see and hear what they did from such Young Men. A near Relation that went into the West to see the issue of things and to perform whatever should be necessary for them gives the following account At Salisbury the 30 th of August I had the first opportunity of Converse with them I found them in a very excellent Composure of Mind declaring their experience of the Grace and Goodness of God to them in all their Sufferings in supporting and strengthning and providing for them turning the Hearts of all in whose hands they had been both at Exon and on Ship-board to shew pity and favour to them although since they came to Newgate they were hardly used and now in their Journey loaded with heavy Irons and more inhumanely dealt with They with great chearfulness profess'd That they were better in a more happy Condition than ever in their Lives from the sense they had of the pardoning Love of God in Jesus Christ to their Souls wholly referring themselves to their wise and gracious God to chuse for them Life or Death Expressing themselves thus Any thing what pleases God what he sees best so be it We know he is abâ—e to deliâ—er but if not blessed be his Name Death is not terrible now but desireable Mr. Benjamin Hewling particularly added As for thâ— World there is nothing in it to make it worth while to live except we may be serviceable to God therein And afterwards said Oh! God is a a strong Refuge I have found him so indeed The next Opportunity I had was at Dorchester where they both were carried there remaining together four days By reason of their strait Confinement our Converse was much interrupted but this appear'd that they had still the same Presence and Support from God no way discourag'd at the approach of their Tryal nor of the event of it whatever it should be The 6 th of September Mr. Benjamin Hewling was order'd to Taunton to be tryed there Taking my leave of him he said Oh! Blessed be God for Afflictions I have found such happy Effects that I would not have been with out them for all this World I remained still at Dorchester to wait the Issue of Mr. William Hewling to whom after Tryal I had free Access whose Discourse was much fill'd with Admirings of the Grace of God in Christ that had been manifested towards him in calling him out of his natural State He said God by his Holy Spirit did suddenly seize upon his Heart when he thought not of it in his retired Abode in Holland as it were secretly whispering in his Heart Seek ye my Face enabling him to answer his gracious Call and to reflect upon his own Soul shewing him the Evil of Sin and necessity of Christ from that time carrying him on to a sensible adherence to Christ for Justification and Eternal Life He said Hence he found a Spring of Joy and Sweetness beyond the Comforts of the whole Earth He further said He could not but admire the wonderful goodness of God in so preparing him for what he was bringing him to which then he thought not of giving him hope of Eternal Life before he called him to look Death in the face so that he did chearfully resign his Life to God before he came having sought his Guidance in it and that both then and now the Cause did appear to him very glorious notwithstanding all he had suffer'd in it or what he further might Although for our Sins God hath with-held these good things from us But he said God had carry'd on his blessed Work on his Soul in and by all his Sufferings and whatever the Will of God were Life or Death he knew it would be best for him After he had received his Sentence when he returned to Prison he said Methinks I find my Spiritual Comforts increasing ever since my Sentence There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus it 's God that justifies who shall condemn When I came to him the next morning when he had received News that he must die the next day and in order to it was to be carried to Lyme that day I found him in a more excellent rais'd spiritual Frame than before He said He was satisfi'd God had chosen best for him he knows what the Temptations of Life might have been I might have lived and forgotten God but now I am going where I shall sin no more Oh! it 's a blessed thing to be free from sin and to be with Christ. Oh! the Riches of the Love of God in Christ to Sinners Oh! how great were the Sufferings of Christ for me beyond all I can undergo How great is that Glory to which I am going It will soon swallow up all our Sorrow here When he was at Dinner just before his going to Lyme he dropt many abrupt Expressions of his inward Joy such as these Oh! the Grace of God the Love of Christ Oh that blessed Supper of the Lamb to be for ever with the Lord He further said when I went to Holland you knew not what Snares Sins and Miseries I might fall into or whether ever we should meet again But now you know whither I am going and that we shall certainly have a most joyful meeting He said Pray give my particular Recommendations to all my Friends with acknowledgements for all their kindness I advise them all to make sure of an Interest in Christ for he is the only Comfort when we come to die One of the Prisoners seemed to be troubled at the manner of the Death they were to die to whom he replied I bless God I am reconciled to it all Just as he was going to Lyme he writ these few Lines to a Friend being hardly suffer'd to stay so long I am going to Launch into Eternity I hope and trust into the Arm of my Blessed Redeemer to whom I commit you and all my dear Relations my Duty to my dear Mother and Love to all my Sisters and the rest of my Friends William Hewling As they passed through the Town of Dorchester to Lyme multitudes of People beheld them with great Lamentations admiring at his Deportment at his parting with his Sister As they pass'd upon the Road between Lyme and Dorchester his Discourse was exceeding Spiritual as those declar'd who were present taking occasion from every thing to speak of the Glory they were going to Looking out on the Country as he pass'd he said This is a glorious Creation but what then is the Paradice of God to which we are going 't is but a few Hours and we shall be there and for ever with the Lord. At Lyme just before they went to die reading John 14.18 He said to one of his fellow-Sufferers Here is a sweet Promise for us I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you Christ will be with us to the last One taking leave of him he said Farewel till we meet in Heaven Presâ—ntly I shall be with
King's Mercy from being extended tâ— me as I am told but the Will of the Lord be done the Life to come is infinitely better than this Many more things are laid to my Charge which I am no more guitly of than your self If your Vncle be in Town go speedily to him and give him my dear Love I pray for you who am Your most Affectionate Uncle J. H. Octob. 5. 1685. A Letter to his Wife Sept. 23. 1685. My Dearest Love I Hope you received a few Lines from me by the way of London once more I write to you by your faithful and trusty Friend W. D. who hath been at Exon. If there be need for it he knows many of my dear and faithful Friends there who wish you would come and live among them and if your Estate fail I think iâ— very advisable so to do I hope God will stand by you and defend you My dear seâ— me in God as I must you I must now bid adieu to all Earthly and Worldly Comforts and all the pleasant and delightful Objects of Sense I bless God for all present Mercies and Comforts hitherto I have had what will be after this day I know not but the Will of the Lord be done My Dear Be very cautious not to speak one Word lest it be wrested to a wrong Sense which may ruinâ— you I have not writ what I would of this Nature take the Advice of Friends and of what I send by our Friend O let not the Everlasting Arms of God be with-drawn from you one Moment and let him strengthen you with all Might according to his glorious Power and to all Patience and Long-suffering with Joyfulness Pray hard for Victory over Passion and be much in private Closet Prayer with God and often read the Holy Bible and other good Books the Lord continually guide direct and counsel you My Dear I return you a thousand thanks for all the Love you have shew'd me and my Children and particularly for the high and great Demoâ—stration you have given hereof in this day of my distress I hope my Daughters will be as dutiful to you and be as much concerned for your comfort and welfare as if you had travelled with them and brought them into the world God bless my dear little Ones and them together I shall die their most affectionate and praying Father God I hope will uphold support and comfort me at the last hour and enable me to overcome the Temptations I shall violently be assaulted with before I die God by his infinite and freest Mercies in Jesus Christ pardon all the neglect of Relative Duties which I have bitterly lamented and bewail'd before God with all the Sins I am guilty of for the sake of our dearest Lord and Redeemer The Lord make you grow in all Gracâ— more than ever and make this great Affliction so humbly purifying and spiritualizing to you as wâ—ll as me that it may work for us both a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory Let him take your Soul into his most dearest Embraces and lodge it in the bosom of his Love here and make us to meet in the full and everlasting Fruition and Enjoyment of him hereafter Though it be daâ—gerous for you to vindicate that I die for yet be not too much cast down for it I will say no more as to that My hearty and affectionate Respects to all my dear Friends I need not name them I hope to meet them with your self to inherit Eternal Life through the Merits of Christ's Death Farewel my Dear farewel in the Lord until we meet to be married to him for ever My heart is as full of Love to thee as it was the first day I married thee and if God spar'd my Life it should have been as fully manifested until death Therefore I rest Your most Affectionate and Endeared Husband J. H. Sept. 23. 