Army it was because the Parliament rejected them They are the Words of one of their own Party that most of the Romanists that seem'd to be of the old King's side only fled to his Garrisons for shelter and not to take up Arms to offend the Parliament Christ Moderator par 2. p. 12 29. Several of them boasted they were able to make appear their Faithfulness and good Affection to them the Rump See the Petitions of Sir R. Talbot and Garret Moor Esq See more on this Subject in Dr. Stillingfleet 's Idolatry of the Church of Rome p. 301 c. IV. In the Reign of King Charles II. 1. There was a Design carry'd on all along to alienate the Affections of Protestants one from another as plainly shew'd it self first of all at the King's Return who being put hard to it by the several Obligations he had contracted upon himself and Promises made of shewing Favour to each considerable Party in England For he had at his Coronation in Scotland promised and swore by the Eternal and Almighty God who lives and reigns for ever to rule the People committed to his Charge according to the Will and Command of God revealed in his Word and according to the lowable Laws and Constitutions of that Realm no ways repugnant to the said Word and to procure to the utmost of his Power to the Kirk of God and whole Christian People true and perfect Peace in time coming c. See the Form and Order of his Coronation printed by Robert Dowglas Minister at Edinburgh and reprinted at London 1660. p. 20. c. After this Engagement to the Kirk of Scotland he made as kind a Promise to the Papists at Breda as I remember that upon Condition they would assist him in Recovery of his Father's Throne he would do what he could to promote the Interest of the Catholick Cause in England And he could do no less but oblige himself as faithfully to the Church of England who had been faithful Sticklers for his Father as long they were able and afterwards applied to the Son with such a Courage and Resolution that they never left him till they had brought him safe to his long-desired Home In this Distraction of Mind he came to his Throne and any one may easily guess what Difficulties he must needs encounter in his following Reign What Endeavours were used to hinder the Puritans or Protestant Dissenters from obtaining Favour with the King as that they were ready with Forces raised to oppose his Majesty c. See the Account of the Sham-Presbyterian-Plot the Papists devised then in Yarraton 's Discovery p. 4 5 6 8 16. What Metheds were taken to widen the Differences between the Church-men and Dissenters is too plain to need a Descant and too fresh to be forgotten 2. Another Plot in this King's Reign was the Burning of London in 1666. For it was not enough with our Adversaries to enkindle a Fire of Passion and Discord in the Minds of People they proceeded next to kindle a material Fire in our most stately Buildings and nothing less would serve than the Metropolis of the Nation the great Mart of these three Kingdoms For the Proof whereof I shall insist only upon these seven Particulars 1. Strange Provincial of the Jesuits Gray Pennington Barton Jesuits c. and Keimask a Dominican Fryar pretending to be Fifth-Monarchy-Men prevailed with one Green a Fifth-Monarchy man but poor by lending him 30 l. to be an Instrument in firing London Green brought in eight other Fifth-Monarchy-men as Assistants but deferring to do it presently they were discovered tried and executed only Green died in Prison the Jesuits were not discovered because not known to be such 1665 6. as appears by Oates's Nar. Art 34. compared with the publick Gazet Apr. 30. 1666. 2. Several Persons were taken with Fire-Balls brought before the Magistrates and Committed to Custody but rescued by the Favour of the D. of Y. 3. One Hubbard was Executed who confessed that he began the Fire with one Pie-de-loup a French-man who came over on that Design with 23 other French-men 4. Several Letters were produced from beyond Sea enquiring whither London was Burnt hearing date some Days before the Fire began 5. Several words which the Papists had cast out here to the same purpose were proved as may be seen in the Depositions and Informations before the Committee in the House of Commons in Sept. 1666. of which Sir Robert Brokes was Chair-man 6. The Benedictines boasted to Mr. Bedloe that they had a hand in it and shewed him several Letters about it and told him that they resolved to Burn it again and tampered with Mr. Bedloe about it 7. Groves with Three Irish-men Fired Southwark 8. Doth any man begin to doubt said the Lord Chancellour in his Speech at the Lord Stafford's Condemnation how London came to be Burnt And is it not apparent by those Instances that such is the Frantick Zeal of some Bigotted Papists that they resolve no means that may serve to advance the Catholick Cause shall be left unattempted tho' it be by Fire and Sword 9. If all this will not serve to convince my Incredulous Reader I refer him to the Monument in London Erected in Perpetuam hujus Neferie actionis Memoriam Where the dead Stones witness the Truth of it with a voice loud enough to be heard to the utmost parts of the World POSTSCRIPT 3. A third Plot in King Charles the II. Reign was that which is commonly known and called by some in way of Derision Oates's Plot which yet I am perswaded in my own breast was no sham for these Reasons following 1. Because March 25. 1679. it was resolved nemine contradicente by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament Assembled That they do declare that they are fully satisfied by the Proofs they have heard that there now is and for diverse Years last past hath been a Horrid and Treasonable Plot and Conspiracy continued and carried on by those of the Popish Religion for the Murthering of His Majesty's Sacred Person and Subverting the Protestant Religion and the Ancient and Established Government of the Kingdom Joh. Brown Cleric Parliament 2. Because hereupon ' the King himself Issued out two several Proclamatins for a general Fast the first in these words CHARLES R. WHereas the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this Parliament Assembled being deeply sensible of the Sad and Calamitous Condition of this our Kingdom occasioned chiefly by the Impious and malicious Conspirary of a Popish Party who have not only Plotted and intended the Destruction of our Royal Person but the total Subdersion of our Government and of the true Protestant Religion c. have besought Vs that a Day might be set apart we have to this their humble Request most readily inclined Given at White-Hall Mar. 28 1679. 3. Because several Persons gave Testimony to the Truth thereof who were of their own party as Dr. Oates Capt. Bedloe
scent to her Nose and thereby receive it into her Brain which if she had done it had been her Death Never any Treason against her came so near to Execution as this For the Traytor Squire observed his Direction did the Deed and that immediately before the Queen rode abroad but the Divine Providence kept her from touching the Pummel with her Hand yet was the Treason discovered and the Traytor received his reward 17. A. C. 1599. The Earl of Tyr-Owen an Irish-man having been some while in Spain returned from thence with a Rebellious Mind and by the Assistance of Spain and the Popish Faction raised a Rebellion whereby more damage accrued to the Queen and State than by any other Rebellion all her Days yet by the good hand of God this Rebellion also was subdued and that Land secured and quieted 18. A. C. 1600. There was a Plot for the removing some of the Queens chief Officers and Councellors from about her which had it been effected might have proved dangerous to her Person and State the rather because many Papists had a great hand in that Conspiracy But the Lord prevented the mischief intended 19. A. C. 1602. Henry Garnet Superiour of the Jesuits in England Robert Tresmand Jesuit Robert Catesby Francis Tresham and others in the Name of all the Romish Catholicks in England imployed Thomas Winter into Spain to obtain an Army from thence to joyn with a Popish Army that should be raised here to change the Government and Religion setled among us Spain and England being then at Wars the motion was readily embraced by the Spaniards and an hundâ—ed thousand Crowns promised to help forward the business but before any thing could be effected it pleased God to take away that Peerless Princess full of Years in peace on her Bed having Reigned Gloriously 44 Ysars four Months and seven Days being sixty nine Years six Months and seventeen Days old II. In the Reign of King James 1. In the first Year of his Reign before he was solemnly Anointed and Crowned Watson and Clark two Romish Priests drew into their Conspiracy some Noble Men some Knights and some Gentlemen to surprise the King and his Son Prince Henry presuming on Foreign Forces for Aid and Assistance intending to alter Religion and to set up such Officers of State as they ohought best but their Plot before it came to execution was discovered the Traytors Condemned some of them Executed and others through the Kings Clemency spared Garnet and Tresmond Jesuits with Catesby and Tresham notwithstanding the Death of Queen Elizabeth when they saw that King James Defended the same Faith continued to solicit the King of Spain to send an Army into England to joyn with the Forces of the Papists here for Extirpation of Religion But the King of Spain being in Treaty with the King of England about Peace refused to hearken to any such motion whereupon they together with other Unnatural and Trayterous Subjects Plotted the matchless merciless devilish and damnable Gun-powder Treason as is now to be shewed The Plot was to under-mine the Parliament-House and with Powder to blow up the King Prince Clergy Nobles Knights and Burgesses the very Confluence of all the flower of Glory Piety Learning Prudence and Authority in the Land Fathers Sons Brothers Allies Friends Foes Papists and Protestants all at one blast Their intent when that Irreligious Atchievement had been performed was to surprize the remainder of the King's Issue to alter Religion and Government and to bring in a Forreign Power Sir Edmond Baynam an attainted Person who stiled himself Prince of the Damned Crew was sent unto the Pope as he was the Temporal Prince to acquaint him with the Gun-powder Plot and now to the Plot it self The Sessions of Parliament being dissolved July 7th A. C. 1605. and Prorogued to the 7th of February following Catesby being at Lambeth sent for Thomas Winter who before had been imployed into Spain and acquainted him with the design of blowing up the Parliament-House who readily apprehending it said This indeed strikes at the Root only these helps were wanting a House for Residence and a skilfull Man to carry the Mine but the first Catesby assured him was easie to be got and for the Man he commended Guy Fawkes a sufficient Souldier and a forward Catholick Thus Robert Catesby John Wright Thomas Winter and Guy Fawkes had many Meetings and Conferences about the business till at last Thomas Piercy came puffing into Catesby's Lodging at Lambeth saying What Gentlemen shall we always be thinking and never do any thing You cannot be ignorant how things proceed To whom Catesby answered that something was resolved on but first an Oath for Secrecy was to be Administred for which purpose they appointed to meet some three Days after behind St. Clements Church beyond Temple-Bar where being met Peircy professed that for the Catholick cause himself would be the Man to advance it were it with the slaughter of the King which he was ready to undertake and do No Tom. said Catesby thou shalt not adventure thy self to so small purpose if thou wilt be a Traytor there is a Plot to greater Advantage and such a one as can never be discovered Hereupon all of them took the Oath of Secresie heard a Mass and received the Sacrament after which Catesby told them his devilish Devise by Mine and Gun-powder to blow up the Parliament-House and so by one stroke with the Destruction of many effect that at once which had been many Years attempting And for case of Conscience to kill the Innocent with the nocent he told that it was Warrantable by the Authority of Garnet himself the Superiour of the English Jesuits and of Garrard and Tresmond Jesuitical Priests likewise who by the Apostolical Power did commend the Fact and Absolve the Actors The Oath was given them by the said Garrard in these words You shall swear by the blessed Trinity and by the Sacrament you now purpose to receive never to disclose directly nor indirectly by Word or Circumstance the Matter that shall be proposed to you to keep secret nor desist from the Execution thereof until the rest shall give you leave The Project being thus far carried on in the next place the first thing they sought after was a House wherein they might begin the Work for which purpose no place was held fitter than a certain Edifice adjoyning to the Wall of the Parliament-House which served for a With-Drawing Room to the Assembled Lords and out of Parliament was at the disposal of the Keeper of the place and Wardrobe thereto belonging These did Piercy hire for his Lodgings entertained Fawkes as his Man who changed his Name into Johnson had the Keys and keeping of the Rooms Besides this they hired another House to lay in Provision of Powder and to frame and to fit Wood in for the carrying on the Mine which Catesby provided at Lambeth and Swore Robert Keyes into their Conspiracy whom he made the
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 the 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 7. Mr. ROVSE 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 Silver Ball which he proposed to be thrown up on Black-Heath and after some Discourse with the Ordinary gives the Spectators some good Counsel They they all Three singly prayed and then the Sentence was executed upon them 8. ALGERNOON SIDNEY Esq THe next Victim to Popish Cruelty and Malice was Colonel Algernoon 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 talk'd to Death under the Notion of a Commonwealth's 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 Brnach of this Plot at Westminster the 17th of November 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 An Abstract of the Paper delivered to the Sheriffs on the Scaffold on Tower-Hill December 7. 1683. by Algernoon Sidney Esquire before his Execution FIrst having excused his not speaking as well because it was an Age that made Truth pass for Treason for the Proof of which he instances his Trial and Condemnation and that the Ears of some present were too tender to hear it as because of the Rigour of the Season and his Infirmities c. Then after a short Reflection upon the little said against him by other Witnesses and the little Value that was to be put on the Lord Howard's Testimony whom he charges with an infamous Life and many palpable Perjuries and to have been byassed only by the Promise of Pardon c. and makes even tho' he had been liable to no Exceptions to have been but a single Witness He proceeds to answer the Charge against him from the Writings found in his Closet by the King's Officers which were pretended but not Lawfully evidenced to be his and pretends to prove that had they been his they contained no condemnable matter but principles more safe both to Princes and People too than the pretended high-flown Plea for Absolute Monarchy composed by Filmer against which they seemed to be levelled and which he says all intelligent Men thought were founded on wicked Principles and such as were destructive both to Magistrates and People too Which he attempts to make out after this manner First says he if Filmer might publish to the World That Men were born under a necessary indispensible Subjection to an Absolute King who could be restrained by no Oath c. whether be came to it by Creation Inheritance c. nay or even by Usurpation why might he not publish his Opinion to the contrary without the breach of any known Law Which Opinion he professes consisted in the following Particulars 1. That God had left Nations at the liberty of Modelling their own Governments 2. That Magistrates were instituted for Nations and not E contra 3. That the Right and Power of Magistrates was fixed by the standing Laws of each Country 4. That those Laws sworn to on both sides were the matter of a Contract between the Magistrate and People and could not be broken without the Danger of dissolving the whole Government 5. The Vsurpation could give no Right and that King had no greater Enemies than those who asserted that or were for stretching their Power beyond its Limits 6. That such Vsurpations commonly effecting the Slaughter of the Reigning Person c. the worst of Crimes was thereby most gloriously Rewarded 7. That such Doctrines are more proper to stir up Men to destroy Princes than all the Passions that ever yet swayed the worst of them and that no Prince could be safe if his Murderers may hope such Rewards and that few Men would be so gentle as to spare the best Kings if by their Destruction a wild Vsurper could become God's Anointed which he says was the scope of that whole Treatise and asserts to be the Doctrine of the best Authors of all Nations Times and Religions and of the Scripture and so owned by the best and wisest Princes and particuarly by Lewis XIV of France in his Declaration against Spain Anno 1667. and by King James of England in his Speech to the Parliament 1603. and adds that if the Writer had been mistaken he should have been fairly refuted but that no Man was ever otherwise punished for such Matters or any such things referred to a Jury c. That the Book was never finished c. nor ever seen by them whom he was charged to have endeavoured by it to draw into a Conspiracy That nothing in it was particularly or maliciously applied to Time Place or Person but distorted to such a sense by Innuendo's as the Discourses of the Expulsion of Tarquin c. and particularly of the Translation made of the Crown of France from one Race to another had been applied by the then Lawyers
