I bid farewel to all my Friends and dear Relations Farewell my poor Wife and Children whom I leave in the good hand of him who is better than seven Husbands and who will be a Father to the Fatherless Farewell all Creature Comforts Welcome everlasting Life everlasting Glory Welcome everlasting Love everlasting Praise Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me Sic Subscrib JOHN KING August 14 th 1679. Tolbooth Circa horam Septimam A brief Account of the last Speech of Mr. John Kidd at the place of Execution at Edinburgh on the 14th day of August 1679. Right Worthy and well beloved Spectators and Auditors COnsidering what bodily Distempers I have been exercised with since I came out of the Torture viz. Scarce two hours out of my naked bed in one day it cannot be expected that I should be in a Case to say any thing to purpose at this Juncture especially seeing I am not as yet free of it however I cannot but Reverence the good hand of God upon me and desire with all my Soul to bless him for this my present Lot It may be there are a great many here that judge my Lot very sad and deplorable I must confess Death it self is very â—eâ—rible to Flesh and Blood but as it is an out-let to sin and an in-let to Righteousness it is the Christians great and inexpressible Priviledge and give me leave to say this that there is something in a Christian Condition that can never put him without the reach of insufferableness even shame death and the Cross bâ—ing included And then if there be peace betwixt God and the Soul nothing can damp peace with Goâ— through our Lord Jesus Christ this is a most supporting ingredient in the bitterest Cup and under the sharpest and firiest Tryal he can be exposed unto thiâ— is my mercy that I have something of this to lay Claim unto viz. The intimations of Pardon and Peace betwixt God and my Soul And as concerning that for which I am condemned I Magnifie his grace that I never had the least challenge for it but on the contrary I Judge it my Honour that ever I was counted worthy to come upon the Stage upon such a consideration another thing that renders the most despicable Lot of the Christian and mine sufferable is a felt and sensible presence from the Lord strengthening the Soul when most put to it and if I could have this for my Allowance this day I could be bold to say O death where is thy sting and could not but cry out Welcome to it and all that follows upon it I grant the Lord from an act of Soveraignty may come and go as he pleases but yet he will never forsake his people and this is a Cordial to me in the Case I am now exposed unto Thirdly The exercising and putting forth his glorious Power is able to Transport the Soul of the Believer and mine above the reach of all sublunary Difficulties and therefore seeing I have hope to be kept up by this power I would not have you to look upon my Lot or any other that is or may be in my Câ—se in the least deplorable seeing we have ground to believe that in more or less he will perfect his Power and Strength in Weakness Fourthly That I may come a little nearer to the purpose in hand I declare before you all in the sight of God Angels and Men and in the sight of that Son and all that he has Created that I am a most miserable Sinner in regard of my Original and Actual Transgressions I must confess they are more in number than the Hairs of my Head They are gone up above my Head and are past numbring I cannot but say as Jacob said I am less than the least of all God's Mercies yet I must declare to the exalting of his Free Grace That to me who am the least of all Saints is this Grace made known and that by a strong hand and I dare not but say he has loved me and washed me in his own Blood from all Iniquities and well is it for me this day That ever I heard or read that faithful saying that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief Fifthly I must also declare in his sight I am the most unworthiest that ever opened his mouth to preach the unsearchable Riches of Christ in the Gospel Yea the sense of this made me altogether unwilling to fall about so great a Work until by the importunity of some whose Names are precious and savoury to me and many others I was prevailed with to fall about it and yet I am hopeful not altogether without sâ—me fruit and if I durst say it without Vanity I never found so much of the presence of God upon my Spirit as I have found in Exercises of that Nature though I must still confess attended with inexpressible Weakness and this is the main thing for which I must lay down my Tabernacle this day viz. That I did preach Christ and the Gospel in several places of this Nation for which I bless him as I can That ever such a poor obscure person as I am have been thus priviledged by him for making mention of his Grace as I was able In the next place though to many I die desired yet I know to not a few my Death is not desired and it is the rejoycing of my heart that I die in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ who has loved me and given himself for me and in the Faith of the Prophets and Apostles and in this Faith of there 's not a Name under Heaven by which Men can be saved but the Name of Jesus and in the Faith of the Doctrine and Worship of the Kirk of Scotland as it is now established according to the Word of God Confession of Faith Catechisms larger and shorter and likewise I joyn my Testimony against Popery Perjury Profanity Heresie and everything contrary to found Doctrine In the Close as a dying Person and as one who has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful I would humbly leave it upon godly Ministers to be faithful for their Lord and Master and not to hold their peace in such a day when so many wayâ— are taken for injuring of him his Nâ—me Way Sanctuary Ordinances Crown and Kingdom I hope there will be found a party in this Land that will continue for him and his Matters in all Hazzards and as faithfulnesâ—â—s called for in Ministers so Professors would concern themselves that they Countenance not nor abet any thing inconsistent with former Principles and Practices Let the Land consider how Neutral and Indifferent we are grown in the Matters of God even like Ephraiâ— long ago a Cake not turned As concerning that which is the ground of my Death viz. Preaching here and there in some Corners I bless my God I have not the leasâ— Challenge for it and tho' those that
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
Ink bid the Gentlemen write the Discharge as effectually as he would which he signed Adding that he was now sensible my Lord Chancellor had been a very ill Man and done very ill things If he was thus censur'd by his Master for his former Services he had a bad Opinion of him Without Prophecy any man might predict his Service and Interest was ceased and his Life would have been like the Scape Goat he must have born all their Crimes and been beheaded for his own for no less indignation than Death was couched in the Words Thus may be seen what would have been his end The Court by this time beginning to scatter and the Prince of Orange approaching the King thought fit to withdraw himself upon notice of which the Lord Chancellor betook him self to Wapping disguised like a Sea-man in order to his escape to Hamborough in a Collier but being discovered he was brought before Sir J. Chapman Lord Mayor of the City London in a strange disguise very different from the Habit in which he formerly appeared And by reason of the Lord Mayors Indisposition he not being able to Commit him he offered to go to the Tower to be out of the hands of Rabble who there in great numbers with clubs and staves threatned him with present destruction But having a Guard of the Train'd-bands to conduct him he got thither safe and soon after was charged in custody by a Warrant of Commitment from the Lords at White-hall where he continued under much affliction aâ—d indisposition having since moved for his Habeas Corpus to be bailed but was not able to attain it He had not been in the Tower many days but as 't is said whether true or no I cannot affirm he had a Barrel of Oysters sent him upon sight of which he said to the bearer Well then I see I have some Friends left still but upon opening the Barrel he he found them to be only Friends that were impatient till they gave him a prospect of his future destiny for verily the mighty Present was nothing but a good able Halter Now as I sâ—id before whether this passage be true or no. I cannot say but this I am sure if we consider his Lordships Life and Cruelties the Moral of it is veâ—y good The Humble Petition of the VVidows and Fatherless Children in the West of England WE to the number of a Thousand and more Widdows and Fatherless Children of the Counties of Dorset Somerset and Devon our dear Husbands and tender Fathers having been so Tyrannously Butcher'd and some Transported our Estates sold from us and our Inheritance cut off by the severe and harsh Sentence of George Lord Jeffreys now we understand in the Tower of London a Prisoner who has lately we hear endeavoured to excuse himself from those Tyrannical and Illegal Sentences by laying it on Information by some Gentlemen who are known to us to be good Christians true Protestants and English-men We your poor Petitioners many hundreds of us on our Knees have begg'd Mercy for our dear Husbands and tender Parents from his cruel hands but his thirst for Blood was so great and his Barbarism so cruel that instead of granting mercy for some which were made appear to be Innocent and Petitioned for by the flower of the Gentry of the said Counties he immediately executed and so barbarously that a very good Gentlewoman at Dorchester begging on her Knees the Life of a worthy Gentleman to Marry him and make him her Husband this vile Wretch having not common Civility with him and laying aside that Honour and Respect due to a Person of her worth told her come I know your meaning some part of your Petition I will grant which shall be that after he is Hanged and Quartered you shall have thaâ— Member you best like when living and so I will give Orders to the Sheriff These with many hundred more Tyrannical Acts are ready to be made appear in the said Counties by honest and credible Persons and therefore your Petitioners desire that the said George Jâ—ffreys late Lord Chancellor the vilest of men may be brought down to the Counties aforesaid where we the good Women in the West shall be glad to see him and give him another manner of Welcome than he had there three Years since And your Petitioners shall â—ver Pray c. Thus he continued for some months in the Tower his Chronical Indispositions the Stone c. encreasing very fast upon him The ingenious Dr. Lower was his Physician But Nature being now tired out by a tedious Combat with his Disease and the Guilt of his former bloody Life we hope it touched his Conscience He having besides by his intemperate Life notoriously known contracted an ill habit of Body he at last very happily for himself if not his Relations too dy'd in the Tower the Morning about Nine of the Clock An. Dom. 1689. Thus Reader you have seen the Rise and Fall of this Unfortunate Great Ill Man And so at present after we have endeavoured at his Character we take our Farewel Jeffreys's Character HE was of Stature rather above a middle sort than below it his Complexion inclining to Fair his Face well enough full of a certain briskness tho' mixt with an Air a little malicious and unpleasant He was a man of tolerable sense and had as of necessity he must by so long practice and going through such Publick Places got some Law tho' as little as 't was more than he had occasion to make use of since the Dispensing Power having as good as seated all Law in the Kings Breast he by that found out a more compendious method of attaining it than was formerly known He had a pretty large stock of Ill Nature and Wit in which lay his greatest Excellency tho' a very unenvy'd one But in fine His Brow and his Tongue were absolutely the two best Accomplishments he was master of By the help of which and that before mentioned by his brisk sudden and sharp Interrogatories he sometimes put falshood and perhaps oftner the truth it self out of countenance But that ill-favour'd Wit which he had lay all of the wrong side much like that of those unlucky Animals all whose Wit lyes in tricks and mischief He spoke many pleasant things but very few handsom ones disgracing all with intolerable Railing mean passions and perfect Billings-gate and would commonly even upon the Bench it self fall into Heats both as to words and actions not only unworthy of a Judge but even of any prudent man He seem'd without wronging him to have a great deal of baseness and cruelty in his Nature having a particular delight and relish in Cruelty and Blood and such things as give horrour and aversion to all the rest of mankind He was in this case worse than even Nero for whereas that monster had once so much good Nature or at least pretended it that when he was to sign a Warrant for the execution of
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
him will believe to be in his part of the Design 't would be an Injury to his Memory to do any otherwise It appears then from his own acknowledgment that Howard Armstrong and such others had sometimes discoursed of ill Designs and Matters in his Company And as he says in his Speech What the Heats Wickedness Passions and Vanities of other Men had occasion'd he ought not to be answerable for nor cou'd be repress ' em Nay more he did sufficiently disapprove those things which he heard discours'd of with more Heat than Judgment But for himself declares solemnly again and again That he was never in any design against the King's Life or any Man's whatsoever nor ever in any Contrivance of altering the Government If so what then becomes of all the Story of the Council of Six and is 't not to be thrown among the same Lumber with the old famous Nagshead Tavern Business 'T will be still said he was an Ill Man in being Guilty by this very Confession of Misprision of Treason Supposing this true That was not Death and he dy'd as he says Innocent of the Crime he stood condemned for And besides every Lord has not Brow hard enough nor Tongue long enough nor Soul little enough to make an Informer against others to save his own Life I hope says he no Body will imagin that so mean a thought could enter into me as to go about to save my Life by accusing others The part that some have acted lately of that kind has not been such as to invite me to love Life at such a rate But all this does not depend on his naked word since the Evidence who swore against him being such as were neither credible nor indeed so much as legal Witnesses the Accusation of it self must fall to the ground If legal they were not credible because as my Lord Delamere observes in this Case they had no Pardons but hunted as the Cormorant does with strings about their Necks which West in his Answer to Walcot's Letter ingenuously acknowledges and says 'T is through God's and the King's Mercy he was not at the apparent point of Death That is in a fair construction was not just turning over but was upon trial to see whether he 'd do Business and deserve to scape hanging Much such an honourable way of getting Pardon as the Fellow who sav'd his own neck by turning Hangman and doing the good Office to his own Father Nor indeed was the great Witness the honourable Lord who cast this Noble Person so much as a legal any more than a credible Witness No Man alive has any way to clear himself from the most perjur'd Villains Malice if he swears against him Point-blank but either by Circumstance of Time or invalidating his very Evidence Let any think of another way if they can The first of these was precluded 'T was that which had before been made use of to sham off a truer Plot and much more valid Evidence But here Rumsey and the rest came to no determinate Time but only about such a time about the end of October or beginning of November and others cloud the precise time in so many words that 't is impossible to find it All then that could be done was as to the Person Now what thing can be invented which can more invalidate the Evidence any person gives than his solemn repeated voluntary Oath indubitably prov'd against him that such a Person is innocent of that very Crime of which he afterwards accuses him If this be the Case or no here let any one read the following Depositions and make an indifferent Judgment My Lord Anglesey witnesses He was at the Earl of Bedford 's after his Son was imprisoned where came in my Lord Howard and began to comfort him saying He was happy in so wise a Son and worthy a person and who could never be in such a Plot as that That he knew nothing against him or any body else of such a barbarous Design But this was not upon Oath and onely related to the Assassination as he says for himself in his paring-distinction Look then a little lower to Dr. Burnet whom the Lord Howard was with the night after the Plot broke out and then as well as once before with Hands and Eyes lifted up to Heaven did say He knew nothing of ANY Plot nor believ'd ANY Here 's the most solemn Oath as he himself confesses voluntarily nay unnecessarily tho' perhaps in my Lord Bedford's Case Good-nature might work upon him Here 's the paring of his Apple broke all to pieces No shadow no room left for his Distinction between the Insurrection and Assassination but without any guard or mitigation at all he solemnly swears he knew not of ANY Plot nor believed ANY But 't was no great matter for the Jury were resolv'd to know and believe it whether he did or no. There 's but one little Subterfuge more and the Case is clear All this Perjury all these solemn Asseverations he tells us were only to brazen out the Plot and to out-face the Thing for himself and Party This he fairly acknowledges and let all the World be the Jury whether they 'd destroy one of the bravest Men in it on the Evidence of such a Person But there 's yet a farther Answer His Cousin Mr. Howard who was my Lord's intimate Friend who secur'd him in his House to whom he might open his Soul and to whom it seems he did he having made Application to Ministers of State in his Name that he was willing to serve the King and give him Satisfaction To him I say with whom he had secret Negotiations and that of such a Nature will any believe that he wou'd out-face the Thing here too That he wou'd Perjure himself for nothing where no danger no good came on 't No certainly his Lordship had more Wit and Conscience and Honour he ought to be vindicated from such an Imputation even for the credit of his main Evidence for my Lord Gray he tells us was left out of their Councils for his Immoralities and had he himself been such a sort of a Man those piercing Heads in the Council wou'd have certainly found him out before and never admitted him among them As for the very Thing Mr. Howard tells it as generously and with as much honest Indignation as possible in spite of the Checks the Court gave him He took it says he upon his Honour his Faith and as much as if he had taken an Oath before a Magiâ—â—rate that he knew nothing of any Man concern'd in this Business and particularly of the Lord Russel of whom he added that he thought he did unjustly suffer So that if he had the same Soul on Monday that he had on Sunday the very day before this cou'd not be true that he Swore against the Lord Russel My Lord Russel's suffering was Imprisonment and that for the same matter on which he was try'd the Insurrection