1685. Another Letter My Dearest Love I Received your Letter by Mr. Skinner I bless God that you and my Babes are well the Lord continue their Lives to be a Blessing and Comfort to you and enable you to see them well Educated in the fear of God and when God takes me away let him be a Husband to guide direct succour comfort and support you and to lodge your Soul in the Bosom of his Love and let him be a Father to them and their Portion for ever Monday last my Brother went to London to try what could be done for me what the success will be I know not I desire the Lord every day to prepare me for Death and carry me above the Fear of it by the discoveries of his everlasting Love unto my Soul and clearing up my Right and Title to everlasting Life and by Sealing up to me the Pardon of all my Sins through the most precious Blood of Jesus Chrâ—st Let uâ— pray hard and much for each othâ—r When I leave this world it shall be with Prayer foâ—â—hee if God give me life how shall I study to be a comfort to thee and to live up to my Marriage as well as Baptismal â—ovenant to all my Friends Tendâ—r my affectionate Respects I hope their Prayers will one way or other be heard for me let the Almighty be your Proâ—â—ctor Supporter and Comforter There be two Books I do recommend to you to read when you are retir'd as well as in your Family Pierce's Preparation for Death and Fox's Redâ—mption of Time Now let our Soulâ— meet together in one most Blessed God in our dearest Jesus and sweetest Saviour let them clasp and cling about him and be sick for the love of hâ—m and that we may meet to enjoy him fully to Etâ—rnity and be satisfied with his Love for ever A thousand Loves if I had them I would send to thee next to my dearest Lord Jesus and the things that are heavenly spiritual and immortal I love thee what I can spare for thee is convey'd to thee and my dear Children from Thy most Affectionate and Faithful Husband and their most loving Father J. H. Another Letter My most dear Love I Hope you have received my last once more as a dead aâ—d living Man through difficulty I write to you though I yet do not know when or where I shall die but expect Death every day when that Message is brought to me I hope through the Grace and Strengâ—h of Christ it will be no surprize to me that neither my Lips Flesh nor Heart will tremble when I hear it I know the cause for which I suffer God hath and has singled me out from many of my Brethren which I never have been without some apprehensions of for above these twenty years to lay down my Life how far it is for his Cause will be judged at the last day I bless God who hath kept me from all Temptations to Conformity though it has brought me to ruine and destruction in this world it will be no fit Season for you to Vindicate
Battiscomb HE was another Young Gentleman of a good Family and very great hopes and of a fair Estate which lay in Dorsetshire somewhere between Dorchester and Lyme He had studied sometime at the Temple and having Occasions in the Country about the time of my Lord Russel's Business he was there seiz'd on suspicion of being concern'd in 't and clapt into the County Goal at Dorchester where he behaved himself with that Prudence and winning Sweetness and shew'd so much Wit and innocent pleasantry of Temper as extreamly obliged both all his Keepers and Fellow-Prisoners and even Persons of the best Quality in that Town 'T is indeed a genteel well-bred place as almost any in England at such a Distance from London The Streets are fair and large and Buildings pretty regular two sweet plentiful Rivers running by it It stands on a Chalky Hill but wants not store of good Water The Market-house is a pleasant little Pile that very much sets off the Town There are three Churches in 't and one in its adjoyning Parish 'T is endowed with several Alms-houses a good Grammar-School well enough provided which has had the happiness of ingenious Masters and by their Care produced no inconsiderable number of good Scholars There are two or three fine old Roman Fortifications near the Town which Camden and Speed take notice of The People on 't are generally Civil and Gallant enough if not a little on the extream that way They knew how to value such a Gentleman as Mr. Battiscomb and made him such frequent Visits in the Prison till the place it self was so far from being Scandalous that there was generally all the Conversation and where you might be sure to meet the best Company in the Town of both Sexes Mr. Battiscomb had the happiness not to be displeasing to the Fair Sex who had as much Pity and Friendship for him as consisted with the Rules of Decency and Vertue and perhaps their Respect for him did not always stop at Friendship tho' it still preserved the other bounds inviolable Pity is generally but a little way from Love especially when the Object of it is any thing extraordinary But after he had been there some time and nothing could be prov'd against him which could any ways affect him he was at length almost unwillingly deliver'd from this sort of happy slavery And when the Duke landed appear'd with him and serv'd him with equal Faith and Valour till the Rout at Sedgmoor when he fled with the rest and got up as far as Devonshire where he was seiz'd in a Disguise and brought to his Old Palace the Prison at Dorchester He behav'd himself there the second time in the same courteous obliging manner as he did at the first tho' now he seem'd more thoughtful and in earnest than before as knowing nothing was to be expected but speedy Death Tho' his Courage never droop't but was still the same if it did not increase with his Danger At his Tryal Jefferyes rail'd at him with so much eagerness and barbarity that he was observ'd almost to foam upon the Bench. He was very angry with him because he was a Lawyer and could have been contented all such as he should be hang'd up without any Trial and truly 't was no great matter whether he or the rest had had that Formality or no. Mr. Battiscomb was as undaunted at the Bar as in the Field or at Execution How he demeaned himself in Prison before his Death take this following Account verbatim as 't was written by his Friends Tho' that which occur'd most remarkable after his Sentence must not be omitted Several Young Ladies in the Town among whom one who is particularly mention'd in the Poem went to Jeffreys to beg his Life who repulst 'em at such a bruitish rate as nothing with one Spark of humanity would have been Guilty of and in a manner even too uncivil to be mentioned The Particulars may be seen in the Petition of the Widows and Orphans of that Country The Account given of him by his Relations HE was observed to be always serious and chearful ready to entertain Spiritual Discourse manifesting Affection to God's People and his Ordinances he seem'd to be in a very calm indifference to Life or Death referring himself to God to determin it expressing his great satisfaction as to some Opportunities of Escape that were slipt saying That truly he sometimes thought the Cause was too good to flee from suffering in it tho' he would use all lawful means for his Life but the Proâ—idence of God having prevented this he was sure it was best for him for he said be blest God he could look into Eternity with Comfort He said with respect to his Relations and Friends to whom his Death would be afflictive that he was willing to live if God saw good but for his own part he thought Death much more desirable He said I have enjoyed enough of this World but I never found any thing but Vanity in it no rest or satisfaction God who is an Infinite Spiritual Being is the only suitable Object for the Soul of Man which is spiritual in its Nature and too large to be made happy by all that this world can afford which is all but sensual Therefore methinks I see no reason why I should be unwilling to leave it by Death since our Happiness can never be perfected till then till we leave this Body where we are so continually clogg'd with Sin and Vanity frivolous and foolish Trifles Death in it self is indeed terrible and Natural Courage is too low to encounter it nothing but an interest in Christ can be our comfort in it he said which Comfort I hope I have intimating much advantage to his Soul by his former Imprisonment The day he went from Dorchester to Lyme after he had received the News of his Death the next day he was in the same serious cheerfulness declaring still the same Apprehension of the desirableness of Death and the great supports of his Mind under the Thoughts of so sudden passing through it alone from the hope of the Security of his Interest in Christ taking leave of his Friends with this Farewel Tho' we part here we shall meet in Heaven Passing by his Estate going to Lyme he said Farewel Temporal Inheritance I am now going to my heavenly eternal one At Lyme the Morning that he died it appeared that he had the same supports from God meeting Deâ—th with the same cheerfulness and after he had prayed a while to himself without any appearance of Reluctancy yielded up his Spirit Sept. 2. 