him will believe to be in his part of the Design 't would be an Injury to his Memory to do any otherwise It appears then from his own acknowledgment that Howard Armstrong and such others had sometimes discoursed of ill Designs and Matters in his Company And as he says in his Speech What the Heats Wickedness Passions and Vanities of other Men had occasion'd he ought not to be answerable for nor cou'd be repress ' em Nay more he did sufficiently disapprove those things which he heard discours'd of with more Heat than Judgment But for himself declares solemnly again and again That he was never in any design against the King's Life or any Man's whatsoever nor ever in any Contrivance of altering the Government If so what then becomes of all the Story of the Council of Six and is 't not to be thrown among the same Lumber with the old famous Nagshead Tavern Business 'T will be still said he was an Ill Man in being Guilty by this very Confession of Misprision of Treason Supposing this true That was not Death and he dy'd as he says Innocent of the Crime he stood condemned for And besides every Lord has not Brow hard enough nor Tongue long enough nor Soul little enough to make an Informer against others to save his own Life I hope says he no Body will imagin that so mean a thought could enter into me as to go about to save my Life by accusing others The part that some have acted lately of that kind has not been such as to invite me to love Life at such a rate But all this does not depend on his naked word since the Evidence who swore against him being such as were neither credible nor indeed so much as legal Witnesses the Accusation of it self must fall to the ground If legal they were not credible because as my Lord Delamere observes in this Case they had no Pardons but hunted as the Cormorant does with strings about their Necks which West in his Answer to Walcot's Letter ingenuously acknowledges and says 'T is through God's and the King's Mercy he was not at the apparent point of Death That is in a fair construction was not just turning over but was upon trial to see whether he 'd do Business and deserve to scape hanging Much such an honourable way of getting Pardon as the Fellow who sav'd his own neck by turning Hangman and doing the good Office to his own Father Nor indeed was the great Witness the honourable Lord who cast this Noble Person so much as a legal any more than a credible Witness No Man alive has any way to clear himself from the most perjur'd Villains Malice if he swears against him Point-blank but either by Circumstance of Time or invalidating his very Evidence Let any think of another way if they can The first of these was precluded 'T was that which had before been made use of to sham off a truer Plot and much more valid Evidence But here Rumsey and the rest came to no determinate Time but only about such a time about the end of October or beginning of November and others cloud the precise time in so many words that 't is impossible to find it All then that could be done was as to the Person Now what thing can be invented which can more invalidate the Evidence any person gives than his solemn repeated voluntary Oath indubitably prov'd against him that such a Person is innocent of that very Crime of which he afterwards accuses him If this be the Case or no here let any one read the following Depositions and make an indifferent Judgment My Lord Anglesey witnesses He was at the Earl of Bedford 's after his Son was imprisoned where came in my Lord Howard and began to comfort him saying He was happy in so wise a Son and worthy a person and who could never be in such a Plot as that That he knew nothing against him or any body else of such a barbarous Design But this was not upon Oath and onely related to the Assassination as he says for himself in his paring-distinction Look then a little lower to Dr. Burnet whom the Lord Howard was with the night after the Plot broke out and then as well as once before with Hands and Eyes lifted up to Heaven did say He knew nothing of ANY Plot nor believ'd ANY Here 's the most solemn Oath as he himself confesses voluntarily nay unnecessarily tho' perhaps in my Lord Bedford's Case Good-nature might work upon him Here 's the paring of his Apple broke all to pieces No shadow no room left for his Distinction between the Insurrection and Assassination but without any guard or mitigation at all he solemnly swears he knew not of ANY Plot nor believed ANY But 't was no great matter for the Jury were resolv'd to know and believe it whether he did or no. There 's but one little Subterfuge more and the Case is clear All this Perjury all these solemn Asseverations he tells us were only to brazen out the Plot and to out-face the Thing for himself and Party This he fairly acknowledges and let all the World be the Jury whether they 'd destroy one of the bravest Men in it on the Evidence of such a Person But there 's yet a farther Answer His Cousin Mr. Howard who was my Lord's intimate Friend who secur'd him in his House to whom he might open his Soul and to whom it seems he did he having made Application to Ministers of State in his Name that he was willing to serve the King and give him Satisfaction To him I say with whom he had secret Negotiations and that of such a Nature will any believe that he wou'd out-face the Thing here too That he wou'd Perjure himself for nothing where no danger no good came on 't No certainly his Lordship had more Wit and Conscience and Honour he ought to be vindicated from such an Imputation even for the credit of his main Evidence for my Lord Gray he tells us was left out of their Councils for his Immoralities and had he himself been such a sort of a Man those piercing Heads in the Council wou'd have certainly found him out before and never admitted him among them As for the very Thing Mr. Howard tells it as generously and with as much honest Indignation as possible in spite of the Checks the Court gave him He took it says he upon his Honour his Faith and as much as if he had taken an Oath before a Magiâ—â—rate that he knew nothing of any Man concern'd in this Business and particularly of the Lord Russel of whom he added that he thought he did unjustly suffer So that if he had the same Soul on Monday that he had on Sunday the very day before this cou'd not be true that he Swore against the Lord Russel My Lord Russel's suffering was Imprisonment and that for the same matter on which he was try'd the Insurrection
lived two or three Miles from the place they met him they required him to go with them and shew them the way he knowing the Country better than they did he desired to be excused telling them It was none of his business and besides had no Arms. But hiâ— Excuses signified nothing they forced him amongst them where they went when being come a Party enter'd the House and searcht it Mr. Bragg never dismounted they being then satisfied took him along with them to Chard where then the Duke of Monmouth was Being there after having set up his Horse where he used to do often having occasion there he was much tampered with to engage in the Design but he refused it but the next morning made haste out of Town not seeing the Duke at all calling for his Horse it was told him That it was seized for the Duke's Service So then he took his Cane and Gloves and walked to his own House which was about five or six Miles and was no more concern'd in the Affair than that after the Duke's Defeat at Kings-Sedge-Moore some busie person informeth and requireth a Warrant from a Justice of Peace for the said Mr. Bragg who obliged himself to enter into a Recognizance to appear at the next Assizes the said Justice accounting the matter in it self but trivial and indeed all Men did judge him out of danger At Dorchester he appeared in Court to discharge his Bail on which he was presently Committed and the next day being Arraigned pleading Not guilty put himself on the Trial of God and his Country which found him and 28 more of 30 Guilty the Lord Chief Justice often saying If any Lawyer or Pâ—rson came under his Inspection they should not escape the Evidence against him was the Roman Catholick whose House was search'd and a woman of ill Fame to whom the Lord Chief Justice was wonderfully kind but his Evidence which were more than Twenty to prove his Innocence signifyed nothing the Jury being well instructed by my Lord Chief Justice Being thus found Guilty Sentence was presently pronounced and Execution awarded notwithstanding all the Interest that was made for him as before recited Thus being Condemned on Saturday and ordered to be Executed on Monday he spent the Residue of his little time very devoutly and much becoming a good Christian and a true Protestant of the Church of England all which availed nothing with this Protestant Judge he was frequently visited by a worthy Divine of the Church of England who spent much time with him and received great satisfaction from him The said Divine told me That his Deportment Behaviour and Converse was so much like an extraordinary Christian that he could not in the least doubt but this violent passage would put him into the fruition of happiness He wisht and desired a little longer time out of no other design but throughly to repent him of his Sins and make himself more sensible of and fit for to receive the Inheritance that is prepared for those that continue in well-doing to the end When he came to the place of Execution with great Courage and Resolution being as he said prepared for Death He behaved himself very gravely and devoutly Being asked when he was on the Ladder Whether he was not sorry for his being concerned in the Rebellion He replyed That he knew of none that he was Guilty of and prayed them not to trouble him adding He was not the first that was martyr'd he was so much a Christian as to forgive his Enemies And after some private Devotions he suddenly was Translated as we have all hopes to believe from Earth to Heaven The only Favour of this Protestant Judge was to give his Body to his Friends in order to its Interment amongst his Ancestors The Behaviour of Mr. Smith Constable of Chardstock ANother eminent Person that suffered with him at the same time and place was one Mr. Smith who was Constable of Chardstock who having some Monies in his hands that belonged to the Militia which came to the knowledge of some of the Dukes Friends they obliged him to deliver it to them which he was forced to deliver and for this was Indicted for High Tâ—eason in assisting the Duke of Monmouth To which he pleaded Not Guilty The Evidence against him were the same with those that had been against Mr. Bragg The said Mr. Smith informed the Court and the Jury what little Credit ought to be given to the Evidence The Lord Chief Justice thundred at him saying Thou Villain methinks I see thee already with a Halter about thy Neck thou impudent Rebel to challenge these Evidences that are for the King To which the Prisoner reply'd very boldly My Lord I now see which way I am going and right or wrong I must die but this I comfort my self with That your Lordship can only destroy my Body it is out of your Power to touch my Soul God forgive your rashness pray my Lord know it is not a small matter you are about the Blood of man is more precious than the whole World And then was stopped from saying any more The Evidences being heard a strict Charge was given the Jury about him To be short the Jury brought him in Guilty so that he with the rest received the Sentence of Death all together and were Executed on Monday but by particular order from my Lord he was ordered to be first Executed The day being come for Execution being Monday he with a Courage undaunted was brought to the Place where with Christian Exhortations to his Brethren that suffered with him he was ordered to prepare being the first to be executed where he spake as followeth Christian Friends I am now as you see lanching into Eternity so that it may be expected I should speak something before I leave this miserable World and pass through those Sufferings which are dreadful to Flesh and Blood which indeed shall be but little because I long to be before a just judge where I must give an account not only for the occasion of my Sufferings now but for Sins long unrepented of which indeed hath brought me to this dismal place and shameful Death And truly dear Country-men having ransacked my Soul I cannot find my small concern with the Duke of Monmouth doth deserve this heavy Judgment on me but I know as I said before it is for Sins long unrepented of I die in Charity with all men I desire all of you to bear me witness I die a true Professor of the Church of England beseeching the Lord still to stand up in the defence of it God forgive my passionate Judges and cruel and hasty Jury God forgive them they know not what they have done God bless the King and though his Judges had no mercy on me I wish he may find Mercy when he standeth most in need of it Make him O Lord a nursing Father to the Church let Mercy flow abundantly from him if it be thy will
