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
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
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
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
so unjustly many ways from â—he Perjury of their Accusers or the Inequality of their Judges or corruption of Juries and that really because they would not yield themselves but made a vigorous opposition against Popery and Slavery For the VVestern Martyrs we intend a distinct account of 'em at the beginning of those Transactions One thing more â—â—at may choak such as have a mind to quarrel is the 〈◊〉 faults and in some or at least one Instance vicious habits and ill Life of those whom we give that high Character But if little Failures if Heats and Weaknesses were any valuable Objection against the Worth or Honesty of a Person 't would be impossible to make any tolerable defence even for many of those great Men who were the happy Instruments of our Reformation Tho it may seen an excuse dull and common yet there 's none who does not find it necâ—ssary on his own account That allowances are to be made for the best of Men. Cranmer and the rest of our Reformers as the Learned Dr. Burnet observes in his Letter to Mr. Thevenot Tho' we piously believe 'em Saints and Martyrs yet never pretended to be infallible They were Men and so were these tho' they suffer'd for the same Causes and almost in the same manner For such as liv'd ill if there is more than one instance this certainly will be sufficient that they dy'd well and gave all the tokens of a hearty repentance for their not having liv'd up to so good a Profession Let us then do 'em Justice now they are dead who so nobly defended the Cause of our holy Religion while they were living and at last so freely and joyfully at their Death seal'd it with their dearest Blood If in any accounts met with here some Persons shou'd find some particular Words or Phrases not so usual with 'em let 'em not be so weak or unjust to condemn them as Cant or Nonsense What reason is there why every Man should not express himself in that way which likes him best and with which he has been more acquainted And what matters it if I 'm discours'd to in Yorkshire or London Dialect so I talk with an honest Man and our Sentiments agree tho' our words may a little differ Especially when as before was remark'd all of 'em suffer'd for the same Causâ— and with this considerable Circumstance that the first and some of the last Victims of Popish Cruelty were entirely agreeable in their Judgments as to the manners and merits of their Death Sir Edmondbury Godfrey who begins the Rubrick having notoriously declared some days before his Death That he believed in his Conscience he should be the first Martyr And some of those who went last to Glory as will appear below mentioning this as one of their greatest Comforts that they should in after Ages be enrolled among the rest of the Protestant Martyrs Advertisement To make the Book Pleasant as well as Profitable there are inserted some Poems and Elegies made by an ingenious Person who was particularly acquainted with many of those who are the Subjects of ' em An Emblem of our late Martyrs Sr. Ed Bury Godfrey I. DUKE of Monmouth The Earle of Argile Arth Earle of Essex Wm. Ld. Russell Collonell Sydney Alderman Cornish Mr. wm Hewling Mr. Wm. Ienkins The Lady Lisle M rs Gaunt Sr. Tho Armstrong These all dyed in Faith Heb 11.13 A NEW MARTYROLOGY OR THE Bloody Assizes c. Sir Edmond-Bury Godfrey HAD the Person who wrote that Scandalous Libel upon Sir E. B. G. which he calls The Mystery of his Death but always confin'd himself to as much Truth and Reason as we meet with in the very first Lines of his Preface to it he might have gone both through the World and out of it with more Reputation than now he is like to do There will saith he be a time when Truth shall be believed and the Witnesses of it justified But notwithstanding all his boasted Sagacity in winding Alterations at such a distance we may safely affirm that when he writ that Sentence he little thought 't would ever have been apply'd in this manner That Truth would come to life again after all the care he had taken to stifle it and the highest Judicatures in the Nation in one day remove all the black dirt which so many years he had been throwing on its Witnesses and in so Publick and authentick a manner justifie 'em again 'T was in the heat of those Mischiefs and Miseries which all thinking men cou'd long before easily foresee wou'd be the Consequences of such Notions as he broached and were too greedily swallow'd that he publish'd the book before mentioned at such at time when he knew 't was in one sense unanswerable wherein he pretends both to confound all the Evidence given in before the Parliament and Publick Courts of Justice for Sir Edmond's being murthered with Papists and over and above That he was a self-murtherer No better than a second running him through with his own Sword after his