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
I bid farewel to all my Friends and dear Relations Farewell my poor Wife and Children whom I leave in the good hand of him who is better than seven Husbands and who will be a Father to the Fatherless Farewell all Creature Comforts Welcome everlasting Life everlasting Glory Welcome everlasting Love everlasting Praise Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me Sic Subscrib JOHN KING August 14 th 1679. Tolbooth Circa horam Septimam A brief Account of the last Speech of Mr. John Kidd at the place of Execution at Edinburgh on the 14th day of August 1679. Right Worthy and well beloved Spectators and Auditors COnsidering what bodily Distempers I have been exercised with since I came out of the Torture viz. Scarce two hours out of my naked bed in one day it cannot be expected that I should be in a Case to say any thing to purpose at this Juncture especially seeing I am not as yet free of it however I cannot but Reverence the good hand of God upon me and desire with all my Soul to bless him for this my present Lot It may be there are a great many here that judge my Lot very sad and deplorable I must confess Death it self is very â—eâ—rible to Flesh and Blood but as it is an out-let to sin and an in-let to Righteousness it is the Christians great and inexpressible Priviledge and give me leave to say this that there is something in a Christian Condition that can never put him without the reach of insufferableness even shame death and the Cross bâ—ing included And then if there be peace betwixt God and the Soul nothing can damp peace with Goâ— through our Lord Jesus Christ this is a most supporting ingredient in the bitterest Cup and under the sharpest and firiest Tryal he can be exposed unto thiâ— is my mercy that I have something of this to lay Claim unto viz. The intimations of Pardon and Peace betwixt God and my Soul And as concerning that for which I am condemned I Magnifie his grace that I never had the least challenge for it but on the contrary I Judge it my Honour that ever I was counted worthy to come upon the Stage upon such a consideration another thing that renders the most despicable Lot of the Christian and mine sufferable is a felt and sensible presence from the Lord strengthening the Soul when most put to it and if I could have this for my Allowance this day I could be bold to say O death where is thy sting and could not but cry out Welcome to it and all that follows upon it I grant the Lord from an act of Soveraignty may come and go as he pleases but yet he will never forsake his people and this is a Cordial to me in the Case I am now exposed unto Thirdly The exercising and putting forth his glorious Power is able to Transport the Soul of the Believer and mine above the reach of all sublunary Difficulties and therefore seeing I have hope to be kept up by this power I would not have you to look upon my Lot or any other that is or may be in my Câ—se in the least deplorable seeing we have ground to believe that in more or less he will perfect his Power and Strength in Weakness Fourthly That I may come a little nearer to the purpose in hand I declare before you all in the sight of God Angels and Men and in the sight of that Son and all that he has Created that I am a most miserable Sinner in regard of my Original and Actual Transgressions I must confess they are more in number than the Hairs of my Head They are gone up above my Head and are past numbring I cannot but say as Jacob said I am less than the least of all God's Mercies yet I must declare to the exalting of his Free Grace That to me who am the least of all Saints is this Grace made known and that by a strong hand and I dare not but say he has loved me and washed me in his own Blood from all Iniquities and well is it for me this day That ever I heard or read that faithful saying that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief Fifthly I must also declare in his sight I am the most unworthiest that ever opened his mouth to preach the unsearchable Riches of Christ in the Gospel Yea the sense of this made me altogether unwilling to fall about so great a Work until by the importunity of some whose Names are precious and savoury to me and many others I was prevailed with to fall about it and yet I am hopeful not altogether without sâ—me fruit and if I durst say it without Vanity I never found so much of the presence of God upon my Spirit as I have found in Exercises of that Nature though I must still confess attended with inexpressible Weakness and this is the main thing for which I must lay down my Tabernacle this day viz. That I did preach Christ and the Gospel in several places of this Nation for which I bless him as I can That ever such a poor obscure person as I am have been thus priviledged by him for making mention of his Grace as I was able In the next place though to many I die desired yet I know