Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
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A30794
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An exact relation of the most execrable attempts of John Allin committed on the person of His Excellency Francis Lord Willoughby of Parham, Captain General of the continent of Guiana and of all the Caribby-Islands, and our Lord Proprietor
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Byam, William, 1623-1670.
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1665
(1665)
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Wing B6376; ESTC R29169
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6,721
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18
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upper end of Parham Plantation and near the open ground not far from a path leads to Noctia of an old saw-pit he commanded his Negroes to build a Hut and sent some of them to observe whether any approched that place and that they might be unsuspected ordered them to carry wood on their shoulders as if they had belonged to a Plantation near unto His Excellency's Plantation where he sometimes walkt with very slender attendance These recreations of His Excellencies gave Allin encouragement for his desir'd conveniency but divine providence still steered His Excellency from that part where this murderer expected him On Monday the second of January His Excellency visiting a Neighbours Plantation came home late at the landing place Allin lay undiscovered to murder him at his arrival but a light and attendance suddenly coming down to receive him Allin at that time was disappointed The day following His Excellency honoured a Neighbour with a visit about two leagues from Parham during his absence Allin sent a Letter by the hands of a Negroe Boy but 't was not left for nor delivered to His Excellency that day for it was late before his Bark returned That night Allin called for victuals and said come le ts eat a little before I die his servant replied I hope not so Master I hope there is no cause or fear of death I cannot tell answered Allin The next morning being the fourth day Allin sent a letter very early by the very same Negroe Boy and charged him most strictly to deliver it with his own hand the lâ—d most confidently goes to His Excellencies chamber presents the Letter which was wrapped up in a leaf and unsealed and so departs His Excellency because to Allin stood on his justification and pleaded guiltless that the Blasphemy for which he was accused had sent for the papers out of the Records which concerned his tryal and this morning about the time of the delivery of Allins Letter received them where he found three positive Depositions his Indictments and the Penance enjoyned him by the Court for his blasphemy After this His Excellency shewed my self and Major Banister as he was walking in his Plantation none attending him besides our selves Allins Letter with what impudency penned the inserted Copy will evidence and discoursing of him His Excellency averred he need not have any suspition of him for he intended him no injury but he was bound for to take cognizance of his fearful Blasphemy and to search what judicial proceedings there had been about it for such a business as this being of a most dreadful nature ought not to be slubbered over and withall informed us that for his satisfaction he had sent for and that morning received all papers relating thereunto And as for his Duelling which Allin so much feared to be punished for he intended not to question him upon the late strict Act being it was never published nor known here c. His Excellency had summoned the Council here to attend him this evening at Parham at which time as he intended to walk to his Wind-mill near the place where Allin lurked arrives some Gentlemen of his Council which prevented him had he gone Allin had at the place attempted to murther him The usual hour for evening Prayers being come all went to divine service in an upper dining Room where my self Council and several Gentlemen of the Colony besides Domestick Servants attended His Excellency And as his Chaplain was reading the first Lesson being the 3. of the 2. Samuel and the 27 verse And Joab smote Abner under the fifth rib c. Allin enters the room with a ghastly and direful countenance at first unknown to any present and going towards His Excellency with his left hand somewhat extended as if he intended some civil address and his right hand aloof behind his right thigh with his sharp Cutlace in it and as soon as within reach smote 〈◊〉 his Excellencies head with all his fury and seconded his blow before I who was one of his nearest could enterpose immediately other Gentlemen rushed on him at the instant in which I seized him Allin stabs himself with his short Cutlace in his right side and down he fell all were surprized with amazement and horrour and had I not with a passionate earnestness most strictly commanded them to forbear that he might be reserved for the hand of Justice several would have slain him and he hearing them cry out Kill the Dog replyed I came here to dye to kill my Lord and then my self After I had secured him with a Guard I waited on His Excellency whom I found through Gods mercy far better than I expected wounded in the Forehead with a slanting blow but his worst hurt was in his left hand with holding it up after he had received the first blow had his forefinger and middle finger cut off and had lost a third had not a large Ring which he wore thereon defended it I returning to Allin commanded him to be searched in his pocket were found some Powder and Balls and several Papers his wound had a large Orifice and about his bare belly a new cord bound hard for what use I know not and charge being given to a Chirurgeon to dress him and take care of him I with my Council perused his papers amongst which we found the Letter which he had writ to His Excellency which I have here inserted that the world may see what an imperious and bloody Villain this was but this as in the Postscript he writes was sent but not delivered The Letter superscribed For His Excellency the Lord Willoughby our Proprietour