Memory of these Martyrs who suffered for their vigorous appearance against them and lastly to thank God sincerely and in good earnest that we may now if occasion be defend our Religion and Liberties with our Swords which they could only do by laying down their Lives FINIS An Impartial HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF GEORGE Lord JEFFREYS LATE Lord Chancellour OF ENGLAND The Fourth Edition with large Additions LONDON Printed for Iohn Dunton at the Raven in the Poultry 1693. TO GEORGE Lord JEFFREYS LATE Lord Chancellour of ENGLAND My Lord I Know not to whom I could more properly Dedicate a Treatise of this Nature than to your Lordship who lately was Lord Chief Justice of England and have set such remarkable Copies to inferiour Magistrates What is here offered may serve as a Mirrour in which future Administrators of Publick Justice would do well to look for you may remember my Lord if your Lordships present Afflictions have not made you forget as much Law as you ever learnt Common Law â—uns much upon Presidents And if a Man happen to have none of the best Physiognomies there is no reason why he should streight grow angry and fling stones to break all the Looking-Glasses he meets with only because they represent the true Figure of the Object My Lord The following Treatise is a true Account of your Lordships Life and Actions most of which are ready to be attested upon Oath of your unheard of Cruelties and barbarous Proceedings in your whole Western Circuit In which all may see at what dear rates our Western Martyrs puchased their Religion and how that it cost those glorious Sufferers thaâ— so lately went off the Stage under your Lordships Sentence both Whippings and cruel Imprisoâ—ments â—nd the most exquisite Tortures which none could invent or inflict but your Lordship whose good nature is sufficiently experienced nor any endure but they whose gallant and noble Souls were born up with heavenly Cordials and a Power from on high But my Lord rest assured that their Blâ—od still cries for Vengeance and will be a lasting Monument of your Lordships Câ—uelties whilst History can speak or transmit to incredulous Posterity the Remarkables of elapsed Ages for Hang Draw and Quarter and Try Men afterwards Witness Sir Thomas Armstrong's death c. has been your peculiar Talent But you Lordship will now â—t last do well to remember that King Alfred caused fourty four Judges in one year to be hangâ—d as murderers for their false Judgments I hope your Lordship will pardon this present Address seeing 't is a priviledge we modern Authors hold by Prescription to put any great Body's Name in the Front of our Book Princes have not been able to exempt themselves or their Families from the Persecution of Dedications nor ever was there I humbly conceive any Rule made in your Lordships Court to forbid them Suffer then I beseech your Lordship this Address to remain a Monument to Posterity of the sentiments this Age has of your Lordships Conduct and Merits and Witness to all the World how much its Author is Your Lordship 's Most humble Servant JAMES BENT A POEM To the MEMORY of GEORGE Lord JEFFREYS I Cannot hold hot struggling Rage aspires And crowds my free-born breast witâ— noblâ— fires Whilst prudent fools squeak Treason through the Nose And whine a quivering Vote in sneaking Prose My Muse soars out of reach and dares despise What e're below atteâ—pts to Tyrannize Tho I by some base Nero shouâ—d be clad In such a Gown as the old Christians had In Clouds of Satyr up to Heaven I 'de roul For he could burn my shell but not my Soul Tho Nature her auspicious aid refuse Revenge and Anger shall inspire my Muse Nature has given me a complaining part And murder'd Protestants a resenting Heart Then room for bloody Jeffreys or he 'll swear By all the Aps from St. Cadwalladar Prutus hur creat Cranfather if hur enquire And Adam's Cranfather was Prutus sire Famous ap Shâ—nkin was hur elder Brother Some Caledonian Sycorax hur Mother Or some she De'il more damn'd than all the rest At their blaâ—k Feast hur lustful Sirâ— comprest Thence do I thâ—nk this Câ—codemon rose Whose wrathful Eyâ—s his inward baseness shows His shape is all inhumâ—n and uncouth But yet he 's chiefly Devâ—l about the MOUTH With care this Brat was nurs'd for fear it shou'd Grow tame and so degen'rate into good With City charteâ—s he was wrap'd about And Acts of Parliament for swadling-clout As he grew up he won a noble Fame For which Squire Ketch hath sworn him publick shame And won't it be a pretty sight to see 't The Hang man Rope and bloody Jeffreys meet Jeffreys who cherisht spite as all can tell Jeffreys who was the darling Brat of Hell Oft with success this mighâ—y Blast did bawl Where loudest Lungs and biggest Words win all And still his clenched Arguments did end With that home-thrust He is not Caesar's Friend Sometimes that jaded Ears he might release Good Man he has been fee'd to hold his Peace Hear him but never see him and you 'd swear He was the Cryâ—r not the Counseller He roars as if he only chanc'd to find Justice was now grown deaf as well as blind This Dâ—my fiâ—nd this Hurricane of Man Was sent to butcher all i' th' West he can 'T was him the Popish Party wisely chose To splutter Law and the dinn'd Rabble pose They have a thousand Tongues yet he can roar Far louder tho they had a thousand more Unto long winded Cook he scorns to go But Pleads His Majesty will have it so He 's for all Mischief set by Nature bred He rails at all before him and is fed Hyaena like by tearing up the Dead Th'unluckiest Satyrist alive that still Writes his own Character in all that 's ill Of all the World most fit a Vice t' expose That all its Cause Effects and Motions knows Stranger to none can no advantage lose Big with conceit the empty shape looks great His own dear self obligingly doth treat Rewards his Soul in any garb will lap His ductile Soul will put on any shape Vice hath his Patronage and there 's no fear But Hell in time may his Protection share The rather'cause the God of Gold is there He courts loud rumour but lâ—ts truth alone Conscious of guilt he shuns being justly known And by 's oft changing flyes a definition Learn'd but in ill Ingenious but in spite Virtuous by accident by chance a Wit Modest when beat in suffering valiant Honest when forc'd and moderate when in want True but for interest Civil but for dread Devout for Alms and Loyal but for bread Thy mushroom Greatness I dare now arraign For all thy Hectoring now will be in vain Here take this Pass ere we for ever part Then run and then Farewell with all my heart The Lawyers yelling in their feign'd debate And the fleec'd Client's Wisdom all too late The keeping Cully's
A New Martyrology OR THE Bloody Assizes NOW Exactly Methodized in one Volume Comprehending A Compleat History of the Lives Actions Trials Sufferings Dying Speeches Letters and Prayers of all those Eminent Protestants Who fell in the West of England and elsewhere From the Year 1678 to this present time With the Pictures of the most Eminent of them in Copper Plates To this Treatise is added the Life Death of George L. Geffreys The Fourth Edition Containing several Speeches Letters Elegies and New Discoveries sent out of the WEST never Printed before so that the whole Work is now Compleat With an Alphabetical Table annext to it Written by THOMAS PITTS Gent. LONDON Printed according to the Original Copies for John Danton at the Raven in the Poultrey 1693. To the Memory of those Worthy Protestants who Suffer'd in the West and elsewhere from the Year 1678 to 1689. SInce that free Agent who conducts the World His Wheels of Providence has backward whirl'd And by the Turn Men to their Senses brings To loath their Idol-Priests and Idol-Kings Finding a Popish Promise proves all one From an Ignatian Chair and from a Throne Since over-indulgent Heaven has been so kind To op'n our Eyes by Miracles we find All men admiring they 've so long been blind Surpriz'd they should so long their Friends oppose And with a credulous Trust caress their Foes Amidst the numerous Wonders of the time 'T is no small Wonder not to say a Crime We reverence no more their Memory Who for their Countrey 's Welfare dar'd to die