King Charles the Second and the City of London beginning to raise her self out of her Ashes more stately and magnificent than before she sunk in Flames a Sacrifice to the Revenge and Malice of the Papists as by the late Inscription on the Monument and upon Record it appears This great City I say regaining her Trade her Priviledges and Customs were kept up with great exactness so that in the Courts at Guild-Hall there was much Business which being consider'd by this Person as more beneficial than that at Westminster by reason of its frequency and being carried on briefer and with less difficulty which induced him to give his Attendance as also at Hixes-Hall and other inferiour Courts and Places insomuch that he being of a bold Presence and having naturally a fluent Tongue an audible Voice and good Utterance he had not pleaded often before he was very much taken Notice of and gain'd so much Credit with the People that they prefer'd him before any of the younger sort of Barristers by which means he found his Stars begin to smile upon him so that he was in a manner Courted to take Fees and had Breviates thrust into his Hand frequently in the middle of a Cause by Persons when they perceived it went ill on their sides and was like to go against them Thus flush'd with success he now thought of nothing more than how he might climb nor did he want an Opportunity for the next Station we find him in is that of Common Serjeant to the great and honourable City of London and so much Fortune favour'd him at this time that Alderman Jeffreys the great Smoaker having often observ'd his Discourse and Actions took such a liking to him that being of the same Name tho' not in the least any Relation he back'd him with his Purse and Interest which was not inconsiderable and thereby not only enabled him to carry on his Grandeur but to purchase as he found a conveniency or advantage in order to his keeping it up in the World These I say being the Degrees by which he was climbing the slippery Stair of Honour to contract a firmer Alliance he Addressed himself to a brisk young Widow Daughter to Sir Thomas Bludworth then one of the Aldermen of the City and who in the time of the dreâ—dful Conflagration had the Chair as being then Lord Mayor and so far prâ—vail'd upon the Lady and her Father that he gain'd both their Consents and the Contract was made the Nuptials solemnized And soon after he had the pleasure to behold the Fruits of her Labour Sir John Howel the Recorder of London giving place the Recordership became vacant which made this Person lay hold of that Opportunity to use his own and the Interest of his Friends to acquire that Place of Trust and Honour nor did his Measures fail him for by the powerful influence he had by this time gain'd over sundry Persons who were best able to promote him to what he so earnestly labour'd to arrive at he was chosen and confirm'd Recorder of the Honourable City taking upon him the Charge and Care of the Writings Papers c. that belong to so great a Charge and Trust as that of a Recorder of the City of London By this means being become as himself declar'd The Mouth of the City and as we may term him Capital Judge in the Guild-Hall in Controversies at the Sessions held there c. and the Power of breathing forth Sentences of Punishment being put into his hands he found his Ambition enlarg'd aiming at nothing more than to become a Court-Favourite Nor was it long before an Opportunity offer'd it self to make him to be taken notice of For so it happened that some Persons had imprinted a Psalter and Entituled it the beter to shadow the Injury they had done to the Company of Stationers by invading their Property The King's Psalter which occasioning a Disputâ— it was referred to a Hearing before the Council at Whitehall the King being present and the Company the better to make out their Title and Claim carried with them this Person as their Counsel who in the opening of the Case and making the Complaint of the apparent Injury done to the Company in printing what was really their Propriety he had this Expression viz. They hâ—ve teem'd with a spurious Brat which being clandestinely midwiv'd into the World the better to cover the Imposture they lay it at your Majesties door c. This though the King might have taken it for sundry Reasons as a Reflection upon his Royal Person yet he was so far from resenting it that way that he only turned to one of the Lords that sâ—t next him and said This is a bold Fellow I 'll warrant him And indeed the Stationers had the Matter declar'd by the Honourable Board in their Favour About this time the Popish Plot being discovered by Dr. Oates and others the Nation was for a while in a Ferment and matters run extremely high in Disputes and Controversies and he sail'd with the Current declaring with much heat and violence against the Priests Jesuits and others of the Conspirators and Romish Faction as appeared not only by his vehement expressions in pleading against 'em but the alacrity and little concern that was visible in his Countenance when at any time as Recorder of London he past sentence of Death upon any of them which he frequently did with more or less reproach and became in a manner the terror of that Party But no sooner he perceiving the Wind tacking at Court and that there was some misunderstanding between King Charles the Second and his Parliament but he began to fall off and grow cold in prosecuting the ends of the Government being frequently at Court and labouring as much as in him lay to draw the Magistracy of the City after him as appears more especially by one passage viz. The King being recovered of an Indisposition that had for some time put the Kingdoms in a fear and doubt of his Life the Lord Mayor and Aldermen went to congratulate him upon his going abroad after which and a favourable reception it was proposed by this Person that they should in like manner wait upon his Royal Highness then Duke of York who was not long before returned from Flanders but perceiving no forwardness to be seconded he only with his Father-in-Law stayed behind to gain that Access These and other Proceedings created in the City a Jealousie that he had espoused an Interest to their prejudice which wrought so strongly in their Conceits that it was concluded in the Council-Chamber at Guild-Hall that he should resign his Recordership and accordingly they sent to him to deliver back the Papers and Writings they had entrusted him with which accordingly was done and Sir George Treby constituted Recorder in his stead This so netled him that he now openly declar'd himself to be what before was only suspected indulging his thoughts in nothing more than how he might
the Cruelty of Men when in their Power and how the Devil stirreth up his Instruments to pursue those that adventure for the Cause of God and Religion Here were in this County Executed 239. the rest that were Condemned were Transported except such as were able to furnish Coin and that not a little for an account was taken of Mens abilities according to which the purchase for Life must be managed by two of his Favourites who had a small share the rest went into his Lordships Pocket according to the Actions of Rome where Sins of any kind may be pardoned for mony This indeed was a glorious Design in the Eye of Mother Church to root out Heresie by Executions and Transportations to make room for a pack here Expedition must be made to conclude at Wells for that a great Man being fallen our great Judge designing his Chair which in short he had as the Reward of so eminent and extraordinary a piece of Service as he did for the Advancement of the Roman Catholicks Interest which is cruel always where it prevails Thus we leave the Town of Taunton after awarding Execution to many there and their Quarters to be scatter'd up and down the County and so we proceed to Wells where divers Prisoners that had been carried from Goal to Goal in expectation of Evidence against them were in Carts removed to Wells in which place to finish this Expedition the same Method as was at the former Assizes was also taken here by a severe Charge affronting the Gentlemen of this County as