King Charles the Second and the City of London beginning to raise her self out of her Ashes more stately and magnificent than before she sunk in Flames a Sacrifice to the Revenge and Malice of the Papists as by the late Inscription on the Monument and upon Record it appears This great City I say regaining her Trade her Priviledges and Customs were kept up with great exactness so that in the Courts at Guild-Hall there was much Business which being consider'd by this Person as more beneficial than that at Westminster by reason of its frequency and being carried on briefer and with less difficulty which induced him to give his Attendance as also at Hixes-Hall and other inferiour Courts and Places insomuch that he being of a bold Presence and having naturally a fluent Tongue an audible Voice and good Utterance he had not pleaded often before he was very much taken Notice of and gain'd so much Credit with the People that they prefer'd him before any of the younger sort of Barristers by which means he found his Stars begin to smile upon him so that he was in a manner Courted to take Fees and had Breviates thrust into his Hand frequently in the middle of a Cause by Persons when they perceived it went ill on their sides and was like to go against them Thus flush'd with success he now thought of nothing more than how he might climb nor did he want an Opportunity for the next Station we find him in is that of Common Serjeant to the great and honourable City of London and so much Fortune favour'd him at this time that Alderman Jeffreys the great Smoaker having often observ'd his Discourse and Actions took such a liking to him that being of the same Name tho' not in the least any Relation he back'd him with his Purse and Interest which was not inconsiderable and thereby not only enabled him to carry on his Grandeur but to purchase as he found a conveniency or advantage in order to his keeping it up in the World These I say being the Degrees by which he was climbing the slippery Stair of Honour to contract a firmer Alliance he Addressed himself to a brisk young Widow Daughter to Sir Thomas Bludworth then one of the Aldermen of the City and who in the time of the dreâ—dful Conflagration had the Chair as being then Lord Mayor and so far prâ—vail'd upon the Lady and her Father that he gain'd both their Consents and the Contract was made the Nuptials solemnized And soon after he had the pleasure to behold the Fruits of her Labour Sir John Howel the Recorder of London giving place the Recordership became vacant which made this Person lay hold of that Opportunity to use his own and the Interest of his Friends to acquire that Place of Trust and Honour nor did his Measures fail him for by the powerful influence he had by this time gain'd over sundry Persons who were best able to promote him to what he so earnestly labour'd to arrive at he was chosen and confirm'd Recorder of the Honourable City taking upon him the Charge and Care of the Writings Papers c. that belong to so great a Charge and Trust as that of a Recorder of the City of London By this means being become as himself declar'd The Mouth of the City and as we may term him Capital Judge in the Guild-Hall in Controversies at the Sessions held there c. and the Power of breathing forth Sentences of Punishment being put into his hands he found his Ambition enlarg'd aiming at nothing more than to become a Court-Favourite Nor was it long before an Opportunity offer'd it self to make him to be taken notice of For so it happened that some Persons had imprinted a Psalter and Entituled it the beter to shadow the Injury they had done to the Company of Stationers by invading their Property The King's Psalter which occasioning a Disputâ— it was referred to a Hearing before the Council at Whitehall the King being present and the Company the better to make out their Title and Claim carried with them this Person as their Counsel who in the opening of the Case and making the Complaint of the apparent Injury done to the Company in printing what was really their Propriety he had this Expression viz. They hâ—ve teem'd with a spurious Brat which being clandestinely midwiv'd into the World the better to cover the Imposture they lay it at your Majesties door c. This though the King might have taken it for sundry Reasons as a Reflection upon his Royal Person yet he was so far from resenting it that way that he only turned to one of the Lords that sâ—t next him and said This is a bold Fellow I 'll warrant him And indeed the Stationers had the Matter declar'd by the Honourable Board in their Favour About this time the Popish Plot being discovered by Dr. Oates and others the Nation was for a while in a Ferment and matters run extremely high in Disputes and Controversies and he sail'd with the Current declaring with much heat and violence against the Priests Jesuits and others of the Conspirators and Romish Faction as appeared not only by his vehement expressions in pleading against 'em but the alacrity and little concern that was visible in his Countenance when at any time as Recorder of London he past sentence of Death upon any of them which he frequently did with more or less reproach and became in a manner the terror of that Party But no sooner he perceiving the Wind tacking at Court and that there was some misunderstanding between King Charles the Second and his Parliament but he began to fall off and grow cold in prosecuting the ends of the Government being frequently at Court and labouring as much as in him lay to draw the Magistracy of the City after him as appears more especially by one passage viz. The King being recovered of an Indisposition that had for some time put the Kingdoms in a fear and doubt of his Life the Lord Mayor and Aldermen went to congratulate him upon his going abroad