Whose quarter'd Limbs imbru'd with Native Gore Still cry for Vengeance on the Western Shore Why should we with ignoble Triumph tread Vpon the silent Ashes of the dead And with insulting Feet their Dust profant Whose free-born Souls spâ—rn at a slavish Chain Souls not so sensless so supine as ours That early saw the drift of Romish Powers Early disdain'd those Yokes with generous Scorn Which our more servile Necks have tamely born That saw the hovering Storm approach from far Threatning a thousand mischiefs worse than War And boldly rush'd upon th' impetuous Waves Rather to die like Men than live like Slaves To save their Native Country bravely try'd Fail'd in th' attempt and then as bravely dy'd In vain would envious Clouds their Fame obscure Which to eternal Ages must endure â—n vain do virulent Tongues attempt to slain The Solid Glory noble Patriots gain If ill designs some to the Battle drew 'T is Iâ—pious to condemn all for a few If fawning Traytâ—rs in their Councils sate 'T is base 〈◊〉 â—ather lament their Fate Tho God or England's sins râ—fus'd to bless Their bâ—ave dâ—signs with the desâ—'d success 'T is an unequal bâ—utish Argument Always to judge the Cause by the â—vent Thus the unthinking giddy Multitude A suffering Jesus Criminâ—l conclude Well 't is enough Heav'n now crowns with applause And gives pâ—otection to that righteous Cause Nay did ordain that Spot to be the Scene Where the Cause dy'd sor't to revive again Great Nassau favour'd by the Powers above Their special câ—re anâ— their peculiar love An Atlas to our siâ—king State does prove Auspicious Stars on all his Councils smile That breath vast Blessings on our joyful Isle And now methinks their Manes who of late Fell worthy Martyrs of our bleeding State Râ—proach us with Ingratitude and say ' Is nothing due unto our murther'd Clay ' Vnto our murther'd Names is nothing due ' Who sacrific'd both Lives and Names for you ' Does no Tongue daign to move in the dâ—fence ' Of wounded Honour and wrong'd Innoâ—ence ' If th' All-wise God tho just don 't yet seâ— good ' With swift revenge t'appeasâ— our crying Blood 'Save us at least from Envy's darker Grave ' And let our Fame a Resuâ—rection have Great Souls too great for our Inferiour Praâ—se You for your selves the Noblest Trophies raise Your Dying Words your Monoments become More bright more lasting than a Maâ—ble Tomb To future Times your Fame shall freâ—hly bloom And speak aloud tâ—ll it strike Envy Dâ—m'â— THE INTRODUCTION NOthing can be plainer to any man that is but moderately vers'd in History than that upon any Turn of Affairs whoever has won or lost or whatever Party is uppermost the great Enemy of Mankind has some way or other advanced his own Interest and got some plausible Argument for Atheism or Profaneness And the reason of it is evident for those who are in the Highest Stations by a weakness incident to most we might perhaps say all of Mankind are apt immediately to conclude themselves the Beloved of Heaven and that Providence favours only them as it did the Jews to the neglect if not detriment of the rest of the World But no sooner is the Wheel turn'd and either by the inscrutable Providence of God or the Wickedness of Men or their own Male-administration of Affairs those who are uppermost thrown out of the Helm to make room for the next set of Governours when those who ascend take the same Notions with their Predecessors while such as are gotten under with all whom Interest or Guilt or Prejudice more closely united to the former Administration grow discontented and uneasie and if their Designs and Expectations are more and more frustrated morose and melancholy The more devout among 'em will be sure to call whoever Suffer in opposition to the established Government Heroes and Martyrs and be ever prophesying of some sudden turn and visible appearance of Heaven to confound their Enemies But the profane or hypocritical Party which we may without breach of Charity suppose very large on all sides very naturally run into the other extream They 'll fly out into frets and passions and because God does not think fit to govern the World according to their Minds impotently pronounce That there is no God at all That Religion 's a meer Cheat and Heaven and Hell but Priest-craft and Fable But notwithstanding the difference in opinion and all sides arrogating as much as possible to themselves there are yet hardly any Men to be found so senslesly sceptical as to deny the differences of Right and Wrong Good and Evil. That it hugely alters the Case to consider whether opposition has been made against a lawful or unlawful Power whether the means be legal or no or the Reasons sufficient to countervail all the mischiefs that may arise from such undertakings Whether such as do it have any right or concern to warrant their Actions whether for or against in defence or opposition to the Laws of Nature and Nations VVhether those that suffer meet with their misfortunes in the discharge of their Duty or opposing others in theirs Or if the Quarrel be Religion VVhether that Religion on which it is grounded be a false or a true one And 't is from the Examination of such particulars as these whence 't will appear whether they are Patriots or Rebels stubborn Enthusiasts or holy Martyrs Now as oft as the iniquity of
he was very much above but meerly from the true respect he had for 'em and a sense of that imminent Danger they were in which his piercing Judgment and long Experience made him more sensible of and his Courage and Vertue more concern'd at than others not only those who sat unconcern'd Spectators or shar'd in their Ruins but even then most of them who were engag'd with him in the same Common Cause of their Defence and Preservation Nothing of such an impatience or eargerness or black melancholy cou'd be discern'd in his Temper or Conversation as is always the Symptom or Cause of such Tragical-Ends as his Enemies wou'd perswade us he came to Lastly What may be said of most of the rest does in a more especial and eminent manner agree to the illustrious Essex and than which nothing greater can be said of Mortality He liv'd an Hero and dy'd a Martyr Upon the Execrable Murther of the Right Honourable Arthur Earl of Essex MOrtality wou'd be too frail to hear How ESSEX fell and not dissolve with fear Did not more generous Rage take off the blow And by his Blood the steps to Vengeance show The Tow'r was for the Tragedy design'd And to be slaughter'd he is first confin'd As fetter'd Victims to the Altar go But why must Noble ESSEX perish so Why with such fury drag'd into his Tomb Murther'd by slaves and sacrific'd to Rome By stealth they kill and with a secrect stroke Silenâ—e that Voice which charm'd when e'er it spoke The bleeding Orifice o'reflow'd the Ground More like some mighty Deluge than a Wound Through the large space his Blood and Vitals glide And his whole Body might have past beside The wreaking Crimson swell'd into a Flood And stream'd a second time in Capel's Blood He 's in his Son again to Death pursu'd An Instance oâ— the high'st Ingratitude They then malicious Stratagems Imploy With Life his dearer Honour to destroy And make his Fame extinguish with his Breath An Act beyond the Cruelties of Death Here Murther is in all its shapes compleat As Lines united in their Centre meet Form'd by the blackest Politicks of Hell Was Cain so dev'lish when his Brother fell He that contrives or his own Fate desires Wants Courage and for fear of Death expires But mighty ESSEX was in all things brave Neither to Hope nor to Despair a Slave He had a Soul too Innocent and Great To fear or to anticipate his Fate Yet their exalted Impudence and Guilt Charge on himself the precious Blood they spilt So were the Protestants some years ago Destroy'd in Ireland without a Foe By their own barbarous Hands the Mad-men dye 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 steddy 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 lye And his blest Soul is soar'd above the Sky Fame shall below his parted Breath supply William Lord Russel THE next who fell under their Cruelty and to whose Death Essex's was but the Prologue was my Lord Russel without all Dispute the finest Gentleman one of 