he had done in all the Counties before terrifying the Juries when any pleaded to make them to bring in the persons Guilty some of which being over-awed and it is doubted contrary to their Judgments which if so the Lord forgive them Here were many eminent and worthy persons that received the Sentence of Death but the Executions of the County being put together as you have before seen we make no particular Division of the Number here and the Number at Taunton the whole being recited before We shall therefore endeavour to be as brief as we can to give you what we think material and truly matter of Fact my Lord now being come to conclude this extraordinary Commission and in haste to be elevated maketh all manner of dispatch to repair to the King then at Windsor to give an Account of his Transactions and to receive the Reward of his meritorious service in this Butchering of Protestants which is so acceptable to his Holiness and his bigotted Disciples as nothing can be more and indeed if you will believe them a Work that merits Heaven at last besides what Temporal Preferments are thought fit in this World If this cruel Judge were a true Protestant his Case is much the worse being made use of as a Tool to destroy and carry on Popish Designs Thus the Affairs being ended the Country filled with Heads and Quarters of those that were Executed the rest that had not wherewith to purchase their Lives left in Custody in order to Transportation I shall next add the Charge given by the Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys at the City of Bristol Monday September 21. 1685. In his Return from his Western Campaigne Gentlemen I Am by the Mercy of God come to this great and populous City a City that boasts both of its Riches and Trade and may justly indeed claim the next place to the great and populous Metropolis of this Kingdom Gentlemen I find here are a great many Auditors who are very intent as if they expected some formal or prepared Speech but assure your selves we come not to make neither set Speeches nor formal Declamations nor to follow a couple of puffing Trumpeters for Lord we have seen those things Twenty times before No we come to do the King's business a King who is so Gracious as to use all the means possible to discover the Disorders of the Nation and to search out those who indeed are the very Pest of the Kingdom To this end and for this purpose are we come to this City But I find a special Commission is an unusual thing here and relishes very ill nay the very Women storm at it for fear we should take the upper hand of them too for by the by Gentlemen I hear it is much in fashion in this City for the Woman to govern and bear sway But Gentlemen I will not stay you with such needless Stories I will only mention some few things that fall within my knowledg for Points or Matters of Law I shall not trouble you but only mind you of some things that lately hath happened and particularly in this City for I have the Kalender of this City in my Pocket and if I do not express my self in so formal or set a Declamation for as I told you I came not to make Declamations or in so smooth Language as you may expect you must attribute it partly to the pain of the Stone under which I labour and partly to the unevenness of this days journey Gentlemen I may say that even some of the youngest amongst us may remember the late horrid Rebellion how men under colour of Law and pretext of Justice after they had divested a most Gracious and most Merciful Prince of all his Royal Power by the Power of the Sword they I say under colour of Law and pretext of Justice which added the more to the Crime that it was done under colour of such pretended Justice brought the most Mild and Meekest Prince next to our ever Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ if we may but compare him to a Man to die a Martyr the first blessed Martyr pardon the expression besides our most blessed Jesu who suffered for us on the Cross I say besides that Blessed Son of God this I say was the first Royal Martyr not suffering him to speak for himself or make his defence a Liberty which is given to the vilest Traitor and this was done not to descant on the number by Forty one The Rebels not resting here for Rebellion is like the sin of Witchcraft Divested the Lineal Legal and Rightful Heir of the Crown of all his Power and Prerogative till the Mighty God of Heaven and Earth God Almighty restored him to his Just Right And he as if begot in Mercy not only forgave all Offences and pardoned voluntarily even all that had been in actual Arms against him excepting those accursed Regicides but also made it a Crime for any one that should but remember or upbraid any of their past Crimes and Rebellions Good God! O Jesu that we should live in such an Age in which such a Prince cannot be safe from the seditious contrivances of Pardoned Rebels Had we not the Rye Conspiracy wherein they not only designed to have Murthered that Most Blessed for so now we may conclude him to be with God Almighty and Gracious King but also his Most ever Dear and Victorious Brother Had we not the Bill
to consider calmly of the matter and this no doubt was very well known by those who order'd things in the manner before-noted But I say 't were to be wished for the Honour of the English Nation that this had been all the foul play in the case and that there had not been so many Thousand Guinea's imployed in this and other Tryals as the great Agitators thereof have lately confess'd to have been The Names of his Jury as I find them in Print are as follow John Martayn William Rouse Jervas Seaton William Fashion Thomas Short George Toriano William Butler James Pickering Thomas Jeve Hugh Noden Robert Brough Thomas Omeby When he found he must expect neither Favour nor Justice as to the delaying of his Tryal he excepted against the Fore-man of the Jury because not a Freeholder which for divers and sundry Reasons almost if not all the Judges having the happiness to light on different ones and scarce any two on the sâ—me was over-ruled and given against him though that same practice since declared and acknowledged one of the great Grievances of the Nation His Indictment ran in these words He did conspire and compass our Lord the King his Supreme Lord not onely of his Kingly State Title Power and Government of this his Kingdom of England to deprive and throw down but also our said Soveraign Lord the King to kill and to Death to bring and put and the ancient Government of this Kingdom of England to change alter and wholly subvert and a miserable Slaughter among the Subjects of our said Lord the King through his whole Kingdom of England to cause and procure and Insurrection and Rebellion against our said Lord the King to move procure and stir up within this Kingdom of England And lower He and divers others did consult agree and conclude Insurrection and Rebellion against our Sovereign Lord the King to move and stir up and the Guards for the preservation of the Person of our said Soveraign Lord the King to seize and destroy Now that all this was not intended as matter of Form only we may see by the Kings Councils opening the Evidence The first says He was indicted for no less than conspiring the Death of the Kings Majesty and that in order to the same he and others did meet and conspire together to bring our Sovereign Lord the King to Death to raise War and Rebellion against him and to Massacre his Subjects And in order to compass these wicked Designs being assembled did conspire to seize the Kings Guards and his Majesties Person And this he tells the Jury is the charge against him The Attorney General melts it a little lower and tells 'em the meaning of all these Tragical Words were A Consult about a Rising about seizing the Guards and receiving Messages from E. of Shaftsbury concerning an Insurrection Nor yet does the proof against him come up so high even as this though all care was used for that purpose and kind Questions put very frequently to lead and drive the Evidence but one of them Witnessing to any one Point The first of whom was Col. Rumsey who swears That he was sent with a Message from Shaftsbury who