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
his Speech there had been Affidavits judiciously made of a form'd Design against 'em being besides remov'd away from the City of London which had always so much of the English Blood in 't as heartily to love Parliaments and for that reason wou'd have ventur'd all for their defence From these and such like Reasons 't was that several of the Parliament men went accompanied with some of their Friends well arm'd and accoutred to Oxford of which number this Mr. Colledge was one he waiting on my Lord Clare Paget and Huntington to Oxford where the Parliament foreseeing what has since happen'd wou'd have gone on where they left off in former Sessions which causing great Heats every body knows how abruptly they were dissolv'd not long after their meeting 'T was now grown the entertainment of every Coffee-House and the Subject of every Buffoons Pamphlet to expose and vilifie Parliaments as much as possible and the very name of it was now grown as odious to some men as that of Protestant Mr. Colledge had besides all his other forementioned Crimes been as he declares in his Speech a great Honourer of that august Assembly and had been in former Sessions engaged by â—â—me of the honourable Members to search the places adjoyning the Parliament-House lest there should be a new Gun-powder-Treason hatching for 'em from whence as he says himself he believes he got that Popular Name of Protestant Joyner All these Reasons together were more than enough to get him taken out of the way and for the performance thereof Heins Macnamarra and one or two of the Apostate Evidence of the Popish Plot informed against him Nor is it a wonder that after so many attempts some of those men should be prevail'd with to prove false but rather that under so many temptations any of 'em resisted or were not sooner Villains These Persons swore such mad things against him of taking Whitehall and pulling the King out of it and such other odd wild Stories that partly from the improbability of the matter and partly from the ill Character of the Persons who witness'd it the Jury here in London refus'd to find the Bill but return'd it Ignoramus On which contrary to all Justice and President and Law and Common Reason which forbids a man should be twice in danger of his Life for the same Offence the business was remov'd to Oxford where how little Civility or common Justice he met with in his Tryal was then notorious to all the World A Person being check'd for giving him but assistance and notes in the way of his calling to make his defence when his Life was engaged Yet tho' even those Notes were deny'd him None that heard the Tryal or so much as read it but must grant that he made a very extraordinary Defence and much more than could have been expected from a man of more Learning But he might have spared all his Labour the Business was no doubt on 't resolv'd upon before and he was found Guilty Sentenc'd and Executed according to Order To look back once more and enquire a little deeper into the very original of the matter That there was a design laid to bring in most of the worthy Patriots of England into a Sham-Plot under the odious scare-crow name of Presbyterians not only the Meal-tub-attempt and several other of the same Batch makes sufficiently appear but the late Essay of Fitz-harris above all the rest was enough to satisfie the most prejudiced Persons He had conspired with some others to write a scandalous Libel against the King which was to be laid on such as they 'd call Presbyterians and this to be sent to their Houses or conveyed into their Pockets and there to be seiz'd and the Persons prosecuted thereupon This business the Oxford Parliament had before 'em and began to smell out who set it on foot and being resolv'd to find the bottom on 't lest he should be hang'd up on the sudden to prevent his Confession he now beginning to melt a little as Hubert who fir'd London formerly was they impeached him to keep the examination of that matter to themselves 'T is too long to run over the Proceedings against him and the Court-Parties subtle contrivance to Hang Draw and Quarter him and so to hinder effectually his telling any more Tales 'T is sufficient to observe that this design was prosecuted for several years after and poor Colledge was to bear the first brunt on 't as has been already declared If we reflect yâ—t further on the manner of his Tryal and not look on to any others one wou'd be apt to think 't was impossible a man could be destroyed with more injustice and barbarity than he was or that twelve men who look like Christians could be found out who would hang a Man upon such Evidence as was given against him When a Criminal shall be kept a close Prisoner in the Tower without having sufficient means to make his Defence till he come to his Trial When as has been said he shall be rifled of his Notes by which he could only save his Life on which he depended and that just before he came to his Tryal though assisted therein by that very Council assigned by the Court for him When he shall in vain demand 'em again and call Heaven and Earth to witness that he 's meerly cheated of his Life for want of 'em When all his redress is such a frivolous excuse as not only a Judge but any honest Man would be asham'd to make use of Nay such a sort of a one as is commonly made before the Judges but seldom by 'em That 't was somebody else did it That the Court the chief-Chief-Justice had 'em not nor did take 'em from him when the very Person stood by who rob'd him of 'em and yet he could have no reparation When the Kings Council must whisper the chief-Chief-Justice on the Bench and the Court must be adjourned on purpose to examine into those Minutes which the poor Man had got together to save his Life and even from them get an opportunity to take it away altering the manner of their Prosecution strengthning and bolstering their Evidence where they found it weak or contradictory When all the Evidence against him were not only such as an honest London Jury wou'd not believe though a Country one directed by the Kings Council could make a shift to do it but were every one of 'em who witness'd any thing material confounded by such home Evidence as if any thing in the World could do it did certainly invalidate and annul their Testimonies When one of them swears horridly He cared not what he swore nor whom he swore against for 't was his Trade to get Money by swearing That the Parliament were a company of Rogues for not giving the King Money but he would help him to Money out of the Fanaticks Estates which is explained by what Smith says That if the Parliament would not give the King
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
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
Sarah â—ain and afterwards of Mr. Jennison That Ireland was in Town when others witness he was in the Country But now at his Tryal Bedlo and Pain being dead and Jennison fled into Holland he was absolutely incapacitated of making any Defence that way and so was found Guilty of both Indictments The Judgment against him was just as merciful as could be expected from Papists acting by a Jeffreys part of which was To be whipt from Algate to Newgate on Wednesday and on the Friday following from Newgate to Tyburn and stand on the Pillory five times a year and be Prisoner during Life Which he bore with a great deal of Strength and Courage tho had not Providence provided him a Body and Soul made one would think on purpose for it 't would have kill'd him if he 'd had the strength of twenty Men. He had in all above two thousand Lashes as some that were by reckon'd em up Such a thing as was never inflicted by any Jew Turk or Heathen but Jeffreys nay the merciful Jews thought one less than God Almighty had appointed sufficient and never gave but 39 at a time all St. Paul's 3 times not coming near the third part of the Doctors Had they hang'd him they had been merciful had they flead him alive 't is a question whether it had been so much torture How good and merciful those Persons who will vindicate this worse than barbarous and inhumane Action are let the World and future Ages be Judges in the mean while we 'll safely defy all History to shew one Parallel of it either on man or Dog from the Creation of the World to the year 1685. But there needs no more aggravation of it or urging what is plain enough that the thus dealing with him even supposing his Crime as great as they 'd have it was yet the highest affront and indignity even to Humanity it self 'T will besides this be an unanswerable Observation That it had been impossible for a Man to have held out the Second Whipping after the first was over while the Wounds were fresh about him and every new stroke more than a double torment either to have undergone this without Confession or dropping down Dead with extremity of pain had he not both had truth on his side and also a more than common support and assistance from him who saw his Innocency This Whipping of his being the greatest Confirmation to his Evidence that was possible to be given After his return to Prison after all this Usage yet if possible more barbarous tearing off the Plaisters from his Wounds crushing him with Irons thrusting him into Holes and Dungeons and endeavouring to render him as infamous to the Nation and all the World as Cain or Judas he bore up against aâ—l this and more with so strange and almost mirâ—culous a Patience that during his four yâ—aâ—s Imprisonment he was never once heard to sigh or maniifest any impatience under his Condition He refused all the Offers of the Jesuits who even after this had the Impudence to proâ—ose to him his recanting his Evidence He had still a strong Belief that he sâ—ould see better â—imes and get his freedom again which he had in that General Goal-delivery graâ—ted all England by the then Prince of Orange's Heroick Undertaking Since that he has presented his Case and Petition to the Parliament to the House of Commons as well as the House of Lords And tho the Honourable House of Lords were offended at what they judged a slight of their Jurisdiction in his Addressing to the House of Commons while his Cause lay before them and exprest their resentments thereof accordingly The Commons have since that taken his Case into Consideration and as well as four succeeding Parliaments before 'em own'd his Cause and censur'd the Proceedings of Jeffâ—eys against him and 't is not doubted but will appoint him Rewards suitable to his Sufferings and Merit His Character HIs Firmness and Courage even perhaps to a Fault have been visible through these mentioned and all his other Actions since he appear'd on the publick Stage His Passions are lively and warm and he 's the worst made for a Dissembler an Hypocrite or a secret Villain of any Man in the World Nor have all his Sufferings much sunk him tho he be a