to not a few my Death is not desired and it is the rejoycing of my heart that I die in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ who has loved me and given himself for me and in the Faith of the Prophets and Apostles and in this Faith of there 's not a Name under Heaven by which Men can be saved but the Name of Jesus and in the Faith of the Doctrine and Worship of the Kirk of Scotland as it is now established according to the Word of God Confession of Faith Catechisms larger and shorter and likewise I joyn my Testimony against Popery Perjury Profanity Heresie and everything contrary to found Doctrine In the Close as a dying Person and as one who has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful I would humbly leave it upon godly Ministers to be faithful for their Lord and Master and not to hold their peace in such a day when so many wayâ— are taken for injuring of him his Nâ—me Way Sanctuary Ordinances Crown and Kingdom I hope there will be found a party in this Land that will continue for him and his Matters in all Hazzards and as faithfulnesâ—â—s called for in Ministers so Professors would concern themselves that they Countenance not nor abet any thing inconsistent with former Principles and Practices Let the Land consider how Neutral and Indifferent we are grown in the Matters of God even like Ephraiâ— long ago a Cake not turned As concerning that which is the ground of my Death viz. Preaching here and there in some Corners I bless my God I have not the leasâ— Challenge for it and tho' those that
Spectacle that they behold me with high complacency and delight but to the other I am a mournful and unpleasant one and they behold me with no less pity and compassion Concerning the first I can say I freely and heartily forgive them and heartily pray that God would most mercifully and graciously prevent their mourning through Misery not only here but eternally hereafter Concerning the other I will say Weep for your own sins and for the sins of the Nation for the highest Rebellions that ever were committed against the great and eternal God lament bitterly for those sins that have been the meritorious Cause of the late terrible Judgment that which I fear will cause God to break in upon this Nation with an overflowing Deluge of Judgments which are far more tremendous and dreadful As for sympathizing with me in drinking this bitter Cup appointed for me I return you most humble and hearty thanks earnestly desiring God to come unto you and fill your Soulâ— with all Celestial Comforts and Spiritual Consolations Something I must say to purge and clear my self from a false Accusation laid to my Charge as that I was engaged with Col. Blood in rescuing Col. Mason near Boston when he was sent down with a Guard from London to York to be Tryed for High Treason and that I was the Man that killed the Barber of that City â—nd that also I was with him when he stole the Crown Now as I am a dying Man and upon the very brink of a very stupendous Eternity the â—â—uth and reality whereof I fiâ—mly believe without any reservation or the least equivocation I do declare in the Presence of the All-seeing God that impartial Judge before whom in a very little time I must appear I never saw nor conversed with Mr. Thomas Blood from 1656 till after he stole the Crown which was in 71 or 72. nor was ever engaged with him in any of his Treasonable Plots or Practices 'T is true I being involved in great trouble of another Nature of which I have given to the World a Narrative and which is notoriously known in the Country where I then lived by some that were Enemies to me for my preaching I was perswaded to apply my self to Mr. Blood to procure by his Intercession his late Majesties gracious Favour accordingly he brought me into his Royal Presence while I was there his Majesty carried it with great Clemency without expressing one word of that which I am now charged with Mr. Blood continued with his Majesty a little longer than I did then he told me that he had granted me a Pardon which I did thankfully accept of knowing it would free me from all Penalties and Troubles that I was obnoxious to and were occasioned to me by my Non-conformity Then engaging him to take out my Pardon he told me That he got it out with several others that had been engaged with him in several Treasonable Designs and Actions at which I was troubled supposing it might be imputed to me thereby yet God knows I have often since reflected upon it with great regret and dissatifaâ—tion If Mr. Blood did inform the late King to make himself the more considerable and to bring as many of his Party as he could to accept of their Pardons that hâ— might be rendered utterly incapable of Plotting any further Mischief against his Government or any other ways that I was engaged with him in any of his Treasonable Attempts I now appeal to God as a dying Man concernâ—ng it that he hath done me an