'em that ever England bred and whose pious Life and Virtue was as much Treason against the Court by affronting 'em with what was so much hated there as any thing else that was sworn against him His Family was ancient tho' not rais'd to the Honours it at present enjoys till King Edward's time when John Russel a Dorsetshire Gentlemen who had done many Services and receiv'd many favours from the Crown both in Henry the Seventh and Henry the Eighth's time being by the latter made Lord High Admiral and at his Death Lord High Steward of England for the Solemnity of the Coronation obtain'd such a Victory for his young Master against his Rebels as was rewarded with the Title of The Earl of BeÌ„dford The Occasion of it thu Idolatry and Superstition being now rooting out by the Publick Authority and Images every where pulling down the Loyal Papists mutined and one of their Priests stabb'd a Commander of the Kings who was obeying his Orders and ten thousand of the deluded Rabble rise in the Defence of that barbarous Action and their old Mass and Holy-water Against whom this fortunate Lord was sent with an Army who routed 'em all relieved Exeter which they had besieg'd and took their Gods Banners Crucifixes and all the rest of their Trumpery wherein the deluded Creatures trusted for Victory Thus the Family of the Russels were early Enemies to the Romish Superstition tho' this brave Gentleman only paid the Scores of all his Ancestors The Son and Heir of this John was Francis second Earl of Bedford who was as faithful to the Crown as his Father an Enemy and Terror to the French and a Friend to the Protestant Religion as may appear by the Learned Books of Wickliff which he collected and at his Death bequeath'd to a great Man who he knew wou'd make good use of ' em His eldest Son William Lord Russel the present Earl of Bedford is sufficiently known to every true English-man and his Person and Memory will be honoured by them as long as the World lasts But 't is necessary good men should not be immortal if they were we should almost lose their Examples it looking so like Flattery But to do 'em Justice while they are living with more safety and less censure we may discourse of that Noble Gentleman his Son and Name-sake William Lord Russel who made so great a Figure in our Courts and Parliaments before he was sacrificed to the Cruelty and Revenge of his Popish Enemies If we 'd find his first Offence which lay behind the Scene and was indeed the Cause of his Death though other Colours were necessary to amuse the Publick we must look some years backward as he himself does in his last Speech wherein he tells the World He cannot but think his Earnestness in the matter of the Exclusion had no small influence on his present Sufferings Being chosen Knight of the Shire for Bedfordshire where the evenness and sweetness of his Behaviour and his virtuous Life made him so well-beloved that he 'll never be forgotten He began sooner than most others to see into that danger we were in
repent But ye who hallow with deserv'd applause A better Martyr for a better cause You who to fate and fortune scorn to yield Who still dare own you 're friends to Dangerfield And you dear partner of his Joy and Grief The worthiest him the best the tend'rest Wife Who most who best adore his memory Who only I must grant lov'd more than me Bring his dear all which at your bottom lies His fair remains which I shall ever prize Whose fathers vigorous soul plays round her eyes All all in a full ring together come And Join your Prayers and Curses round his Tomb. Curst be the wretch who did him first ensnare Too mean to let his name have here a share A double curse for them that thought it good Such a Wife shou'd sell such a Husband's Blood Still double double till I 'm out of breath On all that had a hand a finger in his Death My Curse a Friends a Wives an Orphans too For all of this side damning is their due The little plagues of Egypt to begin Ashwe'nsdays curses for each lesser sin With whate're angry heaven since could find To bait and lash impenitent mankind Gouts Feavers Frenzies Claps Consumptions Cramps Whatever may put out their stinking Lamps May kind Abortions in some lucky hour The fruit and hope of their vain lust devour Or if they 're born may the unwholesome fry Creep only like young Toads abroad and dye Heartily thus let 's curse and if vain pitty move Straight think agen on manly rage and love Swear by his Blood and better while we live This on our selves if we his blood forgive And may who e're his Murd'rers death deplore Feel all these curses and ten thousand more Dangerfield's Ghost to Jeffreys REvenge Revenge my injur'd shade begins To haunt thy guilty Soul and scourge thy sins For since to me thou ow'st the heaviest score Whose living words tormented thee before When dead I 'm come to plague thee yet once more Don't start away and think thy Brass to hide But see the dismal shape in which I dy'd My Body all deform'd with putrid Gore Bleeding my Soul away at every Pore Pusht faster on by Francis less unkind My Body swoln and bloated as thy Mind This dangling Eye-ball rolls about in vain Never to find its proper seat again The hollow Cell usurpt by Blood and Brain The trembling Jury's Verdict ought to be Murder'd at once by Francis and by Thee The Groans of Orphans and the pond'rous guilt Of all the Blood that thou hast ever spilt Thy Countreys Curse the Rabbles spite and all Those Wishes sent thee since thy long wisht Fall The Nobles just Revenge so bravely bought For all the Ills thy Insolence has wrought May these and more their utmost force combine Joyn all their wrongs and mix their Cries with mine And see if Terror has not struck thee blind See here a long a ghastly Train behind Far far from utmost WEST they crowd away And hov'ring o're fright back the sickly Day Had the poor Wretches sinn'd as much as Thee Thou shou'dst not have forgot Humanity Who ' ere in Blood can so much pleasure take Tho' an ill Judge wou'd a good Hang-man make Each hollows in thy Ears Prepare Prepare For what thou must yet what thou canst not bear Each at thy Heart a bloody Dagger aims Upward to Gibbets point downward to endless Flames Mr. NOISE AMong those who suffer'd innocently for Lea's Plot this poor young Gentleman was one tho' omitted in due place who tho' he lost not his Life immediately by it was yet put to such Extremities as both injur'd his Reason and ruin'd his Fortunes He was born of a good Family not far from Reading in Barkshire and being a younger Son was bound Apprentice to a Linnen-Draper in London In which capacity he was a great Promoter of the Apprentices Address intended to be presented to the King for redress of Grievances and further Prosecution of the Popish Plot. A Crime which those concern'd cou'd never pardon and which was now lookt on both by himself and all his Friends as the Cause of these his Troubles Lea swore against him that he was concern'd in this Plot which he absolutely denying tho' no other Witness came in against him and he was ne're brought to a Trial he underwent a long and severe Imprisonment loaded with Irons and kept from his Friends so long till his Trade was ruin'd before he was set free and he himself then rendred so unfit for business that he was forc'd entirely to leave it off and betake himself to Travel where never quite recovering himself he in a little time after fell sick and dy'd And here 't will not be improper to remind my Readers that about this time things running very high for Popery and Arbitrary Power the consideration thereof was very afflicting to Mr. Noise Yet notwithstanding all this he was silent a long while and minded onely the proper business of his Calling resolving not to concern himself with State-affairs as deeming them above his Sphere and Condition which Silence and Resolution he had still kept notwithstanding the great and ineffable Evils he saw impending over us which were much the more apparent upon the Prorogations and Dissolutions of so many Parliaments in so dangerous and so critical a Juncture but that casually reading one of the VVeekly Intelligences he happen'd therein to meet with something Entituled An Address from the Loyal Young Men Apprentices