A Brief Extract of Captain Walcots Prayer O Lord our God Thou art a God of present help in time of Trouble a God that hast promised to be with thy People in the Fire and in the Water O Lord we pray Thee that thou wilt afford thy Presence to thy poor suffering Servants at this time O Lord thy Servant that speaketh doth confess that the Iniquities at his Heels have justly overtaken him O do thou bathe each of our Souls in that Fountain set open for Sin and for Vncleanness O do thou enable every one of us from the inward Evidence of thy Spirit to say with thy Servant Job That we know and are assured that our Redeemer lives O give us some inward Tasts of those Heavenly Joys that we hope through the Mercy of Jesus Christ in a little time to have a more full Fruition of O Lord do thou speak Peace to every one of our Consciences though we lie under a Sentence of Death from Man we beg that we may have a Sentence of Life Eternal from our God and though we meet Thee O Lord in a Field of Blood we beg that Thou wilt come to meet with us in a Field of Mercy O Lord though we have been Prodigals we desire to return unto our Fathers House where there is Bread enough O enable us to come unto Thee as Children to their Parents Lord put to thy helping Hand Lord teach us truly to leave no Sin unrepented of in any one of our Hearts And O Lord we beg that with us thou wilt give us leave to recommend unto thy Care our Poor Wives and Children Thou hast promised to be the Father of the Fatherless and the Husband of the Widow and thou hast commanded us to cast the Care of them upon Thee O do thou make Provision for them and enable them to hear this severe stroke with Patience O Lord we also beseech Thee in the behalf of these Poor Kingdoms wherein we are that Thou wilt be merciful to them prevent Divisions among them heal all their Breaches compose their Differences make all that are thine of one Heart and Mind in the things of thee our God Lord favour us with thy Mercy assure us of thy Love stand by us in the difficult Hour take us into thine own Care cause thy Angels to attend us to convey our Souls as soon as they are divided from our Bodies into Abraham 's Bosom All which we beg for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ in whom O Lord this little time do thou give us Hearts to give thee all Glory Honour and Praise now and for evermore Amen Sweet Jesus Amen Hone was accused and owns himself Guilty of a Design to Kill the King and the Duke of York or one or neither for 't is impossible to make any Sense of him When they came to suffer Walcot read a Paper in which was a good rational Confession of his Faith Then comes to the Occasion of his Death for which he says he neither blames the Judges Jury nor Council but only some men that in reality were deeper concern'd than he who combin'd together to swear him out of his Life to save their own and that they might do it effectually contriv'd an untruth c. He forgives the World and the Witnesses Gives his Friends advice to be more prudent than he had been prays that his may be the last Blood spilt on that account wishes the King wou'd be merciful to others says he knew nothing of Ireland and concludes with praying God to have mercy upon him He had then some Discourse with Cartwright wherein he tells him That he was not for contriving the Death of the King nor to have had a Hand in 't and being urg'd with some Matters of Controversie tells him He did not come thither to dispute about Religion but to die Religiously But tho' dying be a serious Business yet 't is almost impossible to read his Discourse with the Dean without as violent temptations to laughter as Compassion Never was so exact an Imitation of the Scene of the Fisherman and Kings in the Rehearsal when he tells 'em Prince Pretty-man kill'd Prince Pretty-man One wou'd think him very near in the same Case with Bateman who came after him His Replies are so incongruous that there 's hardly either Sense or English to be made out of ' em But the poor Fellow talks of Snares and Circumstances and no body knows what and says in one Line He was to meet the King and Duke of York but he did not know when where nor for what In the next he was for killing the King and saving the Duke and when askt the Reason answers the only sensible thing he said all through That he knew no Reason that he did not know what to say to 't And when the Dean charges him with the Murderous Design That he knew as little of it as any poor silly man in the World Rouse comes next gives an Account of his Faith professing to die of the Church of England tells his former Employment and manner of Life acknowledges he heard of Clubs and Designs but was never at 'em and a perfect Stranger to any thing of that Nature Gives a Relation of what past between him and his Majesty on his Apprehension Talks somewhat of Sir Thomas Player the Earl of Shaftsbury and accommodating the King's Son as he calls it tho' not while the King reign'd Then falls upon Lee and the Discourse they had together who as he says swore against him on the Trial those very words he himself had used in pressing him to undertake the Design Speaks of a Silvers Ball which he proposed to be thrown up on Black-Heath and after some Discourse with the Ordinary gives the Spectators some good Counsel Then they all three singly prayed and then the Sentence was Executed upon ' em Algernon Sidney Esq THe next Victim to Popish Cruelty and Malice was Colonel Algernon Sidney of the ancient and noble Name and Family of the Sidneys deservedly famous to the utmost bounds of Europe who as the ingenious Mr. Hawles observes was meerly talkt to death under the notion of a Common-wealths Man and found Guilty by a Jury who were not much more proper Judges of the Case than they wou'd have been had he writ in Greek or Arabick He was arraign'd for a Branch of this Plot at Westminster the 17 th of Novemb. 1683. where tho' it cannot be said the Grand Jury knew not what they did when they found the Bill against him since no doubt they were well instructed what to do yet it must that they found it almost before they knew what ' t was being so well resolv'd on the Case and agreed on their Verdict that had he been Indicted for breaking up an House or robbing on the High-way 't was doom'd to have been Billa vera as much as 't was now For tho' the Indictment was never presented to 'em before they came
into the Hall yet they immediately found it The Substance whereof was For a Conspiracy to Depose the King and stirring up Rebellion and writing a Libel for that purpose The most part of the Evidence brought against him was only Hearsay as against my Lord Russel nay West whose Evidence was then refused now was admitted to tell a long Story of what he had from one and t'other Rumsey's was much of the same Nature In the Reer came that never failing Evidence the Lord Howard who witnesses he was one of the Council of Six and engaged one of the deepest in their Consults And more than that exercises his own Faculty very handsomly in an account of two Speeches Mr. Hamden made on the Occasion which indeed were such fine things that some might think it worth the while to swear against a man only to have the Reputation of reciting 'em and whom they are most like Mr. Hamden or my Lord 's own witty self let any man Judge The next Evidence was a Paper said to be of the Prisoners writing which was found in his Study The Substance of which was an Enquiry into the Forms of Government and Reasons of their Decays The Rights of the People and Bounds of Soveraignty and Original of Power In which were those heinous treasonable Expressions The King is subject to the Law of God as ae Man to the People who made him such as a King c. And Examples of evil Kings and Tyrants whom sometimes a Popular Fury had destroy'd at others the Ordines Regni either reduc'd or set them aside when their Government was a Curse instead of a Blessing to their People VVell what Treason to be found in all this and a great deal more Nothing but a Jesuits enchanted Telescope cou'd have found any in it If there were any Mistakes as he says in his Speech they ought to have been confuted by Law Reason and Scripture not Scaffolds and Axes First 'T was not proved to be his Writing nor did he confess it Treason and Life are critical things one ought to be as fairly prov'd as t'other to be cautiously proceeded against Tho' he might write it he had the Liberty of an English man not to accuse himself the very same thing which was afterwards put in practice by those Reverend Persons who later than he and cheaper too defended their Countries Liberty with only the loss of their own But owning he Writ it How very few if any things therein are not now generally and almost universally believ'd and are the foundation of the practice and satisfaction of the Conscience of every Man tho' then confuted with the single Brand of Commonwealth Principles being indeed such as all the World must whether they will or no be forc'd into the belief of as soon as Oppression and Tyranny bears hard upon 'em and becomes really unsupportable But supposing they were now as wicked Principles as they were call'd then yet what was that to the then present Governours He answer'd Filmer for his own satisfaction or rather began to do it many years before the Makers of this Plot dreamt of that or bringing him into it Kept it private in his own Study where it might have lain till Dooms-day had not they fetch'd it out to make somewhat on 't 'T was suggested and Innuendo'd that this Book was written to scatter among the people in order to dispose 'em to rebel as 't is in the Indictment But how ridiculous that is any one will see who considers the Bulk of it which was such that as he says in his Speech The fiftieâ—h part of the Book was not produced nor the Tenth of that read tho' he desired it and 't was usual and yet after all as it had never been shewn to any man so 't was not finish'd nor cou'd be in many years Now is this a business likely to be calculated for a Rebellion when it cou'd neither be finish'd till several years after 't was over and besides if it had the Bulk made if so improper to be disperst for that purpose for which 't was pretendedly design'd No those who are to poison a Nation in that manner know better things and more likely ways 'T is to be done in little Pamphlets and Papers easily read over understood and remembred as the Declaration-Gentlemen t'other day very well knew But still here being not a Syllable in these Papers of King Charles any more than of the King of Bantam or the Great Mogul against whom they might as well have made it Treason 't was all supply'd by a fine knack call'd an Innuendo that is in English such Interpretation as they 'd please to affix on his words Thus when he writes Tarquin or Pepin or Nero they say he meant King Charles and so scandalously of him as well as wickedly of the Gentleman make a Monster and a Ravisher of their King and then take away anothers Life for doing it There was a Minister I have somewhere read of who was accused for writing a Libel against Queen Elizabeth and her Government and the Fact there 't is true lay as this does upon Innuendo's though much more plain and pregnant But all the Punishment inflicted on him tho' that thought severe enough reached not his Head the loss of his Hand being thought sufficient while with that which was left he pulled off his Hat and Prayed God to bless the Queen But this was under a mild Reign and truly Protestant Government As for my Lord Howard's Evidence had the Jury been any but such as they were and Sidney describes them they would not have hang'd a Jesuit upon the credit on 't he having one would think that read the Tryals taken a pride in damning himself deeper and deeper against every new appearance in publick on purpose to try the skill and face of the Council in bringing him off again To the Evidence brought against him in my Lord Russel's Case he had taken care that these following should be added The E of Clare witnesses that he said after Sidney's Imprisonment if question'd again He would never plead Had it not been a pleasant thing for my Lord Howard to have been Press'd to death for not speaking and that he thought Colonel Sidney as innocent as any Man breathing Mr. Ducas says the same so does my Lord Paget and Mr. Edward and Philip Howards and Tracy and Penwick and Mr. Blake that he said he had not his Pardon and could not ascribe it to any Reason but that he must not have it till the Drudgery of Swearing was over But though there was no reasonable Answer could be given to all this tho Sidney pleaded the Obligations my Lord Howard had to him and the great Conveniency he might think there might be in his being hang'd since he was some Hundreds of Pounds in his Debt which would be the readiest way of paying him and had besides as it appeared a great mind to have the Collonel's Plate secured at his
