in Christ reconciling himself unto the world not imputing their trespasses He hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness oâ— God in him Blessed be thy Name that thou hast sent thy holy Child Jesus to be the propitiation not only for our sins but for the sins of the whole world He hath suffered the just for the unjust that he might bring us unto God O do thou therefore help thy poor servants before thee and all thy children Give us to see the removal of eternal death by the death of the Lord Jesus Let us see thee at peace with us and justifying of us through thy grace All have sinned and come short of thy glory but being justified through the redemption of Christ Jesus whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation for the sins of the whole world Thou hast promised that whosoever believeth in the Lord Jesus Christ thy grace thy mercy thy love shall not perish but have everlasting life and thou hast given to thy poor servant exceeding great and precious promises and by thy own spirit bringing home these promises given him to believe the Records thou hast given of thy Son which beareth witness that God is reconciled to him and well pleased with him in Christ Jesus and given him eternal life And seeing thou hast bid his soul in Jesus Christ when he shall appear then shall we appear with him in glory and be made like to our Lord Jesus Christ By the same power that thou raisest up Jesus Christ from the dead by the same power thou art able to subdue all things There is nothing impossible with God what ever thou hast promised shall be performed Heaven and Earth shall pass away but one title of thy word shall not fail And therefore blessed be thy Name that thou hast revealed these things to thy poor and unworthy Creature that thou art his God and Father that thou wilt never leave him nor forsake him and thou hast hid his life in Christ and wrote his name in the Book of the Lord Jesus Christ and he rejoyceth that he knows he is his who is the onely true God Knows thou art well pleased with him and justified him freely from all his sins accepted him in and through the Lord Jesus Christ O therefore dear Father do thou receive his soul according to thy promise that he may be thine and thou his God O blessed Father do thou be pleased to do good to all thy people And now dear Father take care of our families be thou a Husband to our yoke-fellows a Father to the Fatherless Do them good abundantly above what we are able to ask or think and what is wanting and lost by our removal do thou hand out to them thy mercy and grace and move the hearts of the children of men to do them good Be thou their God help them and provide for them Seal up thy loving kindness to them not only for this life but for the life to come Do good to our Magistrates thou who hast the hearts of all men make such as are about them men fearing God and hating covetousness that may judge for God that he may have glory O be pleased to let his Majesty Rule and Reign in righteousness let his Throne be established in Righteousness and reveal the choicest of thy blessings to His poor soul manifest Christ Jesus and him crucified to him and give Him to see the most precious blood of Christ cleansing him from all sins Bind up his soul in the bundle of everlasting life Crown Him with a Crown of Righteousness as well as with an earthly Crown Let him be a Nursing Father and Nursing Mother indeed to this Nation that He may hate the evil door and be a praise to them that do well Dâ— good to every one of us O help us that we may first seek the Kingdom of God First believe in God and then honour our King First fear God and serve him and then give to Cesar that which is Cesars Give unto the King that which is the Kings Give Him all obedience to live quietly in all godliness and honesty And now O Lord do thou take away that spirit of emulation and strife and malice From whence comes wars come they not from our lusts The Lord remove pride preiudice and malice from us and cause us to love one another The Lord teach every one in their places to walk continually to the glory and praise of God that we professing the name of Christians may be enabled to walk humbly and meekly to do good to walk uprightly and to love mercy and then certainly we may expect that blessing that God hath promised to them that believe in him which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Mr. Stubb's Prayer PRecious and eternal Lord God in thy presence O Lord are we and in the presence of thy Son and of thy holy Angels and in the presence of the great multitude that now is beholding us poor objects poor worms poor dust and ashes and truly Lord we were not able to lift up our heads this day except thou didst come in by thy mighty Power O Lord â—elp us to see the Heavens opened this day and that the Arms of our Christ may be opened to receive our poor souls O Lord we are bidding farewel to the world 〈…〉 enjoyments 〈◊〉 to every thing and now Lord we are going home to thy dear and 〈…〉 forth our souls and enlarge our hearts after thee that we may be in pursuit of our God our souls long for the Lord as the Hart longs or pantâ— after the water brooke Lord