lay concealed at Wapping to meet Lord Russel Ferguson c. at Shepherds 's to know of them what Resolution they were come to about the Rising design'd at Taunton That when he came thither the Answer was made Mr. Trenchard had fail'd 'em and no more would be done in that business at that time That Mr. Ferguson spoke the most part of that Answer but my Lord Russel was present and that he did speak about the Rising of Taunton and consented to it That the Company was discoursing also of viewing the Guards in order to surprize 'em if the Rising had gone on and that some undertook to view 'em and that the Lord Russel was by when this was undertaken But this being the main Hinge of the business and this Witness not yet coming up to the purpose they thought it convenient to give him a Jog to Refresh his Memory Asking him Whether he found my Lord Russel averse or agreeing to it Who no doubt answer'd Agreeing But being afterwards in the Tryal ask'd Whether he could Swear positively that my Lord Russel heard the Message and gave any Answer to it All that he says is this That when he came in they were at the Fire side but they all came from the Fire-side to hear what he said All that Shepherd witnesses is That my Lord Russel c. being at his house there was a Discourse of surprizing the Kings Guards and Sir Thomas Armstrong having viewed them when he came thither another time said They were remiss and the thing was feizible if there were Strength to do it and that upon his being question'd too as Rumsey before him Whether my Lord Russel was there He says He was at that time they discours'd of seizing the Guards The next Witness was the florid Lord Howard who very artificially begins low being forsooth so terribly surprized with my Lord of Essex's Death that his Voice fail'd him till the Lord Chief Justice told him the Jury could not hear him in which very moment his Voice returned again and he told the reason why he spoke no louder After a long Harangue of Tropes and fine Words and dismal General Stories by which as my Lord complains the Jury were prepossessed against him he at last makes his Evidence bear directly upon the point for which he came thither And swears That after my Lord Shaftsbury went away their Party resolved still to carry on the design of the Insurrection without him for the better management whereof they erected a little Cabal among themselves which did consist of Six Persons whereof my Lord Russel and himself were two That they met for this purpose at Mr. Hambden's house and there adjusted the place and manner of the intended Insurrection That about ten days after they had another meeting on the same business at my Lord Russel's where they resolved to send some Persons to engage Argyle and the Scots in the design and being ask'd too that he was sure my Lord Russel was there Being ask'd whether he said any thing he answer'd That every one knew him to be a Person of great Judgment and not very lavish of Discourse Being again goaded on by Jeffreys with a But did he consent We did says he put it to the Vote it went without contradiction and I took it that all there gave their consent West swears That Ferguson and Col. Rumsey told him That my Lord Russel intended to go down and take his Post in the West when Mr. Trenchard had fail'd ' em Whose hear-say-Evidence being not encouraged Jeffreys ends very prettily telling the Court they would not use any thing of Garniture but leave it as it was As for Rumsey the first Witness As to his Person My Lord Candish prov'd on the Trial that my Lord Russel had a
Assassination it must have been by the Rumbalds if not by them as has been proved then not at all If no assassination in this Plot then nothing is left of malignity in it but a lawful and laudable opposition to the breach and ruine of our good Laws and Government and even that as will be proved not proved against most of those that by the iniquity of the times suffer'd for the same We have been forced to give this fair and impartial Scheme or Idea of that design which was at that time represented so formidable and dreadful before we could handsomly proceed to the Death of this Noble Lord or those others that followed him and that as well from the order of the History as for his Vindication And as has been remark'd 'T was necessary for that Party who manag'd our ruine that the forementioned business of the Assassination should be believed and nothing like a real one actually performed to gain Credit to a feigned one onely pretended For what could be a greater Argument that there was some black wickedness at the bottom some sin of an extraordinary stain like the Murder of Princes bearing too hard on his Conscience could possibly induce so great a Man to so unchristian an attempt on his own Person Hence they might and no doubt did argue Hence the very rabble may easily reason Certainly there was more in it than onely just consultations and necessary measures taken for the Publick Safety by the Peers of the Realm by the King and Kingdoms best Friends to deliver his Majesty from those Familiars that haunted him There was more than this and this Lord was conscious of it or else certainly he had never acted what he has Now this would effectually excite that aversion which must necessarily follow from all honest Men to a Party who could be guilty of such horrid designs This must of necessity as in effect it did sway much with those Juries who were to sit upon the Lives of any accused or concerned in the same business had there not been more weighty reasons to be produced below towards the finding 'em guilty Altho 't is certain by their own confession the best excuse they could make for Innocent Blood particularly in Russel's Case was that Confirmation they had to the Evidence sworn against ' em ' by Essex's Murder Besides There might be a barbarous kind of a pleasure in opening this Plot with a Scene so like that which began the Popish one and that in all probability by the same Actors whose hands were deep in the others There was a Gentleman kill'd which contributed very much towards the credit of that Plot tho in another way Here must be one to undergo the same Fate for the same reason And both of 'em too pretendedly to kill themselves Just one as much as another These Preliminaries being cleared 't will be now time to come to the Person of this Noble Lord his Family and former manner of Life Every one knows he was of the Illustrious Family of the Capels whose Father dy'd for a Family whence he deserved better Treatment for his sake and had received it had he not fallen into the Hands of Popish Gratitude and Mercy which his Enemies knowing too well and doubting the Sweetness of temper which all the world ever acknowledged in King Charles the Second would not give him over to their publick Revenge in all probability resolved to take a shorter course with him He had been some years before in the highest place under the King in Ireland and there behaved himself with that Wisdom and Candor inseparable from all the actions of his Life and lived above Blame though not above Envy Being recalled thence unexpectedly and dealt with not very handsomly which yet he bore with a Spirit like a brave man and a Christian. My Lord of Essex was a Person whom 't was no doubt the highest Interest of the Popish Faction to have gotten out of the way even tho' there had been no such extraordinary Reason as has been mentioned He had large Interest a plentiful Estate a great deal of Courage understood the World and the Principles and Practices of the Papists as well as any man having been of several Secret Committees in the Examination of the Plot on which very reason there was as much necessity for his dying as Sir E. B. Godfrey's He was besides all this they very well knew of Inflexible Honesty and so true a greatness of mind they could no more expect to gain him than Heaven it self to be on their side As for the immediate Subject of his Death the manner and cirâ—uâ—stances thereof It must first be granted and a very reasonable demand it is that for the present only supposing he was murder'd by the Papists they would we may be sure make it their business to render