own House tho never Man in the World certainly ever talk't stronger Sense or better Reason or more evidently batter'd the Judges and left 'em nothing but Railing 'T was all a case with him as well as the others and the Petty Jury could as easily have found him Guilty without hearing his Tryal as the Grand Jury did as soon as e're they saw the Bill Never was any thing more base and barbarous than the summing up the Evidence and Directions to the Jury who yet stood in no great need of 'em Nor more uncivil and sawcy a Reflection on the Noble Family and Name of the Sidneys than the Judges saying That he was born a Traitor Never any thing Braver or more Manly than his Remonstrance to the King for Justice and another Trial Nor lastly more Roman and yet truly Christian than his end The brave old Man came up on a Scaffold as unconcern'd as if he had been going to fight and as lively as if he had been a Russel In his last Speech he gives almost all the substance of all those Books which have been lately written in the Defence of the late Transactions and no disgrace to 'em neither since Truth and Reason are eternal and one and the same from all Pens and Parties and at all times however there may be some times so bad that they won't bear some Reason any more than some Doctrine He there says as much in a little as ever Man did That Magistrates were set up for the Good of Nations not e contra If that be Treason K. Charles the First is guilty on 't against himself who says the same thing That the Power of Magistrates is what the Laws of the Country make it That those Laws and Oaths have the force of a Contract and if one part is broken t'other ceases And other Maxims of the same necessity and usefulness He besides this gave a full Account of the Design of his Book of his Tryal and the Injustice done him therein of the Jury's being packt and important points of Law over-ruled and ends with a most Compendious Prayer in which he desires God would forgive his Enemies but keep 'em from doing any more mischief And then he laid down his Head and went to Sleep TO THE KING'S Most Excellent MAJESTY The Humble Petition of Algernoon Sydney Esquire SHEWETH THAT your Petitioner after a long and close Imprisonment was on the seventh day of this Month with a Guard of Souldiers brought into the Palace-yard upon an Habeas Corpus directed to the Lieutenant of the Tower before any Indictment had been exhibited against him But while he was there detain'd a Bill was exhibited and found whereupon he was immediately carried to the King's Bench and there Arraign'd In this surprize he desir'd a Copy of the indictment and leave to make his exceptions or to put in a special Plea and Council to frame it but all was denied him He then offer'd a special Plea ready ingross'd which also was rejected without reading And being threatned that if he did not immediately plead Guilty or not Guilty Judgment of High Treason should be entered he was forc'd contrary to Law as he supposes to come to a general issue in pleading not Guilty Novemb. 21. He was brought to his Tryal and the Indictment being perplexed and confused so as neither he nor any of his Friends that heard it could fully comprehend the scope of it he was wholly unprovided of all the helps that the Law allows to every man for his Defence Whereupon he did again desire a Copy and produced an Authentick Copy of the Statute of 46 Ed. 3. whereby 't is enacted That every Man shall have a Copy of any Record that touches him in any manner as well that which is for or against the King as any other person but could neither obtain a Copy of his Indictment nor that the Statute should be read The Jury by which he was try'd was not as he is inform'd summon'd by the Bailiffs of the several Hundreds in the usual and legal manner but names were agreed upon by Mr. Graham and the Under-Sheriff and directions given to the Bailiffs to summon them And being all so chosen a Copy of the Pannel was of no use to him When they came to be called he excepted against some for being your Majesties Servants which he hoped should not have been return'd when he was prosecuted at your Majesties Suit many more for not being Free-holders which exceptions he thinks were good in Law and others were lewd and infamous persons not fit to be of any Jury But all was over-rul'd by the Lord Chief Justice and your Petitioner forc'd to challenge them peremptorily whom he found to be pick'd out as most suitable to the Intentions of those who sought his Ruin whereby he lost the Benefit allow'd him by Law of making his Exceptions and was forc'd to admit of Mechanick Persons utterly unable to judge of such a matter as was to be brought before them This Jury being sworn no Witness was produc'd who fixed any thing beyond hear-say upon your Petitioner except the Lord Howard and them that swore to some Papers said to be found in his House and offer'd as a second Witness and written in an Hand like to that of your Petitioner Your Petitioner produc'd ten Witnesses most of them of eminent Quality the others of unblemish'd Fame to shew the Lord Howard's Testimony was inconsistent with what he had declared before at the Tryal of the Lord Russel under the same Religious obligation of an Oath as if it had been legally administred Your Petitioner did further endeavour to shew That besides the Absurdity and Incongrui-of his Testimony he being guilty of many crimes which he did pretend your Petitioner had any knowledge of and having no other hope of Pardon than by the drudgery of swearing against him he deserv'd not to be believ'd And similitude of Hands could be no evidence as was declared by the Lord Chief Justice Keiling and the whole Court in the Lady Carr's case so as that no evidence at all remain'd against him That whosoever wrote those Papers they were but a small part of a Polemical Discourse in answer to a Book written about thirty years ago upon general Propositions apply'd to no time nor any particular case That it was impossible to judge of any part of it unless the whole did appear which did not That the sence of such parts of it as were produc'd could not be comprehended unless the whole had been read which was denied That the Ink and Paper sheweth them to be writ many years ago That the Lord Howard not knowing of them they could have no concurrence with what your Petitioner is said to have design'd with him and others That the confusion and errors in the writing shew'd they had never been so much as review'd and being written in an Hand that no man could well read they were not fit for the Press nor
Face The Second Thing that deserves your Consideration is the Service of your Native Country wherein you drew your first Breath and breathed a free English Air Now I would desire you to consider how well you comply with these two Main Points by engaging in this present Service Is it in the Name of God and for his Service that you have joyned your selves with Papists who will indeed fight for the Mass-book but Burn the Bible and who seek to Extirpate the Protestant Religion with your Swords because they cannot do it with their own And will you be Aiding and Assisting to set up Mass-houses to erect that Popish Kingdom of Darkness and Desolation amongst us and to train up all our Children in Popery How can you do these Things and yet call your selves Protestants And then what Service can be done your Country by being under the Command of French and Irish Papists and by bringing the Nation under a Foreign Yoke Will you help them to make forcible Entry into the Houses of your Country-Men under the Name of Quartering contrary to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right Will you be Aiding and Assisting to all the Murthers and Outrages which they shall commit by their void Commissions Which were declared Illegal and sufficiently blasted by both Houses of Parliament if there had been any need of it for it was very well known before That a Papist cannot have a Commission but by the Law is utterly Disabled and Disarmed Will you exchange your Birth-right of English-Laws and Liberties for Martial or Club-law and help to destroy all others onely to be eaten last your selves If I know you well as you are English-Men you hate and scorn these things And therefore be not Unequally Yoaked with Idolatrous and Bloody Papists Be Valiant for the Truth and shew your selves Men. The same Considerations are likewise humbly offered to all the English-Seamen who have been the Bulwark of this Nation against Popery and Slavery ever since Eighty Eight His Character IF any Man does not know what he is let him Read his Julian and Defences of it he 'll find there as much clear close fair Reason Scripture and Law as ever an ill Cause had brought against it or a good one for it Mr. Johnson is a true Christian Stoic and though he Writes warmly thinks and acts as coldly as any Man in Christendom His Piety is as remarkable as his Constancy and his Universal Charity as both But he 's still alive and 't is better to say no more of him than either too much or too little Mr. Dangerfield HIs Father was a Gentleman who lived in good fashion at Waltham-Abby or thereabouts had been a great Sufferer for K. Charles I. and charged this his Son on his Death-bed after his Discovery of the Plot never to have any hand in any thing against the Government which he promis'd and faithfully observ'd He was a Man of Business and Courage and therefore employed by the Papists while among 'em in their desperate and most dangerous Concerns He was then of a Religion that excused and encouraged the worst things he or any other Man could be guilty of The great thing which brought him on the Stage was Mrs. Celiers business called the Meal-Tub-Plot The Papists had design'd to kill two Birds with one Stone Divert the Laws and People from themselves and ruine their Enemies for which end they had among 'em made a Plot to bring in the best Men and Patriots of the Kingdom into a pretended Design against the K. and Government by a kind of an Association like that which afterwards took better effect And for this Transaction Mr. Dangerfield was made choice of a List of their Names with the Design being by him according to Order conveyed into one Colonel Mansel's Chamber But he was discover'd and seiz'd in the Design and acknowledgâ—d all the Intreagues giving so clear an account of it that they had never to this very day the Impudence to pretend any Contradiction or Trip in his Evidence nor any other way but flat denial But there was somewhat yet deeper in the Case which he afterwards revealed in his Depositions before the Parliament That he was employed by the same Party to kill the King and encourag'd and promis'd Impunity and Reward and part of it given him by a Great Person for that end When the Stream ran violently for Popery he went over for Security into Flanders but continued not long there and returning back he was some time after seized and carried before the Council where before the King himself persisting to a Tittle in all his former Evidence he was committed to Newgate and after having lain there some time petition'd for a Trial which they could not do upon any account but Scandalum Magnatum and that in a Matter which lay only before the Parliament to whom he had reveal'd it Yet for that he was Tried and found Guilty as Wi. Williams the Speaker afterwards for Licensing his Narrative by order of Parliament He was to undergo the same Whipping Oats and Johnson did Before he went out he had strong bodings of his Death and chose a Text for his Funeral Sermon in the ... of Job There the wicked cease from troubling and there the weary are at rest Saying He was confident they had such a particular Malice against him he should ne're return alive Confirm'd the truth of all his former Evidence and took a last farewel of his friends After the Sentence was executed on him in his return home one Francis stab'd him into the Eye with a sort of a Tuck in the end of his Cane which touching his Brain hâ— was hardly ever sensible after but dy'd of the Wound in a few Hours not without great suspicion of Poison his Body being swoln and black and full of great Blains all over The Murderer â—led but was pursu'd by the Rabble who had torn him to pieces had not the Officers rescu'd him He defended and justified the Fact while in Newgate saying He had the greatest Men in the Kingdom to stand by him to whom after his Trial and being found Guilty upon clear Evidence great Applications were made which had been successful for his Pardon had not Jeffreys himself gone to Whitehall and told the King He must die for the Rabble were now throughly heated Attempts were made to bribe Mr. Dangerfield's Wife that she might consent to the Pardon of her Husbands Murderer but she too well deserv'd to be related to him to sell his Blood and had an Appeal ready against him had he been Pardon'd So the poor State-Martyr was hang'd as Coleman was before him Mr. Dangerfield's Body was conveyed to Waltham-Abby with several Coaches attending it and there handsomly buried He has left one Daughter behind him who if she lives will be the true Child of her Father His Character THE worst of his Enemies have own'd he was a Man of Wit Courage and Business all which he
I 'd say those precious Showrs which from him fell Might rescue ev'n a Jeffreys out of Hell But this is Mercy tâ—nder Mercy all One Death is for a Dangerfield too small All Hell had doubly sworn he should not live â—nd they 'll as soon repent aâ— they 'll forgive High rampt great Lucifer above his Throne Where Monarch absolute he Reigns alone â—haking the Scaly horrour of his Tail He swore this last Plot could not should not fail A Pursuivant was sent nor far he sought But soon their Engine to the presence brought The milder Furies started when he came The Ghosts div'd down thro' Seas of melted flame And heard and felt new Torments at his Name Th' Old Dragon only smil'd and thus began Dear part of me dear something more than Man Let Parry Clement Ravilack combine And cram their Souls great Murderer into thine I love a Man that 's resolute and brave Not silly Conscience or Customs Slave Safety you 're sure of that at least is due Nor must we Sir forsake such Friends as you Go then and prosper thus I thee inspire VVith Sparks of my own noble gen'rous Fire Chuse what you like Rewards you need not fear Be Chancellor or Observator here Go on and act a deed so worthy me That Hell may both admire and envy thee Away he comes a double Francis now Half Devil half Papist ravell'd on his brow Two strings to 's Bow for fear one should not do Stelletto's sometimes fail take Poison too Against such powerful Reasons who'll presume To speak These these are the two Keys of Rome These to blest Peter's Successors were given Opening Hell to themselves to others Heav'n Poison which o're so many a Convert brings Poison the safest Pill for resty Kings Not all the Reasons in strong Box e're pent Can châ—llenge half so much of Argument Steel that can sometimes work as great a Cure VVhere Patients th' Operation can endure Steel which tho' so unlike it poison Apes Drest in as many neat convenient shapes A Knife when the French Harry is to die Anon a Sword a Razor by and by But now since holy Church requires it 't will Turn Coward and sneak into Canes to kill Close by the Heroe now Hell's Viceroy stood And views him crusted o're with Wounds and Blood Who all unmov'd tho' all one Clod of Gore His Masters Characters undaunted wore Such marks he wore as Scythians ne're invent At which all but a Francis would relent He Hell and his great Master does invoke Then with a gen'rous fury gives the stroâ—e Wretch well thou aim'dst too well thou 'st struck his head Thou 'st pierc'd his Eye or else he 'd lookt thee dead Tho' wounded all tho' like great Sampson blind Ah could he too like him his Enemies find No Friend no Devil should have repriev'd at all He 'd crusht thy pois'nous Soul away kill'd thee with his fall Run Monster for thy cursed Life and see If Vengeance cannot run as fast as thee The very Rabble's mov'd the unthinking Croud Th' unweildy Clock's wound up and strikes aâ—oud Tho' Hag-rid now so long yet 't is not â—am'd Revenge they name but ah 't is only nam'd Ah had their Clacks but held Heav'n had lockt dowâ— And with kind Thunder fir'd the ungrateful Town Pity the bloudy stain was washt with â—lood It like a Noble Canker shou'd have stood Consuming rotting poys'ning great and small Cottage and Pallace Beams and Stones and all 'T is well at last he merits their esteem Now now they love yes now they pity him Revenge they with unknown good nature cry With unsuspected ingenuity But to please Fools ' twan't worth the while to dye Yes Brutes at last no doubt you 'l think him brave O he 's done well his death will charges save Revenge revenge runs through the opening Town Revenge they cry and hunt the murd'rer down The Beast was earth'd indeed but 't was in vain Cain fled but God had set a mark on Cain Close close they hunt and lug him out again May Conscience and the Rabble him attend While we our duty pay to such a Friend Some Tears e'ne by Religious leave are due Some Tears and some well meaning Curses too Can Mothers weep when their soft Infants Bones Kind Papists crush against the kinder Stones When the dear pledges from Chast Nuptials Born Are for their milder Hounds in pieces torn Sleeping and smiling from their quiv'ring Breast Are broacht on Pikes and sent to longer rest Can man himself restrain unmanly cries When his dear other self is rape't before his Eyes Nay can he groans curses tears themselves forbear To see his Babes hang in their Mothers Hair All this have the good Catholicks done before All this they now prepare agen or more And he the handsel of their malice trys To see if yet their hand be in he dies Tare off his useless Plaisters you that can You that have more or less than Hearts of Man Look there he floating lies o're flown and drown'd In Tides of poyson'd gore roll'd from the weltring wound All o're beside it dropt in gentle Rains But here burst down in Seas and Hurricanes What dire convulsions shake that beauteous frame None of its self is lest besides the Name How ghastly horror rears its dismal Throne Where once sat charms that cou'd be there alone Dreadful distortions rack that bloated face And gone are every Beauty every Grace His gloomy Eye-ball rolls in mortal pain And feels for the departed light in vain Where are those Eyes that cou'd so well inspire Loves soft fair charming harmless lambent fire Blood flows without as Poison flows within And half bears up his black distended Skin Where manly friendship reign'd and softer love Blood blood is all below and horror all above Pitty be gone and nobler rage succeed Others besides a Dangerfield shall bleed Bring forth the Prisoner let him let him live For I no more than Jeffreys can forgive O for an age of torment might he lye Like Titius rack't like the keen Vulture I· Jove 's own Ambrosia can't be half so good As his broy'ld flesh nor Nectar as his Blood But what 's one mouth loose him and cry 't is he Lose him among the well-oteeth'd Mobile The 'yl quarter him not by the Arm or Leg But into Atoms tare Hells Scanderbeg What a bare hanging such a death were fit For some well meaning harmless Jesuit One who poor Soul knows but their little things Burning proud Cities poys'ning stabbing Kings He hath a deed well worth Damnation done And perfected those strokes they but begun Hanging Why they almost deserv'd that curse Who dared but think that he deserv'd no worse The best the bravest thing for which almost I cou'd be foolish and forgive his Ghost Is that he triumphs in the Blood he spilt And bravely stands and glory's in his guilt Hes hit me full and I 'd no worse invent No no 't was pitty he shou'd e're