appear in this hour this is a great Tryal that thy poor creatures are brought to Now come and smile upon thy poor worms O that thou wouldest communicate thy self unto us the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon our precious souls be a precious God to us and 〈…〉 Father thou hast not left poor souls in the dark in such an hour as this O that thou wouldst communicately thy self unto us we are now departing and dying good Father we pray thee that we may have the spiritual life communicated to 〈◊〉 Look in mercy upon every heart here in thy presence O that their souls may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ thou hast given Christ to dye for us whilst creatures here thy blood is able to wash and make me clean O there is no spot no dye but the blood of Jesus is able to take it away O Lord help us that we may dye in the love of Jesus Christ And good Lord we desire that thou wouldst look in mercy upon him that in the Officer Execution of those poor worms and as he is to wash his 〈◊〉 our blood O Lord wash his Soul in the blood of the Lamb of God Father thou knowest we desire the good of his â—oul we forgive him and we desire to forgive every one And dear Lord we desire thee to look upon the King communicate the riches of thy mercy unto his Majesty we desire his Soul may be saved thou hast the hearts of all Kings in thy hand draw forth his heart that he may love those things that pleaseth thee and love them that thou lovest let him be established in righteousness and let Justice and Judgment run down the streets of England â— a mighty stream We pray thee to 〈◊〉 forth our Souls to pray for every Relation beget love in all sorts of people thâ—â— they may live the life of love that when they depart this life they may enjoy the blessed Comforter the Lord Jesus Christ And dear Lord thou or 〈…〉 to give us a â—ast of thy love this day Lord thou hast given us a pardon blessed be thy Majesty for it thou hast given us a reprieve for our Souls we are delivered from death to life we hope when we depart this world we shall enjoy those blessed manâ—â—ons to all eternity And gracious Father we desire to bless thee for that civility we have had from those that have been Officers here Lord make it up to them and we desire to bless thee for it O the riches and the height of the grace of God and the love of Jesus Christ to poor sinners We may see that thou 〈◊〉 be pleased to look in mercy upon thâ—â— poor 〈◊〉 O that thou wouldst unite their hearts in love together O that there might not be any more 〈◊〉 or luâ—â—ed unite their hearts in love and obedience that they may fear God honour the King that they may desire in all righteousness and holiâ—est to do those things that are according to thy mind and will And gracious Father thou canst not abide Hypocrites the Lord cause Souls to love holiness and the power of godliness that they may not shrowd themselves under the profession when there is no reality Look in mercy upon all the Churches of Jesus Christ communicate thy mercy and love to them be pleased to be with 〈◊〉 this day and go along with us O that we may bless that with our Souls and all that is within us Be with us and do for us more than we are able to ask or think upon the account of Jesus Christ in whom thou art well pleased to whom be all praise and glory now and for ever Amen After which their Caps being severally pulled over their faces and after some private Ejaculations the Executioner caused the Cart to be drawn away and after they had hanged a while they were severally Headed and Quartered according to their Sentence and theâ—e Heads and Quarters conveyed in a Basket to Newgate to be disposed of at the Kings pleasure Which he was graciously pleased thus to dispose of Their several Quarters to be Buried which was accordingly done on Saturday-night December 27. Their Heads to be set on several Poles Two on the one Tower-Hill and two on the other as neer the Tower as may be FINIS
Standen John Worth John Rigby Leonard Staples And several Witnesses being called there appeared William Hill Edward Riggâ— Tyler Godolphin Bonfoy and several others who being all sworn were directed up to the Grand-Jury After some hours examination of the Witnesses and consultation the Grand-Jury returned the Indictment Billa vera Clerk of the Peace You good men of the City of London summoned to appear here this day to enquire between our Soveraign Lord the King and the Prisoners that are and shall be at the Bar answer to your Names as you shall be called every one at their first Call upon pain and peril that shall fall thereon Good men of the Ward of c. Serjeant Glyn Sergeant Maynard His Majesties Serjeants at Law Sir Jeoffry Palmer Attorney-General Sir Heneage Finch His Majesties Sollicitor Serjeant Keeling His Majesties Serjeant Sir Edward Turnor taking their places in Court the Prisoners were commanded to be set to the Bar. Clerk of the Peace Thomas Tonge hold up thy hand George Phillips hold up thy hand Francis Stubbs hold up thy hand James Hinde hold up thy hand John Sallers hold up thy hand and Nathaniel Gibbs hold up thy hand Which they severally doing their Indictment was read the substance whereof