after which and a favourable reception it was proposed by this Person that they should in like manner wait upon his Royal Highness then Duke of York who was not long before returned from Flanders but perceiving no forwardness to be seconded he only with his Father-in-Law stayed behind to gain that Access These and other Proceedings created in the City a Jealousie that he had espoused an Interest to their prejudice which wrought so strongly in their Conceits that it was concluded in the Council-Chamber at Guild-Hall that he should resign his Recordership and accordingly they sent to him to deliver back the Papers and Writings they had entrusted him with which accordingly was done and Sir George Treby constituted Recorder in his stead This so netled him that he now openly declar'd himself to be what before was only suspected indulging his thoughts in nothing more than how he might
Ink bid the Gentlemen write the Discharge as effectually as he would which he signed Adding that he was now sensible my Lord Chancellor had been a very ill Man and done very ill things If he was thus censur'd by his Master for his former Services he had a bad Opinion of him Without Prophecy any man might predict his Service and Interest was ceased and his Life would have been like the Scape Goat he must have born all their Crimes and been beheaded for his own for no less indignation than Death was couched in the Words Thus may be seen what would have been his end The Court by this time beginning to scatter and the Prince of Orange approaching the King thought fit to withdraw himself upon notice of which the Lord Chancellor betook him self to Wapping disguised like a Sea-man in order to his escape to Hamborough in a Collier but being discovered he was brought before Sir J. Chapman Lord Mayor of the City London in a strange disguise very different from the Habit in which he formerly appeared And by reason of the Lord Mayors Indisposition he not being able to Commit him he offered to go to the Tower to be out of the hands of Rabble who there in great numbers with clubs and staves threatned him with present destruction But having a Guard of the Train'd-bands to conduct him he got thither safe and soon after was charged in custody by a Warrant of Commitment from the Lords at White-hall where he continued under much affliction aâ—d indisposition having since moved for his Habeas Corpus to be bailed but was not able to attain it He had not been in the Tower many days but as 't is said whether true or no I cannot affirm he had a Barrel of Oysters sent him upon sight of which he said to the bearer Well then I see I have some Friends left still but upon opening the Barrel he he found them to be only Friends that were impatient till they gave him a prospect of his future destiny for verily the mighty Present was nothing but a good able Halter Now as I sâ—id before whether this passage be true or no. I cannot say but this I am sure if we consider his Lordships Life and Cruelties the Moral of it is veâ—y good The Humble Petition of the VVidows and Fatherless Children in the West of England WE to the number of a Thousand and more Widdows and Fatherless Children of the Counties of Dorset Somerset and Devon our dear Husbands and tender Fathers having been so Tyrannously Butcher'd and some Transported our Estates sold from us and our Inheritance cut off by the severe and harsh Sentence of George Lord Jeffreys now we understand in the Tower of London a Prisoner who has lately we hear endeavoured to excuse himself from those Tyrannical and Illegal Sentences by laying it on Information by some Gentlemen who are known to us to be good Christians true Protestants and English-men We your poor Petitioners many hundreds of us on our Knees have begg'd Mercy for our dear Husbands and tender Parents from his cruel hands but his thirst for Blood was so great and his Barbarism so cruel that instead of granting mercy for some which were made appear to be Innocent and Petitioned for by the flower of the Gentry of the said Counties he immediately executed and so barbarously that a very good Gentlewoman at Dorchester begging on her Knees the Life of a worthy Gentleman to Marry him and make him her Husband this vile Wretch having not common Civility with him and laying aside that Honour and Respect due to a Person of her worth told her come I know your meaning some part of your Petition I will grant which shall be that after he is Hanged and Quartered you shall have thaâ— Member you best like when living and so I will give Orders to the Sheriff These with many hundred more Tyrannical Acts are ready to be made appear in the said Counties by honest and credible Persons and therefore your Petitioners desire that the said George Jâ—ffreys late Lord Chancellor the vilest of men may be brought down to the Counties aforesaid where we the good Women in the West shall be glad to see him and give him another manner of Welcome than he had there three Years since And your Petitioners shall â—ver Pray c. Thus he continued for some months in the Tower his Chronical Indispositions the Stone c. encreasing very fast upon him The ingenious Dr. Lower was his Physician But Nature being now tired out by a tedious Combat with his Disease and the Guilt of his former bloody Life we hope it touched his Conscience He having besides by his intemperate Life notoriously known contracted an ill habit of Body he at last very happily for himself if not his Relations too dy'd in the Tower the Morning about Nine of the Clock An. Dom. 1689. Thus Reader you have seen the Rise and Fall of this Unfortunate Great Ill Man And so at present after we have endeavoured at his Character we take our Farewel Jeffreys's Character HE was of Stature rather above a middle sort than below it his Complexion inclining