repent But ye who hallow with deserv'd applause A better Martyr for a better cause You who to fate and fortune scorn to yield Who still dare own you 're friends to Dangerfield And you dear partner of his Joy and Grief The worthiest him the best the tend'rest Wife Who most who best adore his memory Who only I must grant lov'd more than me Bring his dear all which at your bottom lies His fair remains which I shall ever prize Whose fathers vigorous soul plays round her eyes All all in a full ring together come And Join your Prayers and Curses round his Tomb. Curst be the wretch who did him first ensnare Too mean to let his name have here a share A double curse for them that thought it good Such a Wife shou'd sell such a Husband's Blood Still double double till I 'm out of breath On all that had a hand a finger in his Death My Curse a Friends a Wives an Orphans too For all of this side damning is their due The little plagues of Egypt to begin Ashwe'nsdays curses for each lesser sin With whate're angry heaven since could find To bait and lash impenitent mankind Gouts Feavers Frenzies Claps Consumptions Cramps Whatever may put out their stinking Lamps May kind Abortions in some lucky hour The fruit and hope of their vain lust devour Or if they 're born may the unwholesome fry Creep only like young Toads abroad and dye Heartily thus let 's curse and if vain pitty move Straight think agen on manly rage and love Swear by his Blood and better while we live This on our selves if we his blood forgive And may who e're his Murd'rers death deplore Feel all these curses and ten thousand more Dangerfield's Ghost to Jeffreys REvenge Revenge my injur'd shade begins To haunt thy guilty Soul and scourge thy sins For since to me thou ow'st the heaviest score Whose living words tormented thee before When dead I 'm come to plague thee yet once more Don't start away and think thy Brass to hide But see the dismal shape in which I dy'd My Body all deform'd with putrid Gore Bleeding my Soul away at every Pore Pusht faster on by Francis less unkind My Body swoln and bloated as thy Mind This dangling Eye-ball rolls about in vain Never to find its proper seat again The hollow Cell usurpt by Blood and Brain The trembling Jury's Verdict ought to be Murder'd at once by Francis and by Thee The Groans of Orphans and the pond'rous guilt Of all the Blood that thou hast ever spilt Thy Countreys Curse the Rabbles spite and all Those Wishes sent thee since thy long wisht Fall The Nobles just Revenge so bravely bought For all the Ills thy Insolence has wrought May these and more their utmost force combine Joyn all their wrongs and mix their Cries with mine And see if Terror has not struck thee blind See here a long a ghastly Train behind Far far from utmost WEST they crowd away And hov'ring o're fright back the sickly Day Had the poor Wretches sinn'd as much as Thee Thou shou'dst not have forgot Humanity Who ' ere in Blood can so much pleasure take Tho' an ill Judge wou'd a good Hang-man make Each hollows in thy Ears Prepare Prepare For what thou must yet what thou canst not bear Each at thy Heart a bloody Dagger aims Upward to Gibbets point downward to endless Flames Mr. NOISE AMong those who suffer'd innocently for Lea's Plot this poor young Gentleman was one tho' omitted in due place who tho' he lost not his Life immediately by it was yet put to such Extremities as both injur'd his Reason and ruin'd his Fortunes He was born of a good Family not far from Reading in Barkshire and being a younger Son was bound Apprentice to a Linnen-Draper in London In which capacity he was a great Promoter of the Apprentices Address intended to be presented to the King for redress of Grievances and further Prosecution of the Popish Plot. A Crime which those concern'd cou'd never pardon and which was now lookt on both by himself and all his Friends as the Cause of these his Troubles Lea swore against him that he was concern'd in this Plot which he absolutely denying tho' no other Witness came in against him and he was ne're brought to a Trial he underwent a long and severe Imprisonment loaded with Irons and kept from his Friends so long till his Trade was ruin'd before he was set free and he himself then rendred so unfit for business that he was forc'd entirely to leave it off and betake himself to Travel where never quite recovering himself he in a little time after fell sick and dy'd And here 't will not be improper to remind my Readers that about this time things running very high for Popery and Arbitrary Power the consideration thereof was very afflicting to Mr. Noise Yet notwithstanding all this he was silent a long while and minded onely the proper business of his Calling resolving not to concern himself with State-affairs as deeming them above his Sphere and Condition which Silence and Resolution he had still kept notwithstanding the great and ineffable Evils he saw impending over us which were much the more apparent upon the Prorogations and Dissolutions of so many Parliaments in so dangerous and so critical a Juncture but that casually reading one of the VVeekly Intelligences he happen'd therein to meet with something Entituled An Address from the Loyal Young Men Apprentices of the City of London To His Majesty The Title he thought concern'd him as being a Loyal Apprentice of the same City and therefore he deliberately read it over At first it seem'd to bear a fair aspect as it was a Tender of Thanks to His Majesty for His most Gracious Declaration but considering that this Declaration contain'd in it several severe Reflections on the Proceedings of the late Parliaments terming them Arbitrary Illegal and Unwarrantable Mr. Noise dreaded the coâ—sequence of such Reflections as believing that 〈◊〉 stood not with Modesty for Apprentices to charge the Great Senate of the Nation with Arbitrary Illegal and Unwarrantable Proceedings and resolv'd what in him lay to Vindicate himself and Fellow-Apprentices which is thought to have been the cause of all his Sufferings before-related and to satisfie the whole World that the far greater part of the Apprentices of London have too great a Veneration for Parliaments which under His Majesty are the Bulwarks of our Lives Liberties and Properties for to be concern'd in any thing tending to Reproach or Reflect upon them he advisâ—d with several sober Persons about it who did not disapprove of his Design but Advice therein they would not give Wherefore Mr. Nâ—ise thinking to Petition the Lord Mayor would be the most modest and proper way to demonstrate a dislike of and detestation to all such actions he caused the following Petition to be drawn up and Presented viz. To the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London the humble Address
of many Thousand Loyal Apprentices of the same City whose Names are hereunto Subscribed In all Humility Sheweth THat as we are justly sensible of our happiness in being born under the enjoyment of the Protestant Religion so excellent a Government and so gracious a King to whose service we shall ever be ready to sacrifice our Lives so have we continually applyed our selves to discharge our Duties in our proper Callings without presuming to intermeddle in affairs beyond our sphere or concernment But being fully satisfied both by His Majesties frequent Proclamations the Vnanimous Votes of several Parliaments and the notoriousness-of Fact that for divers years past thâ—re hath been and still is a Devilish Plot carryed on by the Papists against the Sacred Life of our Soveraign whom God preserve and to Subvert the Protestant Religion and the Government established In which horrid practices the Conspirators have always appear'd most active and insolent during the Intervals of Parliaments and from thence and the continuing hopes of a Popish Successor take occasion with greater confidence to push on their Fatal Designs Observing likewise that among the many late Addresses there hath been one promoted in the names of some few of our condition in this Honourable City which now is represented as the Act and Sence of the Generality of Apprentices although the far greater part never joined therein as fearing lest the same might seem of a Tendency dishonourable to Parliaments whose Constitution we Reverence and humbly apprehend their Counsels highly necessary in such a Juncture Wherefore though out of an awful Respect we presume not to approach His Sacred Majesty yet we cannot but think it our duty to declare to your Lordship the Chief Magistrate under Him of this Honourable City and to all the World That we shall never be behind any of our Fellow-Apprentices in demonstrations of Loyalty tâ— His Sacred Majesty even to the last drop of our â—lood whenever His Majesties Service shall require it against any Traytors or Rebels whatsoever And also to assure your Lordship That as we do and through God's Grace ever shall Abhor Popery and all its Bloody Traiterous Practices So we do utterly disapprove and dislike any such proceedings from private persons as tend to reproach Parliaments but do unanimously with one heart and with one voice express our satisfaction in and thanks for the humble Petition and Address of your Lordship and the Common-Council presented to His Majesty in May last and since approved of in Common-Hall for the Assembling and Sitting of a Parliament That the God of Heaven may ever bless and preserve his Sacred Majesty and your Lordship and this Great and Honourable City and grant that your Successors in this weighty Trust may imitate your Lordships piety and zeal for the Protestant Religion and His Majesties Service shall ever be the daily prayers of us His Majesties Humble Faithful Loyal and Obedient Subjects Printed for Thomas Goodwill An. 1681. This Name is Composed of Fourteen Letters taken out of the Names of the Chief Managers This Address was Sign'd by about Thirty Thousand Hands and when those Twenty persons that presented it had Subscribed their Names to it they sent Mr. Noise and Mr. Dunton two of the said Presenters to Mr. S to know when they might have leave to Present it to my Lord Mayor which being granted in a few days the Twenty Presenters went in a Body together to Mr. S who introduc'd 'em to my Lord. To whom Mr. B y made a brief speech as follows May it please your Lordship THE occasion of giving your Lordship this trouble is humbly to lay at your Lordships feet an address to your Lordship subscribed by many thousand Loyal Apprentices of this City We do humbly acknowledge to your Lordship that the presumption we may seem guilty of in this matter considering our present stations requires a far greater apology than we are able to make But the principal reasons that incited us thus to address our selves to your Lordship are To demonstrate our Loyalty to his Sacred Majesty Our Zeal for the Protestant Religion And the veneration and esteem we have and ought to have for Parliaments Neither indeed my Lord could we think these sufficient motives to stir us up to this publick application which better becomes graver heads than ours had not some few of our fellow Apprentices lately presented his Majesty with an Address which seemed to be a gratulation for the Dissolution of the two last Parliaments which they now report to have been the act of the majority of Apprentices of this Honourable City Although the far greater part as may by the subscriptions to this Address appear to your Lordship were never concerned therein And although by reason of our present condition we think it an unpardonable crime to approach his Sacred Majesty about matters relating to the State yet we deem it our bounden duty to declare to your Lordship and the whole World That we utterly disclaim any Proceedings especially from Persons in our own Condition that may seem to reflect upon Parliaments the greatest Senate of the Nation And that the generality of Apprentices of this City have a venerable esteem for Parliaments which mâ—y the better appear to your Lordship upon reading the Address it self And I dare be bold to affirm to your Lordship by the Information I have had from those who were employed to take subscriptions to this address That there is not one Subscriber to it who is either Journey-man Tapster Hostler Water-man or the like but all Persons of our own rank â—nd condition Which Address in the name of all the Subscribers thereunto I humbly offer to your Lordship and beg your Lordships favourable reception of it Then his Lordship commanded the Address to be read which being read Mr. B y proceeded thus I have one thing more to say my Lord I understand that there is a common notion about Town that this Address hath been carried on by Faction and that none but Dissenters have been concerned in it I can assure your Lordship of the Contrary for that I know many of the subscribers who are of the Church of England of which Church I boast my self an unworthy Member Then his Lordship was pleased to express himself to this effect Gentlemen THis is a surprize to me and therefore I cannot tell what to say to it But for as â—uch as I have heard your Address read and at first reading can find noâ—hing in it but what becomes Loyal and Obedient subjects I do accept of iâ— I only desire the names of you that are the Presenters Then we told him that our names are those which were next to the Address it self â—t some distance from the rest of the subscribers Then he ordered theâ— all to be called over and so we answered to our names And then his Lordship desired he might have an account of our abodes which we also gave him Then his Lordship advised us to go home