of it Catesby and the rest posted into Warwickshire and began an open Rebellion being joyned with about Eighty more and so Trooping together broke open the Stables belonging to Warwick-Castle and took thence some great Horses Thence into Worcestershire and so to Staffordshire where they rifled the Lord Windsor's House of all the Armour Shot Powder c. But being pursued by the high Sheriff of Worcestershire and his Men who rush'd in upon them both the Wrights were shot through and slain with one Musquet-Bullet the rest being taken were carry'd Prisoners to London being all the way gaz'd at revil'd and detested by the common People for their horrid and horrible Treason and so at last they receiv'd the just Guerdon of their Wickedness See a fuller Account in Bishop Carleton's Thankful Remembrance of God's Mercy III. In the Reign of King Charles the First 1. Sir John Temple Master of the Rolls and one of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council within the Kingdom of Ireland and who was Father of the present Sir William Temple relates in his History of the Irish Rebellion in 1641. and which History was first Printed in London in 1646. there in P. 16 17 and 18 sets down that the first Plot for the Rebellion carried on with so great Secresie as none of the English had Notice of it before it was ready to be put in Execution and that on the 22d of October 1641. In the very Evening before the Day appointed for a Surprizal of the Castle and City of Dublin Owen O Conall a Gentleman of an Irish Family but one who had been bred a Protestant and who had been drinking that Evening came to the Lord Justice Parsons there about Nine of the Clock and acquainted him with a Conspiracy for the seizing upon His Majesty's Castle of Dublin and the Magazine therein the next day but he did then make such a broken Relation of a Matter that seem'd so incredible in its self as that his Lordship did then give but very little Belief to it at first in regard it came from an obscure Person and one he conceived somewhat distemper'd in Drink but in some Hours after O Conall being somewhat recover'd from his said Distemper was examin'd upon Oath before the Lords Justices and his Examination gave such a particular Account of the Conspiracy and the Conspirators therein that caused the Lords Justices to sit up all that Night in Consultation for the strengthning of the Guards in the Castle of Dublin and likewise of the whole City and for the seizing of the Persons of the Conspirators that the Execution of the Plot was thereby prevented and otherwise the Castle of Dublin had been the next day in the Possession of the Rebels of Ireland and all the Protestants in Dublin had been the next day massacred The Papists planted the Soveraign Drug of Arminianism here in England on purpose to promote Divisions among us and endeavoured to Advance Arbitrary Power and inflame the Puritans as the Author of the History of Popish Sham-Plots from the Reign of Queen Elizabeth tells us out of a Letter sent to the Rector of Brussels And Cardinal Richlieu sent over one Chamberlain hither who for four Months had Consultations with the Jesuits how to stir up the Scots and foment our Broils as may be seen in Dr. Heylin's Life of Archbishop Laud and Habernfeild's Plot c. Or to speak in the very Words of the late Learned Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Barlow When King James slept with his Fathers and was Translated to a better Kingdom out of the reach of Popish Conspirators their Designs slept not they prosecuted their Plots and Conspiracies to Ruin our Church and Establish'd Religion as much in Charles the First as in his Father's time and at last it came to this Issue that other Means failing the King and Arch-Bishop must be taken away This was discover'd by an Honourable Person Andreas ab Habernfeild to the English Embassador Sir W. Boswel at the Hague and by him to the Arch-Bishop and by him to the King and the Original Copy of the Discovery being found in the Arch-Bishop's Library after his Death was then publish'd and is in print in many Hands and among others in mine In the mean time adds my Author the Civil Wars began and our Popish Conspirators are first in Arms and the bloody Rebellion and in Ireland murder'd above 100000 Protestants in cold Blood without any Provocation given but to kill Hereticks which according to them was Lawful and Meritorious And farther when in Process of that fatal Rebellion carry'd on by English and covertly by Popish Rebels that good King was taken and a Council of Priests and Jesuits sitting in London signified the Condition of Affairs here to a Council of their Confederates at Paris and they transmitted the Case to Rome from whence Directions and Commands were return'd back again to London in short it was determined that it was for the Interest of the Catholick Cause that the King shculd die and accordingly their Council of Priests and Jesuits in London voted his Death This saith the same Reverend Author is now notoriously known to be true and in print publish'd to the World by Reverend and Learned Person who if any shall call him to Account for it is so convinced of the Ttuth of what he writ that he publickly offers to make it good viz. Dr. Du-Moulin Canon of Canterbury in two Books written to the same purpose See more in Bishop Barlow's Book called Popish Principles c. inconsistent with the Safety of Protestant Princes The Irish Papists when they had promised to furnish his Majesty with 10000 Men for the helping of him against the Parliament did not but endeavour'd to cut off the King's Army there by Force and Treachery and employ'd Commissioners to Rome France Lorrain and Spain to invite a Foreign Power into England See Fowles Hist of Rom. Treasons and the Lord Orcery 's Answer to Peter Welsh About 30 Priests or Jesuits were met together by a Protestant Gentleman between Roan and Diep to whom they said taking him to be one of their Party they were going to England and would take Arms in the Independant Army to be Agitators The Romish Priest and Confessor is known who when he saw the fatal Stroke given to the King flourish'd with his Sword and said Now the greatest Enemy we had in the World is gone When the Murder was cried down as the greatest Villany the Pope commanded all the Papers about the Queen to be burnt Many intelligent Travellers told what Joy there was in the English Convents beyond Seas and the Seminaries upon Tidings of the King's Death Benedictines were afraid lest the Jesuits should get their Lands and the English Nuns contended who should be Abesses the Fryars of Dunkirk were jealous lest the Jesuits should engross all the Glory to themselves Du-Moul Answer to Plul. Angl. And tho' the Papists during the Civil Wars flock'd to the King's
Mr. Jennison of Grays-Inn Mr. Lewis Mr. Smith Edmund Everard Esq who was kept four Years close Prisoner in the Tower by the contrivance of some English Subjects whom he had five Years before discovered as plotting against us in France 4. Because several Letters were produced relating to the fame thing as that of the Lord Stafford's to the Lord Aston My Lord the Plot is discovered and we are all undone c. Coleman's Our prevailing in these things would give the greatest Blow to the Protestant Religion here that ever it received since its first Birth c. Petre's Letters Found among Harcourt's Papers c. 5. The Actions that were done after the Discovery to Persons concerned in the Discovery are a strong Argument to create suspicion of the Authors and their Guilt as the Barbarous Murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey who took the first Depositions Mr. Arnold and Mr. Pye V. In King James the II. Reign But this was nothing else but Plot from the beginning to the end of it For no Man of good sence could believe that ever he intended to perform that fine Promise which he made of maintaining of the Protestant Religion and the Rights of the Subjects c. without straining Courtesie with his Religious Principles and natural Temper and indeed tho' he appear'd very plausible at first and our credulous People seem'd very willing to construe him in a favourable Sense yet when they had resign'd their Charters and themselves and Estates to him in a Complement which the King took well enough and saw the Laws dispensed with in a gross manner and Arbitrary Power put up its Head at Court with much Confidence and the Visitors sent down to Oxford to purge the Vniversity and Roman Catholicks made Justices of Peace and put in other places of Trust and Masse-Houses open'd publickly and the Interceding Bishops who had done nothing in the World to merit his disfavour sent to the Tower then I say these People began to open their Eyes and were resolved not to shut them any more if they could help it till they had somewhat better to trust to than the Promise of a King whose Word was as inviolable as his Oath and who was never known to be in the least matter unfaithful in his Life for such a Mask was put upon his Face by his Friends and he wore it a while very willingly till the time that he thought he might safely take it off and appear boldly in his Features and in the Head of a standing Army who had promised as stoutly as he to stand by him till they thought it convenient to stand no longer But of this enough and perhaps too much for I do with Pity and Grief of Mind reflect upon the Errors of that unhappy Prince VI. In the Reign of King William the III. This Prince was the happy Instrument under God of our Deliverance but neither was He warm in his Throne before he was called to Battle first in Ireland where he contested with extraordinary Difficulties and escaped extream Dangers from a Cannon-Bullet afterwards in Flanders where his Labours are hardly at an end yet But the most secret and villainous Contrivance of all was the late Barbarous Plot the Scheme whereof was first laid in France but the Scene of the bloody Tragedy was to be in England Here the King was to be Assassinated in a base and cowardly manner as he went a hunting on a Saturday Feb. 22. 1695 6. in a narrow Lane between Brentford and Turnham-Green Sir George Berkley with seven or eight more to Attack the King's Coach and Assassine him whilst two other Parties to the number of 40 attacked the Guards and two more persons Chambers and Durance a Flemming were to be placed at Kensington to give speedy Notice to the Conspirators when the King went abroad At first it was agreed to be put in execution Feb. 15. But the King not going abroad then it was deferr'd till Feb. 22. The French were to make a Descent into England and had got Transport Ships ready and Soldiers 20000 who were to Embark at Callis Bulloign Dunkirk c. The French had at St. Germaines Feb. 7. caused 100000 Lewid'ores to be delivered to the late King James and desired him to hasten his Departure a considerable Body of his old Friends were to meet and joyn the French at their landing All things in appearance were in great forwardness Mortars Field-pieces and heavy Cannon for Land-Service Monsieur de Nesmond Gabaret and Dubart were to command the Men of War that were to convoy the Transport Ships the Conduct of the Land-Army was in the Marquess de Bevron Arcourt as Chief and under him Pecontal and Albergoti as Mareschals de Camp and for Brigadiers the Duke de Humieres Monsieur de Biron and Monsieur de Monray c. and Lapara the chief Engineer The Men being Embark'd the day before it was discover'd here 300 Sail or thereabouts weigh'd Anchor and stood to Sea but the Wind shifting they were oblig'd to return into the Ports and disembark some part of them These were designed to land in Kent Sussex or the Mouth of the River and the Providence is the more remarkable since had they gone forward we might have been under some surprize as not being ready at so short a Warning to oppose them At Kensington the day being come viz. Feb. 22. Keâ—es one of the Spies being sent out to see what he could learn brought word the Guards were returned from Richmond foaming The People much wonder'd the King did not go a hunting for two Saturdays together and the Bravoes began to flag their Courage It seems Capt. Pendergrass discover'd the bottom of the Design on Feb. 13. to Captain Porter and he to my Lord Portland and my Lord to the King on Feb. 14. the very day before the Design was to be put in Execution After which several of the Conspirators have been themselves Executed witness the City-Gates where now their Heads and Quarters are to be seen and this after a free and fair Tryal of their Cause So that our Church may say and our Kings may say as well as that excellent Queen Elizabeth as Psal 129.1 2. c. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up may Israel now say Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth yet they have not prevailed against me The Plowers plowed upon my Back they made long their Furrows The Lord is righteous he hath out asunder the Cords of the wicked CHAP. XXIII The Innocent strangely cleared WHEN Joseph 's Brethren were constrained to go into Egypt and buy Food of and make Obeysance to that very Person they had thrown into a Pit before and sold into Slavery how their Conscience flew in their Faces with sharp Reflections of Guilt The three Children in the fiery Furnace and Daniel in the Lyons Den saved so miraculously and contrary to all Expectation easily extorted a Confession of their Innocence