little alter'd in this particular He 's open and frank and speaks whatever he thinks of any Persons or things in the World and bearing himself justly enough on his Services to his Country is not careful to keep that Guard which others do on his Words and Actions He has Wit enough a pleasant Humour and sufficiently divertive to those he knows and his Learning is far from contemptible He has a good Library is no mean Critick in the Greek and well acquainted with the Schoolmen and Fathers He 's owner of as much Generosity as any Man and as much tenderness to any in Misery scorning to strike at those below him an example of which very remarkable there was in his inhumane Judges Fall he being almost the only Person who has been heard to pity him tho' one would have thought he should have been the last In a word as this present Age has now begun to do him Justice so t is not doubted will make an end on 't and those succeeding joyn with it in making honourable mention of his Name and Services to the Protestant Religion Mr. Johnson MUch about the same time the pious reverend and learned Mr. Johnson met with much the same Usage His great Crimes were Being my Lord Russel 's Chaplain Writing the famous Julian the Apostate and endeavouring to perswade the Nation not to let themselves be made Slaves and Papists when so many others were doing their parts to bring 'em to it And 't is a question whether any Man in the World besides his Friend the Reverend Dr. Burnet did more Service with his Pen or more conduc'd to our great and happy Revolution both among the Army and in other places For some of these Good Sâ—rvices he was Accused Imprisoned Tryed and Condemned to be divested of his Canonical Habit and be whipt as far as Oats was before him which was perform'd and which he underwent as he did with Courage and Constancy above a Man and like a Christian and a Martyr He remain'd ever since in the Kings Bench till the Prince's coming deliver'd him The following Paper was Published by Mr. Samuel Johnson in the year 1686. For which he was Sentenced by the Court of King's-Bench Sir Edward Herbert being Lord Chief Justice to stand three times on the Pillory and to be Whipp'd from Newgate to Tyburn which Barbarous Sentence was Executed An Humble and Hearty ADDRESS to all the English Protestants in this present Army Gentlemen NExt to the Duty which we owe to God which ought to be the Principal Care of Men of your Profession especially because you carry your Lives in your Hands and often look Death in the
account only did not believe this nor know any thing of his Intention of being proclaim'd King nor approved of it when 't was done and tho' had he been able to make out his Title or let his Pretensions alone he had not wanted in all likelyhood a sufficient Assistance from the Nobility and Gentry none of whom for those Reasons coming in to him yet on the other side 't is hardly doubted that these men who thought he had a right were really obliged to follow the Dictates of their Conscience though mistaken and do whatever lay in their power to the utmost Venture of their Lives to fix him on his Father's Throne to which they verily believed he had a proper Right and Title And these Men too acting on the same Reasons with the foremention'd for deliverance of their Country as well as defence of him whom they thought their King The earnest Zeal and Concern and Love which most of 'em manifested for the Protestant Religion being besides so conspicuous in their Lives and Deaths I know not how they can without impudence be branded with the infamous Name of Rebels nor think 't will be any Arrogance to honour 'em with the just and dear-bought Title of Martyrs One thing there is very observable in most if not all of those who laid down their Lives in this Cause both in England and Scotland that besides that extraordinary Divine courage and chearfulness with which they dy'd they had Expressions plainly boding that great Deliverance which Providence has since that miraculously accomplished for these Kingdoms 'T would be endless to give almost all the innumerable Instances of it Mr. Nelthrop says God had in his wonderful Providence made him and others Instruments not onely in what was already fallen out but he believed for hastning some other great VVork he had yet to do in these Kingdoms Mrs. Gaunt says God 's cause shall revive and he 'd plead it at another rate than yet he had done against all its malicious Opposers And speaks yet more strangely of those then uppermost and likely to be so That tho' they were seemingly fixt and using their Power and Violence against those they had now got under 'em yet unless they could secure Jesus Christ and all his Holy Angels they should never do their Business but Vengeance would be upon 'em ' ere they were aware Capt. Ansley whose Speech is as pretty a neat thing as close and Christian and couragious as perhaps any that ever was made by Man in his Condition after he had said He did not repent what he had done but if he had a thousand Lives would have engag'd 'em all in the same Cause adds just after Though it has pleased the wise God for Reasons best known to himself now to blast our Designs yet he will deliver his People by ways we know not nor think of Rumbold said just the same Mr. Hewling says I question not but in his own time God will raise up other Instruments to carry on the same Cause they dy'd for for his own Glory Mr. Lark That he was confident God would Revenge their Bloods Now it will be very harsh to say all these and several more to the same purpose were nothing but Enthusiasm since spoken by Persons of all Sexes and Ages in twenty different places in the most calm and serene Tempers and the Persons not wild or fanciful and their Words miraculously made good by the Event which shews God honour'd 'em with being Prophets as well as Martyrs To proceed to the Persons who suffer'd in this Cause here and in the West and other places chiefly under Jeffrey's Insulting Cruelty His dealing with 'em is not to be parallel'd by any thing but the new French Dragoons or the old Cut-throats and Lords Chief-Justices of the poor Albigenses or Waldenses at Merindol and Cutrices Had the Great Turk sent his Janisaries or the Tartar his Armies among 'em they 'd scaped better Humanity could not offend so far to deserve such punishment as he inflicted A certain Barbarous Joy and Pleasure grinn'd from his Brutal Soul through his Bloody Eyes whenever he was Sentencing any of the Poor Souls to Death and Torment so much worse than Nero as when that Monster wisht he had never learnt to Write because forc'd to set his Name to Warrants for Execution of Malefactors Jeffreys would have been glad if every Letter he writ had been such a Warrant and every Word a Sentence of Death He observ'd neither Humanity to the Dead nor Civility to the Living He made all the West an Aceldama some places quite depopulated and nothing to be seen in 'em but forsaken VValls unlucky Gibbets and Ghostly Carcases The Trees were loaden almost as thick with Quarters as Leaves The Houses and Steeples covered as close with Heads as at other times frequently in that Country with Crows or Ravens Nothing could be liker Hell than all those Parts nothing so like the Devil as he Caldrons hizzing Carkases boyling Pitch and Tar Sparkling and Glowing Blood and Limbs boyling and tearing and mangling and he the great Director of all and in a word discharging his Place who sent him the best deserving to be the late King 's Chief Justice there and Chancellor after of any Man that breath'd since Cain or Judas Some of the more Principal Persons who fell under his Barbarous Sentences 't is thought worth the while to treat distinctly and particâ—larly of throwing the reâ—t together after 'em and onely Reprinting the former Account if any are lest out it being necessary to hasten to prevent Shams If the Book be accepted and come to another Edition they shall be Inserted and if any Faults or Mistakes found acknowledged and regulated And the first whom we shall make especial Remarks on are The Hewlings IF any one would see true Pure Popish Mercy let 'em look on these two Gentlemen the onely Sons of their virtuous and sorrowful surviving Parents the Comforts Props and Hopes of their Name and Family carefully educated virtuously disposed both of them after all repeated applications if but for one of their Lives barbarously Executed A particular Care was taken by their Father in their Education forming their Minds by his own Example and constant Instructions and Prayers as well as other pains of Ingenuous Masters to the strictest Rules of Piety and Vertue Nor was their pious and very tender Mother less careful in that particular The Elder Mr. Benjamin Hewling had Tutors in the Mathematicks and other parts of Philosophy a course of which he went through successfully enough and so as to render him as compleat in his Mind as Nature had form'd his â—ody After which he went to Holland as his Brother Mr. William Hewling from whence this last returned with the Duke Both of 'em had Commands in the Army the Elder had a Troop of Horse the younger was a Lieutenant of Foot and discharged their Places with much more Conduct and Bravery than could
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