is as followeth viz. YOU the Prisoners that were last called to the Bar stand Indicted in London by the Names of Thomas Tonge late of London Distiller George Phillips late of London Yeoman Francis Stubbs late of London Cheese-monger James Hind late of London Gunner John Sallers late of London Compass-maker and Nathaniel Gibbs late of London Felt-maker for that you six together with divers others particularly in the Indictment mentioned and others not yet taken as false Traytors to the Illustrious Serene and most Excellent Prince Charles the Second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. minding and with all their force intending the Peace and Tranquillity of this Kingdom of England to disturb and our said Soveraign Lord the King to death and final destruction to bring and put the 31. day of October in the Fourteenth year of the Reign of our said Soveraign Lord King Charles the Second Traiterously did compass imagine and Intend the killing of our said Soveraign Lord the King and the antient Government of this Kingdom of England to change as in the Indictment more particularly was mentioned What sayest thou Thomas Tonge art thou guilty of this High-Treason in manner and form as thou standest Indicted or not guilty Tonge Not guilty Clerk How wilt thou be Tryed Tonge By God and my Countrey Clerk What sayest thou George Phillips art thou guilty c. Phill. I am guilty in hearing and not discovering of it Clerk Art thou guilty of this High-Treason whereof thou standect Indicted Phill. I am guilty but not in manner and form as I stand Indicted I have heard the words as I formely confessed to Sir Richard Brown not guilty as to the manner and form Clerk How wilt thou be Tryed Phill. By God and my Countrey Clerk How sayest thou Francis Stubbs art thou guilty c. Stub Not guilty Clerk How wilt thou be Tryed Stub By God and my Countrey Clerk What sayest thou James Hind art thou guilty c. Hind kneeling down and discovering much penitency answered I am guilty and humbly beg mercy of His Majesty Court Record his Confession Clerk How sayest thou John Sallers art thou guilty c. Sall. Not guilty Clerk How wilt thou be Tryed Sall. By God and the Countrey Clerk How sayest thou Nathaniel Gibbs art thou guilty c. Gibbs Not guilty Cler. How wilt thou be Tryed Gibbs By God and the Countrey Court Carry up Hind to the Gaole And the rest standing at the Bar silence was commanded Cler. Thomas Tonge George Phillips Francis Stubbs John Sallers and Nathaniel Gibbs You the Prisoners that were last called to the Bar those men that you shall hear called are to pass upon Tryal for your several Lives and Deaths if you or any of you will challenge them or any of them you must challenge them when they come to the Book to be Sworn before they be Sworn Edmond Butler Tonge I challenge him but afterwards admitted him Clerk Edmund Butler Clement Punge George Dixon Samuel Pain John Bagnal John Gourney William Gayler Ralph Silverton William Dudley Joseph Drake John Peake and Robert Morrice were severally Sworn in this manner Lay your hand on the Book look upon the Prisoners You shall well and truly try and true deliverance make between our Soveraign Lord the King and the Prisoners at the Bar whom you shall have in charge according to your Evidence So help you God Clerk Count these Cryer Edmond Butler Cryer one Clement Punge two c. Twelve good men and true stand together and hear your Evidence Clerk Cryer make Proclamation Cryer O Yes If any one can inform my Lords the Kings Justices the Kings Serjeants or the Kings Attorney before this Inquest be taken let them come forth and they shall be heard for now the Prisoners stand at the Bar upon their Deliverance and all others that are bound by Recognizance to give Evidence against any of the Prisoners at the Bar come forth and give Evidence or else you forfeit your Recognizance and all manner of persons that were summoned upon the Jury and have not yet been Sworn they are discharged and may depart the Court. Clerk Tho. Tonge Hold up thy Hand and so to the rest of them at the Bar. You of the Jury Look upon the Prisoners and hearken to their Cause you shall understand that they stand Indicted in London by the Names of Tho. Tonge late of c. and so as in the Indictment aforementioned who together with James Hind who stands Convicted by his own Confession and the rest also aforementioned and so reads the Indictment again Upon which Indictment they have been Arraigned thereunto have severally pleaded Not guilty for their Trial have put themselves upon God the Countrey which Countrey you are Your Charge is to enquire whether they be guilty of the High-Treason in manner and form as they stand Indicted or not guilty If you find that they or any of them are guilty you shall enquire what Goods Chattels Lands and Tenements they or any of them had at the time of committing the said Treason or at any time sithence If you find that they are not guilty you shall enquire whether they or any of them did flee for it if you find that they fled for it you shall enquire of their Goods and Chattels c. as if you had found them guilty If you find that they are not guilty nor that they did flee say so and no more and hear your Evidence Sir Edw. Turner MAy it please your Lordships and you Gentlemen that are Sworn of this Jury the Five Prisoners at the Bar by the names of T. Tonge G. Phillips F. Stubbs