Princes he had brought home with him he answered That he had brought home incomparable Treasure for the good of his whole Dukedom which he preferred before all his Delights and presently after he made him Bishop and Superintendant over all his Churches in that Country with an ample Salary for the same Clark's Eccl. Hist p. 190. 9. Capito was very dear to the Elector of Mentz for his rare Wisdom joyned with Piety his Elocution and Mildness of Nature so that by him he was sent upon many Embassies And February 7. he was by the Emperour Charles the Fifth endowed for himself and his Posterity with the Ensigns of Nobility under the Imperial Seal Ibid. p. 192. The Fame of Capito being spread abroad Margaret Queen of Navar and SiSter to Francis King of France sent James Faber Stabulensis and Gerard Rufus privately to him and Bucer to be informed in their Principles of Religion Ibid. p. 192. 10. Spanhemius being chosen first of all Professor of Philosophy at Geneva and then Professor of Divinity and next Rector of the University at last the Bernates consulted about drawing him to Lausanna to succeed in the Place of James à Portu they of Groning endeavoured to get him to them and the Prince Elector Palatine sought also the same at last Leiden obtained him tho' with much difficulty the Magistrates and Church of Geneva much opposing it Yet the Curators of Leiden insisted so earnestly by their frequent Letters to which were added the Request of the King of Bohemia of the Illustrious States of Holland and West-Friesland and lastly of the States-General that with much ado at length they extorted rather than obtained his Dismission from Geneva But it 's worth observation what Means they used to retain him with what Grief and Sorrow they parted with him what a Confluence of People brought him forth of the City and with what Sighs and Tears they parted with him as if in losing him they had lost a principal Member of their Body He had almost as many Friends as Acquaintance especially of those that excelled in Learning in England Vsher Selden Prideaux Morton and Twisse in France Molinaeus Trouchinus Rivet Parissaeins Beaumontius Mestrezatius Drelincourtius Bonterovius Muratus Blondellus Ferrius Pelitus Croius Vincentius Bochartus almost all of them famous for their Writings in Germany Zuingerus Vlricus Buxtorfius Crocius c. yea out of Sweden the Queen herself the Miracle of her Sex did kindly Salute him by her Bishop and by her Letters did signifie how much she esteemed him and was delighted with his Works Salmasius was his dear Friend the Prince of Orange had a singular kindness for him and to the Queen of Bohemia he was most dear Ibid. p. 503. 11. Constantine the Great at the Council of Nice when it was first opened coming in with an humble Countenance and modest Aspect all the Bishops and Ministers rose up but he continued to stand a-while at the upper end of the Hall and would not sit down 'till he had given a Sign to the Bishops to sit down also He used to kiss the hollow of old Paphnutius's Eye which he had lost for the Cause of Christ in the former Persecutions and was so tender of the Honour of the Clergy that he used to say If he saw a Bishop committing Wickedness he would rather cast the Skirt of his Gown over it than by speaking of it dishonour his holy Calling Clark in Vit. Constantin Sparsim 12. Erasmus an Ingenious Learned and Good Man when he was scarce crept out of his Shell pronounced a Panegyrick of his own Composure before Philip Father to Charles the Fifth as he came out of Spain into Germany for which he honoured him with a yearly Pension during Life King Henry the Eighth of England wrote to him with his own Hand offered him a goodly House belike some dissolved Abbey worth 600 Florins yearly and besides gave him several Tastes rather than Surfeits of his Princely Bounty Francis the French King wrote likewise unto him offering him a Bishoprick and 1000 Florins per Annum to set up his rest in France Charles the Fifth offered him a Bishoprick in Sicily made him of his Council and besides many other Expressions of his Liberality bestowed upon him a yearly Pension of 200 Florins Ferdinand his Brother King of Hungary made him a tender of 400 Florins yearly with promise to make them up 500 to profess at Vienna Sigismund as much to come into Poland and further with a Royal and Liberal Hand supplied his present Necessities Mary Queen of Hungary wrote to him often and ever with her own Hand her Bounty without question equalled her exceeding Humanity Anne Princess Veriana gave him a yearly Pension of 100 Florins Frederick Duke of Saxony presented him with two Medals one of Gold the other of Silver George Duke of Saxony with divers Ingots of Gold dug out of his own Mines and a great Drinking-Bowl of the same William Duke of Gulick imitated him in the latter but outstript him in the Capacity Adrian the Sixth to whom he Consecrated Arnobius wrote to him thrice which Grand Respects from the Pope much abated the Fury of the Friars his Enemies He Congratulated the Papacy to Clement the Seventh who in requital sent him 500 Florins and by his Apostolical Letters invited him to Rome Paul the Third had brought him into the College of Cardinals but that he was prevented by Death in the Interim he sent him a Collation to the Praepositure of Daventry which he refused saying He was now near the end of his Journey and hoped to get thither without it William Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury changed his Prebend into a Pension and scarce ever wrote to him but in Letters of Gold his last Token was a Gelding of whom he used to say That tho' he wanted Original Sin he was guilty of two Mortal Ones Sloth and Gluttony Cardinal Wolsey a stately Prelate yet wrote unto him Letters full of singular Humanity and besides other Remembrances bestowed on him a Pension out of a Prebend in York The Bishop of Lincoln and Rochester bountifully supplied him upon all occasions Hammond and Vrswick sent him a Brace of Geldings Polydore Virgil Money to buy a Third Cromwel the First out of his Sacrilegious Brokage at twice Thirty Angels Montjoy More Tonstal and Colet were his containual Supporters to say nothing of many others within this Kingdom Cardinal Matthaeus offered him a yearly Pension of 500 Duckets to live at Rome and sent him a Cup of beaten Gold He received another from Albert Arch-Bishop and Cardinal of Mentz of the same Metal but greater and more curiously graven with sundry Poetical Fancies Cardinal Gambegius amongst other Tokens sent him a Diamond Ring of no mean value Stanislaus Olmucensis a Silver Bowl double Gilt with Four Pieces of Gold the Coyn of Ancient Emperours The Bishop of Basil offered him for his Society half his Bishoprick which alluding to the Name he termed
Vineyard where are two American Churches planted which are more famous than the rest over one of which there presides an ancient Indian as Pastor called Hiacooms John Hiacooms Son of the said Indian Pastor also Preacheth the Gospel to his Country-men In another Church in that place John Tockinosh a Converted Indian Teaches in these Churches ruling Elders of the Indians are joyned to the Pastors the Pastors were chosen by the People and when they had Fasted and Prayed Mr. Eliot and Mr. Cotton laid their Hands on them so that they were solemnly Ordained All the Congregations of the Converted Indians both the Catechumens and those in Church-Order every Lord's Day meet together the Pastor or Preacher always begins with Prayer and without a Form because from the Heart when the Ruler of the Assembly has ended Prayer the whole Congregation of Indians Praise God with Singing some of them are excellent Singers After the Psalm he that Preaches Reads a place of Scripture one or more Verses as he will and expounds it gathers Doctrines from it proves them by Scriptures and Reasons and infers Uses from them after the manner of the English of whom they have been taught then another Prayer to God in the Name of Christ concludes the whole Service Thus do they meet together twice every Lord's-Day they observe no Holy-days but the Lord's-Day except upon some extraordinary Occasion and then they solemnly set a part whole Days either in giving Thanks or Fasting and Praying with great Fervor of Mind Before the English came into these Coasts these barbarous Nations were altogether ignorant of the true God hence it is that in their Prayers and Sermons they used English Words and Terms he that calls upon the most holy Name of God says Jehovah or God or Lord and also they have learned and borrowed many other theosogical Phrases from us In short there are six Churches of Baptized Indians in New-England and eighteen Assemblies of Catechumens professing the Name of Christ Of the Indians there are Four and Twenty who are Preachers of the Word of God and besides these there are four English Ministers who Preach the Gospel in the Indian Tongue I am now my self weary with Writing and I fear lest if I should add more I should also be tedious to you yet one thing I must add which I had almost forgot that there are many of the Indians Children who have learned by Heart the Catechism either of that famous Divine William Perkins or that put forth by the Assemblies of Divines at Westminister and in their own Mother Tongue can answer to all the Questions in 〈◊〉 But I must end I salute the famous Professors in your University to whom I desire you to communicate this Letter as Written to them also Farewel worthy Sir the Lord preserve your Health for the Benefit of your Country his Church and of Learning Yours ever Increase Mather Boston in New-England July 12th 1687. Mr. Hammond in his Sermon in the Casuistical Morning Exercise gives us out of Ecclesiastical History two remarkable Passages of the Promotion of the Gospel by private Christians 1. THE one is related by Ruffinus who gives this account of the Conversion of the Kingdom of the Iberians to the Faith There was saith he a certain poor Woman who had been taken Captive and lived among them she was at first taken notice of for her Sobriety and Modesty and then for her spending so much time in Prayer these raised a great admiration of her in the Minds of the Barbarians At last they brought to her a sick Child which upon her Prayers was restored to Health This spread her Fame abroad so that the Queen of the Country was brought to her and by her Prayers recovered Whereupon the King and Kingdom were won over to Christ and the King sent to Constantine the Great for some to instruct them farther in the Christian Religion Ruffin Hist Eccl. l. 1. c. 10. The holy Conversation and the ardent Devotions of private Chistians are excellent means to recommend the Gospel and to represent it as most amiable and desireable 2. The other is of Frumentius Aedecius These being Christians were left young in one of the Kingdoms of the inner India and were after some time for their excellent Parts and unspotted Life honoured and employed by the Queen of the Country during the Minority of her Son In Process of time some Roman Merchants came to Traffick among them then Frumentius understanding that there were some Christians among them invited them to reside with him and provided a place for them where they might offer up their Prayers to God after the Christian manner and himself having obtained leave of the Queen went to Athanasius in Alexandria requesting him to send some Bishop to that Kingdom to promote the farther Entertainment of the Gospel among them to which they were well inclined and disposed for the reception of it Athanasius ordained Frumentius himself who returned and by God's Blessing met with wonderful Success Ruffin Hist Eccl. l. 1. c. 9. Socrat. Eccl. Hist l. 1. c. 15. Sozomen l. 2. c. 23. If Providence says my Author shall bring these Lines to the view of Christian Travellers Merchants and Mariners who come among the poor Heathen let the Examples laid before them excite and encourage them to use their Endeavours to bring them to the Knowledge of Christ and the Entertainment of the Gospel The Reverend Mr. Annesly whose non-such Zeal in promoting the Gospel has been so successful in this part of the World gives the following Account of the Reverend Mr. Brand in the Narrative of his Life wherein he seems to have been actuated by a double Portion of the same Spirit whilst he writes the Story of that is Friend He tells us His Zeal for promoting the Gospel was so extensive that besides his constant weekly Catechising where he resided he promoted the constancy of it in all Schools and places to which he was a Benefactor and engaged all Ministers to whose support he Contributed to be diligent in it often examining the Conduct and Success of those he trusted with it And besides these again he hired several other Persons in distant places to catechise Children and all others willing to Learn and once a Month or oftner rode to visit and catechise them himself And to encourage them to do well and especially those who were Old and yet Ignorant and therefore ashamed to come to frequent those Exercises he gave them Books or Money according to their Quality And to allure Masters and Parents to send their Children or Servants he would also present them with Books curiously bound and Guilt and to such as were Poor he would give more Money than they could earn in the time spent in Learning His Discourse with Parents and Masters themselves was Catechistical and yet not disparaging All his Questions to all sorts so instructively Worded that they could not miss a right Answer and his whole
Enemy's Hands uttered these or such-like Speeches See what is become of these Gallants that sung so much one with another When any one doth wrong us God is our Succour and Defence But he had scarce ended his Words whenas a sudden Grief took him so that he was forced to alight from his Horse and to be carried to Bed where instead of singing he died in Despair drawing forth his Tongue as black as a Coal and hanging out of his Mouth This happened the Ninth of June 1547. Ibid. 6. Mr. Job Williams of Preston-Baggot having made a Journey to London to enter his Minister Mr. Benjamin Lovel into the High-Commission Court tho' a worthy Man on his Return was struck with such Terrors of Conscience that he fell sick sent for Mr. Lovei and begg'd his Pardon telling him That so soon as he had sealed the Bond for his Prosecution the Devil appeared to him and said he would have him without any Remedy Thus he continued crying out there was no Mercy for him and about a Fortnight after in his own House with a piece of Bed-cord he hang'd himself Related from Mr. Lovel's own Mouth Clark's Exampl Vol. 1. c. 85. See the last Example in the Chapter of Divine Judgments upon Murder 7. One of my Parishioners where I was Minister formerly having given Occasion of Scandal by his Drunkenness and reproachful Tongue and Execrations was by me disswaded from coming to the Sacrament till such time as he had given some Proof of his Reformation He took this so disdainfully that he left our Communion went first to a Meeting of dissenting Protestants in the Town then to the Papists and at last falling ill of a strange Disease in his Bowels from which he could find no Ease or Relief but by taking a daily Dose of Laudnum his only Child died his Wife became lame on her Arm and he continued pining away some Years and at last died in extream Poverty and was carried like a Sack of Corn with only one Man attending on Horseback to his Grave CHAP. CIX Divine Judgments upon Persecution WE find the Evils done to God's People have been repaid by a just Retribution to their Enemies Pharaoh and the Egyptians were cruel Enemies to God's Israel and designed the Ruine of their poor innocent Babes and God repaid it in smiting all the First-born of Egypt in one Night Exod. 12.29 Haman erected a Gallows fifty Cubits high for good Mordecai and God so ordered it that himself and his ten Sons were hanged on it And indeed it was but meet as the Reverend Divine saith That he should eat the Fruits of that Tree which himself had planted Esther 7.10 Aâ—hitophel plots against David and gives Counsel like an Oracle how to procure his Fâ—ll and that very Counsel like a surcharged Gun recoiâ—s upon himself and precures his Ruine c. The Arm which Jeroboam stretched out to smite the Prophet God smites Oberve the few Instances which follow 1. Maximinus that cruel Emperor who set forth his Proclamation engraven in Brass for the utter Abolishing of the Christian Religion was speedily smitten like Herod with a dreadful Judgment swarms of Lice preying upon his Entrails and causing such a Stench that his Physicians could not endure to come nigh him and for Refusing it were slain Hundreds of like Instances might easily be produced to confirm this Observation And who can but see by these Things that verily there is a God that judgeth in the Earth 2. Charles the IX most inhumanely made the very Canals of Paris to stream with Protestant Blood and soon after he died miserably his Blood streaming from all Parts of his Body Flav. Div. Cond p. 26. 