Party his name was Best and desired him to remember his Service to his Lordship upon notice of which he immediately caused him to be fetched back and committed him to York Goal from whence he was brought by Habeas Corpus to the Kings Bench and Imprisoned for a Fine of 500 l. c. And other instances of the greatness of his Stomach tho' in another nature is that which so remarkably happened at Kingstone upon Thames at the Midsummer Assizes held there for the County of Surrey 1679. At this Assize being Counsel in a Case upon Nisi prius before Sir Richard Weston one of the Baronâ— of the Exchequer and desiring to ingross all the Questions without suffering those on the other side to ask the Witness what was convenient in carrying on and managing the Cause he was desired by the Judges to hold his Tongue c. upon which some words passing this Person told him He did not use him like a Counsellor curbing him in the managing his Breviate c. to which the Judge fiercely replyed Ha! since the King has thrown his favours upon you in making you Chief Justice of Chester you think to run down every body if you find your self aggrieved make your complaintâ— here 's no body cares for it And this Person replying That he had not been used to make complaints but rather stopped those that were made when being again commanded to hold his Tongue he sat down and wept for anger c. And here by the way it will not be amiss to let the Reader have a taste of some passages that happened on the publick Stage of business in the Jocular part of this great Man's Life and the Repartees he met with of which I shall instance a few Once it happened upon a Trial that a plain Country Fellow giving Evidence in the Court and pressing it home moved this Person who was Counsel on the other side to pick a quarrel with the poor mans Leather Doublet and amongst other Interrogations bawl'd out You Follow in the Leather Doublet pray what have you for swearing The man upon this looking steadily on him replyeâ— Truly Sir if you have no more for Lying than I have for Swearing you might wear a Leather Doublet as well as I. This bluntly retorted moved at that time much laughter and filled the Town with the Discourse of it Another time it so fell out that some Musicianers brought an Action against a person at whose Wedding they had play'd for the money they were promised or expected when in the midst of the Evidence this Person called to one of them viz. You Fidler c. at which the man seeming to be disgusted he again upon the Parties alledging himself to be a Musicianer demanded What difference there was between a Musicianer and a Fidler As much Sir said he as there is between a pair of Bagpipes and a Recorder And he then being Recorder of London it was taken as a suitable Repâ—rtee A Country Gentleman having Marryed a City Orphan comes and demands her Fortune which was about 1100 l. but by all Friends that he could make could not procure it till he goes to Jeffreys then Recorder and gave him 10 Guineas to be his Friend to get out his Wifes Fortune upon which Jeffreys told him that the Court of Aldermen would sit such a day the Gentleman appearing was call'd in Jeffryes being present who ask'd him Sirrah what 's your business Upon which the Gentleman told him That he had married a City Orphan and desired he might have her Portion out o' th' Chamber upon which Jâ—ffreys askt him If he had askt the consent o' th' Court of Aldermen He told him No Upon which he call'd him Rogue Rascal Sirrah you should have ask't leave from the Court for such a Marriage He told him he understood not the custom o' th' City and begg'd their pardon being a Country Gentleman Upon this Jeffreys abus'd him again but afterwards gives him a Note for his Mony his Publick Railing upon him being only to blind the Court that they might not suspect him Bribed Being at a Country Assize as Judge an Old Man with a great Beard came to give Evidence before him and not doing it to his mind he began to cavil with his Beard and amongst other Expressions told him That if his Conscience was as large as his Beard he might well swear any thing This so netled the Old Blade that without any respect to his Greatness he briskly replyed My Lord If you go about to measure Consciences by Beards you Lordship has none Many more of this kind might be mentioned but not being greatly to the purpose they are willingly omitted Which the Reader will be apt to believe if he examines his Dealings with Mr. Moses Pitt Bookseller which that I may set in their true light I shall give 'em in Mr. Pitts own words which are as follows Among several Houses I built both in King-street and Duke-street Westminster I built a great House in Duke-street just against the Bird Cages in St. James's Park which just as I was a finishing I Lett to the Lord Chancellor Jeffreys with Stables and Coach-houses to it for 300 l. per Annum After which when he the said Chancellor came to see the House Alderman Duncomb the great Banker being with him and looking about him saw between the House and St. James's Park an idle piece of Ground he told me He would have a Cause-Room built on it I told him that the Ground was the Kings He told me that he knew it was but he would Beg the Ground of the King and give it me He also bid me make my own Demands and give it him in Writing the which I did and unto which he did agree and commanded me immediately to pull down the Park-Wall and to build as fast as I could for he much wanted the said Cause-Room My Agreement with him was That he should beg of King James all the Ground without the Park-Wall between Webbs and Storeys inclusive which said Ground is Twenty Five Foot in breadth and near Seven Hundred Foot in length to the best of my Memory for Ninety Nine Years at a Pepper-Corn per Annum which he the said Lord Chancellour was to make over the said King 's Grant to me for the said number of Years without any Altâ—rations with liberty to pull down or Build on the King's Wall and to make a Way and Lights into the King's Park according as I pleas'd In consideration of my Building on the said Ground of the Kings and the said Lord Chancellor's Enjoyment of it during his Occupation of the said House All which the Lord Chancellor Agreed to For that purpose sent for Sir Christopher Wren Their Majesties Surveyor and my self and Ordered Sir Christopher to take care to have the said Ground measured and a Plat-form taken of it and that Writings and Deeds be prepared for to pasâ— the Great Seal Sir Christopher ask'd
and then Adjourned until Eight of the Clock next Morning when was a Bill found against Thirty Persons charged for High Treason for Aiding and Assisting the late Duke of Monmouth who put themselves on their Trials notwithstâ—nding my Lord's Threatning That in Case any did put themselves on Trial and the Country found them Guilty they should have but a little time to live And at the same time insinuated That it were better to plead Guilty if they expected any favour These Thirty being on Trial the Evidences being sworn and examined before the Jury Upon the whole by the violent Deportment of the Lord Chief Justice and sharpness of the Jury they found â—wenty nine Guilty though some of them were very hardly dealt with and not so Criminal as my Lord and the Country imagined Particularly amongst the Twenty nine were Mr. Matthew Bragg of Thorâ—comb and Joseph Speed of Culliton in the County of Devonshire and Mr. Smith Constable of Chardstock in the said County and George Steward of Culliton aforesaid The Circumstances of each of these and the severity of their being found Guilty c. shall be shewed in its proper place before we take leave of this Town and proceed on in this Western Expedition The said Twenty-nine being found as before Guilty my Lord immediately pronounced Sentence of Death on them all as usual in Cases of High-Treason and did the same Night give a Warrant to the Sheriff for the Execution of Thirteen of the Twenty-nine on Monday following which accordingly was done notwithstanding great Application was made to the Lord Chief Justice by Gentlemen of the best Quality in this and the Neighbouring Counties for a Reprieve of Mr. Bragg to all which he was Deaf and not to be prevailed upon though he was assured of his Honesty and true Conformity to the Church of England yet it availed nothing At last it was only requested for Ten days Respite yet that had no better effect but on Monday he with Twelve more of that number were accordingly Executed at Dorchester In the mean time this Proceeding was designed to shorten Business and to wheedle the rest that were to follow to a Confession which without it the tenth part of them could not be Proved Guilty A Method was also taken without President to entrap many poor ignorant people by a couple of Officers that were sent into the Goal to call over and to take the Names of the Prisoners on promise if they confest they might expect Mercy otherwise not which many did And this was written so that had they pleaded Not Guilty these two were designed to have been Evidences against them from their own Confessions which so disposed the remaining great Numbers that all except a very few Pleaded Guilty which put an end to any further Trial. The only thing remaining was the pronouncing of Sentence on them which were in Number 292. who received Sentence of Death all at once One Mr. Lawrence put himself on Trial but by the Jury found Guilty whose Case was hard his Circumstances being so small to be condemned to die and had actually suffered had not Application been made to my Lord's Favourites and with the payment and securing of 400 l. preserved him from Execution This Matter being adjusted and Execution awarded to about Eighty which were Executed and their Quarters sent up and down the Country to the dread of their Spectators as well as the Annoyance of the Travellers his extraordinary Whippings though unmerciful are not to be taken notice of so we leave this place and proceed towards the City of Exon In their way thither lying at an Honourable Gentlemans House divers of the Neighbouring Parishes made their Petitions to the Lord Chief Justice in the behalf of some Relations concerned It happened that through some disorder amongst his Servants some Pistols were fired in the Night which gave him a Suspicion or at least he took it of some design upon him on which at parting he said Not a man of all those Parishes that were of that Vicinitude if found Guilty should escape And so we proceed and arrive at Exon where to the number of 243 Prisoners being in Custody for assisting the said Duke of Monmouth one amongst the rest Mr. Fower Acers pleading not Guilty he being found by the Jury the said Lord Chief Justice immediately pronounced the Sentence upon him and immediate Execution which was done to terrifie the rest who all Pleaded Guilty so that these unfortunate People had not time to have the fairness of Trials allowed them which is a right due by the Laws of God and Man The remaining number he all condemned and here was a little sparing not so many order'd Execution as was in the other County but those that were executed were hung up and down in most Townâ— of the County and their Quarters and Heads scattered up and down the High-ways and Publick places An extraordinary Sentence of severe Whipping was pronounced against Mr. Samuel Staple of Thorncomb in the said County but these are Trifles and we shall endeavour to pursue our Design and make as quick dispatch as we can that time may not be lost the King served and this Miscreants thirst quenched with Protestant Blood which is always well-pleasing to Inquisitors and so proceed to the Town of Taunton At which place being arrived it was thought fit by the Lord Chief Justice to be as expeditious as might be so that late in the Afternoon the Court sat where the Commission being read he proceeded to give the Charge which was so very keen and full of sharp Invectives as if the Country it self had not been able to make Expiation to his Lordship to quench his Thirst in the Blood of those that ventur'd their All in Defence of the Protestant Religion and here we enter upon the bloodiest part of the Tragedy In this Town and at Wells in the said County were more than 500 Prisoners To begin at Taunton The next Morning after the Charge given the Assizes began where some few put themselves on Trial who were found Guilty and immediately ordered to be Executed of which number one Mr. Simon Hamlin was one who was a zealous worthy good Man and his Case no way dangerous but on the contrary had he had to do with a Judge of another Stamp To proceed to the rest This first Cruelty caused the rest to plead guilty in hopes of favour which was only a few days to live which those that pleaded had not Amongst these at Taunton were divers eminent Persons that had been taken in the West and carried to London and brought down there to compleat the bloody Tragedy in those parts Mr. Parrot Mr. Hewling the Elder Mr. Lisle Mr. Jenkins Mr. Hucker and divers others were very eminent To take notice of every particular in this Matter will alter our Design and swell the Book to too great a Bulk being only designed for a Pocket Companion and useful it may be to see