stands indicted or not guilty Jury Guilty Clerk of Newgate Look to him Keeper Clerk of the Peace What goods and chattels Jury None Clerk of the Peace Nathaniel Gibbs to the Bar How say you is he guilty of the high Treason whereof he stands indicted or not Guilty Jury Guilty Clerk of Newgate Look to him Keeper Clerk of the Peace What Goods and Chattels Jury None Clerk of the Peace Hearken to your Verdict as the Court hath recorded it You say that Thomas Tonge is guilty of the Treason whereof he stands Indicted and so all the rest And you say that they nor any of them had any Goods or Chattels Lands or Tenements at the time of committing the said Treason or at any time sithence to your knowledge and this you say all Jury Yes Clerk of the Peace Thomas Tonge hold up thy hand thou hast been Indicted of High-Treason thou hast thereunto pleaded Not guilty and for thy Tryal hast put thy self upon God and the Countrey and the Countrey hath found thee guilty what hast thou to say for thy self why the Court should not proceed to judgment and thereupon award execution of thee according to the Law Tong. I pray mercy from the King I cry for mercy from the King Clerk of Newgate Tye him up Executioner Clerk of the Peace George Phillips hold up thy hand thou art in the same case that Thomas Tonge is what canst thou say c. Phillips Kneeled down and said I pray the mercy of the King and the Honourable Bench. Clerk of Newgate Tye him up Executioner Clerk of the Peace Francis Stubbs hold up thy hand thou art in the same case the two last Prisoners before thee are what can'st thou say c. Stubbs I beg mercy I was meerly drawn in Clerk of Newgate Tye him up Executioner Clerk of the Peace John Sallers hold up thy hand thou art c. what canst thou say c. Sallers I would intreat this Honourable Bench to consider my condition and what my charge is I delivered no Arms if I had known were they had been I would have discovered them I beg mercy from the King and this Honourable Bench. Clerk of Newgate Tye him up Executioner Clerk of the Peace Nathaniel Gibbs hold up thy hand thou art c. what canst thou say c. Gibbs And please this Honourable Bench I have something to say I am innocent as to my Conscience of acting any thing Treasonable against his Majesty the Lord forgive the Witness I beg the mercy of the King Clerk of Newgate Tye him up Executioner Clerk of the Peace James Hind hold up thy hand Thou art guilty of the Treason whereof thou standest indicted by thy own confession what canst thou say c. Hind I have nothing to say but humbly beg the mercy of the King Clerk of Newgate Tye him up Executioner Cryer O Yes my Lords the Kings Justices command all manner of persons to keep silence while Judgement is in giving upon pain of imprisonment Sir Robert Foster Thomas Tong George Phillips Francis Stubbs James Hind John Sallers and Nathaniel Gibbs you six prisoners at the Bar you have been here indicted for one of the greatest crimes that can be committed upon earth as to this world against God our King and your Country and against every good body that is in this land for that capital sin of High-Treason which is a sin inexpiable indeed hath no equal sin as to this world upon this you have severally been Arraigned and have severally except one pleaded Not guilty and put your selves upon God and the Countrey for your Tryals and your Countrey have found you guilty for the five that are found guilty I must say that in you I find little remorse little sense of your sin for the little man there Hind he hath much shewed his penitency The manner and circumstances of this most men here believe this did not originally arise from your particular selves it must be put into you by some others You speak as if you desired mercy where was your mercy that would have destroyed King and Country and massacred many millions of souls no respect of any person but your own Fellows I speak this that you may be the more sensible of your own Crime that you may truly out of the remorse of Conscience be sorry for your sin you know very well the old councel and it is a good one Fear God and honour the King meddle not with them that are given to change Medling with them that are given to change has brought too much mischief already to this Nation and if you will commit the same sin you must receive the same punishment for happy is he that by other mens harms takes heed I shall not spend long time with you but if you will as much as you can discover the Actors herein you will do God the King and your Country good service It remains that the Court proceed to Judgment and therefore you six the one by his own confession and other five by conviction of Law the Judgment of this Court is That you be conveyed back to the place from whence you came and from thence to be drawn upon an Hurdle to the Place of Execution and there you shall be hanged by the neck and being alive shall be cut down and your privy-Members to be cut off your Entrails to be taken out of your Body and you living the same to be burnt before your eyes and your head to be cut off your body to be divided into four quarters and your head and quarters to be disposed of at the pleasure of the Kings Majesty And God have mercy upon your Souls The Confession Speeches and Prayers of George Phillips Thomas Tonge Nathaniel Gibbs and Francis Stubbs at the place of Execution on Munday Decemb. 