the manner of it as dark as the Hell in which 't was contriv'd Murders especially of that magnitude don't use to be committed in the face of all the world and at Noon-day When Power is engaged in any Villany when the same Power is still continu'd or encreas'd and can be easily exercis'd in taking out of the way the Traytors tho' it loves the Treason and when so many years have interven'd since the Fact 't is no wonder at all if things are more in the dark than they would have been had at that very instant Liberty been given to have enquired into it which was so loudly and passionately demanded But this we are yet certain of tho' no more be yet publickly known in this matter than what has formerly been Printed and tho' there may be several reasons both of State and Decency which may perhaps make it convenient that things should always be as they are yet there are already such violent probabilities both that he was murthered and murthered by Papists And of the other side such at least next to impossibilities in his acting it himself that as long as the World stands no modest man will be able either to get by 'em or over 'em nor the most impudent or cunning to out-face or give them an answer For the probability that he was murther'd by Popish Contrivement besides those already named Why they should do it here are these following Arguments That they did it Their Principles too openly known to be deny'd Their Practices in all Ages and this present Sir E.B.G. the very Prototype of Essex Arnold all the pretended Legal Murders all that has since happened But if 't is said some Papists are better and braver than others Let 's come nearer Would those that formerly burnt London those who have since broke all the Obligations of Gratitude and Good Nature nay Publick Faith and the most solemn Oaths which 't is possible for a man to take Who if the Testimonies of such as have confirmed it with their dying Breaths and last drop oâ— Blood may be credited who have encouraged hired paid men for
A Brief Extract of Captain Walcots Prayer O Lord our God Thou art a God of present help in time of Trouble a God that hast promised to be with thy People in the Fire and in the Water O Lord we pray Thee that thou wilt afford thy Presence to thy poor suffering Servants at this time O Lord thy Servant that speaketh doth confess that the Iniquities at his Heels have justly overtaken him O do thou bathe each of our Souls in that Fountain set open for Sin and for Vncleanness O do thou enable every one of us from the inward Evidence of thy Spirit to say with thy Servant Job That we know and are assured that our Redeemer lives O give us some inward Tasts of those Heavenly Joys that we hope through the Mercy of Jesus Christ in a little time to have a more full Fruition of O Lord do thou speak Peace to every one of our Consciences though we lie under a Sentence of Death from Man we beg that we may have a Sentence of Life Eternal from our God and though we meet Thee O Lord in a Field of Blood we beg that Thou wilt come to meet with us in a Field of Mercy O Lord though we have been Prodigals we desire to return unto our Fathers House where there is Bread enough O enable us to come unto Thee as Children to their Parents Lord put to thy helping Hand Lord teach us truly to leave no Sin unrepented of in any one of our Hearts And O Lord we beg that with us thou wilt give us leave to recommend unto thy Care our Poor Wives and Children Thou hast promised to be the Father of the Fatherless and the Husband of the Widow and thou hast commanded us to cast the Care of them upon Thee O do thou make Provision for them and enable them to hear this severe stroke with Patience O Lord we also beseech Thee in the behalf of these Poor Kingdoms wherein we are that Thou wilt be merciful to them prevent Divisions among them heal all their Breaches compose their Differences make all that are thine of one Heart and Mind in the things of thee our God Lord favour us with thy Mercy assure us of thy Love stand by us in the difficult Hour take us into thine own Care cause thy Angels to attend us to convey our Souls as soon as they are divided from our Bodies into Abraham 's Bosom All which we beg for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ in whom O Lord this little time do thou give us Hearts to give thee all Glory Honour and Praise now and for evermore Amen Sweet Jesus Amen Hone was accused and owns himself Guilty of a Design to Kill the King and the Duke of York or one or neither for 't is impossible to make any Sense of him When they came to suffer Walcot read a Paper in which was a good rational Confession of his Faith Then comes to the Occasion of his Death for which he says he neither blames the Judges Jury nor Council but only some men that in reality were deeper concern'd than he who combin'd together to swear him out of his Life to save their own and that they might do it effectually contriv'd an untruth c. He forgives the World and the Witnesses Gives his Friends advice to be more prudent than he had been prays that his may be the last Blood spilt on that account wishes the King wou'd be merciful to others says he knew nothing of Ireland and concludes with praying God to have mercy upon him He had then some Discourse with Cartwright wherein he tells him That he was not for contriving the Death of the King nor to have had a Hand in 't and being urg'd with some Matters of Controversie tells him He did not come thither to dispute about Religion but to die Religiously But tho' dying be a serious Business yet 't is almost impossible to read his Discourse with the Dean without as violent temptations to laughter as Compassion Never was so exact an Imitation of the Scene of the Fisherman and Kings in the Rehearsal when he tells 'em Prince Pretty-man kill'd Prince Pretty-man One wou'd think him very near in the same Case with Bateman who came after him His Replies are so incongruous that there 's hardly either Sense or English to be made out of ' em But the poor Fellow talks of Snares and Circumstances and no body knows what and says in one Line He was to meet the King and Duke of York but he did not know when where nor for what In the next he was for killing the King and saving the Duke and when askt the Reason answers the only sensible thing he said all through That he knew no Reason that he did not know what to say to 't And when the Dean charges him with the Murderous Design That he knew as little of it as any poor silly man in the World Rouse comes next gives an Account of his Faith professing to die of the Church of England tells his former Employment and manner of Life acknowledges he heard of Clubs and Designs but was never at 'em and a perfect Stranger to any thing of that Nature Gives a Relation of what past between him and his Majesty on his Apprehension Talks somewhat of Sir Thomas Player the Earl of Shaftsbury and accommodating the King's Son as he calls it tho' not while the King reign'd Then falls upon Lee and the Discourse they had together who as he says swore against him on the Trial those very words he himself had used in pressing him to undertake the Design Speaks of a Silvers Ball which he proposed to be thrown up on Black-Heath and after some Discourse with the Ordinary gives the Spectators some good Counsel Then they all three singly prayed and then the Sentence was Executed upon ' em Algernon Sidney Esq THe next Victim to Popish Cruelty and Malice was Colonel Algernon Sidney of the ancient and noble Name and Family of the Sidneys deservedly famous to the utmost bounds of Europe who as the ingenious Mr. Hawles observes was meerly talkt to death under the notion of a Common-wealths Man and found Guilty by a Jury who were not much more proper Judges of the Case than they wou'd have been had he writ in Greek or Arabick He was arraign'd for a Branch of this Plot at Westminster the 17 th of Novemb. 1683. where tho' it cannot be said the Grand Jury knew not what they did when they found the Bill against him since no doubt they were well instructed what to do yet it must that they found it almost before they knew what ' t was being so well resolv'd on the Case and agreed on their Verdict that had he been Indicted for breaking up an House or robbing on the High-way 't was doom'd to have been Billa vera as much as 't was now For tho' the Indictment was never presented to 'em before they came