so unjustly many ways from â—he Perjury of their Accusers or the Inequality of their Judges or corruption of Juries and that really because they would not yield themselves but made a vigorous opposition against Popery and Slavery For the VVestern Martyrs we intend a distinct account of 'em at the beginning of those Transactions One thing more â—â—at may choak such as have a mind to quarrel is the 〈◊〉 faults and in some or at least one Instance vicious habits and ill Life of those whom we give that high Character But if little Failures if Heats and Weaknesses were any valuable Objection against the Worth or Honesty of a Person 't would be impossible to make any tolerable defence even for many of those great Men who were the happy Instruments of our Reformation Tho it may seen an excuse dull and common yet there 's none who does not find it necâ—ssary on his own account That allowances are to be made for the best of Men. Cranmer and the rest of our Reformers as the Learned Dr. Burnet observes in his Letter to Mr. Thevenot Tho' we piously believe 'em Saints and Martyrs yet never pretended to be infallible They were Men and so were these tho' they suffer'd for the same Causes and almost in the same manner For such as liv'd ill if there is more than one instance this certainly will be sufficient that they dy'd well and gave all the tokens of a hearty repentance for their not having liv'd up to so good a Profession Let us then do 'em Justice now they are dead who so nobly defended the Cause of our holy Religion while they were living and at last so freely and joyfully at their Death seal'd it with their dearest Blood If in any accounts met with here some Persons shou'd find some particular Words or Phrases not so usual with 'em let 'em not be so weak or unjust to condemn them as Cant or Nonsense What reason is there why every Man should not express himself in that way which likes him best and with which he has been more acquainted And what matters it if I 'm discours'd to in Yorkshire or London Dialect so I talk with an honest Man and our Sentiments agree tho' our words may a little differ Especially when as before was remark'd all of 'em suffer'd for the same Causâ— and with this considerable Circumstance that the first and some of the last Victims of Popish Cruelty were entirely agreeable in their Judgments as to the manners and merits of their Death Sir Edmondbury Godfrey who begins the Rubrick having notoriously declared some days before his Death That he believed in his Conscience he should be the first Martyr And some of those who went last to Glory as will appear below mentioning this as one of their greatest Comforts that they should in after Ages be enrolled among the rest of the Protestant Martyrs Advertisement To make the Book Pleasant as well as Profitable there are inserted some Poems and Elegies made by an ingenious Person who was particularly acquainted with many of those who are the Subjects of ' em An Emblem of our late Martyrs Sr. Ed Bury Godfrey I. DUKE of Monmouth The Earle of Argile Arth Earle of Essex Wm. Ld. Russell Collonell Sydney Alderman Cornish Mr. wm Hewling Mr. Wm. Ienkins The Lady Lisle M rs Gaunt Sr. Tho Armstrong These all dyed in Faith Heb 11.13 A NEW MARTYROLOGY OR THE Bloody Assizes c. Sir Edmond-Bury Godfrey HAD the Person who wrote that Scandalous Libel upon Sir E. B. G. which he calls The Mystery of his Death but always confin'd himself to as much Truth and Reason as we meet with in the very first Lines of his Preface to it he might have gone both through the World and out of it with more Reputation than now he is like to do There will saith he be a time when Truth shall be believed and the Witnesses of it justified But notwithstanding all his boasted Sagacity in winding Alterations at such a distance we may safely affirm that when he writ that Sentence he little thought 't would ever have been apply'd in this manner That Truth would come to life again after all the care he had taken to stifle it and the highest Judicatures in the Nation in one day remove all the black dirt which so many years he had been throwing on its Witnesses and in so Publick and authentick a manner justifie 'em again 'T was in the heat of those Mischiefs and Miseries which all thinking men cou'd long before easily foresee wou'd be the Consequences of such Notions as he broached and were too greedily swallow'd that he publish'd the book before mentioned at such at time when he knew 't was in one sense unanswerable wherein he pretends both to confound all the Evidence given in before the Parliament and Publick Courts of Justice for Sir Edmond's being murthered with Papists and over and above That he was a self-murtherer No better than a second running him through with his own Sword after his Death 'T is some plausible insinuations he has there heapt together which will make it necessary to be a little larger on him than those who came after especially since he led the way both to the Sufferings of the Protestants and Malice of their Enemies Sir Edmond-Bury Godfrey was born of a good Family his Relations are sufficiently known and as justly respected in the City of London But 't is not the intention of this Piece to write the Lives but the Deaths of those who are the Subjects of it at least no more of one than is requisite for describing the other The occasion of his Knighthood is reported to be the good Service he did in giving Directions for quenching a Fire which happend some years past at St. James's which Honour the then Duke of York obtain'd for him having been under a great Consternation at the apprehension of the danger This very probably might be the beginning of his so great Intimacy with the Papists which Sir Roger so often hints in his History and which afterwards cost him so dearly He was a Person of known Vertues For the Instances of his secret Charity the World is oblig'd to that Reverend and Learned Person who preach'd his Funeral Sermon For his Piety and Integrity even his worst Enemy here gives us several Instances thereof that particularly when after those Prophetick bodings of his approaching Martyrdom he took care to settle all things and adjust Accompts exactly and even in Parish Matters to right such as he thought had formerly been injur'd Lastly how vigilant and careful he was in the Execution of that Office the Law had intrusted him with his Death as well as his Life may testifie One thing cannot without great Injury to his Memory be omitted 'T is his extraordinary Conduct and Courage in the time of the Plague in this City whence he never stir'd all the while it rag'd so dreadfully but reliev'd the Poor and fed
another place yet was not the indefatigable Zeal of that Party discouraged but Mr. Farewell a person intrusted in managing the Estates and Lands of the Jesuits and Pain Brother to the famous Pain who wrote St. Coleman's Elegy set a new Project on foot to the same purpose in some Letters sent to Prance and printed by N. Thomson which indeed if we look close into 'em will appear to be Sir Roger in little there being the self same Expressions in one as the t'other and his Mystery seeming to be hardly more than their Letters spread a little thinner The Blood gubling out of the Wound Bedlow and Prances East and West Contradictions The Wax dropt on his Clothes after he was found and several other things the self same in both of ' em And I remember at that very time 't was shrewdly suspected and rumour'd about Town that the same person lay behind the Curtain and thrust their Cats-feet into the Fire who has since appear'd publickly in prosecution of the same Cause Before their Trial they reckon'd their Witnesses by the hundred pretending to make his Self-murther as clear as the Sun When they came to it and had all the fair Play imaginable Pain 's heart fail'd him and he pleaded Guilty Farewell made so poor a Defence and the Matter was so clearly prov'd against 'em that Farewell and Thomson were both fined by the Court and sentenced to stand in the Pillory with this Inscription over them For Libelling the Justice of the Nation by makinâ— the World believe that Sir E.B.G. murther'd himself Where how abundantly they were honour'd by the Spectators all who know any thing of the Story can't but remember Thus it lay for some time and no person was so hardy to make any farther Attempts that way while there was any possibility of having Justice against 'em But when the Sheriffs Juries nay King and all were chang'd when that past which poor Oates and all the World have cause to remember when if Prance wou'd not unconfess he knew he must tread the same dolorous way that Oates had gone before him and had now done all that cou'd be desired Then Sir Roger took up the Cudgels and publish'd his Book call'd The Mystery of Sir E. B.G 's Death unfolded Or which wou'd have been a fitter Title The second Edition with Additions of Farewell and Pain 's Letters The main of what he advances there will be answer'd in clearing as was propos'd the Objections against the Evidence relating to that matter If the ill Character of the persons who gave it be urg'd to invalidate their Testimony as this does not reach all of 'em so it has been often answer'd Who but such were fit for such Villanies If their seeming Disagreement in some part of their evidence what greater Argument that 't was no Combination If Prance retracted we are told by Sir Roger himself That he was a white-liver'd Man and so might be frighted out of truth as well as into it And indeed on that very reason 't was long before suspected that if he shou'd ever be bore hard upon he wou'd not be able to stand it But the Papists wou'd never kill him because he had obliged'em As if Gratitude were a Popish Vertue or Charity any more than Faith were to be kept with Hereticks Those that think so let 'em look back and see if the last Reign be enough to convince ' em It may be urg'd on Here are several Testimonies in the Trial of the Murtherers and since that invalidate the Evidence there given Warner and his Wife and Maid about Green That he was at home all that Evening when he was accused for committing it ' Twou'd be enough to oppose to this their Confession to