22. 1662 The manner of Conveying the Prisoners to the Place of Execution and their Behaviour there before they began to Speak THe 22. Decemb. Thomas Tonge George Phillips Francis Stubbs and Nathaniel Gibbs were according to a late Sentence drawn on two Hurdles viz. Tonge and Phillips in one and Stubbs and Gibbs in the other to the common place of Execution at Tyburn Where being come they were received into a Cart under the Gallowes and the Executioner desiring them severally to forgive him they all declared they did freely forgive him and all their enemies and did severally salute each other with this Phrase Welcome Brother and to one another said We are now launching into the deep They being all tied up Phillips gave the Executioner a small sum of Money and the rest directed the Executioner to take out of their pockets a small parcel of money as their gift to him and Phillips afterwards bended a Six-pence and presented it to a friend of his Mr. Stroud and a Shilling likewise bended to one Mr. Clark Then the Under-Sheriff of Middlesex acquainted them they had all free liberty to speak provided they did
and be no more that I may receive that comfort and satisfaction which I have longed and looked for Lord my hope is in thee thou wilt not fail them that put their trust in thee in thee is my trust and confidence if I perish I will perish at the feet of Jesus Christ O that thou wouldst humble me and seal up the pardon of my sins before I go hence and let thy Son Jesus Christ manifest his gracious presence with me and cloath me with that wedding garment of his righteousness and then take me into his arms and present me to his Father O that thou wouldest be pleased to strengthen and uphold me under this great stroke which thou hast been pleased to inflict upon me I kiss the rod and receive it thankfully from thy hand I had been undone to all eternity hadst thou not afflicted me blessed be thy Name that thou hast been pleased to send Jesus Christ upon him I depend upon him I cast my confidence who is the rock of ages and never failed any that came to him Hear me and answer me do for me and all thy Churches and people abundantly above what I can ask or think and all for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ to whom with thy self and thy holy Spirit be all honour power and praise henceforth and for evermore Amen Mr. Tonge his Prayer O Most Glorious and Eternal Lord God thou that hast created the heavens and the earth and formedst of dust us thy poor creatures to which we are now returning Lord I beseech thee speak peace to my poor soul lift up the light of thy countenance upon me and let me see in thee and through faith in thy dear Son Jesus Christ that I am in covenant with thee and reconciled with thee Holy Lord I beseech thee let me see thy dear Son Jesus Christ sitting at thy right hand reconciling of me to thy self Let me find my soul washed in the blood of the Covenant of thy dear Son Jesus Christ Seal a pardon to me thy poor creature O Lord one smile of thy countenance is worth all the world blessed be thy Name that thou hast supported me hitherto Lord God I beseech thee finish thy good work thou hast begun in me and go along with me and strengthen and hold me to drink off this bitter cup. Be with me to the end Remember the Governours of this Nation O that thou wouldest showr down upon the King and Council thy mercies as thou showrest down rain on the ground that they may rule for thee and those that fear thy Name may live in happiness and peace under thee for the sake of thy dear Son Jesus Christ O Lord we pray thee remember all thy people and be good to them and deliver them out of their troubles and speak peace to them and let them know thou wilt deliver them Keep me to the end and uphold me by thy right hand and so receve me with joy for the sake of thy dear Son Jesus Christ to whom be all honour and power henceforward and for evermore Amen Mr. Gibbs his Prayer O Eternal Everliving and Everloving God who art a reconciled and loving Father unto thy poor unworthy Creatures before thee and unto all the children whom thou hast called to believe in thee O Lord this is no small priviledge that sinful dust and ashes mortal worms should have to do and to deal with so holy and infinite a God as thou art to make requests unto thee considering the vast disproportion that there is between thee and poor sinners Thou art of purer eyes than to behold any unclean thing in thy presence O Lord. We our selves are nothing but polluted rags and fountains of uncleanness from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot all the faculties of the soul and members of the body are all members of unrighteousness Were it not therefore that thou hast been pleased to give us good hopes and found out a way to hold communion