irreparable wâ—ong I also in the same manner do declare That I was never ingaged with any Party in Plotting or Designing or Contriving any Treason or Rebellion agâ—inst the late King and particularly that I was altogether uncoâ—cerned in and unacquainted with that for which my Lord Russel and others suffer'd and as much a stranger to any against the present King And whereas it is reported of me That at Taunton I perswaded the late Duke of Monmouth to assume the Title of King I do once more solemnly declare That I saw not the said Duke nor had any Converse with him 'till he came to Shipton-Mallet which was thirteen days after he landed and several days after he had been at Taunton And 't is as false that I rid to and fro in the West to stir up and perswade Men to go into his Army and rebel against his present Majesty for I was iâ— the East Country when the Duke landed and from thence I went directly to him when he was at Shipton Mallâ—t not one Man accompanying me from thence But hitherto as I lived so now I die owning and professing the true Reformed Christiaâ— commonly called the Protestant Religion which is founded on the pure written Word of God only and which I acknowledge likewise to be comprehended in the Article of the Doctrine of the Church This Religion I have made a reasonable and free choice of and have heartily embraced not only as it protests against all Pagan and Mahometan Religion but against the Corruption of the Christian and I humbly and earnestly pray to God that by his Infinite Wisdom and Almighty Power he will prevent not only the utter extirpation but diminution thereof by the heighth and influence of what is contrary thereto and for that end the Lord make the Professors of it to live up more to its Principles and Rules and bring their Hearts and Conversations more under the Government and Power of â—he same I die also owning my Ministry Non-conformity for which I have suffer'd so much and which doth now obstruct the King's Grace and Mercy to be manifested and extended to me For as I chose it not constrainedly so I appeal to God as a dying Man not moved from sullenness or humour or factious temper or erroneous Principles of Education or from secular interests or worldly advantages but clearly from the Dictates of my own Conscience and as I judged it to be the Cause of Goâ— and to have more of Divine Truth in it than that which is contrary thereto so now I see no Cause to repent of it nor to recede from it not questioning but God will own it at the last Judgment-day If no more had been required after the late King's Restauration to qualifie Ministers for publick Preaching than was after the first Restauration from the time of Charles the First probably I might have satisfied my self therewith and not scrupled Conformity thereto but the Terms and Conditions thereof by a particular Law made in 1662. being not only new but so strict and severe that I could never have satisfaction in my own Conscience after all Endeavours used for a Complyance therewith and a Conformity thereto To say nothing of the Covenant which I never took but the giving my Assent and Consent have been too difficult and hard for me to comply with And I very well remember that about fourteen years ago entring into a Discourse with Mr. Patrick
Money but stood on the Bill of Exclusion 't was pretence enough to swear a design to seize the King at Oxford When this same Heins very pleasantly says 'T was a Judgment upon the King and the People and the Irish-men's swearing against 'em was justly fallen on 'em for outing the Irish of their Estates When others of 'em swear That since the Citizens deserted 'em they would not starve That they would have Colledge's Blood That tho they had gone against their Consciences 't was because they had been persuaded to 't and could get no Mony else and when they had said before tâ—ey believed Colledge had no more hand in any Conspiracy against his Majesty than the Child unborn When they would have hired others to swear more into the same Plot when the Bench was so just and kind Counsel for the Prisoner as to tell the Jury The Kings Witnesses were on their Oaths the Prisoners not and so one to be credited before the other in which case 't is impossible for any man living to make a defence against a perjur'd Villain Lastly When the Prisoner himself very weightily objected â—hat there was no proof of any Persons being concern'd with him in the design of seizing the King and 't was wisely answer'd That he might be so vain to design it alone A thousand times more Romantic Improbability than an Army 's lying conceal'd at Knightsbridge and of the same stamp with Draweansirs killing all on both sides Taking all these things together hardly ever was a man at this rate banter'd out of his Life before any Judicature in the World in any place or Age that History hath left us Nor ought the great Service he did to the Nation in general to