to Fair his Face well enough full of a certain briskness tho' mixt with an Air a little malicious and unpleasant He was a man of tolerable sense and had as of necessity he must by so long practice and going through such Publick Places got some Law tho' as little as 't was more than he had occasion to make use of since the Dispensing Power having as good as seated all Law in the Kings Breast he by that found out a more compendious method of attaining it than was formerly known He had a pretty large stock of Ill Nature and Wit in which lay his greatest Excellency tho' a very unenvy'd one But in fine His Brow and his Tongue were absolutely the two best Accomplishments he was master of By the help of which and that before mentioned by his brisk sudden and sharp Interrogatories he sometimes put falshood and perhaps oftner the truth it self out of countenance But that ill-favour'd Wit which he had lay all of the wrong side much like that of those unlucky Animals all whose Wit lyes in tricks and mischief He spoke many pleasant things but very few handsom ones disgracing all with intolerable Railing mean passions and perfect Billings-gate and would commonly even upon the Bench it self fall into Heats both as to words and actions not only unworthy of a Judge but even of any prudent man He seem'd without wronging him to have a great deal of baseness and cruelty in his Nature having a particular delight and relish in Cruelty and Blood and such things as give horrour and aversion to all the rest of mankind He was in this case worse than even Nero for whereas that monster had once so much good Nature or at least pretended it that when he was to sign a Warrant for the execution of
revenge it upon the Dissenters to whose influence on the Court of Aldermen he attributed his dismission from the Recordership and used his Endeavours to blacken them as much as he could Yet all his Honour was not sunk for he had prevailed for the Removal of Sir Job Charleton from the Chief Justiceship of the County Palatine of Chester and by the importunity and interest of his Party at Court gained it for himself and took the first Possession of that Charge in much splendour paying at that time his Father a Visit with a numerous Train which as 't is reported put the old Gentleman into such a fret for the drinking up his Cyder and devouring his Provisions that he charged him with the undertaking to ruine him by bringing a whole Country at his heels commanding him never to attempt the like Prodigality again with hopes of success Many Petitions being put up upon the dissolving the Parliament in 1682. by most of the Counties and Burroughs and Corporations of England for the speedy calling another to redress the Grievances of the Nation and the King shewing some dislike of that manner of proceeding this Person further to endear himself to the interest of the Court declared in his station as vehemently against them by saying He abhorred that Petitioning c. from which and the discountenancing the Petitioners as much as in him lay he gain'd the Name and Epithet of an Abhorrer and upon the burning the Pope in Effigies at Temple-Bar upon the Birth-day of Queen Elizabeth amongst other Figures the Arch-waggs had set one on Horseback with his Face to the Tail and a Paper on his back viz. I am an abhorrer During these Transactions the Parliament being called met at Westminster and amongst others this Person was called before them for attempting to intrench upon the Rights and Priviledges of the People c. and obliged at the Bar of the Commons House after having been heard what he could say in defence of his Proceedings by his Council to make his acknowledgment upon his Knees and receive the Reprimand of the Speaker whereupon with some sharp Rebukes as the Censure of the House he was discharged To comfort him in this affliction that was not by a man of his haughty Spirit a little stomacked this Parliament being dissolved and a call of Serjeants had at the Kings-Bench-Bar Westminster he was the first in the Roll and consequently the King Serjeant and as it is usual to present the King with a Ring on that occasion the Motto he agreed to was A Deo Rex a Rege Lex viz. The King from God and the Law from the King And now the Popish Party playing their Cards with more security Edward Fitz-Harris who had been Impeached by the Commons and stood charged by them of High Treason being nevertheless upon the Dissolution tryed at the Kings-Bench-Bar this Person was the principal Stickler against him and by his Rhetorical and florid expressions wrought so powerfully with the Jury who were somewhat in doubt what they should do in this Case that they found him Guilty and the Impeachment in Parliament set aside he was executed as a Traytor at Tyburn And soon after this the Dissenters losing of their Esteem in the eyes of the Court-Party and some Justices of Peace of Middlesex being sharp upon them this Person was chosen Chair-man at the Sessions at Hick's Hall where he had an opportunity to make them as he found his time see the Resentments of his Anger but this place being held too low for a Spirit winged with so large an ambition he aimed at higher things resolving like Icarus to be near the Sun tho at the hazard of melting his waxen Wings dropping headlong into the Sea of inevitable ruine Whereupon perceiving some hot Contests in the City of London about the Election of Magistrates and Officers he turned the Edge of his Fury that way insomuch that a Quo Warranto came down against the Charter of the Honourable City of London and in fine after much pleading and arguments pro contra the Charter was surrendred at least in consent by those that were in Power and the King suspending the Execution of the Judgment obtained caused such Orders to be observ'd as he thought most convenient