Captain Richardson That they cou'd do him no good But besides this Mr. Justice Dolbin's Observation on the Trial clears it effectually They swore to the Saturday fortnight after Michaelmas day which was says the Justice the 19 th of Octob. not the 12 th on which the Murther was committed If Broadstreet and others testifie they were in the Room where the Body was laid and Hills Wife so rubs up her Memory that after so many years she remembers what she cou'd not upon his Trial That she and he and their Child lay in the Room all that very time when the Body was said to be there ' Twou'd not be a shift but an Answer That they were Papists that swore it who can swear any thing But besides Broadstreet acknowledged before the Duke of Monmouth That Hill was gone from his Lodgings before this time as was prov'd on the Trial. Mrs. Tilden says There was but one Key to their Door Mrs. Broadstreet at the same time with what she own'd about Hill That there were six or seven Contradictions in others we see as well as the King's Evidence and these being much homer and more irreconcileable than theirs must of necessity destroy the belief of what else they testifie But the home thrust is The Centinels saw no Sedan carried out This the printed Trial easily sets right The Centinels were Trollop and Wright Trollop staid till Ten and saw a Sedan go in but none out again Wright till One but saw none go out It must be in Trollops time being as Prance says about Twelve The Centinels being then at Bury's Lodge smoking and drinking Trollop says on the Trial he was never at the Lodge but so does not Wright as any one may see by consulting it he being never ask'd the Question 'T will give a great Light into this Deed of Darkness in the next place to consider several Circumstantial Evidences which wou'd of themselves go very far to prove that Sir E. B. G. was murther'd by the Papists and that in the very place and manner which has been already described The first of these from Sir Edmond's own mouth which has been already hinted but shall here be farther clear'd 'T was indeed so notorious that Sir E. G.B had boding thoughts and a sort of a Prophetical Intimation of his Death and that by the Papists and discours'd of so publickly and generally that Sir Roger cou'd not deny all the Matter of Fact but endeavours to avoid the force on 't when he says as is witnessed by several On my Conscience I shall be the first Martyr This he interprets I doubt I shan't live long Sure though he says in one place The Man was no Fool yet he must be supposed to be no better any more than all the Readers if neither he nor they made any difference between being hang'd and martyr'd But the very reason of this â—nterpretation was for what Sir R. dearly loved that he might have opportunity for a Reflection on the Parliament He fear'd says he that the Parliament wou'd call him to account and that nothing wou'd satisfie 'em but his Life for not discovering it sooner In opposition to this any impartial man need but consider what follows Esquire Robinson on
attempts to be made on the lives of their nearest and too tender Relations Would such as these stick at a single murther a small Venial Villany to advance their Cause and merit Heaven into the Bargain When pretence of Justice necessity of Affairs Reason of State and so many more such weights might be thrown into the Scales More than all this When such Persons as these were actually in the place where this Murther was committed at the very instant 't was done All these together with what is yet to follow amount to as strong Arguments and pregnant Circumstances as the nature of the thing will bear and mark out the Murtherers as plainly and visibly as if they had come out of his Chamber with white Sleeves and a long Knife in their Hands bloody all over And indeed there seems need of little more than relating bare simple indubitable matter of Fact and such as hardly any body will deny to satisfie any cool rational man in the business The Earl of Essex's Throat was cut in the Tower the 13 th of July about Eight or Nine in the Morning at which time the Duke of York a bigotted Papist his known bitter Enemy was there present This was reported at Andover sixty miles from London the 11 th of July the first day of his Imprisonment and as common Town-talk in every bodies mouth as Sir E. B.G's at the time of his murther and told a Person travelling on the Road near the same place which was witnessed before even a Jeffreys in a publick Court of Judicature A Deputy-Coroner present at the Inquest instead of a Legal one none of the Relations to attend the Inquest The Body remov'd from the place where 't was first laid stript the Clothes taken away the Body and Rooms washed from the Blood the Clothes denied the view of the Jury The principal Witnesses examin'd only Bomeny his man and Russel his Warder who might be so justly suspected of being privy to if not Actors in it That the Jury hasten'd and hurried the Verdict when so great a man a Peer of the Realm and such a Peer was concern'd who was the King's Prisoner When Sir Thomas Overbury had been before murther'd in the Tower and his Jury brought in an unrighteous Verdict when even Sir E. B. G's Jury so much cry'd out against for their ill management adjourn'd their Verdict and staid considerably before they brought it in This at a time when the Lord Russel was to be try'd for a share in a Plot in which the Earl was also accused of being concern'd One Branch of which Conspiracy and which 't was so much the Papists Interest to have the belief on 't fix'd was a barbarous Murther of the Duke and King when nothing cou'd so immediately and critically tend to that noble Gentleman's ruine when the News was instantly with so much diligence convey'd from the Tower to the Sessions-house Bench Bar and Jury and harp'd upon by the Lord Howar◠just then and by others in after Trials as the mor◠than a thousand Witnesses and the very finger of God After this the very Centinel who that Day stood near the place found dead in the Tower-Ditch and Captain Hawley barbarously murther'd down at Rochester and ill methods us'd to prevent the truth of all from coming to light Mr. Braddon harass'd prosecuted jayl'd and fined for stirring in it On the fair and impartial Consideration but of these things hardly one of which but is notorious Matter of Fact granted by all sides What can a man conclude from the whole but whether he will or no That this noble Lord was certainly murthered by the Popish Party But there 's yet more Evidence If he could not Murther himself in that manner who then should do it but those on whom the Guilt on 't has been justly charged And this from the manner of it His Throat was cut from one Jugular to the other and by the Aspera Arteria and Wind-pipe to the Vertebrae of the Neck both the Jugulars being throughly divided How often has it been ask'd and how impossible it should ever receive an Answer How could any Living Man after the prodigious flux of Blood which must necessarily follow on the dividing one Jugular as well as all those strong Muscles which lye in the way how cou'd he ever have strength to go through all round and come to the other without fainting One cou'd as soon believe the Story of the Pirate who after his Head was cut off ran the whole length of his Ship or that of St. Dennis which was no doubt grafted on the other Nor is it rendered less impossible from the Instrument with which those who did it wou'd perswade the World 't was perform'd by himself A little French Razor Had Bomeny held to the Penknife it had been much more likely But here was nothing to rest or bear upon in the cutting it having no Tongue to hold it up in the Haft And as 't is observ'd in the Prints on that Subject he must therefore supposing he had done it himself have held his hand pretty far upon the very Blade and so with about two inches and a half of it whittle out a wound of four inches deep and all round his Neck as if he had intended to have been his own Headsman as well as Executioner out of Remorse of Conscience for his Treason Lastly His Character makes it morally impossible he should be guilty of so mean and little an Action 'T is for Women and Eunuch's and Lovers and Romantick Hero's to kill themselves not Men of known Virtue Temper Wisdom Piety and Gravity who had formerly digested as great Affronts as cou'd be put upon à Man with a candor and calmness so worthy a Man and a Christian who had been so far from defending so barbarous and unmanly a thing as Self-murther as is suggested that he had rather express himself with Detestation concerning it And as he ought not and cou'd not be hurried into so fatal an Action by a false mistaken Greatness of Mind as no such thing or so much as the least Footsteps of it appear'd in the whole course of his Life so from all his Actions in the Tower before his Death we may fairly deduce the quite contrary to what his Enemies have asserted and by observing his Conduct there discover plainly that no such black Intention ever enter'd into his Mind This appears from his ordering his People to have his own Plate sent for out of the Country to dress his Meat as well as a considerable parcel of Wines bought and brought into the Tower for his drinking that he might not stand to the Courtesie of his Enemies and this sufficient to last him till he cou'd be deliver'd by due Course of Law I can foresee but one thing that can with the least plausibility be objected to this considerable Passage and 't is That this was when he was first Committed before he fell Melancholy which he