be ever forgotten since notwithstanding all the disadvantages he was under the publick stream running so violently against him and his Witnesses and the surprize which such strange Treatment when he was on his Life might cast him into he yet made so strong a Defence by shewing what sort of Witnesses were brought against him hindring them ever after from being believ'd and thereby certainly saved many anothers Life tho he could not his own Nor can the undaunted Courage and firm Honesty of the man be hardly ever enough admired Since besides what he shewed in his defence after he was condemned as he himself said as good as without a Tryal he boldly ask'd When he was to be executed without any the least seeming concern And tho he had time considerable before his Execution to consider on 't refus'd to save his Life so meanly as to make other innocent men's the price of his own without which design they had hardly been so kind to have given him so long a Reprieve As for his Behaviour at his Execution ' Twaâ— such as convinc'd more than a few of his greatest Enemies and made 'em entertain a much better opinion of him than before From his last Speech we shall remark several Passages as another argument for his Innocency But before we proceed any further in 'em 't will be needful to fix one assertion which we may presume few modest unprejudiced Persons will deny and which we shall have occasion to make further use of 'T is That a Protestant who believes an Heaven and Hell and is not a Man of no Principles or debauch'd and atheistical would go out of the World into the Presence of that God who must Judge him with a Lie in his Mouth This none will deny but those who have a very great kindness for the Papists and yet of all men in the world such as these must not offer to do it since 't was the very argument they made use of for the Innocence of the Jesuits and other Traytors Tho' on that side we know there are unanswerable Arguments not to believe them their Religion recommending Peâ—jury and all sorts of Villanies to 'em as meritorious when Holy Church is concerned Their Church besides allowing 'em Dispensations before and Absolution after and Purgatory at the worst whence a few Masses would fetch them out again Things being thus what can any Man of Modesty say to Mr. Colledges Protestations over and over both in Prison and at his Death that he was perfectly innocent of what he dy'd for I did deny it then says he that is before the Council and do deny it upon my Death I never was in any manner of Plot in my days nor if I had had any such design as these have sworn against me I take God to witness as I am a dying Man and on the terms of my Salvation I know not one Man upon the face of the Earth which would have stood by me And lower I knew not of any part of what they swore against me till I heard it sworn at the Bar. Again All the Arms we had was for our Defence in case the Papists should have made any attempt by way of Massacre c. God is my witness this is all I know And in his solemn Prayer and some of his almost very last Words 'T is thee O God I trust in I disown all Dispensations and will not go out of the World with a Lie in my Mouth And just after to the People From the sincerity of my Heart I declare again That these are the very Sentiments of my Soul as God shall have mercy upon me Now upon the whole I 'd ask any sober man what he would answer to this and how he can forbear without the greatest Violation to all Principles of Good Nature and Ingenuity to pronounce this Person innocent Thus dy'd Mr. Colledge whose Blood as he himself desir'd it might sufficiently spoke the Justice oâ— his Cause who seem'd in his Speech to have some Prophetick Intimations that his Blood would not be the last as indeed it was not but rather a Praelude to that which follow'd the Edge of the Laws being now turn'd against all those who dar'd defend it He has one Daughter yet living whose Gratitude and Generosity to those who were kind to her under the Misfortunes of her Family is at present the wonder and entertainment of the Couâ—t of England and whose brave Soul speaks her the true Child of such a Father For his Character How great and undaunted his Courage was both his Tryal and Death testifie He was very vigorous and earnest almost to a Fault in his undertakings But certainly there are so few who err on that hand that we may without flattery account this his warm zeal for his Country if it did a little exceed a happy as well as a very pardonable error He was extraordinary ingenious in his own Trade and imployed amongst great Persons for his dexterity therein He had an entire love for the City of Lâ—ndoâ— and stood up for its honour and priviledges as highly as any man living He haâ— a Soul so very great and generous that many who knew him well have said considering his Education they wondred how