which being so well known to the Citizens of London it would appear a presumption in me to enter upon particulars yet the chiefest Cavil against the City was taking the Toll of Markets collecting Mony to build Cheapside Conduit c. Nor was it long after this and the Trial of several Pâ—rsons for Rioters who attended the Election of Sheriffs and Mayor and the Fines passing upon many worthy Citizens as Rioters on that occasion in promoting which this Person as a Counsellor by his florid Rhetorick was mainly instrumental by giving the Court an account of their respective abilities the better to settle the Fines but the Lord Chief Justice Saunders dying he succeeded him as Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench in which station he was scarcely setled but he admitted the Popish Lords to Bail that lay under an Impeachment in Parliament and whose bailing had been refused by the Judges his Predecessors and now it was that he began more particularly to remember former affronts an example of which take in the Case of Elias Best a Hop-Merchant in Thames-street viz. It so happened when this Person was Recorder of London that a Jury of which Best was one having contrary to his mind acquitted a Party indicted at the Sessions of Peace in Guild-Hall for Printing and Publishing a Pamphlet he in much heat declared that they had gone contrary to their Consciences and stuck not to upbraid them with Perjury for which as an high affront put upon the Juries of London they prayed the Court at the Old-Baily that they might prefer an Indictment against him and herein Mr. Best was the most active but the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs then upon the Bench after it had been a long time argued and debated told them that the Sessions being almost at an end it could not be tryed and therefore he would desire them to refer it to the next Sessions for the Recorder being a Person of Quality he could not suffer him to lie under the imputation of an Indictment so long but in the interim he resigning his Recordership the business fell and came to nothing but soon after it seems Mr. Best had drank an Health to the pious Memory of Stephen Colledge departed meaning the Joyneâ— that was executed at Oxford for which he was indicted upon an Information and found Guilty yet he being at large thought fit to withdraw himself to avoid the rigour of the Fine c. when so it fell out that this Person going the Circuit as Lord Chief Justice accompanyed with a great many on Horseback Mr. Best came by and asked one of the Company what Judge that was who replyed the Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys and he unadvisedly told that
according to my poor Capacity preached Salvation in his Name and as I have preached so do I believe and with all my Soul have commended it and still do commend to all of you the riches of his Grace and Faith in his Name as the alone and only way whereby to come to be saved It may be many may think but I bless the Lord without any solid ground that I suffer as an Evil-Doer and as a busie body in other mens matters but I reckon not much upon that having the Testimony of my own Conscience for me It was the lot of our blessed Saviour himself and also the lot of many of his eminent precious Servants and People to suffer by the World as Evil-doers Yea I think I have so good ground not to be scar'd at such a Lot that I count it my non-such honour and Oh what am I that I should be honoured so when so many Worthies have panted after the like and have not come at it My Soul rejoyceth in being brought into Conformity with my Blessed Lord and Head and so Blessed a Company in this way and lot and I desire to pray that I may be to none of you this day upon this account a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of Offence and blessed is he that shall not be offended in Christ and his poor Followers and Members because of their being Condemned as Evil-doers by the World As for these things for which Sentence of Death hath past against me I bless the Lord my Conscience doth not condemn me I have not been Rebellious nor do I judge it Rebellion for me to have endeavoured in my Capacity what possibly I could for the born-down and ruined interest of my Lord and Master and for the Relief of my poor Brethren afflicted and persecuted not only in their Liberties Priviledges and Persons but also in their Lives therefore it was that I joyned with that poor handful the Lord knows who is the searcher of Hearts that neither my design nor practice was against his Majesty's person and just Government but I always studied to be Loyal to lawful Authority in the Lord and I thank God my heart doth not condemn me of any Disloyalty I have been Loyal and I do recommend it to all to be Obedient to higher Powers in the Lord. I have been looked upon by some and represented by others to be of a divisive and Factious Humour and one that stirred up division in the Church but I am hopeful that they will all now give me their Charity being within a little to stand before my Judge and I pray the Lord forgive them that did so misrepresent me but I thank the Lord whatever Men have said against me concerning this that on the contrary I have often disswaded from such wayâ— and practices as contrary to the Word of God and of our Covenanted and Reformed Religion and as I ever Abhorred division and Faction in the Church as that which tends to its utter Ruin if the Lord prevent it not So I would in the Bowels of my Lord â—â—d Master if such an one as I am may presume to â—erswade and Exhort both Ministers and Professors if there bâ— any Consolation in Christ if any comfort of Love if any Fellowship of the Spirit if any Bowels and Mercies that you be like minded having the same Love being of one accord of one mind