1865. A Poem on a Lady that came to my Lord Chief Justice to beg Mr. Battiscomb's Life Sister to one of the Sheriffs in the West which he denied HArder than thine own Native Rocks To let the Charming Silvia kneel And not one spark of Pity feel Harder than sensless Stones and Stocks Ye Gods what showers of Pearls she gave VVhat precious Tears enough
that for which I am call'd to supper be silent and leave it to God I advise you to all Prudence in this case have your own reserv'd thoughts and let them concerning me support and comfort you if there never happen a time for you to Glory in my Sufferings it will be hereafter do you but walk with God though through Prudence you must hold your Tongue and be not asham'd you had such a Husband I thank God that gave it me whose Courage and Publick Spirit for the Protestant Religion the Civil Liberties of his Country even true English Liberties hath in this ignominious way brought me to the Conclusion and End of my time Mourn not my Dear as one without Hope let the World know you have something from me something from your self as a Christian but ten thousand times more from God to comfort and support you see Christ by an eye of Faith infinitely more lovely and beautiful than my self let him be married to your Soul let him be the chiefest of ten thousand and more dear and precious to you it is not long we shall be separated before we shall see one another in a Spiritual Enjoyment separated from all Fleshly Pleasures and Delights yet iâ—finitely mâ—re sweet and satisfying to Immortal Spirits as you and I us'd to see Sâ—reâ—ms from the Fountain and the largest Streams in the Ocean so let us see one another in God the ever-flowing and over-flowing Fountain of all Good the fathomless and boundless Ocean of Good Seâ—k much the things which are above live with your Affections set upon them and have your Conversation in Heaven whilst you are upon Earth I continue yet to pray for you as for my seâ—f and shall conâ—inue to do it until I die in my last Prayers you shall be interested with my dear Babes whom I hope God will take into Covenant with him and number them among his Adopted Ones and of that incorrupâ—ible Inheritance which is in Heaven I hope God will spare your Life to see them Educated and guide and assist you therein and theirs to be a blessing and comfort to you Coâ—sider your Condition is not single and alone this Country affords a multitude of the like sad and deplorable Instances let this make you more to possess your Soul with Patience and Humility calmly and quietly to submit to the good Will of God I have left a Paper behind me for you to read and our Friend can tell with what difficulty I write it therefore must have many Defects and Imperfections which must be over-looked and mended preserve â—he two Bibles for my dear James and Betty What shall I say more my Dearest I must break off with my Heart full of Love to thee and subscribe my self Thy most dear and Affectionate Husband till Death J. H. Octob. 3. 1685. Captain Abraham Ansley's Last Speech I Am come to pay a Debt to Nature 't is a Debt that all must pay though some after one manner and some after another The way that I pay it may be thought by sâ—me few ignominious but not so by me having long since as a true Engliâ—hman â—houâ—ht it my Duty to venture my â—ife in defence of the Protestant Religion against Popery and Arbitrary Power For this same purpose I came from my House to the D. of M's Army At first I was a Lieutenant and then a Captain and I was in all the Action the Fâ—ot was engaged in which I do not repent For had I a thousand Lives they should all have been engaged in the same Cause although it has pleased the wise God for reasons best known to himself to blast our Designs but he will deliver his People by ways we know nor think not of I might have saved my Life if I would have done as some narrow-soul'd Persons have done by impeaching others but I abhor such ways of Deliverance choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy Life with Sin As to my Religion I own the way and Practice of the Independent Church and in that Faith I die depending on the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ for my Eternal Salvation His Blessing be with you all Farewell to thee poor England Farewell Abraham Ansley Mr. Annesley's Last Letter SIR I now send you my last Farewel being going to lay down my Life with joy and assurance of Life eternal for which blessed be the Holy one of Israel who never leaves nor forsakes those that put their trust in him and give you many thanks for your kindness to me the Lord make it up to you by pouring upon you a daily Portion of his most Holy Spirit and deliver you from your Bonds My Enemies have done what they could to afflict this Body but blessed be the most High who has given me Strength Patience and Courage to endure all they can lay upon me The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Fellowship of his Holy Spirit â—ttend you which is the Prayer of your dying Friend but living Brother in Christ Jesus ABRAHAM ANSLEY From Taunton Castle Sept. 21. 1685. Mr. Josias Askew's Letter to his Father Honoured Father I not having an opportunity to make my Gratitude known to you for all your Endeavours for the saving a poor vain perishing and troublesom Life and seeing it is all in vain I would desire you both to acquiesce in the Will of God and rejoyce with me for this happy day of my departure â—rom this State of Pilgrimage home to the Possession of those Heavenly Mansions which my God and Faâ—her hath provided for me in and through my Lord Jesus Christ It is â—n him alone I put my Trust and Confidence and theâ—efore can boldly sâ—y Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyâ—d yea rather that is risen again and is set down at the right hand of God making intercession for all those that have a well grounded Confidence in him My time is but short and by reason of Company I am disturbed therefore I conclude with my last Breath begging of God that he would keep you constant in his Fear in this day of great temptation and at last receive you to his Glory where we shall once more unite in praising without interruption or distraction World without end Amen Until which time the Grace of God the Father the Love of God the Son the comfortable Refreshings of God the Holy Ghost be with you all youâ—s and the whole Israel of God both now and for ever Which iâ— the hearty Prayer of your Son JOSIAS ASKEW Pray remember me to all with Joy Another Letter to his Friend MADAM YOU have been a Partaker with me in my troubleâ— I would also make you partaker with me in my Joys seâ—ing my Wedding day is come the day of the Bridgroom is at hand and I am this day to be stript of my Rags of Corruption to be cloathed upon with the white Robe of his Righteousness and Purity and to
