuendo â—f even these two were innocent of this horrid Business who were the onely Persons ingaged therein pray VVhat then becomes of the Assassination And won't Rumbald's Blunderbuss hear Laughing at full as well as â—ickering's Carbine or Screw-Gun and chaw'd Bulâ—ets But if there be any thing solid in that Observation in Colledge's Case That a Christian and a Protestant won't forswear himself when he 's just going out of the World if this fair Supposition may but be granted me as I see not how it can be avoided the matter will be clear enough Rumbald himself in his Speech at his Execution in Scotland absolutely disclaiming and denying any hand in any such Design See his Speech and Answer to his Indictment He desired all present to believe the words of a dying Man as for having design'd the King's death he never directly nor indirectly intended such a Villany That he abhorr'd the very thoughts on 't and that he blessed God he had that Reputation in the VVorld that he knew none had the Impudence to ask him the Question and he detested the Thoughts of the Action and hoped all good people wou'd believe him which was the onely way he had to clear himself and he was sure that this Truth shou'd one Day be manifest to all Men. So at his Execution I think it necessary to clear my self of some Aspersions laid on my Name and first That I shou'd have had so horrid an Intention of destroying the King and his Brother VVhere he repeated what he had said to the Jury on the same Subject The Sum is If any
to consider calmly of the matter and this no doubt was very well known by those who order'd things in the manner before-noted But I say 't were to be wished for the Honour of the English Nation that this had been all the foul play in the case and that there had not been so many Thousand Guinea's imployed in this and other Tryals as the great Agitators thereof have lately confess'd to have been The Names of his Jury as I find them in Print are as follow John Martayn William Rouse Jervas Seaton William Fashion Thomas Short George Toriano William Butler James Pickering Thomas Jeve Hugh Noden Robert Brough Thomas Omeby When he found he must expect neither Favour nor Justice as to the delaying of his Tryal he excepted against the Fore-man of the Jury because not a Freeholder which for divers and sundry Reasons almost if not all the Judges having the happiness to light on different ones and scarce any two on the sâ—me was over-ruled and given against him though that same practice since declared and acknowledged one of the great Grievances of the Nation His Indictment ran in these words He did conspire and compass our Lord the King his Supreme Lord not onely of his Kingly State Title Power and Government of this his Kingdom of England to deprive and throw down but also our said Soveraign Lord the King to kill and to Death to bring and put and the ancient Government of this Kingdom of England to change alter and wholly subvert and a miserable Slaughter among the Subjects of our said Lord the King through his whole Kingdom of England to cause and procure and Insurrection and Rebellion against our said Lord the King to move procure and stir up within this Kingdom of England And lower He and divers others did consult agree and conclude Insurrection and Rebellion against our Sovereign Lord the King to move and stir up and the Guards for the preservation of the Person of our said Soveraign Lord the King to seize and destroy Now that all this was not intended as matter of Form only we may see by the Kings Councils opening the Evidence The first says He was indicted for no less than conspiring the Death of the Kings Majesty and that in order to the same he and others did meet and conspire together to bring our Sovereign Lord the King to Death to raise War and Rebellion against him and to Massacre his Subjects And in order to compass these wicked Designs being assembled did conspire to seize the Kings Guards and his Majesties Person And this he tells the Jury is the charge against him The Attorney General melts it a little lower and tells 'em the meaning of all these Tragical Words were A Consult about a Rising about seizing the Guards and receiving Messages from E. of Shaftsbury concerning an Insurrection Nor yet does the proof against him come up so high even as this though all care was used for that purpose and kind Questions put very frequently to lead and drive the Evidence but one of them Witnessing to any one Point The first of whom was Col. Rumsey who swears That he was sent with a Message from Shaftsbury who lay concealed at Wapping to meet Lord Russel Ferguson c. at Shepherds 's to know of them what Resolution they were come to about the Rising design'd at Taunton That when he came thither the Answer was made Mr. Trenchard had fail'd 'em and no more would be done in that business at that time That Mr. Ferguson spoke the most part of that Answer but my Lord Russel was present and that he did speak about the Rising of Taunton and consented to it That the Company was discoursing also of viewing the Guards in order to surprize 'em if the Rising had gone on and that some undertook to view 'em and that the Lord Russel was by when this was undertaken But this being the main Hinge of the business and this Witness not yet coming up to the purpose they thought it convenient to give him a Jog to Refresh his Memory Asking him Whether he found my Lord Russel averse or agreeing to it Who no doubt answer'd Agreeing But being afterwards in the Tryal ask'd Whether he could Swear positively that my Lord Russel heard the Message and gave any Answer to it All that he says is this That when he came in they were at the Fire side but they all came from the Fire-side to hear what he said All that Shepherd witnesses is That my Lord Russel c. being at his house there was a Discourse of surprizing the Kings Guards and Sir Thomas Armstrong having viewed them when he came thither another time said They were remiss and the thing was feizible if there were Strength to do it and that upon his being question'd too as Rumsey before him Whether my Lord Russel was there He says He was at that time they discours'd of seizing the Guards The next Witness was the florid Lord Howard who very artificially begins low being forsooth so terribly surprized with my Lord of Essex's Death that his Voice fail'd him till the Lord Chief Justice told him the Jury could not hear him in which very moment his Voice returned again and he told the reason why he spoke no louder After a long Harangue of Tropes and fine Words and dismal General Stories by which as my Lord complains the Jury were prepossessed against him he at last makes his Evidence bear directly upon the point for which he came thither And swears That after my Lord Shaftsbury went away their Party resolved still to carry on the design of the Insurrection without him for the better management whereof they erected a little Cabal among themselves which did consist of Six Persons whereof my Lord Russel and himself were two That they met for this purpose at Mr. Hambden's house and there adjusted the place and manner of the intended Insurrection That about ten days after they had another meeting on the same business at my Lord Russel's where they resolved to send some Persons to engage Argyle and the Scots in the design and being ask'd too that he was sure my Lord Russel was there Being ask'd whether he said any thing he answer'd That every one knew him to be a Person of great Judgment and not very lavish of Discourse Being again goaded on by Jeffreys with a But did he consent We did says he put it to the Vote it went without contradiction and I took it that all there gave their consent West swears That Ferguson and Col. Rumsey told him That my Lord Russel intended to go down and take his Post in the West when Mr. Trenchard had fail'd ' em Whose hear-say-Evidence being not encouraged Jeffreys ends very prettily telling the Court they would not use any thing of Garniture but leave it as it was As for Rumsey the first Witness As to his Person My Lord Candish prov'd on the Trial that my Lord Russel had a