more eminently did when he heard my Lord Russel was to be try'd as being griev'd and desperate for having brought so brave a Gentlemen into such unhappy Circumstances as Bomeny somewhere or other pretends to on discoursing with him on that particular But there are two Answers which cut all the Sinews of this Objection One That this was the very day before he was murder'd that he sent both for his Wine and Silver Vessels Now Bomeny lays the Foundation of his Melancholy and the Intention to be his own Destroyer on the very first day he came into the Tower For he says in his Deposition in Braddon's Trial That he had order'd his Servant two days before to provide a Penknife for him on pretence of cutting his Nails but with an intent of committing that Fatal and Tragical Act. The Thirteenth of July was the day of his Martyrdom two days before then must be the Eleventh the day of his Commitment But 't was the intervening day the Twelfth of that Month on which he took such care to eat and drink safely whereas had there been any such design in his Head he wou'd never have taken such Measures and if he had had an intention to amuze his People that no such thing might have been suspected he might have taken other ways less troublesom and chargeable But what yet clears all the remaining Scruple is his ordering his Gentleman to take Notes at my Lord Russel's Trial appointing him how to manage himself for the effecting it so calmly and orderly that he can't be suppos'd either disturb'd or desperate on account of his own Guilt or Russel's unhappiness or to have taken this Course with himself as Jeffreys says in Braddon's Trial to prevent Justice tho' others did it with him to prevent Mercy One great Argument more That which indeed when it happen'd did much alarm all thinking men and make 'em shrewdly suspect foul play had been offer'd-was the ill Treatment those met with who dared but pry into these Arcana Imperii and desire but in a legal way that the Business might be reviewed and search'd to the bottom This was granted in the Case of poor Sir Edmund many years after his Death and Commission given to enquire into it to L'Estrange But 't is confest there was a great deal of Difference One as 't was manag'd tending to root up all belief of a Popish Plot T'other if it had been honestly examin'd might have done as much in reality to a Protestant One. The great tenderness of some Persons in this Case and their huge aversion and unwillingness to be touch'd thereabouts made People more than suspect that there was some Sore or other in the Case which wou'd not endure it Mr. Braddon had heard of a Boy who being playing before Essex's window that Morning saw a bloody Razor thrown out of the window he thought he shou'd do the King Service to make a Discovery if any Injury had been offer'd to one of his Subjects especially so great and good a Person He brings the Boy with him to my L. Sunderland and for his Reward is himself brought before the Council severely Reprimanded and forced to give 2000 l. Bail to Answer an Information for Suborning the Boy to say what he did Upon which after a great many worse vexations which besides the charge and trouble hindred also his Prosecution of the Business while 't was yet fresh and warm he was at last try'd The very words to the Indictment running For his procuring and suborning false Witnesses to prove that the Earl of Essex was not a Felon of himself c. Of which according to Jefferys Law and the Conscience of the then Juries he was found Guilty and fin'd for the same tho' not the least syllable of Practice or Subornation prov'd against him tho' the Boy did himself acknowledge he had said those things as well as several Witnesses prov'd it tho' 't was terribly suspicious that some Art had been afterwards used with the Boy to make him deny it tho' Jefferys storm'd and rav'd after his usual manner when Mr. Wallop did put such a Question and wou'd by no means have it be answer'd But whatever this couragious honest Gentleman suffer'd from their Spite and Malice he bore all with handsom and truly English Resolution As he before his Imprisonment and since was indefatigably diligent in getting up the bottom of this soul Business all English-men must own he has deserv'd the Love and Honour of his Country who was not discourag'd from acting even in the worst of times against a whole enraged Faction where he had such firm and pregnant Circumstances on which to ground his Attempt tho' he cou'd not but be sensible he must undergo all the Censures of his Friends as forward and imprudent as well as all the hate and malice of his own and his Countries Enemies He deserves a much fairer Commendation than here can be given him but however this was a just a Debt due to his Courage and Honesty when he alone durst undertake what all the World else was afraid of Durst still continue firm to Honour and Conscience and his first Resolution in spite of Fines and Imprisonments and has now outliv'd 'em all to