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
them daily with his own hands Nor did he neglect Justice while he was exercising Mercy but to the amazement and almost terrour of the Beholders pursu'd a Malefactor who had taken Sanctuary in a Pesthouse thinking none wou'd be so desperate as to follow him and with his own hands fetch'd him thence when the other Officers dar'd not venture after him 'T was either his Acquaintance among the Papists before intimated and hence his being consequently better known by those who were of that Party or his industry and indefatigable care in the Discharge of his Office or both to which we may rationally attribute the addressing of the first Discovery of the Popish Plot to him rather than any other The clearest Method for the Description of his Martyrdom will be first to enquire into the Occasion of it and then the Manner Circumstances and Authors and lastly the several Endeavours have been used to clear the Papists of that indelible Guilt which sticks upon 'em from so horrid a Villany For the Occasion of his Martyrdom what was said in the Summing up the Evidence concerning him but modestly and on supposition only we may yet venture to affirm positively This Protestant Magistrate was certainly murder'd because he was a Proâ—estant But the particular and special Reasons were these following 1. He had taken Examinations about the Popish Plot and those not only as the Attorny General said in the Trial of the Assassines perhaps but undoubtedly more than are now extant Mr. Oates addressed himself to him with his Depositions he had taken them and enquired something closely into the Design as his manner was in any thing which belong'd to his Office This the Papists very well knew and therefore found it convenient to be rid of a troublesome busie man who now he was engaged in the business was likely to pierce to the bottom on 't and he being once out of the way the Evidence might very easily have been dispos'd of to their satisfaction But here those whose Interest 't is to get clear of such a Charge object very pertly What need or what advantage in taking off a Justice when the same things were deposed in other places 2. The second Reason or Occasion for this Murder will easily answer that Objection They not only bore him Malice for what he had already done in Oates's case and might probably be ignorant of those secret Passages transacted before King and Council in relation to Oates's Depositions but were sensible of a deeper Reason than all this and which brought them into more danger than the other See it in the Lord Stafford's Trial p. 22. and 24. Mr. Dugdale had received a Letter the very night on which this Gentleman was martyr'd of which more anon with these words in 't This Night Sir E.B.G. is dispatch'd This came from the Papists to Ewers a Popish Priest at my Lord Aston's who after he had read it communicated the good News to Mr. Dugdale telling him One of their Enemies was taken out of the way He being desirous to know how things went ask'd what was the Reason they took away his Life Ewers tells him There was a Message sent to Mr. Coleman when in Newgate to desire him that he wou'd not reveal any thing of the Plot which Message came from the Duke of York To which Coleman replyed What was he the nearer for he had been so foolish as to reveal all to Sir E.B.G. already But upon the Examination of Oates before Sir E.B.G. he was afraid he would come in as Evidence against him having shewn himself eager in the business To which the Duke of York sent word again If he wou'd take care not to reveal but conceal it Sir E.B.G. shou'd not come in against him And the next news was that he was dispatch'd Now this effectually takes off the former Cavil and this Sâ—r Roger cou'd not but be sensible of and concluding so unanswerably against whâ—t he built so much upon e'ne lets it fairly drop and mentions not a syllable of it in all his Book Which Evidence of Mr. Dugdales is beyond contradiction confirm'd by several hints unluckily given in Sir Roger 's own Depositions pa. 187. where Mr. Wynnel deposes Sir E. told him Coleman wou'd dye and mention'd Consults about a Toleration Adding further That he was Master of a dangerous secret that wou'd be fatal to him Hence nothing can be plainer to any reasonable man than that Sir Edmond was acquainted with Mr. Coleman as well as Dr. Oates and knew even the minute Circumstances in those Letters which afterwards were brought against him and stood in fear of his Life for that very Reason as for the same he afterwards lost it For the Manner of his Death those who were Accomplices therein shou'd best know it and the Objections against their Evidence the Reader may find clear'd if he 'll take the pains to look a little lower After the poor Gentleman had several days been dog'd by the Papists as Dr. Oates Mr. Prance and Mr. Bedlow unanimously swear and which he as good as acknowledged to Mr. Robinson as appears on the Trial of his Murtherers they at last accomplish'd their wicked design on Saturday Octob. 12. 1678. and under a pretence of a Quarrel which they knew his Care for the publick Peace wou'd oblige him to prevent about Nine at night as he was going home got him into the Water-gate at Somerset-House When he was thus trapan'd in and got out of hearing from the Street toward the lower end of the Yard Green one of the Assassines threw a twisted Handkerchief round his Neck and drew him behind the Rails which notwithstanding his age and weakness are objected against its probability taking him thus at a surprize and in the dark 't was easie for him to do especially three or four more of 'em immediately falling in to assist him there they throtled him and lest that shou'd not be enough punch'd and kickt him on the Breast as sufficiently appear'd when his Body was found by the marks upon it and lest he shou'd not be yet dead enough another of 'em Girald or as I find him called in other places Fitz-Girald wou'd have run him through but was hindered by the rest lest the Blood shou'd have discover'd 'em But Green to make sure work wrung his Neck round as 't was found afterwards on the inspection of the Surgeons For the disposal of the Body they all carried it up into a little Chamber of Hills another of the Murtherers who had been or was Dr. Godwin's man where it lay till Monday night when they remov'd it into another Room and thence back again 'till Wednesday when they carried him out in a Sedan about Twelve a clock and afterwards upon a Horse with Hill behind him to support him till they got to Primrose-Hill or as some say 't is call'd Green-Bury-Hill near a Publick House call'd the White house and there threw him into a Ditch with his Gloves
attempts to be made on the lives of their nearest and too tender Relations Would such as these stick at a single murther a small Venial Villany to advance their Cause and merit Heaven into the Bargain When pretence of Justice necessity of Affairs Reason of State and so many more such weights might be thrown into the Scales More than all this When such Persons as these were actually in the place where this Murther was committed at the very instant 't was done All these together with what is yet to follow amount to as strong Arguments and pregnant Circumstances as the nature of the thing will bear and mark out the Murtherers as plainly and visibly as if they had come out of his Chamber with white Sleeves and a long Knife in their Hands bloody all over And indeed there seems need of little more than relating bare simple indubitable matter of Fact and such as hardly any body will deny to satisfie any cool rational man in the business The Earl of Essex's Throat was cut in the Tower the 13 th of July about Eight or Nine in the Morning at which time the Duke of York a bigotted Papist his known bitter Enemy was there present This was reported at Andover sixty miles from London the 11 th of July the first day of his Imprisonment and as common Town-talk in every bodies mouth as Sir E. B.G's at the time of his murther and told a Person travelling on the Road near the same place which was witnessed before even a Jeffreys in a publick Court of Judicature A Deputy-Coroner present at the Inquest instead of a Legal one none of the Relations to attend the Inquest The Body remov'd from the place where 't was first laid stript the Clothes taken away the Body and Rooms washed from the Blood the Clothes denied the view of the Jury The principal Witnesses examin'd only Bomeny his man and Russel his Warder who might be so justly suspected of being privy to if not Actors in it That the Jury hasten'd and hurried the Verdict when so great a man a Peer of the Realm and such a Peer was concern'd who was the King's Prisoner When Sir Thomas Overbury had been before murther'd in the Tower and his Jury brought in an unrighteous Verdict when even Sir E. B. G's Jury so much cry'd out against for their ill management adjourn'd their Verdict and staid considerably before they brought it in This at a time when the Lord Russel was to be try'd for a share in a Plot in which the Earl was also accused of being concern'd One Branch of which Conspiracy and which 't was so much the Papists Interest to have the belief on 't fix'd was a barbarous Murther of the Duke and King when nothing cou'd so immediately and critically tend to that noble Gentleman's ruine when the News was instantly with so much diligence convey'd from the Tower to the Sessions-house Bench Bar and Jury and harp'd upon by the Lord Howar◠just then and by others in after Trials as the mor◠than a thousand Witnesses and the very finger of God After this the very Centinel who that Day stood near the place found dead in the Tower-Ditch and Captain Hawley barbarously murther'd down at Rochester and ill methods us'd to prevent the truth of all from coming to light Mr. Braddon harass'd prosecuted jayl'd and fined for stirring in it On the fair and impartial Consideration but of these things hardly one of which but is notorious Matter of Fact granted by all sides What can a man conclude from the whole but whether he will or no That this noble Lord was certainly murthered by the Popish Party But there 's yet more Evidence If he could not Murther himself in that manner who then should do it but those on whom the Guilt on 't has been justly charged And this from the manner of it His Throat was cut from one Jugular to the other and by the Aspera Arteria and Wind-pipe to the Vertebrae of the Neck both the Jugulars being throughly divided How often has it been ask'd and how impossible it should ever receive an Answer How could any Living Man after the prodigious flux of Blood which must necessarily follow on the dividing one Jugular as well as all those strong Muscles which lye in the way how cou'd he ever have strength to go through all round and come to the other without fainting One cou'd as soon believe the Story of the Pirate who after his Head was cut off ran the whole length of his Ship or that of St. Dennis which was no doubt grafted on the other Nor is it rendered less impossible from the Instrument with which those who did it wou'd perswade the World 't was perform'd by himself A little French Razor Had Bomeny held to the Penknife it had been much more likely But here was nothing to rest or bear upon in the cutting it having no Tongue