that intent nor did I believe there was any such design or ever heard of any disappointment in such an Affair or Arms or Time or Place save what after the Discovery of the General Design Mr. West spoke of as to Arms bought by him And as to my self I was in the North when the late King was at New-market and the first News I had of the Fire was at Beverly in Yorkshire As to my coming over with the late D. of Monmouth it was in prosecution of the same ends but the Lord in his Holy and Wise Providence hath been pleased to blast all our undertakings tho there seemed to be a very unanimous and zealous Spirit in all those that came from beyond the Seas And as to the D. of Monmouth's being declared King I was wholly passive in it I never having been present at any publick Debate of that Affair and should never have advised it but complained of it to Col. Holmes and Captain Patchet I believe the Lord Gray and Mr. F the chief Promoters of it As to the temptation of being an Evidence and bringing either into trouble or danger the meanest Person of his Life upon the Account for which I suffer I always abhorred and detested the thoughts of it both when in and out of danger and advised some very strongly against it except when under my Distraction in Prison that amongst other temptations did violently assault me but through the goodness of my dearest God and Father I was preserved from it and indeed was wholly incapable and could never receive the least shadow of comfort from it but thought Death more eligible and was some time asore out of my distracted and disquieted condition wholly free from it though not without other Temptations far more Criminal in the sight of men I bless the Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations that I find a great Resignedness of my Will to his finding infinitely more comfort in Death than ever I could place in Life tho in a condition that might seem honourable every hour seeing the Will of God in ordering this Affair more and more cleared up to me God hath given God hath taken blessed be his holy Name that hath enabled me to be willing to suffer rather than to put forth my hand to Iniquity or to say a Confederacy with those that do so I am heartily and sincerly troubled for what hath happened many mens Lives being lost and many poor distressed Families ruin'd the Lord pardon what of sin he hath seen in it He in his wonderful Providence hath made me and others concerned Instruments not only for what is already fallen out but I believe for hastening some other great work he hath to do in these Kingdoms whereby he will try and purge his People and winnow the chaff from the Wheat the Lord keep those that are his faithful unto the end I die in Charity with all the World and can readily and heartily forgive my greatest Enemies even those that have been Evidences against me and I most humbly beg the pardon of all that I have in the least any way injur'd and in a special manner humbly ask pardon of the Lady Lisle's Family and Relations for that my being succoured there one Night with Mr. Hicks brought that worthy Lady to suffer Death I was wholly a Stranger to her Ladiship and came with Mr. Hicks neither did she as I verily believe know who I was or my Name till I was taken And if any other have come toany loss or trouble I humbly beg their pardon and were I in a condition I would as far as I was able make them a requital As to my Faith I neither look nor hope for merey but only in the Free-grace of God by the Application of the Blood of Jesus my dearest and only Saviour to my poor sinful Soul My distresses have been exceeding great as to my Eternal State but through the infinite goodness of God tho I have many sins to answer for yet I hope and trust as to my particular that Christ came for this very end and purpose to relieve the Oppressed and to be a Physician to the Sick I come unto thee O blessed Jesus refuse me not but wash me in thine own Blood and then present me to thy Father as righteous What tho' my Sins be as Crimson and of a Scarlet Dye yet thou canst make them as white as Snow I see nothing in my self but what must utterly ruine and condemn me I cannot answer for one action of my whole Life but I cast my self wholly upon thee who art the Fountain of Mercy in whom God is reconciling himself to the World the greatest of Sins and Sinners may find an All sufficiency in thy Blood to cleanse 'em from all sin O dearest Father of Mercy look upon me as righteous in and through the imputed Righteousness of thy Son he hath payed the Debt by his own own Offering up himself for sin and in that thy Justice is satisfied and thy Mercy is magnified Grant me thy Love O dearest Father assist me and stand by me in the needful hour of Death give thy Angels charge over my poor Soul that the Evil One may not touch nor hurt it Defend me from his power deliver me from his rage and receive me into thine Eternal Kingdom in and through the alone Merits of my dearest Redeemer for whom I praise thee To whom with thy self and holy Spirit be ascribed all Glory Honour Power Might and Dominion for ever and for ever Amen Dear Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Amen R. NELTHROPE Newgate Octob. 29. 1685. Mrs. Gaunt ONe of the great Reasons why Mrs. Gaunt was burnt was 't is very possible because she lived at Wapping the honest Seamen and hearty Protestants thereabouts being such known Enemies to Popery and Arbitrary Government that the Friends of both gave all who oppose it the Name of Wappingers as an odious Brand and Title She was a good honest charitable Woman who made it her business to relieve and help whoever suffer'd for the forementional Cause sparing no pains refusing no office to get them assistance in which she was the most industrious and indefatigable woman living Among others whom she had thus relieved who were obnoxious persons was one Burton whom with his Wife and Family she had kept from starving for which may the very name of 'em be register'd with Eternal Infamy they swore against her and took away her Life Tho she says in her Speech there was but one Witness against her as to any mony she was charg'd to give him and that he himself an Outlawed person his Outlawry not yet revers'd he not being outlawed when she was with him and hid him away That which she writ in the Nature of a Speech has a great deal of Sense and Spirit and some strange Expressions which were mention'd in the Introduction to all these matters which she concludes with these words addrest to her
necessary to clear my self of some Aspersions laid on my Name and first That I should have had so horrid an Inâ—ention of Destroying the King and his Brother Here he repeated what he had said before to the Justices on this Subject It was also laid to my Charge That I was Antimonarchical It was ever my Thoughts That Kingly Government was the best of all Justly Executed I mean such as by our ancient Laws that is a King and a Legal Free Chosen Parliament The King having aâ— I conceive Power enough to make him Great the People also as much Property as to makâ— them Happy they being as it were contracted to one another And who will deny me that this was not the Just constituted Government of our Nation How absurd is it then for Men of Sense to maintain That though the one Party of this Contract breaketh all Conditions the other should be obliged to perform their Part No this error is contrary to the Law of God the Law of Nations and the Law of Reason But as pride hath been the Bait the Devil hath catched most by ever since the Creation so it continues to this day with us Pride caused our first Parents to fall from the blessed Estate wherein they were created they aiming to be Higher and Wiser than God allowed which brought an everlasting Curse on them and their Posterity It was Pride caused God to Drown the Old World And it was Nimrod 's Pride in building Babel that caused that heavy Curse of Division of Tongues to be spread among us as it is at this day One of the greatest Afflictions the Church of God groaneth under That there should be so many Divisions during their Pilgrimage here but this is their Comfort that the Day draweth near whereas there is but One Shepherd there shall be but One Sheepfold It was therefore in the Defence of this Party in their Just Rights and Liberties against Popery and Slavery At which words they Beat the Drums To which he said They need not trouble themselves for he should say no more of his Mind on that subject since they were so disingenuous as to interrupt a Dying Man only to assure the People he adhered to the True Protestant Religion detesting the erroneous Opinions of many that called themselves so and I Die this day in the Defence of the ancient Laws and Liberties of these Nations And though God for Reasons best known to himself hath not seen it fit to honour Vs as to make Vs the Instruments for the Deliverance of his People yet as I have Lived so I Die in the Faith that he will speedily arise for the deliverance of his Church and People And I desire all of you to preparâ— for this with speed I may say This is a deluded Generation vail'd with Ignorance that though Popery and Slavery be riding in upon them do not perceive it though I am sure thâ—re was no Man born marked of God above another for none comes into the world with a Saddle on his Back neiâ—her any Booted and Spurr'd to Ride him not but that I am well satisfied that God hath wisely ordered different Stations for Men in the World as I have already said Kings having as much Power as to make â—hem Great and the People as much Property as to make them Happy And to conclude I shall only add â—y Wishes for the Salvation of all Men who were created for that end After ending these words he prayed most fervently near three quarters of an hour freely forgiving all Men even his greatest Enemies begging most earnestly for the Deliverance of Sion from â—ll her Persecutors particularly praying for London Edinburgh and Dublin from which the Streams run that Rule God's People â—n these three Nations Being asked some hours before his Execution â—f he thought not his Sentence Dreadful He answered He wished he had a Limb for every Town in Christendom A Brief Account of the Last Speech of Mr. John King at the place of Execution at Edenburgh on the 14th day of August 1679. Men and Brethren I Do not doubt but that many that are Spectators here have some other end than to be edified by what they may see and hear in the last words of one going to Eternity but if any one of you have Ears to hear which I nothing doubt but some of this great gathering have I desirâ— your Ears and Attention if the Lord shall help and permit me to speak to a few things I bless the Lord since infinite Wisdom and holy Providence has so carved out my Lot to dye after the manner that I do not unwillingly neither by force It 's true I could not do this of my self Nature always having an Inclination to put the Evil day far off but through Gracâ— I have been helped and by this Grace yet hope I shall 'T is true through Policy I might have shunned such â— hard Sâ—ntence if I had done some things but though I could I durst not God knows redeem my life with the losâ— of my Integrity and Honesty I bless the Lord that since I have been apprehended and made a Prisoner God hath very wonderfully upholden me and made out that comfortable word Fear not be not dismayed I am with thee I will strengthen thee I will uphold thee by the righâ— hand of my Righteousness Isaiah 42.10 I thanâ— the Lord he never yet gave me leave so much aâ— to have a thought much less to seek after anâ— shift that might be in the least sinful I did always and yet do judge it better to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season therefore I am come hither to lay down my life I bless the Lord I dye not as a Fool dyeth though I acknowledge I have nothing to boast of in my self Yea I acknowledge I am a sinner and one of the chiefest that hath gone under the name of a Professor of Religion yea amongst the unworthiest of those that have preached the Gospel my Sins and Corruptions have been many and have defiled me in all things and even in following and doing of my Duty I have not wanted my own sinful Infirmities and Weaknesses so that I may truly say I have no Righteousness of my own all is evil and like filthy Rags but blessed be God that there is a Saviour and an Advocate Jesus Christ the Righteous and I do believe that Jesus Christ is come into the World to save Sinners of whom I am the chief and that through Faith and his Righteousness I have obtained Mercy and that through him and him alone I desire and hope to have a happy and glorious Victory over sin Satan Hell and Death and that I shall attain unto the Resurrection of the just and be made Partaker of Eternal Life I know in whom I have believed and that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day I have
never was such Cruelty in all this World And now we may see how just the Lord is he that all that time had no mercy for any but those that appeared loose Villains is pitied but by few Capt. Madders last Prayer at the same time and place CApt. Madders at the time of the Duke's landing was a Constable at Crewkern in the County of Somerset and so diligent and active for the King in his Office that when two Gentlemen of Lyme came there and brought the News of the Duke's landing and desired Horses to ride Post to acquaint his Majesty therewith he immediately secured Horses for them the Town being generally otherways bent and assisted them so far as any called Loyal in those times could do which was represented to the Lord Chief Justice in expectation thereby to save his Life But an Enquiry being made about his Religion and retuâ—ned by a very worthy Gentleman of those Parts That he was a good Protestant an honest Man had a very good Character amongst his Neighbours O then says he I 'll hold a wager with you he is a Presbyterian I can smell them forty miles Though moderately I now say they can smell him two hundred miles West then surely he must dye because he was and had the Character of an honest man a good Christian and a brave tradesman But to be short I could say a great deal more of him being intimately acquainted with him and was with him to the very last Being brought to the Place of Execution he was the last Man except one executed and he behaved himself whilst the rest were executing with great Zeal and lifting up his hands and eyes would often say Lord make me so willing and ready to the last And God did hear his Prayers for though he seemed to the Spectators to be somewhat unwilling to dye yet at the last he dyed with as much Assurance and Christian Resolution as any for after his publick Prayer he came once down the Ladder and prayed again privately then mounted the Ladder again the Sheriff saying Mr. Madders if you please you may have more liberty he answered No I thank you Mr. Sheriff now I am ready I am willing and desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Oh! you cannot imagine what Comfort and Refreshment I have received in a few minutes my Comforts are so great that I cannot contain my self So blessing and praising of God he was translated as I hope we have no grounds to imagine the contrary from Earth to Heaven repeating Rev. 20.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no power His publick Prayer was as followeth O Eternal and ever blessed Lord God look down upon me a miserable Sinner with an eye of pity and compassion in and through my dear Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ. O Lord I acknowledge my self a great and grievous Sinner I have sinned against the clearest light and the dearest love I have deserved to have been spurned from thy Presence and from the glory of thy Power and that thou shouldest now say unto me I will have no more to do with such an unworthy wretch such a polluted filthy Creature as thou art and hast been But O Lord there is mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared and thou hast promised that if a Sinner turn from his wickedness thou wilt have mercy on him and tho' his sins were as scarlet thou wouldest make them white as wool Fulfil O Lord thy gracious promise unto me a poor supplicant in this my last hour of my life purge and cleanse me from all sin and filthiness give me true Repentance and if there lyes any sin not yet repented of O Lord bring it to my Conscience Mind and Memory But I hope O Lord thou hast heard â—y prayers my sighs and groans I hope and trust thou hast pardoned all my sins and wilt immediately receive my soul. Look down in Mercy on my dear Wife and Family be thou a Comfort and all in all unto them Now Lord I am coming to thee assist me to last moment Comfort my distressed Soul do morâ— for me than I am able to ask for or think of but what thou knowest to be needful and necessary for me in and through the Merits of my dear Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ to whom with thee and thy blessed Spirit of Grace be ascribed the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen The Dying Words of Captain Kidd Executed at the same time and place THis Gentleman was the last â—xeâ—â—â—ed at that time as soon as Captain Madders was â—urned off he began to prepare to follow and calleâ— to his Guards and those present Do you see this pointing up to Eleven that were dead before him do you think this is not dreadful to me thâ—t eleven of twelve of us that but a few hours since came down together are dead and in Eternity and I am just going to follow them and shall immediately be in the same condition Says one to him It must be dreadful to Flesh and Blood Says he Well Gentlemen I will assure you I am so far concerned that methinks I bethink their Happiness that they should be so long before me in bliss and happiness but I 'll make haste to follow I am satisfied this is the best day that ever I saw The day of a Mans Death is said to be better than the day of his Birth and truly so I find it as to my Flesh for I shall be presently free from sin and sorrow I am satisfied God hath done his best for me I might have lived and have forgotten God but now I am going where I shall sin no more 'T is a blessed thing to be free from sin and to be with Christ O how great were the suffâ—rings of Christ for us beyond all that I can undergo how great is that Glory to which I am going Thâ—n taking his leave of the People then present he prayed some small time very devoutly and with seeming great Joy and Comfort the Executioner did his Office There was Executed also at the same time divers others as Mr. William Hewling Dr. Temple Mr. Matthews with some others The â—asâ— Spâ—ech of Dr. Temple of Nottingham at the place of Execution DOctor Temple was one of them that Landed with the Duke and was his Chief Physician and Chyrurgeon he lived in Nottingham but minding to see other parts of the World as I have heard goeâ— for Holland where he came acquainted with the Duke of Monmouth concerning which he thus spoke just as he was going off the Ladder Christian Friends and dear Countrymen I Have somewhat to say and not very much before I depart from you and shall be seen no more And First As to my Engagment with the Duke of Monmouth Secondly How far I was concerned And Thirdly I shall leave all of you to be Judges in mattâ—r of