them and to avert the Evils that threatned the Nation to sanctifie those Sufferings to him and tho' he fell a Sacrifice to Idols not to suffer Idolatry to be established in this Land c. He concludes with a Thanksgiving that God had singled him out to be a Witness of his Truth and for that Good Old Cause in which from his Youth he had been engag'd c. His Epitaph ALgernon Sydney fills this Tomb An Atheist by declaiming Rome A Rebel bold by striving still To keep the Laws above the Will And hindring those would pull them down To leave no Limits to a Crown Crimes damn'd by Church and Government Oh whither must his Soul be sent Of Heaven it must needs despair If that the Pope be Turn-key there And Hellcan ne're it entertain For there â—s all Tyrannick Reign And Purgatory's such a pretence As ne're deceiv'd a man of sense Where goes it then where 't ought to go Where Pope and Devil have nought to do His Character THere 's no need of any more than reading his Trial and Speech to know him as well as if he stood before us That he was a Person of extraordinary Sense and very close thinking which he had the happiness of being able to express in words as manly and apposite as the Sense included under ' em He was owner of as much Vertue and Religion as Sense and Reason tho' his Piety lay as far from Enthusiasm as any mans He fear'd nothing but God and lov'd nothing on Earth like his Country and the just Liberties and Laws thereof whose Constitutions he had deeply and successfully inquired into To sum up all He had Piety enough for a Saint Courage enough for a General or a Martyr Sense enough for a Privy-Counsellor and Soul enough for a King and in a word if ever any he was a perfect English man Mr. James Holloway MR. Holloway was by Trade a Merchant but his greatest dealing lay in Linnen Manufacture which as appears from his Papers he had brought to such a heighth here in England as had it met with suitable encouragement would as he made it appear have imployed 80000 poor People and 40000 Acres of Land and be 200000 Pounds a year advantage to the Publick Revenues of the Kingdom The Return of the Habeas Corpus Writ calls him Late of London Merchant though he lived mostly at Bristol He seems to be a Person of Sense Courage and Vivacity of Spirit and a Man of Business All we can have of him is from that publick Print call'd his Narrative concerning which it must be remembred as before that we have no very firm Authority to assure us all therein contained was his own writing and perhaps it might be thought convenient he should die for fear he might contradict some things published in his Name But on the other side where he contradicts the other Witnesses his Evidence is strong since be sure that was not the Interest of the Managers to invent of their own accords tho' some Truth they might utter tho' displeasing to gain credit to the rest Taking things however as we find 'em 't will be convenient for method's sake to take notice first of the Proceedings against him then of some pretty plain footsteps of practice upon him and shuffling dealing in his Case and lastly of several things considerable in his Narrative He was accused for the Plot as one who was acquainted with West Rumsey and the rest and having been really present at their Meetings and Discourses on that Subject absconded when the publick News concerning the Discovery came into the Country tho' this as he tells the King more for fear that if he was taken up his Creditors would never let him come out of Gaol than any thing else After some time he got to Sea in a little Vessel went over to France and so to the West-Indies among the Caribbe-Islands where much of his Concerns lay But writing to his Factor at Nevis he was by him treacherously betray'd and seiz'd by the Order of Sir William Stapleton and thence brought Prisoner to England where after Examination and a Confession of at least all he knew having been Outlawed in his Absence on an Indictment of Treason he was on the 21th of April 1684. brought to the Kings Bench to shew cause why Execution should not be awarded against him as is usual in that case He opposed nothing against it only saying If an ingenuous Confession of Truth could merit the King's Pardon he hoped he had done it The Attorney being call'd for order'd the Indictment to be read and gave him the offer of a Trial waving the Outlawry which he refused and threw himself on the King's Mercy On which Execution was awarded tho' the Attorney who had not so much Law even as Jeffreys was for having Judgment first pass against him which is never done in such cases according to which he was executed at Tyburn the 30th of April It seem'd strange to all men that a Man of so much Spirit as Mr. Holloway appear'd to be should so tamely die without making any manner of Defence when that Liberty was granted him It seemed as strange or yet stranger that any Protestant should have any thing â—hat look'd like Mercy or Favour from the Persons then at the Helm That they should be so gracious to him as 't is there call'd to admit him to a Trial which look'd so generously and was so cry'd up the Attorney calling it A Mercy and a Grace and the Lord Chief Justice saying He 'd assure him 't was a great Mercy and that it was exceeding well Now all this Blind or Mystery will be easily unriddled by two or three Lines which Holloway speaks just after My Lord says he I cannot undertake to defend my self for I have confessed before His Majesty that I am guilty of many things in that Indictment Which was immediately made use of as 't was design'd Good Mr. Justice Withens crying out full mouth'd I hope every body here will take notice of his open Confession when he might try it if he would Surely none but will believe this Conspiracy now after what this man has owned So there 's an end of all tâ—e Mercy A Man who had before confessed in order to be hang'd had gracious Liberty given him to confess it again in Publick because they knew he had precluded all manner of Defence before and this publick Action would both get 'em the repute of Clemency and confirm the belief of the Plot. Now that there had been practice used with him and promises of pardon if he 'd take this method and own himself guilty without Pleading is more than probable both from other practices of the same nature used towards Greater Men and from some Expressions of his which look exceeding fair that way Thus in his Paper left behind him I had he says some other Reasons why I did not plead which at present I conceal as also why I
Holloway says he had for not pleading But Sir Thomas the Atturney goes on deserv'd no favour because he was one of the Persons that actually engaged to go on the King 's hasty coming from Newmarket and destroy him by the way as he came to Town and that this appeared upon as full and clear Evidence and as positively testified as any thing could be and this in the Evidence given in of the late horrid Conspiracy Now Id fain know who gives this clear and full Evidence in the Discovery of the Conspiracy Howard's is meer Supposition and he 's all who so much as mentions a syllable on 't that ever cou'd be found on search of all the Papers and Trials relating to that Affair To this Sir Thomas answers in his Speech That had he come 'to his Trial he cou'd have prov'd my Lord Howard 's base Reflections on him to be a notorious falshood there being at least ten Gentlemen besides all the Servants in the House cou'd testifie where he Dined that very day Still Sir Thomas demanded the Benefit of the Law and no more To which Jeffreys answer'd with one of his usual barbarous Insults over the Miserable That he shou'd have it by the Grace of God ordering That Execution be done on Friday next according to Law And added That he shou'd have the full Benefit of the Law repeating the Jest lest it should be lost as good as three times in one Sentence Tho' had not his Lordship slipt out of the World so slily he had had as much benefit the same way and much more justly than this Gentleman Then the Chief Justice proceeds and tells him We are satisfied that according to Law we must Award Execution upon this Outlawry Thereupon Mrs. Matthews Sir Thomas's Daughter said My Lord I hope you will not Murder my Father For which being Brow-beaten and Checkt She added God Almighty's Judgments Light upon YOV The Friday after he was brought to the place of Execution Dr. Tennison being with him and on his desire after he had given what he had to leave in a Paper to the Sheriff Prayed a little while with him He then Prayed by himself and after having thanked the Doctor for his great Care and Pains with him submitted to the Sentence and died more composedly and full as resolutely as he had lived 'T is observable that more cruelty was exercised on him than any who went before him not onely in the manner of his Death but the exposing his Limbs and Body A fair warning what particular Gratitude a Protestant is to expect for having oblig'd a true Papist Another thing worth remembring in all other Cases as well as this tho occasion is here taken to do it is That whereas in Holloway's Case Jeffreys's observ'd That not one of all concern'd in this Conspiracy had dared to deny it and lower to deny the Truth of the fact absolutely T is so far from being true that every one who suffer'd did it as absolutely as possible They were Try'd or Sentenc'd for Conspiring against the King and Government that was their Plot but this they all deny and absolutely too and safely might do it for they consulted for it not conspired against it resolving not to touch the King's Person nay if possible not to shed one drop of Blood of any other as Holloway and others say For the King's Life Sir Thomas says as the Lord Russel Never had any Man the impudence to propose so base and barbarous a thing to him Russel and almost all besides say They had never any design against the Government Sir Thomas here says the same As he never had any Design against the King's Life nor the Life of any Man so he never had any Design to alter the Monarchy As he liv'd he