carry on his first Undertakings whose Design therein is no doubt just and generous whatever the Event proves And although so much Dust may have since it happened been purposely thrown on the Action that it may be now more difficult and perhaps unsuccessful to trace it than 't was before His Character IT must be confessed 't is a bold and dangerous thing to attempt the Character of one of the greatest Men which our Age has produc'd especially for one who had not the honour of any personal intimacy with him All that 's to be done is from what has been already said and what other Memoirs are left of him to endeavour at something so like him that any one who sees it may say 't was meant for the Picture of the Great Essex how infinitely soever it must of necessity be short of its Original The first thing then remarkable in him and which alone would sufficiently distinguish him is That he was a Person of strict Morals and severe Piety and that in the midst of a Court and Age not very famous for either Nor did this degenerate into Superstition or Weakness He was a refin'd Politician without what some will say 't is impossible to be so and that 's Dissimulation When Affronts were offer'd him he did not as others dissemble 'em but like himself only scorn and conquer 'em even tho' of the highest nature and which generally pierce deepest into Persons of his Figure and Character He was as all the rest here commemorated a firm Lover of his Country and Religion the true Character of a true Englishman and engaged on their sides against the then Duke of York and other Ministers not from any mean pique or little discontented Humour which
him will believe to be in his part of the Design 't would be an Injury to his Memory to do any otherwise It appears then from his own acknowledgment that Howard Armstrong and such others had sometimes discoursed of ill Designs and Matters in his Company And as he says in his Speech What the Heats Wickedness Passions and Vanities of other Men had occasion'd he ought not to be answerable for nor cou'd be repress ' em Nay more he did sufficiently disapprove those things which he heard discours'd of with more Heat than Judgment But for himself declares solemnly again and again That he was never in any design against the King's Life or any Man's whatsoever nor ever in any Contrivance of altering the Government If so what then becomes of all the Story of the Council of Six and is 't not to be thrown among the same Lumber with the old famous Nagshead Tavern Business 'T will be still said he was an Ill Man in being Guilty by this very Confession of Misprision of Treason Supposing this true That was not Death and he dy'd as he says Innocent of the Crime he stood condemned for And besides every Lord has not Brow hard enough nor Tongue long enough nor Soul little enough to make an Informer against others to save his own Life I hope says he no Body will imagin that so mean a thought could enter into me as to go about to save my Life by accusing others The part that some have acted lately of that kind has not been such as to invite me to love Life at such a rate But all this does not depend on his naked word since the Evidence who swore against him being such as were neither credible nor indeed so much as legal Witnesses the Accusation of it self must fall to the ground If legal they were not credible because as my Lord Delamere observes in this Case they had no Pardons but hunted as the Cormorant does with strings about their Necks which West in his Answer to Walcot's Letter ingenuously acknowledges and says 'T is through God's and the King's Mercy he was not at the apparent point of Death That is in a fair construction was not just turning over but was upon trial to see whether he 'd do Business and deserve to scape hanging Much such an honourable way of getting Pardon as the Fellow who sav'd his own neck by turning Hangman and doing the good Office to his own Father Nor indeed was the great Witness the honourable Lord who cast this Noble Person so much as a legal any more than a credible Witness No Man alive has any way to clear himself from the most perjur'd Villains Malice if he swears against him Point-blank but either by Circumstance of Time or invalidating his very Evidence Let any think of another way if they can The first of these was precluded 'T was that which had before been made use of to sham off a truer Plot and much more valid Evidence But here Rumsey and the rest came to no determinate Time but only about such a time about the end of October or beginning of November and others cloud the precise time in so many words that 't is impossible to find it All then that could be done was as to the Person Now what thing can be invented which can more invalidate the Evidence any person gives than his solemn repeated voluntary Oath indubitably prov'd against him that such a Person is innocent of that very Crime of which he