to hold it up in the Haft And as 't is observ'd in the Prints on that Subject he must therefore supposing he had done it himself have held his hand pretty far upon the very Blade and so with about two inches and a half of it whittle out a wound of four inches deep and all round his Neck as if he had intended to have been his own Headsman as well as Executioner out of Remorse of Conscience for his Treason Lastly His Character makes it morally impossible he should be guilty of so mean and little an Action 'T is for Women and Eunuch's and Lovers and Romantick Hero's to kill themselves not Men of known Virtue Temper Wisdom Piety and Gravity who had formerly digested as great Affronts as cou'd be put upon à Man with a candor and calmness so worthy a Man and a Christian who had been so far from defending so barbarous and unmanly a thing as Self-murther as is suggested that he had rather express himself with Detestation concerning it And as he ought not and cou'd not be hurried into so fatal an Action by a false mistaken Greatness of Mind as no such thing or so much as the least Footsteps of it appear'd in the whole course of his Life so from all his Actions in the Tower before his Death we may fairly deduce the quite contrary to what his Enemies have asserted and by observing his Conduct there discover plainly that no such black Intention ever enter'd into his Mind This appears from his ordering his People to have his own Plate sent for out of the Country to dress his Meat as well as a considerable parcel of Wines bought and brought into the Tower for his drinking that he might not stand to the Courtesie of his Enemies and this sufficient to last him till he cou'd be deliver'd by due Course of Law I can foresee but one thing that can with the least plausibility be objected to this considerable Passage and 't is That this was when he was first Committed before he fell Melancholy which he
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
Holloway says he had for not pleading But Sir Thomas the Atturney goes on deserv'd no favour because he was one of the Persons that actually engaged to go on the King 's hasty coming from Newmarket and destroy him by the way as he came to Town and that this appeared upon as full and clear Evidence and as positively testified as any thing could be and this in the Evidence given in of the late horrid Conspiracy Now Id fain know who gives this clear and full Evidence in the Discovery of the Conspiracy Howard's is meer Supposition and he 's all who so much as mentions a syllable on 't that ever cou'd be found on search of all the Papers and Trials relating to that Affair To this Sir Thomas answers in his Speech That had he come 'to his Trial he cou'd have prov'd my Lord Howard 's base Reflections on him to be a notorious falshood there being at least ten Gentlemen besides all the Servants in the House cou'd testifie where he Dined that very day Still Sir Thomas demanded the Benefit of the Law and no more To which Jeffreys answer'd with one of his usual barbarous Insults over the Miserable That he shou'd have it by the Grace of God ordering That Execution be done on Friday next according to Law And added That he shou'd have the full Benefit of the Law repeating the Jest lest it should be lost as good as three times in one Sentence Tho' had not his Lordship slipt out of the World so slily he had had as much benefit the same way and much more justly than this Gentleman Then the Chief Justice proceeds and tells him We are satisfied that according to Law we must Award Execution upon this Outlawry Thereupon Mrs. Matthews Sir Thomas's Daughter said My Lord I hope you will not Murder my Father For which being Brow-beaten and Checkt She added God Almighty's Judgments Light upon YOV The Friday after he was brought to the place of Execution Dr. Tennison being with him and on his desire after he had given what he had to leave in a Paper to the Sheriff Prayed a little while with him He then Prayed by himself and after having thanked the Doctor for his great Care and Pains with him submitted to the Sentence and died more composedly and full as resolutely as he had lived 'T is observable that more cruelty was exercised on him than any who went before him not onely in the manner of his Death but the exposing his Limbs and Body A fair warning what particular Gratitude a Protestant is to expect for having oblig'd a true Papist Another thing worth remembring in all other Cases as well as this tho occasion is here taken to do it is That whereas in Holloway's Case Jeffreys's observ'd That not one of all concern'd in this Conspiracy had dared to deny it and lower to deny the Truth of the fact absolutely T is so far from being true that every one who suffer'd did it as absolutely as possible They were Try'd or Sentenc'd for Conspiring against the King and Government that was their Plot but this they all deny and absolutely too and safely might do it for they consulted for it not conspired against it resolving not to touch the King's Person nay if possible not to shed one drop of Blood of any other as Holloway and others say For the King's Life Sir Thomas says as the Lord Russel Never had any Man the impudence to propose so base and barbarous a thing to him Russel and almost all besides say They had never any design against the Government Sir Thomas here says the same As he never had any Design against the King's Life nor the Life of any Man so he never had any Design to alter the Monarchy As he liv'd he says he dy'd a sincere Protestant and in the Communion of the Church of England tho' he heartily wish'd he had more strictly liv'd up to the Religion he believed And tho' he had but a short time he found himself prepared for Death and indeed as all his Life shew'd him a Man of Courage so his Death and all the rest of his Behaviour did a Penitent Man a Man of good Sense and a good Christian. At the place of Execution Sir Thomas Armstrong deported himself with Courage becoming a great Man and with the Seriousness and Piety suitable to a very good Christian. Sheriff Daniel told him that he had leave to say what he pleased and should not be interrupted unless he upbraided the Government Sir Thomas thereupon told him that he should not say any thing by way of Speech but delivered him a Paper which he said contained his mind he then called for Dr. Tennison who prayed with him and then he prayed himself In his Paper he thus expressed himself That he thanked Almighty God he found himself prepared for Death his thoughts set upon another World and â—eaned from this yet he could not but give so much of his little time as to answer some Calumnies and particularly what Mr. Attorney accused him of at the Bar. That he prayed to be allowed a Tryal for his Life according to the Laws of the Land and urged the Statute of Edward 6. which was expresly for it but it signified nothing and he was with an extraordinary Roughness condemned and made a precedent tho' Holloway had it offered him and he could not but think all the world would conclude his case very different else why refused to him That Mr. Attorney charged him for being one of those that was to kill the King He took God to witness that he never had a thought to take away the King 's Life and that no man ever had the Impudence to propose so barbarous and base a thing to him and that he never was in any design to alter the Government That if he had been tryed he could have proved the Lord Howard's base Reflections upon him to be notoriously false He concluded that he had lived and now dyed of the Reformed Religion a Protestant in the Communion of the Church of England and he heartily wished he had lived more strictly up to the Religion he believed That he had found the great comfort of the Love and Mercy of God in and through his blessed Redeemer in whom he only trusted and verily hoped that he was going to partake of that fulness of Joy which is in his presence the hopes whereof infinitely pleased him He thanked God he had no repining but chearfully submitted to the punishment of his Sins He freely forgave all the World even those concerned in taking away his Life tho' he could not but think his Sentence very hard he being denied the Laws of the Land On the Honourable Sir Thomas Armstrong Executed June 20. 1684. HAd'st thou abroad found safety in thy flight Th' Immortal honour had not fam'd so bright Thou hadst been still a worthy Patriot thought But now thy Glory 's to perfection brought In exile and in
of many Thousand Loyal Apprentices of the same City whose Names are hereunto Subscribed In all Humility Sheweth THat as we are justly sensible of our happiness in being born under the enjoyment of the Protestant Religion so excellent a Government and so gracious a King to whose service we shall ever be ready to sacrifice our Lives so have we continually applyed our selves to discharge our Duties in our proper Callings without presuming to intermeddle in affairs beyond our sphere or concernment But being fully satisfied both by His Majesties frequent Proclamations the Vnanimous Votes of several Parliaments and the notoriousness-of Fact that for divers years past thâ—re hath been and still is a Devilish Plot carryed on by the Papists against the Sacred Life of our Soveraign whom God preserve and to Subvert the Protestant Religion and the Government established In which horrid practices the Conspirators have always appear'd most active and insolent during the Intervals of Parliaments and from thence and the continuing hopes of a Popish Successor take occasion with greater confidence to push on their Fatal Designs Observing likewise that among the many late Addresses there hath been one promoted in the names of some few of our condition in this Honourable City which now is represented as the Act and Sence of the Generality of Apprentices although the far greater part never joined therein as fearing lest the same might seem of a Tendency dishonourable to Parliaments whose Constitution we Reverence and humbly apprehend their Counsels highly necessary in such a Juncture Wherefore though out of an awful Respect we presume not to approach His Sacred Majesty yet we cannot but think it our duty to declare to your Lordship the Chief Magistrate under Him of this Honourable City and to all the World That we shall never be behind any of our Fellow-Apprentices in demonstrations of Loyalty tâ— His Sacred Majesty even to the last drop of our â—lood whenever His Majesties Service shall require it against any Traytors or Rebels whatsoever And also to assure your Lordship That as we do and through God's Grace ever shall Abhor Popery and all its Bloody Traiterous Practices So we do utterly disapprove and dislike any such proceedings from private persons as tend to reproach Parliaments but do unanimously with one heart and with one voice express our satisfaction in and thanks for the humble Petition and Address of your Lordship and the Common-Council presented to His Majesty in May last and since approved of in Common-Hall for the Assembling and Sitting of a Parliament That the God of Heaven may ever bless and preserve his Sacred Majesty and your Lordship and this Great and Honourable City and grant that your Successors in this weighty Trust may imitate your Lordships piety and zeal for the Protestant Religion and His Majesties Service shall ever be the daily prayers of us His Majesties Humble Faithful Loyal and Obedient Subjects Printed for Thomas Goodwill An. 1681. This Name is Composed of Fourteen Letters taken out of the Names of the Chief Managers This Address was Sign'd by about Thirty Thousand Hands and when those Twenty persons that presented it had Subscribed their Names to it they sent Mr. Noise and Mr. Dunton two of the said Presenters to Mr. S to know when they might have leave to Present it to my Lord Mayor which being granted in a few days the Twenty Presenters went in a Body together to Mr. S who introduc'd 'em to my Lord. To whom Mr. B y made a brief speech as follows May it please your Lordship THE occasion of giving your Lordship this trouble is humbly to lay at your Lordships feet an address to your Lordship subscribed by many thousand Loyal Apprentices of this City