the Times encourages Vice and depresses Vertue Raises those who are consent to be Slaves themselves so they may but make others so and trample on others while they are kick'd themselves while it industriously opposes the very sparks of Ingenuity and Liberty and takes off as fast as possible either by Clandestine Plots or open Cruelty whoever dare be any braver or better or honester than their Neighboâ—rs while Providence all the while seems to nod and sit an unconcerned Spectator of the Ravage that 's made in the VVorld then there 's no little danger lest even those who are truly though weakly religious and virtuous should yet be hurried away in the stream of sour and melancholy Thoughts be tempted to think with the Royal Prophet that all things were carried caeco impetu that they have cleansed their Heart in vain and be almost ready with him to condemn the Generation of the righteous 'T is a question whether ever any Age in the VVorld gave more advantage and colour for these kind of Thoughts than this last wherein we have had the sad experience of Debauchery and Villany rampant and triumphant and to all appearance most prosperous and happy wherein 't was much more dangerous either to be distinguishingly vertuous or to forsake Villany than to continue in one and laugh at t'other when so many of the Flower of our Nobility and Gentry either lost their Lives or Estates or Liberties or Country whilst a Crew of Parasites triumphed and fluttered in their Ruins To see a Russel die meanly and ignobly in the Flower of his Age an Essex or a Godfrey sacrified to the insatiable ambition and revenge of their Enemies who yet not content with their Lives would like the Italian stab on after Death and tho' they could not reach their Souls endeavour to damn their Memories These and too many other such melancholy Instances would be ready to make a short-sighted Man exclaim with Hercules in the Tragoedian That Vertue is but an empty Name or at least could only serve to make its Owners more sensibly unhappy But altho' such Examples might a little work on a weaker Vertue that which is more confirmed and solid can more easily resist it 'T is not impatient nor uneasie but still beliâ—ves that Heaven is awake that the Iron Hands of Justice will at length overtake the Offenders and by their destruction vindicate the Honour and Innocence of those whom they have ruin'd It considers any Riddles in Providence as a curious piece of Opticks which if judged of either before 't is finished or by piâ—ce-meal here an Eye and there another distorted Feature appears not only unpleasing but really dreadful which yet if viewed when 't is compleat and taking all the Features together makes a Figure sufficiently regular and lovely VVho almost could have imagined without some such Reflections as these that those brave Men we have seen for some years past pick'd out and cut off one after another with as much Scandal and Obloquy as cou'd be thrown upon 'em by the ungenerous Malice of their Enemies when the very attempt to clear their Reputation has been made almost Capital and involved those who had courage enough to attempt it in little less mischief than what they themselves endured That over these Phoenixes should rise again and flourish in their Ashes That so many great Pens should already have done some of 'em Justice and the VVorld as much to all the rest And with how much more Joy if'twere possible would those Heroes have received their Crowns could they have foreseen their Deaths wou'd have tended so far to work up the Nation to such a just resentment as wou'd at last have so great an Influence as we â—â—d it had on our late glorious Deliverance But since we have yet no form'd History of all those who have suffer'd under the Cruelty and Injustice not to use so harsh a word as Tyranny of late years since such a design may be of no little use both to show what our former Discords have cost us and to vindicate the memories of the Sufferers as well from the malice of their Enemies as hasty kindnâ—ss of their Friends and besides to leave Posterity so many great Examples of those who preferr'd their Liberty and Religion before all else that was dear in the VVorld and because they could not live Free dy'd so For such Reasons as these this VVork is undertaken which if it deserves the acceptance of the Reader no doubt will find it there being few good Books written which have not been favourably received in the VVorld If any be so weak to object that the Subjects of this History are ill match'd some of 'em being of one Communion and some of another It might be enough to send 'em to Fox's Martyrology for an Answer tho' some few years since 't is granted this Objection wou'd have look'd more dreadful whâ—re they may find Hooper and Ridley differing in their Opinions but yet agreeing at the Stake and accordingly ranged by that great Man in the same noble Army The Kindness and Gratitude of the Courts of England and Rome made no distinction between 'em nay not so much as to eat either of them last but as occasion served took one or t'other Fas est ab hoste and since they made no difference in their Deaths altho' they endeavour'd it as much as possible in their Lives since there 's no doubt there 's none betwixt 'em now but they all agree in Heaven I see no Reason why any Party should envy the other that Glory which for suffering in the same Cause they 〈◊〉 deserve There has been formerly some Discourse about Town of a weak or malicious Design a-foot to publish an History of Persecutions and charge it on one particular Party of Protestants But as such a thing wou'd be most pernicious to the Common Cause so God knows if it should go round it would be endless This design is quite contrary as ' its hoped its effects will be 'T is to lay the Fault where it ought to be and make those Friends who have been too long impos'd upon almost to each others Ruine Others may be offended with the Title of Martyrs and Martyrdom which so often occurs in the following Papers both because some of those concerned were accused for Plots against the Government and others were in actual Arms. But 't is possible for a Person at the same time to be a Church and State Martyr Naboth's accusation was for speaking blasphemous VVords against God and the King The Apostles of our Saviour and the Christians afterwards were accused as those who turned the VVorld upside down and Enemies of the Empire These Answers 't is own'd may be accommodated to any Party being general things but in the Body of the Discourse we hope to fix 'em and to prove in particular of the Persons mention'd that they deserv'd that great Name both on account of the Cause and their dying
to consider calmly of the matter and this no doubt was very well known by those who order'd things in the manner before-noted But I say 't were to be wished for the Honour of the English Nation that this had been all the foul play in the case and that there had not been so many Thousand Guinea's imployed in this and other Tryals as the great Agitators thereof have lately confess'd to have been The Names of his Jury as I find them in Print are as follow John Martayn William Rouse Jervas Seaton William Fashion Thomas Short George Toriano William Butler James Pickering Thomas Jeve Hugh Noden Robert Brough Thomas Omeby When he found he must expect neither Favour nor Justice as to the delaying of his Tryal he excepted against the Fore-man of the Jury because not a Freeholder which for divers and sundry Reasons almost if not all the Judges having the happiness to light on different ones and scarce any two on the sâ—me was over-ruled and given against him though that same practice since declared and acknowledged one of the great Grievances of the Nation His Indictment ran in these words He did conspire and compass our Lord the King his Supreme Lord not onely of his Kingly State Title Power and Government of this his Kingdom of England to deprive and throw down but also our said Soveraign Lord the King to kill and to Death to bring and put and the ancient Government of this Kingdom of England to change alter and wholly subvert and a miserable Slaughter among the Subjects of our said Lord the King through his whole Kingdom of England to cause and procure and Insurrection and Rebellion against our said Lord the King to move procure and stir up within this Kingdom of England And lower He and divers others did consult agree and conclude Insurrection and Rebellion against our Sovereign Lord the King to move and stir up and the Guards for the preservation of the Person of our said Soveraign Lord the King to seize and destroy Now that all this was not intended as matter of Form only we may see by the Kings Councils opening the Evidence The first says He was indicted for no less than conspiring the Death of the Kings Majesty and that in order to the same he and others did meet and conspire together to bring our Sovereign Lord the King to Death to raise War and Rebellion against him and to Massacre his Subjects And in order to compass these wicked Designs being assembled did conspire to seize the Kings Guards and his Majesties Person And this he tells the Jury is the charge against him The Attorney General melts it a little lower and tells 'em the meaning of all these Tragical Words were A Consult about a Rising about seizing the Guards and receiving Messages from E. of Shaftsbury concerning an Insurrection Nor yet does the proof against him come up so high even as this though all care was used for that purpose and kind Questions put very frequently to lead and drive the Evidence but one of them Witnessing to any one Point The first of whom was Col. Rumsey who swears That he was sent with a Message from Shaftsbury who lay concealed at Wapping to meet Lord Russel Ferguson c. at Shepherds 's to know of them what Resolution they were come to about the Rising design'd at Taunton That when he came thither the Answer was made Mr. Trenchard had fail'd 'em and no more would be done in that business at that time That