with us which is through the Lord Jesus in whom thou are well pleased in whom thou hast spoke forgiveness of sins to our souls we durst not now stand before thee but thou hast promised that though our sins are as scarlet thou wilt make them as white as snow and though they be as crimson thou wilt make them as wool Thou hast opened a fountain of free grace and eternal mercy for poor sinners that through the blood of the Lord Jesus they may receive remission forgiveness cleansing and purging from all their sins Thou hast laid an All-sufficient help upon him who is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him We have nothing of our selves to bring unto God but sins to pardon and unclean souls to purge Thou hast been pleased to give thy Son and together with him freely to give us all things Thou hast given thy poor servant before thee saith that has brought salvation to his soul Thou hast saved him by thy free-grace not of works but through the mercies and blood of Jesus Christ and hast sprinkled the virtue of the blood of Christ in his conscience in the belief of the truth as it is in Jesus O blessed be thy Name that sent him to seek and to save us from condemnation who is risen with healing in his wings and hast set Christ before us that we should behold him that our sins have pierced Certainly great was that disease that needed such a medicine that nothing could expiate take away our sins and blot out the hand-writing that was against us but the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ as of a Lamb without spot he is now become our peace who has made peace for us through the blood of that his Cross and has made twain one in himself Jew and Gentile He was delivered up for our offences and rose again for our justification We in the knowledge of him being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ And blessed be thy Name O merciful God that has made such a Covenant of everlasting grace to poor sinners and the children that do believe in thee through Jesus Christ Thou hast said thou wilt be merciful to all our iniquities and sins and wilt remember them no more These are thy promises and they are Yea and Amen Christ in Jesus Thou hast made thy servant to hear thy voice in thy Son Thou hast been a merciful God to him and forgiven him all his sins and justified him freely through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ Who shall condemn us or lay any thing to our Charge It is God that justifies who gave himself a ransom for our sins is risen again and now sits at the right Hand of God ever living and making intercession for us whose blood speaks better things than the blood of Abel His blood cryed for vengeance but the blood of Christ cries for peace and forgiveness God is
You do your self much wrong and take away that time which you may happily spend better Stubbs I desire to know of Mr. Hill who was present at that Meeting that I should say the King should have such quarter as Ludlow Hill It was spoken at the Meeting at Black-fryers after his Brother and the other persons were gone it was there spoken that the Council was broke up and all ready Alhallows-Eve the time and then the same quarter to be given as Ludlow should have if taken Stubbs You do not answer the Question who was there besides your self Hill There was Riggs and that Gibbs there Stubbs You have onely his Evidence Tonge Who was in company when I talked of Three hundred men at Windsor Hill It was at your own house and there was Ward Stubbs Riggs Hind and my self Phillips Whether did he ever see my face at any Meeting Hill I never saw you before that time in Cornhill Phillips Upon what account did I speak to Riggs then Hill When you came off the Exchange you told him you could not stay your Captain was coming Riggs thanked you for your favour in sending word to the Meeting to be gone to a certain Quaker Phillips I never sent to any Quaker to that purpose I did not see this man upon the Sabbath-day but Riggs came down to me and thought I had sent notice to Anchor-Alley but I did not Sallers He affirmed that there was several Meetings of Forty and then of Six ask Mr. Hill whether I was in either of those numbers at any time Council He did not charge you with any such thing of being in that number he asks a question about things not laid to his charge Council Let Mr. Riggs speak Edward Riggs About three weeks since I came acquainted with Mr. Tonge upon this occasion Captain Baker did say that he was a man of Intelligence but Mr. Tonge did not care for him and told me that I might be acquainted with him a while after I came acquainted with him accidentally when I came to his House Court Whose House Riggs Tongs house Mr. Stubbs was there he said that he had been at Windsor spoken with the Gunner and Sergeant and that they promised it should be ready upon some certain notice given that night he had received a Letter of some business concerning a suit at Law he said in which there was a mystical meaning which he did not tell me of but this he said That he had made sure of Windsor by the Gunner and Sergeants promises This is that I know of him Council Is this all of Tonge Riggs This likewise he has