We do humbly acknowledge to your Lordship that the presumption we may seem guilty of in this matter considering our present stations requires a far greater apology than we are able to make But the principal reasons that incited us thus to address our selves to your Lordship are To demonstrate our Loyalty to his Sacred Majesty Our Zeal for the Protestant Religion And the veneration and esteem we have and ought to have for Parliaments Neither indeed my Lord could we think these sufficient motives to stir us up to this publick application which better becomes graver heads than ours had not some few of our fellow Apprentices lately presented his Majesty with an Address which seemed to be a gratulation for the Dissolution of the two last Parliaments which they now report to have been the act of the majority of Apprentices of this Honourable City Although the far greater part as may by the subscriptions to this Address appear to your Lordship were never concerned therein And although by reason of our present condition we think it an unpardonable crime to approach his Sacred Majesty about matters relating to the State yet we deem it our bounden duty to declare to your Lordship and the whole World That we utterly disclaim any Proceedings especially from Persons in our own Condition that may seem to reflect upon Parliaments the greatest Senate of the Nation And that the generality of Apprentices of this City have a venerable esteem for Parliaments which mâ—y the better appear to your Lordship upon reading the Address it self And I dare be bold to affirm to your Lordship by the Information I have had from those who were employed to take subscriptions to this address That there is not one Subscriber to it who is either Journey-man Tapster Hostler Water-man or the like but all Persons of our own rank â—nd condition Which Address in the name of all the Subscribers thereunto I humbly offer to your Lordship and beg your Lordships favourable reception of it Then his Lordship commanded the Address to be read which being read Mr. B y proceeded thus I have one thing more to say my Lord I understand that there is a common notion about Town that this Address hath been carried on by Faction and that none but Dissenters have been concerned in it I can assure your Lordship of the Contrary for that I know many of the subscribers who are of the Church of England of which Church I boast my self an unworthy Member Then his Lordship was pleased to express himself to this effect Gentlemen THis is a surprize to me and therefore I cannot tell what to say to it But for as â—uch as I have heard your Address read and at first reading can find noâ—hing in it but what becomes Loyal and Obedient subjects I do accept of iâ— I only desire the names of you that are the Presenters Then we told him that our names are those which were next to the Address it self â—t some distance from the rest of the subscribers Then he ordered theâ— all to be called over and so we answered to our names And then his Lordship desired he might have an account of our abodes which we also gave him Then his Lordship advised us to go home
informed is usual in such Cases However I forgive all the World and therein all those that have done me wrong and in particular I forgive Colonel Penruddock although he told me that he could have taken these men before they came to my House And I do likewise forgive him who desired to be taken away from the Grand Jury to the Petty-Jury that he might be the more nearly concerned in my death As to what may be objected in reference to my Conviction that I gave it under my hand that I had discoursed with Nelthrop that could be no Evidence against me being after my Conviction and Sentence I do acknowledg his Majesties Favour in Revoking my Sentence I pray God to preserve him that he may long Reign in Mercy as well as Justice and that he may Reign in Peace and that the Protestant Religion may flourish under him I also return thanks to God and the Reverend Clergy that assisted me in my Imprisonment ALICIA LISLE Mr. Richard Nelthrop HIS Name is often enough met with in Wests and Rumseys Plot and good reason too he being not near to answer for himself As to what he was Accused Outlawed and Executed for his being concern'd in a Design for the Assassination of the King and Duke he solemnly avers as may be seen below in his Speech That he was always highly against it and detested any such thing was never in the least concern'd in it neither in Pursâ— or Person never knew of any Arms bought for that intent nor did believe there was any such Design Than which what Words could be more full and satisfactory He went away in the Heat of Swearing and return'd with the Duke of Monmouth thinking it his Duty as he says to hazard his Life for the preservation of the Protestant Religion and English Liberties but as to the Duke of Monmouth's being declar'd King he was wholly passive in it He was at first committed to Salisbury Prison where he had several Disputes with a learned and good Man whose Opinion then differ'd from his concerning the lawfulness of Defending our selves by Arms against illegal Violence which was his firm Judgment Thence he was brought to London and imprison'd in Newgate He rejected there with scorn some Offers made him of saving his own Life by taking away other Mens and tho' he was under inexpressible Trouble during his close Confinement there which at length arose to Distraction and the impair of his Reason yet 't is remarkable that he as Bateman before him before he came to die after Sentence was very calm and lively again the entire Exercise of his Judgment and Understanding returning with more Joy and Comfort than he had before Pain and Misery He writ one Letter to his Parents another to his Children here inserted together with his last Speech at his Execution the 30 th of Octob. 1685. at 2 in the Morning he wrote the Letter to his Parents c. Wherein he speaks much of his Brother and Fellow-Sufferer Mr Ayloff if I mistake not whom he says He could embrace with more Joy in the Field of Suffering than ever he could have done had he met him in the Field crown'd with Victory and Laurels Mr. Richard Nelthrop's Letter to his Parents Brothers and Sister Dearest Parents and ever loving Brothers and tender hearted and beloved Sister THrough the infinite goodness of God the nearer I approach my End the more Joy and Comfort I find in my suffering Estate that I may so call it I can through mercy say that I have found more true Delight and Content this Night than in all the Days and Nights of my whole Life and I hope the Lord will continue it that his Name may be glorified by me the meanest and poorest of all his Servants but through Free-grace faithful unto the end My Soul is ravished I can hardly write and my Comforts are more unspeakable than my Terrors were I did this Evening see my dearest Brother and Companion his Face was to me as that of an Angel and he gave me that Comfort that I cannot but say my Love to him is beyond what I ever had to my dearest Relations When God comes every thing hath a beauty and lustre upon it here is aâ— Answer of Prayers and such an Answer as dearest Relations must engage you all to be constant in the performance of that Duty which like Jacob's Ladder though it stand upon the Earth yet it reacheâ— up to Heaven Here 's the Love of God made maâ—ifâ—st to a poor Sinner at the last hour like the Thief upon the Cross he that never knew before what the Love of God was to his Soul finds it now filled with it and running over Now â—less the Lord O my Soul yea all that is within me Bless his holy Name for this Dispensation â—ow Light appears out of Darkness in the Face of Jesus now all worldly Joy and Comforts seem to me as they are things not hard to part with Father Mother Brothers Sister Wife Children House and Lands are as my dear Saviour saith to be parted with for him or we are not worthy of him I bless his Name I find no reluctancy to do it he hath brought me to his Foot stool and I can say heartily the Will of the Lord be done in this matter I never before but saw a Beauty in worldly Comforts but now those seem so faded by the greater Lustre and Beauty that I see in God in Christ Jesus that I am astonished where I have been wandring all my days spending my time and my mony for that which is not Bread O strive to get a taste of this Love of God in Christ Jesus and it will perfectly wean you from this deceitful foolish World What is worldly Honour and Riches O set not your hearts upon them but get a Treasure in Heaven that your hearts may be there also O lose no time for if you ever knew the sweetness of it you would never be at rest till you found him whom your Soul loved it will be more yea infinitely more than all worldly Injoyments can afford you tho' in their greatest Perfection it will make your Life sweet and your Death most comfortable It is the Bread which this World knoweth not of and therefore maketh little or no inquiry after it Dearest Relatiâ—ns whilst you and my other dear Friends are like Aaron and Hur holding up the Hands of Moses I am through Grace getting Victory over the Amalekites I can embrace my dear and beloved Brother and Companion with more Joy in the Field of suffering than ever I could have done had I met him crowned with the Laurels of Victory Oh the mercy to die with such a â—riend and such a valiant Souldier of Jesus who hath kept his Garments clean I now begin to pity you that stay behind who have many Temptations to conflict with for a little yea a very little time and my Warfare will be accomplished and if
necessary to clear my self of some Aspersions laid on my Name and first That I should have had so horrid an Inâ—ention of Destroying the King and his Brother Here he repeated what he had said before to the Justices on this Subject It was also laid to my Charge That I was Antimonarchical It was ever my Thoughts That Kingly Government was the best of all Justly Executed I mean such as by our ancient Laws that is a King and a Legal Free Chosen Parliament The King having aâ— I conceive Power enough to make him Great the People also as much Property as to makâ— them Happy they being as it were contracted to one another And who will deny me that this was not the Just constituted Government of our Nation How absurd is it then for Men of Sense to maintain That though the one Party of this Contract breaketh all Conditions the other should be obliged to perform their Part No this error is contrary to the Law of God the Law of Nations and the Law of Reason But as pride hath been the Bait the Devil hath catched most by ever since the Creation so it continues to this day with us Pride caused our first Parents to fall from the blessed Estate wherein they were created they aiming to be Higher and Wiser than God allowed which brought an everlasting Curse on them and their Posterity It was Pride caused God to Drown the Old World And it was Nimrod 's Pride in building Babel that caused that heavy Curse of Division of Tongues to be spread among us as it is at this day One of the greatest Afflictions the Church of God groaneth under That there should be so many Divisions during their Pilgrimage here but this is their Comfort that the Day draweth near whereas there is but One Shepherd there shall be but One Sheepfold It was therefore in the Defence of this Party in their Just Rights and Liberties against Popery and Slavery At which words they Beat the Drums To which he said They need not trouble themselves for he should say no more of his Mind on that subject since they were so disingenuous as to interrupt a Dying Man only to assure the People he adhered to the True Protestant Religion detesting the erroneous Opinions of many that called themselves so and I Die this day in the Defence of the ancient Laws and Liberties of these Nations And though God for Reasons best known to himself hath not seen it fit to honour Vs as to make Vs the Instruments for the Deliverance of his People yet as I have Lived so I Die in the Faith that he will speedily arise for the deliverance of his Church and People And I desire all of you to preparâ— for this with speed I may say This is a deluded Generation vail'd with