says he dy'd a sincere Protestant and in the Communion of the Church of England tho' he heartily wish'd he had more strictly liv'd up to the Religion he believed And tho' he had but a short time he found himself prepared for Death and indeed as all his Life shew'd him a Man of Courage so his Death and all the rest of his Behaviour did a Penitent Man a Man of good Sense and a good Christian. At the place of Execution Sir Thomas Armstrong deported himself with Courage becoming a great Man and with the Seriousness and Piety suitable to a very good Christian. Sheriff Daniel told him that he had leave to say what he pleased and should not be interrupted unless he upbraided the Government Sir Thomas thereupon told him that he should not say any thing by way of Speech but delivered him a Paper which he said contained his mind he then called for Dr. Tennison who prayed with him and then he prayed himself In his Paper he thus expressed himself That he thanked Almighty God he found himself prepared for Death his thoughts set upon another World and â—eaned from this yet he could not but give so much of his little time as to answer some Calumnies and particularly what Mr. Attorney accused him of at the Bar. That he prayed to be allowed a Tryal for his Life according to the Laws of the Land and urged the Statute of Edward 6. which was expresly for it but it signified nothing and he was with an extraordinary Roughness condemned and made a precedent tho' Holloway had it offered him and he could not but think all the world would conclude his case very different else why refused to him That Mr. Attorney charged him for being one of those that was to kill the King He took God to witness that he never had a thought to take away the King 's Life and that no man ever had the Impudence to propose so barbarous and base a thing to him and that he never was in any design to alter the Government That if he had been tryed he could have proved the Lord Howard's base Reflections upon him to be notoriously false He concluded that he had lived and now dyed of the Reformed Religion a Protestant in the Communion of the Church of England and he heartily wished he had lived more strictly up to the Religion he believed That he had found the great comfort of the Love and Mercy of God in and through his blessed Redeemer in whom he only trusted and verily hoped that he was going to partake of that fulness of Joy which is in his presence the hopes whereof infinitely pleased him He thanked God he had no repining but chearfully submitted to the punishment of his Sins He freely forgave all the World even those concerned in taking away his Life tho' he could not but think his Sentence very hard he being denied the Laws of the Land On the Honourable Sir Thomas Armstrong Executed June 20. 1684. HAd'st thou abroad found safety in thy flight Th' Immortal honour had not fam'd so bright Thou hadst been still a worthy Patriot thought But now thy Glory 's to perfection brought In exile and in
probably had he been in his Senses have remembred and pleaded many things more which would have invalidated their Evidence against him But had not the mistaken Piety of his Son undertook his Defence certainly they could never have been such Cannibals to have try'd one in his Condition Yet could but what he brought for him been allowed its Weight and Justice he had escaped well enough For as for Lee one Baker Witness'd He had been practic'd upon by him in the year 83. and would have had him insinuate into Bateman 's Company and discourse about State-Affairs to trepan him by which means he should be made a Great Man 'T was urged besides that there was three Years between the Fact pretended and Lee's Prosecution of him which tho' they had but one Witness could have brought him to punishment which would have been judged sufficient by any but those who would be content with nothing but Blood For Goodenough he was but one Witness and pardon'd only so far as to qualifie him to do mischief However he was found Guilty and just before his Execution very much recovered himself dying as much like a Christian and with as great a presence of Mind as most of the others Dr. Oats Mr. Johnson and Mr. Dangerfield WE are now obliged by the thrid of our History to resume a Subject which 't is not doubted will be ungrateful enough to some Persons and that is the Popish Plot the belief of which by the indefatigable Industry of that Party and the weekly pains of their Observator and especially this last pretended Plot against the Government was now almost entirely obliterated out of the minds of the less thinking part of the Nation To accomplish which more fully 't was thought necessary by the Managers either quite to take off or expose to Miseries and Disgraces worse than Death all those few Persons who remain'd honest and firm to their first Evidence the generality of the World judging by outward appearance and thinking it impossible but that one who stood in the Pillory and was whipt at the Carts-Arse must be a perjur'd Rogue without more ado Mr. Bedloe was dead and his Testimony therefore would be easier forgotten tho' at his last Breath after the Sacrament he Solemnly and Juridically confirmed every word of it before one of the Judges who was happily in Bristol at the time of his Death Most of the Under-Evidences in the Plot were threatned or promised or brought off from what they had witness'd or forc'd to leave the Land for the securing their Persons None remain now besides Oats and Dangerfield with whom all means possible fair and foul had been used to make 'em turn Villains and deny their Evidence but to their eternal Praise they still continued firm to their first Testimony to the Rage and Confusion of their Enemies They therefore went first to work with the Doctor and 't will be worth the while to consider the Reason of his first Prosecution by which men that are not very much prejudiced may see the Reason and Justice of those which follow and 't was For scandalizing the Duke of York with that notorious Truth That he was reconciled to the Church of Rome adding What every one knows that 't was High Treason so to be Would but the Doctor 's greatest and most passionate Enemies reflect on this beginning of his Sorrows as well as calmly examine all that 's to come they must form a juâ—ter Judgment of his Person and Actions than what seems too deeply fixed in 'em ever to be rooted out for which he was adjudged to pay that reasonable little Fine of a 100000 Pounds which till he paid tho' there was no great haste for his doing it he was committed to â—he Bench. Having him thus in Limbo they resolved to strike at the root with him and therefore after new fruitless attempts to make him quâ—t and revoke his Evidence they made the last Effort on his Constancy and Honesty and indeed Life it self Indicting him on the 8 th and 9 th of May 1685. for Perjury in some branches of his Evidence given in some of it almost Seven Years before His first Accusation waâ— For-Swearing in Ireland 's Tryal he himself was here in London whereas t was pretended he was at that very time at St. Omers The Second That Ireland was at that time in Town when they would have it believed he was in Staffordshire The Evidence for the first were all Lads of St. Omers who though they blunder'd ill-favour'dly in former Attempts the same way and were accordingly told so by the Court in other Tryals were now grown expert in the Business being all of a Religion that makes Perjury meritorious all Youths and Boys and under such a Discipline as oblige them to obey their Superiors without any reserve or questioning the Reason or Justice of the thing all or most of 'em afterwards rewarded with Places of Trust and Profit under King James as no doubt promised 'em before for their good Service They all swore point blank That Oats was at St. Omers when he swears he was here at the Consult Not one of these Witnesses who had not been bred at St. Omers and but one who pretended to be a Protestant For the second Indictment Of Irelands not being in Town in August as Oats had sworn him They brought several Witnesses to prove it and that he was at that time in Staffordshire most if not all of which were great Papists In answer to which let 's first be persuaded fairly to consider what may be said in his Defence and most part of his Vindication is over And first These were most or all of 'em the self-same Witnesses who in the successive Tryals Whitebreads Harcourts c. and Mr. Langhorns could not find Credit and who had several Witnesses who swore point-blank contrary to what they affirmed some of whom were dead before this last Tryal Let 's then consider what Defence Oats made for himself which in spite of his own and Jeffreys passions seems strenuous and unanswerable He had in the former Tryals produced no less than Eight Persons who swore positively to his being in Town at that very time when the Jesuits and their Younkers would so fain had him been out of it whose Names were Mr. Walker an ancient Minister of the Church of England Sarah Ives Mrs. Mayo Sir Richard Barker Mr. Page Mr. Butler William Smith and Mr. Clay a Romish Priest four of which Mayo Butler Page and Walker he now produced again at his Tryal the two first of whom positively swore the same they did before the Minister was too old to remember and the last too fearful positively to affirm what they had before done As to the 2 d Indictment a Crowd of Witnesses such as they were came to testifie Ireland was in Staffordshire when Oats swore him to be in London To this same Objection he had formerly answerd and prov'd by the Oaths of Mr. Bedloe