of the City of London To His Majesty The Title he thought concern'd him as being a Loyal Apprentice of the same City and therefore he deliberately read it over At first it seem'd to bear a fair aspect as it was a Tender of Thanks to His Majesty for His most Gracious Declaration but considering that this Declaration contain'd in it several severe Reflections on the Proceedings of the late Parliaments terming them Arbitrary Illegal and Unwarrantable Mr. Noise dreaded the coâ—sequence of such Reflections as believing that 〈◊〉 stood not with Modesty for Apprentices to charge the Great Senate of the Nation with Arbitrary Illegal and Unwarrantable Proceedings and resolv'd what in him lay to Vindicate himself and Fellow-Apprentices which is thought to have been the cause of all his Sufferings before-related and to satisfie the whole World that the far greater part of the Apprentices of London have too great a Veneration for Parliaments which under His Majesty are the Bulwarks of our Lives Liberties and Properties for to be concern'd in any thing tending to Reproach or Reflect upon them he advisâ—d with several sober Persons about it who did not disapprove of his Design but Advice therein they would not give Wherefore Mr. Nâ—ise thinking to Petition the Lord Mayor would be the most modest and proper way to demonstrate a dislike of and detestation to all such actions he caused the following Petition to be drawn up and Presented viz. To the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London the humble Address
account only did not believe this nor know any thing of his Intention of being proclaim'd King nor approved of it when 't was done and tho' had he been able to make out his Title or let his Pretensions alone he had not wanted in all likelyhood a sufficient Assistance from the Nobility and Gentry none of whom for those Reasons coming in to him yet on the other side 't is hardly doubted that these men who thought he had a right were really obliged to follow the Dictates of their Conscience though mistaken and do whatever lay in their power to the utmost Venture of their Lives to fix him on his Father's Throne to which they verily believed he had a proper Right and Title And these Men too acting on the same Reasons with the foremention'd for deliverance of their Country as well as defence of him whom they thought their King The earnest Zeal and Concern and Love which most of 'em manifested for the Protestant Religion being besides so conspicuous in their Lives and Deaths I know not how they can without impudence be branded with the infamous Name of Rebels nor think 't will be any Arrogance to honour 'em with the just and dear-bought Title of Martyrs One thing there is very observable in most if not all of those who laid down their Lives in this Cause both in England and Scotland that besides that extraordinary Divine courage and chearfulness with which they dy'd they had Expressions plainly boding that great Deliverance which Providence has since that miraculously accomplished for these Kingdoms 'T would be endless to give almost all the innumerable Instances of it Mr. Nelthrop says God had in his wonderful Providence made him and others Instruments not onely in what was already fallen out but he believed for hastning some other great VVork he had yet to do in these Kingdoms Mrs. Gaunt says God 's cause shall revive and he 'd plead it at another rate than yet he had done against all its malicious Opposers And speaks yet more strangely of those then uppermost and likely to be so That tho' they were seemingly fixt and using their Power and Violence against those they had now got under 'em yet unless they could secure Jesus Christ and all his Holy Angels they should never do their Business but Vengeance would be upon 'em ' ere they were aware Capt. Ansley whose Speech is as pretty a neat thing as close and Christian and couragious as perhaps any that ever was made by Man in his Condition after he had said He did not repent what he had done but if he had a thousand Lives would have engag'd 'em all in the same Cause adds just after Though it has pleased the wise God for Reasons best known to himself now to blast our Designs yet he will deliver his People by ways we know not nor think of Rumbold said just the same Mr. Hewling says I question not but in his own time God will raise up other Instruments to carry on the same Cause they dy'd for for his own Glory Mr. Lark That he was confident God would Revenge their Bloods Now it will be very harsh to say all these and several more to the same purpose were nothing but Enthusiasm since spoken by Persons of all Sexes and Ages in twenty different places in the most calm and serene Tempers and the Persons not wild or fanciful and their Words miraculously made good by the Event which shews God honour'd 'em with being Prophets as well as Martyrs To proceed to the Persons who suffer'd in this Cause here and in the West and other places chiefly under Jeffrey's Insulting Cruelty His dealing with 'em is not to be parallel'd by any thing but the new French Dragoons or the old Cut-throats and Lords Chief-Justices of the poor Albigenses or Waldenses at Merindol and Cutrices Had the Great Turk sent his Janisaries or the Tartar his Armies among 'em they 'd scaped better Humanity could not offend so far to deserve such punishment as he inflicted A certain Barbarous Joy and Pleasure grinn'd from his Brutal Soul through his Bloody Eyes whenever he was Sentencing any of the Poor Souls to Death and Torment so much worse than Nero as when that Monster wisht he had never learnt to Write because forc'd to set his Name to Warrants for Execution of Malefactors Jeffreys would have been glad if every Letter he writ had been such a Warrant and every Word a Sentence of Death He observ'd neither Humanity to the Dead nor Civility to the Living He made all the West an Aceldama some places quite depopulated and nothing to be seen in 'em but forsaken VValls unlucky Gibbets and Ghostly Carcases The Trees were loaden almost as thick with Quarters as Leaves The Houses and Steeples covered as close with Heads as at other times frequently in that Country with Crows or Ravens Nothing could be liker Hell than all those Parts nothing so like the Devil as he Caldrons hizzing Carkases boyling Pitch and Tar Sparkling and Glowing Blood and Limbs boyling and tearing and mangling and he the great Director of all and in a word discharging his Place who sent him the best deserving to be the late King 's Chief Justice there and Chancellor after of any Man that breath'd since Cain or Judas Some of the more Principal Persons who fell under his Barbarous Sentences 't is thought worth the while to treat distinctly and particâ—larly of throwing the reâ—t together after 'em and onely Reprinting the former Account if any are lest out it being necessary to hasten to prevent Shams If the Book be accepted and come to another Edition they shall be Inserted and if any Faults or Mistakes found acknowledged and regulated And the first whom we shall make especial Remarks on are The Hewlings IF any one would see true Pure Popish Mercy let 'em look on these two Gentlemen the onely Sons of their virtuous and sorrowful surviving Parents the Comforts Props and Hopes of their Name and Family carefully educated virtuously disposed both of them after all repeated applications if but for one of their Lives barbarously Executed A particular Care was taken by their Father in their Education forming their Minds by his own Example and constant Instructions and Prayers as well as other pains of Ingenuous Masters to the strictest Rules of Piety and Vertue Nor was their pious and very tender Mother less careful in that particular The Elder Mr. Benjamin Hewling had Tutors in the Mathematicks and other parts of Philosophy a course of which he went through successfully enough and so as to render him as compleat in his Mind as Nature had form'd his â—ody After which he went to Holland as his Brother Mr. William Hewling from whence this last returned with the Duke Both of 'em had Commands in the Army the Elder had a Troop of Horse the younger was a Lieutenant of Foot and discharged their Places with much more Conduct and Bravery than could