Ignorance that though Popery and Slavery be riding in upon them do not perceive it though I am sure thâ—re was no Man born marked of God above another for none comes into the world with a Saddle on his Back neiâ—her any Booted and Spurr'd to Ride him not but that I am well satisfied that God hath wisely ordered different Stations for Men in the World as I have already said Kings having as much Power as to make â—hem Great and the People as much Property as to make them Happy And to conclude I shall only add â—y Wishes for the Salvation of all Men who were created for that end After ending these words he prayed most fervently near three quarters of an hour freely forgiving all Men even his greatest Enemies begging most earnestly for the Deliverance of Sion from â—ll her Persecutors particularly praying for London Edinburgh and Dublin from which the Streams run that Rule God's People â—n these three Nations Being asked some hours before his Execution â—f he thought not his Sentence Dreadful He answered He wished he had a Limb for every Town in Christendom A Brief Account of the Last Speech of Mr. John King at the place of Execution at Edenburgh on the 14th day of August 1679. Men and Brethren I Do not doubt but that many that are Spectators here have some other end than to be edified by what they may see and hear in the last words of one going to Eternity but if any one of you have Ears to hear which I nothing doubt but some of this great gathering have I desirâ— your Ears and Attention if the Lord shall help and permit me to speak to a few things I bless the Lord since infinite Wisdom and holy Providence has so carved out my Lot to dye after the manner that I do not unwillingly neither by force It 's true I could not do this of my self Nature always having an Inclination to put the Evil day far off but through Gracâ— I have been helped and by this Grace yet hope I shall 'T is true through Policy I might have shunned such â— hard Sâ—ntence if I had done some things but though I could I durst not God knows redeem my life with the losâ— of my Integrity and Honesty I bless the Lord that since I have been apprehended and made a Prisoner God hath very wonderfully upholden me and made out that comfortable word Fear not be not dismayed I am with thee I will strengthen thee I will uphold thee by the righâ— hand of my Righteousness Isaiah 42.10 I thanâ— the Lord he never yet gave me leave so much aâ— to have a thought much less to seek after anâ— shift that might be in the least sinful I did always and yet do judge it better to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season therefore I am come hither to lay down my life I bless the Lord I dye not as a Fool dyeth though I acknowledge I have nothing to boast of in my self Yea I acknowledge I am a sinner and one of the chiefest that hath gone under the name of a Professor of Religion yea amongst the unworthiest of those that have preached the Gospel my Sins and Corruptions have been many and have defiled me in all things and even in following and doing of my Duty I have not wanted my own sinful Infirmities and Weaknesses so that I may truly say I have no Righteousness of my own all is evil and like filthy Rags but blessed be God that there is a Saviour and an Advocate Jesus Christ the Righteous and I do believe that Jesus Christ is come into the World to save Sinners of whom I am the chief and that through Faith and his Righteousness I have obtained Mercy and that through him and him alone I desire and hope to have a happy and glorious Victory over sin Satan Hell and Death and that I shall attain unto the Resurrection of the just and be made Partaker of Eternal Life I know in whom I have believed and that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day I have
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
I bid farewel to all my Friends and dear Relations Farewell my poor Wife and Children whom I leave in the good hand of him who is better than seven Husbands and who will be a Father to the Fatherless Farewell all Creature Comforts Welcome everlasting Life everlasting Glory Welcome everlasting Love everlasting Praise Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me Sic Subscrib JOHN KING August 14 th 1679. Tolbooth Circa horam Septimam A brief Account of the last Speech of Mr. John Kidd at the place of Execution at Edinburgh on the 14th day of August 1679. Right Worthy and well beloved Spectators and Auditors COnsidering what bodily Distempers I have been exercised with since I came out of the Torture viz. Scarce two hours out of my naked bed in one day it cannot be expected that I should be in a Case to say any thing to purpose at this Juncture especially seeing I am not as yet free of it however I cannot but Reverence the good hand of God upon me and desire with all my Soul to bless him for this my present Lot It may be there are a great many here that judge my Lot very sad and deplorable I must confess Death it self is very â—eâ—rible to Flesh and Blood but as it is an out-let to sin and an in-let to Righteousness it is the Christians great and inexpressible Priviledge and give me leave to say this that there is something in a Christian Condition that can never put him without the reach of insufferableness even shame death and the Cross bâ—ing included And then if there be peace betwixt God and the Soul nothing can damp peace with Goâ— through our Lord Jesus Christ this is a most supporting ingredient in the bitterest Cup and under the sharpest and firiest Tryal he can be exposed unto thiâ— is my mercy that I have something of this to lay Claim unto viz. The intimations of Pardon and Peace betwixt God and my Soul And as concerning that for which I am condemned I Magnifie his grace that I never had the least challenge for it but on the contrary I Judge it my Honour that ever I was counted worthy to come upon the Stage upon such a consideration another thing that renders the most despicable Lot of the Christian and mine sufferable is a felt and sensible presence from the Lord strengthening the Soul when most put to it and if I could have this for my Allowance this day I could be bold to say O death where is thy sting and could not but cry out Welcome to it and all that follows upon it I grant the Lord from an act of Soveraignty may come and go as he pleases but yet he will never forsake his people and this is a Cordial to me in the Case I am now exposed unto Thirdly The exercising and putting forth his glorious Power is able to Transport the Soul of the Believer and mine above the reach of all sublunary Difficulties and therefore seeing I have hope to be kept up by this power I would not have you to look upon my Lot or any other that is or may be in my Câ—se in the least deplorable seeing we have ground to believe that in more or less he will perfect his Power and Strength in Weakness Fourthly That I may come a little nearer to the purpose in hand I declare before you all in the sight of God Angels and Men and in the sight of that Son and all that he has Created that I am a most miserable Sinner in regard of my Original and Actual Transgressions I must confess they are more in number than the Hairs of my Head They are gone up above my Head and are past numbring I cannot but say as Jacob said I am less than the least of all God's Mercies yet I must declare to the exalting of his Free Grace That to me who am the least of all Saints is this Grace made known and that by a strong hand and I dare not but say he has loved me and washed me in his own Blood from all Iniquities and well is it for me this day That ever I heard or read that faithful saying that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief Fifthly I must also declare in his sight I am the most unworthiest that ever opened his mouth to preach the unsearchable Riches of Christ in the Gospel Yea the sense of this made me altogether unwilling to fall about so great a Work until by the importunity of some whose Names are precious and savoury to me and many others I was prevailed with to fall about it and yet I am hopeful not altogether without sâ—me fruit and if I durst say it without Vanity I never found so much of the presence of God upon my Spirit as I have found in Exercises of that Nature though I must still confess attended with inexpressible Weakness and this is the main thing for which I must lay down my Tabernacle this day viz. That I did preach Christ and the Gospel in several places of this Nation for which I bless him as I can That ever such a poor obscure person as I am have been thus priviledged by him for making mention of his Grace as I was able In the next place though to many I die desired yet I know to not a few my Death is not desired and it is the rejoycing of my heart that I die in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ who has loved me and given himself for me and in the Faith of the Prophets and Apostles and in this Faith of there 's not a Name under Heaven by which Men can be saved but the Name of Jesus and in the Faith of the Doctrine and Worship of the Kirk of Scotland as it is now established according to the Word of God Confession of Faith Catechisms larger and shorter and likewise I joyn my Testimony against Popery Perjury Profanity Heresie and everything contrary to found Doctrine In the Close as a dying Person and as one who has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful I would humbly leave it upon godly Ministers to be faithful for their Lord and Master and not to hold their peace in such a day when so many wayâ— are taken for injuring of him his Nâ—me Way Sanctuary Ordinances Crown and Kingdom I hope there will be found a party in this Land that will continue for him and his Matters in all Hazzards and as faithfulnesâ—â—s called for in Ministers so Professors would concern themselves that they Countenance not nor abet any thing inconsistent with former Principles and Practices Let the Land consider how Neutral and Indifferent we are grown in the Matters of God even like Ephraiâ— long ago a Cake not turned As concerning that which is the ground of my Death viz. Preaching here and there in some Corners I bless my God I have not the leasâ— Challenge for it and tho' those that
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
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
Fact And so for the First As a Dying Man I now declare that when I entred my self with the Duke of Monmouth to be his Chyrurgeon it was on no other account but to serve him in the West-Indies where I knâ—w no other design whatsoever but to possess himself of some of those Islands until I had been at Sâ—a two days wherein one privately told me We are absolutâ—ly bound for England and I should take it from him it was true It much surprized me but knowing no way to avoid it or to get on shore though it was at that time contrary to my Inclinations if I could have avoided it I would not lâ—t others see that I had that dissatisfaction within me After our Landing at Lyme I knew it was never the nearer to attempt my escape the Country being so beset on the other hand if the Duke of Monmouth did win the day I might have raised my Fortunes as high as I could expect These were the Arguments that Flesh and Blood did create in my Breast for self-preservation While I was with the said Duke I did him as much Service as I could and faithfully After it pleased God to disperse that Army under his Command I endeavour'd to secure my self but by Providence was taken at Honiton from thence committed to Exon and after removâ—d to Dorchester where I received my Sentence and am now as you see just going to Execution the Lord prevent all of you from such ignominious Deaths and I advise you all that you never take any great thing in hand but what you have a Warrant for from the Lord I assure you I had no satisfaction in this but this I am sure that if I have done any thing amiss in it it is pardoned I bless God I have that satisfaction I diâ— a Professor of the Church of England I desire Pardon of all those I have any ways wronged or abused as I freely forgive all those that have wronged or abused me I am in Charity with all men Lord have mercy upon me give me