afterwards accuses him If this be the Case or no here let any one read the following Depositions and make an indifferent Judgment My Lord Anglesey witnesses He was at the Earl of Bedford 's after his Son was imprisoned where came in my Lord Howard and began to comfort him saying He was happy in so wise a Son and worthy a person and who could never be in such a Plot as that That he knew nothing against him or any body else of such a barbarous Design But this was not upon Oath and onely related to the Assassination as he says for himself in his paring-distinction Look then a little lower to Dr. Burnet whom the Lord Howard was with the night after the Plot broke out and then as well as once before with Hands and Eyes lifted up to Heaven did say He knew nothing of ANY Plot nor believ'd ANY Here 's the most solemn Oath as he himself confesses voluntarily nay unnecessarily tho' perhaps in my Lord Bedford's Case Good-nature might work upon him Here 's the paring of his Apple broke all to pieces No shadow no room left for his Distinction between the Insurrection and Assassination but without any guard or mitigation at all he solemnly swears he knew not of ANY Plot nor believed ANY But 't was no great matter for the Jury were resolv'd to know and believe it whether he did or no. There 's but one little Subterfuge more and the Case is clear All this Perjury all these solemn Asseverations he tells us were only to brazen out the Plot and to out-face the Thing for himself and Party This he fairly acknowledges and let all the World be the Jury whether they 'd destroy one of the bravest Men in it on the Evidence of such a Person But there 's yet a farther Answer His Cousin Mr. Howard who was my Lord's intimate Friend who secur'd him in his House to whom he might open his Soul and to whom it seems he did he having made Application to Ministers of State in his Name that he was willing to serve the King and give him Satisfaction To him I say with whom he had secret Negotiations and that of such a Nature will any believe that he wou'd out-face the Thing here too That he wou'd Perjure himself for nothing where no danger no good came on 't No certainly his Lordship had more Wit and Conscience and Honour he ought to be vindicated from such an Imputation even for the credit of his main Evidence for my Lord Gray he tells us was left out of their Councils for his Immoralities and had he himself been such a sort of a Man those piercing Heads in the Council wou'd have certainly found him out before and never admitted him among them As for the very Thing Mr. Howard tells it as generously and with as much honest Indignation as possible in spite of the Checks the Court gave him He took it says he upon his Honour his Faith and as much as if he had taken an Oath before a Magiâ—â—rate that he knew nothing of any Man concern'd in this Business and particularly of the Lord Russel of whom he added that he thought he did unjustly suffer So that if he had the same Soul on Monday that he had on Sunday the very day before this cou'd not be true that he Swore against the Lord Russel My Lord Russel's suffering was Imprisonment and that for the same matter on which he was try'd the Insurrection
death to England true What more could Brutus or just Cato do Alderman Cornish TO make an end of this Plot altogether 't will be necessary once more to invert the Order in which things happened and tho' Mr. Cornish suffer'd not till after the Judges returned from the West as well as Bateman after him yet we shall here treat of 'em both and so conclude this Matter Mr. Cornish was seiz'd in Octob. 1685. and the Monday after his Commitment which was on Tuesday or Friday Arraigned for High Treason having no Notice given him till Saturday noon His Charge was for Conspiring to Kill the King and promising to assist the Duke of Monmouth c. in their Treasonable Enterprises He desired his Trial might be deferred because of his short time for Preparation and that he had a considerable Witness an hundred and forty miles off and that the King had left it to the Judges whether it should be put off or no. But 't was denied him the Attâ—rney telling him He had not deserved so well of the Government as to have his Trial delayed That was in English because he had been a Protestant Sheriff he should not have Justice The Evidences against him were Rumsey and Goodenough Rumsey swears That when he was at the famous Meeting at Mr. Shepherds Mr. Shepherd being call'd down brought up Mr. Cornish and when he was come in Ferguson opened his Bosom and under his Stomacher pullâ—d out a Paper in the Nature of a Declaration of Grievances which Ferguson read and Shepherd held the Candle while 't was reading that Mr. Cornish likâ—d it and what Interest he had said would joyn with it and that out of Compassion he had not accus'd Mr. Cornish before Goodenough swears That he talkt with Cornish of the Design of Seizing the Tower