told me that he had sometimes met with a certain company he did not say Thirty or Forty but a pretty many there was he named Mr. Coâ—â— Captain Elton Captain Leigh that they had often meâ— but could not well agree but at last Mr. Strange did meet with them give them one Meeting they could not agree neither they went away and said these words to the best of my remembrance Mr. Strange did refuse to joyn with them but when God bids him go he would go whether this day or next week or next year matters not but when God bids him go he would go Mr. Cole was somewhat troubled to hear it but says Mr. Cole if you will go give me but notice if I cannot go so fast as you ride I will hold by your Horse-tail A little while after he told me they had not met again that Mr. Cole because they could not agree about this business was gone beyond Sea but before he was gone he did tell me of some considerations that were drawn as he judged about a Government by Mr. Cole and gave me in a Paper some certain Propositions three or four concerning Sea-men the substance was this what great benefits they had by a Common-wealth Court Who gave you them Riggs Tonge but it came from Mr. Cole as he said In general they were to declare against the Misgovernment of Church and State in particular to Sea-men what great advantages there would be to them and three or four things propounded in order to them 1. That no Sea-men should pay custom for any commodity that he did bring under the value of Ten pounds upwards they must And likewise there should be care taken upon our own Coasts and beyond Sea that where any of our English Ships should be cast away there should be care taken out of the Customes that might keep them in their travelling homewards either from begging or starving but Mr. Cole when they met as Tonge said would not agree and therefore went beyond Sea after he was gone within a week or fortnight they had another meeting Court They which they name them Riggs I did not hear him name many unless Leigh and Captain Elton I remember no more and there he said they had under consideration the Government of a Commonwealth and so to declare against the misgovernment of the Church and State and there was to be a meeting at London-wall in a little time after and he was there He afterwards told me he mist that meeting but had intelligence brought him that that time that he missed thirty or forty I know not the certain number had referred it to Six men they called it The Council of Six but the names of them I never heard from him and indeed he said he knew them not by reason of his absence from that meeting but what I gathered from him was this That he judged Captain Elton was one of them Council He told you there was a Council of Six Sir Hen. Finch To make things short were you ever at any meeting where there was a discourse touching surprizing the King altering the Govertment and who was there upon your Oath Riggs That Friday immediately before we were taken I think Octber 24. there was some discourse in general concerning Whitehall what might be done as to the procuring of that and likewise concerning the Tower Council Who was present that Friday Riggs My self Hill Tonge Stubbs Ward Hind and John Baker and then to the best of my knowledge there was this discourse in general Concerning the taking of the Tower there was some Propositions on all hands concerning the taking of that Mr. Hind he only mentioned but did say he would undertake it the righting of Gunners Accompts Mr. Tonge he said that the way that he thought convenient might be this When Sir John Robinson now Lord Mayor did late in the evening go into the Tower there should be a party following his Coach and so might do it And John Baker at that present instant of time did say That it was necessary the King should be surprized and likewise saâ—â— then That there should be no quarter he would give nor take none Council Who was present Riggs Mr. Hill my self Bradly Hind Captain Brown and Baker and another Hill the Drawer I think Council Was not Tonge and Stubbs there then
afraid I will not speak any evil of them Magistracy is an Ordinance of God and the end of Magistracy is for the punishment of evil-doers and the praise of them that do well and for this purpose I do desire that the Lord will give to the supreme Magistrate here on earth wisdom and understanding a wise Council a Council fearing God and hating covetousness that they may study to exalt the Throne of the King in righteousness and truth O that we may all praise the Lord for deliverance out of condemnation and I say it is the duty of all the Subjects of the Kings Majesty in all his Kingdoms and Dominions to live peaceably and to pray for the Kings Majesty Prayers and intercessions ought to be made for all men especially for Kings and Governours for this very end and purpose that thereby we may live in all quietness godliness honesty and justice and to this very end the Lord bless our Magistracy give them Counsel and Wisdom that they may love them that love the Lord and hate them that hate the Lord. After Gibbs had done speaking then Stubbs began who went over all the particulars of his Tryal at large to which for