strength to go through these pains give me full assurance now at this last moment Come Lord Jesus come quickly Also one Samuel Robbins of Charmouth in the County of Dorset that was Executed or rather murthered at Warham in the said County I cannot pass him by in silence his Case being so exâ—raordinary hard that to speak moderately betwixt the King and his Case I do say this that I verily believe nevâ—r man suffered innocenter as I hope you will be satisfied in after you have heard his Crime and on what small grounds he was Guilty or so supposed by my Lord Chief Justice He used generally in the Summer to use the Craft of Fishing to get a competent maintenance for his Family and happened to be out at Sea a-Fishing before Lyme that day the Duke came in to Land and was commanded on board one of the Duke's Ships he not knowing who they were and they bought his Fish of him after which they told him that was the Duke of Monmouth pointing at him and that he was just going to Land He desired to go on shore which was refused and told that as soon as the Duke was landed he should have his Liberty so accordingly he came on shore and was never after with him or ever took up Arms under him I leave the Reader to judge whether this was High Treason or no. This was all he was guilty of except that he was a good honest Men a zealous Christian a man of a very good Life and Conversation as I think his Neighbours will attest it in most Towns and Parishes where he lived But alas he had a good Book in his House when taken called The Solemn League and Covenant This was the High Treason he must be guily of which was aggravated to the Lord Chief Justice by one or two hot Spirits his Neighbours But to be short he received his Sentence of Death with great â—ourage and not at all dismayed saying very often in Prison before If it pleased God to call him now to glorifie his Name by this Providence of his to Death he should be ready but said he I am as innocent of any thing I have done against any man that may deserve this punishment as the Child now unborn When he came to the place of Execution he very chearfully declared his Innocency to the Spectators as before and so praying very devoutly for some time he was Executed His Prayer I have no exact Copy of Also one Mr. Charles Speake of London a Gentleman of good Extraction being Son to the Worshipful George Speake Esq near Illminster in the County of Somerset where he was Executed His Case also was extraordinary hard but there may be two great Reasons given why he was Executed The first was Because he came from that good Pious Family which always have been Opposers to Popery and suffered deeply for their Courage that way Secondly The said Mr. Charles Speake had purchased some great place in the Kings Bench-or Common-Pleas which was very profitable to him so that by his Fall there being a Forfeiture much money may be made of it all intercession could not avail with the L. C. J. for his Life He hâ—ppened to be at Illminster at the time of the Dukes being there which was the greatest Crime he was guilty of the Validity of his Evidence I leave to those in the West which know how far it was carried that way He was a fine Courteous loving Gentleman and notwithstanding his Youth he acted the part of an old Christian Soldier at his Death preparing himself to undergo those pains saying very often They were nothing to his Deserts from God Almighty but as for what I am accused of and Sentenc'd for I hope you will believe I am not so guilty as my Judge and Accusers have endeavour'd to make me If it had pleased God I should have been willing to have lived some time longer but God's time being come I am willing I will be contented to drink this bitter Cup off Being at the place of Execution the croud was so great that I suppose he was shorter than otherwise he would have been but alas how could it be for on every side of him as well as up and down the Town the Inhabitants were weeping and bewailing him Oh ' t is the worst day that ever we saw in this Town Must this good Gentleman die here Oh! yet save his Life I am ready to die for him and the like He prayed very heartily for near an hour and sung a Psalm and so we hope was translated to Heaven there to sing everlasting Praises and Hallelujahs His Father and Mother you may easily judge were not a little concerned about him but their Adversaries malice ended not here but Father and Mother must be brought in and how many thousands of Pounds it cost them I think is too well known in London and most Parts of the
that seek the ruine of their Parents that begot them and brought them forth or them that lay violent hands upon themselves dashing out their own Brains cutting their own Throats hanging and drawing themselves ripping up their own Bellies tearing out their own Bowels they being in different senses Children and Members of that Body Politick they design and attempt the Destruction of and when I know not how long the Duration and Continuance of these things shall be or a Conclusion or End by God shall be put thereto who by Divine and Unerring Wisdom governs the World why shall my Soul be unwilling to take its flight into the unseen and eternal World Where no sullied sordid or impious thing most incongruous and unbecoming Nature shall be seen and found and where I shall behold no narrow conclusive contracted Soul there habitually preferring their private before a publick good but all most unanimously and equally center in one common universal good and where the sighs and groans and cries of the afflicted and persecuted shall be heard no more for ever I earnestly exhort all most highly to prize and value Time and diligently improve it for Eternity to be wise seriously and seasonably to consider of their latter End for by the irrepealable and irreversible Law of Heaven we must all die yet we know not how where or when Live with your Souls full of solicitude and care with a most deep concernedness and most diligent industriousness whilst you have time and opportunity and the means of Grace Health and Strength make sure of these two great things viz. 1. What merits for you a Right and Title to Eternal Life and Glory and the future unchangeable Blessedness as the Redeemers most precious Blood and Righteousness that thereby a real Application and Imputation may be unto you by sincere Believing 2. That that which makes you qualified Subjects for it is the great work of Regeneration wrought in your Souls being renewed in the Spirit of your Minds the Divine Nature being imprest upon them repairing of the depraved Image of God in you thâ—t being transformed into his own likeness thereby in the World you may mind anâ— savour more the things of the Spirit than the things of the Flesh Celestial and Heavenly more than Terrestrial and Earthly Superiour more than inferiour things And therewith have a holy Life and Conversation conjoyned that results and springs from the same as Fruit from the Root and Acts from the Habits Let all in order thereto seriously consider these few Texts of sacred Scripture let them predominately possess you let them be deeply and indelibly Transcribed upon your Souls let them be assimilated thereunto and made the written Epistles the lively Pictures thereof Matth. 5.8 20. Blessed be the pure in heart for they shall see God Vers. 20. For I say unto you except your Righteousness exceed the Righâ—eousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven John 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God c. Gal. 5.19 20 to 23. Now the works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Adultery c. James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of fiâ—st fruits of his Creatures 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Vers. 13. Wherefore gird up the loyns of your Minds c. Colos. 3.1 2. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things that are above Set your affections on things above not c. Gal. 5.24 And they that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts c. Eph. 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins Rev. 20.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no power Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no Condemnation c. 1 Pet. 1.15 But as he that hath called you is holy so be ye c. Vers. 23. Being born again not of corruptible Seed c. Psal. 4.3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself c. I shall mention now no more the whole Bible abounds with these Texts with what a Renovation and Change of our Carnal and Corrupt Hearts and Natures there must be with Holiness of Life and Conversation before we can be capable of a future and blessed Immortality and of inheriting the Kingdom of God for ever and ever Amen A Letter written by Mr. John Hicks Octob. 5. the day before his Death My Dear Nephew I Am yet in the Land of the Living though in the Mouth of Death I have been concern'd for you next to my own Children before I die I thought fit 〈◊〉 write two or three Lines to you aâ— a Manifestation of my great Love to you I earnestly desire the welfar of you here and to Eternity hereafter next to my own Wife and Children you will want me when I am gone but I hope the Lord will take care of you make it your business to walk with him to serve him faithfully flee youthful Lusts and Remember your Creator in the days of your Youth be deeply concern'd to have your Heart and Nature chang'd and an interest in Christ secur'd unto you Death comes suddenly you know not when where nor how you shall die Let time therefore be most precious to you fill it up with Work and Duty Live by faith more than by sense and this will stand by you when you come to â—ie Seek the things which are above and set your Affections upon them have your Conversation in Heaven whilst you are upon Eaâ—th When you see your Parents give my dear Love to them and their Children the Lord grant that we may meet in his everlasting Kingdom When you see any of your Cousins give my dear Love to them and be not asham'd of my Sufferings I wrote last Saturday was a Seven-night to my Brother George but whether he is at London or Worcester I know not I wrote to him to desire him to Petition the King that some Favour and Mercy might be shewed me if he thought fit Things that are made to aggravate my Crime I am clear from as that I perswaded the Duke of Monmouth to assume the Title of King at Taunton when I was not there with him or in Thirteen days after he came into England and that I rode to and fro in the West to perswade People to go in to his Army when I was in the East and caâ—â— from thence to hiâ— in the West but my Non-conformity cuts me and obstructs the