Death 'T is some plausible insinuations he has there heapt together which will make it necessary to be a little larger on him than those who came after especially since he led the way both to the Sufferings of the Protestants and Malice of their Enemies Sir Edmond-Bury Godfrey was born of a good Family his Relations are sufficiently known and as justly respected in the City of London But 't is not the intention of this Piece to write the Lives but the Deaths of those who are the Subjects of it at least no more of one than is requisite for describing the other The occasion of his Knighthood is reported to be the good Service he did in giving Directions for quenching a Fire which happend some years past at St. James's which Honour the then Duke of York obtain'd for him having been under a great Consternation at the apprehension of the danger This very probably might be the beginning of his so great Intimacy with the Papists which Sir Roger so often hints in his History and which afterwards cost him so dearly He was a Person of known Vertues For the Instances of his secret Charity the World is oblig'd to that Reverend and Learned Person who preach'd his Funeral Sermon For his Piety and Integrity even his worst Enemy here gives us several Instances thereof that particularly when after those Prophetick bodings of his approaching Martyrdom he took care to settle all things and adjust Accompts exactly and even in Parish Matters to right such as he thought had formerly been injur'd Lastly how vigilant and careful he was in the Execution of that Office the Law had intrusted him with his Death as well as his Life may testifie One thing cannot without great Injury to his Memory be omitted 'T is his extraordinary Conduct and Courage in the time of the Plague in this City whence he never stir'd all the while it rag'd so dreadfully but reliev'd the Poor and fed
Money but stood on the Bill of Exclusion 't was pretence enough to swear a design to seize the King at Oxford When this same Heins very pleasantly says 'T was a Judgment upon the King and the People and the Irish-men's swearing against 'em was justly fallen on 'em for outing the Irish of their Estates When others of 'em swear That since the Citizens deserted 'em they would not starve That they would have Colledge's Blood That tho they had gone against their Consciences 't was because they had been persuaded to 't and could get no Mony else and when they had said before tâ—ey believed Colledge had no more hand in any Conspiracy against his Majesty than the Child unborn When they would have hired others to swear more into the same Plot when the Bench was so just and kind Counsel for the Prisoner as to tell the Jury The Kings Witnesses were on their Oaths the Prisoners not and so one to be credited before the other in which case 't is impossible for any man living to make a defence against a perjur'd Villain Lastly When the Prisoner himself very weightily objected â—hat there was no proof of any Persons being concern'd with him in the design of seizing the King and 't was wisely answer'd That he might be so vain to design it alone A thousand times more Romantic Improbability than an Army 's lying conceal'd at Knightsbridge and of the same stamp with Draweansirs killing all on both sides Taking all these things together hardly ever was a man at this rate banter'd out of his Life before any Judicature in the World in any place or Age that History hath left us Nor ought the great Service he did to the Nation in general to be ever forgotten since notwithstanding all the disadvantages he was under the publick stream running so violently against him and his Witnesses and the surprize which such strange Treatment when he was on his Life might cast him into he yet made so strong a Defence by shewing what sort of Witnesses were brought against him hindring them ever after from being believ'd and thereby certainly saved many anothers Life tho he could not his own Nor can the undaunted Courage and firm Honesty of the man be hardly ever enough admired Since besides what he shewed in his defence after he was condemned as he himself said as good as without a Tryal he boldly ask'd When he was to be executed without any the least seeming concern And tho he had time considerable before his Execution to consider on 't refus'd to save his Life so meanly as to make other innocent men's the price of his own without which design they had hardly been so kind to have given him so long a Reprieve As for his Behaviour at his Execution ' Twaâ— such as convinc'd more than a few of his greatest Enemies and made 'em entertain a much better opinion of him than before From his last Speech we shall remark several Passages as another argument for his Innocency But before we proceed any further in 'em 't will be needful to fix one assertion which we may presume few modest unprejudiced Persons will deny and which we shall have occasion to make further use of 'T is That a Protestant who believes an