3. Stephen Gardiner that burnt so many of God's dear Servants to Ashes was himself so scorched up by a terrible Inflammation that his very Tongue was black and hung out of his Mouth and in dreadful Torments ended his wretched Life Ibid. Fox's Mar. 4. Laurentius Surius a German Chronicler to Charles the V. Emperor heard this strange Accident by People worthy of Belief who made Report thereof to the Emperor because they were there present at that time And since then I my self saith my Author have heard it confirm'd by divers honourable Gentlemen who travelled for certain Knowledge thereof The Islands of the Molucques are many in Number but among the rest there are Five more great and remarkable than all the other which are named Tidora Terrenata Mata Matila and Matiena in which Islands there is much greater Increase of Spices than in any other as is yet discovered as of Pepper Nutmegs Ginger Cloves and Mace besides Rice and many other Fruits Charles the V. who had an Interest in these Islands having need of Money to serve his Wars in Italy Germany and France quitted his Rights to the King of Portugal for 350000 Duckats At which time Mansor King of the great Island Tidora entertained the Portugals very courteously permitted all his Subjects to be instructed in the Christian Religion and so many of them as pleased to be Baptized But this good King dying his Son not only interdicted the Portugals Commerce with his Subjects but also commanded his People as suddenly as they could to kill them and that none should be so bold as to make Profession of the Christian Faith or to meddle with any matter thereof This was no sooner understood by some who were but badly affected to Christianity but before they could prevent it many Portugals were slain and such as had any means of Escape fled into their Ships lying near at Anchor and returned home to Portugal with these ill Tydings Here ye are to note That after this disloyal Act of so evil Usage towards Strangers and Breach of Fidelity without any Cause given to procure it albeit the Deceased King Mansâ—r whose own Letters cleared from all such Barbarous and Mahometan Perfidie had granted to the Portugals free Liberty to slay any that hindred their Commerce or any way scandalized their Religion which they refused to do they carried themselves very patiently in all the Injuries that these Mahometist Molucques offered them who were much assisted in their Violence by the Arabian Merchants After this Massacre of the Christians for the space of two Years the Land of Tidora and other Isles adjacent became Barren Their Trees brought forth no more Fruits no Spices and altho' the Grounds were sowed and resowed many times together yet did they not produce any Corn and the Rice which they kept for further sowing putrefied of it self the sweet Waters became salt the Cattle as Elephants Oxen Kine Camels Sheep and such like died well near all and caused the Death of many People beside 5. The several Deaths of the principal Actors in that bloody Tragedy the Parisian Massacre are worthy Observation The King died wallowing in Blood not only issuing from all the Passages of his Body but as it were in a sweat of Blood from all the Pores of it the
two Guises the Duke and Cardinal were Assassinated by Command of King Henry the III. The Queen a few Days after them died of Grief lamented of none but hated by every Body as the Bishop of Rhodez affirms and the Duke of Anjou who after the King's Decease came to the Crown under the Name of Henry the III. was slain by a Stab from a Jacobin Friar Author of the Interests of Princes and States 6. Philip King of Spain the II. having once escaped a great Danger at Sea at his Arrival in Spain appointed two Days of Thanksgiving one at Validolid the other at Sevil whither he caused those in Prison for Religion to be brought from several Places of his Kingdom Upon which Days Scaffolds being made which a Distinction of Seats for Spectators according to their Quality the Prisoners were with triumphant Ceremonies and dress'd in Antick manner led to the Fires and burnt before them c. The King also himself put to Death his eldest Son Charles partly upon Suspicion of being a Favourer of them but he died also of Blood issuing from all the Passages of his Body with a continual Vomiting of Vermin as the Bishop of Rhodez in his History of Henry the IV. relates Ibid. 7. George Eagles Martyr hang'd at Chelmsford in Essex was cut down before he was dead and sadly mangled by the Bailiff William Swallow his Body opened his Heart pulled out and his Quarters set up in several Places But shortly after Swallow's Hair fell from his Head his Eyes were so closed that he could scarce see the Nails fell off from his Fingers and Toes a Leprosie overspread his whole Body and his Estate so wasted that he soon fell into Beggery and died wretchedly Fox's Martyrol 8. One Robert Baldwyn a Neighbour having searched the House of Will. Seaman and finding him at home very unneighbourly carried him to Sir Jo. Tyrrel in order to the Prosecuting of him but on the way a strange Light fell from Heaven betwixt them upon which Baldwyn though then in the Flower of his Age was so struck that he pined away till he died Ibid. 9. Mr. Swingfield a Deputy in Thames-street with three others carried one Mrs. Angel a Midwife from a Woman in Labour her self being with Child too to Bishop Bonner who put her into Lollard's Tower but within ten Weeks Swingfield and his three Companions were all dead Ibid. 10. Burton Bailiff of Crowland in Lincolnshire a Protestant in King Edward's Time a Papist in Queen Mary's goes to Church speaks to the Curate then Reading the English Service Sirrah will you not say Mass Buckle your self to it you Knave or by God's Blood I 'll sheath my Dagger in your shoulder Shortly after riding with a Neighbour over Fen-Bank a Crow flew over his Head with her usual Note voided her Excrements on his Nose which ran down upon his Beard and set him so a Vomiting that he hastened home and to Bed where he continued Vomiting Swearing and Cursing at the Crow till at last he died Ibid. CHAP. CX Divine Judgments upon Uncharitableness Covetousness c. WITH what Measure ye mete it shall be meted to you again saith our Saviour and 't is but just and reasonable that those People who shut up their Bowels and Streams of Charity from their Neighbours should suffer by a Retaliation Sometimes Man himself and sometimes God Almighty in a more immediate way remembers and recompenseth the Vnkindnesses of these Men and repays them in their own Coin As they sowed sparingly they shall reap so too and as themselves were not merciful so they shall find no mercy 1. John Cameron Bishop of Glasgow was a very Covetous Man given to Violence and Oppression especially towards his poor Tenants and Vassals but God suffered it not long to go unpunished For the Night before Christmas-day as he lay asleep in his House at Lockwood seven Miles from the City of Glasgow he heard a Voice summoning him to appear before the Tribunal of Christ and give an Account of his doings Whereupon he awaked and being greatly terrified he called to his Servants to bring a Light and sit by him he himself also took a Book in his Hand and began to read But the Voice calling the second time struck all the servants into an Amazement The same Voice calling the third time far louder and more fearfully the Bishop after a heavy groan was found dead in his Bed his Tongue hanging out of his Mouth A fearful Example of God's Judgment against the sin of Covetousness and Oppression Spotswood's History of the Church of Scotland See the Story of Gresham and Rich. Antonio under the Chap. of Discov of things secret by Omens c. Of Hatto Archbishop of Mentz under the Chap. of Divine Judgments upon Murder 2. Sir Walter Rawleigh a Man otherwise of Excellent Parts and a great Soul yet not being able to look Poverty in the Face when he was set at Liberty out of the Tower procures a Commission from King James to make a Voyage to Guiana in hopes of finding there Mines of Gold to enrich both the King and himself though at that time in the 76th Year of his Age sets out for the Indies where the Spaniards having notice before-hand had raised several Fortifications he with Sir Nicholas Kemish and others finding things otherwise than they expected Sir Nicholas kills himself and Sir Walter Storms the Town of St. Thomas where he lost his Son Walter returns home disappointed finds the Court disgusted the King offended and notwithstanding his Commission from the Royal Hand Anno 1618. Octob. 28. after some Months Imprisonment lost his Head Detection of the Court and State of England during the four last Reigns p. 56 57. 3. Cromerus an Author of good Credit tells us of a certain rich Man a Polonian who was very Covetous much given to Rapine and Oppression who falling Sick and being like to die was admonished by his Friends to sue to God for Mercy which he refused to do saying That there was no hope of Salvation for him no place of Pardon left No sooner had he thus spoken but immediately there was heard of the standers by a noise of most vehement Stripes and Blows which appeared manifestly upon the Body of this dying Wretch who presently gave up the Ghost to the great Terror and Amazement of all who were many then present Eye-witnesses of this Tragical Story Clark's Examples Vol. I. p. 115. Anno Christi 1570. at Rye in Sussex there was a strange Example of God's Judgment upon a Covetous Gentleman who living near the Sea had a Marsh wherein upon Poles Fishermen used to dry their Nets for which he received of them Yearly a sufficient Sum of Money But at length being not content with it he caused his Servants to pluck up the Poles not suffering the Fishermen to come upon his Ground any longer except they would compound at a larger Rate But it came to pass the same Night that
Woman After his Burial his Ghost was very troublesome in the Town to many People but especially to the Parson of the Parish who penned this Narrative c. Weinrich p. 212. 19. Eliz. Mudy for bewitching her Mistress to Death at Hadington in Scotland the Mistress Margaret Kirkwood being then hanging her self in her Chamber whilst the Maid was observed at Church to number upon her Fingers 50 or 51 and crying aloud in the presence of them all Now the Turn is done was seized on Suspicion confessed the Witchcraft and was burned for the same Invis World p. 200. It would be endless to give a particular Catalogue of all in England Scotland Ireland France Spain Germany Denmark New-England c. that have been arraigned and executed for Witchcraft Nor is it difficult to believe that those who take their own time to apply themselves to the Devil for his Assistance shall find him ready enough to call upon them in his time for a nearer and more terrible Acquaintance 20. In the Year 1645. there was a notable Discovery of Witches in Essex viz. Elizabeth Clark Ann West and Rebecca her Daughter Rose Hallybread Joyce Boanes Susanna Cock whose Mother Margery Stoakes upon her Death bed had for her Good commended two Imps to her as also Elizabeth Weed of Huntington-shire John Winnick of the same County c. all brought to the Gallows after a legal Tryal Inform. of Witches c. p. 6. 21. An. 1669 current At Mokra in Sweedland Lords Commissioners being sent down by the King on purpose to make Search and Examination there were found 70 Persons a goodly knot who were engaged in Witchery in that one Village 23 of which freely confessed their Crimes and were contented to die the others pleading not Guilty were sent to Fahluna where most of them were afterwards executed Fifteen Children also who confessed as the rest did died as the rest 36 Children between 9 and 16 Years of Age ran the Gantlet 20 more who were less were condemned to be lashed with Rods three Sundays together at the Church-door and the aforesaid 36 were also doom'd to be lash'd this way once a Week for a whole Year together The Number of the seduced Children was about 300. This is taken out of the publick Register of the Lords Commissioners Concerning the late Confederacy of Witches in New-England I have spoke already in this Book and have no more to add but this That if they be Accursed who put their Trust in Man they cannot certainly be expected to be Happy that put their Trust in Devils CHAP. CXL Divine Judgments upon Backsliders and Apostates TO shew that the Almighty God takes it mighty ill from those People that fall back from the Truth of the Gospel after they have made Profession of it there needs no more Evidence to prove it than the many Precepts and Cautions he hath given us against Apostacy and the frequent Exhortations in Sacred Scripture to Perseverance and Continuance in the Faith The Curses threatned to those that Relapse and make shipwreck of a Good Conscience add still more strength to the Evidence but the Execution of his Menaces puts it more out of doubt yet St. Peter's weeping bitterly and turning back again in a penitential way Judas apostatizing and dying in despair the poor Jewish Church living under a dismal Eclipse of the Divine Favour to this Day are Examples for our Instruction To lay down a few more 1. Mr. Bilny An. 1529. abjured the Protestant Doctrine and submitted to the Powers that then were but fell into such Terrors of Conscience that he was near the point of utter Despair and so continued a whole Year his Friends all the time endeavouring to comfort him but in vain At last through God's Mercy he found Comfort and presently resolved to lay down his Life for that Truth which he had before renounced Clark's Eccl. Hist p. 163. 2. Lucian who had made Profession of Religion in the Time of Trajan afterwards fell from it became a Railer against it and at last was torn in pieces by Dogs Suidas 3. Porphyry being reproved for his Faults by some Christians renounced the Profession wrote against the Religion and died in despair Id. 4. Origen being perswaded rather to offer Incense to Idols than be defiled by an ugly Black-a-moor lost the Peace of his Conscience 5. Tamerus being seduced from the Reformed Religion by his Brother a Papist fell into despair and hang'd himself Theat Hist 6. 1569. One Henry Smith in the Middle Temple turning Papist hanged himself in his own Chamber Acts and Mon. 7. Latomus of Lovain once a Professor of the Gospel afterwards an Apostate made an Oration at Brussels before the Emperor Charles V. against Luther and his Followers but so foolishly that he was laughed to scorn afterwards at Lovain in a publick Lecture he fell into an open Frenzy despairing and blaspheming crying out continually that he was damned c. Senercleus in Epist ante Hist de morte Diazii 8. Arnold Bomelius a Student of Lovain and Favourer of the Gospel a Man of good Parts apostatizing to Popery fell into great Trouble of Mind and thence into Depsair and afterwards walking into the Fields with some Scholars he sate down by a Spring side drew out a Dagger and stabb'd himself Acts and Mon. 9. Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester cried out on his Death-bed That he had denied his Master with Peter but not repented with Peter and so stinking above Ground ended his wretched Life Clark's Exampl Vol. I. c. 6. 10. Mr. West Chaplain to Bishop Ridley in King Edward the Sixth's Reign turning Papist in Queeh Mary's fell into such Torment of Conscience that he pined away and died Acts and Mon. 11. Cardinal Pool was a Favourer of the Truth afterwards a Persecutor but within two or three Days after Queen Mary's death himself died in Terror Clark's Exampl Vol. I. c. 6. 12. Peter Castellan Bishop of Maston an Apostate from the Reformed Religion fell into a strange Disease one half of his Body burning like Fire and the other cold as Ice and in this case with horrible Groans and Cries died Ibid. 13. Henry the Fourth King of France after he came to the Crown turned from Protestant to Papist from Bonus Orbi to Orbus Boni though still Borbonius was first stabb'd in the Tongue by John Castile at last in his Breast by Ravilliac and so died Fren. Hist 14. One Richard Denson a Smith in King Edward the Sixth's Days encouraged a young Man then in Prison to suffer But for my part saith he I cannot burn But though he could not for his Religion he was afterwards burnt for his Apostacy by occasion of a Fire in his Shop and House Clark's Exampl Vol. I. c. 6. 15. Francis Spira is a sad Example of God's Judgment in such Cases but I have mention'd him elsewhere 16. Poor Bishop Jewel was forc'd to spend a Recantation-Sermon beyond Sea and many a Prayer and Teat