find Acceptance with him There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we can be saved but the Name of Jesus Then speaking to the Officers he said Labour everyone of you to be fit to die for I â—ell you you are not fit to dye I was not fit to dye my sâ—lâ— 'till I came in hither but O blessed be God he hath made me fit to dye and hath made me willing to dye In a few moments I shall have the fruition of the blessed Jesus and that not for a day but for ever I am going to the Kingdom of God to the Kingdom of God where I shall enjoy the Presence of God the Father and of God the Son and of God the Holy Spiâ—it and of all the holy Angels I am going to the genâ—ral Assâ—mbly of the first-born and of the Spirit of Just men made perfect O that God should ever do so much for me O that God should concern himself so much for poor Creatures for their Salvation blessed be his name for this was the Design of God from all Eternity to give his only Son to dye for poor miserable Sinners Then the Offiâ—ers going to tye his hands he said What must I be tied then well a brown Thred might have served the turn you need not tye me at all I shall not stir from you for I thank God I am not afraid to dye As he was going out he said Farewel Newgate Farewel all my Fellow prisoners here the Lord comfort you the Lord be with you all Thus much for his Behaviour in the way to his Martyrdom The Place of it was mâ—â—t spitefully and ignominiously ordered almost before his own door and near Guildhall to scare any Good Citizen from appearing vigorously in the Discâ—arge of his Duty for his Countreys Service by his Example If any thing was wanting in his Trial from the haste of it for the clearing his Innocency he sufficiently made it up in solemn Asseverations thereof on the Scaffold God is my Witness says he the Crimes laid to my Charge were falsly and maliciously sworn against me by the Witnesses for I never was at any Consult nor any Meeting where Matters against the Government were discoursed of He adds I never heard or read any Declaration tending that way Again As to the Crimes for which I suffer Vpon the words of a dying man I 'm altogether Innocent Lower he adds He died as he had liv'd in the Communion of the Church of England in whose Ordinances he had been often a partaker and now felt the blessed effects thereof in these his Agonies He was observ'd by those who stood near the Sledge to have solemnly several times averr'd his absolute Innocence of any Design against the Government and particularly that which he died for There were some Persons who are sufficiently known who were present at and exprest a great deal of barbarous Joy at his Death the open publication of their Names is here spar'd in hopes they have or will repent of so unmanly and unchristian a Behaviour tho' some of them then were so confounded with his Constancy and Chearful Bravery as wickedly to report That he was Drunk or Mad when he died His Quarters were set up on Guildhall in Terrorem and for the same Reason no doubt before mentioned for which he was Executed so near it There was such a terrible Storm the day of his Death as has scarce been known in the memory of man and will never be forgot by those who were in it ten or a dozen Ships being founder'd or stranded in one Road and a vast many more in other places And as Heaven then did him Justice and vindicated his Innocence so Earth also has done it the Judgment against him being Reverst by that honourable ever memorable Parliament which under God and our King has setled the Happiness both of this Age and Posterity There wanted not a sort of men at this time who would have perswaded the World that Murder was a Royal Sport for at this time was Printed a Ballad call'd Advice to the â—ity sung to the King at Windsor wherein are these entertaining Lines Then London be wise and baffle their Power And let 'em play the old Game no more Hang hang up the Sheriffs Those Baboons in Power Those Popular Thieves Those Rats of the Tower The Instruments of shedding this Blood may do well to reflect upon the Fate of Clowdesly one of the Iury-men and upon some others since that were concern'd in that Bloody Tragedy His Character HE was a Person of as known Prudence as Integrity a good Christian a compleâ—t Citizen a worthy Magistrate and a zealous Church of England man He was so cautious and wise that he was noted for it all thro' those worst of times and often propos'd as an Example to others of hotter and more imprudent Tempers nor could the least imputation be fix'd on him of hearing or concealing any unlawful or dangerous Discourses any other ways than by plain force of Perjury being known to have shunn'd some Persons whom he as well as some other prudent men suspected to have no good Designs and to be indu'd with no more honesty than discretion as it afterwards prov'd But he was design'd to glorifie God by such an End as all his care could not avoid which he submitted to with bravery rarely to be met with unless among those who suffered for the same Cause in the same Age or their Predecessors Queen Marys Martyrs There was seen the same tenour of Prudence and Piety thro' all the Actions of his Life tho' most conspicuous in the last glorious Scene of it There was such a firmness in his Soul such vigour and almost extatick Joy and yet so well regulated that it shin'd thro' his Face almost with as visible Rays as those in which we use to dress Saints and Martyrs with which both at his Sentence and Execution he refresht all his Friends and at once dazled and confounded his most bitter Enemies Mr. Charles Bateman THE next and last was Mr. Bateman the Chyâ—uâ—geon a Man of good Sense good Courage and good Company and a very large and generous Temper of considerable Repute and Practice in his Calling A great Lover and Vindicator of the Liberties of the City and Kingdom and of more interest than most of his Station He was swore against by Rouse's Lee and Richard Goodenough upon the old Stories of seizing the Tower City and Savoy We had had a better Defence had he himself been able to have made it But being kepâ— close Prisoner in Newgate the Windows and Rooms all dark and little or no Company he being a free jolly Man and us'd formerly to Conversation and Diversion soon grew deeply melancholy and when he came on his Tryal appeared little less than perfectly distracted on which the Court very kindly gave his Son liberty to make his Defence The first Instance to be sure of that Nature since he himself might
that intent nor did I believe there was any such design or ever heard of any disappointment in such an Affair or Arms or Time or Place save what after the Discovery of the General Design Mr. West spoke of as to Arms bought by him And as to my self I was in the North when the late King was at New-market and the first News I had of the Fire was at Beverly in Yorkshire As to my coming over with the late D. of Monmouth it was in prosecution of the same ends but the Lord in his Holy and Wise Providence hath been pleased to blast all our undertakings tho there seemed to be a very unanimous and zealous Spirit in all those that came from beyond the Seas And as to the D. of Monmouth's being declared King I was wholly passive in it I never having been present at any publick Debate of that Affair and should never have advised it but complained of it to Col. Holmes and Captain Patchet I believe the Lord Gray and Mr. F the chief Promoters of it As to the temptation of being an Evidence and bringing either into trouble or danger the meanest Person of his Life upon the Account for which I suffer I always abhorred and detested the thoughts of it both when in and out of danger and advised some very strongly against it except when under my Distraction in Prison that amongst other temptations did violently assault me but through the goodness of my dearest God and Father I was preserved from it and indeed was wholly incapable and could