Heaven and Hell and is not a Man of no Principles or debauch'd and atheistical would go out of the World into the Presence of that God who must Judge him with a Lie in his Mouth This none will deny but those who have a very great kindness for the Papists and yet of all men in the world such as these must not offer to do it since 't was the very argument they made use of for the Innocence of the Jesuits and other Traytors Tho' on that side we know there are unanswerable Arguments not to believe them their Religion recommending Peâ—jury and all sorts of Villanies to 'em as meritorious when Holy Church is concerned Their Church besides allowing 'em Dispensations before and Absolution after and Purgatory at the worst whence a few Masses would fetch them out again Things being thus what can any Man of Modesty say to Mr. Colledges Protestations over and over both in Prison and at his Death that he was perfectly innocent of what he dy'd for I did deny it then says he that is before the Council and do deny it upon my Death I never was in any manner of Plot in my days nor if I had had any such design as these have sworn against me I take God to witness as I am a dying Man and on the terms of my Salvation I know not one Man upon the face of the Earth which would have stood by me And lower I knew not of any part of what they swore against me till I heard it sworn at the Bar. Again All the Arms we had was for our Defence in case the Papists should have made any attempt by way of Massacre c. God is my witness this is all I know And in his solemn Prayer and some of his almost very last Words 'T is thee O God I trust in I disown all Dispensations and will not go out of the World with a Lie in my Mouth And just after to the People From the sincerity of my Heart I declare again That these are the very Sentiments of my Soul as God shall have mercy upon me Now upon the whole I 'd ask any sober man what he would answer to this and how he can forbear without the greatest Violation to all Principles of Good Nature and Ingenuity to pronounce this Person innocent Thus dy'd Mr. Colledge whose Blood as he himself desir'd it might sufficiently spoke the Justice oâ— his Cause who seem'd in his Speech to have some Prophetick Intimations that his Blood would not be the last as indeed it was not but rather a Praelude to that which follow'd the Edge of the Laws being now turn'd against all those who dar'd defend it He has one Daughter yet living whose Gratitude and Generosity to those who were kind to her under the Misfortunes of her Family is at present the wonder and entertainment of the Couâ—t of England and whose brave Soul speaks her the true Child of such a Father For his Character How great and undaunted his Courage was both his Tryal and Death testifie He was very vigorous and earnest almost to a Fault in his undertakings But certainly there are so few who err on that hand that we may without flattery account this his warm zeal for his Country if it did a little exceed a happy as well as a very pardonable error He was extraordinary ingenious in his own Trade and imployed amongst great Persons for his dexterity therein He had an entire love for the City of Lâ—ndoâ— and stood up for its honour and priviledges as highly as any man living He haâ— a Soul so very great and generous that many who knew him well have said considering his Education they wondred how
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
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
Integrity One whom those he had long convers'd with never heard utter so much as a word of Indecency against the King And others of the highest Quality who had been often in his Company say That they had never heard any thing from him but what was honourable just and loyal His Person was tall and proper his Temper even and agreeable and such as rendred his vertues even more lovely than they did him His Piety and Devotion as unaffected and yet as remarkable as his Love to the Church of England The true Church of England as he himself calls it not those Tumours and Wens that grow upon it and pretended to be not only part but all of it in our late bad times to whose Heighths and Extravagances he thinks it no shame in his Speech to confess he could never rise He was of a noble Courage which he did not express by Quarrels or Duelling but serving his Country at Sea in the most dangerous Wars and at Land in the Parliament in more dangerous Councils and Debates He was there a true Englishman still the same you knew where he would be for he never mov'd A strenuous Asserter and Defender of his Country's Religion and Rights against all Opposers and that in a Lawful and Parliamentary Method He spoke little there but always very home and much to the purpose And that was as true a Character of him formerly recited as if it had come from a better man That every one knew the Lord Russel to be a person of great Judgment and not very lavish of Discourse Lastly which will give no small heightening to his Character He had Mr. Johnson to his Chaplain An Abstract of the Late Noble Lord Russel's Speech to the Sheriffs as also of a Paper delivered by him to them at the place of his much lamented Execution on July 21. 