did not speak what I intended Other Reasons besides his Confession to His Majesty and Reasons to be conceal'd Now what should those be but Threatnings and Promises to induce him to silence and publick acknowledgment of all Which appears yet plainer from another passage I am satisfied that all means which could be thought on have been used to get as much out of me as possible If all means then without straining those before mentioned But if he made so fair and large an acknowledgment here 's more Mystery still Why wan't his Life spar'd Let any read his Confession and Speech or these Passages observed out of them and he 'll no longer wonder at it He was a little squeasie Conscienc'd and would not strain so far as others in accusing Men of those black Crimes whereof they were innocent nay as was before said vindicating them from those Aspersions cast upon them and for which some of them particularly my Lord Russel suffer'd Death He says The Assassination was carry'd on but by three or four and could never hear so much as the Names of above Five for it That he and others had declared their abhorrence of any such thing That Ferguson was not in it And besides speaks some things with the Liberty of an Englishman shews the very Root of all those Heats which had been rais'd Says what was true enough That the Protestant Gentry had a Notion of a Devilish Design of the Papists to cut off the Kings Friends and stirring men in both last Parliaments That they had long had Witnesses to swear them out of their Lives but no Juries to believe 'em That now the point about the Sheriffs was gain'd that difficulty was over That the King had bad Council about him who kept all things from his Knowledge That if things continued thus the Protestant Gentry resolv'd to get the King from his Evil Council and then he 'd immediately be of their side and suffer all Popish Offenders to be brought to Justice Hence 't was plain no Assassination no Plot against the King or Government intended only Treason against the D. of York and the Papists who were themselves Traytors by Law But â—et one bolder stroke than all this He prays the King's Eyes might be open'd to see his Enemies from his Friends whom he had cause to look for nearer home Was a Man to expect pardon after this no certainly which he soon himself grew sensible of and prepared for Death the Council as he says taking it very heinously that he should presume to write such things As for what Sheriff Daniel urges That what he says about the King were but Glossy Pretences He answers him very well That 't was far otherwise Here was plain matter of Fact The Kingdom in eminent danger the Fitt just coming on which has since so near shaken to pieces all the frame of Church and State which has so many years been rising to this Compleatness Ordinary ways and usual Remedies could not prevail these Protestants were forced to betake themselves to extraordinary in defence of the Government and Laws and not against 'em any more than 't would have been to have taken Arms and rescu'd the King from a Troop of Banditti who had got possession of his Person the Papists who had him being as visibly and notoriously obnoxious to the Government and as dead Men in Law most of 'em as publick Thieves and Robbers Thus much of Mr. Holloway the Popish tender Mercy towards him his Confession and Execution Mr. Holloway declared that Mr. West proposed the Assassination but none seconded him That he could not perceive that Mr. Ferguson knew any thing of it and Holloway said It was our design to shed no Blood He being interrogated by Mr. Ferguson's Friend Mr. Sheriff Daniel whether he knew Ferguson He answer'd That he did know him but knew him to be against any design of killing the King Sir Thomas Armstrong BUt the next had not so fair play because they knew he 'd make better use on 't They had this Lion in the Toils and did not intend to let him loose again to make sport lest the Hunters themselves should come off ill by it He had been all his Life a firm Servant and Friend to the Royal Family in their Exile and afterwards He had been in Prison for 'em under Cromwel and in danger both of Execution and Starving for all which they now rewarded him He had a particular Honour and Devotion for the Duke of Monmouth and pusht on his Interest on all occasions being a Man of as undaunted English Courage as ever our Country produced He was with the Duke formerly in his Actions in Flanders and shar'd there in his Danger and Honour His Accusation was his being concern'd in the General Plot and that too of Killing the King but he was indeed hang'd for running away and troubling 'em to send so far after him The particulars pretended against him were what the Lord Howard witnessed in Russels Trial Of his going to kill the King when their first design fail'd But this was there onely a Supposal tho' advanc'd into a form'd Accusation and aggravated by the Atturney as the Reason why he had a Trial denied him when Holloway had one offered both of 'em being alike Outlawed On which Outlawry Sir Thomas was Kidnapt in Holland and brought over hither in Chains and rob'd by the way into the bargain Being brought up and askt what he had to say that Sentence shou'd not pass upon him he pleaded the 6th of Edw. 6. wherein 't is provided That if a Person outlawed render himself in a year after the Outlawry pronounc'd and traverse his Indictment and shall be acquitted on his Trial he shall be discharged of the Outlawry On which he accordingly then and there made a formal Surrender of himself to the Lord Chief Justice and ask'd the benefit of the Statute and a fair Trial for his Life the Year not being yet expired If ever any thing cou'd appear plain to common Sense 't was his Case The Statute allows a years time the year was not out he surrender'd himself demands the benefit of it and all the Answer he could get or Reason to the contrary was the positive Lord Chief Justice's We don't think so and we are of another Opinion Nay cou'd not have so much Justice as to have Counsel allow'd to plead it tho' the Point sufficiently deserv'd it and here was the Life of an old Servant of the King 's concern'd in it When he still pleaded That a little while before one meaning Holloway had the benefit of a Trial offered him if he 'd accept it and that was all he now desired The Lord Chief Justice answers That was onely the Grace and Mercy of the King The Atturney adds The King did indulge Holloway so far as to offer him a Trial and his Majesty perhaps might have some Reason for it The very self-same some Reason no doubt on 't which
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
which by vertue of the said Old Charters belonged to their several and respective Corporations and to deliver themselves from those late Parasites and Instruments of Tyranny set up to oppress them Moreover for the restoring the Kingdom to its Primitive Condition of Freedom and Safety we will have the Corporation and Militia Acts repealed and all Outlawries of Treason against any person whatsoever upon the late pretended Protestant Plot reversed and also all other Outlawries Banishments Warrants Judgments Imprisonments and Injurious Proceedings against any other persons upon any of the Penal Statutes made against Protestant Dissenters made null and void And we will have new Laws enacted for placing the Election of Sheriffs in the Freeholders of the several Counties for settling the Militia in the several Shires and for preventing all Military standing Forces except what shall be raised and kept up by Authority and Consent of Parliament And whereas several Gentlemen and others who have been worthy and zealous Asserters of the Protestant Interest and Laws of the Kingdom are now in custody in divers places within the Realm upon most unjust Accusations Pretences Proceedings and Judgments we do hereby further declare their said Imprisonments to be Illegal and that in case any violence shall be offered to them or any of them we will revenge it to the utmost upon such of our Enemies as shall fall into our hands And whereas the said J. D. of Y. in order to the expediting the Idolatrous and bloody Designs of the Papists the gratifying his own boundless Ambition after a Crown and to hinder inquiry into the Assassination of Arthur Earl of Essex hath poisoned the late King and thereby manifested his Ingratitude as well as Cruelty to the World in murthering a Brother who had almost ruined himself to preserve and protect him from punishment We do therefore further declare That for the aforesaid villanous unnatural Crime and other his Crimes before mentioned and in pursuance of the resolution of both Houses of Parliament who voted to revenge the Kings Death in case he came to an untimely end we will prosecute the said J. D. of Y. till we have brought him to suffer what the Law adjudged to be the punishment of so execrable a Fact And in a more particular manner his Grace the Duke of Monmouth being sensible of the barbarous and horrid Parricide committed upon his Father doth resolve to pursue the said J. D. of Y. as a mortal and bloody Enemy and will endeavour aâ— well with his own hand as by the assistance of his Friends and the Law to have Justice executed upon him And the said James Duke of Monmouth the now Head and Captain General of the Protestant Forces of this Kingdom assembled for the end aforesaid from the generousness of his own Nature and the love he bears to these Nations whose wellfare and settlement he infinitely preferrs to whatsoever may concern himself doth not at present insist upon his â—itle but leaves the determination thereof to the Wisdom Justice and Authority of a Parliament legally chosen and acting with freedom And in the mean time doth profess and declare by all that is sacred that he will in conjunction with the People of England imploy all the Abilities bestowed upon him by God and Nature for the Re-establishment and Preservation of the Protestant Reformed Religion in these Kingdoms and for restoring the Subjects of the same to a free exercise thereof in opposition to Popery and the consequences of it Tyranny and Slavery To the obtaining of which end he doth hereby promise and oblige himself to the People of England to consent unto and promote the passing into Laws all the methods aforesaid that it may never more be in the power of any single Person on the Throne to deprive the Subjects of their Rights or subvert the Fundamental Laws of the Government designed for their Preservation And whereas the Nobility Gentry and Commons of Scotland are now in Arms upon the like motives and inducements that we are and in prosecution of Ends agreeable with ours We do therefore approve the justice of their Cause commend their Zeal and Courage expecting their and promising our assistance for carrying on that glorious Work we are jointly engaged in Being obliged for avoiding tediousness to omit the recounting many Oppressions under which the Kingdom hath groaned and the giving a deduction of the several steps that have been taken for introducing of Popery and Tyranny We think fit therefore to signify both to our Countrymen and Forreigners that we intend a larger Testimony and Remonstrance of the Grievances Persecutions Cruelties and Tyrannies we have of late lain under and therein a more full and particular Account of the unparallell'd Crimes of the D. of Y. And we make our Appeal unto God and all Protestant Kings Princes States and Peoples concerning the Justice of our Cause and the necessity we are reduced unto of having our recourse to Arms. And as we do beseech require and adjure all sincere Protestants and true English men to be assisting to us against the Enemies of the Gospel Rights of the Nation and Liberties of Mankind So we are confident of obtaining the utmost Aid and Succour which they can yield us with their Prayers Persons and Estates for the dethroning the said Tyrant c. Nor do we doubt being justified countenanced and assisted by all Protestant Kings Princes and Common-wealths who either regard the Gospel of Jesus Christ or their own Interest And above all our dependance and trust is upon the Lord of Hosts in whose name we go forth and to whom we commit out Cause and refer the Decision betwixt us and our Enemies in the day of Battel Now let us play the Men for our People and for the Cities of our God and the Lord do that which seemeth good unto him ☞ Thus Reader I have given you a Copy of the Duke of Monmouth's Declaration which was disperst in the West of England in the year 1685. But it not being the part of an Historian to make Remarks I have satisfied my self with barely inserting it leaving every Reader to make what Reflections on it he thinks fit What follows concerning the late Lord Jefferys should have been printed in his Life next to the word Bribed in page 19 but was there Omitted JEffreys prosecuted Mr. Baxter for his Paraphrase upon the New Testament and sent him to Prison he coming out by an Habeas Corpus was fain to abscond in the Country in constant pain till the Term. Then his oft Waitings at the Bar where he could not stand and then to be ragingly treated by Jeffreys and Withins and called Rogue and Knave and not sufâ—ered to speak one word of Answer for himself and his Counsel being reviled that offered to speak for him was far harder to him than his Imprisonment And then going from the Bar he only said That his Predecessor thought otherwise of him Jeffrys reply'd There was not