be expected from such young Soldiers being entirely satisfied in the Cause they fought for since 't was â—o less than the Interest of all that was dear to 'em in this World or t'other The Eldest had particularly signaliz'd himself in several Skirmishes and was sent with a Detachment of his own Troop and two more to Myn-head in Somersetshire to bring Cannon to the Army at the very instant the Duke engaged the Kings Forces at fatal Sedgmore and came not up till after the Field was entirely lost to whose absence with so considerable a Party of the Dukes Horse and the most resolved Men of all he had the loss of the day was principally owing Finding all things in Disorder and the Rout beyond recovering he was forc'd to disperse his Troops every one shifting as they could for themselves He and his Brother kept together where what befel 'em after their Friends have given an exact Account which is here following inserted An Account of the Behaviour of Mr. William and Benjamin Heâ—lings before and at their Execution with several Letters to divers of their Relations THe Gracious dealings of God manifested to some in Dying Hours have been of great advantage to those living that heard the same giving them an occasion thereby to reflect on their own State and to look after the things of their Peace before they be hid from their Eyes as also a great encouragement to strengthen the Faith of those that have experienced the Grace of God to them To that end it is thought necessary by Parents especially to preserve to their Children that remain those blessed Experiences that such have had which God hath taken to himself Here therefore is presented a true account of the admirable appearances of God towards two young Men Mr. Benjamin Hewling who dyed when he was about 22 Years of Age and Mr. William Hewling who dyed before he arrived to 20 Years They Engaged with the Duke of Monmouth as their own VVords were for the English Liberties and the Protestant Religion and for which Mr. VVilliam Hewling was Executed at Lyme the 12 th of September 1685. and Mr. Ben. Hewling at Taunton the 30 th of the same Month and however severe Men were to them yet the blessed Dispensation of God towards thâ—m was such as hath made good his Word that out of the Mouths of Babes he hath ordained Strength that he may still the Enemy and the Avenger Then Reader would you see Earthly Angels Men that are a little too low for Heaven and much too high for Earth would you see poor frail Creatures trampling this World under their Feet and with an holy serene Smiling at the Threats of Tyrants who are the Terrors of the Mighty in the Land of the Living Would you see shackled Prisoners behave themselves like Judges and Judges stand like Prisoners before them Would you see some of the rare Exploits of Faith in its highest Elevation immediately before it be swallowed up in the Beatifical Vision To conclude would you see the Heavenly Jerusalem pourtrayed on Earth Would you hear the melodious Voices of ascending Saints in a ravishing Consoâ—t ready to joyn with the Heavenly Chorus in theiâ— deâ—ighâ—ful Hallelujahs Then draw near come and see If thou be a Man of an Heavenly Spirit here is pleasant and suitable entertainment for thee and after thou hast conversed a while these Excellent Spirits it may be thou wilt Judge as I do That dead Saints are sweeter Companions in some respects for thee to converse with than those that are living And when thou shalt see the magnificeâ—â— Acts of their faith their invincible Patience their flaming Love to Christ their strange contempt and undervaluings of the World their plainness and simplicity in the profession of the Gospel their fâ—rvent and brotherly love to each other their ravishing Prâ—spects as it were on the top of Mount Pisgah â—f the Heavenly Canaan their Swan-like Songs and Dying Speeches And Reader You know the first Lisping of little Children and last Farewels of Dying Saints are always most sweet and charming Those Fore-tasts of the Rivers of Pleasure the transporting Glimpses they had of the Crown of Glory I say when you see and read these Exemplary Truths wonder not that the Pious Hewlings long'd so vehemently to be in a better World though they were to pass through a thousand Deaths or the Fiery Tryal to it But to come to our intended matter After the Dispersing of the Dukes Army they fled and put to Sea but were driven back again and with the hazard of their Lives got on shore over dangerous Rocks where they saw the Country fill'd with Soldiers and they being unwilling to fall into the hands of the Rabble and no way of defence or escape remaining to them they surrendred themselves Prisoners to a Gentleman whose House was near the place they landed at and were from thence sent to Exeter Goal the 12 th of July where remaining some time their behaviour was such that being visited by many caus'd great respect towards 'em even of those that were enemies to the Cause they engaged in and being on the 27 th of July put on board the Swan Frigate in order to their bringing up to London their Carriage was such as obtained great kindness frome the Commander and all other Officers in the Ship and being brought into the River Captain Richardson came and took them into his Custody and carryed them to Newgate putting great Irons upon them and put them apart from each other without giving Liberty for the nearest Relation to see them notwithstanding all endeavours and entreaties used to obtain it tho in the presence of a Keeper which though it did greatly increase the Grief of Relations God who wisely orders all things for good to those he intends Grace and Mercy to made this very Restraint and hard usage a blessed advantage to their Souls as may appear by their own Words when after great importunity and charge some of their near Relations had leave to speak a few words to them before the Keeper to which they replied They were câ—ntented with the Will of God whatever it should be Having been in Newgate three Weeks there was Order given to carry them down into the West in order to their Tryal which being told them they answer'd They were glad of it and that Morning they went out of Newgate several that beheld them seeing them so chearful said Surely they had received their Pardon else they could never carry it with that Courage and Chearfulness Altho this must be observed that from first to last whatever hopes they received from Friends they still thought the contrary never being much affected with the hopes of it nor cast down nor the least discouraged at the worst that man could do In their Journey to Dorchester the Keepers that went with them have given this account of them That their Carriage was so grave serious and christian that made them admire to
bring a poor sinner to himself Oh! Electing Love distinguishing Grace what great cause have I to admire and adore it He said What an amazing Consideration is the sufffering of Christ for sin to bring us to God his suffering from wicked Men was exceeding great but alas what was that to the Dolours of his Soul under the infinite Wrath of God This Mystery of Grace and Love is enough to swallow up our thoughts to all Eternity As to his own Death he would often say He saw no reason to expect any other I know God is infinitely able to deliver and I am sure will do it if it be for his Glory and my Good in which I bless God I am fully satisfied it 's all my desire that he would choose for me and then I am sure it will be best whatever it be for truly unless God have some work for me to do in the World for his Service and Glory I see nothing else to make Life desirable In the present state of Affairs there is nothing to cast our Eyes upon but Sin Sorrow and Misery And truly were things never so much according to our desires it 's but the World still which will never be a resting-place Heaven is the only state of Rest and Happiness there we shall be perfectly free from Sin and Temptation and enjoy God without interruption for ever Speaking of the Disappointment of their expectations in the work they had undertaken he said with reference to the Glory of God the Prosperity of the Gospel and the delivery of the People of God