1683. IN his Speech to the Sheriffs he tells them that for fear of not being well heard he had couched what he had to say upon that sad occasion in the Paper he delivered them only he protests his Innocence of any Designs against the King's Person or the then Government and prays for the preservation of both and of the Protestant Religion and in short declares that he forgives all the World and wishes that all True Protestants may Love one another and not make way for Popery by their Animosities In the Paper He first declares himself Compos'd for Death and weaned from this World Then he affectionately thanks God as in general so in particular for his advantagious Birth and Religious Education of which in that important occasion he found such happy and powerful Effects as kept him up against the fear of Death and all other Discomposures and armed him with such assurances in God's Love and Mercy as made the most joyful of the visibly saddest Moments of his Life He professes to die as he had lived a sincere Protestant of the Church of England tho' he never could come up to the heighths of some wishes more Moderation both in Church-men and Dissenters and that the Common Danger of Popery might move them to lay aside their Differences and all Persecuting Inclinations as more unseasonable than at any other time He declares he had a notion of Popery as of an Idolatrous and Bloody Religion and thought himself bound to act in his station against it notwithstanding the Power of the Enemies he was sure to meet with on that account c. But yet he professes he never thought of doing any thing against it basely or inhumanely against the Maxims of Christian Religion or the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom for his sincerity in which he appeals to God renouncing all Passion By-End or Ill Design as also all Designs of changing the Government which was in his Opinion the best in the World and for which as well as his Country which he valued above his Life he was ever ready to venture it Disclaims all thoughts against the King's Life denying even the Lord Howard to have said any thing tending to prove it Prays Sincerely for the King and Nation and wishes they may be mutually happy in one another that the King may be truly a Defender of the Faith that the Protestant Religion and Kingdom may flourish under Him and He be happy in both Worlds As to his share in the prosecution of the Popish Plot he declares he acted sincerely in it as really believing as he still did the truth of such a Conspiracy and disclaims his knowledge of any practices with the Witnesses which he protests against as abominable and disowns Falshood or Cruelty ever to have been in his Nature He persists in his Opinion that Popery was breaking in upon the Nation and grieves to see Protestants instrumental to it declares his fears of the sufferings the Protestant Religion was like to undergo and bewails the publick and shameless Impiety that abounded and modestly admonishes all persons and particularly his Friends well-wishers to the Protestant Cause that were defective to live up to its Principles Then he declares his Submission to God's pleasure freely forgives his Enemies and desires his Friends to seek no Revenge for his Blood After which he looks back and gives some little touches concerning his past behaviour and the manner of his Treatment at his Trial. He confesses he moved much for the Bill of Exclusion as the only effectual Remedy to secure both the King's Life the Protestant Religion and the Frame of the Government He thinking none of them could be safe so long as there was any hopes of a Popish Successor and that the Limitations proposed to Bind the Duke were effectual Remedies against those fears because the Nation could never be easie and safe under a King without a Prerogative But yet imputes his present Sufferings to the Revengeful Resentments some Persons retained for his Earnestness in that matter Next as to his conspiring to seize the Guards he disowns that ever he was concerned in any such Design or ever heard talk of any such thing as designed but only once as of a thing feazible against which likewise he warmly declared himself and said the consequence of it was so like to end in Massacring the Guards in cold Blood that he could not but abhor the thoughts of it as approaching too near the Popish Practice at which the Duke of Monmouth taking him by the hand cried out affectionately that he saw they were both of a temper he adds on that occasion that he always observed in that Duke an abhorrence to all base things He proceeds to shew how he went to the Meeting at Mr. Shepherd's at the Duke of Monmouth's earnest request chiefly to endeavour to prevent any such disorderly proceedings as the Duke feared would be otherwise put on by some hot men whose rash courses he did accordingly most vigorously oppose and yet was condemned only for not discovering them though he endeavoured to reform them because he would not stoop to