And so fell asleep A. C. 1590. aged 61. Ibid. p. 389. 49. Robert Rollock being sick of the Stone which came upon him at last with great violence set his House in Order and commended his Wife after Ten Years Barrenness then with Child to the Care of his Friends requested two Noblemen his Visitants to go from him to the King and entreat him in his Name to have a care of Religion and to persevere in it to the end as hitherto he had done and to Reverence and Esteem the Pastors of the Church as it was meet And to the Pastors of Edinburgh he made an excellent exhortation and Profession of his Sincerity he made such a Divine and Heavenly Speech as astonished the Hearers And when the Physicians were preparing Physick he said Thou Lord wilt heal me Then he prayed fervently that God would Pardon his Sins for Christ's sake and that he might have an Happy Departure and enjoy God's Presence which he had long breathed after Desired the Magistrates to be very careful of the University desiring them to chuse in his room Henry Charter and commended his Wife to their care professing that he had not laid up one Penny of his Stipend and therefore hoped they would provide for her And when he had their Promise for these things he said I bless God I have all my Senses entire but my Heart is in Heaven And Lord Jesus why shouldest not thou have it It hathbeen my care all my Life long to dedicate it to thee I pray thee take it that it may live with thee for ever Come Lord Jesus put an end to this Miserable Life Haste Lord and tarrâ— not Come Lord Jesus and give me that Life for which thou hast redeemed me And when some told him that the next day was the Sabbath he said Thy Sabbath O Lord shall begin my Eternal Sabbath The next Morning to Mr. Belcanqual praying for his long life he said I am weary of this Life all my desire is that I may enjoy the Coelestial Life that is hid with Christ in God And so quietly resigned to his Spirit A. C. 1598. aged 43. Ibid. p. 412. 50. Nic. Hemingius a little before his Death expounded the 103 Psalm with so much Fevour Efficacy and Power of the Holy Ghost that all that heard him wondred at it and shortly after resign'd up his Soul Anno 1600. aged 87. Ibid. p. 414. 51. Chytraeus before his Death made a Confession of his Faith received the Sacrament and lying sick on his Bed if any Discourse were raised about a Controversie called to them to speak out for that he should die with more Comfort if he could learn any new thing before his departure Ibid. p. 421. 52. Tossanus being grown very old and infirm laid down his Professors Place tho' with the Reluctance of the University of Heidelberg and having in his Lectures expounded the Book of Job to the end of the 31st Chapter he concluded with these words The words of Job are ended And presently after falling sick he comforted himself with these Texts of Scripture I have fought the good Fight c. Be you faithful unto the Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life We have a City not made with hands eternal in the Heavens c. And when he had made a good Confession of his Faith c. he departed quietly A. C. 1602. aged 61. Ibid. p. 430. 53. Bishop Andrews was not sick in Thirty Years except once till his last Sickness at Downham in the Isle of Ely the Air of that Place not agreeing with the Constitution of his Body But there he seemed to be prepared for his Dissolution saying often-times in that Sickness It must come once and why not here And at other times The days must come when whether we will or nill we shall say with the Preacher we have no pleasure in them Eccles 12.1 Of his Death he seemed to Presage with himself a year before he died and therefore prepared his Oyl that he might be admitted in due time into the Bride-Chamber That of qualis vita c. might be truly verified of him for as he lived so he died As his Fidelity in his Health was great so the strength of his Faith in his Sickness increased His Gratitude to Men was now changed into Thankfulness to God his Affability to incessant Prayers his Laborious Studies to restless Groans Sighs Cries and Tears his Hands labouring his Eyes lifted up and his Heart beating and panting to see the Living God even to the last of his Breath He departed this Life A. C. 1626. aged 71. Mr. Isaacson in his Life 54. Dr. Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury Twenty Years and Five Months used these his last words to His Majesty who in Person visited him the day before he died when he could hardly be understood Pro Ecclesia Dei pro Eclesiâ— Dei c. For the Church of God for the Church of God Fuller Abel Rediviv p. 463. 55. Beza on the Lord's-day Octob. 13. 1605. rising early and calling his Family to Prayers afterwards Prayers ended walked up and down some few Paces and receiving some small quantity of Wine repaired to his Bed again demanding whether all things were quiet in the City and when Answer was made they were he forthwith gave up his Soul into the hands of Almighty God with all alacrity and chearfulness aged 86. Ibid. p 474. 56. Dr. John Reynolds on his Death-bed being desired to obviate some scandalous Reports raised concerning him by the Papists as if his Conversion were not sincere and a form of Confession being offered him to Subscribe he shook his Head called for his Spectacles and signed the Writing with his Name in very fair Characters at which they all admired because he had that Morning assayed to write but could not through extream weakness The next day he resign'd his Ghost being Holy-Thursday May 21. 1607. Ibid. p. 490. 57. Mr. Tho. Holland born in Shropshire and Regius Professor at Oxford in his old Age growing sickly spent all his time in Fervent Prayers and Holy Meditations and when his End approached he often sighed out Come O Come Lord Jesus thou Morning-star Come Lord Jesus I desire to be dissolved and to be with thee and so quietly departed in the Lord A. C. 1612. aged 73. Ibid. p. 501. 58. John Gerardus having desired the Communion to be administred to him and told his Wife what he would have done after his Death and instructed his Children and laid his Hand on his Youngest Son with those words Disce mi fili Learn my Son the Commandments of the Lord and he will provide for thee and at last turning to the Neighbours and declaring in what Faith he died he fell asleep Anno 1564. aged 53. Ibid. p. 518. 59. Archbishop Parker before his decease some space of time the better to mind him of his Mortality caused his Monument to be made of plain black Marble and to be placed in
to carry my Soul to the Bosom of Jesus and I shall be for ever with the Lord in Glory And who can chuse but rejoyce in all this And now my dear Mother Brethren and Sisters Farewel I leave you for a while and I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified And now dear Lord my Work is done I have finished my course I have fought the good Fight and henceforth there remaineth for me a Crown of Righteousness Now come dear Lord Jesus come quickly Then a Godly Minister came to give him his last Visit and to do the Office of an inferiour Angel to help to convey his blessed Soul to Glory who was now even upon Mount Pisgah and had a full sight of that goodly Land at a little distance When this Minister spake to him his heart was in a mighty flame of Love and Joy which drew Tears of Joy from that precious Minister being almost amazed to hear a Man just a dying talk as if he had been with Jesus He died June 1657. Aged between 23 and 24 and was buried in Kelshall-Church in Hartfordshire For a larger Account of this Extraordinaay Person see his Life written by his Brother Mr. James Janeway 102. Mrs. Allein in the History of the Life and Death of Mr. Joseph Allein writes thus concerning his Death viz. About Three in the Afternoon he had as we perceived some Conflict with Satan for he uttered these words Away thou foul Fiend thou Enemy of all Mankind thou subtil Sophister art thou come now to molest me Now I am just going Now I am so weak and Death upon me Trouble me not for I am none of thine I am the Lord 's Christ is mine and I am his His by Covenant I have sworn my self to be the Lord's and his I will be Therefore be gone These last words he repeated often which I took much notice of That his Covenanting with God was the means he used to expel the Devil and all his Temptations The time we were in Bath I had very few hours alone with him by reason of his constant using the Bath and Visits of Friends from all Parts thereabouts and sometimes from Taunton and when they were gone he would be either retiring to GOD or to his Rest But what time I had with him he always spent in Heavenly and Profitable Discourse speaking much of the Place he was going to and his Desires to be gone One Morning as I was Dressing him he looked up to Heaven and smiled and I urging him to know why he answered me thus Ah my Love I was thinking of my Marriage-Day it will be shortly O what a joyful Day will that be Will it not thinkest thou my dear heart Another time bringing him some Broth he said Blessed be the Lord for these Refreshments in the way home but O how sweet will Heaven be Another time I hope to be shortly where I shall need no Meat nor Drink nor Cloaths When he looked on his weak consumed hands he would say These shall be changed This vile Body shall be made like to Christ's Glorious Body O what a Glorious Day will the Day of the Resurrection be Methinks I see it by Faith How will the Saints lift up their heads and rejoyce and how sadly will the wicked World look then O come let us make haste our Lord will come shortly let us prepare If we long to be in Heaven let us hasten with our Work for when that is done away we shall be fetch'd O this vain foolish dirty World I wonder how reasonable Creatures can so dote upon it What is in it worth the looking after I care not to be in it longer than while my Master hath either doing or suffering Work for me were that done farewel to Earth Thus far Mrs. Allein 103. Dr. Peter du Moulin Professor of Divinity at Sedan at his last Hour pronounced these Words I shall be satisfied when I awake c. and twice or thrice Come Lord Jesus come Come Lord Jesus come and the last time that Text which he loved so much He that believeth in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life and a little after Lord Jesu receive my Spirit It being said to him You shall see your Redeemer with your eyes laying his Hand on his Heart he answered with an Effort I believe it and so departed 1658. aged 90. Out of the French Copy of his Death 104. Arminius in his Sickness was so far from doubting any whit of that Confession he had publish'd that he stedfastly judged it to agree in all things with the Holy Scriptures and therefore he did persist therein That he was ready at that very moment to appear with that same Belief before the Tribunal of Jesus Christ the Son of God the Judge of the Quick and Dead He died of a Disease in the Bowels which caused Fevers Cough Extension of the Hypochondria Atrophy Gout Iliack Passion Obstruction of the Left Optick Nerve Dimness of the same Eye c. which gave occasion to some Censures He died Oct. 19. In his Life by an unknown Hand 105. Simon Episcopius An. 1643. falling sick of an Ischuria for Eleven Days not being able to make a drop of Water continued ill two Months or more and at last for some Weeks was deprived of his Sight which Loss had been more grievous to him had not his deep and almost continual Sleeping lessened the same For he complained of it to his Friends that he should not be able to serve the Church of Christ any more He died April 4 at Eight of the Clock in the Morning the Moon being then eclipsed saith the Author of his Life p. 26. 106. Gustavus Ericson King of Sweden having lived 70 Years and reigned 38. gave in Charge to his Children to endeavour the Peace and maintain the Liberties of their Country but especially to preserve the Purity of Religion without the Mixture of Human Inventions and to live in Unity as Brethren among themselves and so sealing up his Will he resigned his Spirit to God An. 1562. Clark's Martyrol p. 370. 107. Edward the Sixth King of England in the Time of his Sickness hearing Bishop Ridley preach upon Charity gave him many Thanks for it and thereupon ordered Gray-Friars Church to be a House for Orphans St. Bartholomew's to be an Hospital and his own House at Bridewel to be a Place of Correction And when he had set his Hand to that Work he thank'd God that he had prolong'd his Life till he had finished that good Design About three Hours before his Death having his Eyes clos'd and thinking none near him he prayed thus with himself Lord God deliver me out of this miserable and wretched Life and take me among thy Chosen howbeit not my Will but thine be done Lord I commend my Spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest
and the Romans will come and take away both our Place and Nation Here was a causeless Cry against Christ That the Romans would come and see how just the Judgment of God was They crucified Christ for fear least the Romans should come and his Death was it which brought in the Romans upon them God punishing them with that which they most feared And I pray God this Clamour of venient Romani of which I have given no cause help not to bring them in For the Pope never had such a Harvest in England since the Reformation as he hath now upon the Sects and Divisions that are amongst us In the mean time by Honour and Dishonour by good Report and evil Report as a Deceiver and yet True am I passing through this World Some Particulars also I think it not amiss to speak of And first this I shall be bold to speak of The King our gracious Sovereign hath been also much and â—eed for bringing in of Popery but on my Conscience of which I shall give God a present Account I know him to be as free from this Charge as any Man living and I hold him to be as sound a Protestant according to the Religion by Law establish'd as any Man in this Kingdom and that he will venture his Life as far and as freely for it and I think I do or should know both his Affection to Religion and his Grounds for it as fully as any Man in England The second Particular is concerning this Great and Populous City which God bless Here hath been of late a Fashion taken up to gather Hands and then to go to the Great Court of this Kingdom the Parliament and clamour for Justice as if that Great and Wise Court before whom the Causes come which are unknown to the many could not or would not do Justice but at their Appointment A way which may endanger many an innocent Man and pluck his Blood upon their own Heads and perhaps upon the City 's also And this hath been lately practised against my self the Magistrates standing still and suffering them openly to proceed from Parish to Parish without Check God forgive the Setters of this I beg it with all my Heart but many well-meaning People are caught by it In St. Stephen's Case when nothing else would serve they stirred up the People against him and Herod went the same way when he had killed St. James yet he would not venture upon St. Peter till he found how the other pleased the People But take heed of having your Hands full of Blood For there is a Time best known to himself when God above other Sins makes Inquisition for Blood and when that Inquisition is on foot the Psalmist tells us that God remembers but that 's not all he remembers and forgets not the complaint of the poor that is whose blood is shed by oppression v. 9. Take heed of this 'T is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God but then especially when he is making Inquisition for Blood and with my Prayers to avert it I do heartily desire this City to remember the Prophecy Jer. 26.15 The third Particular is the poor Church of England It hath flourished and been a shelter to other neighbouring Churches when Storms have driven upon them But alas now 't is in a Storm it self and God only knows whether or how it shall get out And which is worse than a Storm from without it 's become like an Oak cleft to shivers with Wedges made out of its own Body and at every Cleft Profaneness and Irreligion is entering in while as Prosper speaks L. 2. de Contemptu Vitae c. 4. Men that introduce Profaneness are cloaked over with the Name of Imaginary Religion For we have lost the Substance and dwell too much in Opinion and that Church which all the Jesuites Machinations could not Ruine is fallen into Danger by her own The last Particular for I am not willing to be too long is my self I was Born and Baptized in the Bosom of the Church of England established by Law in that Profession I have ever since lived and in that I come now to die This is no time to dissemble with God least of all in matter of Religion and therefore I desire it may be remembred I have always lived in the Protestant Religion established in England What Clamours and Slanders I have endured for labouring to keep an Uniformity in the External Service of God according to the Doctrine and Discipline of this Church all Men know and I have abundantly felt Now at last I am accused of High Treason in Parliament a Crime which my Soul ever abhorred This Treason was charged to consist of these two Parts an Endeavour to subvert the Laws of the Land and to overthrow the True Protesant Religion established by Law Besides my Answers to the several Charges I protested my Innocency in both Houses It was said Prisoners Protestations at the Bar must not be taken I can bring no Witness of my Heart and the intentions thereof therefore I must come to my Protestation not at the Bar but at this hour and instant of my Death In which I hope all Men will be such Charitable Christians as not to think I would die and dissemble being instantly to give God an Account for the Truth of it I do therefore here in the Presence of God and his Holy Angels take it upon my Death That I never endeavoured the Subversion either of Law or Religion and I desire you all to remember this Protestation of mine for my Innocency in these and from all Treasons whatsoever I have been accused likewise as an Enemy to Parliaments No I understand them too well and the Benefit that comes by them too well to be so but I did mislike the Misgovernments of some Parliaments many ways and I had good Reason for it For Corruptio optimi est pessima the better the Thing is in nature the worse it is corrupted And that being the Highest Court over which no other here have jurisdiction when 't is misinformed or misgoverned the Subject is left without all Remedy But I have done I forgive all the World all and every of those bitter Enemies which have persecuted me and humbly desire to be forgiven of God first and then of every Man whether I have offended him or not if he do but conceive that I have Lord do thou forgive me and I beg forgiveness of him and so I heartily desire all to joyn in Prayer with me O Eternal God and Merciful Father look down upon me in Mercy in the Riches and Fulness of all thy Mercies look upon me but not till thou hast nail'd my Sins to the Cross of Christ not till thou hast bathed me in the Blood of Christ not till I have hid my self in the Wounds of Christ that so the Punishment due to my Sins may pass over me And since thou art pleased to try me