never receive the least shadow of comfort from it but thought Death more eligible and was some time asore out of my distracted and disquieted condition wholly free from it though not without other Temptations far more Criminal in the sight of men I bless the Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations that I find a great Resignedness of my Will to his finding infinitely more comfort in Death than ever I could place in Life tho in a condition that might seem honourable every hour seeing the Will of God in ordering this Affair more and more cleared up to me God hath given God hath taken blessed be his holy Name that hath enabled me to be willing to suffer rather than to put forth my hand to Iniquity or to say a Confederacy with those that do so I am heartily and sincerly troubled for what hath happened many mens Lives being lost and many poor distressed Families ruin'd the Lord pardon what of sin he hath seen in it He in his wonderful Providence hath made me and others concerned Instruments not only for what is already fallen out but I believe for hastening some other great work he hath to do in these Kingdoms whereby he will try and purge his People and winnow the chaff from the Wheat the Lord keep those that are his faithful unto the end I die in Charity with all the World and can readily and heartily forgive my greatest Enemies even those that have been Evidences against me and I most humbly beg the pardon of all that I have in the least any way injur'd and in a special manner humbly ask pardon of the Lady Lisle's Family and Relations for that my being succoured there one Night with Mr. Hicks brought that worthy Lady to suffer Death I was wholly a Stranger to her Ladiship and came with Mr. Hicks neither did she as I verily believe know who I was or my Name till I was taken And if any other have come toany loss or trouble I humbly beg their pardon and were I in a condition I would as far as I was able make them a requital As to my Faith I neither look nor hope for merey but only in the Free-grace of God by the Application of the Blood of Jesus my dearest and only Saviour to my poor sinful Soul My distresses have been exceeding great as to my Eternal State but through the infinite goodness of God tho I have many sins to answer for yet I hope and trust as to my particular that Christ came for this very end and purpose to relieve the Oppressed and to be a Physician to the Sick I come unto thee O blessed Jesus refuse me not but wash me in thine own Blood and then present me to thy Father as righteous What tho' my Sins be as Crimson and of a Scarlet Dye yet thou canst make them as white as Snow I see nothing in my self but what must utterly ruine and condemn me I cannot answer for one action of my whole Life but I cast my self wholly upon thee who art the Fountain of Mercy in whom God is reconciling himself to the World the greatest of Sins and Sinners may find an All sufficiency in thy Blood to cleanse 'em from all sin O dearest Father of Mercy look upon me as righteous in and through the imputed Righteousness of thy Son he hath payed the Debt by his own own Offering up himself for sin and in that thy Justice is satisfied and thy Mercy is magnified Grant me thy Love O dearest Father assist me and stand by me in the needful hour of Death give thy Angels charge over my poor Soul that the Evil One may not touch nor hurt it Defend me from his power deliver me from his rage and receive me into thine Eternal Kingdom in and through the alone Merits of my dearest Redeemer for whom I praise thee To whom with thy self and holy Spirit be ascribed all Glory Honour Power Might and Dominion for ever and for ever Amen Dear Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Amen R. NELTHROPE Newgate Octob. 29. 1685. Mrs. Gaunt ONe of the great Reasons why Mrs. Gaunt was burnt was 't is very possible because she lived at Wapping the honest Seamen and hearty Protestants thereabouts being such known Enemies to Popery and Arbitrary Government that the Friends of both gave all who oppose it the Name of Wappingers as an odious Brand and Title She was a good honest charitable Woman who made it her business to relieve and help whoever suffer'd for the forementional Cause sparing no pains refusing no office to get them assistance in which she was the most industrious and indefatigable woman living Among others whom she had thus relieved who were obnoxious persons was one Burton whom with his Wife and Family she had kept from starving for which may the very name of 'em be register'd with Eternal Infamy they swore against her and took away her Life Tho she says in her Speech there was but one Witness against her as to any mony she was charg'd to give him and that he himself an Outlawed person his Outlawry not yet revers'd he not being outlawed when she was with him and hid him away That which she writ in the Nature of a Speech has a great deal of Sense and Spirit and some strange Expressions which were mention'd in the Introduction to all these matters which she concludes with these words addrest to her
cruel Foes Let Babylon come down Let England's King be one of them Shall raze her to the ground 7. Through Christ we yield our Souls to thee Accept us on his Score That where he is there we may be To praise thee ever more After the Hymn sung he prayed devoutly for half an hour after Prayer he gave great satisfaction to all present of his Assurance of Heaven had many weeping Eyes for him and was much lamented in the Town tho' a stranger to the place so unbuttoning himself said to the Executioner I fear not what Man can do unto me I pray thee do thy work in mercy for I forgive thee with all my heart and I also pray to God to forgive thee don 't mangle my Body too much and so lifting up his hands to Heaven the Executioner did his Office There was also one William Cox that died with him who also died very couragiously despising the shame in hopes and expectation of a future better Estate He and his two Sons were some of the first that came to the Duke of Monmouth anâ— all taken and all condemned together The Father only suffered the Sons by Providence were preserved When he was going to Execution he desired leave to see his Sons then in another Prison in the Town to whom he gave his Blessing and though he was going to be Executed yet had that satisfaction to hope that God would preserve them which was so Some further Passages relating to Mr. Sampson Larke with his Prayer at the same time and Place when Executed IMmeâ—iately after Colonel Holmes was Executed this gâ—od Man was ordered to prepare to follow accordingly going to dâ—liver some few words to the People some whereof were formerly of his Congregation but being told he could not expecâ— much time because it was so late and so many to be Executed afteâ— him so he suddenly concluded and said I will now speak a few Words to him whicâ— I am sure will hear me And so began his Prayeâ— as followeth Blessed Lord God we thine unworthy Creaturâ— now here before thee cannot but acknowledge from thâ— bottom of our hearts our own unworthiness we muâ—â— confess we have been grievous sinners and have brougâ—â— forth the evil Fruit of it in our Lives to the greâ—â— dishonour of thy Name for which we have deserved thy heavy wrath and indignation to be poured forth upon us not only in this life but in that which is to come O let us bless God for our Sufferings and Afflictions as for our Mercies we bless thee in particular for this O sanctifie it to us let us be effectually convinced of the vanity of the World and of our own sinfulness by Nature and Practice and to see that to be sin which we never saw before O Lord make us sensible of the absolute necessity of the Righteousness of Christ to justifie us and let him be now made much more dear and precious to our Souls than ever that so we may be wrought into a more heavenly Frame and raised to a higher degree of Spirituality and so made more meek and humble and let us judge charitably of others that differ from us in Opinion and Judgment And now O Lord though by thy most righteous Judgment we most justly deserve these Sufferings and such an ignominious Death