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
that seek the ruine of their Parents that begot them and brought them forth or them that lay violent hands upon themselves dashing out their own Brains cutting their own Throats hanging and drawing themselves ripping up their own Bellies tearing out their own Bowels they being in different senses Children and Members of that Body Politick they design and attempt the Destruction of and when I know not how long the Duration and Continuance of these things shall be or a Conclusion or End by God shall be put thereto who by Divine and Unerring Wisdom governs the World why shall my Soul be unwilling to take its flight into the unseen and eternal World Where no sullied sordid or impious thing most incongruous and unbecoming Nature shall be seen and found and where I shall behold no narrow conclusive contracted Soul there habitually preferring their private before a publick good but all most unanimously and equally center in one common universal good and where the sighs and groans and cries of the afflicted and persecuted shall be heard no more for ever I earnestly exhort all most highly to prize and value Time and diligently improve it for Eternity to be wise seriously and seasonably to consider of their latter End for by the irrepealable and irreversible Law of Heaven we must all die yet we know not how where or when Live with your Souls full of solicitude and care with a most deep concernedness and most diligent industriousness whilst you have time and opportunity and the means of Grace Health and Strength make sure of these two great things viz. 1. What merits for you a Right and Title to Eternal Life and Glory and the future unchangeable Blessedness as the Redeemers most precious Blood and Righteousness that thereby a real Application and Imputation may be unto you by sincere Believing 2. That that which makes you qualified Subjects for it is the great work of Regeneration wrought in your Souls being renewed in the Spirit of your Minds the Divine Nature being imprest upon them repairing of the depraved Image of God in you thâ—t being transformed into his own likeness thereby in the World you may mind anâ— savour more the things of the Spirit than the things of the Flesh Celestial and Heavenly more than Terrestrial and Earthly Superiour more than inferiour things And therewith have a holy Life and Conversation conjoyned that results and springs from the same as Fruit from the Root and Acts from the Habits Let all in order thereto seriously consider these few Texts of sacred Scripture let them predominately possess you let them be deeply and indelibly Transcribed upon your Souls let them be assimilated thereunto and made the written Epistles the lively Pictures thereof Matth. 5.8 20. Blessed be the pure in heart for they shall see God Vers. 20. For I say unto you except your Righteousness exceed the Righâ—eousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven John 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God c. Gal. 5.19 20 to 23. Now the works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Adultery c. James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of fiâ—st fruits of his Creatures 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Vers. 13. Wherefore gird up the loyns of your Minds c. Colos. 3.1 2. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things that are above Set your affections on things above not c. Gal. 5.24 And they that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts c. Eph. 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins Rev. 20.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no power Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no Condemnation c. 1 Pet. 1.15 But as he that hath called you is holy so be ye c. Vers. 23. Being born again not of corruptible Seed c. Psal. 4.3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself c. I shall mention now no more the whole Bible abounds with these Texts with what a Renovation and Change of our Carnal and Corrupt Hearts and Natures there must be with Holiness of Life and Conversation before we can be capable of a future and blessed Immortality and of inheriting the Kingdom of God for ever and ever Amen A Letter written by Mr. John Hicks Octob. 5. the day before his Death My Dear Nephew I Am yet in the Land of the Living though in the Mouth of Death I have been concern'd for you next to my own Children before I die I thought fit 〈◊〉 write two or three Lines to you aâ— a Manifestation of my great Love to you I earnestly desire the welfar of you here and to Eternity hereafter next to my own Wife and Children you will want me when I am gone but I hope the Lord will take care of you make it your business to walk with him to serve him faithfully flee youthful Lusts and Remember your Creator in the days of your Youth be deeply concern'd to have your Heart and Nature chang'd and an interest in Christ secur'd unto you Death comes suddenly you know not when where nor how you shall die Let time therefore be most precious to you fill it up with Work and Duty Live by faith more than by sense and this will stand by you when you come to â—ie Seek the things which are above and set your Affections upon them have your Conversation in Heaven whilst you are upon Eaâ—th When you see your Parents give my dear Love to them and their Children the Lord grant that we may meet in his everlasting Kingdom When you see any of your Cousins give my dear Love to them and be not asham'd of my Sufferings I wrote last Saturday was a Seven-night to my Brother George but whether he is at London or Worcester I know not I wrote to him to desire him to Petition the King that some Favour and Mercy might be shewed me if he thought fit Things that are made to aggravate my Crime I am clear from as that I perswaded the Duke of Monmouth to assume the Title of King at Taunton when I was not there with him or in Thirteen days after he came into England and that I rode to and fro in the West to perswade People to go in to his Army when I was in the East and caâ—â— from thence to hiâ— in the West but my Non-conformity cuts me and obstructs the
it but especially to my Superiors I had ever a venerable and due esteem of Magistrates as the Ministers of God and they Administring an Ordinance of God I also lye under a Reproach of being unfaithful to an Interest that I owned which I utterly deny and disown I pray God bless and forgive my violent Enemies that havâ— industriously sought the taking away my Life It 's the hearty Prayer of JOHN HVCKER From Taunton-Castle a little before he suffered Sept. 30th 1685. An Impartial Account of K s Cruelties with other Barbarities in the West Never printed before Sent to the Compiler of this History by one that was an Eye and Ear Witness to all the matter of Fact WHen K k came first into Taunton he came with two Cart-loads of Men Bloody and their Wounds not drest just as they were hauled into Bridgwater Prison they were guarded with Granadeers with naked Swords and Bagonets He also brought with him into Taunton a great drove of Foot chain'd two and two together He hanged nineteen on the Cornhill immediately not suffering either their Wives or Children to speak to 'em or to take their leave of ' em As they were executing he K caused the Pipes to Play Drums anâ— Trumpets to sound that the Spectators might not hear the Cries and Groans of the Dying Men nor the Cries of their Friends He caused their Bowels to be burnt and their Quarters to be boyl'd in Pitch and hang'd all about the Town K hanged one on the VVhite Heart Sign-Post three times to try if he wou'd own he had done amiss but he affirmed to this effect That if it was to do again he wou'd engage in the same cause so K would have him hang'd in Chains and so he was till King VVilliam came to the Deliverance of this Nation from Popery and Slavery When Jenkins Hewlings c. were to die before they came out of the B l there was a great Fire made on the Cornhill that so they might see the Fire that was to burn their Bowels Some that K caused to be hanged he caused also their Bodies to be stript and their Breasts to be cleav'd asunder in the place where he caused the Executions to be done you might have gone up to the Ankles in Blood he also caused the Hearts of the poor Executed Men to be thrown into the Fire with a great Shout saying Here is the Heart of a Traytor A Captain of VV was hang'd and the Rope broke whâ—reby he hoped to have saved his life but they took from a Market-horse a Ring-Rope and hanged him