that intent nor did I believe there was any such design or ever heard of any disappointment in such an Affair or Arms or Time or Place save what after the Discovery of the General Design Mr. West spoke of as to Arms bought by him And as to my self I was in the North when the late King was at New-market and the first News I had of the Fire was at Beverly in Yorkshire As to my coming over with the late D. of Monmouth it was in prosecution of the same ends but the Lord in his Holy and Wise Providence hath been pleased to blast all our undertakings tho there seemed to be a very unanimous and zealous Spirit in all those that came from beyond the Seas And as to the D. of Monmouth's being declared King I was wholly passive in it I never having been present at any publick Debate of that Affair and should never have advised it but complained of it to Col. Holmes and Captain Patchet I believe the Lord Gray and Mr. F the chief Promoters of it As to the temptation of being an Evidence and bringing either into trouble or danger the meanest Person of his Life upon the Account for which I suffer I always abhorred and detested the thoughts of it both when in and out of danger and advised some very strongly against it except when under my Distraction in Prison that amongst other temptations did violently assault me but through the goodness of my dearest God and Father I was preserved from it and indeed was wholly incapable and could never receive the least shadow of comfort from it but thought Death more eligible and was some time asore out of my distracted and disquieted condition wholly free from it though not without other Temptations far more Criminal in the sight of men I bless the Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations that I find a great Resignedness of my Will to his finding infinitely more comfort in Death than ever I could place in Life tho in a condition that might seem honourable every hour seeing the Will of God in ordering this Affair more and more cleared up to me God hath given God hath taken blessed be his holy Name that hath enabled me to be willing to suffer rather than to put forth my hand to Iniquity or to say a Confederacy with those that do so I am heartily and sincerly troubled for what hath happened many mens Lives being lost and many poor distressed Families ruin'd the Lord pardon what of sin he hath seen in it He in his wonderful Providence hath made me and others concerned Instruments not only for what is already fallen out but I believe for hastening some other great work he hath to do in these Kingdoms whereby he will try and purge his People and winnow the chaff from the Wheat the Lord keep those that are his faithful unto the end I die in Charity with all the World and can readily and heartily forgive my greatest Enemies even those that have been Evidences against me and I most humbly beg the pardon of all that I have in the least any way injur'd and in a special manner humbly ask pardon of the Lady Lisle's Family and Relations for that my being succoured there one Night with Mr. Hicks brought that worthy Lady to suffer Death I was wholly a Stranger to her Ladiship and came with Mr. Hicks neither did she as I verily believe know who I was or my Name till I was taken And if any other have come toany loss or trouble I humbly beg their pardon and were I in a condition I would as far as I was able make them a requital As to my Faith I neither look nor hope for merey but only in the Free-grace of God by the Application of the Blood of Jesus my dearest and only Saviour to my poor sinful Soul My distresses have been exceeding great as to my Eternal State but through the infinite goodness of God tho I have many sins to answer for yet I hope and trust as to my particular that Christ came for this very end and purpose to relieve the Oppressed and to be a Physician to the Sick I come unto thee O blessed Jesus refuse me not but wash me in thine own Blood and then present me to thy Father as righteous What tho' my Sins be as Crimson and of a Scarlet Dye yet thou canst make them as white as Snow I see nothing in my self but what must utterly ruine and condemn me I cannot answer for one action of my whole Life but I cast my self wholly upon thee who art the Fountain of Mercy in whom God is reconciling himself to the World the greatest of Sins and Sinners may find an All sufficiency in thy Blood to cleanse 'em from all sin O dearest Father of Mercy look upon me as righteous in and through the imputed Righteousness of thy Son he hath payed the Debt by his own own Offering up himself for sin and in that thy Justice is satisfied and thy Mercy is magnified Grant me thy Love O dearest Father assist me and stand by me in the needful hour of Death give thy Angels charge over my poor Soul that the Evil One may not touch nor hurt it Defend me from his power deliver me from his rage and receive me into thine Eternal Kingdom in and through the alone Merits of my dearest Redeemer for whom I praise thee To whom with thy self and holy Spirit be ascribed all Glory Honour Power Might and Dominion for ever and for ever Amen Dear Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Amen R. NELTHROPE Newgate Octob. 