Mr. Ferguson spoke the most part of that Answer but my Lord Russel was present and that he did speak about the Rising of Taunton and consented to it That the Company was discoursing also of viewing the Guards in order to surprize 'em if the Rising had gone on and that some undertook to view 'em and that the Lord Russel was by when this was undertaken But this being the main Hinge of the business and this Witness not yet coming up to the purpose they thought it convenient to give him a Jog to Refresh his Memory Asking him Whether he found my Lord Russel averse or agreeing to it Who no doubt answer'd Agreeing But being afterwards in the Tryal ask'd Whether he could Swear positively that my Lord Russel heard the Message and gave any Answer to it All that he says is this That when he came in they were at the Fire side but they all came from the Fire-side to hear what he said All that Shepherd witnesses is That my Lord Russel c. being at his house there was a Discourse of surprizing the Kings Guards and Sir Thomas Armstrong having viewed them when he came thither another time said They were remiss and the thing was feizible if there were Strength to do it and that upon his being question'd too as Rumsey before him Whether my Lord Russel was there He says He was at that time they discours'd of seizing the Guards The next Witness was the florid Lord Howard who very artificially begins low being forsooth so terribly surprized with my Lord of Essex's Death that his Voice fail'd him till the Lord Chief Justice told him the Jury could not hear him in which very moment his Voice returned again and he told the reason why he spoke no louder After a long Harangue of Tropes and fine Words and dismal General Stories by which as my Lord complains the Jury were prepossessed against him he at last makes his Evidence bear directly upon the point for which he came thither And swears That after my Lord Shaftsbury went away their Party resolved still to carry on the design of the Insurrection without him for the better management whereof they erected a little Cabal among themselves which did consist of Six Persons whereof my Lord Russel and himself were two That they met for this purpose at Mr. Hambden's house and there adjusted the place and manner of the intended Insurrection That about ten days after they had another meeting on the same business at my Lord Russel's where they resolved to send some Persons to engage Argyle and the Scots in the design and being ask'd too that he was sure my Lord Russel was there Being ask'd whether he said any thing he answer'd That every one knew him to be a Person of great Judgment and not very lavish of Discourse Being again goaded on by Jeffreys with a But did he consent We did says he put it to the Vote it went without contradiction and I took it that all there gave their consent West swears That Ferguson and Col. Rumsey told him That my Lord Russel intended to go down and take his Post in the West when Mr. Trenchard had fail'd ' em Whose hear-say-Evidence being not encouraged Jeffreys ends very prettily telling the Court they would not use any thing of Garniture but leave it as it was As for Rumsey the first Witness As to his Person My Lord Candish prov'd on the Trial that my Lord Russel had a
find Acceptance with him There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we can be saved but the Name of Jesus Then speaking to the Officers he said Labour everyone of you to be fit to die for I â—ell you you are not fit to dye I was not fit to dye my sâ—lâ— 'till I came in hither but O blessed be God he hath made me fit to dye and hath made me willing to dye In a few moments I shall have the fruition of the blessed Jesus and that not for a day but for ever I am going to the Kingdom of God to the Kingdom of God where I shall enjoy the Presence of God the Father and of God the Son and of God the Holy Spiâ—it and of all the holy Angels I am going to the genâ—ral Assâ—mbly of the first-born and of the Spirit of Just men made perfect O that God should ever do so much for me O that God should concern himself so much for poor Creatures for their Salvation blessed be his name for this was the Design of God from all Eternity to give his only Son to dye for poor miserable Sinners Then the Offiâ—ers going to tye his hands he said What must I be tied then well a brown Thred might have served the turn you need not tye me at all I shall not stir from you for I thank God I am not afraid to dye As he was going out he said Farewel Newgate Farewel all my Fellow prisoners here the Lord comfort you the Lord be with you all Thus much for his Behaviour in the way to his Martyrdom The Place of it was mâ—â—t spitefully and ignominiously ordered almost before his own door and near Guildhall to scare any Good Citizen from appearing vigorously in the Discâ—arge of his Duty for his Countreys Service by his Example If any thing was wanting in his Trial from the haste of it for the clearing his Innocency he sufficiently made it up in solemn Asseverations thereof on the Scaffold God is my Witness says he the Crimes laid to my Charge were falsly and maliciously sworn against me by the Witnesses for I never was at any Consult nor any Meeting where Matters against the Government were discoursed of He adds I never heard or read any Declaration tending that way Again As to the Crimes for which I suffer Vpon the words of a dying man I 'm altogether Innocent Lower he adds He died as he had liv'd in the Communion of the Church of England in whose Ordinances he had been often a partaker and now felt the blessed effects thereof in these his Agonies He was observ'd by those who stood near the Sledge to have solemnly several times averr'd his absolute Innocence of any Design against the Government and particularly that which he died for There were some Persons who are sufficiently known who were present at and exprest a great deal of barbarous Joy at his Death the open publication of their Names is here spar'd in hopes they have or will repent of so unmanly and unchristian a Behaviour tho' some of them then were so confounded with his Constancy and Chearful Bravery as wickedly to report That he was Drunk or Mad when he died His Quarters were set up on Guildhall in Terrorem and for the same Reason no doubt before mentioned for which he was Executed so near it There was such a terrible Storm the day of his Death as has scarce been known in the memory of man and will never be forgot by those who were in it ten or a dozen Ships being founder'd or stranded in one Road and a vast many more in other places And as Heaven then did him Justice and vindicated his Innocence so Earth also has done it the Judgment against him being Reverst by that honourable ever memorable Parliament which under God and our King has setled the Happiness both of this Age and Posterity There wanted not a sort of men at this time who would have perswaded the World that Murder was a Royal Sport for at this time was Printed a Ballad call'd Advice to the â—ity sung to the King at Windsor wherein are these entertaining Lines Then London be wise and baffle their Power And let 'em play the old Game no more Hang hang up the Sheriffs Those Baboons in Power Those Popular Thieves Those Rats of the Tower The Instruments of shedding this Blood may do well to reflect upon the Fate of Clowdesly one of the Iury-men and upon some others since that were concern'd in that Bloody Tragedy His Character HE was a Person of as known Prudence as Integrity a good Christian a compleâ—t Citizen a worthy Magistrate and a zealous Church of England man He was so cautious and wise that he was noted for it all thro' those worst of times and often propos'd as an Example to others of hotter and more imprudent Tempers nor could the least imputation be fix'd on him of hearing or concealing any unlawful or dangerous Discourses any other ways than by plain force of Perjury being known to have shunn'd some Persons whom he as well as some other prudent men suspected to have no good Designs and to be indu'd with no more honesty than discretion as it afterwards prov'd But he was design'd to glorifie God by such an End as all his care could not avoid which he submitted to with bravery rarely to be met with unless among those who suffered for the same Cause in the same Age or their Predecessors Queen Marys Martyrs There was seen the same tenour of Prudence and Piety thro' all the Actions of his Life tho' most conspicuous in the last glorious Scene of it There was such a firmness in his Soul such vigour and almost extatick Joy and yet so well regulated that it shin'd thro' his Face almost with as visible Rays as those in which we use to dress Saints and Martyrs with which both at his Sentence and Execution he refresht all his Friends and at once dazled and confounded his most bitter Enemies Mr. Charles Bateman THE next and last was Mr. Bateman the Chyâ—uâ—geon a Man of good Sense good Courage and good Company and a very large and generous Temper of considerable Repute and Practice in his Calling A great Lover and Vindicator of the Liberties of the City and Kingdom and of more interest than most of his Station He was swore against by Rouse's Lee and Richard Goodenough upon the old Stories of seizing the Tower City and Savoy We had had a better Defence had he himself been able to have made it But being kepâ— close Prisoner in Newgate the Windows and Rooms all dark and little or no Company he being a free jolly Man and us'd formerly to Conversation and Diversion soon grew deeply melancholy and when he came on his Tryal appeared little less than perfectly distracted on which the Court very kindly gave his Son liberty to make his Defence The first Instance to be sure of that Nature since he himself might