in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves Phil. 1.12 Harmoniousness and Honesty in the things of God can never enough be sought after and things that tend to the prejudice and hurt of Christs interest can never enough be fled from and avoided And as I am come hither willingly to lay down my Tabernacle so also I die in the Belief and Faith of the Holy Scriptures and in the Faith of the Apostles and Primitive Christians and Protestant Reformed Churches and particularly the Church of Scotland whereof I am a poor Member I shall but say a few words First All you that are profane I would seriously Exhort you that you return to the Lord by serious Repentance if you do iniquity shall not be your Ruine if you do not know that the day of the Lords Vengeance is near and hastneth on Oh know for your comfort there is a door of mercy yet open if you be not despisers of the day of Salvation And you that have been and yet are Reproachers and persecutors of Godliness and of such as live Godly take heed Oh take heed sad will be your day when God arises to scatter his Enemies if you repent not for your ungodly deeds Secondly All those who are taken up with their own private â—â—terests and if that go well they Care the less â—or the interest of Christ take heed and be zealous and repent lest the Lord pass the Sentence I will spew you out of my mouth Thirdly For the truly Godly and such as are Lamenting after the Lord and are mourning for all the abominations of this City and are taking pleasure in the very Rubbish and Stones of Zion be of good Courage and Cast not away your Confidence I dare not say any thing to future things but surely the Lord has a handful that are precious to him to whom he will be Gracious to these is a dark night at present how long it will last the Lord knows Oh let not the sad disasters that his poor people meet with though very astonishing Terrifie you beware of snares that abound Cleave fast to your Reformed Religion do not Shift the Cross of Christ if you be called to it it is better to suffer than sin accounâ— the reproaches of Christ greater Riches than all the Treasures of the World In the last place let not my Death be Grievous to any of you I hope it will be more profitable both for you and me and for the Church and interest of God than my life could have been I bless the Lord I can freely and Frankly forgive all men even as I desire to be forgiven of God pray for them that persecute you bless them thaâ— Curse you As to the cause of Christ I bless the Lord I never had cause to this day to repent for any thing I have suffered or can now suffer for his name I thank the Lord who has shewed mercy to such a vile sinner as I am and that ever he should advance me to so High a dignity as to be made a Minister of his blessed and everlasting Gospel and that ever I should have a Seal set to my Ministry upon the hearts of some in several places and Corners of this Land the Lord visit Scotland with more and more faithful Pastors and send a Reviving day unto the people of God in the mean time be patient be stedfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord and live in Love and peace one with another and the Lord be with his poor Afflicted Groaning people that yet remain Now
which by vertue of the said Old Charters belonged to their several and respective Corporations and to deliver themselves from those late Parasites and Instruments of Tyranny set up to oppress them Moreover for the restoring the Kingdom to its Primitive Condition of Freedom and Safety we will have the Corporation and Militia Acts repealed and all Outlawries of Treason against any person whatsoever upon the late pretended Protestant Plot reversed and also all other Outlawries Banishments Warrants Judgments Imprisonments and Injurious Proceedings against any other persons upon any of the Penal Statutes made against Protestant Dissenters made null and void And we will have new Laws enacted for placing the Election of Sheriffs in the Freeholders of the several Counties for settling the Militia in the several Shires and for preventing all Military standing Forces except what shall be raised and kept up by Authority and Consent of Parliament And whereas several Gentlemen and others who have been worthy and zealous Asserters of the Protestant Interest and Laws of the Kingdom are now in custody in divers places within the Realm upon most unjust Accusations Pretences Proceedings and Judgments we do hereby further declare their said Imprisonments to be Illegal and that in case any violence shall be offered to them or any of them we will revenge it to the utmost upon such of our Enemies as shall fall into our hands And whereas the said J. D. of Y. in order to the expediting the Idolatrous and bloody Designs of the Papists the gratifying his own boundless Ambition after a Crown and to hinder inquiry into the Assassination of Arthur Earl of Essex hath poisoned the late King and thereby manifested his Ingratitude as well as Cruelty to the World in murthering a Brother who had almost ruined himself to preserve and protect him from punishment We do therefore further declare That for the aforesaid villanous unnatural Crime and other his Crimes before mentioned and in pursuance of the resolution of both Houses of Parliament who voted to revenge the Kings Death in case he came to an untimely end we will prosecute the said J. D. of Y. till we have brought him to suffer what the Law adjudged to be the punishment of so execrable a Fact And in a more particular manner his Grace the Duke of Monmouth being sensible of the barbarous and horrid Parricide committed upon his Father doth resolve to pursue the said J. D. of Y. as a mortal and bloody Enemy and will endeavour aâ— well with his own hand as by the assistance of his Friends and the