29. 1685. Mrs. Gaunt ONe of the great Reasons why Mrs. Gaunt was burnt was 't is very possible because she lived at Wapping the honest Seamen and hearty Protestants thereabouts being such known Enemies to Popery and Arbitrary Government that the Friends of both gave all who oppose it the Name of Wappingers as an odious Brand and Title She was a good honest charitable Woman who made it her business to relieve and help whoever suffer'd for the forementional Cause sparing no pains refusing no office to get them assistance in which she was the most industrious and indefatigable woman living Among others whom she had thus relieved who were obnoxious persons was one Burton whom with his Wife and Family she had kept from starving for which may the very name of 'em be register'd with Eternal Infamy they swore against her and took away her Life Tho she says in her Speech there was but one Witness against her as to any mony she was charg'd to give him and that he himself an Outlawed person his Outlawry not yet revers'd he not being outlawed when she was with him and hid him away That which she writ in the Nature of a Speech has a great deal of Sense and Spirit and some strange Expressions which were mention'd in the Introduction to all these matters which she concludes with these words addrest to her
condemned me are pleased to call such Preachings Rendezvouses of Rebellion yet I must say this of them they were so far from being reputed such in my Eyes that if ever Christ had a People or Party wherein his Soul took pleasure I am bold to say these Meetings were a great part of them the Shining and Glory of God was eminently seen amongst these Meetings the convincing Power and Authority of our Lord went out with his Servants in those blasphemously nick-nam'd Conventicles This I say without Reflection upon any I have a word to say farther that God is calling Persons to Repentance and to do their first Work O that Scotland were a mourning Land and that Reformation were our Practice according as we are sworn in the Covenant Again that Christians of Grace and Experience would study more streightness and stability in this day when so many are turning to the right hand and many to the left he that endureth to the end shall be saved he has appointed the Kingdom for such as continue with him in his Temptations Next if ever you expect to hâ—ve the Form of the House shewed you in all the Laws thereof goings out thereof and comings in thereof then think it no shame to take shame to you for all that has been done sitting down on this side Jordan is like to be our Bane Oh! when shall we get up and run after him till he bring us into the promised Land let us up and after him with all our heart and never rest till he return I recommend my Wife and young one to the care and faithfulness of the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob the God that has fed me to this day and who is the God of my Salvation their God and my God their Father and my Father I am also hopeful that Christians Friends and Relations will not be unmindful of them when I am gone Lastly I do further bear my Testimony to the Cross of Christ and bless him that ever he counted me worthy to appear for him in such a lot as this Glory to him that ever I heard tell of him and that ever he fell upon such a method of dealing with me as this and therefore let none that loves Christ and his Righteous Cause be offended in me And as I have lived in the Faith of thiâ— that the three Kingdoms are married Lands so I die in the Faith of it that there will be a Resurrection of his Name Word Cause and of all his Interest therein tho' I dare not determine the time when nor the manner how but leave all these things to the infinitely wise God who has done and will do all things well Oh that he would return to this Land again to repair our Breaches and take away our Back-sliding and appear for his Work Oh that he were pacified towards us Oh that he would pass by Scotland once again and make our time a time of Love Come Lord Jesus come quickly Himself hasten it in his own time and way The Lord is my light and life my joy my song and my salvation the God of his chosen be my Mercy this day and the inriching comforts of the holy Ghost keep up and carry me fair through to the Glory of his Grace the Edification of his People and my own eternal Advantage Amen Sic Subscrib JOHN KID August 14 th 1679. Tolbooth Ante horam Septimam ☞ Thus Reader having given thee a faithful Account of the Behaviour and Dying Speeches of the most Eminent Persons who suffered in