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
the Mayor and Sheriff hall'd them forwards themselves Balaam-like driving the Horses When they came to the place of Execution which was surrounded with Spectators many that waited their Coming with great sorrow said That when they saw him and them come with such chearfulness and joy and evidence of the Presence of God with them it made Death appear with another Aspect They first embraced each other with the greatest Affection then two of the elder Persons praying audibly they joyn'd with great seriousness Then he desired leave of the Sheriff to pray particularly but he would not grant it only ask'd him if he would pray for the King He answered I pray for all men He then requested they might sing a Psalm the Sheriff told him It must be with the Ropes about their Necks which they cheerfully accepted and sung with such heavenly joy and sweetness that many present said It both broke and rejoyc'd their hearts Thus in the experience of the delightfulness of praising God on Earth he willingly closed his Eyes on a vain World to pasâ— to that Eternal Employment Sept. 30. 1685. All present of all sorts were exceedingly affected and amazed Some Officers that had before insultingly said Surely these Persons have no thoughts of death but will find themselves surprized by it after said That they now saw he and they had something extraodinary within that carried them through with such joy Others of them said That they were so convinc'd of their Happinâ—ss that they would be glad to change Conditions with them All the Souldiers in general and all others lamenting exceedingly saying That it was so sad a thing to see them so cut off they scarce knew how to bear it Some of the most malicious in the place from whom nothing but railing was expected said as they were carried to their â—rave in Taunton Church voluntarily accompanied by most of the Town That these Persons had left a sufficient Evidence that they were now glorified Saints in Heaven A great Officer in the King'â— Army has been often heard to say That if you would learn to die go to the young Men of Taunton Much more was utter'd by them which shew'd the blessed and glorious frames of their hearts to the Glory of Divine Grace but this is what occurs to memory Mr. Benjamin Hewling about two hours before his death writ this following Letter which shew'd the great composure of his Mind Mr. Hewlings last Letter a little before his Execution Taunton Sept. 30. 1685. Honoured Mother THat News which I know you have a great while feared and we expected I must now acquaint you with That notwithstanding the Hopes you gave in your two last Letters Warrants are come down fâ—r my Execution and within these few hours I expect it to be peâ—formed Blessed be the Almighty God that gives comfort and support in such a day how ought we to magnifie his holy Name for all his Mercies that when we were running on in a course of sin he should stop us in our full career and shew us that Câ—rist whom we had pierced anâ— out of hiâ—â—ree Grace enable us to look upon him with an Eâ—e of Faith believing him able to save to the utmost all such as come to him Oh admirable loâ—g suffering and patience of God that when we were dishonoâ—ring hiâ— Name he did not take that time to bring honour to himself by our destruction But he delighteth not in the death of a sinner buâ— had rather he should turn to him and live And he has many ways of bringing his own to himsâ—lf Blessed be his Holy Name that through Affliction he has taught my heart in some measure to be comformable to his Will which worketh patience and patience worketh experience and experience hope which maketh not ashamed I bless God I am not ashamed of the Cause for which I lay down my life and as I have engaged in it and fought for it so now I am going to sâ—al it with my Blood The Lord still carry on the same Cause which hath been long on foot and tho' we die in it and for it I question not but in his own good time he will raise up other Instruments morâ— worthy to carry it on to the glory of his Name and the advancement of his Church and People Honoured Mother I know there has been nothing left undone by you or my Friends for the saving of my Life for which I return many hearty acknowledgments to your self and them all and it 's my dying request to you and them to pardon all undutifulness and unkindness in every Relation Pray give my Duty to my Grandfather and Grandmother Service to my Vnkles and Aunts and my dear Love to all my Sisters to every Relation and Friend a particular Recommendation Pray tell 'em all how precious an Interest in Christ is when we come to die and advise them never to rest in a Christless Estate For if we are his it 's no matter what the World do to us they can but kill the Body and blessed be God the Soul is out of their reach for I question not but their malice wishes the damnation of that as well as the destruction of the Body which has too evidently appeared by their deceitful flattering promises I commit you all to the care and protection of God who has promised to be a Father tâ— the Fatherless and a Husband to the Widdow and to supply the want of every Relation The Lord God of Heaven be your Comfort under thesâ— Sorrows and your Refuge from these Miseries we may easily foresee coming upon poor England and the poor distressed People of God in it The Lord carry you through this vale of Tears with a resigning submissive Spirit and at last bring you to himself in Glory where I question not but you will meet your dying Son Ben Hewling Their Characters THey were both of very sweet and obliging Tempers as hâ—s appeared in their History it being a very hard matter for their worst Enemies when they once knew 'em well not to honour and love ' em Mr. Benjamin the elder reconciled the Lamb and the Lion exactly In the Field he seem'd made only for War and any where else for nothing but Love He without flatterry deserv'd to be call'd a very fine man of a lovely proportion extreamly well made as handsom a Meen good an Air as perhaps few in England exceeded him His Picture is pretty like him The younger Mr. William somewhat taller and more slender His Face fresh and lively as his Spirit being Master of an extraordinary vivacity and briskness of Temper Both of 'em vertuous pious and couragious far above their years and indeed seem'd to be Men too soon one of 'em not being Twenty the eldest but Two and twenty when they dy'd verifying that common Observation That whatever is perfect sooner than ordinary has generally a shorter Period prefix'd it than what 's more base and ignoble Mr. Christopher
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
the place of his Execution which should have been inserted after had followed in pag. 447. HE with Eleven more were brought from Dorchester to Lyme six in a Coach and six in a Cart as he was drawn through the Town he chearfully beholding the People advised them not to be discouraged at their severe Deaths for that though it was their hard fortunes to lose the day in so good a Cause yet he questioned not but it would be revived again and by such means as he nor they could not imagine God I hope and trust will never let this Nation to fall into Popery being brought to the Inn where they stopped near two hours until the Butchers had prepared every thing for the Slaughter they were visited by a very worthy Divine and Vicar of that Town who offered them those spiritual Helps usually in those Occasions which some of them embraced and others not their Principles being Different from the Church of England The Jaylor speaking to Coll. Holmes to knock off his Irons he said Great Men of State wear Chains and 't is accounâ—ed for their Honour but though there is a vast difference betwixt those Golden ones and mine yet I take mine to be more honourable as that good Apostle said he accounted it an honour to suffer shame for his Masters Name the Sledge being in readiness they prepared to enter it but Alas who shou'd draw such Men to Execution though Men were so bloody The very Beasts refused to draw them and instead of going forward they went backwards and could by no means make them do it which