again At the Assizes when the Prisoners were brought before the Bar Jeffreys said if any Man pleaded Not guilty he should die One not concerned in Monmouth's Business when asked said Not Guilty my Lord Jeffreys said take him Jaylor and let him be Executed another time An Honest Man was hanged for sparing for Monmouth's Horse three pennyworth of Hay A Constable also was hanged for executing of Monmouth's Warrant And many Hundreds were put in the Castle-Hall by which it was feared they would infect the Town Frances Burges was taken upon Maidendown by the persuasion of Sir was hang'd by fastning a Rope to a Chamber-Window and set upon a Hoget and so hang'd The Executioner was one S of St. Thomas Parish Exon. There was by good Report several Scores died in Ilchester by Infectious Diseases and in their Irons and Hand-bolt for if they were not hard-hearted and us'd the extreamest Rigor imaginable the Keepers were not counted good Subjects One of VVelinton that was to be hanged them was saved supposed by Order of Sir and one of Crookern hanged in his stead this is true and so it was at other places But 't were endless to record all the Cruelties exercised by K and Jeffreys after Monmouth's Defeat Now that which remains is to give an Account of Hundreds that had fled and hid themselves up and down in Holes and Rocks whose Friends make all Application to some great Person or other to procure their Pardons some to this some to others that they thought Favourites with the King but the Rewards must be ascertain'd before any Application could be made for Pardons were just as they were in Rome according to the ability of the Person from half a Crown to sixteen thousand Guinea's Any Tooth good Barber Divers Lists being sent up and the Rewards ascertain'd which amongst many of them put together did amount to considerable Sums So that it was now who could find a Friend to relieve his distressed Relations which were forced to wander up and down in Caves and Desarts for fear of being taken But this Misfortune attended the Agents that unless my Lord Chancellour were used by his Creatures that were allowed by him so to do other Applications commonly met with Disapointments To conclude The solemn serious dying Declarations and Christian Courage of the VVestern Sufferers have always out-weighed with me the Evidence of those flagitious Witnesses who swore these Persons out of their Lives And I did do most stedfastly believe that the only Plot in that day was the same which the Almighty has at length owned and most signally prospered in the hand of our gracious August and Rightful Soveraign King William I mean the rescuing the Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of England from a most impetuous Torrent of Popery and Tyranny wherewith they were very dangerously threatned And methinks it should even convert a Tory unless his Brains were pick'd out of his Skull by him who pickt the Guineas out of his Pocket when he cast his Eye upon that apposite and Emphatical Expression in the Observator vol. 2 Number 125. To deal freely with the TRIMMER I have more Faith in the Words of one dying Traytor under the stroke of Iustice than of twenty Living Thus have we given you an Account of what happened in the West in the Year 85. being in every Point truth we shall next give a short touch of the Civilities the poor Sufferers received from the City of Exon which deserves an everlasting Remembrance Most sorts of Provisions as hot Broth boyled Meat roast Meat divers sorts of Pies were daily sent into the Prison the Persons that sent them unknown to them Also if any Person was sick there should be a Nurse to attend him Also a Physitian and Chyrurgion to attend when occasion was 'T is said He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord the Lord return them an hundred fold Thus Reader by the help of God we are come to an end of our long Journey from the yeaâ— 1678. to 1685. The way all along has been full of dirt and blood and therefore no wonder if the Wheels have driven somewhat heavily 'T will be worth thy while as well as mine to look back on the dâ—fferent Stages we have taken which is one of the gâ—eatest pleasures of a Traveller who finds delight in reflecting even on that which formerly
gave him pain and trouble He who first broke the way was Sir Edmundbury Godfrey according to his own Prophesie That he should be the first Martyr Mr. Arnold was like to follow him but that intended stroke not coming home enough they resolv'd to lay the Foundation firmer and so struck lower and began with Stephen Colledge at Oxford who before his death said That it wou'd not stop there nor his death satisfie those who thirsted after Blood as appeared plain enough when they had got a Plot and Plotters to their minds who made it their business as Walcot tells Cartwright to invite men to their Meetings to importune 'em to their Meetings as it appears to talk madly and treasonably at those Meetings and because they were a little too brave to do the same by them after â—ll to deliver them up to be hang'd for coming thither By which design many of the boldest Patrons of their Country and Religion were destroyed Essex went first to whose Death an infamy was added greater than that of those who publickly suffer'd Russel follow'd but too closely after him who says in his Speech He wishes the rage of hot Men and particular Juries might be stopt with his Blood which he would offer up with much the more joy if he thought he should be the last were to suffer in such a way About the same time dyed Walcot and some others Col. Sidney came after one of the first that ever lost his Head by Innuendo's and who dy'd as he was told because else the Plot must have dy'd Holloway came next brought from â—other World to be hang'd in this whose ingenuous Confession no doubt did his business there being too many bold Truths in 't which some men cou'd not bear for him ever to expect a Pardon But how many Lies beside there might be in his Confession or others 't is impossible to know unless we knew not only whose Hands they came through but how they were there used And as he from another World so Armstrong was brought from another Country to be paid for all his Service to the Royal Family in their Exile and afterwards And tho' he was not hang'd first and try'd afterwards yet what 's much the same was hang'd without ever being try'd at all Next to this we took a view of the Design of that unfortunate Gentleman who landed in the West and of those who embarkt in it and how far they were justifiable where follows a particular account of some of the most eminent amongst 'em and a more general one of the rest which tho' it might have perhaps been more accurate yet 't was thought better to keep near those loose Papers already publish'd on that matter of which this Book is a sort of a second Edition and to give that account in the same inartificial Dress which 't was delivered in by some honest Country Men who were personally present at most of the Actions and Sufferings there mention'd And among all these nothing is more remarkable than what we have taken particular notice of The strong Perswasion and Belief in which almost all of 'em dy'd That God would accomplish the great Work of delivering their Country and Religion some other way tho' he was not pleas'd to accept of their Endeavours At the return from the Western Circuit that London might have a little sprinkling of their Mercy the pious and prudent Mr. Cornish was sacrificed all whose time of preparation for that which must be call'd his Trial was from Saturday to Monday whose courage and constancy at his death and that dreadful Storm which spoke the displeasure of Heaven in such loud Language after 't was over were as much the wonder of England as the next and last merited their pity Poor Bateman who had entirely lost his Reason by his Imprisonment and the Accidents thereof But besides all these and some others there were some who had Trials of cruel Mockings and Scourgings were expos'd in the Pillory and worse than whipt to death tho' sometimes even that not thought sufficient without actual Assassination Upon the intire review of all this dreadful Scene of Blood and Horror especially that relating to the Western Affairs what can be a more natural and useful Reflection than for us hence to learn by woundâ— of our own yet green and bleeding the true undissembled kindness of prevailing Popery and Popish Councils and what all Protestants of what character or denomination soever must expect thence when rampant and powerful How can we choose but see unless we have winkt our selves quite blind that the Hand of the same Joab has been in all this That 't was the famous D. of Y. who was at first as deep in Godfrey's Murther as in the Fire of London the same who was at Helm all along after and as good as manag'd the Executioners Axes and Halters for so many years 'T was he who was so near at Essex's Murther and who hindred so carefully my L. Russel from his Pardon who was the Staff the Hopâ— the Moses the Gideon of the Popish Plot and Party and the eager