Mr. Cornish said He would do what good he could or to that purpose To Goodenough's Evidence was opposed by Mr. Gosprights who testified Mr. Cornish opposed his being Under-Sheriff saying That he was an ill Man obnoxious to the Government and he 'd not trust an hair of his Head with him And is it then probable that he 'd have such Discourses with him as woulâ— endanger Head and all Mr. Love Jekil and Sir William Turner witness to the same purpose As to Rumsey's Evidence the Perjury lies so full and staring that 't is impossible to look into the Trial with half an eye without meeting it Compare what he says on Russel's Trial and here and this will be as visible as the Sun Being askt there Whether there was any Discourse about a Declaration and how long he staid he says He was there about a quarter of an hour and that he was not certain whether he heard something about a Declaration there or whether he had heard Ferguson report afterwards that they had then debated it Now turn to Cornish's Trial. He is there strangely recovered in his Memory and having had the advantage either of Recollection or better Instruction remembers that distinctly in Octob. 1685. which he could not in July 1683. He had been theâ—e a quarter of an hour the time he states in the Lord Russel's Trial but lengthens it out and improves it now to so long time as Mr. Shepherds going down bringing Cornish up Ferguson's pulliâ—â—â—ut the Declaration and reading it and that as Shepherd said in Russel's Trial a long one too as certainly it must be if as 't was sworn it contained all the Grievances of the Nation and yet all this still in a quarter of an hour thus contradictiâ—g himself both to Time and Matter But he is of such villanous Credit that his Evidence is scarce fit to be taken even against himself Let 's see then how Shepherd does point-blank contradict and absolutely overthrow it in every Particular as expresly as 't is possible to ruin any Evidence He says At one Meeting only Mr. Cornish was at his House to speak with one of the Persons there that then he himself came up stairs and went out again with Mr. Cornish That there was not one word read nor any Paper seen while Mr. Cornish was there and this he was positive of for Mr. Cornish was not one of their Company Now who should know best Rumsey what Shepherd did or he what he did himself Could a man hold the Candle while a Declaration was read as Rumsey swears Shepherd did and yet know nothing of it nay protest the quite contrary What sizes the Consciences of his Jury were let any Christian Turk or Jew be Judge and Providence has already visibly done it on the Foreman of it who came to an untimely end being beaten to pieces by the Fall of some Timber at a Fire in Thames-street All that is pretended to bolster Rumsey's Evidence and hinder Shepherd's from saving the Prisoner was That Shepherd strengthened Rumsey and proved Cornish guilty of a lie But if we enquire into the matter we shall find one just as true as the other Cornish on his Trial is said to have denied his being at the Meeting and discoursing with the D. of Monmouth Which they 'd have us believe Shepherd swears he was tho' not a syllable of it appears He had been there several times Shepherd says but was not of their Consult knew nothing of their Business nor can he be positive whether 't was thâ— Duke of Monmouth he came to speak with that Evening But supposing in two or three years time and on so little Recollection Cornish's Memory had slipt in that Circumstance what 's that to Shepherd's Evidence against the very Root of Rumsey's which hang'd the prisoner In spight of all he was found Guilty and Condemn'd and even that Christian serenity of Mind and Countenance wherewith t was visible he bore his Sentence turn'd to his Reproach by the Bench. He continued in the same excâ—llent Temper whilst in Newgate and gave the World a glaring Instance of the Happiness of such Persons as live a pious Life when they come to make an end on 't let the way thereof be never so violent His carriage and behaviour at his leaving Newgate was as follows Some passages â—f Henry Cornish Esq before his Sufferings COming into the Press-yard and seeing the Haâ—ter in the Officers hand he said Is this for me the Officer answered Yes he replied Blessed be God and kissed it and after said O blessed be God for Newgate I have enjoyed God ever since I came within these Walls and blessed be God who hath made â—e fit to die I am now going to that God that will not be mocked to that God that will not be imposed upon to that God that knows the Innocency of his poor Creature And a little after he said Never did any poor Creature come unto God with greater Confidence in his Mercy and Assurance of Acceptation with him through Jesus Christ than I do but it is through Jesus Christ for there is no other way of coming to God but by him to
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