revenge it upon the Dissenters to whose influence on the Court of Aldermen he attributed his dismission from the Recordership and used his Endeavours to blacken them as much as he could Yet all his Honour was not sunk for he had prevailed for the Removal of Sir Job Charleton from the Chief Justiceship of the County Palatine of Chester and by the importunity and interest of his Party at Court gained it for himself and took the first Possession of that Charge in much splendour paying at that time his Father a Visit with a numerous Train which as 't is reported put the old Gentleman into such a fret for the drinking up his Cyder and devouring his Provisions that he charged him with the undertaking to ruine him by bringing a whole Country at his heels commanding him never to attempt the like Prodigality again with hopes of success Many Petitions being put up upon the dissolving the Parliament in 1682. by most of the Counties and Burroughs and Corporations of England for the speedy calling another to redress the Grievances of the Nation and the King shewing some dislike of that manner of proceeding this Person further to endear himself to the interest of the Court declared in his station as vehemently against them by saying He abhorred that Petitioning c. from which and the discountenancing the Petitioners as much as in him lay he gain'd the Name and Epithet of an Abhorrer and upon the burning the Pope in Effigies at Temple-Bar upon the Birth-day of Queen Elizabeth amongst other Figures the Arch-waggs had set one on Horseback with his Face to the Tail and a Paper on his back viz. I am an abhorrer During these Transactions the Parliament being called met at Westminster and amongst others this Person was called before them for attempting to intrench upon the Rights and Priviledges of the People c. and obliged at the Bar of the Commons House after having been heard what he could say in defence of his Proceedings by his Council to make his acknowledgment upon his Knees and receive the Reprimand of the Speaker whereupon with some sharp Rebukes as the Censure of the House he was discharged To comfort him in this affliction that was not by a man of his haughty Spirit a little stomacked this Parliament being dissolved and a call of Serjeants had at the Kings-Bench-Bar Westminster he was the first in the Roll and consequently the King Serjeant and as it is usual to present the King with a Ring on that occasion the Motto he agreed to was A Deo Rex a Rege Lex viz. The King from God and the Law from the King And now the Popish Party playing their Cards with more security Edward Fitz-Harris who had been Impeached by the Commons and stood charged by them of High Treason being nevertheless upon the Dissolution tryed at the Kings-Bench-Bar this Person was the principal Stickler against him and by his Rhetorical and florid expressions wrought so powerfully with the Jury who were somewhat in doubt what they should do in this Case that they found him Guilty and the Impeachment in Parliament set aside he was executed as a Traytor at Tyburn And soon after this the Dissenters losing of their Esteem in the eyes of the Court-Party and some Justices of Peace of Middlesex being sharp upon them this Person was chosen Chair-man at the Sessions at Hick's Hall where he had an opportunity to make them as he found his time see the Resentments of his Anger but this place being held too low for a Spirit winged with so large an ambition he aimed at higher things resolving like Icarus to be near the Sun tho at the hazard of melting his waxen Wings dropping headlong into the Sea of inevitable ruine Whereupon perceiving some hot Contests in the City of London about the Election of Magistrates and Officers he turned the Edge of his Fury that way insomuch that a Quo Warranto came down against the Charter of the Honourable City of London and in fine after much pleading and arguments pro contra the Charter was surrendred at least in consent by those that were in Power and the King suspending the Execution of the Judgment obtained caused such Orders to be observ'd as he thought most convenient which being so well known to the Citizens of London it would appear a presumption in me to enter upon particulars yet the chiefest Cavil against the City was taking the Toll of Markets collecting Mony to build Cheapside Conduit c. Nor was it long after this and the Trial of several Pâ—rsons for Rioters who attended the Election of Sheriffs and Mayor and the Fines passing upon many worthy Citizens as Rioters on that occasion in promoting which this Person as a Counsellor by his florid Rhetorick was mainly instrumental by giving the Court an account of their respective abilities the better to settle the Fines but the Lord Chief Justice Saunders dying he succeeded him as Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench in which station he was scarcely setled but he admitted the Popish Lords to Bail that lay under an Impeachment in Parliament and whose bailing had been refused by the Judges his Predecessors and now it was that he began more particularly to remember former affronts an example of which take in the Case of Elias Best a Hop-Merchant in Thames-street viz. It so happened when this Person was Recorder of London that a Jury of which Best was one having contrary to his mind acquitted a Party indicted at the Sessions of Peace in Guild-Hall for Printing and Publishing a Pamphlet he in much heat declared that they had gone contrary to their Consciences and stuck not to upbraid them with Perjury for which as an high affront put upon the Juries of London they prayed the Court at the Old-Baily that they might prefer an Indictment against him and herein Mr. Best was the most active but the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs then upon the Bench after it had been a long time argued and debated told them that the Sessions being almost at an end it could not be tryed and therefore he would desire them to refer it to the next Sessions for the Recorder being a Person of Quality he could not suffer him to lie under the imputation of an Indictment so long but in the interim he resigning his Recordership the business fell and came to nothing but soon after it seems Mr. Best had drank an Health to the pious Memory of Stephen Colledge departed meaning the Joyneâ— that was executed at Oxford for which he was indicted upon an Information and found Guilty yet he being at large thought fit to withdraw himself to avoid the rigour of the Fine c. when so it fell out that this Person going the Circuit as Lord Chief Justice accompanyed with a great many on Horseback Mr. Best came by and asked one of the Company what Judge that was who replyed the Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys and he unadvisedly told that
left there fled and dispersed into several Places When his Lordship having left these Men in the Town under the Command of Colonel Kirk and hearing the late Duke of Monmouth was fled with about Fifty Horse the greatest number of the Dukes Men that were left together he sent out divers Parties in pursuit of him and others that fled the Field When on the 7th of July about five in the Morning some of the Lord Lumly's Men seized the Lord Gray and another Person near Holt-Lodge in Dorsetshire four Miles from the West of Ringwood and the said Lord Lumly making further enquiry among the Cotts was informed by one Anna Ferrant that two men went over a Hedge proving to be the Out-bounds of many Inclosures some of which were overgrown with Fern others with Pease and Oats but Guards being set upon the Avenues after divers attempts to escape the Brandenburgh one of the Parties observed to enter the Ground was taken on the 8th of July about five in the morning who confessing he departed from the late Duke of Monmouth about One of the Clock that morning in the Out-bounds diligent search was made when about Eleven of the Clock the same morning he was found by one Henry Parking hid in a Ditch covered with Fern who calling others to assist him the said late Duke was in the end taken and together with the Lord Gray and the Brandenburgh with a strong Guard brought by easie Journies to Whitehall where they arrived on the 13th of July and after some examination were committed to the Tower when on Wednesday the 15th of July the late Duke of Monmouth pursuant to a Warrant signed for his Execution upon his Attaindure of High Treason was delivered to the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex about Ten in the Morning and conducted to a Scaffold erected on Tower-Hill where after about half an hours continuance he laying down his head had it stricken off by the Executioner the which together with his Body being put into a Coffin covered with Velvet were carried away in a Velvet-covered Hearse in order to his Interment After the Duke was beheaded many Prisoners taken and those that fled by Parcels up and down secured in divers Goals in order to their Prosecution as was said according to Law which was the occasion of this great Mans shewing his parts at that degree as he did no one else fit to be made a Tool for such a Bloody Tragedy as he acted He went not only Judge but had a breviate under King James his hand to command what Troops he pleased to attend his Commands from place to place And was Lieutenant General as well as Judge and he gave daily the Word and Orders for going the Rounds c. and Ordered what party of Troops he pleased to attend him When Major C d who commanded the first Regiment of Guards the Dragoons who were as his Life-Guard when at the head of the Troop following Jeffreys from Somersetshire