be married to my Husband and to be given to the Embraces of my Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever Learn not to repine at the Holy Determination of an infinite wise God but rest satisfied in his Will knowing that he doth all things for the best to them that fear him Weep not for me who am only changing this World of Temptation of Troubles and Affliction It hath pleased God to call me a little before you but you must soon follow after keep therefore the Fear of God before your Eyes and then you will have cause to rejoyce and not to mourn when at the time of departure you may have cause to say with me I have run my Race I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Glory which fadeth not away which that you may be able to say is the Hearty Prayer of Your Friend and Servant Josias Askew The Account his Friend gives of him TO prevent your further trouble in suing for a pardon I think it convenient â—o lâ—t you know I do not question but my dear Cousin hath had his Pardon Sealed by the King of Kings and is in everlasting Blessedness singing Hallelujahs Salvation Glory and Honour to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever For God did so carry him through to drink that bitter Cup with so much Courage and Chearfulness to the last as was to the Admiration of all Spectators notwithstanding the terrible Sight he sâ—w at the Place of Suffering and so vehemently as he was tryed by the Adversary yet it did not in the least discompose him or alter his Countenance for he continued with a smiling Countenance to the last and was transported above measure I want words to express it he was like one wrapt up in Heaven with his Heart there and his Eyes fixed thereon I could wish you had been there it would have driven away all cause of Sorrow from your Heart to see his Deportment and hear the Gracious Words that proceeded out of his mouth He remembreth his Duty to you both and left Pâ—ul's Blessing with you Grace Mercy and Peace his Love to his dear Sister he desires her not to be troubled for him for he hath made his Peace with God and was assured he should go to eternal Happiness he would have written more to you and to his Sister but that he had so short a time after Sentence that he wanted Opportunity when he went out of Prison he said Gentlemen Now I am going and it is the time I much longed for I would not change with him that passeth Sentence upon me for a World I was with him to the last and seeing his Courage did very much encourage me though I never saw such a sight with my Eyes The behaviour of John Holway before and at the place of his Execution at Warham in the County of Dorset HE lived in Lime where the Duke Landed and Appeared in Arms at that time until his Captain left him then took up Arms under the Duke of Monmouth and went with him until the Kings Proclamation came forth That all that would lay down their Arms before some Justice of the Peace in four days after and take a Certificate for their so doing they should be acquitted and have his Majesties pardon which this Person did though one day too late which Blot my Lord Chief Justice hit being very good at it and passed the Sentence of Death on him Before his Tryal he was not much concerned at his Case and thought himself almost out of danger But to be short he received his Sentence with much Courage and Resolution and by the means of one Mr. Tiller who was to suffer with him was brought to that setled frame of Spirit as is fit for one in that Condition As he was riding in the Cart toward the place of Execution the Troopers being just behind the Cart he told them They shewed like brave Fellows but said he If I were to have my Life for fighting the best five of you I would not question it At the place of Execution he said not much But that he thought his and other mens Blood would be revenged on time or another and said Forgive me have Mercy on my poor Soul pardon all my Sins and the like and so the Executioner did his Office The Last Speech and Prayer of Mr. Matthews at the place of Execution HE was much concerned the Morning before he died to see his Wife weep and to be in such a passion for him which drew Tears from his Eyes and taking her in his Arms said My Dear Prithee do not disturb me at this time but endeavour to submit to the Will of God and although thy Husband is going from thee yet I trust God will be all in all unto thee sure my Dear you will make my passage into Eternity more troublesome than otherwise if you thus lament and take on for me I am very sensible of thy tender love towards me but would have you consider that this Separation will be so much for my Advantage as your Loss cannot parallel I thank God I am willing to die and to be with my Jesus be satisfied the Will of God must be done thy Will be done O God in Earth as it is in Heaven So embracing her took his last farewell of her and prepared to go to the place of Execution where being come he with a very modest sober composed Frame of Spirit stood while he saw several Executed before him his turn being come he thus spake Dear Countrimen I suppose We are all of one Kingdom and Nation and I hope Protestants O I wonder we should be so cruel and Blood-thirsty one towards another I have heard it said heretofore that England could never be ruin'd but by her self which now I fear if a doing Lord have Mercy on poor England turn the Hearts of the Iâ—habiâ—â—nts thereof cause them to love one another and to forâ—et one anothers Infirmities Have meâ—cy O Lord on me Give me strength and patience to fulfil thy Will Comfort my dear and sorrowful Wife be a Huâ—bâ—nd unto her stand by her in the greatâ—st trouble and affliction Let her depend upon thy Pâ—ovidenceâ— be merciful to all men preserve this Nation from Popery find out yet a way for its deliverance if it be thy good Will and give all Men Hearts to be truly thanâ—ful Comfort my fellow sufferers that are immediately to follow Give them strength and comfort unto the end I forgive all the World even all those that have been the immediate Hastners of my Death I am in charity with all Men. And now blessed Lord Jesus into thy Hands I commend my Spirit Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Eâ—rth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that
immediately well Armed as many as we were entered the Town Friday the whole day was spent in Listing of Men which flock'd to us so fast that we could scarce tend them with Arms. The like on Saturday also and then about ten of the Clock at night 300 of our Men were sent to Bridport about six English Miles off to Storm that Town betimes in the Morning which we did accordingly taking many Prisoners out of their Lodgings and had not our Soldiers been a little too eager of Plunder we had made a good dayâ— work on 't but there lying about a Wood some of the Kings Forces we were forced to retreat losing three or four Men and killing several of theirs and taking Eight Prisoners this was the first Action which he had Sunday also was spent in Listing and Monday Morning but in the Afternoon we marched out of Lime for Axminster a little Town four Miles off our Party was near 2000 Foot and 300 Horse though we Landed not full an hundred Men and all these in the space of four days About two Miles from Lime we espied the Duke of Albermarle with about 4000 Men designing that Night to quartâ—r in the same Town which we had news of in the way yet we marched on in good order and came into the Town lined all Hedges Planted our Field-Pieces and expected nothing more than that we should give 'em battel they being not an English Mile from the Town they made towards us as soon as they heard that we were there but the Duke of Albermarle finding his Men to be all Militia-Men of the County of Devonshire and that they had no stomach to fight against Monmouth Retreated when he came within a quarter of an English Mile of the Town He came from Exon with these Forces intending to lay a siege against Lime presuming we could not be ready in so short a time but finding us so well prepared to receive him he wisely retired his Men being in great disordeâ— and confusion supposing we had pursued them which was Debated but the Duâ—e said it was not his business to fight yet till his Men had been a little Disciplin'd but rather to make up into the Country as fast as possible to meet his Friends not questioning but there would have been in several parts of the Kingdom some Action on the News of his Success But this in the end prov'd fatal to us for had we but follow'd them we had had all their Arms several more men and might have march'd in two days with little or no opposition to the very Gates of Exon the County-Troops resolving not to fight us and several came to us that Night with their Arms. But missing this opportunity we march'd on for Taunton Lodging at several small Towns by the way which still-received us as kindly as possible and all the way met with the loud Acclamations of the Country praying God to succeed our Arms. Thursday we came to Taunton about twenty Mile from Lime To give a particular Account of our Reception here would be too tedious the Streets throng'd with People we could scarce enter all endeavouring to manifest their Joy at his coming and their Houses Doors and Streets garnished with green Boughs Herbs and Flowers all the Emblems of Prosperity The next day Twenty six young Gentlewoman Virgins with Colours ready made at the charge of the Townsmen presented them to his Grace the Captain of them went before with a Naked Sword in one hand and a small curious Bible in the other which she presented also making a short Speech at which the Duke was exâ—remely satisfied and assured her He came now in the Field with a design to defend the Truths contained therein and to Seal it with his Blood if there shou'd be any occasion for it Nothing now could content the Country but he must be proclaimed King which he seemed exceeding averse to and really I am of Opinion from his very heart They said The Reason why the Gentry of England â—oved not was because he came on a Common-wealth-Principle This being the Cry of all the Army he was forced to yield to it and accordingly Saturday Morning he was Proclaimed In the Afternoon came out three PROCLAMATIONS one setting a Sum of Mony on the Kings Head as he had done before by the other The Second Declaring the Parliament of England A Seditious Assembly and if they did not separate before the end of June to give Power and Authority to any that would attempt to lay hold of them as Rebels and Traytors The Third To declare the Duke of Albermarle a Traytor who now lay within six Miles of us having had time to Rally his Men if he laid not down his Arms forthwith a Message also was sent to command him but he sent word That he was a Subject to JAMES the Second the late Kings Brother and that he knew no other Lord. We tarried here till Sunday Morning and then march'd fot Bridgewater seven Miles from thence We were now between four and five thousand Men and had we not wanted Arms could have made above ten thousand We were received here as in other places but did little more than Read our Declaration which we did also in all other Towns the Magistrates standing by in their Gowns and likewise our Proclamation and so march'd forward for Glassenbury from Glassenbury design'd for Bristol three days March from that Place designing to Attaque it Accordingly we arrived at Canshum Bridge a little Town three Miles English from Bristol intending to enter next morning the Duke of Beauford being there with a Garrison of about Four Thousand Men being heâ—e lodg'd in the Town we were on a sudden Alarm'd with the noise of the Approach of the Enemy being in no small Confusion on this unsuspected News The Duke sent one up the Tower to see whether he could discover them marching as soon as he came up he saw them at the very entrance into the Town fighting with our Men. Here we had a small Skirmish our Men being in the Fields adjoyning to the Town refreshing themselves but it lasted not long for before he could bring word they were fled being not above sixty Horse-Men They did us mischief killed and wounded above Twenty Men whereas we killed none of theirs only took four Prisoners and their Horses and wounded my Lord Newburg that it was thought mortal they came thither thinking it had been their own Forces and had not our undisciplin'd Fellows been a little too eager and suffer'd 'em to come a little farther on they would have enter'd the Town and we must have had every man of them their Infantry was following but on their Return came not forward These Forces being so near and Bristol being so well mann'd also the Duke was loth to pass the Bridge for Bristol though some Gentlemen that came over with us and were prescribed upon the account of the former Plot being Bristol men and knew the