Fact And so for the First As a Dying Man I now declare that when I entred my self with the Duke of Monmouth to be his Chyrurgeon it was on no other account but to serve him in the West-Indies where I knâ—w no other design whatsoever but to possess himself of some of those Islands until I had been at Sâ—a two days wherein one privately told me We are absolutâ—ly bound for England and I should take it from him it was true It much surprized me but knowing no way to avoid it or to get on shore though it was at that time contrary to my Inclinations if I could have avoided it I would not lâ—t others see that I had that dissatisfaction within me After our Landing at Lyme I knew it was never the nearer to attempt my escape the Country being so beset on the other hand if the Duke of Monmouth did win the day I might have raised my Fortunes as high as I could expect These were the Arguments that Flesh and Blood did create in my Breast for self-preservation While I was with the said Duke I did him as much Service as I could and faithfully After it pleased God to disperse that Army under his Command I endeavour'd to secure my self but by Providence was taken at Honiton from thence committed to Exon and after removâ—d to Dorchester where I received my Sentence and am now as you see just going to Execution the Lord prevent all of you from such ignominious Deaths and I advise you all that you never take any great thing in hand but what you have a Warrant for from the Lord I assure you I had no satisfaction in this but this I am sure that if I have done any thing amiss in it it is pardoned I bless God I have that satisfaction I diâ— a Professor of the Church of England I desire Pardon of all those I have any ways wronged or abused as I freely forgive all those that have wronged or abused me I am in Charity with all men Lord have mercy upon me give me strength to go through these pains give me full assurance now at this last moment Come Lord Jesus come quickly Also one Samuel Robbins of Charmouth in the County of Dorset that was Executed or rather murthered at Warham in the said County I cannot pass him by in silence his Case being so exâ—raordinary hard that to speak moderately betwixt the King and his Case I do say this that I verily believe nevâ—r man suffered innocenter as I hope you will be satisfied in after you have heard his Crime and on what small grounds he was Guilty or so supposed by my Lord Chief Justice He used generally in the Summer to use the Craft of Fishing to get a competent maintenance for his Family and happened to be out at Sea a-Fishing before Lyme that day the Duke came in to Land and was commanded on board one of the Duke's Ships he not knowing who they were and they bought his Fish of him after which they told him that was the Duke of Monmouth pointing at him and that he was just going to Land He desired to go on shore which was refused and told that as soon as the Duke was landed he should have his Liberty so accordingly he came on shore and was never after with him or ever took up Arms under him I leave the Reader to judge whether this was High Treason or no. This was all he was guilty of except that he was a good honest Men a zealous Christian a man of a very good Life and Conversation as I think his Neighbours will attest it in most Towns and Parishes where he lived But alas he had a good Book in his House when taken called The Solemn League and Covenant This was the High Treason he must be guily of which was aggravated to the Lord Chief Justice by one or two hot Spirits his Neighbours But to be short he received his Sentence of Death with great â—ourage and not at all dismayed saying very often in Prison before If it pleased God to call him now to glorifie his Name by this Providence of his to Death he should be ready but said he I am as innocent of any thing I have done against any man that may deserve this punishment as the Child now unborn When he came to the place of Execution he very chearfully declared his Innocency to the Spectators as before and so praying very devoutly for some time he was Executed His Prayer I have no exact Copy of Also one Mr. Charles Speake of London a Gentleman of good Extraction being Son to the Worshipful George Speake Esq near Illminster in the County of Somerset where he was Executed His Case also was extraordinary hard but there may be two great Reasons given why he was Executed The first was Because he came from that good Pious Family which always have been Opposers to Popery and suffered deeply for their Courage that way Secondly The said Mr. Charles Speake had purchased some great place in the Kings Bench-or Common-Pleas which was very profitable to him so that by his Fall there being a Forfeiture much money may be made of it all intercession could not avail with the L. C. J. for his Life He hâ—ppened to be at Illminster at the time of the Dukes being there which was the greatest Crime he was guilty of the Validity of his Evidence I leave to those in the West which know how far it was carried that way He was a fine Courteous loving Gentleman and notwithstanding his Youth he acted the part of an old Christian Soldier at his Death preparing himself to undergo those pains saying very often They were nothing to his Deserts from God Almighty but as for what I am accused of and Sentenc'd for I hope you will believe I am not so guilty as my Judge and Accusers have endeavour'd to make me If it had pleased God I should have been willing to have lived some time longer but God's time being come I am willing I will be contented to drink this bitter Cup off Being at the place of Execution the croud was so great that I suppose he was shorter than otherwise he would have been but alas how could it be for on every side of him as well as up and down the Town the Inhabitants were weeping and bewailing him Oh ' t is the worst day that ever we saw in this Town Must this good Gentleman die here Oh! yet save his Life I am ready to die for him and the like He prayed very heartily for near an hour and sung a Psalm and so we hope was translated to Heaven there to sing everlasting Praises and Hallelujahs His Father and Mother you may easily judge were not a little concerned about him but their Adversaries malice ended not here but Father and Mother must be brought in and how many thousands of Pounds it cost them I think is too well known in London and most Parts of the
shall sing Triumphing Songs With sweet Hallelujah Set up thy standerd and prepare War against Babylon For her destruction draweth near As here we read her doom Lord blow the Trumpet and awake The Nations round about â—tir up the spirit of the Medes Which did old Babel rout For Babel must drink of that Cup Which Sion deep did wound Jerusalem did first begin And so the Cup goes round But Babel must drink up the dregs Of Wrath which do remain With which no mixture she shall have To mitigate her pain For 't is the vengeance of our God And of his Temple too The vials that fill up his Wrath The three last Trumpets wo. When Jacob as a battle Ax In great Jehovah's hand Shall break down all those Mountains tall That in his way do stand O then let us Rejoyce because The time appointed is That Babel shall be seen to fall And Sion shine in Bliss Our Lord draws near as doth appear By Signs by him fore-told Then Virgins come meet your Bridegroom His Wondrous Works behold The Night grows dark ' be still and hark What is the Bridâ—grooms Voice That when the 〈◊〉 comes swiftly by It may your 〈◊〉 â—ejoyce Your light grows dim arise and trim Your Lamps from all their Soyl And see your Light shines clear and bright Supply'd with Gospel-Oyl Some Virgins now do Sleepy grow And don't their Vessels fill Nor fear a want when Oyl grows scant And none be found to sell. And at Mid-night all in a Fright Oyl-shops they cannot find And none will spare out of his share And so they are left behind Thus Foolish sleep in dangers deep And think their Lord delays But his own Bride â—ath surely spi'de Some of his Glorious Rays And will not sleep unless she keep Her Watch-lightâ— burning still With Oyl in store laid up therefore Let him come when he will And though her Garments had some rents And spots not perfect white Yet they 'll be cleans'd or quickly chang'd For Rayments of Delight With her Bridegroom she 〈◊〉 find room In Chambers of his Love When the Unwise he will deâ—pise And them from him remove The behaviour and dying words of Mr. Gatchill Executed at Taunton THE said Mr. Gatchill was a Constable of the Hundred he was surprized by a Party of the Dukes and shewed a Warrant to bring in Provisions and other Necessaries for the use of the Army which if he had not obeyed was threatned to have his House burnt so that he was obliged to do what he did for his own Preservation But this was not sufficient for being found Guilty he was Executed As he was drawn to Execution he looked on the People aâ—d said A Populous Town God bless it Just bâ—fore he was Executed he spake That the Crime he was Accused of and Condemned for was High Treason but he did not know himself to be Guilty of it and that what he did he was forced to do And further said I am so well known to you that I do verily believe you have Charity to think that what I speak is true As for the Niceties of the Law I do not well understand them And much more to the same effect he spake And so after Prayer with his suffering Brother Mr. Simon Hambling he was Executed There was also Executed at Taunton Mr. John Hucker a very worthy Gentlman of that Town He had some ill Friends in the Duke's Army that cast Aspersions on him as though he was the Person that was a Traytor to the Duke by firing a Pistol in Sedgmoor but I have strictly examined many on that Point and can find it to be nothing but the worst of an Enemies Malice to wound him after his Death in his Reputation which he always valued highly when living To be short he has left the Character amongst his Neighbours of an honest Man a good Christian and one that was true to the Interest of the Duke and Sealed it with his Blood The following Letter my Bookseller received from Mr. Robert Hucker now living in Taunton which I thought proper to print word for word than so my Reader may see what care I have taken to have all the Accounts I give concerning Mr. Hucker well attested Mr. Dunton Taunton Feb. 24 th 1691 2. LOoking over the Advertisements to the Athenian Mercury I found your intention of making some Additions to the Book called the Bloody Assizes and finding others that suffered with my Father their Relations have printed their Last Letters I have here sent you a Letter written by my Father but some hours before he was Executed the main reason why I consented to have it Printed was That persons mouths may be stopt from their false and lying Accusations he carried himself like a Christian under Confinement but when he came to look Death in the Face it was with so much Courage that it was to the Astonishment of the Beholders for there was many a weeping Eye amongst both Officers and Souldiers for him and those his Fellow-Sufferers I crave a Line from you of the Receipt of this with which you will oblige Sir Your unknown Friend and Servant ROBERT HUCKER Direct to me in Taunton Mr. John Huckers Letter to his Friend a little before his Execution I Was in hopes to have had liberty to speak a few words at the place of Execution till a few minutes since but now am persuaded the contrary Therefore excuse these abrupt-Lines I bless God I am now reconciled to this contemptible Death it was long ere I could but now God hath done it for me and I thankfully submit to it from the hands of the wise God whom I have offended And therefore desire to accept my punishment knowing he doth all things well without any wrong to his Creatures I had lately some Discourse with two Persons whereof one was of Quality concerning the things laid to my charge I was told that it was three things One was That I was an enemy to or against the Protestant Religion that I was troublesome and had acted vigorously in Elections of Members for Parliament and upheld the Meetings I own my self a Protestant and die an Asserter of that Religion and I pray God I do not prove a better Friend to it than those that have so industriously endeavoured the taking away my Life and that they see it not when it 's too late As to the Meetings I bless God I ever was at any of them and that I was any way instrumental to the upholding of them and am troubled that I have I fear sinfully deprived my self of them and do believe if ever the Ordinances of God were rightly administred and the Gospel effectually preached it was in those Meetings that were held in Taunton the Lord bless the Seed that was there sown As to Elections of Members for Parliament I judge it my Birthright and therefore was industrious in it but I hope never did I am surâ— never intended troublesomness to any in
of Exclusion which our most Gracious King told us he could not without a manifest Infringement of the Royal Prerogatives of the Crown which are too sacred for us to touch consent to Had we not the Cursed Counsel of Achitophel Kings are God's Vicegerents on Earth and are indeed Gods on Earth and we Represent them Now when God Almighty had of his Infinite Goodness called this Blessed Prince unto himself he sends a Prince who assures us he will imitate his Royal Brother and Renowned Predecessor in all things especially in that of his Clemency and Mercy and that too upon the word of a King A King I will assure you that will not be worse than his Word Nay Pardon the Expression that dare not be worse than his Word Which of you all that had a Father Murthered by another and that deliberately too under colour of Justice which added to the Crime and your Brother nay your selves thrust out from your Inheritancâ— and banished from your Country nay that sought your blood likewise would not when it was in your power revenge such Injuries and ruin such Persecutors But here our most blessed Prince whom God long preserve hath not only forgiven but will venture his Life for the Defence of such his Enemies Has he not ventured his Life already as far as any man for the Honour of these Kingdoms Nay I Challenge this City to shew me any one man of it that perchance may not be worth a Groat that has ventured his Life so far for the safety of these Kingdoms as this Royal Prince hath done Good God! what an Age do we live in shall not such a Prince be secure from the Sedition Rebellion and Plots of Men He is scarce seated on his Royal Throne where God Almighty grant he may long Reign but on the one hand he is invaded by a Condemned Rebel and Arch-Traytor who hath received the just reward of his Rebellion On the other hand up starts a Poppet Prince who seduces the Mobile into Rebellion into which they are easily bewitched for I say Rebellion is like the sin of Witchcraft this man who had as little Title to the Crown as the least of you for I hope all you are Legitimate being overtaken by Justice and by the goodness of his Prince brought to the Scaffold he has the confidence good God! that men should be so impudent to say That God Almighty did know with what joyfulness he did die a Traytor having for these two years last past lived in all Incontinency and Rebellion notwithstanding goodness of an Indulgent Prince so often to pardon him but it is just like him Rebellion as I told you is like the sin of Witchcraft For there was another which I shall not name because I will not trample on the dust of the Dead but you may remember him by the words of his Speech he tells you That he thanks his God that he falls by the Ax and not by the Fiery Trial. He had rather he had as good have said die a Traytor than a Blessed Martyr Great God of Heaven and Earth what reason have men to Rebel But as I told you Rebellion is like the sin of Witchcraft Fear God and Honour the King is rejected by People for no other reason as I can find but that it is written in St. Peter Gentlemen I must tell you I am afraid that this City hath too many of these People in it And it is your Duty to search them out For this City added much to that Ships Loading there was your Tyly's vour Roe's and your Waâ—es men starred up like Mushrooms Scoundrel Fellows mere Sons of Dunghills These men must forsooth set up for Liberty and Property A Fellow that carries the Sword before Mr. Major must be very careful of his Property and turn Politician as if he had as much Property as the Person before whom he bears the Sword though perchance not worth a Groat Gentlemen I must tell you you have still here the Tyly's the Roe's and the Wades I have brought a Brush in my Pocket and I shall be sure to Rub the Dirt where ever it is or on whomsoever it sticks Gentlemen I shall not stand Complementing with you I shall talk with some of you before you and I part I tell you I tell you I have brought a Besome and I will sweep every mans door whether great or small Must I mention Particulars I hope you will save me that trouble yet I will hint a few things to you that perchance I have heard of This is a great City and the Magistrates wonderful Loyal and very forward to assist the King with Men Mony and Provisions when the Rebels were just at your Gates I do believe it would have went very hard with some of you if the Enemy had entered the City notwithstanding the Endeavours that was used to accomplish it Certainly they had and must have great incouragement from a Party within or else why should their design be on this City Nay when the Enemy was within a Mile of you that a Ship should be set on fire in the midst of you as a Signal to the Rebels and to amuse those within when if God Almighty had not been more gracious unto you than you was to your selves so that Wind and Tyde was for you for what I know the greatest part of this City had perished and yet you are willing to believe it was an Accident Certainly here is a great many of those men which they call Trimmers A Whig is but a meer Fool to these for a Whig is some sort of a subject in comparison of these for a Trimmer is but a cowardly and base-spirited VVhig for the VVhig is but the Journey-man-Prentice that is hired and set on in the Rebellion whilst the Trimmer is afraid to appear in the Cause he stands at a doubt and says to himself I will not assist the King until I see who has the best of it And refuses to entertain the King's Friends for fear the Rebels should get the better of it These men stink worse than the worst dirt you have in your City these men have so little Religion that they forget that he that is not for us is against us Gentlemen I tell you I have the Kalendar of this City here in my hand I have heard of those that have searched into the very sink of a Conventicle to find out some sneaking Rascal to hide their Mony by night Come come Gentlemen to be plain with you I find the dirt of the Ditch is in your Nostrils Good God! where am I in Bristol This City it seems claims the Priviledge of Hanging and Drawing amongst themselves I find you have more need of a Commission once a Month at least The very Magistrates which should be the Ministers of Justice fall out one with another to that degree they will scarce Dine with each other whilst it is the business of some cunning men that lye