for our Sins against thee not for Treasons against the Kingdom let us be in a preparedness for it Pardon all our Sins help us quietly to submit to thy holy Will speak peace to all our Souls Look in mercy O Lord on this poor Nation especially on this Town and every particular Person in it let them all mind those things which concern their peace before they are hid from their eyes Comfort my dear and distressed Wife be a Husband unto her deliver her out of the Paw of the Lyon and the Paws of the Bear Look upon all thy poor afflicted ones all Prisoners and Captives work deliverance for them if thou seest it good but thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven And now Lord with humble meekness and submission I submit to thy Will depending upon on the Merits of my Saviour to whom with thy blessed Self and Spirit be ascribed all Honour and Praise both now and for ever Amen Then mounting the Ladder he called to some of the Town who weeped for him but were at some distance Go home to your own Houses pray do not weep for me and before you get up yonder Hill I shall be with my heavenly Father in fulness of joy and pleasure for evermore And so advising those before him to leave off those cruel Sentiments they had taken of him besides some heavenly Discourses with some of his Friends he was turned off to the great grief of the good People of the Town especially those of his own Congregation To give him nothing but his due he was a man mighty charitable relieving and visiting the poor and needy Preached in season and out of season and made it his business to go about doing good and to put poor Souls in a way for Eternal Life he was an old Christian as well as aged in years he was a general loss especially to his dear and tender Wife But all our losses are nothing to be compared to that Glory that he now enjoys Mr. Sampson Larke's Letter to a Friend just before his Execution MY dear Friend I am ready to be offered and the time of my Departure is at hand I have through Grace fought a good fight have finished my course have kept the Faith and am in hopes of the Crown of Righteousness prepared for me and all God's faithful Ones The experiences I have had of the Promises hath given me comfortable hopes that he will carry me to the full end of my Journey with his Name and that Truth of his which I have made Profession of My great Crime is for my being a Preachâ—r of the Gospel and here I am to be made a Sacrifice where I have mostly preached Christ 's Gospel I think my Judges have devised this punishment for my hurt but I trust God will turn it to my good the great trouble I have is for those good Hearts that I must leave behind me But this is my comfort knowing that all such as fear God he will be a Father to them My dear Wife is greatly troubled but through Mercy much supported and something quieted if any of you have opportunity to give her help I hope you will do it As for our confessing our selves Guilty it was expresly as to matter of Fact and not of Form and this I did with some freedom and the rather because all my worthy Brethren that went before me took that way and the many ways having been used to have a further Discovery yet nothing of that kind by any but only by Captain Jones Since our Sentence some wretched men have been with us to draw from us a Confession of our
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
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
trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation But deliver us from Evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen After which going up the Ladder he desired the Executioner not to be hard to him who answered No and said I pray Master forgive me To which he said I do wiâ—h my whole Heart and I pray God forgive thee but I advise thee to leave off this bloody Trade The Executioner said I am forced to do what I do it 's against my mind So lifting up his hands to Heaven the Executioner did his Office The Behaviour and Dying Words of Mr. Roger Satchel who was executed at Weymouth in the County of Dorset THis Gentleman at the time of the Dukes landing at Lyme lived at Culliton about five Miles West of that Town and was supposed to be concerned in the design with the Duke He always was a great Admirer of him which got him many Enemies among the Gentry of that County He always hated the name of a Papist and as it fell out he did foresee Popery advancing as his Words to divers of his Neighbours can testifie As for his Disposition he was of a very generous and Heroick Spirit But to proceed No sooner had he the news of the Dukes being landed but he sets himself to work to serve him desiring all he knew to joyn with him and was one of the first that went to him to Lyme and was with him to the end But after the Rout travelling to and fro to secure himself was at last taken at Chard by three Moss Troopers under no Discipline who made it their business to ruine their Neighbours in those parts they are so well known I need not say any more He was from thence carry'd to Ilchester and so secured in Ilchester Goal and at the Bloody Assizes at Dorchester took his Tryal and received his Sentence with the rest Great application was made for him but my L. C. Justice Jeffreys Ears were deaf and so was order'd to be executed at Weymouth After Sentence two of his Friends came to him and told him There was no hope He answer'd My hope is in the Lord. After which he spent most of his time before Execution in Prayer and Meditation and conferring with many good Persons The morning being come he prepared himself and all the way drawing to Execution was very devout Being come to the place there was a Minister I think of that place who sung a Psalm and prayed with them and would have some Discourse with this Person which he avoided as much as possible but he asked him What were his Grounds for joyning in that Rebellion who answered Had you Sir been there and a Protestant I believe you would have joyned too but do not speak to me about that I am come to die for my sins not for my Treason against the King as you call it So pointing to the Wood that was to burn his Bowels he said I do not care for that what matters it what becomes of my Body so my Soul be at rest So praying to himself near half an hour and advising some he knew never to yield to Popery he was turned off the Ladder He was a couragious bold spirited Man and one of great Reason Just and punctual in all his business and one that did much good amongst his Neighbours There was at the same time and place one Mr. Lancaster executed whose Courage and Deportment was such that he out-braved Death and in a manner challenged it to hurt him saying I die for a good Cause and am going to a gracious God I desire all your Christian Prayers 't is good to go to Heaven with Company And much more he spake concerning the Duke of Monmouth whom he supposed at that time to be living and so praying privately for some small time he was turned or rather leaped over the Ladder If I mistake not he said he was born or lived in Bridport The last Speech of Mr. Benjamin Sandford at the place of Execution at Bridport HE with Nine more were brought from Dorchester to Bridport to be Executed Coming to the place of Execution he held up his Hands to Heaven and turning himself to the People said I am an Old Man you see and I little thought to have ended my days at such a shameful place and by such an ignominious Death and indeed it is dreadful to Flesh and Blood as well as a Reproach to Relations but it would have been a great deal more if I had suffered for some Felonious Account Says one to him Is not this worse do you think than Felony He answered I know not any thing that I have done so bad as Felony that this heavy Judgment should fall upon me except it be for my sins against my God whom I have highly provok'd and must acknowledge have deserved ten thousand times more Lord I trust thou hast pardoned them Seal my pardon in the Blood of my Saviour Lord look upon and be with me to the last Moment There was also Executed at the same time one John Bennet a poor Man but pious and of good Report with his Neighbours in Lyme where he lived