Scotland I shall return again for London where the last Person of Quality that suffered was the Duke of Monmouth whose Expedition and sufferings c. you have in the following Pages JAMES Duke of Monmouth THe last Person with whom we shall conclude this mournful Tragedy and the greatest in it is the late James D. of Monmouth one indeed who if he had been a little less might have been at this time one of the greatest men both in England and the World By reason of some passages in his Life not so defensible 't was thought at first better to draw a veil before that unfortunate Prince and say nothing at all of him But what allowances are made for Custom and Education God only knows I remember a shrewd Answer given to an Objection of this Nature Where said one shou'd he learn any better But however where there has been any time to think soberly of past actions or none of that nature reiterated Charity is oblig'd to judge favourably And besides the good West-Country-men wou'd be very angry if they shou'd not find their Master that they lov'd so well and suffer'd so much for among the rest of these noble Hero's None can deny but he was a great General a Man of Courage and Conduct and great Personal Valour having signaliz'd himself both at Mons and Maestricht so as to gain an high and just reputation He was all along true and firm to the Protestant Interest in and out of Parliament tho abhorring any base way of promoting it as well as his Friend my L. Russel This intended as a Character rather or very short Compendium than any History of his Life He was all along the Peoples Darling whose hearts were entirely his by his Courtesie and Affability as other Persons loâ—â— 'em by their sourness and haughty pride After Russel's death he went into Flanders whence had he prosecuted his Dâ—sign and gone as 't is said he intended into the Emperour's Service how many Lawrels might he have won and how many more would now have been growing for him But his Fate was otherwise he came over into England an exact account of whose Enterprize another place of this Book presents you as 't was compiled by one present in all that action After the defeat of his Army at Sedgemoor he fled with my L Gray who was first taken and he himself a little after brought up to London and on his Attainder in Parliament beheaded on Tower Hill 'T is said a certain brave old Officer who then came over with him and since with the Prince offer'd with a small of party of Horse to have ventur'd thro' all the Guards and took him off the Scaffold But they cou'd not be got together his time was come Providence had design'd other things that our deliverance should be more just anâ— peaceable and wonderful and that the glory thereof shou'd be reserved for their Sacred Majesties King William and Queen Mary Whom God grant long to Reign The thing I shall in the next place do that I may leave out nothing material relating to the Western Affair is to insert the late Duke of Monmouth's Declaration as it was taken from a Copy printed in Holland the Year 1685. The Declaration of James Duke of Monmouth and the Noblemen Gentlemen and others now in Arms for the Defence and Vindication of the Protestant Religion and the Laws Rights and Priviledges of England AS Government
an honest Man in England that took him not for a Knave not excepting the King that had given him another Testimony in Words In the next page follows An Abstract of Monmouth's true Speech A brief Abstract of his true Speech I Repent in general of all my Sins and am more particularly concerned for what â—lood hath been spilt on my Account and the rather seeing the Issue is such as I fear will prove of fatal consequence to the Reformed Protestant Religion Instead of being counted Factious and Rebellious the very opposing of Popery and Arbitrary Power now arising and appearing plain enough would sufficiently have protected my Cause besides several other most hainous and notorious Crimes such as the unhappy Fate of the Earl of Essex and my Father of ever blessed Memory and others now covered over with Jesuitical Policy should have been detected and avenged I have lived and shall now die in the Faith of this that God will work a Deliverance for his People and then will be discovered the great and horrid and scarcely to be parallell'd Villanies our Enemies have been guilty of but now you see my case is desperate yet know that I die a Martyr for the People and shall rather pity the State that their false and covetous Minds have brought themselves and me to then discover who are the Persons concerned in my overthrow and I heartily forgive all that have wronged me even those that have been instrumental in my Fall earnestly praying for their Souls And I hope King James will shew himself to be of his Brothers Blood and extend his mercy to my Children even as he was wont to his greatest Enemies they being not capable to act and therefore not conscious of any Offence against the Government His ELEGY COme Mortals come now