behind the Curtain to raise Divisions amongst them and set them together by the Ears and knock their Logger-heads together yet I find they can agree for their interest Or if there be but a Kid in the case For I hear the Trade of Kid-napping is of much Request in this City they can discharge a Felon or a Traytor provided they will go to Mr. Alderman's Plantation at the VVest-Indies Come come I find you stink for want of Rubbing Gentlemen what need I mind you of these things I hope you will search into them and inform me It seems the Dissenters and Phanaticks fare well amongst you by reason of the favour of the Magistrates for example is a Dissenter who is a Notorious and Obstinate Offender comes before them to be fined one Alderman or other stands up and says He is a good Man though three parts a Rebel well then for the sake of Mr. Alderman he shall be fined but 5 s. Then comes another and up stands another Goodman Alderman and says I know him to be an honest Man though rather worse than the former Well for Mr. Alderman's sake he shall be Fined but half a Crown so Manus manum fricat You play the Knave for me now and I will play the Knave for you by and by I am ashamed of these things And I must not forget to tell you that I hear of some Differences amongst the Clergy those that ought to preach Peace and Unity to others Gentlemen these things must be looked into I shall not now trouble you any further there are several other things but I expect to hear of them from you And if you do not tell me of some of these things I shall remind you of them And I find by the number of your Constables this is a very large City and it is impossible for one or two to search into all the corners of it Therefore mind the Constables of their Duties and call on them for their Presentments for I expect every Constable to bring in his Presentment or that you Present him So Adjourn c. Upon Affidavits read and other Evidence against Sir VV the Mayor Alderman L and others for Kid-napping there being Bills privately preferred to the Grand Jury by J. R. and being found he made the Mayor and the Aldermen concerned to go from the Bench to the Bar to plead to the Informations using many Expressions saying of the Mayor See how the Kidd-napping Rogue looks c. MY Lord after he had left Bristol being come to the King to give an Account of his Affairs in the West the Great Seal being to be disposed of by the Death of the late Keeper he kiss'd the King's Hand for it and was made Lord Chancellor which was only an eâ—rnest of his Desâ—rt for so eminent and extraordinary a piece of Service so now that which remains is to give an Account of divers that had fled and hid themselves up and down in Holes and Privacies whose Friends made all Application to some great Men or other to procure their Pardons some to this and others to such as they thought Fovourites of the King but the Rewards must be ascertained before any Application could be made Divers Lists being sent up and the Rewards ascertained which amongst many of them put together did amount to considerable 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 Deserts for fear of being taken But this Misforâ—une 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 Disappointments which caused an Emulation among the great Men one supposing to have deserved the King's Ear as well as the other which caused other Measures to be taken though some were wheedled out of their mony At last came out a General Pardon with Exceptions very few if any of those that were solicited for not being excepted were of course pardoned but however divers sums of Mony having been paid no Restitution to be had for from Hell is no Redemption A worthy Western Gentleman's purchase came to fifteen or sixteen hundred Guinea's which my Lord Chancellour had Amongst the Exceptions were a parcel of Taunton Girls some of which were Children of Eight or Ten years old however something was to be made of them if these Ladies were judged Guilty of Treason for presenting the Duke of Monmouth with Colours c. and for to preserve these from Trial they were given to Maids of Honour to make up their Christmas Box so that an Agent of theirs was sent down into the Country to compound with their Parents to preserve them from what might after follow if taken so that some according to Ability gave 100 l. others 50 l. all which however did not answer the Ladies first Expectations yet it did satisfie and they were accordingly pardoned Thus we have given you an Account of what hath happened on this Occasion being in every Point truth We might have farther Enlarged but that would have spoiled the Design and swoln our Pocket Companion to a Volume too big We shall therefore next proceed to give you a true and exact List of all them that were condemned and suffer'd in the West in the year 1685. under the Sentence of my Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys With the Names of the Towns where every Man was executed Bath 6. WAlter Baker Henry Body Gerrard Bryant Thomas Clotworthy Thomas Collins John Carter Philipsnorton 12. Robert Cook Edward Creaves John Caswell Thomas Hayward John Hellier Edward Beere Henry Portridge George Pether Thomas Peirce John Richards John Staple John Smith Froome 12. Francis Smith Samuel Vill alias Vile Thomas Star Philip Vsher Robert Beamant William Clement John Humphrey George Hasty Robert Man Thomas Pearle Lawrence Lott Thomaâ— Lott Bruton 3. James Feildsen Humphrey Braden Richard Bole. Wincanton 6. John Howel Richard Harvey John Tucker William Holland Hugh Holland Thomas Bowden Shepton-Mallet 13. Stephen Mallet Joseph Smith John Gilham Jun. Giles Bramble Richard Chinn William Cruise George Pavier John Hildworth John Ashwood Thomas Smith John Dorchester Senior John Combe John Groves Pensford 12. Roger Cornelius John Starr Humphry Edwards William Pierce Arther Sullway George Adams Henry Russel George Knight Robert Wine William Clerk alias Chick Preston Bevis Richard Finier Wrington 3. Alexander Key David Boyss Joshua French Wells 8· William Mead Thomas Coade Robert Doleman Thomas Durston John Sheperd Abraham Bend William Durston William Plumley Uivelscomb 3 William Ruscomb Thomas Pierce Robert Combe Tuton upon Mendip 2. Peter Pranâ—e William Watkins Chard 12. Edward Foote John Knight Williams Williams John Gervis Humphrey Hitchcook William Godfrey Abraham Pill William Davy Henry Easterbrook James Dennett Edward Warren Simoâ— Cross. Crookern â—0 John Spore Roger Burnâ—ll William Pâ—ther James Evory Robert Hill Nicholas Adams Richard Stephens Roberâ— Halswell John Bushel William Lâ—shly Somerton 7.
Enemies From her that findâ— no Mercy from you Were my Pen qualified to represent the due Character of this Excellent Woman it would be readily granted That she stood most deservedly entituled to an Eternal Monument of Honour in the hearts of all sincere Lovers of the Reformed Religion All true Christians tho' in some things differing in persuasion with her found in her a Universal Charity and sincere Friendship as is well known to many here and also to a multitude of the Scotch Nation Ministers and others who for Conscience sake were formerly thrust into exile These found her a most refreshing Refuge She dedicated her self with unwearied Industry to provide for their Supply and Support and therein I do inâ—ine to think she out-stripped every individual person if not the whole Body of Protestants in this great City Hereby she became exposed to the implacable Fury of Bloody Papists and those blind Tools who co-operated to promote their accursed Designs And so there appeared little difficulty to procure a Jury as there were well-prepared Judges to make her a Sacrifice as a Traytor to the State Her Judges the King's Councel the Solicitor General the Common Serjeant c. rackt their Inventionâ— to draw Burton and his Wife to charge Mrs. Gaunt with the knowledge of his being in a Plot or in the Proclamation but nothing of that could be made out nor is here any sort of proof that Mrs. Gaunt harbour'd this ungrateful wretch or that she gave him either Meat or Drink as the Indictment charges her but notwithstanding that her Jury brought her in Guilty The Sentence was executed upon this excellent Woman upoâ— Friday then following being the 23 d. October 1685. when she left her Murderers the following Memorial Newgate 22d of October 1685. Mrs. Gaunt's Speech written the day before her Sufferings NOt knowing whether I should be suffer'd or able because of weaknesses that are upon me through my hard and close Imprisonment to speak at the place of Execution I writ these few Lines to signifie That I am well reconciled to the way of my God towards me though it be in ways I looked not for and by terrible things yet in righteousness having given me Life he ought to have the disposing of it when and how he pleases to call for it and I desire to offer up my All to him it being but my reasonable Service and also the first Terms that Jesus Christ offers that he that will be his Disciple must forsake all and follow him and therefore let none think hard or be discouraged at what hath happened unto me for he doth nothing without cause in all he hath done to us he being holy in all his ways and righteous in all his works and 't is but my lot in common with poor desolate Sion at this day Neither do I find in my heart the least regret for what I have done in the service of my Lord â—nd Master Jesus Christ in succouring and securing any of his poor Sufferers that have shewed favour to his righteous Cause which Cause though now it be fall'n and trampled upon as if it had not been anointed yet it shall revive and God will plead it at another rate than ever he hath done yet and reckon with all its opposerâ— and malicious haters and therefore let all that love and fear him not omit the least Duty that comes to hand or lies before them knowing that now it hath need of them and expects they shall serve him And I desire to bless his holy Name that he hath made me useful in my generation to the comfort and relief of many desolate ones and the blessing of those that are ready to perish has come upon me and being helpt to make the Heart of the Widdow to sing And I bless his holy Name that in all this together with what I was charged with I can approve my heart to him that I have done his will tho' it does cross Man's will and the Scriptures that satisfie me are Isaiah 16.4 Hide the Outcasts bewray not him that wandereth And Obad. 13.14 Thou shouldst not have given up those of his that did escape in the day of his Distress But Man says You shall give them up or you shall die for it Now who to obey Judge ye So that I have cause to rejoyce and be exceeding glad in that I suffer for righteousness sake and that I am accounted worthy to suffer for well-doing and that God has accepted any Service from me which has been done in sincerity tho' mixed with manifold Infirmities which he hath been pleased for Christ's sake to cover and forgive And now as concerning my Fact as it is called alas it was but a little one and might well become a Prince to forgive but he that shews no Mercy shall find none And I may say of it in the Language of Jonathan I did but taste a little hony and lo I must die for it I did but relieve an unworthy poor distressed Family and so I must die for it Well I desire in the Lamb like Gospel-Spirit to forgive all that are concerned and to say Lord lay it not to their Charge but I fear he will not Nay I believe when he comes to make inquisition for Blood it will be found at the door of the furious Judge who because I could not remember things through my dauntedness at Burton's Wife and Daughters Vileness and my ignorance took advantage thereat and would not hear me when I had called to mind that which I am sure would have invalidated their Evidence though he granted something of the same Nature to another yet denyed it to me My Blood will also be found at the door of the unrighteous Jury who found me Guilty upon the single Oath of an Out-law'd Man for there was none but his Oath about the Mony who is no legal Witness though he be pardoned his Outlawry not being recall'd and also the Law requires two Witnesses in point of Life And then about my going with him to the place mentioned 't was by his own Words before he was Outlaw'd for 't was two Month 's after his absconding and though in a Proclamation yet not High Treason as I have heard so that I am clearly murder'd by you And also Bloody Mr. A. who has so insatiably hunted after my Life and though it is no profit to him through the ill will he bore me left no stone unturn'd as I have ground to believe till he brought it to this and shewed favour to Burton who ought to have died for his own fault and not bought his Life with mine and Capt. R. who is cruel and severe to all under my Circumstances and did at that time without all mercy or pity hasten my Sentence and held up mâ— hand that it might be given all which together with the Great One of all by whose Power all these and a multitude more of Cruelties are done I do heartily and freely