We have great Cause to lament it but for that outward Prosperity that would have accompanied it it s but of small moment in it self as it could not satisfie so neither could it be abiding for at longest Death would have put an end to it all Also adding nay perhaps we might have been so foolish as to have been taken with that part of it with the neglect of our eternal concerns and then I am sure our present circumstances are incomparably better He frequently express'd great concern for the Glory of God and affection to his People saying If my Death may advance Gods Glory and hasten the Deliverance of his People it is enough saying It was a great comfort to him to think of so great a priviledge as an interest in all their Prayers In his Converse particularly valuing and delighting in those Persons where he saw most holiness shining also great pity to the Souls of others saying That the remembrance of our former Vanity may well cause Compassion to others in that state And in his Converse prompting others to Seriousness telling them Death and Eternity are such weighty concerns that they deserve the utmost intention of our Minds for the way to receive Death chearfully is to prepare for it seriously and if God should please to spare our Lives surely we have the same reason to be serious and spend our remaining days in his Fear and Service He also took great care that the Worship of God which they were in a Capacity of maintaining there might be duly perform'd as Reading Praying and Singing of Psalms in which he evidently took great delight For those three or four days before their deaths when there was a general Report that no more should die he said I don't know what God hath done beyond our expectations if he doth prolong my Life I am sure it is all his own and by his Grace I will wholly devote it to him But the 29 th of September about ten or eleven at Night we found the deceitfulness of this Report they being then told they must die the next Morning which was very unexpected as to the suddenness of it but herein God glorified his Power Grace and Faithfulness in giving suitable Support and Comfort by his blessed Presence which appeared upon my coming to him at that time finding him greatly composed He said Tho' Men design to surprize God doth and will perform his Word to be a very present help in trouble The next Morning when I saw him again his Cheerfulness and Comfort were much increased waiting for the Sheriff with the greatest-sweetness and serenity of Mind saying Now the Will of God is determined to whom I have referr'd it and he hath chosen most certainly that which is best Afterward with a smiling Countenance he discours'd of the Glory of Heaven remarking with much delight the third fourth and fifth Verses of the 22 th of the Revelations And there shall be no more Curse But the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his Servants shall serve him and they shall see his Face and his Name shall be in their Foreheads and there shall be no Night there and they shall need no Candle nor Light of the Sun and they shall reign for ever and ever Then he said Oh what a happy State is this shall we be loth to go to enjoy this Then he desired to be read to him 2 Cor. 5. For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolv'd we have a Building of God a House not made with Hands eternal in the Heavens to the tenth or eleventh verses In all his Comforts still increasing expressing his sweet Hopes and good Assurance of his Interest in this glorious Inheritance and being now going to the possession of it seeing so much of this happy Change that he said Death was more desireable than Life he had rather dye than live any longer here As to the manner of his Death he said When I have consider'd others under these Circumstances I have thought it very dreadful but now God hath call'd me to it I bless God I have quite other apprehensions of it I can now chearfully embrace it as an easie passage to Glory and tho' Death sâ—parates from the Enjoyments of each other here it will be but for a very short time and then we shall meet in such Enjoyments as now we cannot conceive and for ever rejoyce in each others Happiness Then reading the Scriptures and musing with himself he intimated the great Comfort God convey'd to his Soul in it saying O what an invaluable Treasure is this blessed Word of God in all Conditions here is a store of strong Consolation One desiring his Bible he said No this shall be my Companion to the last moment of my Life Thus praying together reading meditating and conversing of Heavenly things they waited for the Sheriff who when he came void of all Pity or Civility hurried them away scarce suffering them to take leave of their Friends But notwithstanding this and the doleful mourning of all about them the Joyfulness of his Countenance was encreased Thus he left his Prison and thus he appear'd in the Sledge where they sat about half an hour before the Officers could force the Horses to draw at which they were greatly enraged there being no visible obstruction from weight or way But at last
comfort when we may say to them with David Psal. 59.3 Not for my transgession nor for my sin O Lord. Nor are we by fraudulent pusillanimous Compliances in wicked Courses to bring sin upon our selves Faint Hearts are ordinary false Hearts choosing Sin rather than Sufferings and a short Life with eternal Death before Temporal Death and a Crown of Glory Such seeking to save a litle loses all and God readily hardens them to proceed to their own destruction How many like Hazaâ—l 2 King 8.13 run to excesses they never thought they were capable of Let Rulers and others read seriously and weigh Prov. 1.10 to 20. 2 Chr. 28.6 to 17. Prov. 24.11 12. and Prov. 2â— 10. and avoid what is bad and follow what is good For me I hope by Gods strength to joyn with Job chap. 13.15 and the Psalmist Psal. 22.4 and 167. and shall pray as Psal. 74.19 to 24. And Psal. 122.6 to 9. And Luke 1.74 75. and shall hope as Psal. 94.14 15. I do freely forgive all that directly or indirectly have bâ—â—n â—he cause of my being brought to this place first or last and I pray God forgive them I pray God send Truth and Peace in these Three Kingdoms and continue and increase the glorious Light of the Gospel and restrain the Spirit of Prophanity Atheism Superstition Popery and Persecution and restore all that have back-slidden from the Purity of their Life or Principles and bless his whole People with all Blessings spiritual and temporal and put an end to their present Trials And I intreat all People to forgive me wherein I have offended and concur with me to pray That the great good and merciful God would sanctifie my present Lot and for Jesus Christ his sake Pardon all my Sins and receive me to his Eternal Glory It is suggested to me That I have said nothing of the Royal Family and it remembers me that before the Justices at my Trial about the Test I said That at my Death I would pray That there should never want one of the Royal Family to be a Defender of the True Ancient Apostolick Catholick Protestant Faith which I do now And that GOD would enlighten and forgive all of them that are either luke-warm or have shrunk from the Profession of it And in all Events I pray God may provide for the Security of his Church that Antichrist nor the Gates of Hell may never prevail against it Colonel Rumbold AT the same place died Colonel Richard Rumbold Jun. 26. 