to the uttermost I humbly beseech thee give me now in this great Instant full Patience proportionable Comfort and a Heart ready to die for thy Honour the King's Happiness and this Church's Preservation and my Zeal to these far from Arrogancy be it spoken is all the Sin Humane Frailty excepted and all Incidents thereto which is yet known to me in this Particular for which I now come to suffer I say in this particular of Treason but otherwise my Sins are very many and great Lord pardon them all and those especially whatever they are which have drawn down this special Judgment upon me And when thou hast given me Strength to bear it do with me as seems best in thine own Eyes and carry me through Death that I may look upon it in what Visage soever it appear unto me Amen And that there may be a Stop of this Issue of Blood in this more than miserable Kingdom I shall desire That I may pray for the People too as well as for my self O Lord I beseech thee give Grace of Repentance to all Blood-thirsty People but if they will not Repent O Lord confound all their Devices defeat and frustrate all their Designs and Endeavours upon them which shall be contrary to the Glory of thy Great Name the Truth and Sincerity of Religion the Establishment of the King and his Posterity after him in their just Rights and Privileges the Honour and Conservation of Parliaments in their just Power the Preservation of this poor Church in her Truth Peace and Patrimony and the Settlement of this distracted and distressed People under their ancient Laws and in their native Liberties And when thou hast done all this in Mercy for them O Lord fill their Hearts with Thankfulness and with Religious Dutiful Obedience to thee and thy Commandments all their Days So Amen Lord Jesus Amen And receive my Soul into thy Bosom Amen Our Father c. Again kneeling by the Block he prayed thus Lord I am coming as fast as I can I know I must pass through the Shadow of Death before I can come to see thee But it is but umbra mortis a meer Shadow of Death a little Darkness upon Nature but thou thro' thy Merits and Passion hast broke through the Jaws of Death So Lord receive my Soul and have Mercy upon me and bless this Kingdom with Peace and Plenty and with Brotherly Love and Charity that there may not be this Effusion of Christian Blood amongst them for Jesus Christ's sake if it be thy Will Then laying his Head upon the Block and praying silently to himself he said aloud Lord receive my Soul Which was the Signal given to the Executioner Thus he died Aged 71. Jan. 10. 1644. A brief Relat. of his Death and Sufferings printed at Oxon c. 1644. 114. King Charles the First made this his last Speech upon the Scaffold I Shall be very little heard by any body here I shall therefore speak a Word unto you here Indeed I could hold my Peace very well if I did not think that holding my Peace would make some Men think that I did submit to the Guilt as well as to the Punishment but I think it is my Duty to God first and to my Country for to clear my self both as an honest Man and a good Christian I shall begin first with my Innocency In troth I think it not very needful for me to insist long upon this for all the World knows I never did begin a War with the two Houses of Parliament and I call God to witness to whom I must shortly make an Account that I never did intend to encroach upon their Privileges They began upon me it was the Militia they began upon They confess'd that the Militia was mine but they thought it fit to have it from me And to be short if any Body will look to the Dates of Commissions both theirs and mine and likewise to the Declarations will see clearly that they began these unhappy Troubles not I So that for the Guilt of these enormous Crimes that are laid against me I hope in God that God will clear me of it I will not I am in Charity God forbid that I should lay it upon the two Houses of Parliament there is no necessity of either I hope they are free of this Guilt For I do believe that ill Instruments between them and me have been the Cause of all this Bloodshed so that by way of speaking I find my self clear of this I hope and pray God that they may be so too Yet for all this God forbid that I should be so ill a Christian as not to say That God's Judgments are just upon me Many times he doth pay Justice by an unjust Sentence that is ordinary I will only say this That an unjust Sentence that I suffered to take effect is punished now by an unjust Sentence upon me That is so far I have said to shew you that I am an innocent Man Now for to shew you that I am a good Christian I hope there is a good Man pointing to Dr. Juxon that will bear me witness that I have forgiven all the World and those in particular that have been the chief Causers of my Death who they are God knows I do not desire to know I pray God forgive them But this is not all my Charity must go further I wish that they may repent for indeed they have committed a great Sin in that Particular I pray God with St. Stephen that this be not laid to their Charge nay not only so but that they may take the right way to the Peace of the Kingdom So Sirs I do wish with all my Soul and I hope there is some here will carry it further that they may endeavour the Peace of the Kingdom Now Sirs I must shew you how you are out of the way and will put you in a way First You are out of the way for certainly all the way you ever had yet as I could find by any thing is in the way of Conquest Certainly this is an ill way for Conquest Sirs in my Opinion is never Just except there be a good just Cause either for Matter of Wrong or a just Title and then if you go beyond it that makes it Unjust in the end that was Just at first But if it be only Matter of Conquest then it is a great Robbery as a Pirate said to Alexander That he was the great Robber he was but a petty Robber And so Sirs I do think the way you are in is much out of the way Now Sirs for to put you in the way believe it you will never do right nor God will never prosper you until you give God his due the King his due that is my Successors and the People their due I am as much for them as any of you You must give God his due by regulating rightly his Church according to his Scriptures which is now out
in Ireland without a Foe By their own barbarous Hands the Mad-men die And Massacre themselves they know not why Whilst the kind Irish howl to see the Gore And pious Catholicks their Fate deplore If you refuse to trust Erroneous Fame Royal Mac-Ninny will confirm the same We have lost more in injur'd Capel's Heir Than the poor Bankrupt Age can e're repair Nature indulg'd him so that there we saw All the choice strokes her steady hand cou'd draw He the Old English Glory did revive In him we had Plantagenets alive Grandeur and Fortune and a vast Renown Fit to support the lustre of a Crown All these in him were potently conjoyn'd But all was too ignoble for his Mind Wisdom and Vertue Properties Divine Those God-like ESSEX were entirely thine In his great Name he 's still preserv'd alive And will to all succeeding Times survive With just Progression as the constant Sun Doth move and through its bright Ecliptick run For whilst his Dust does undistinguish'd lie And his blest Soul is soar'd above the Sky Fame shall below his parted Breath supply 4. WILLIAM Lord RVSSEL THE next who fell under their Cruelty and to whose Death Essex's was but the Prologue was my Lord Russel without all Dispute one of the finest Gentlemen that ever England bred and whose Pious Life and Vertue was as much Treason against the Court by affronting them with what was so much hated there as any thing else that was sworn against him The Last Speech and Carriage of the Lord Russel upon the Scaffold c. ON Saturday July the 21st 1683. about Nine in the Morning the Sheriffs went to Newgate to see if the Lord Russel was ready and in a little time his Lordship came out and went into his Coach taking his Farewel of his Lady the Lord Cavendish and several other of his Friends at Newgate In the Coach were Dr. Tillotson and Dr. Burnet who accompanied him to the Scaffold built in Lincoln's Inn-Fields which was covered all over with Mourning Being come upon the Scaffold his Lordship bowed to the Persons present and turning to the Sheriff made this following Speech Mr. Sheriff I expected the Noise would be such that I should not be much heard I was never fond of much speaking much less now therefore I have set down in Paper all that I think fit to leave behind me God knows how far I was always from Designs against the King's Person or of altering the Government And I still pray for the Preservation of Both and of the Protestant Religion Mr. Sheriff I am told that Captain Walcot Yesterday siad something concerning my Knowledge of the Plot I know not whether the Report be true or not Mr. Sheriff I did not hear him name your Lordship Writer No my Lord your Lordship was not named by any of them Lord Russel I hope it is not for to my knowledge I never saw him nor spake with him in my whole Life and in the Words of a dying Man I profess I know of no Plot either against the King's Life or the Government But I have now done with this World and am going to a better I forgive all the World heartily and I thank God I die in Charity with all Men and I wish all sincere Protestants may love one another and not make way for Popery by their Animosities I pray God forgive them and continue the Protestant Religion amongst them that it may flourish so long as the Sun and Moon endures I am now more satisfied to die than ever I have been Then kneeling down his Lordship prayed to himself after which Dr. Tillotson kneeled down and prayed with him which being done his Lordship kneeled down and prayed a second time to himself then pull'd off his Whig put on his Cap took off his Crevat and Coat and bidding the Executioner after he had lain down a small moment do his Office without a Sign He gave him some Gold Then embracing Dr. Tillotson and Dr. Burnet he laid him down with his Neck upon the Block The Executioner missing at his first stroke though with that he took away his Life at two more severed the Head from the Body The Executioner held up the Head to the People as is usual in cases of Treason c. Which being done Mr. Sheriff ordered his Lordship's Friends or Servants to take the Body and dispose of it as they pleased being given them by His Majesty's Favour and Bounty His Body was convey'd to Cheneys in Buckinghamshire where 't was buried among his Ancestors There was a great Storm and many loud Claps of Thunder the day of his Martyrdom An Elegy was made on him immediately after his Death which seems by what we have of it to be writ with some Spirit and a great deal of Truth and Good-will only this Fragment on 't could be retriev'd which yet may not be unwelcome to the Reader 'T is done he 's crown'd and one bright Martyr more Black Rome is charg'd on thy too bulky score All like himself he mov'd so calm so free A generall Whisper question'd Which is he Deckt like a Lover tho' pale Death 's his Bride He carne and saw and overcame and dy'd Earth wept and all the vainly pitying Croud But Heaven his Death in Thunder groan'd aloud His CHARACTER For his Character if we 'll believe the best Men and those who knew him best 't is one of the most advantageous the Age or indeed our Nation has yielded Those are great words which Mr. Leviston Gower speaks of him on his Tryal but yet not a Syllable too big for his Merit tho' they are very expressive of it That he was one of the best Sons the best Fathers the best Husbands the best Masters the best Friends and the best Christians By other That he was a most Vertuous Prudent and Pious Gentleman A Man of that Vertue that none who knew him could think him guilty of such a Conspiracy A Man of great Honour and too Prudent to be concern'd in so vile and desperate a Design A Person of great Vertue and integrity One whom those he had long convers'd with never heard utter so much as a word of Indecency against the King And others of the highest Quality who had been often in his Company say That they had never heard any thing from him but what was Honourable Just and Loyal His Person was tall and proper his Temper even and aggreable and such as rendred his Vertues even more lovely than they did him His Piety and Devotion as unaffected and yet as remarkable as his Love to the Church of England The True Church of England as he himself calls it not those Tumours and Wens that grow upon it and pretended to be not only part but all of it in our late bad Times to whose Heighths and Extravagancies he thinks it no shame in his Speech to confess he could never rise He was of a Noble Courage which he did not express by