forgive as against me but as it is done in an implacable mind against the Lord Christ and his righteous Cause and Followers I leave it to him who is the Avenger of all such Wrongs who will tread upon Princes as upon Mortar and be terrible to the Kings of the Earth And know this also that though ye are seemingly fixt and because of the Power in your hand are writing out your Violence and dealing with a despiteful hand because of the old and new hatred by impoverishing and every way distressing of those you have got under you yet unless you can secure Jesus Christ and all his holy Angels you shall never do your business nor your hands accomplish your Enterprizes for he will be upon you ere you are aware and therefore O that you would be wise instructed and learn is the desire of her that finds no mercy from you ELISABETH GAVNT Postscript SVch as it is you have it from her who hath done as she could and is sorry she can do no better hopes you will pity and cover weakness shortness and any thing that is wanting and begs that none may be weakned or humbled at the lowness of my Spirit for God's Design is to humble and abase us that he alone may be exalted in this day and I hope he will appear in the needful time and it may be reserves the best Wine till last as he hath done for some before me none goeth to Warfare at his own charge and the Spirit bloweth not only where but when it listeth and it becomes me who have so often grieved quenched and resisted it to wait for and upon the motions of the Spirit and not to murmur but I may mourn because through want of it I honour not my God nor his blessed Cause which I have so long loved and delighted to love and repent of nothing about it but that I served him and it no better A brief Account of Mr. Roswell's Tryal and Acquittal ABout the same time Mr. Roswell a very worthy Divine was tryed â—or Treasonable Words in his Pulpit upon the Accusation of very vile and lewd Informers and a Surry Jury found him guilty of High Treason upon the most villanous an improbable Evidence that had been ever given notwithstanding Sir John Talbot no countenancer of Dissenters had appeared with great generosity and honour and testified That the most material Witness was as scandalous and infamous a Wretch a lived It was at that time given out by those who thirsted for Blood that Mr. Roswell and Mr. Hays should die together and it was upon good ground believed that the happy deliverance of Mr. Hays did much contribute to the preservation of Mr. Roswell tho' it is very probable that he had not escaped had not Sir John Talbot's worthy and most honourable detestation of that accursed Villany prompted him to repair from the Court of King's Bench to King Charles II. and to make a faithful representation of the Case to him whereby when inhuman bloody Jeffryes came a littlâ— after in a transport of Joy to make his Report of the Eminent Service he and the Surry Jury had done in finding Mr. Roswell guilty the King to his disappointment appeared under some reluctancy and declared that Mr. Roswell should not die And so he was most happily delivered The Earl of Argyle WE must now take a step over into Scotland that poor Country which has been harass'd and tired for these many years to render them perfect Slaves that they might help to enslave England to prevent which and secure the Protestant Religion which 't was grown impossible to do but by Arms this good Lord embark'd from Holland about the same time with the Duke and arrived in Scotland with what Forces he could make to which were added some others who joyn'd him which after several Marches and Counter-Marches were at length led into a Boggy sort of a place on pretence or with intention to bring him off from the other Army then upon the heels of 'em where they all lost one another dispers'd and shifted for themselves the E. being taken by a Country-man and brought to Edinburgh where he suffer'd for his former unpardonable Crime requiring Care shou'd be taken of the Protestant Religion and explaining his taking the Test conformable thereto for the Legality of which he had the hands of most of the eminent Lawyers about the City He suffer'd at Edinburgh the 30 th of June 1685. His Speech has a great deal of Piety and Religion nor will it be any disgrace to say 't was more like a Sermon 'T is as follows The Earl of Argyle's last Speech June 30. 1685. JOB tells us Man that is born of a Woman is of few days and full of trouble and I am a clear Instance of it I shall not now say any thing of my Sentence or escape about three years and a half ago nor of my return lest I may thereby give Offence or be tedious Only being to end my days in your Presence I shall as some of my last Words assert the truth of the matter of Fact and the Sincerity of my Intentions and Professions that are published That which I intend mainly now to say is To express my humble and I thank God chearful Submission to his Divine Will and my willingness to forgive all Men even my Enemies and I am heartily well satisfied there is no more Blood spilt and I shall wish the stream thereof may stop at me And that if it please God to say as to Zerubbabel Zech. 4.6 Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts I know Afflictions spring not out of the dust God did wonderfully deliver and provide for me and has now by his special Providence brought me to this place and I hope none will either insult or stumble at it seeing they ought not for God Almighty does all things well for good and holy Ends tho we do not always understand it Love and hatred is not known by what is before us Eccles. 9.1 and 8.11 12 13. Afflictions are not only foretold but promised to Christians and are not only tolerable but desirable We ought to have a deep Reverence and Fear of God's displeasure but withall a firm hope and dependance on him for a blessed Issue in compliance with his Will for God chastens his own to reâ—ine them and not to ruine them whatever the World may think Heb. 12.3 to 12. Prov. 3.11 12. 2 Tim. 1.8 2 Tim. 2.11 12. Math. 10.18 to 40. Matth. 16.24 to 28. We are to imitate our Saviour in his Sufferings as 1 Pet. 2.23 and 1 Pet. 4.16 to 20. We are neither to despise our Afflictions nor to faint under them both are extreams We are not to suffer our Spirits to be exasperated against the Instruments of our trouble for the same Affliction may be an effect of their Passion and yet sent by God to punish us for sin Tho 't is a
that for which I am call'd to supper be silent and leave it to God I advise you to all Prudence in this case have your own reserv'd thoughts and let them concerning me support and comfort you if there never happen a time for you to Glory in my Sufferings it will be hereafter do you but walk with God though through Prudence you must hold your Tongue and be not asham'd you had such a Husband I thank God that gave it me whose Courage and Publick Spirit for the Protestant Religion the Civil Liberties of his Country even true English Liberties hath in this ignominious way brought me to the Conclusion and End of my time Mourn not my Dear as one without Hope let the World know you have something from me something from your self as a Christian but ten thousand times more from God to comfort and support you see Christ by an eye of Faith infinitely more lovely and beautiful than my self let him be married to your Soul let him be the chiefest of ten thousand and more dear and precious to you it is not long we shall be separated before we shall see one another in a Spiritual Enjoyment separated from all Fleshly Pleasures and Delights yet iâ—finitely mâ—re sweet and satisfying to Immortal Spirits as you and I us'd to see Sâ—reâ—ms from the Fountain and the largest Streams in the Ocean so let us see one another in God the ever-flowing and over-flowing Fountain of all Good the fathomless and boundless Ocean of Good Seâ—k much the things which are above live with your Affections set upon them and have your Conversation in Heaven whilst you are upon Earth I continue yet to pray for you as for my seâ—f and shall conâ—inue to do it until I die in my last Prayers you shall be interested with my dear Babes whom I hope God will take into Covenant with him and number them among his Adopted Ones and of that incorrupâ—ible Inheritance which is in Heaven I hope God will spare your Life to see them Educated and guide and assist you therein and theirs to be a blessing and comfort to you Coâ—sider your Condition is not single and alone this Country affords a multitude of the like sad and deplorable Instances let this make you more to possess your Soul with Patience and Humility calmly and quietly to submit to the good Will of God I have left a Paper behind me for you to read and our Friend can tell with what difficulty I write it therefore must have many Defects and Imperfections which must be over-looked and mended preserve â—he two Bibles for my dear James and Betty What shall I say more my Dearest I must break off with my Heart full of Love to thee and subscribe my self Thy most dear and Affectionate Husband till Death J. H. Octob. 3. 1685. Captain Abraham Ansley's Last Speech I Am come to pay a Debt to Nature 't is a Debt that all must pay though some after one manner and some after another The way that I pay it may be thought by sâ—me few ignominious but not so by me having long since as a true Engliâ—hman â—houâ—ht it my Duty to venture my â—ife in defence of the Protestant Religion against Popery and Arbitrary Power For this same purpose I came from my House to the D. of M's Army At first I was a Lieutenant and then a Captain and I was in all the Action the Fâ—ot was engaged in which I do not repent For had I a thousand Lives they should all have been engaged in the same Cause although it has pleased the wise God for reasons best known to himself to blast our Designs but he will deliver his People by ways we know nor think not of I might have saved my Life if I would have done as some narrow-soul'd Persons have done by impeaching others but I abhor such ways of Deliverance choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy Life with Sin As to my Religion I own the way and Practice of the Independent Church and in that Faith I die depending on the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ for my Eternal Salvation His Blessing be with you all Farewell to thee poor England Farewell Abraham Ansley Mr. Annesley's Last Letter SIR I now send you my last Farewel being going to lay down my Life with joy and assurance of Life eternal for which blessed be the Holy one of Israel who never leaves nor forsakes those that put their trust in him and give you many thanks for your kindness to me the Lord make it up to you by pouring upon you a daily Portion of his most Holy Spirit and deliver you from your Bonds My Enemies have done what they could to afflict this Body but blessed be the most High who has given me Strength Patience and Courage to endure all they can lay upon me The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Fellowship of his Holy Spirit â—ttend you which is the Prayer of your dying Friend but living Brother in Christ Jesus ABRAHAM ANSLEY From Taunton Castle Sept. 21. 1685. Mr. Josias Askew's Letter to his Father Honoured Father I not having an opportunity to make my Gratitude known to you for all your Endeavours for the saving a poor vain perishing and troublesom Life and seeing it is all in vain I would desire you both to acquiesce in the Will of God and rejoyce with me for this happy day of my departure â—rom this State of Pilgrimage home to the Possession of those Heavenly Mansions which my God and Faâ—her hath provided for me in and through my Lord Jesus Christ It is â—n him alone I put my Trust and Confidence and theâ—efore can boldly sâ—y Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyâ—d yea rather that is risen again and is set down at the right hand of God making intercession for all those that have a well grounded Confidence in him My time is but short and by reason of Company I am disturbed therefore I conclude with my last Breath begging of God that he would keep you constant in his Fear in this day of great temptation and at last receive you to his Glory where we shall once more unite in praising without interruption or distraction World without end Amen Until which time the Grace of God the Father the Love of God the Son the comfortable Refreshings of God the Holy Ghost be with you all youâ—s and the whole Israel of God both now and for ever Which iâ— the hearty Prayer of your Son JOSIAS ASKEW Pray remember me to all with Joy Another Letter to his Friend MADAM YOU have been a Partaker with me in my troubleâ— I would also make you partaker with me in my Joys seâ—ing my Wedding day is come the day of the Bridgroom is at hand and I am this day to be stript of my Rags of Corruption to be cloathed upon with the white Robe of his Righteousness and Purity and to
be married to my Husband and to be given to the Embraces of my Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever Learn not to repine at the Holy Determination of an infinite wise God but rest satisfied in his Will knowing that he doth all things for the best to them that fear him Weep not for me who am only changing this World of Temptation of Troubles and Affliction It hath pleased God to call me a little before you but you must soon follow after keep therefore the Fear of God before your Eyes and then you will have cause to rejoyce and not to mourn when at the time of departure you may have cause to say with me I have run my Race I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Glory which fadeth not away which that you may be able to say is the Hearty Prayer of Your Friend and Servant Josias Askew The Account his Friend gives of him TO prevent your further trouble in suing for a pardon I think it convenient â—o lâ—t you know I do not question but my dear Cousin hath had his Pardon Sealed by the King of Kings and is in everlasting Blessedness singing Hallelujahs Salvation Glory and Honour to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever For God did so carry him through to drink that bitter Cup with so much Courage and Chearfulness to the last as was to the Admiration of all Spectators notwithstanding the terrible Sight he sâ—w at the Place of Suffering and so vehemently as he was tryed by the Adversary yet it did not in the least discompose him or alter his Countenance for he continued with a smiling Countenance to the last and was transported above measure I want words to express it he was like one wrapt up in Heaven with his Heart there and his Eyes fixed thereon I could wish you had been there it would have driven away all cause of Sorrow from your Heart to see his Deportment and hear the Gracious Words that proceeded out of his mouth He remembreth his Duty to you both and left Pâ—ul's Blessing with you Grace Mercy and Peace his Love to his dear Sister he desires her not to be troubled for him for he hath made his Peace with God and was assured he should go to eternal Happiness he would have written more to you and to his Sister but that he had so short a time after Sentence that he wanted Opportunity when he went out of Prison he said Gentlemen Now I am going and it is the time I much longed for I would not change with him that passeth Sentence upon me for a World I was with him to the last and seeing his Courage did very much encourage me though I never saw such a sight with my Eyes The behaviour of John Holway before and at the place of his Execution at Warham in the County of Dorset HE lived in Lime where the Duke Landed and Appeared in Arms at that time until his Captain left him then took up Arms under the Duke of Monmouth and went with him until the Kings Proclamation came forth That all that would lay down their Arms before some Justice of the Peace in four days after and take a Certificate for their so doing they should be acquitted and have his Majesties pardon which this Person did though one day too late which Blot my Lord Chief Justice hit being very good at it and passed the Sentence of Death on him Before his Tryal he was not much concerned at his Case and thought himself almost out of danger But to be short he received his Sentence with much Courage and Resolution and by the means of one Mr. Tiller who was to suffer with him was brought to that setled frame of Spirit as is fit for one in that Condition As he was riding in the Cart toward the place of Execution the Troopers being just behind the Cart he told them They shewed like brave Fellows but said he If I were to have my Life for fighting the best five of you I would not question it At the place of Execution he said not much But that he thought his and other mens Blood would be revenged on time or another and said Forgive me have Mercy on my poor Soul pardon all my Sins and the like and so the Executioner did his Office The Last Speech and Prayer of Mr. Matthews at the place of Execution HE was much concerned the Morning before he died to see his Wife weep and to be in such a passion for him which drew Tears from his Eyes and taking her in his Arms said My Dear Prithee do not disturb me at this time but endeavour to submit to the Will of God and although thy Husband is going from thee yet I trust God will be all in all unto thee sure my Dear you will make my passage into Eternity more troublesome than otherwise if you thus lament and take on for me I am very sensible of thy tender love towards me but would have you consider that this Separation will be so much for my Advantage as your Loss cannot parallel I thank God I am willing to die and to be with my Jesus be satisfied the Will of God must be done thy Will be done O God in Earth as it is in Heaven So embracing her took his last farewell of her and prepared to go to the place of Execution where being come he with a very modest sober composed Frame of Spirit stood while he saw several Executed before him his turn being come he thus spake Dear Countrimen I suppose We are all of one Kingdom and Nation and I hope Protestants O I wonder we should be so cruel and Blood-thirsty one towards another I have heard it said heretofore that England could never be ruin'd but by her self which now I fear if a doing Lord have Mercy on poor England turn the Hearts of the Iâ—habiâ—â—nts thereof cause them to love one another and to forâ—et one anothers Infirmities Have meâ—cy O Lord on me Give me strength and patience to fulfil thy Will Comfort my dear and sorrowful Wife be a Huâ—bâ—nd unto her stand by her in the greatâ—st trouble and affliction Let her depend upon thy Pâ—ovidenceâ— be merciful to all men preserve this Nation from Popery find out yet a way for its deliverance if it be thy good Will and give all Men Hearts to be truly thanâ—ful Comfort my fellow sufferers that are immediately to follow Give them strength and comfort unto the end I forgive all the World even all those that have been the immediate Hastners of my Death I am in charity with all Men. And now blessed Lord Jesus into thy Hands I commend my Spirit Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Eâ—rth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that