Law to have Justice executed upon him And the said James Duke of Monmouth the now Head and Captain General of the Protestant Forces of this Kingdom assembled for the end aforesaid from the generousness of his own Nature and the love he bears to these Nations whose wellfare and settlement he infinitely preferrs to whatsoever may concern himself doth not at present insist upon his â—itle but leaves the determination thereof to the Wisdom Justice and Authority of a Parliament legally chosen and acting with freedom And in the mean time doth profess and declare by all that is sacred that he will in conjunction with the People of England imploy all the Abilities bestowed upon him by God and Nature for the Re-establishment and Preservation of the Protestant Reformed Religion in these Kingdoms and for restoring the Subjects of the same to a free exercise thereof in opposition to Popery and the consequences of it Tyranny and Slavery To the obtaining of which end he doth hereby promise and oblige himself to the People of England to consent unto and promote the passing into Laws all the methods aforesaid that it may never more be in the power of any single Person on the Throne to deprive the Subjects of their Rights or subvert the Fundamental Laws of the Government designed for their Preservation And whereas the Nobility Gentry and Commons of Scotland are now in Arms upon the like motives and inducements that we are and in prosecution of Ends agreeable with ours We do therefore approve the justice of their Cause commend their Zeal and Courage expecting their and promising our assistance for carrying on that glorious Work we are jointly engaged in Being obliged for avoiding tediousness to omit the recounting many Oppressions under which the Kingdom hath groaned and the giving a deduction of the several steps that have been taken for introducing of Popery and Tyranny We think fit therefore to signify both to our Countrymen and Forreigners that we intend a larger Testimony and Remonstrance of the Grievances Persecutions Cruelties and Tyrannies we have of late lain under and therein a more full and particular Account of the unparallell'd Crimes of the D. of Y. And we make our Appeal unto God and all Protestant Kings Princes States and Peoples concerning the Justice of our Cause and the necessity we are reduced unto of having our recourse to Arms. And as we do beseech require and adjure all sincere Protestants and true English men to be assisting to us against the Enemies of the Gospel Rights of the Nation and Liberties of Mankind So we are confident of obtaining the utmost Aid and Succour which they can yield us with their Prayers Persons and Estates for the dethroning the said Tyrant c. Nor do we doubt being justified countenanced and assisted by all Protestant Kings Princes and Common-wealths who either regard the Gospel of Jesus Christ or their own Interest And above all our dependance and trust is upon the Lord of Hosts in whose name we go forth and to whom we commit out Cause and refer the Decision betwixt us and our Enemies in the day of Battel Now let us play the Men for our People and for the Cities of our God and the Lord do that which seemeth good unto him ☞ Thus Reader I have given you a Copy of the Duke of Monmouth's Declaration which was disperst in the West of England in the year 1685. But it not being the part of an Historian to make Remarks I have satisfied my self with barely inserting it leaving every Reader to make what Reflections on it he thinks fit What follows concerning the late Lord Jefferys should have been printed in his Life next to the word Bribed in page 19 but was there Omitted JEffreys prosecuted Mr. Baxter for his Paraphrase upon the New Testament and sent him to Prison he coming out by an Habeas Corpus was fain to abscond in the Country in constant pain till the Term. Then his oft Waitings at the Bar where he could not stand and then to be ragingly treated by Jeffreys and Withins and called Rogue and Knave and not sufâ—ered to speak one word of Answer for himself and his Counsel being reviled that offered to speak for him was far harder to him than his Imprisonment And then going from the Bar he only said That his Predecessor thought otherwise of him Jeffrys reply'd There was not
and then Adjourned until Eight of the Clock next Morning when was a Bill found against Thirty Persons charged for High Treason for Aiding and Assisting the late Duke of Monmouth who put themselves on their Trials notwithstâ—nding my Lord's Threatning That in Case any did put themselves on Trial and the Country found them Guilty they should have but a little time to live And at the same time insinuated That it were better to plead Guilty if they expected any favour These Thirty being on Trial the Evidences being sworn and examined before the Jury Upon the whole by the violent Deportment of the Lord Chief Justice and sharpness of the Jury they found â—wenty nine Guilty though some of them were very hardly dealt with and not so Criminal as my Lord and the Country imagined Particularly amongst the Twenty nine were Mr. Matthew Bragg of Thorâ—comb and Joseph Speed of Culliton in the County of Devonshire and Mr. Smith Constable of Chardstock in the said County and George Steward of Culliton aforesaid The Circumstances of each of these and the severity of their being found Guilty c. shall be shewed in its proper place before we take leave of this Town and proceed on in this Western Expedition The said Twenty-nine being found as before Guilty my Lord immediately pronounced Sentence of Death on them all as usual in Cases of High-Treason and did the same Night give a Warrant to the Sheriff for the Execution of Thirteen of the Twenty-nine on Monday following which accordingly was done notwithstanding great Application was