Quarrels or Duelling but serving his Country at Sea in the most dangerous Wars and at Land in the Parliament in more dangerous Councils and Debates He was there a true Englishman still the same you knew where he would be for he never mov'd A strenuous Asserter and Defender of his Country's Religion and Rights against all Opposers and that in a Lawful and Parliamentary Method He spoke little there but always very home and much to the purpose And that was as true a Character of him formerly recited as if it had come from a better Man That every one knew the Lord Russel to be a Person of great Judgment and not very lavish of Discourse Lastly which will give no small heightening to his Character He had Mr. Johnson to his Chaplain An Abstract of the late Noble Lord Russel's Speech to the Sheriffs as also of a Paper delivered by him to them at the Place of his much-lamented Execution on July 21. 1683. IN his Speech to the Sheriffs he tells them That for fear of not being well heard he had couched what he had to say upon that sad occasion in the Paper he delivered them only he Protest his Innocence of any Designs against the King's Person or the then Government and Prays for the Preservation of both and of the Protestant Religion and in short declares that he forgives all the World and wishes that all True Protestants may love one another and not make way for Popery by their Animosities In the Paper He first declares himself compos'd for Death and weaned from this World Then he affectionately thanks God as in general so in particular for his advantageous Birth and Religious Education of which in that important occasion he found such happy and powerful Effects as kept him up against the fear of Death and all other Discomposures and armed him with such Assurances in God's Love and Mercy as made the most joyful of the visibly saddest Moments of his Life He professes to die as he had lived a sincere Protestant of the Church of England though he never could come up to the heighths of some wishes more Moderation both in Church-men and Dissenters and that the Common Danger of Popery might move them to lay aside their Differences and all Persecuting Inclinations as more unseasonable then than at any other time He declares he had a Notion of Poperey as of an Idolatrous and Bloody Religion and thought himself bound to Act in his Station against it notwithstanding the Power of the Enemies he was sure to meet with on that account c. But yet he professes he never thought of doing any thing against it basely or inhumanely against the Maxims of Christian Religion or the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom for his sincerity in which he appeals to God renouncing all Passion By-End or Ill Design as also all Designs of changing the Government which was in his Opinion the best in the World and for which as well as his Country which he valued above his Life he was ever ready to venture it Disclaims all thoughts against the King's Life denying even the Lord Howard to have said any thing tending to prove it Frays sincerely for the King and Nation and wishes they may be mutually happy in one another that the King may be truly a Defender of the Faith that the Protestant Religion and Kingdom may flourish under Him and He be happy in both Worlds As to his share in the Prosecution of the Popish Plot he declares he acted sincerely in it as really believing as he still did the truth of such a Conspiracy and disclaims his knowledge of any Practices with the Witnesses which he protests against as abominable and disowns Falshood or Cruelty ever to have been in his Nature He persists in his Opinion that Popery was breaking in upon the Nation and grieves to see Protestants Instrumental to it declares his fears of the Sufferings the Protestant Religion was like to undergo and bewails the publick and shameless Impiety that abounded and modestly admonishes all Persons and particularly his Friends well-wishers to the Protestant Cause that were defective to live up to its Principles Then he declares his Submission to God's Pleasure freely forgives his Enemies and desires his Friends to seek no Revenge for his Blood After which he looks back and gives some little touches concerning his past behaviour and the manner of his Treatment at his Tryal He confesses he moved much for the Bill of Exclusion as the only effectual Remedy to secure both the King's Life the Protestant Religion and the Frame of the Government he thinking none of them could be safe so long as there was any hopes of a Popish Successor and that the Limitations proposed to bind the Duke were effectual Remedies against those Fears because the Nation could never be easie and safe under a King without a Prerogative But yet imputes his present Sufferings to the Revengeful Resentments some Persons retained for his Earnestness in that matter Next as to his Conspiring to seize the Guards he disowns that ever he was concerned in any such Design or ever heard talk of any such thing as designed but only one as of a thing feazible against which likewise he warmly declared himself and said the consequence of it was so like to end in Massacring the Guards in cold Blood that he could not but abhor the thoughts of it as approaching too near the Popish Practice at which the Duke of Monmouth taking him by the hand cried out affectionately That he saw they were both of a Temper he adds on that occasion that he always observed in that Duke an abhorrence to all base things He proceeds to shew how he went to the Meeting at Mr. Shepherd's at the Duke of Monmouch's earnest Request chiefly to endeavour to prevent any such disorderly Proceedings as the Duke feared would be otherwise put on by some hot Men whose rash courses he did accordingly most vigorously oppose and yet was condemned only for not discovering them though he endeavoured to reform them because he would not stoop to so mean a thought as that of going about to save his Life by accusing others for Crimes that they only talk'd of and that as we may partly gather from his Discourse he had effectually disswaded them from too so that his Intention was good and his part in that Transaction even in the strictest sense of Law but a Misprision of Treason and therefore he declares he cannot but think the Sentence of Death past against him to be very hard and he by a strange fetch brought within the compass of the Statute of Treason of Edward the Third He moreover adds That he had so convincing a sense of his own Innocence in that Case that he would not betray it by flight tho' much pressed to it He next excuses his saying so little at his Tryal saying he hoped it look'd more like Innocence than Guilt Adding that he was advised not to
he had a great Resolution and not at all startled with the fear of Death He said That he defy'd Death and all them that were the occasion of it He was very courageous and died so He spent some time in private Prayer and was not allowed time because there was to be Execution at Honiton His Execution being over we pass on to Honiton where four were executed one of which was a Chirurgeon his Name if I do not mistake was 2. Mr. POTT MR. Pott behaved himself with that extraordinary Christian Courage that all the Spectators were almost astonished he being but Young about Twenty his Prayers being fervent his Expressions so pithy and so becoming a Christian of greater Age that drew pity and compassion from all present a rude Fellow just before he was to be executed called for a Bottle of Wine and so began the King's Health to one of the Guard which he perceiving Poor Soul said he Your Cup seemeth to be sweet to you and you think mine is bitter which indeed is so to Flesh and Blood but yet I have that assurance of the fruition of a future Estate that I doubt not but this bitter Potion will be sweetned with the Sugar of the loving kindness of my dearest Saviour that I shall be translated into such a State where is fulness of Joy and Pleasure for evermore 3 Mr. EVANS ONE Mr. Evans a Minister ought not to be omitted who did all along in the time of his Confinement in Prison behave himself with that Devotion and Strictness that became a Christian of great Eminency as indeed he was he spent much of his time in Preaching and Praying to his Fellow-Prisoners exhorting them to hold out to the end he at last by appointment being condemn'd was executed by himself at which time and place he behaved himself with great Courage and Devotion and with a great willingness and chearfulness he submitted to Execution 4. Mr. SIMON HAMLING MR. Hamling was formerly an Inhabitant of Taunton but of late Years had lived two or three Miles from thence he was a very honest worthy good Christian But to our purpose Mr. Hamling living in the Country hearing of the Duke of Monmouth's being in Town he there came to speak with his Son who lived in the Place where being come he gave him Advice which was That as he expected his Blessing and Countenance he should not at all concern himself in the Matter but submit to the Will of God in all things And having thus advised his Son he returns home and two days after came again to Town on a Market-day with his Wife to buy Provisions for his Family and returned to his House again And this was all the times he was in Town whilst the Duke was there But after the Business was over he was brought in one Suspicion being a Dissenter that was Crime enough except Coin appeared to a Justice of that Town who usually did Commit or Dismiss as that appeared This worthy Person was Arraign'd at Taunton and pleaged Not Guilty The Evidences were two profligate Rascals that had Encouragement from the Justice they usually doing what he put them on The Prisoner had many to prove this Fact and his Honesty but this did not avail the Jury found him Guilty with two more who were presently Sentenced and next Morning executed to be Examples to others It is said that the Justice did make application to our Famous Protestant Judge and hinted some Mistake concerning him To which as I have been informed he should Reply You have brought him on if he be Innocent his Blood be upon you Mr. Hamling behaved himself very worthily at the Place of Execution and did at the last declare his Crime to be the same as is above-mentioned and not otherwise Thus fell this Pious Christian a Man by all sober People that knew him beloved and disrespected by none but loose Villains which at last took away his Life 5. 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 Duke's 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 and said A Populous Town God bless it Just before 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 Hamling he was Executed 6. There was also Executed at Taunton Mr. John Hucker a very worthy Gentleman 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 Enemy'd 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 Mr. John Hucker's 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 perswaded 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 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
Hearts to be truly thankful 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 c. 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 with 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 17. The Behaviour and Dying Words of Mr. ROGER SATCHEL who was Executed at Weymouth in the County of Dorset MR. Satchel at the time of the Duke's landing at Lyme lived at Culliton about Five Miles West of that Town No sooner had he the News of the Duke's 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 He was from thence carried to Ilchester and so secured in Ilchester Gaol and at the Bloody Assizes at Dorchester took his Tryal and received his Sentence with the rest 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 18. Mr. LANCASTER 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 off the Ladder 19. The Last Speech of Mr. BENJAMIN SANDFORD at the Place of Execution HE with Nine more was 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 20. JOHN BENNET 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 Here was a glorious Instance of Filial Affection 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 everlasting Happiness To conclude The Solemn Serious Dying Declarations and Christian Courage of the Western Sufferers have always outweighed with me the Evidence of those flagitious Witnesses who swore these Persons out of their Lives And I did and do most stedfastly believe that the only Plot in that Day was the same which the Almighty has at length owned and most signally prospered in the Hand of our Gracious August and Rightful Sovereign King William I mean the rescuing the Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of England from a most impetuous Torrent of Popery and Tyranny wherewith they were most dangerously threatned Thus far the Author of the Bloody Assizes from whom I have extracted all the Memoirs relating to the Deaths and Sufferings of English Protestants from the Year 1678. to this Time While we are thus talking of Death and Dying I can't forbear naming the Ghostly Last Will and Testament of M. Armand It contains the real Inclinations of his Soul in all the Accidents of his Life That he was bigotted to the Roman Catholick Religion is plain by this Ghostly Will wherein he allows no Salvation out of it This Will being long I shall not insert it here but referr you to the Present State of Europe for December 1695. where you will find it recited at large Since the Publication of M. Arnaud's Ghostly Will there is come to light his Temporal Will wherein that which is most Remarkable is his persisting to acknowledge himself a Son of the Catholick Church and his bequeathing his Heart to the
her Death With some Remarkable Passages relating both to her Person and Government I Shall conclude this History of Providence with a Collection of the memorable Speeches and Sayings of our never-enough lamented Sovereign the late Queen MARY and shall here and there add some remarkable Passages relating to her Person and Government as a Noble Testimony to Religion from one whose Parts and Endowments were as high as her Dignity as if Providence would not leave the prophane Age room to say that Religion was only pretended to by the Mean and Ignorant but convince them by the Vertuous Life and Dying Breath of a Princess every way so Glorious and Great So extraordinary strict says Bishop Fowler in his Preface relating to the Queen was Her Majesty's Life even from her Youth that for the Seventeen Years of her Married State the King as he hath professed could never see any thing in her which he could call a Fault and no Man continues this Learned Author can keep a stricter Guard upon his Words than His Majesty is always observed to do Then certainly a Collection of the Memorable Speeches of such a Princess must needs be very useful and so much the more so as there are several remarkable Sayings of this Royal Person scattered in so many Books which its hardly possible for any private Person to have all of them by him and therefore a View of them all at once in a Collection from the best Authors that have writ upon this Subject may perhaps be very acceptable to the serious Reader 1. That we may begin from her Cradle The most August Queen MARY II. was born in the Sixty second Year of this Age upon the Tenth of May James then Duke of York and the Lord Chancellor's Daughter being her Parents Many and conspicuous were the Prognosticks of a true and far from counterfeited Piety that glitter'd in her and shin'd forth in the early Dawn of her Infancy For when in her tender Years she had lost an excellent Mother and under the Tuition of Persons less concern'd was deliciously bred up in a Court full of all manner of Pleasure and Voluptuousness such was always her Constancy such her Temperance and Modesty that no Example of others no Allurement of Vice no Contagion of Neighbouring-Courts could force her to go astray from the right Path. She was instructed in the Fundamentals of the true Reform'd Religion by the Bishop of London which he so happily laid and she so cordially imbib'd that she could never be shaken by any treacherous Insinuations any Promises or Threats any Punishments or Rewards choosing rather to die than never so little to recede from the Truth wherein she had been grounded After she had spent the rest of her Childhood in those Studies by which generous and illustrious Souls are rais'd to the Expectations of great Fortune and had abundantly furnish'd herself as well with Christian as with Royal Vertues in the Fifteenth Year of her Age she was auspiciously Married to William the Third of that Name Prince of Orange William marries Mary a Kinsman a Kinswoman and thus by a double Tye and a firmer Knot than hitherto the most Noble Families of all Europe are joyn'd together She for her Ancestors claims the Family of the Stuarts He the Nassavian Race She the Monarchs of Great Britain He the Governours of Germany and the Caesars themselves The Nuptial Solemnities being over the Royal Bride cross'd over out of England into these Parts together with her Husband and chose for her Seat and Residence the Hague the most pleasant and delightful place not only of Holland but almost of all Europe Where belov'd of all Men and fix'd in the Good-will of all the People propensly devoted to her for the space of some Years she so charmingly and affectionately liv'd with her Husband the best of Men and no less cordially affectionate to her not only without the least Contention or Quarrel but without the least suspicion of Lukewarmness that she