so inraged some Persons that they took the Coach Horses out of the Coach and placed them to the Sledge but presently the Sledge broke in pieces then spake this worthy good Man Pray Gentltmen you see all your strivings will not do to draw us to Execution I verily believe there is more in it than you are aware of pray read about the Prophet that went out of Gods way his Beast saw that he could not Give us leave and we will walk to the place being there come the Collonel prepared first to mount that Tragical Stage the heads of his Speech you have before imbracing his Fellow sufferers and kissing them and giving them some ghostly Comforts he desired help of the Sheriff to go up the Ladder having but one Arm and the Gallows higher than ordinary which was granted And in a short time after the Executioner did his Office Collonel Holmes in his Prayer not mentioning the King he was charged as before to which he replyed he prayed for him in general praying for all Mankind Thus fell the valiant and good Christian Coll. Holmes his dying Words we have now found come to pass he was much lamented by all that saw him except by some that 't is feared are delivered up to a seared Conscience The last Speech of Henry Boddy Executed at Bath WHile he was in Prison especially after Sentence he behaved himself mighty humble meek and was much in Meditation which was observed by several Divines especially one who attended him to his Last his name Mr. Simpson His poor Wife coming to see him at Wells and to make her Interest with some Friends if possible to save his Life but finding it lost labour and that she could by no means prevail she died there for grief before her Husband was Executed to his great grief When he came to the place of Execution he delivered himself to the People in these Words Good People I am come here to pay a Debt due to Nature which every one one time or another must pay though not in this manner or nature I am condemned as a Traitor and Rebel against my King which were things I always hated and abhorred and therefore give me so much time as to deliver my self to you and what I say I hope you will believe me at this time being just going to give an account not only for every idle word but for all things I have done since I have had a being I was born in Lyme Regis in the County of Dorset and bred up a Seaman from my Infancy I have had the Honour to serve his Majesty King Charles the Second in his Wars with the Dutch and French divers times I always thought it to be the Duty of every true English man to stand up in his Countries quarrel with Foreigners to maintain our ancient Priviledges and Honour of ouâ— Nation I served him faithfully And as for any undertaking now with the late Duke of Monmouth for which I am now come to suffer death As for my Designs I am sure they were good for I did believe him to be my Soveraign's Son and Heir but if otherwise I have done amiss and am sorry and hope the Lord hath pardoned it While I was in Arms I am sure there 's none can say I have personally wronged them I desire all your Prayers for me to the last I am no Orator therefore if you please speaking to the Minister do these last Spiritual Services for me as for to pray with me and for me The Minister being much taken with him desired leave of the Sheriff to ask him some Questions which being granted the Minister said unto him I must make bold with you but not to hold you too long before I pray but to satisfie my self and the People on wâ—at ground you stand I mean as concerning your â—vâ—rlastiâ—g state Now pray resolve me a few things First Wheâ—her you dâ— own thaâ— Doctrine of Non-resistancâ— ownâ—d by the Church Thaâ— it is not lawful on any account whaâ—soever to take up Arms against the King O Sir as to that I answer Could I have been satisfied he had been my lawâ—uâ— Prince I should not have done it But said the Minister he is and you are not to be judge excâ—pt you own those things some People wilâ— hardly have Charity for you after you are dead What matters that said he would you have me now you put me so close to it to lye No I will not I say if he was my lawful King I was misled in my Judgment and have comâ—â—tted a great Error but Lord I hope thou hast washed away all my sins in and through the Blood of my dear Redeemer in whose alone Merits I hope for Mercy I desire â—o be asked no more Questions Then the Minister prayed very devoutly near half an hour after which lifting up his hands and eyes to Heaven he quietly submitted to Death Mr. John Hicks's last Speech 1685. I Suppose the Spectators here present may expect I should speak something before I leave this sanguinary Stage and Passage through my bloody Sufferings by which my immortal Spirit will be speedily transported into an invisible and eternal World and I conclude that they have different Resentments hereof Some resent them â—ith much joy high exultation and triumph others with equal grief and sorrow that to thâ— one I am a most pleasant
trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation But deliver us from Evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen After which going up the Ladder he desired the Executioner not to be hard to him who answered No and said I pray Master forgive me To which he said I do wiâ—h my whole Heart and I pray God forgive thee but I advise thee to leave off this bloody Trade The Executioner said I am forced to do what I do it 's against my mind So lifting up his hands to Heaven the Executioner did his Office The Behaviour and Dying Words of Mr. Roger Satchel who was executed at Weymouth in the County of Dorset THis Gentleman at the time of the Dukes landing at Lyme lived at Culliton about five Miles West of that Town and was supposed to be concerned in the design with the Duke He always was a great Admirer of him which got him many Enemies among the Gentry of that County He always hated the name of a Papist and as it fell out he did foresee Popery advancing as his Words to divers of his Neighbours can testifie As for his Disposition he was of a very generous and Heroick Spirit But to proceed No sooner had he the news of the Dukes being landed but he sets himself to work to serve him desiring all he knew to joyn with him and was one of the first that went to him to Lyme and was with him to the end But after the Rout travelling to and fro to secure himself was at last taken at Chard by three Moss Troopers under no Discipline who made it their business to ruine their Neighbours in those parts they are so well known I need not say any more He was from thence carry'd to Ilchester and so secured in Ilchester Goal and at the Bloody Assizes at Dorchester took his Tryal and received his Sentence with the rest Great application was made for him but my L. C. Justice Jeffreys Ears were deaf and so was order'd to be executed at Weymouth After Sentence two of his Friends came to him and told him There was no hope He answer'd My hope is in the Lord. After which he spent most of his time before Execution in Prayer and Meditation and conferring with many good Persons The morning being come he prepared himself and all the way drawing to Execution was very devout Being come to the place there was a Minister I think of that place who sung a Psalm and prayed with them and would have some Discourse with this Person which he avoided as much as possible but he asked him What were his Grounds for joyning in that Rebellion who answered Had you Sir been there and a Protestant I believe you would have joyned too but do not speak to me about that I am come to die for my sins not for my Treason against the King as you call it So pointing to the Wood that was to burn his Bowels he said I do not care for that what matters it what becomes of my Body so my Soul be at rest So praying to himself near half an hour and advising some he knew never to yield to Popery he was turned off the Ladder He was a couragious bold spirited Man and one of great Reason Just and punctual in all his business and one that did much good amongst his Neighbours There was at the same time and place one Mr. Lancaster executed whose Courage and Deportment was such that he out-braved Death and in a manner challenged it to hurt him saying I die for a good Cause and am going to a gracious God I desire all your Christian Prayers 't is good to go to Heaven with Company And much more he spake concerning the Duke of Monmouth whom he supposed at that time to be living and so praying privately for some small time he was turned or rather leaped over the Ladder If I mistake not he said he was born or lived in Bridport The last Speech of Mr. Benjamin Sandford at the place of Execution at Bridport HE with Nine more were brought from Dorchester to Bridport to be Executed Coming to the place of Execution he held up his Hands to Heaven and turning himself to the People said I am an Old Man you see and I little thought to have ended my days at such a shameful place and by such an ignominious Death and