I have heard that when he was on Trial a certain Person inform'd his Lordship that the Prisoner then at the Bar had Alms of the Parish And that his Lordship should reply Do not trouble your selves I will ease the Parish of that trouble In Prison and at the place of Execution he behaved himself so to all that many of his Enemies pitied him and would if it had lain in their power as they said have saved him His Son being then present offered to have died for him and was going up the Ladder if it might have been suffer'd He prayed some short time and so was translated as we have hopes to think from this troublesome World into Celestial Joy and Happiness Next follows many Excellent Hymns made by several Worthy Persons that were Prisoners for the sake of Christ. TRiumphing Songs with glorious Tongues Let 's offer unto him That loved so to undergo The product of our Sin Leaving his Throne from Heaven came down Sinners for to Redeem From Hell and Wrath and second death Christ underwent great pain His side was gor'd his hands were bor'd His feet were nailed down And all was for the Redemption Of sinful wicked Man O how straitned prest and pained Was Christ to be Baptized And in Affliction to be plunged His Body Sacrificed Let God be blest for Jesus Christ Who is our splendid King Hallelujahs sweet with spirit meet High praises to him sing For Blood for Wounds for Love whose bounds Extended unto all For scoffâ— and smites for jeers for flouts Which upon Christ did fall Now Christ haste unto us again Thy Scepter for to sway Thy Kingdom come thy will be done Come Jesus come away With glorious bands and shiâ—ing trance Of Angels in the Skye Which forth
shall sing Triumphing Songs With sweet Hallelujah Set up thy standerd and prepare War against Babylon For her destruction draweth near As here we read her doom Lord blow the Trumpet and awake The Nations round about â—tir up the spirit of the Medes Which did old Babel rout For Babel must drink of that Cup Which Sion deep did wound Jerusalem did first begin And so the Cup goes round But Babel must drink up the dregs Of Wrath which do remain With which no mixture she shall have To mitigate her pain For 't is the vengeance of our God And of his Temple too The vials that fill up his Wrath The three last Trumpets wo. When Jacob as a battle Ax In great Jehovah's hand Shall break down all those Mountains tall That in his way do stand O then let us Rejoyce because The time appointed is That Babel shall be seen to fall And Sion shine in Bliss Our Lord draws near as doth appear By Signs by him fore-told Then Virgins come meet your Bridegroom His Wondrous Works behold The Night grows dark ' be still and hark What is the Bridâ—grooms Voice That when the 〈◊〉 comes swiftly by It may your 〈◊〉 â—ejoyce Your light grows dim arise and trim Your Lamps from all their Soyl And see your Light shines clear and bright Supply'd with Gospel-Oyl Some Virgins now do Sleepy grow And don't their Vessels fill Nor fear a want when Oyl grows scant And none be found to sell. And at Mid-night all in a Fright Oyl-shops they cannot find And none will spare out of his share And so they are left behind Thus Foolish sleep in dangers deep And think their Lord delays But his own Bride â—ath surely spi'de Some of his Glorious Rays And will not sleep unless she keep Her Watch-lightâ— burning still With Oyl in store laid up therefore Let him come when he will And though her Garments had some rents And spots not perfect white Yet they 'll be cleans'd or quickly chang'd For Rayments of Delight With her Bridegroom she 〈◊〉 find room In Chambers of his Love When the Unwise he will deâ—pise And them from him remove The behaviour and dying words of Mr. Gatchill Executed at Taunton THE said Mr. Gatchill was a Constable of the Hundred he was surprized by a Party of the Dukes and shewed a Warrant to bring in Provisions and other Necessaries for the use of the Army which if he had not obeyed was threatned to have his House burnt so that he was obliged to do what he did for his own Preservation But this was not sufficient for being found Guilty he was Executed As he was drawn to Execution he looked on the People aâ—d said A Populous Town God bless it Just bâ—fore he was Executed he spake That the Crime he was Accused of and Condemned for was High Treason but he did not know himself to be Guilty of it and that what he did he was forced to do And further said I am so well known to you that I do verily believe you have Charity to think that what I speak is true As for the Niceties of the Law I do not well understand them And much more to the same effect he spake And so after Prayer with his suffering Brother Mr. Simon Hambling he was Executed There was also Executed at Taunton Mr. John Hucker a very worthy Gentlman of that Town He had some ill Friends in the Duke's Army that cast Aspersions on him as though he was the Person that was a Traytor to the Duke by firing a Pistol in Sedgmoor but I have strictly examined many on that Point and can find it to be nothing but the worst of an Enemies Malice to wound him after his Death in his Reputation which he always valued highly when living To be short he has left the Character amongst his Neighbours of an honest Man a good Christian and one that was true to the Interest of the Duke and Sealed it with his Blood The following Letter my Bookseller received from Mr. Robert Hucker now living in Taunton which I thought proper to print word for word than so my Reader may see what care I have taken to have all the Accounts I give concerning Mr. Hucker well attested Mr. Dunton Taunton Feb. 24 th 1691 2. LOoking over the Advertisements to the Athenian Mercury I found your intention of making some Additions to the Book called the Bloody Assizes and finding others that suffered with my Father their Relations have printed their Last Letters I have here sent you a Letter written by my Father but some hours before he was Executed the main reason why I consented to have it Printed was That persons mouths may be stopt from their false and lying Accusations he carried himself like a Christian under Confinement but when he came to look Death in the Face it was with so much Courage that it was to the Astonishment of the Beholders for there was many a weeping Eye amongst both Officers and Souldiers for him and those his Fellow-Sufferers I crave a Line from you of the Receipt of this with which you will oblige Sir Your unknown Friend and Servant ROBERT HUCKER Direct to me in Taunton Mr. John Huckers Letter to his Friend a little before his Execution I Was in hopes to have had liberty to speak a few words at the place of Execution till a few minutes since but now am persuaded the contrary Therefore excuse these abrupt-Lines I bless God I am now reconciled to this contemptible Death it was long ere I could but now God hath done it for me and I thankfully submit to it from the hands of the wise God whom I have offended And therefore desire to accept my punishment knowing he doth all things well without any wrong to his Creatures I had lately some Discourse with two Persons whereof one was of Quality concerning the things laid to my charge I was told that it was three things One was That I was an enemy to or against the Protestant Religion that I was troublesome and had acted vigorously in Elections of Members for Parliament and upheld the Meetings I own my self a Protestant and die an Asserter of that Religion and I pray God I do not prove a better Friend to it than those that have so industriously endeavoured the taking away my Life and that they see it not when it 's too late As to the Meetings I bless God I ever was at any of them and that I was any way instrumental to the upholding of them and am troubled that I have I fear sinfully deprived my self of them and do believe if ever the Ordinances of God were rightly administred and the Gospel effectually preached it was in those Meetings that were held in Taunton the Lord bless the Seed that was there sown As to Elections of Members for Parliament I judge it my Birthright and therefore was industrious in it but I hope never did I am surâ— never intended troublesomness to any in