might well be said to be a conspicuous Example of Conjugal Affection not only to Kings and Princes and Men in high Degree but also to private Persons After some Interval of Time when they who bare ill will to our Princes and us to Liberty and Religion and more especially to this Republick stirr'd up new Troubles in England and the Nobility of the Kingdom call'd to their Aid our Prince While he strove one way and the Winds drove another at length wafted over with favourable Gales and Wishes safely arriv'd in England and without Resistance but rather with the general Applause of the Nation and as it were born upon the Shoulders of the People came to the Royal City When afterwards he invited his dearest Consort then the Companion of his Bed now of his Kingdom to partake of the Honour offer'd him and the Dignity soon after to be conferr'd upon him and the equal share of his Fortune in the Eighty ninth Year of this Age luckily and auspiciously both Husband and Wife were declar'd King and Queen with equal Power and Authority by the common Vote and Suffrage and unanimous Consent of both Houses In the Morning she rose with the Sun and worship'd the Lord of Heaven and Earth But when she was sometimes forc'd to rise at Midnight by reason of the urgent Affairs of the State and could not afterwards sleep she commanded either the Holy Scripture or some other pious Book to be brought her If any Persons came to visit her in a Morning before she had pour'd forth her Prayers she sent them back with this Expression That she was first to serve the King of Kings If any persons were said to seek her life by Treachery and Conspiracy her Answer was That she submitted to the Will of Heaven Francius 's Oration upon the Death of the Queen 2. Such was the Sanctity of Mary's Life that King William after her Decease calling to mind her Piety towards God the Integrity of her Life and her Extraordinary Knowledge of Sacred Things brake forth into this expression That if he could believe that ever any mortal Man could be born without the contamination of Sin he would believe it of the Queen And she preserv'd herself so chast and spotless that while she resided upon Earth she liv'd the Life of the Saints even in the Hurry of the Court where there are so many Incitements to evil Grevius 's Oration on the Death of the Queen 3. We had very admirable Accounts of the late Queen from her Court at the Hague during her Abode there from most unquestionable Testimonies which made us envy our Neighbours Happiness in such a Princess who knew their Happiness as 't was impossible they should not and had an extraordinary Value and Veneration for her And since her Return to her Native Country and her Advancement to the Throne here we never knew a more eminent Exception than she was to that common Observation Minuit praesentia Famam The Fame
well imbib'd the Principles of the true Religion in her Infant Years that by means thereof she attain'd to the profounder Knowledge of it by degrees and made out her way to Eternal Salvation Therefore she consented to that Expedition neither willingly nor gladly but after a long Hesitation and vanquish'd at length by the most weighty Reasons of Duty and Piety while she apparently saw that had she not taken upon her to support whatever is valuable among Publick Enjoyments and which no good Man will loose but his Life all things would have gone to Rack and Ruine in her Country through the Ill-management of a Father led away by the Councels of his Priests Ibid. 53. A quick and ready Wit and fit for Government was admir'd in her by a great Number of Illustrious Ambassadors from Foreign Nations to whom she always answer'd without any Hesitation wisely and gravely concerning Affairs of greatest moment Nor will Albeville himself if I am not mistaken deny this to be true by whom when her Father after Fame had spread abroad the Report of her Mother-in-Laws being with Child would needs have perswaded his Daughter that he had not intention to disturb the legal Order of Succession in England nor to abolish the receiv'd Ceremonies of the English Church but that it should be of equal prevalency with the Roman Catholick Worship both as to Publick Exercise and equal share of Authority she is said to have return'd this Answer That she thank'd her Father for designing nothing of Innovation in the settled Succession of the Kingdom tho' she were well assur'd that by the Laws of the Land nothing of Novelty could be introduc'd in that Affair In Matters of Religion she abhorr'd all Violence and Persecution yet 't was her Opinion That Dagon and the Ark would not agree so equally and lovingly together in the same place tho' she would not then determine which Party was Dagon or which the Ark. Ibid. 54. In the General Consternation in the Y ar Ninety as if she had nothing of Female but Form prudently and in a short time got clear of all Dangers being in many places at once present with her Body every-where with her Mind She view'd the Camps and muster'd the Soldiers like another British Boadicia Those that were suspected even her own and nearest Relations she sent to the Tower For she acknowledg'd no Relation that was an Enemy to the Publick Welfare The Sea-Captains who had fail'd in their Duty and deserted our Men struggling with Multitude and Adverse Fortune she sent for up to answer for their Misdemeanours the Sea-men maim'd and wounded in the Engagement she bountifully reliev'd and no less liberal to the Widows of the Slain she sent some Thousands of Pounds into this Land to be distributed among the Relicts of those that were kill'd She confirm'd the Minds of the English and encourag'd 'em by her own Example She fortifi'd the Ports and Entrances into the Kingdom she reinforc'd the Fleet wiht Men of War Lastly She provided against all ill Accidents with a Heroic Providence so that the Enemy neither durst pursue his Victory nor attempt to Land Ibid. 55. For the most part therefore she rose betimes in the Morning and before all things dedicate her first Exercises to God then she applied herself to the Reading of such Books by which our Minds are either excited to Piety or adorn'd and enrich'd with the Precepts of Wisdom Then she dispatch'd such Business as offer'd itself and courteously thô a trouble to her admitted the Visits of such as in Duty came to wait on her and those Ceremonies being over she heard the Petitions and Requests of all that came after which she exercis'd her Body by walking in the Garden at what time she convers'd with such Bishops or Divines as were most eminent for Piety and Learning and greedily fed her Ears with their Discourses In the Afternoon she delighted herself in the Company and Converse of her Husband if his more important Occasions or the Wars would permit her the Opportunity of his Presence Sometimes she visited Ladies of highest Quality or else repaid 'em their Civilities nor would she disdain at other times with the same Royal Hands that but now wielded the Scepter to work with her Needle At what time also that she might not leave the least Minute unimprov'd she ordered the History of some Nation or other to be read to her And this not only when she was so empoly'd but when she supp'd privately in her Bed-Chamber or when she could not sleep in the Night-time as I was told by a most Noble Lady that attended upon the Queen for Nine Years together and was acquainted with her whole Course of her Life and when she was in Waiting had frequently herself read to her Ibid. 56. King James the Father of Mary when he came to the Crown employ'd all his Cares and Thoughts and made it his Business to Repeal several Acts which his Ancestors had made for the Support of the Reform'd Religion more especially to abolish the Law which enacted the taking of the Test which abjur'd all Power and Authority which the Pope or any other Mortal claim'd or could claim either in Civil or Ecclesiastical Matters within the Kingdom Mary openly declar'd That she could not approve his Conduct nor assent to those who urg'd that the English might be absolv'd from the sanctity and observance of that Oath nor that any one for the future was to be forc'd to it The King inform'd of this order'd his Envoy then at the Hague to make it out to Mary and perswade her that she had a wrong Opinion induc'd thereto by false Reasons and Grounds of her Father's Intentions and Meaning in that particular The Envoy taking a fit Opportunity held the Queen in a long Discourse upon this Subject bringing not a few nor those vulgar Arguments out of Scripture many Testimonies out of the most Ancient and most Learned Fathers of the Church and more than one Reason from the Knowledge of Things which Nature has imprinted in our Minds When the Queen had attentively heard him she did not answer him with a Laconism she so readily and so smartly of a sudden took to pieces the Envoy's Discourse and his Arguments refured all his Reasons with so much Judgment that when the Envoy was dismissed by the Queen he could not forbear testifying and acknowledging in the publick Hall of the Court before a great many Persons of high Quality and Dignity that he could never have believ'd there had been a Woman in the World endued with so much Understanding of the Christian Doctrine and of the Opinions urged to her upon the several Heads of that Doctrine or that could defend what she thought with so much strength and weight of Reason and fortifie it with so strong a Guard against all Assaults of open Hostility or treacherous Insinuation He added moreover That he was perswaded that this Princess could be mov'd by no
Hunting or wearied with continual Audiences or tir'd with incessant Cares for the Good of the Republick he comes to my Chamber about Supper-time upon this Condition that I should not tire him more with multiplicity of Questions but rather strive to recreate him over-coil'd and almost spent with pleasing Jests that might revive him with innocent Mirth Ibid. 87. William might justly exalt his single Mary above all the Wives of former Times then whom no Woman greater for her Courage more Religious in her Affection more amiable in her Countenance more modest in here Habit more affable in her Discourse or who with a more obedient readiness to serve her Royal Consort whether present or absent was more his Counsellor his Hands his Ears his Eyes and every-way more assistant to him And therefore the August William told his mournful Bishops and Grandees That Mary's outside was known to them but that her intrinsick and just Value was only known to himself Ibid. 88. Queen Mary lookt upon Piety to be the Compendium the Seasoning of all Vertues and the Support of Kingdoms and therefore Religion was always her first Care and her Supreme Law as it was also to her Glorious William And therefore it was the frequent Saying of those two August Princes That neither the Guards of Majesty the Councils of Princes Emperors Legions Cities Garrison Courage of their Leaders Well-disciplin'd and Veteran Armies nor the Sinews of War any thing avail'd to the Preservation of Sovereigns or their Subjects without God's assistance Ibid. 89. She was moderate in her Dress sparing in her Train but eager and humble in her Attention Who whenever she entred the Church-doors or happen'd to sneeze in the time of Divine Service impatiently brook'd the Bowings and Cringes of the Sycophant Croud professing That in the House of God the Distinction was the same of Meanest and Highest from the most Infinite Majesty Ibid. 90. The Queen being mov'd by the untimely Death of several Illustrious Women in her Court thought it high time more familiarly to converse with Death and meditate upon Eternity And that she might always have him in her Eye besides the Sacred Books which she turn'd over more frequently than ever Alexander did Homer's Iliads she applied herself to other Books no less familiar to her which taught the Art of Dying well more especially the Treatise upon that Subject or Charles Drelincourt which she confess'd to his Son then one of her Physicians That she had read above Seven times over Ibid. 91. How many Things could I say of the Earnest Desires of our pious Queen to see extinguished or as much as could be lessened the impious Divisions too deeply rooted but first sown by the wicked Emissaries of Rome to the Ruin of her Country How averse was she from the Severity of former times which decreed the Dissenters if not to be exterminated by the Sword yet to be routed out by Excommunications and macerated by Imprisonments Fines and Banishment for the only sake of their differing Discipline free from all other the least Stain or Pestilence of Heresie or false Doctrine And how earnestly has she wish'd in my hearing that saving to the Church of England and the Bishops their ancient Rights there might be a moderate way found to consolidate the common Safety of England and the Universal Church by the Union of all Parties all Offences being remov'd all Animosity being laid aside all Passion being moderated and whatsoever on either side savoured too much of Human Invention being utterly rejected Neither if we have any thing of Prophetick in us is all Hopes of such a Union cut off in the Loss of Mary while William still remains Ibid. 92. When this most Noble Senate interposed their kind Offices of Condolement for the Death of King Charles II. by which her Father came to the Sovereignty but upon which most dark and dismal Storms threatned the Kingdom the Church and the Reformed Religion she as she was never without all the Marks of Civility after she had answered the Messengr added these Expressions That it was the Will of God through whose Providence there was no reason to despair of the Publick Safety That the best Consolation in Affliction was a reliance upon God That there was a Threatning Cloud hung over her Father's Kingdoms but that he was able to bring forth a splendid and most acceptable Cloud out of the thickest Darkness Oh Mary a true Prophetess and Words a certain Augury of what was to come 'T is now about two Years since that the Fatal News reached the Ears of the best of Queens that News more especially doleful to our Merchants that so many Ships laden with rich Goods and wealthy Treasure bound for the Levant either through Perfidiousness or supine Negligence were either sunk or burnt or yielded up to the French which penetrated so deeply to the Heart of the compassionate Queen that she could not forbear watering her Royal Cheeks before all the Standers by with a Deluge of Tears nor did she only with her Tears bemoan the Losses of those who suffered after a more than ordinary manner but also testified her sympathizing in their Misery to the Widows and Orphans that were hardly able to bear up under so great a Calamity Nor shall I ever forget that cruel Hour when going to take my leave of the Princess returning to her Country I am call'd said she to my Husband to my Native Country to my Fellow-Citizens and whither Providence leads me I must follow But when I leave this Palace I leave the Seat of my Leisure my Tranquility and Delight And first shall my Right-Hand forget itself before I will ever forget this my Belgium after so many Proofs of the Affection and Judgment of this Republick Whose Losses added she without the least Commotion of Mind whose Misfortunes and Calamities and also whatever prosperous and joyful befals it I shall look upon as my own as long as I remember my self Ibid. 93. But here my Sorrow stops my Mouth and I must put an end at length to my most bitter Memorial of her Praises But wherefore do I say an End when dying she was so much above all Praises by how much the more she approached nearer to Heaven and Eternity Ibid. THE Wonders of Nature PART II. By WILLIAM TVRNER M. A. Vicar of WALBERTON in SUSSEX When I consider thy Heavens the Work of thy Fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained What is Man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of Man that thou visitest him Psal 8.3 4. LONDON Printed for John Dunton at the Raven in Jewen-Street MDCXCVII THE PREFACE TO THE Wonders of Nature THE Impression which the Almighty hath made upon the several Pieces of the Creation and diversity of Species Figures Lineaments Properties and Curiosity of Operation discernable in them is enough to amuse and puzzle the Reason of the most Ingenious and Gigantic Atheist in the World For can any Man in