set your selves to weep Is not your glorious M gone to sleep Send us some Tears you Indians from your Shore For it 's our Grief that we can mourn no more We want some Mourners from the utmost Coast Of all the Earth that Grief may not be lost When Britain hath set down and mourn'd her fill She ought to send for other Mourners still Created Things come set your selves to mourn Since lovely M from the World is torn Should you not Mourn and tell your Children so That Ages hence may mourn and sorrow too 'Cause we have lost so great a good as this Who was our Flow'r and mourning Europe's Bliss The Sun did mourn the morning of that Day And with the Clouds of Darkness did array His glorious Face that Mortals might not see His Royal Rays while they did murther thee O Lovely Mon Glory of our Land Who for God's Word did like a Pillar stand All things but Devils seemed then to weep Nor could the Earth almost in silence keep Methought all Joy would vanish from the Earth And pleasantness would stop with Mon 's Breath Methought the Sun might now be angry grown And would no more on Earth be seen or known We fear'd the Heavens now disturbed were And for the Earth would take no further care All good Men griev'd to see that fatal Blow Whilst Floods of Tears did from the Heavens flow But that black Blow instead of proving three Like Russel's Fate Five Bloody Stroaks they see Ye Ages all let this recorded be And let all Mankind M mourn for thee Could we but draw those blessed Looks of his As when we saw him walking hence to Bliss When from the Tower he did the Hill ascend Where Troops of Angels did his Soul attend One would have thought to see him in that throng That he to Bliss already did belong His Countenance all others did out-shine And made his very Foes to Grief incline No sooner was his Soul arriv'd in Bliss Where he receiv'd a better Crown for this But Phoebus and the Earth began to shine And pleasant Looks towards us do incline The Clouds and Tears were wip't from Heavens face And glorious Brightness did again take place Now â—appy Soul we leave thee to thy rest To live in Joys that cannot be exprest ARgile and the Duke of Monmouth being now both safe in their Graves King James was so pufft up with a petty Victory over a few Clubmen and so wrapt up with a Conceit that he had now conquer'd the whole Nation so that now believing himself impregnable he resolves to be reveng'd upon the Western People for siding with his Capital Enemy Monmouth and to that purpose sends down his Executioner in Ordinary Jeffryes not to decimate according to the Heathen way of Mercy but with the Bâ—som of his Cruelties to sweep the Country before him and to depopulate instead of punishment at what time Acquaintance or Relation of any that fell in the Field with a slender Circumstance tack'd to either was a Crime sufficient for the Extirpation of the Family And young and old were hang'd by Clusters as if the Chief Justice had designed to raise the Price of Halters besides the great number of those that upon bare suspition were transported Beyond Sea and there sold for Slaves and the purchase Monâ— given away to satisfie the Hunger of needy Papists After Ages will read with Astonishment the barbarous Usage of those poor People of which among many instances this one may seem sufficient whereby to take the Dimensions of all the rest That when the Sister of the two Hewlings hung upon the Chief Justices Coach imploring Mercy on the behalf of her Brothers the merciless Judge to make her let go caus'd his Coach-man to cut her hands and fingers with the Lash of his Whip Nor would he allow the Respite of the Execution but for two days tho' the Sister with Tears in her Eyes offer'd a hundred pound for so small a Favour And whoever shelter'd any of those forlorn Creatures were hurried to the Slaughter-house with the same inexcrable Out-rage without any consideration either of Age or Sex witness the Execution of the Lady Lisle at Winchester As for Argilâ— and the Duke tho' they might die pityed yet in regard they had declared open Hostility it was no more than they were to expect upon ill Success We shall now to compleat our Western Martyrology and that we may not be too tedious proceed to give the particular Cases of those that were Condemn'd and Executed in the West with their Christian Behaviour and Dying Speeches as their plain Country Friends have preserv'd ' em The Dying Speech and Behaviour of Mr. Matth. Bragg AND we being with Mr. Matthew Bragg who was a Gentleman and descended from an ancient and good Family he was bred an Attorney in which he practised the Law His Case being this He hapned to be upon the Road riding home to his House being come from a Gentleman's House for whom he kept Courts He as before being met with by a Party of Horse belonging to the Duke of Monmouth who were going to search the House of a Roman Catholick for Arms who
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
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