made to the Lord Chief Justice by Gentlemen of the best Quality in this and the Neighbouring Counties for a Reprieve of Mr. Bragg to all which he was Deaf and not to be prevailed upon though he was assured of his Honesty and true Conformity to the Church of England yet it availed nothing At last it was only requested for Ten days Respite yet that had no better effect but on Monday he with Twelve more of that number were accordingly Executed at Dorchester In the mean time this Proceeding was designed to shorten Business and to wheedle the rest that were to follow to a Confession which without it the tenth part of them could not be Proved Guilty A Method was also taken without President to entrap many poor ignorant people by a couple of Officers that were sent into the Goal to call over and to take the Names of the Prisoners on promise if they confest they might expect Mercy otherwise not which many did And this was written so that had they pleaded Not Guilty these two were designed to have been Evidences against them from their own Confessions which so disposed the remaining great Numbers that all except a very few Pleaded Guilty which put an end to any further Trial. The only thing remaining was the pronouncing of Sentence on them which were in Number 292. who received Sentence of Death all at once One Mr. Lawrence put himself on Trial but by the Jury found Guilty whose Case was hard his Circumstances being so small to be condemned to die and had actually suffered had not Application been made to my Lord's Favourites and with the payment and securing of 400 l. preserved him from Execution This Matter being adjusted and Execution awarded to about Eighty which were Executed and their Quarters sent up and down the Country to the dread of their Spectators as well as the Annoyance of the Travellers his extraordinary Whippings though unmerciful are not to be taken notice of so we leave this place and proceed towards the City of Exon In their way thither lying at an Honourable Gentlemans House divers of the Neighbouring Parishes made their Petitions to the Lord Chief Justice in the behalf of some Relations concerned It happened that through some disorder amongst his Servants some Pistols were fired in the Night which gave him a Suspicion or at least he took it of some design upon him on which at parting he said Not a man of all those Parishes that were of that Vicinitude if found Guilty should escape And so we proceed and arrive at Exon where to the number of 243 Prisoners being in Custody for assisting the said Duke of Monmouth one amongst the rest Mr. Fower Acers pleading not Guilty he being found by the Jury the said Lord Chief Justice immediately pronounced the Sentence upon him and immediate Execution which was done to terrifie the rest who all Pleaded Guilty so that these unfortunate People had not time to have the fairness of Trials allowed them which is a right due by the Laws of God and Man The remaining number he all condemned and here was a little sparing not so many order'd Execution as was in the other County but those that were executed were hung up and down in most Townâ— of the County and their Quarters and Heads scattered up and down the High-ways and Publick places An extraordinary Sentence of severe Whipping was pronounced against Mr. Samuel Staple of Thorncomb in the said County but these are Trifles and we shall endeavour to pursue our Design and make as quick dispatch as we can that time may not be lost the King served and this Miscreants thirst quenched with Protestant Blood which is always well-pleasing to Inquisitors and so proceed to the Town of Taunton At which place being arrived it was thought fit by the Lord Chief Justice to be as expeditious as might be so that late in the Afternoon the Court sat where the Commission being read he proceeded to give the Charge which was so very keen and full of sharp Invectives as if the Country it self had not been able to make Expiation to his Lordship to quench his Thirst in the Blood of those that ventur'd their All in Defence of the Protestant Religion and here we enter upon the bloodiest part of the Tragedy In this Town and at Wells in the said County were more than 500 Prisoners To begin at Taunton The next Morning after the Charge given the Assizes began where some few put themselves on Trial who were found Guilty and immediately ordered to be Executed of which number one Mr. Simon Hamlin was one who was a zealous worthy good Man and his Case no way dangerous but on the contrary had he had to do with a Judge of another Stamp To proceed to the rest This first Cruelty caused the rest to plead guilty in hopes of favour which was only a few days to live which those that pleaded had not Amongst these at Taunton were divers eminent Persons that had been taken in the West and carried to London and brought down there to compleat the bloody Tragedy in those parts Mr. Parrot Mr. Hewling the Elder Mr. Lisle Mr. Jenkins Mr. Hucker and divers others were very eminent To take notice of every particular in this Matter will alter our Design and swell the Book to too great a Bulk being only designed for a Pocket Companion and useful it may be to see
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