hearts of the Townsmen begg'd him heartily to proceed towards it offering themselves to go in the Head of them into the Town by some private ways which they knew assuring him They Would make no Resistance but could not perswade him which had we been Possessors of we could not have wanted Mony nor Arms the only things needful for us in that Juncture for had we but had Arms I am perswaded we had by this time had at the least twenty thousand Men and it would not then have been difficult for us to have march'd to London with the Recuit of Bristol the King not being able to make 7000 Men for the gaining of so many Kingdoms But God saw it not fit for us and over-ruled our Consultations to our own ruin for this was in the top of our prosperity and yet all the while not a Gentleman more than went over with us came to our assistance So we march'd on to Bath we lay before it in the Afternoon and sent in our Trumpeter to demand the Town but they refused to give us Entrance having a strong Garison it being a stout People and a strong place Having no mind to spend time in laying Sieges we march'd on that day to a little Town called Phillips-Norton and there lay that night being now Sunday the 26 th of June Old-Style Saturday Morning preparing for Frome We were drawing out our Baggage for our March and on a sudden were alarmed with the appearance of the Enemy who had entred the Town and had lined all the Hedges and began to fire on us Here he began the briskest Rencounter we yet had and for an hour or more we had a brisk Skirmish but at last we beat them back killing about thirty which lay in the place and we lost about ten in all and a few wounded They retreating with their whole Army pitched within a mile of the Town and we went out also and pitched near them but out of Musket-shot playing Cannon one on another for some hours they killed us but one man all the while but with ours we did great execution having the advantage of the ground so at last they retreated and I have been told lost some hundreds of men in the Batâ—el both killed and wounded So we marched on for Frome a Town where we were as beloved as at Taunton where we wanted for nothing but Arms which were by a Stratagem taken from them a few days before our entrance Here came the unexpected News of Argyle's being defeated and likewise of the advance of the Kings Forces from London with considerable Baggage and thirty Field-Pieces On this News togâ—ther with our want of Mony and Arms not seeing which way to avoid these Forces we were at a stand and not a little non-plus'd 'T was at last agreed on that we that came with the Duke should get good Horses that Night and so for Pool a little Sea-Port Town not far off where we were to seize a Sip and set forth for Holland again leaving our Infantry to the mercy of the Country This was much like that Resolution of the Hollanders in the time of the Civil War with Spain being as we then were in despair of making better Terms and not daring to enter Salisbury Plain because their Horse being so much better than ours their Men being all Disciplin'd ours not we could not face them in so plain and open a Country so that we retreated backward in the mean time resolving to see what London would do having a good opportunity offered them The Souldiers being call'd forth and not two thousand Men to be had for their defence if they had but attempted any thing this disheartned our Men and several of them coming home to their own Country having felt by experience the hardships of War withdrew from us We came well back again to Bridgewater and were received with wonted Love we arrived here on Friday the 3 d of July and resolved here to fortifie so as to hold our ground till we heard from London Saturday in the Afternoon news was brought of the Approach of the Kings Forces within a Mile and a half of the Town where they had encamped the Duke went up into the Tower and there took a view of them and seeing them so careless and their Horse at some distance from the Army in a little Town the Infantry being in Sedge Moore He called a Council on it and it was concluded on that we should fall on them in the dead of the Night accordingly having a Guide to conduct us on in a private way we march'd out at about 11 of the Clock in the night and about one fell on them in their Tents There was a Ditch between us and the Guide promised to conduct 'em over an easie fordable place but our Men seeing the Enemy just before them ran furiously on and lost the Guide so that while they endeavoured to recover over that place the Enemy got on their Legs and put themselves in Order and now began as fierce a Battel as perhaps ever was fought in England in so short a time our Foot fought as well as ever Foot fought but not a Horse came up had our Horse but assisted we must have beaten them out of the Field But our Horses would not stand at the noise of Drums and Guns so that we soon lost two of our Piâ—ces of Ordnance and we had but four in all and then but one more in the Field our Foot flung most of their Shot over so that the Men for the most part were killed in the Rear and that run but the Front stood still and had we done as much execution in the Front as we did in the Rear the day had been our own but God would not have it their time was not yet come By this time their Horses came up and having six or eight hundred good disciplin'd Men well mounted and well arm'd ours neither our Foot having shot away all their Ammunition and our Baggage being not then in the Field they were forced to retreat being all in confusion Having no Mony left and our Party thus unexpactedly repulsed the Duke seeing he could not hold it any longer fled with my Lord Gray The Duke's Party was said to be about three thousand Foot and a thousand Horse we had more at least five thousand Men and Horse but not well Arm'd yet in the Field 'T is said we lost not above three hundred and they Foot but after when we were routed in our retreat lost a vast many more though they pursued not in some hours after The most remarkable Persons that were taken in this total Rout were Colonel Holmes Major Perrot the Constable of Crookborn and Mr. Williams Servant to the late Duke of Monmouth After the Field was clear of the Dukes Men the Earl of Feversham marched with five hundred Foot and a Party of Horse and Dragoons to Bridgwater where he found the Dukes Forces that were
left there fled and dispersed into several Places When his Lordship having left these Men in the Town under the Command of Colonel Kirk and hearing the late Duke of Monmouth was fled with about Fifty Horse the greatest number of the Dukes Men that were left together he sent out divers Parties in pursuit of him and others that fled the Field When on the 7th of July about five in the Morning some of the Lord Lumly's Men seized the Lord Gray and another Person near Holt-Lodge in Dorsetshire four Miles from the West of Ringwood and the said Lord Lumly making further enquiry among the Cotts was informed by one Anna Ferrant that two men went over a Hedge proving to be the Out-bounds of many Inclosures some of which were overgrown with Fern others with Pease and Oats but Guards being set upon the Avenues after divers attempts to escape the Brandenburgh one of the Parties observed to enter the Ground was taken on the 8th of July about five in the morning who confessing he departed from the late Duke of Monmouth about One of the Clock that morning in the Out-bounds diligent search was made when about Eleven of the Clock the same morning he was found by one Henry Parking hid in a Ditch covered with Fern who calling others to assist him the said late Duke was in the end taken and together with the Lord Gray and the Brandenburgh with a strong Guard brought by easie Journies to Whitehall where they arrived on the 13th of July and after some examination were committed to the Tower when on Wednesday the 15th of July the late Duke of Monmouth pursuant to a Warrant signed for his Execution upon his Attaindure of High Treason was delivered to the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex about Ten in the Morning and conducted to a Scaffold erected on Tower-Hill where after about half an hours continuance he laying down his head had it stricken off by the Executioner the which together with his Body being put into a Coffin covered with Velvet were carried away in a Velvet-covered Hearse in order to his Interment After the Duke was beheaded many Prisoners taken and those that fled by Parcels up and down secured in divers Goals in order to their Prosecution as was said according to Law which was the occasion of this great Mans shewing his parts at that degree as he did no one else fit to be made a Tool for such a Bloody Tragedy as he acted He went not only Judge but had a breviate under King James his hand to command what Troops he pleased to attend his Commands from place to place And was Lieutenant General as well as Judge and he gave daily the Word and Orders for going the Rounds c. and Ordered what party of Troops he pleased to attend him When Major C d who commanded the first Regiment of Guards the Dragoons who were as his Life-Guard when at the head of the Troop following Jeffreys from Somersetshire to Wiltshire in order for London after the Assizes the Major asked Jeffâ—eys If there would be any favour shewn to one Mr. Speake who was not the Speake intended Jeffreys said No his Family owed a Life he should die for his Name-sake because one of the Family and Name was guilty of being in the Action but was escaped and therefore this being his Brother should die Jeffreys demanded of the Major how many he thought there was killed by the Souldiers He replyed 1000. Quoth Jeffreys I believe I have condemn'd at many as that my self 'T is to be remembred that the Fellow call'd Tory Tom at Wells for his dirty Sauciness was sent to the Guard by this Major when presently this Tory Tom Petitioned some Persons to intercede with the Major and sent the Major a Letter desiring his Liberty for that if he or any one should give Tory Tom an ill word to Judge Jeffreys the Judge would hang him right or wrong with the rest of the Prâ—soners or condemn him at least so upon his submission the Major discharg'd him and did not leave him to the mercy of his own Tory Judge The Tryals in the West were deferred for some time after the Fatal Blow given to the D. of Monmouth on Tower-Hill which was the 15 th of July following because of my Lords being at Tunbridg but the latter end of August he with a special Commission of Oyer and Terminer assisted with four other Judges set forward with a Party of Horse he being made by special Commission their General The first place he came at was Winchester where were divers Prisoners on suspicion but here began the Tragedy for the Lady Lisle was there Arraigned for High-Treason in harbouring Mr. Hicks and Mr. Nelthrope that had been concerned with the Duke the Lady being on her Tryal the Jury were dissatisfied once and again but my Lords Threats and other Managery so disposed the Jury that at last they brought the Lady in Guilty on which he pronounced the Sentence of Death on her as usual in such Cases but she had the favour of being Beheaded their other Prisoners were carried to Salisbury and this was the most remarkable thing at that Assizes From thence they set forward for Salisbury where were many Prisoners that had been pick'd up and down the Country then in the Goal the which with those that were brought from Winton were ordered to be carried to Dorchester there not being Evidence enough to accomplish what was then designed by my Lord so that little of moment passed there but to pursue the matter proceeds from thence to Dorchester where he with his Assistants Gown-men and Sword-men arrived on the 3 d. of September on which day being Thursday the Commission was read Friday morning was an excellent Sermon Preached before their Lordships by a worthy Divine Chaplain to a worthy Person of that Country much tending to Mercy It was observed that while my Lord Chief Justice was at Church in Prayers as well as at Sermon he was seen to laugh which was so unbecoming a Person in his Character that ought in so weighty an Affair as he was then entering upon to have been more serious and have craved the help and assistance of God Almighty The Sermon being over their Lordships repaired to the Court which by order of the Lord Chief Justice was hung with Red Cloth a Colour suitable to such a succeeding bloody Tragedy being accompanied by a numerous Company of the Gentry of that County as well as the Flower of the Neighbouring Counties of Somerset and Devonshire and then proceeded to give his Charge in which Charge by reason of the Severity of his Sentiments and Positions laid down to make discoveries of all such as were Abettors Aidors or Assisters to the late Duke of Monmouth on pain of High Treason which was a great Surprize to all the Auditors and so vehemently urged and so passionately expressed as seemed rather the Language of a Romish Inquisitor than a Protestant Judge
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