and inveterate Enemy to the very Name of a true Protestant He who shew'd so muâ—h Mercy to the poor West-Country Men Women and Children destroying so many hundreds in cold Blood and hardly sparing one man that cou'd write and reaâ— by his L. Chief-Hangman Jeffreys Lastly He who was falling upon his own best Friends who are now sensible they lov'd him to a Fault and carried their Loyalty to such a heighth for his Service â—s is now better forgotten since no Party can entirâ—ly clear themselves even of that Imputation He who fâ—ll upon them and our Religion and Laws â—nd whatever was dear to us with the greatest and most open violence and because he cou'd not have his Will and be a French King in England resolv'd to leave us to the mercy of his own unkennel'd Irish and go to France to be there as absolute a Slave as he here would have made us And yet this is the self-same Person whom some are yet so zealous for and they have not yet had enough of him But whilst these haters of themselves as well as their Religion and Country must be left to Man's Justice and God's Vengeance let 's address the Conclusion of these Papers to all true honest men of good Principles and firm to the Protestant Religion and perswade them to pray heartily for K. William and Q. Mary and fight for 'em as heartily too as all these Martyrs no doubt would gladly have done If some of them should not be entirely satisfied with whatever has happen'd in this great Change yet to remember at the lowest the Duty of Subjects to think all the Nation may see more than they to pay Allegiance where they find Protection to reflect on our almost too happy Condition compar'd with that of Germany and Ireland and wherever the French and Popish Arm 's and Counsels prevail to honour the
immediately well Armed as many as we were entered the Town Friday the whole day was spent in Listing of Men which flock'd to us so fast that we could scarce tend them with Arms. The like on Saturday also and then about ten of the Clock at night 300 of our Men were sent to Bridport about six English Miles off to Storm that Town betimes in the Morning which we did accordingly taking many Prisoners out of their Lodgings and had not our Soldiers been a little too eager of Plunder we had made a good dayâ— work on 't but there lying about a Wood some of the Kings Forces we were forced to retreat losing three or four Men and killing several of theirs and taking Eight Prisoners this was the first Action which he had Sunday also was spent in Listing and Monday Morning but in the Afternoon we marched out of Lime for Axminster a little Town four Miles off our Party was near 2000 Foot and 300 Horse though we Landed not full an hundred Men and all these in the space of four days About two Miles from Lime we espied the Duke of Albermarle with about 4000 Men designing that Night to quartâ—r in the same Town which we had news of in the way yet we marched on in good order and came into the Town lined all Hedges Planted our Field-Pieces and expected nothing more than that we should give 'em battel they being not an English Mile from the Town they made towards us as soon as they heard that we were there but the Duke of Albermarle finding his Men to be all Militia-Men of the County of Devonshire and that they had no stomach to fight against Monmouth Retreated when he came within a quarter of an English Mile of the Town He came from Exon with these Forces intending to lay a siege against Lime presuming we could not be ready in so short a time but finding us so well prepared to receive him he wisely retired his Men being in great disordeâ— and confusion supposing we had pursued them which was Debated but the Duâ—e said it was not his business to fight yet till his Men had been a little Disciplin'd but rather to make up into the Country as fast as possible to meet his Friends not questioning but there would have been in several parts of the Kingdom some Action on the News of his Success But this in the end prov'd fatal to us for had we but follow'd them we had had all their Arms several more men and might have march'd in two days with little or no opposition to the very Gates of Exon the County-Troops resolving not to fight us and several came to us that Night with their Arms. But missing this opportunity we march'd on for Taunton Lodging at several small Towns by the way which still-received us as kindly as possible and all the way met with the loud Acclamations of the Country praying God to succeed our Arms. Thursday we came to Taunton about twenty Mile from Lime To give a particular Account of our Reception here would be too tedious the Streets throng'd with People we could scarce enter all endeavouring to manifest their Joy at his coming and their Houses Doors and Streets garnished with green Boughs Herbs and Flowers all the Emblems of Prosperity The next day Twenty six young Gentlewoman Virgins with Colours ready made at the charge of the Townsmen presented them to his Grace the Captain of them went before with a Naked Sword in one hand and a small curious Bible in the other which she presented also making a short Speech at which the Duke was exâ—remely satisfied and assured her He came now in the Field with a design to defend the Truths contained therein and to Seal it with his Blood if there shou'd be any occasion for it Nothing now could content the Country but he must be proclaimed King which he seemed exceeding averse to and really I am of Opinion from his very heart They said The Reason why the Gentry of England â—oved not was because he came on a Common-wealth-Principle This being the Cry of all the Army he was forced to yield to it and accordingly Saturday Morning he was Proclaimed In the Afternoon came out three PROCLAMATIONS one setting a Sum of Mony on the Kings Head as he had done before by the other The Second Declaring the Parliament of England A Seditious Assembly and if they did not separate before the end of June to give Power and Authority to any that would attempt to lay hold of them as Rebels and Traytors The Third To declare the Duke of Albermarle a Traytor who now lay within six Miles of us having had time to Rally his Men if he laid not down his Arms forthwith a Message also was sent to command him but he sent word That he was a Subject to JAMES the Second the late Kings Brother and that he knew no other Lord. We tarried here till Sunday Morning and then march'd fot Bridgewater seven Miles from thence We were now between four and five thousand Men and had we not wanted Arms could have made above ten thousand We were received here as in other places but did little more than Read our Declaration which we did also in all other Towns the Magistrates standing by in their Gowns and likewise our Proclamation and so march'd forward for Glassenbury from Glassenbury design'd for Bristol three days March from that Place designing to Attaque it Accordingly we arrived at Canshum Bridge a little Town three Miles English from Bristol intending to enter next morning the Duke of Beauford being there with a Garrison of about Four Thousand Men being heâ—e lodg'd in the Town we were on a sudden Alarm'd with the noise of the Approach of the Enemy being in no small Confusion on this unsuspected News The Duke sent one up the Tower to see whether he could discover them marching as soon as he came up he saw them at the very entrance into the Town fighting with our Men. Here we had a small Skirmish our Men being in the Fields adjoyning to the Town refreshing themselves but it lasted not long for before he could bring word they were fled being not above sixty Horse-Men They did us mischief killed and wounded above Twenty Men whereas we killed none of theirs only took four Prisoners and their Horses and wounded my Lord Newburg that it was thought mortal they came thither thinking it had been their own Forces and had not our undisciplin'd Fellows been a little too eager and suffer'd 'em to come a little farther on they would have enter'd the Town and we must have had every man of them their Infantry was following but on their Return came not forward These Forces being so near and Bristol being so well mann'd also the Duke was loth to pass the Bridge for Bristol though some Gentlemen that came over with us and were prescribed upon the account of the former Plot being Bristol men and knew the