to Wiltshire in order for London after the Assizes the Major asked Jeffâ—eys If there would be any favour shewn to one Mr. Speake who was not the Speake intended Jeffreys said No his Family owed a Life he should die for his Name-sake because one of the Family and Name was guilty of being in the Action but was escaped and therefore this being his Brother should die Jeffreys demanded of the Major how many he thought there was killed by the Souldiers He replyed 1000. Quoth Jeffreys I believe I have condemn'd at many as that my self 'T is to be remembred that the Fellow call'd Tory Tom at Wells for his dirty Sauciness was sent to the Guard by this Major when presently this Tory Tom Petitioned some Persons to intercede with the Major and sent the Major a Letter desiring his Liberty for that if he or any one should give Tory Tom an ill word to Judge Jeffreys the Judge would hang him right or wrong with the rest of the Prâ—soners or condemn him at least so upon his submission the Major discharg'd him and did not leave him to the mercy of his own Tory Judge The Tryals in the West were deferred for some time after the Fatal Blow given to the D. of Monmouth on Tower-Hill which was the 15 th of July following because of my Lords being at Tunbridg but the latter end of August he with a special Commission of Oyer and Terminer assisted with four other Judges set forward with a Party of Horse he being made by special Commission their General The first place he came at was Winchester where were divers Prisoners on suspicion but here began the Tragedy for the Lady Lisle was there Arraigned for High-Treason in harbouring Mr. Hicks and Mr. Nelthrope that had been concerned with the Duke the Lady being on her Tryal the Jury were dissatisfied once and again but my Lords Threats and other Managery so disposed the Jury that at last they brought the Lady in Guilty on which he pronounced the Sentence of Death on her as usual in such Cases but she had the favour of being Beheaded their other Prisoners were carried to Salisbury and this was the most remarkable thing at that Assizes From thence they set forward for Salisbury where were many Prisoners that had been pick'd up and down the Country then in the Goal the which with those that were brought from Winton were ordered to be carried to Dorchester there not being Evidence enough to accomplish what was then designed by my Lord so that little of moment passed there but to pursue the matter proceeds from thence to Dorchester where he with his Assistants Gown-men and Sword-men arrived on the 3 d. of September on which day being Thursday the Commission was read Friday morning was an excellent Sermon Preached before their Lordships by a worthy Divine Chaplain to a worthy Person of that Country much tending to Mercy It was observed that while my Lord Chief Justice was at Church in Prayers as well as at Sermon he was seen to laugh which was so unbecoming a Person in his Character that ought in so weighty an Affair as he was then entering upon to have been more serious and have craved the help and assistance of God Almighty The Sermon being over their Lordships repaired to the Court which by order of the Lord Chief Justice was hung with Red Cloth a Colour suitable to such a succeeding bloody Tragedy being accompanied by a numerous Company of the Gentry of that County as well as the Flower of the Neighbouring Counties of Somerset and Devonshire and then proceeded to give his Charge in which Charge by reason of the Severity of his Sentiments and Positions laid down to make discoveries of all such as were Abettors Aidors or Assisters to the late Duke of Monmouth on pain of High Treason which was a great Surprize to all the Auditors and so vehemently urged and so passionately expressed as seemed rather the Language of a Romish Inquisitor than a Protestant Judge
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
William Gillet Thomas Lissant William Pocock Christopher Stephens George Cantick Robert Allen Joseph Kelloway Yeovil 8. Francis Foxwell George Pitcher Bernard Devereax Bernard Thatcher for concealing Bovet William Johnson Thomas Hurford Edward Gillard Oliver Powel Netherstoe 3. Humphrey Mitchel Richard Cullverell Merrick Thomas Dunster 3. Henry Lackwell John Geanes William Sully Dulverton 3. John Basely John Lloyd Henry Thompson Bridgewater 12. Robert Fraunces Nicholas Stâ—dgell George Lord Jeffreys Joshua Bâ—llamy William Moggeridge John Hurman Robert Roper Richard Harris Richard Engram John Trott Roger Guppey Roger Hore Isaiah Davis Ratcliffe-Hill at Bristol 6. Richard Evans John Tinckwell Christopher Clerk Edward Tippoâ— Philip Cumbridge John Tucker alias Glover Illminster 12. Nicholas Collins Sen. Stephen Newman Robert Luckis William Kitch Thomas Burnard William Wellen John Parsons Thomas Trocke Robert Fawne Western Hillary John Burgen Charles Speake Stogersey 2. Hugh Ashley John Herring Wellington 3. Francis Priest Philip Bovet Robert Reed South-petherton 3. Cornelius Furfurd John Parsons Thomas Davis Porlock 2. James Gale Henry Edny Glasenbury 6. John Hicks Richard Pearce Israel Briant William Mead James Pyes John Broâ—me Taunton 19. Robert Perret Abraham Ansley Benjamin Hewling Peirce Murren John Freake John Savage Abraham Matthews William Jenkins Henry Lisle John Dryer John Hucker Jonathan England John Sharpe William Deverson John Williams John Patrum James Whittom William Satchel John Trickey Langport 3. Humphrey Peirce Nicholas Venton John Shellwood Arbridg 6. Isaac Tripp Thomas Burnell Thomas Hillary John Gill Senior Thomas Monday John Butcher Cutherston 2. Richard Bovet Thomas Blackmoâ—e Minehead 6. John Jones alias Evens Hugh Starke Francis Barlet Peter Warren Samuel Hawkins Richard Sweet Evilchester 12. Hugh Goodenough Samuel Cox William Somerton John Masters John Walrand David Langwell Osmond Barrâ—t Matthew Cross Edward Burford John Mortimer John Stevens Robert Townsden Stogummer 3. George Hillard John Lockstone Arthur Williams Castlecary 3 Richard Ash Samuel Garnish Robert Hinde Milton-port 2. Archibald Johnson James Maxwel Keinsham 11. Charles Chepman Richard Bowden Thomas Trock Lewis Harris Edward Halswell Howel Thomas George Badol Richard Evans John Winter Andrew Rownsden John Phillelrey Suffer'd in all 239 Besides those Hanged and Destroyed in Câ—ld Blood This Bloody Tragedy in the West being over our Protestant Judge returns for London soon after which Alderman Cornish felt the anger of some body behind the Curtain for it is to be Noted that he was Sheriff when Best prayed an Indictment might be preferr'd and was as well as Sheriff Bethel earnest in promoting it in alledging that it was no ways reasonable that the Juries of London should lie under such a reproach c. But passing this over we now find this Person Arriv'd at the Pinacle of Honour the Purse and Mace were reserved for him vacant by the Death of the Lord Keeper North and he advanced to the Lord Chancellourship of England rais'd by this means as one might think above the Envy of the Croud and it might be wished in so dangerous a heighth he had looked better to his Footsteps for now being created Baron of Wem we find him in a High Commission or Ecclesiastical Court Suspending rhe Honourable Lord Bishop of London from performing the Episcopal Office and Function of that See and for no other default than not readily complying with the Kings Letter in Suspending Dr. Sharp Dean of Norwich for Preaching a Sermon in the Parish Church of St Giles in the Fields at the request of the Parishioners shewing the Errors and Fallacies of the Romish Religion the better to confirm them in the Faith and Doctrine of the Church of England Nor was it this good Bishop alone that was aimed at for Magdalen Colledge in Oxford was next attempted and in that very Mother of Learning and Chief Seminary of our Church such alterations made as startled the Kingdom by whose Counsel I undertake not to determine but in the midst of Liberty of Conscience as twice declared The Church of England had a Test put upon her Sons which seemed such a Paradox that has been rarely heard of viz. To Read the Kings Declaration for Liberty of Conscience in the Churches during the time of Divine Service and a Mark and Penalties threatned to the Refusers which was evidently demonstrated by the Imprisonment of those pious Patriots of their Country and Pillars of the Church His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Bishop of Bathe and Wells Ely Peterborough Chichester St. Asaph and Bristol who for shewing their Reasons why they could not comply with this Command by way of Humble Petition were sent to the Tower and afterwards Tryed upon Information of High Misdemeanour at the Court of Kings-Bench where their Innocency appearing in a large manner they were acquitted to the scandal of their Accusers yet Orders were sent into all parts of England to return and account to the Lord Chancellor of those that refused to Read the Declaration that they might be proceeded against for a Contempt of what their Consciences would not permit them to do and for a time they were extreamly hot upon it Much about this time there was a considerable Suit depending before him in Chancery between a great Heiress and others which was sufficiently talk'd of in the World not without loud and deep reflections on his Honesty and Honour for having given the Cause for the young Lady he very speedily afterwards married her to his Son with this remarkable Circumstance She being a Papist to make sure Work he married them both ways both by a Priest of the Church of Rome and a Divine of the Church of England And here I think we may place the Heighth and Acme of his Honour and Happiness where he 's not like to tarry long for on the News of the great Preparations in Holland and that the Prince of Orange was certainly design'd for England the determined Councils cool'd and then quite ceas'd so that the Church of England men whose Cause the Prince had espoused were restored again to the Commissions and Trusts they had by what Justice I know not been lately deprived of and amongst other Charters that were on this occasion restored was that of the City of London and that which makes it more memorable was that it was brought to Guild-Hall by this Person tho he was not attended with the Shouts and Acclamations he expected nor seem'd so florid or frolicksom as heretofore which some looked upon as a bad Omen and it 's reported soon after he being ask'd by a Courtier What the Heads of the Princes Declaration were he should answer He waâ— sure his was one whatever the râ—st were When the late King James was secur'd at Feversham he desired to see his Landlord and demanded his Name who proved a Person who had turned himself over to the Kings Bench for a Fine which fell upon him and Captain Stanbrooke in Westminster by the Lord Chancellours means at the Board which King James calling for a Pen and