of Exclusion which our most Gracious King told us he could not without a manifest Infringement of the Royal Prerogatives of the Crown which are too sacred for us to touch consent to Had we not the Cursed Counsel of Achitophel Kings are God's Vicegerents on Earth and are indeed Gods on Earth and we Represent them Now when God Almighty had of his Infinite Goodness called this Blessed Prince unto himself he sends a Prince who assures us he will imitate his Royal Brother and Renowned Predecessor in all things especially in that of his Clemency and Mercy and that too upon the word of a King A King I will assure you that will not be worse than his Word Nay Pardon the Expression that dare not be worse than his Word Which of you all that had a Father Murthered by another and that deliberately too under colour of Justice which added to the Crime and your Brother nay your selves thrust out from your Inheritancâ— and banished from your Country nay that sought your blood likewise would not when it was in your power revenge such Injuries and ruin such Persecutors But here our most blessed Prince whom God long preserve hath not only forgiven but will venture his Life for the Defence of such his Enemies Has he not ventured his Life already as far as any man for the Honour of these Kingdoms Nay I Challenge this City to shew me any one man of it that perchance may not be worth a Groat that has ventured his Life so far for the safety of these Kingdoms as this Royal Prince hath done Good God! what an Age do we live in shall not such a Prince be secure from the Sedition Rebellion and Plots of Men He is scarce seated on his Royal Throne where God Almighty grant he may long Reign but on the one hand he is invaded by a Condemned Rebel and Arch-Traytor who hath received the just reward of his Rebellion On the other hand up starts a Poppet Prince who seduces the Mobile into Rebellion into which they are easily bewitched for I say Rebellion is like the sin of Witchcraft this man who had as little Title to the Crown as the least of you for I hope all you are Legitimate being overtaken by Justice and by the goodness of his Prince brought to the Scaffold he has the confidence good God! that men should be so impudent to say That God Almighty did know with what joyfulness he did die a Traytor having for these two years last past lived in all Incontinency and Rebellion notwithstanding goodness of an Indulgent Prince so often to pardon him but it is just like him Rebellion as I told you is like the sin of Witchcraft For there was another which I shall not name because I will not trample on the dust of the Dead but you may remember him by the words of his Speech he tells you That he thanks his God that he falls by the Ax and not by the Fiery Trial. He had rather he had as good have said die a Traytor than a Blessed Martyr Great God of Heaven and Earth what reason have men to Rebel But as I told you Rebellion is like the sin of Witchcraft Fear God and Honour the King is rejected by People for no other reason as I can find but that it is written in St. Peter Gentlemen I must tell you I am afraid that this City hath too many of these People in it And it is your Duty to search them out For this City added much to that Ships Loading there was your Tyly's vour Roe's and your Waâ—es men starred up like Mushrooms Scoundrel Fellows mere Sons of Dunghills These men must forsooth set up for Liberty and Property A Fellow that carries the Sword before Mr. Major must be very careful of his Property and turn Politician as if he had as much Property as the Person before whom he bears the Sword though perchance not worth a Groat Gentlemen I must tell you you have still here the Tyly's the Roe's and the Wades I have brought a Brush in my Pocket and I shall be sure to Rub the Dirt where ever it is or on whomsoever it sticks Gentlemen I shall not stand Complementing with you I shall talk with some of you before you and I part I tell you I tell you I have brought a Besome and I will sweep every mans door whether great or small Must I mention Particulars I hope you will save me that trouble yet I will hint a few things to you that perchance I have heard of This is a great City and the Magistrates wonderful Loyal and very forward to assist the King with Men Mony and Provisions when the Rebels were just at your Gates I do believe it would have went very hard with some of you if the Enemy had entered the City notwithstanding the Endeavours that was used to accomplish it Certainly they had and must have great incouragement from a Party within or else why should their design be on this City Nay when the Enemy was within a Mile of you that a Ship should be set on fire in the midst of you as a Signal to the Rebels and to amuse those within when if God Almighty had not been more gracious unto you than you was to your selves so that Wind and Tyde was for you for what I know the greatest part of this City had perished and yet you are willing to believe it was an Accident Certainly here is a great many of those men which they call Trimmers A Whig is but a meer Fool to these for a Whig is some sort of a subject in comparison of these for a Trimmer is but a cowardly and base-spirited VVhig for the VVhig is but the Journey-man-Prentice that is hired and set on in the Rebellion whilst the Trimmer is afraid to appear in the Cause he stands at a doubt and says to himself I will not assist the King until I see who has the best of it And refuses to entertain the King's Friends for fear the Rebels should get the better of it These men stink worse than the worst dirt you have in your City these men have so little Religion that they forget that he that is not for us is against us Gentlemen I tell you I have the Kalendar of this City here in my hand I have heard of those that have searched into the very sink of a Conventicle to find out some sneaking Rascal to hide their Mony by night Come come Gentlemen to be plain with you I find the dirt of the Ditch is in your Nostrils Good God! where am I in Bristol This City it seems claims the Priviledge of Hanging and Drawing amongst themselves I find you have more need of a Commission once a Month at least The very Magistrates which should be the Ministers of Justice fall out one with another to that degree they will scarce Dine with each other whilst it is the business of some cunning men that lye