1685. most of what occurr'd considerable in his Defence and Speech you have had already in the business of the Assassination Two or three Passages more there are worth Remarks in the same as Arguments of his Sense and Courage For this Cause he says were every hair of his Head and Beard a Life he 'd joyfully sacrifice 'em all That he was never Antimonarchical in his Principles but for a King and Free Parliament the King having power enough to make him great and the People to make 'em happy That he died in the Defence of the just Laws and Liberties of the Nations That none was markt by God above another for no Man came into the World with a saddle on their backs nor others booted and spurr'd to ride upon 't And being askt if he thought not his Sentence dreadful answer'd He wisht he had a Limb for every Town in Christendom The Last Speech of Col. Richard Rumbold at the Market-Cross of Edinburgh with several things that passed at his Tryal 26 Jun. 1685. AT the same place died Colonel Richard Rumbold about Eleven of the Clock he was brought from the Castle of Edinburgh to the Justices Court in a great Chair on Mens Shoulders where at first he was asked some Questions most of which he answer'd with silence at last said He humbly conceived it was not necessary for him to add to his own Accusation since he was not ignorant they had enough already to do his Business and therefore he did not design to fret his Conscience at that time with Answering Questions After which his Libel being read the Court proceeded in usual manner first asking him If he had any thing to say for himself before the Jury closed His Answer was He owned it all saving that parâ— of having Designed the King's Death and desired all present to believe the words of â— Dying Man he never directly nor indirectly intended such a Villany that he abhorred the very thoughts of it and that he blessed God he had that Reputation in the World that he knew none that had the Impudence to ask him the Question and he detested the thoughts of such an Action and he hoped all good People would believe him which was the only way he had to clear himself and he was sure that this Truth should be one day made manifest to all Men. He was again asked If he had any exception against the Jury He answered No but wished them to do as God and their Consciences directed them Then they withdrew and returned their Verdict in half an hour and brought him in Guilty The Sentence followed For him to be taken from that Place â—o the next Room and from thence to be Drawn on a Hurdle betwixt Two and Four of the Clock to the Cross of Edinburgh the Place of Execution and there to be Hang'd Drawn and Quartered He received his Sentence with an undaunted Courage and Chearfulness Afterwards he was delivered into the Town-Magistrates Hands they brought to him two of their Divines and offered him their Assistance upon the Scaffold which he altogether refused telling them That if they had any good Wishes for him he desired they would spend them in their own Closets and leave him now to seek God in his own Way He had several Offers of the same kind by others which he put off in like manner He was most serious and fervent in Prayers the few-hours he lived as the Sentinels observed who were present all the while The Hour being come he was brought to the Place of Execution where he saluted the People on all sides of the Scaffold and after having refreâ—hed himself with a Cordial out of his Pocket he was supported by two Men while he spoke to the People in these words Gentlemen and Brethren Iâ— is for all Men that come into the World once to Die and after Death to Judgment and since death is a Debt that all of us must pay it is but a matter of small moment what way it be done and seeing the Lord is pleased in thiâ— manner to take me to himself I confess something hard to Flesh and Blood yet blessed be his Name who hath made me not only Willing but Thankful for his honouring me to lay down the Life he gave for his Name in which were every Hair in this Head and Beard of minâ— a Life I should joyfully sacrifice them for it as I do this And Providence having brought me hither I think it most
Spectacle that they behold me with high complacency and delight but to the other I am a mournful and unpleasant one and they behold me with no less pity and compassion Concerning the first I can say I freely and heartily forgive them and heartily pray that God would most mercifully and graciously prevent their mourning through Misery not only here but eternally hereafter Concerning the other I will say Weep for your own sins and for the sins of the Nation for the highest Rebellions that ever were committed against the great and eternal God lament bitterly for those sins that have been the meritorious Cause of the late terrible Judgment that which I fear will cause God to break in upon this Nation with an overflowing Deluge of Judgments which are far more tremendous and dreadful As for sympathizing with me in drinking this bitter Cup appointed for me I return you most humble and hearty thanks earnestly desiring God to come unto you and fill your Soulâ— with all Celestial Comforts and Spiritual Consolations Something I must say to purge and clear my self from a false Accusation laid to my Charge as that I was engaged with Col. Blood in rescuing Col. Mason near Boston when he was sent down with a Guard from London to York to be Tryed for High Treason and that I was the Man that killed the Barber of that City â—nd that also I was with him when he stole the Crown Now as I am a dying Man and upon the very brink of a very stupendous Eternity the â—â—uth and reality whereof I fiâ—mly believe without any reservation or the least equivocation I do declare in the Presence of the All-seeing God that impartial Judge before whom in a very little time I must appear I never saw nor conversed with Mr. Thomas Blood from 1656 till after he stole the Crown which was in 71 or 72. nor was ever engaged with him in any of his Treasonable Plots or Practices 'T is true I being involved in great trouble of another Nature of which I have given to the World a Narrative and which is notoriously known in the Country where I then lived by some that were Enemies to me for my preaching I was perswaded to apply my self to Mr. Blood to procure by his Intercession his late Majesties gracious Favour accordingly he brought me into his Royal Presence while I was there his Majesty carried it with great Clemency without expressing one word of that which I am now charged with Mr. Blood continued with his Majesty a little longer than I did then he told me that he had granted me a Pardon which I did thankfully accept of knowing it would free me from all Penalties and Troubles that I was obnoxious to and were occasioned to me by my Non-conformity Then engaging him to take out my Pardon he told me That he got it out with several others that had been engaged with him in several Treasonable Designs and Actions at which I was troubled supposing it might be imputed to me thereby yet God knows I have often since reflected upon it with great regret and dissatifaâ—tion If Mr. Blood did inform the late King to make himself the more considerable and to bring as many of his Party as he could to accept of their Pardons that hâ— might be rendered utterly incapable of Plotting any further Mischief against his Government or any other ways that I was engaged with him in any of his Treasonable Attempts I now appeal to God as a dying Man concernâ—ng it that he hath done me an irreparable wâ—ong I also in the same manner do declare That I was never ingaged with any Party in Plotting or Designing or Contriving any Treason or Rebellion agâ—inst the late King and particularly that I was altogether uncoâ—cerned in and unacquainted with that for which my Lord Russel and others suffer'd and as much a stranger to any against the present King And whereas it is reported of me That at Taunton I perswaded the late Duke of Monmouth to assume the Title of King I do once more solemnly declare That I saw not the said Duke nor had any Converse with him 'till he came to Shipton-Mallet which was thirteen days after he landed and several days after he had been at Taunton And 't is as false that I rid to and fro in the West to stir up and perswade Men to go into his Army and rebel against his present Majesty for I was iâ— the East Country when the Duke landed and from thence I went directly to him when he was at Shipton Mallâ—t not one Man accompanying me from thence But hitherto as I lived so now I die owning and professing the true Reformed Christiaâ— commonly called the Protestant Religion which is founded on the pure written Word of God only and which I acknowledge likewise to be comprehended in the Article of the Doctrine of the Church This Religion I have made a reasonable and free choice of and have heartily embraced not only as it protests against all Pagan and Mahometan Religion but against the Corruption of the Christian