William Gillet Thomas Lissant William Pocock Christopher Stephens George Cantick Robert Allen Joseph Kelloway Yeovil 8. Francis Foxwell George Pitcher Bernard Devereax Bernard Thatcher for concealing Bovet William Johnson Thomas Hurford Edward Gillard Oliver Powel Netherstoe 3. Humphrey Mitchel Richard Cullverell Merrick Thomas Dunster 3. Henry Lackwell John Geanes William Sully Dulverton 3. John Basely John Lloyd Henry Thompson Bridgewater 12. Robert Fraunces Nicholas Stâ—dgell George Lord Jeffreys Joshua Bâ—llamy William Moggeridge John Hurman Robert Roper Richard Harris Richard Engram John Trott Roger Guppey Roger Hore Isaiah Davis Ratcliffe-Hill at Bristol 6. Richard Evans John Tinckwell Christopher Clerk Edward Tippoâ— Philip Cumbridge John Tucker alias Glover Illminster 12. Nicholas Collins Sen. Stephen Newman Robert Luckis William Kitch Thomas Burnard William Wellen John Parsons Thomas Trocke Robert Fawne Western Hillary John Burgen Charles Speake Stogersey 2. Hugh Ashley John Herring Wellington 3. Francis Priest Philip Bovet Robert Reed South-petherton 3. Cornelius Furfurd John Parsons Thomas Davis Porlock 2. James Gale Henry Edny Glasenbury 6. John Hicks Richard Pearce Israel Briant William Mead James Pyes John Broâ—me Taunton 19. Robert Perret Abraham Ansley Benjamin Hewling Peirce Murren John Freake John Savage Abraham Matthews William Jenkins Henry Lisle John Dryer John Hucker Jonathan England John Sharpe William Deverson John Williams John Patrum James Whittom William Satchel John Trickey Langport 3. Humphrey Peirce Nicholas Venton John Shellwood Arbridg 6. Isaac Tripp Thomas Burnell Thomas Hillary John Gill Senior Thomas Monday John Butcher Cutherston 2. Richard Bovet Thomas Blackmoâ—e Minehead 6. John Jones alias Evens Hugh Starke Francis Barlet Peter Warren Samuel Hawkins Richard Sweet Evilchester 12. Hugh Goodenough Samuel Cox William Somerton John Masters John Walrand David Langwell Osmond Barrâ—t Matthew Cross Edward Burford John Mortimer John Stevens Robert Townsden Stogummer 3. George Hillard John Lockstone Arthur Williams Castlecary 3 Richard Ash Samuel Garnish Robert Hinde Milton-port 2. Archibald Johnson James Maxwel Keinsham 11. Charles Chepman Richard Bowden Thomas Trock Lewis Harris Edward Halswell Howel Thomas George Badol Richard Evans John Winter Andrew Rownsden John Phillelrey Suffer'd in all 239 Besides those Hanged and Destroyed in Câ—ld Blood This Bloody Tragedy in the West being over our Protestant Judge returns for London soon after which Alderman Cornish felt the anger of some body behind the Curtain for it is to be Noted that he was Sheriff when Best prayed an Indictment might be preferr'd and was as well as Sheriff Bethel earnest in promoting it in alledging that it was no ways reasonable that the Juries of London should lie under such a reproach c. But passing this over we now find this Person Arriv'd at the Pinacle of Honour the Purse and Mace were reserved for him vacant by the Death of the Lord Keeper North and he advanced to the Lord Chancellourship of England rais'd by this means as one might think above the Envy of the Croud and it might be wished in so dangerous a heighth he had looked better to his Footsteps for now being created Baron of Wem we find him in a High Commission or Ecclesiastical Court Suspending rhe Honourable Lord Bishop of London from performing the Episcopal Office and Function of that See and for no other default than not readily complying with the Kings Letter in Suspending Dr. Sharp Dean of Norwich for Preaching a Sermon in the Parish Church of St Giles in the Fields at the request of the Parishioners shewing the Errors and Fallacies of the Romish Religion the better to confirm them in the Faith and Doctrine of the Church of England Nor was it this good Bishop alone that was aimed at for Magdalen Colledge in Oxford was next attempted and in that very Mother of Learning and Chief Seminary of our Church such alterations made as startled the Kingdom by whose Counsel I undertake not to determine but in the midst of Liberty of Conscience as twice declared The Church of England had a Test put upon her Sons which seemed such a Paradox that has been rarely heard of viz. To Read the Kings Declaration for Liberty of Conscience in the Churches during the time of Divine Service and a Mark and Penalties threatned to the Refusers which was evidently demonstrated by the Imprisonment of those pious Patriots of their Country and Pillars of the Church His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Bishop of Bathe and Wells Ely Peterborough Chichester St. Asaph and Bristol who for shewing their Reasons why they could not comply with this Command by way of Humble Petition were sent to the Tower and afterwards Tryed upon Information of High Misdemeanour at the Court of Kings-Bench where their Innocency appearing in a large manner they were acquitted to the scandal of their Accusers yet Orders were sent into all parts of England to return and account to the Lord Chancellor of those that refused to Read the Declaration that they might be proceeded against for a Contempt of what their Consciences would not permit them to do and for a time they were extreamly hot upon it Much about this time there was a considerable Suit depending before him in Chancery between a great Heiress and others which was sufficiently talk'd of in the World not without loud and deep reflections on his Honesty and Honour for having given the Cause for the young Lady he very speedily afterwards married her to his Son with this remarkable Circumstance She being a Papist to make sure Work he married them both ways both by a Priest of the Church of Rome and a Divine of the Church of England And here I think we may place the Heighth and Acme of his Honour and Happiness where he 's not like to tarry long for on the News of the great Preparations in Holland and that the Prince of Orange was certainly design'd for England the determined Councils cool'd and then quite ceas'd so that the Church of England men whose Cause the Prince had espoused were restored again to the Commissions and Trusts they had by what Justice I know not been lately deprived of and amongst other Charters that were on this occasion restored was that of the City of London and that which makes it more memorable was that it was brought to Guild-Hall by this Person tho he was not attended with the Shouts and Acclamations he expected nor seem'd so florid or frolicksom as heretofore which some looked upon as a bad Omen and it 's reported soon after he being ask'd by a Courtier What the Heads of the Princes Declaration were he should answer He waâ— sure his was one whatever the râ—st were When the late King James was secur'd at Feversham he desired to see his Landlord and demanded his Name who proved a Person who had turned himself over to the Kings Bench for a Fine which fell upon him and Captain Stanbrooke in Westminster by the Lord Chancellours means at the Board which King James calling for a Pen and
discourse to the Jury against the Lord Russel p. 25. His sordid Treat of Mâ— Baxter D d 2 p. 431. A Narrative of Monmouths whole Expedition while in the Wâ—st which was the Prologue to Jeffreys cruelties there p. 24. His secret Villanies p. 35. His Bloody Practices in the West p. 36. The Charge given by the Lord Jeffreys at Bristol in his return from his Wâ—stern Campaign p. 44. He calls the Mayor of Bristol Kidnapping Rogue p. 52. He is made Lord Chancellor for his Cruelties in the West Ibid. How he raised Money by procuring Pardons p. 53. He is made Baron of Wem p. 59. What followed thereupon Ibid. The P. of Oâ—ange approaching he flies to Wapping in a Disguise p. 62. He is taken and brought before the Lord Mayor Ibid. Is committed to the Tower p. 63. The Western Widows Petition against him while in the Tower Ibid. He dies in the Tower p. 64. His Character p. 65. A Letter sent to him there p. 66. His Elegy p. 67. p. 533. Jenkins William his Behaviour both before and at his Execution with several Letters to divers of his Relations His Character p. 385. p. 375. Introduction to the New Martyrology shewing the Reasons why this work is Undertaken Johnson the Accusation against him His Address to all English Protestants in the Army p. 151. His Character p. 152. p. 149. K. K S Cruelties related by an Eye and Ear witness who also gives an account of other Western Barbarities p. 524. King John an account of his last Speech at the place of Execution at Edenburgh p. 418. Kidd John his last Speech at the place of Execution at Edenburgh p. 424. Kidd Capt. his dying Speech in the West of England p. 467. L. LArke Sampson his Sufferings His last Words p. 448. Some further Passages relating to Mr. Sampson Larke with his Prayer when executed p. 452. His Letter to his Friend just before his Execution p. 452. p. 447. Laurence Thomas his Case and Sufferings p. 462. Lisle Lady her Sufferings Her last Speech p. 386. p. 385. List of all them that were condemn'd and suffer'd in the West in the Year 1685. Jeff. Life p. 54. M. MAdders Sufferings His last VVords upon the Ladder p. 465. His last Prayer p. 466. p. 464. Matthews last Speâ—ch and Prayer at the place of Execution p. 511. Monmouth â—uke his Sufferings and Death His Declaration in the West D d 2 p. 117. A brief Abstract of his true Speech p. 433. His Elegy p. 434. p. 431. Monmouth and Argile being both defeated what followed thereupon p. 435. N. NElthrope Richard his Sufferings His Letter to his Parents Brothers and Sisters p. 390. His Letter to his Children p. 393. His last Speech p. 396. p. 388. Noises Sufferings He engages in the Prentices Petition to the Lord Mayor p. 170. A Copy of the said Petition Ibid. An account of 30000 Prentices that signed it p. 172. The Speech that was made at presenting this Petition p. 173. The Lord Mayors answer to the Prentices