An Abstract of some passages out of Mr. Allins Letter sent to His Excellency MY LORD YOur Marshals gave out that they were come for me which made me fly my house I now stand upon my guard and am resolved never to be seized by Mankind c. I do humbly beg desire and expect that you will by my Boy the bearer send me your general pardon both for Words Blasphemy and Duels fought with Captain Parker as likewise for this way of asking it also a pardon for Captain Parker c. If you do not send me this pardon full and large remember that you will be guilty of all the bloud that I shall spill and mischief I shall act which shall be as great as ever was acted by the instructions and hands of a private man upon the reception of which I will lay by my Arms and come in to your Lordship with the greatest submission c. He that slights his own life may command any mans life in the world and I have too much of a Roman in me to possess my own life when I cannot enjoy it with freedom and honour My Lord but the very last night at your coming ashore I had your life in my hand my sword drawn and as much courage as ever Caesar had and my convenience was so great that I was overcome
with the advantage my reason overcoming my passion and telling me I can never lay an higher obligation upon this Nobleman than by now passing his Life and therefore my Lord remember however you deal by me you met with a generous Enemy My Lord to conclude if you seize my Boy or that you force him to confess any thing or that he be not with me by the setting of the Sun or that he bring me no answer I will conclude that you intend to destroy me or at the least put ignominies upon me which I will never endure I will renounce all Allegiance revenge my self on all my Enemies then kill my self MY LORD I am your devoted Servant JOHN ALLIN From the Woods Tuesday Jan. 3. 1664. My Lord I sent this yesterday by one of the clock but you were not at home His Letter was too large and too impertinent to be all inserted in this small Narrative but these are the most material parts But most of these Rants in their several Paragraphs were not written in his last Letter to his Excellency for had they been sent a cautious care had been taken to have prevented his design of Blood on his Excellency This night he lay in torment with the anguish of his wound which caused a violent Feaver He repented for nothing but that he had not killed His Excellency and cursed the Coat which he wore which was one of his Negroes that he might be the less known that dulled his sword from entring deep enough into his body His Excellencies Chaplain giving him some spiritual advice he bid him talk to the rabble and not to him He gloried in the action he had committed but grieved it was unsuccesful and being by an intimate acquaintance interrogated of his Complices he answered He scorned any man should share with him in so noble an action Being demanded whether he desir'd any thing to dispatch himself he answered He could do that at any time and about 12 at night the Marshal being gone out of the room he drew forth a Pistol which was supposed to be tyed to his thigh charged up to the Muzzel clapt it to his Brest struck fire but 't would not go off he then called to a Centinel to spare him a stick of fire to light his Pipe which observed he clapt the burning cole to the Pan but all would not discharge the Pistol which then discovered was taken from him Being deprived of his Instrument to murther himself he in vain â—ollicited the Marshal privately for another still continuing obstinately unrelenting and grieved at nothing but that he had not murthered His Excellency and butchered himself On the sixth day he was sent down to the Gaol with a strong Guard and seemed chearful when he was put into the Boat but had not gone above two Leagues when feeling death approching but undiscernably to the Marshal and Guard he discoursed a little and was immediately seized with internal tortures and in a short time became senseless and expired His carcase was delivered to the common Gaol where I commanded several Chirurgeons to dissect him and narrowly observe whether he had taken any poison in his Maw They found a Pill of Landocum undigested some digested and some that had passed into his Intestines This was privately given him by one Serjeant the Chirurgeon that dressed him enticed thereunto by a Diamond-ring and some small presents who now in durance too late bewails his folly The Jury of Inquest found Allin Felo de se and because such an unheard attempt merited an unusual punishment his naked carkase was ordered to be dragged from the Gaol by the common Hangman and Negroes to the Pillory at the Town of Toorarica where a Barbicue was erected his Members cut off and slung in his face they and his Bowels burnt under the Barbicue with a seditious paper which he had left to be published after his death his Head to be cut off and his Body to be quartered and when dry-barbicued or dry roasted after the Indian manner his Head to be stuck on a pole at Parham and his Quarters to be put up at the most eminent places of the Colony The Pole to be of the most durable wood to the future terrour and cursed example of such incorrigible Villains Thus died this perverse Atheist unparallel'd in History whose pride and passion and overweening judgment of hâ—s cursed Tenet hurried him to this ignominious end which his folly fansied should never seize him A most remarkable Example to be seriously considered by all that slight the Omnipotent God his Word and Service blaspheme the most holy Saviour of the world value their own vanities and deny their ears to good advice It is my duty and it hath been my care to inform the World aright of all the passages of this vile Assassinate and matchless Miscreant wherein I have been exceeding cautious that onely Truth should direct my pen. Jan. 11. 64. WILLIAM BYAM FINIS Let this Relation of John Allins Attempt upon the Person of His Excellency Francis L. Willoughby of Parham Captain General of the Continent of Guiana c. be Imprinted May 22. 1665. ROGER L'ESTRANGE By Letters since from Suinam we understand that the Lord Willâ—ughby's wounds were for dangerous that his brains were seen to beat