brevities sake we refer you only saith he as followeth Friends and Country-men IT is true and I must confess my sin in the presence of God and did ask mercy of the King that I was in the company when I did hear wicked and Treasonable words spoken and I being ignorant and not knowing the Law did not discover what I did hear As to my Judgment truly I desire to own what the Scriptures own I shall speak of that place in the Hebrews which is the command of Christ I desire the Churches and people every one to live the life of Faith and love one another I am confident it would be a means of abundance of comfort here in the Nation there is a kind of heart-burning and rising one against another you are so and so throw dirt one against the other it is our and your duty still to be studying to live in love and bear with one another not be angry destroy and fight one with another O that we might live that life of love that God has commanded then we may expect the presence of God to be with us surely God hath a great Judgment against his own people for not loving one another Phillips Mr. Sheriff I Have only one word to speak before I go to my Prayers that is Here I see some Gentlemen present that are in the capacity that I was in as a Souldier I say be faithful to your trust and beg of God that you may stand fast and not dishonour God nor be disobedient to the King when the Fifth-monarchy-men were up I was free and willing to lay down my life for the interest of the Nation and did venture as much as any young man in London Therefore good friends have a care I am now brought to suffer it is true I was guilty of concealing it I desire your Prayers that now as we are going to the State of Eternity from whence there is no redemption I humbly beseech you as Christians and friends that you would seek earnestly to God that now he may receive our souls into everlasting rest and happiness which he has been pleased to bestow on them that love him and fear him and the Lord knows my heart I speak it in his presence that had the King been pleased to shew mercy to me I should have been a faithful and true Subject to him all my days but seeing it is the righteous hand of God that now I am come to this untimely death I desire you to lift up your Hearts and Souls to God with me that when my soul shall leave this body that the Lord Jesus Christ may with his everlasting arms receive me to glory There is no redemption after death we shall either go to eternal woe or eternal happiness therefore good friends I desire you to look up to God that when my Soul departs it may be received to glory Mr. Phillips his Prayer O Eternal Lord God thou that art the great Creator of Mankind and thou that formedst him in the womb hear thy poor and sinful creature now he is coming to make his last approaches to thy Throne O that thou wouldst be pleased to look down in mercy upon my Soul O Lord that thou wouldst be pleased now to take my soul and wash it and hath it in the blood of Jesus Christ who hath died and risen again for me O that now I could see the heavens opened and Jesus Christ ready to receive my soul Be pleased O Lord to look upon me in thy tender mercy and compassion and as thou hast said thou dost not delight in the death of a sinner therefore good Lord look down upon my poor soul and receive me into the everlasting mansions which Jesus Christ is gone before to prepare for all them that love thee O Lord we are now going I hope to an estate of happiness where we shall sin and sorrow no more but where we shall ever reign with Jesus Christ O Lord had we not some hopes had we not some sight of the Lord Jesus Christ made known to our souls we durst not appear before thee this day we durst not stand before thee in thy presence O that thou wouldest more and more manifest thy gracious presence with me that thou wouldest uphold me to take the bitter cup and drink it freely O Lord I desire to come unto thee I have been a great sinner before thee but Jesus Christ has died is risen and is now at the right hand of his Father making intercession for us And good Lord as thou hast commanded us to come unto thee and to believe in thee and hast said thou wilt in no wise cast off the soul that comes unto thee in confidence of that hope I desire to fix my soul upon thee before I go hence and be no more Bow down the heavens O Lord and hear the request of the poor soul before thee and I beseech thee for Christ his sake as thou wouldst forgive me so freely forgive all that have done evil against me Be pleased to let the Kings Majesty reign in righteousness and holiness put a spirit of power and might in his soul and let him see wherein the stability of his Crown lies in following Righteousness and Justice and Judgment and preserving of that Truth that is made known to him out of the book of the Lord. Come down Lord to his soul and let him see wherein is his hope and O that he may at last liâ—e and reign with Jesus Christ for evermore Good Lord look upon me I am coming unto thee these are my last words O that thou wouldest be pleased to receive us this day that we may dine with thee in Paradise make known thy everlasting kindness to my soul before I go hence