and I humbly and earnestly pray to God that by his Infinite Wisdom and Almighty Power he will prevent not only the utter extirpation but diminution thereof by the heighth and influence of what is contrary thereto and for that end the Lord make the Professors of it to live up more to its Principles and Rules and bring their Hearts and Conversations more under the Government and Power of â—he same I die also owning my Ministry Non-conformity for which I have suffer'd so much and which doth now obstruct the King's Grace and Mercy to be manifested and extended to me For as I chose it not constrainedly so I appeal to God as a dying Man not moved from sullenness or humour or factious temper or erroneous Principles of Education or from secular interests or worldly advantages but clearly from the Dictates of my own Conscience and as I judged it to be the Cause of Goâ— and to have more of Divine Truth in it than that which is contrary thereto so now I see no Cause to repent of it nor to recede from it not questioning but God will own it at the last Judgment-day If no more had been required after the late King's Restauration to qualifie Ministers for publick Preaching than was after the first Restauration from the time of Charles the First probably I might have satisfied my self therewith and not scrupled Conformity thereto but the Terms and Conditions thereof by a particular Law made in 1662. being not only new but so strict and severe that I could never have satisfaction in my own Conscience after all Endeavours used for a Complyance therewith and a Conformity thereto To say nothing of the Covenant which I never took but the giving my Assent and Consent have been too difficult and hard for me to comply with And I very well remember that about fourteen years ago entring into a Discourse with Mr. Patrick
it but especially to my Superiors I had ever a venerable and due esteem of Magistrates as the Ministers of God and they Administring an Ordinance of God I also lye under a Reproach of being unfaithful to an Interest that I owned which I utterly deny and disown I pray God bless and forgive my violent Enemies that havâ— industriously sought the taking away my Life It 's the hearty Prayer of JOHN HVCKER From Taunton-Castle a little before he suffered Sept. 30th 1685. An Impartial Account of K s Cruelties with other Barbarities in the West Never printed before Sent to the Compiler of this History by one that was an Eye and Ear Witness to all the matter of Fact WHen K k came first into Taunton he came with two Cart-loads of Men Bloody and their Wounds not drest just as they were hauled into Bridgwater Prison they were guarded with Granadeers with naked Swords and Bagonets He also brought with him into Taunton a great drove of Foot chain'd two and two together He hanged nineteen on the Cornhill immediately not suffering either their Wives or Children to speak to 'em or to take their leave of ' em As they were executing he K caused the Pipes to Play Drums anâ— Trumpets to sound that the Spectators might not hear the Cries and Groans of the Dying Men nor the Cries of their Friends He caused their Bowels to be burnt and their Quarters to be boyl'd in Pitch and hang'd all about the Town K hanged one on the VVhite Heart Sign-Post three times to try if he wou'd own he had done amiss but he affirmed to this effect That if it was to do again he wou'd engage in the same cause so K would have him hang'd in Chains and so he was till King VVilliam came to the Deliverance of this Nation from Popery and Slavery When Jenkins Hewlings c. were to die before they came out of the B l there was a great Fire made on the Cornhill that so they might see the Fire that was to burn their Bowels Some that K caused to be hanged he caused also their Bodies to be stript and their Breasts to be cleav'd asunder in the place where he caused the Executions to be done you might have gone up to the Ankles in Blood he also caused the Hearts of the poor Executed Men to be thrown into the Fire with a great Shout saying Here is the Heart of a Traytor A Captain of VV was hang'd and the Rope broke whâ—reby he hoped to have saved his life but they took from a Market-horse a Ring-Rope and hanged him again At the Assizes when the Prisoners were brought before the Bar Jeffreys said if any Man pleaded Not guilty he should die One not concerned in Monmouth's Business when asked said Not Guilty my Lord Jeffreys said take him Jaylor and let him be Executed another time An Honest Man was hanged for sparing for Monmouth's Horse three pennyworth of Hay A Constable also was hanged for executing of Monmouth's Warrant And many Hundreds were put in the Castle-Hall by which it was feared they would infect the Town Frances Burges was taken upon Maidendown by the persuasion of Sir was hang'd by fastning a Rope to a Chamber-Window and set upon a Hoget and so hang'd The Executioner was one S of St. Thomas Parish Exon. There was by good Report several Scores died in Ilchester by Infectious Diseases and in their Irons and Hand-bolt for if they were not hard-hearted and us'd the extreamest Rigor imaginable the Keepers were not counted good Subjects One of VVelinton that was to be hanged them was saved supposed by Order of Sir and one of Crookern hanged in his stead this is true and so it was at other places But 't were endless to record all the Cruelties exercised by K and Jeffreys after Monmouth's Defeat Now that which remains is to give an Account of Hundreds that had fled and hid themselves up and down in Holes and Rocks whose Friends make all Application to some great Person or other to procure their Pardons some to this some to others that they thought Favourites with the King but the Rewards must be ascertain'd before any Application could be made for Pardons were just as they were in Rome according to the ability of the Person from half a Crown to sixteen thousand Guinea's Any Tooth good Barber Divers Lists being sent up and the Rewards ascertain'd which amongst many of them put together did amount to considerable Sums So that it was now who could find a Friend to relieve his distressed Relations which were forced to wander up and down in Caves and Desarts for fear of being taken But this Misfortune attended the Agents that unless my Lord Chancellour were used by his Creatures that were allowed by him so to do other Applications commonly met with Disapointments To conclude The solemn serious dying Declarations and Christian Courage of the VVestern Sufferers have always out-weighed with me the Evidence of those flagitious Witnesses who swore these Persons out of their Lives And I did 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 Soveraign 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 very dangerously threatned And methinks it should even convert a Tory unless his Brains were pick'd out of his Skull by him who pickt the Guineas out of his Pocket when he cast his Eye upon that apposite and Emphatical Expression in the Observator vol. 2 Number 125. To deal freely with the TRIMMER I have more Faith in the Words of one dying Traytor under the stroke of Iustice than of twenty Living Thus have we given you an Account of what happened in the West in the Year 85. being in every Point truth we shall next give a short touch of the Civilities the poor Sufferers received from the City of Exon which deserves an everlasting Remembrance Most sorts of Provisions as hot Broth boyled Meat roast Meat divers sorts of Pies were daily sent into the Prison the Persons that sent them unknown to them Also if any Person was sick there should be a Nurse to attend him Also a Physitian and Chyrurgion to attend when occasion was 'T is said He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord the Lord return them an hundred fold Thus Reader by the help of God we are come to an end of our long Journey from the yeaâ— 1678. to 1685. The way all along has been full of dirt and blood and therefore no wonder if the Wheels have driven somewhat heavily 'T will be worth thy while as well as mine to look back on the dâ—fferent Stages we have taken which is one of the gâ—eatest pleasures of a Traveller who finds delight in reflecting even on that which formerly