Speech p. 175. The Names of the 20 Presenters of this Petition Ibid. A Poem dedicated to 'em p. 176. p. 168. O. OAtes an account of his Life and Sufferings His Character p. 148. p. 142. P. PArrots Sufferings His Behaviour at the place of Execution Ibid. His last Speech Ibid. p. 473. Poem to the memory of those who suffered in the West next the Title page Potts sufferings courage and dying VVords p. 459. R. REview of what has been written in this New Marâ—yrology p. 529. Robins of Charmouth his Sufferings His last Sayings p. 471. p. 470. Roses Suffâ—â—ings and Courage p. 459. Roswâ—lls Tryal and Acquittal p. 407. Rouses Tryal and Accusation His dying VVords p. 100. p. 99. Rumbold a brief 〈◊〉 of his Sufferings A larger account of Rumbolds Sufferings with his last Speech and several things that past at his Tryal p. 413. p. 412. Russel Lord his Life Tryal and Martyrdom His Elegy p. 85. His Character p. 86. An Account of his last Speech p. 88. p. 64. S. SAndfords last Speech at the place of Execution p. 515. Saâ—chels Behaviour and dying VVords p. 513. Sherborn an account of those executed there with their dying VVords p. 456. Sidney Algernoon his Sufferings Tryal and Martyrdom His Petition to his Majesty p. 111. An account of the Paper he delivered to the Sheriffs on Tower-Hill p. 115. His Epitaph p. 119. His Character Ibid. p. 104. Smith of Charâ—stock his Behaviour and dying Speech p. 440. Speak Charles his Sufferings and last words p. 472. Speed of Culliton his Behaviour and dying Speech p. 442. Spâ—ague and Cleg executed at Culliton with their dying words p. 457. Sprague John a further account of him p. 475. T. TEmple his last Speech p. 468. Tylers Suffâ—rings He is executed with some other Persons p. 449. His lâ—st Speech Ibid. A Hymn made by him a little before his Execution p. 450. p. 449. W. WAlcot his Life Tryal and Martyrdom An account of his Speech p. 99. His last Prayer p. 100. p. 93. Western Transactions the Introduction to 'em with general Observations upon 'em The Lives and dying Speeches of those that suffered in the West p. 437. p. 177. VVhippings in the West Mr. Hale whipt Ibid. Mrs. Brown whipt Ibid. A poor Boy of Weymouth of 12 years of Agâ— was whipt till he had the Flesh of his back so cut with whipping that he died p. 464. p. 463. FINIS * This Pious and couragious Man Mr. Ayloff suffer'd Martyrdom in London about the same time that Mr. Nelthrop did Here was a glorious Instance of Filial Affection As I find 'em in his Treatise entituled They cry of the Oppressed p. 105. * Aâ—d behold thou art taken in thy mischief because thou art a bloody Man 2 Sam. 16. â— 8.
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
cruel Foes Let Babylon come down Let England's King be one of them Shall raze her to the ground 7. Through Christ we yield our Souls to thee Accept us on his Score That where he is there we may be To praise thee ever more After the Hymn sung he prayed devoutly for half an hour after Prayer he gave great satisfaction to all present of his Assurance of Heaven had many weeping Eyes for him and was much lamented in the Town tho' a stranger to the place so unbuttoning himself said to the Executioner I fear not what Man can do unto me I pray thee do thy work in mercy for I forgive thee with all my heart and I also pray to God to forgive thee don 't mangle my Body too much and so lifting up his hands to Heaven the Executioner did his Office There was also one William Cox that died with him who also died very couragiously despising the shame in hopes and expectation of a future better Estate He and his two Sons were some of the first that came to the Duke of Monmouth anâ— all taken and all condemned together The Father only suffered the Sons by Providence were preserved When he was going to Execution he desired leave to see his Sons then in another Prison in the Town to whom he gave his Blessing and though he was going to be Executed yet had that satisfaction to hope that God would preserve them which was so Some further Passages relating to Mr. Sampson Larke with his Prayer at the same time and Place when Executed IMmeâ—iately after Colonel Holmes was Executed this gâ—od Man was ordered to prepare to follow accordingly going to dâ—liver some few words to the People some whereof were formerly of his Congregation but being told he could not expecâ— much time because it was so late and so many to be Executed afteâ— him so he suddenly concluded and said I will now speak a few Words to him whicâ— I am sure will hear me And so began his Prayeâ— as followeth Blessed Lord God we thine unworthy Creaturâ— now here before thee cannot but acknowledge from thâ— bottom of our hearts our own unworthiness we muâ—â— confess we have been grievous sinners and have brougâ—â— forth the evil Fruit of it in our Lives to the greâ—â— dishonour of thy Name for which we have deserved thy heavy wrath and indignation to be poured forth upon us not only in this life but in that which is to come O let us bless God for our Sufferings and Afflictions as for our Mercies we bless thee in particular for this O sanctifie it to us let us be effectually convinced of the vanity of the World and of our own sinfulness by Nature and Practice and to see that to be sin which we never saw before O Lord make us sensible of the absolute necessity of the Righteousness of Christ to justifie us and let him be now made much more dear and precious to our Souls than ever that so we may be wrought into a more heavenly Frame and raised to a higher degree of Spirituality and so made more meek and humble and let us judge charitably of others that differ from us in Opinion and Judgment And now O Lord though by thy most righteous Judgment we most justly deserve these Sufferings and such an ignominious Death for our Sins against thee not for Treasons against the Kingdom let us be in a preparedness for it Pardon all our Sins help us quietly to submit to thy holy Will speak peace to all our Souls Look in mercy O Lord on this poor Nation especially on this Town and every particular Person in it let them all mind those things which concern their peace before they are hid from their eyes Comfort my dear and distressed Wife be a Husband unto her deliver her out of the Paw of the Lyon and the Paws of the Bear Look upon all thy poor afflicted ones all Prisoners and Captives work deliverance for them if thou seest it good but thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven And now Lord with humble meekness and submission I submit to thy Will depending upon on the Merits of my Saviour to whom with thy blessed Self and Spirit be ascribed all Honour and Praise both now and for ever Amen Then mounting the Ladder he called to some of the Town who weeped for him but were at some distance Go home to your own Houses pray do not weep for me and before you get up yonder Hill I shall be with my heavenly Father in fulness of joy and pleasure for evermore And so advising those before him to leave off those cruel Sentiments they had taken of him besides some heavenly Discourses with some of his Friends he was turned off to the great grief of the good People of the Town especially those of his own Congregation To give him nothing but his due he was a man mighty charitable relieving and visiting the poor and needy Preached in season and out of season and made it his business to go about doing good and to put poor Souls in a way for Eternal Life he was an old Christian as well as aged in years he was a general loss especially to his dear and tender Wife But all our losses are nothing to be compared to that Glory that he now enjoys Mr. Sampson Larke's Letter to a Friend just before his Execution MY dear Friend I am ready to be offered and the time of my Departure is at hand I have through Grace fought a good fight have finished my course have kept the Faith and am in hopes of the Crown of Righteousness prepared for me and all God's faithful Ones The experiences I have had of the Promises hath given me comfortable hopes that he will carry me to the full end of my Journey with his Name and that Truth of his which I have made Profession of My great Crime is for my being a Preachâ—r of the Gospel and here I am to be made a Sacrifice where I have mostly preached Christ 's Gospel I think my Judges have devised this punishment for my hurt but I trust God will turn it to my good the great trouble I have is for those good Hearts that I must leave behind me But this is my comfort knowing that all such as fear God he will be a Father to them My dear Wife is greatly troubled but through Mercy much supported and something quieted if any of you have opportunity to give her help I hope you will do it As for our confessing our selves Guilty it was expresly as to matter of Fact and not of Form and this I did with some freedom and the rather because all my worthy Brethren that went before me took that way and the many ways having been used to have a further Discovery yet nothing of that kind by any but only by Captain Jones Since our Sentence some wretched men have been with us to draw from us a Confession of our