indeed it is dreadful to Flesh and Blood as well as a Reproach to Relations but it would have been a great deal more if I had suffered for some Felonious Account Says one to him Is not this worse do you think than Felony He answered I know not any thing that I have done so bad as Felony that this heavy Judgment should fall upon me except it be for my sins against my God whom I have highly provok'd and must acknowledge have deserved ten thousand times more Lord I trust thou hast pardoned them Seal my pardon in the Blood of my Saviour Lord look upon and be with me to the last Moment There was also Executed at the same time one John Bennet a poor Man but pious and of good Report with his Neighbours in Lyme where he lived I have heard that when he was on Trial a certain Person inform'd his Lordship that the Prisoner then at the Bar had Alms of the Parish And that his Lordship should reply Do not trouble your selves I will ease the Parish of that trouble In Prison and at the place of Execution he behaved himself so to all that many of his Enemies pitied him and would if it had lain in their power as they said have saved him His Son being then present offered to have died for him and was going up the Ladder if it might have been suffer'd He prayed some short time and so was translated as we have hopes to think from this troublesome World into Celestial Joy and Happiness Next follows many Excellent Hymns made by several Worthy Persons that were Prisoners for the sake of Christ. TRiumphing Songs with glorious Tongues Let 's offer unto him That loved so to undergo The product of our Sin Leaving his Throne from Heaven came down Sinners for to Redeem From Hell and Wrath and second death Christ underwent great pain His side was gor'd his hands were bor'd His feet were nailed down And all was for the Redemption Of sinful wicked Man O how straitned prest and pained Was Christ to be Baptized And in Affliction to be plunged His Body Sacrificed Let God be blest for Jesus Christ Who is our splendid King Hallelujahs sweet with spirit meet High praises to him sing For Blood for Wounds for Love whose bounds Extended unto all For scoffâ— and smites for jeers for flouts Which upon Christ did fall Now Christ haste unto us again Thy Scepter for to sway Thy Kingdom come thy will be done Come Jesus come away With glorious bands and shiâ—ing trance Of Angels in the Skye Which forth
the Cruelty of Men when in their Power and how the Devil stirreth up his Instruments to pursue those that adventure for the Cause of God and Religion Here were in this County Executed 239. the rest that were Condemned were Transported except such as were able to furnish Coin and that not a little for an account was taken of Mens abilities according to which the purchase for Life must be managed by two of his Favourites who had a small share the rest went into his Lordships Pocket according to the Actions of Rome where Sins of any kind may be pardoned for mony This indeed was a glorious Design in the Eye of Mother Church to root out Heresie by Executions and Transportations to make room for a pack here Expedition must be made to conclude at Wells for that a great Man being fallen our great Judge designing his Chair which in short he had as the Reward of so eminent and extraordinary a piece of Service as he did for the Advancement of the Roman Catholicks Interest which is cruel always where it prevails Thus we leave the Town of Taunton after awarding Execution to many there and their Quarters to be scatter'd up and down the County and so we proceed to Wells where divers Prisoners that had been carried from Goal to Goal in expectation of Evidence against them were in Carts removed to Wells in which place to finish this Expedition the same Method as was at the former Assizes was also taken here by a severe Charge affronting the Gentlemen of this County as he had done in all the Counties before terrifying the Juries when any pleaded to make them to bring in the persons Guilty some of which being over-awed and it is doubted contrary to their Judgments which if so the Lord forgive them Here were many eminent and worthy persons that received the Sentence of Death but the Executions of the County being put together as you have before seen we make no particular Division of the Number here and the Number at Taunton the whole being recited before We shall therefore endeavour to be as brief as we can to give you what we think material and truly matter of Fact my Lord now being come to conclude this extraordinary Commission and in haste to be elevated maketh all manner of dispatch to repair to the King then at Windsor to give an Account of his Transactions and to receive the Reward of his meritorious service in this Butchering of Protestants which is so acceptable to his Holiness and his bigotted Disciples as nothing can be more and indeed if you will believe them a Work that merits Heaven at last besides what Temporal Preferments are thought fit in this World If this cruel Judge were a true Protestant his Case is much the worse being made use of as a Tool to destroy and carry on Popish Designs Thus the Affairs being ended the Country filled with Heads and Quarters of those that were Executed the rest that had not wherewith to purchase their Lives left in Custody in order to Transportation I shall next add the Charge given by the Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys at the City of Bristol Monday September 21. 1685. In his Return from his Western Campaigne Gentlemen I Am by the Mercy of God come to this great and populous City a City that boasts both of its Riches and Trade and may justly indeed claim the next place to the great and populous Metropolis of this Kingdom Gentlemen I find here are a great many Auditors who are very intent as if they expected some formal or prepared Speech but assure your selves we come not to make neither set Speeches nor formal Declamations nor to follow a couple of puffing Trumpeters for Lord we have seen those things Twenty times before No we come to do the King's business a King who is so Gracious as to use all the means possible to discover the Disorders of the Nation and to search out those who indeed are the very Pest of the Kingdom To this end and for this purpose are we come to this City But I find a special Commission is an unusual thing here and relishes very ill nay the very Women storm at it for fear we should take the upper hand of them too for by the by Gentlemen I hear it is much in fashion in this City for the Woman to govern and bear sway But Gentlemen I will not stay you with such needless Stories I will only mention some few things that fall within my knowledg for Points or Matters of Law I shall not trouble you but only mind you of some things that lately hath happened and particularly in this City for I have the Kalender of this City in my Pocket and if I do not express my self in so formal or set a Declamation for as I told you I came not to make Declamations or in so smooth Language as you may expect you must attribute it partly to the pain of the Stone under which I labour and partly to the unevenness of this days journey Gentlemen I may say that even some of the youngest amongst us may remember the late horrid Rebellion how men under colour of Law and pretext of Justice after they had divested a most Gracious and most Merciful Prince of all his Royal Power by the Power of the Sword they I say under colour of Law and pretext of Justice which added the more to the Crime that it was done under colour of such pretended Justice brought the most Mild and Meekest Prince next to our ever Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ if we may but compare him to a Man to die a Martyr the first blessed Martyr pardon the expression besides our most blessed Jesu who suffered for us on the Cross I say besides that Blessed Son of God this I say was the first Royal Martyr not suffering him to speak for himself or make his defence a Liberty which is given to the vilest Traitor and this was done not to descant on the number by Forty one The Rebels not resting here for Rebellion is like the sin of Witchcraft Divested the Lineal Legal and Rightful Heir of the Crown of all his Power and Prerogative till the Mighty God of Heaven and Earth God Almighty restored him to his Just Right And he as if begot in Mercy not only forgave all Offences and pardoned voluntarily even all that had been in actual Arms against him excepting those accursed Regicides but also made it a Crime for any one that should but remember or upbraid any of their past Crimes and Rebellions Good God! O Jesu that we should live in such an Age in which such a Prince cannot be safe from the seditious contrivances of Pardoned Rebels Had we not the Rye Conspiracy wherein they not only designed to have Murthered that Most Blessed for so now we may conclude him to be with God Almighty and Gracious King but also his Most ever Dear and Victorious Brother Had we not the Bill