of thy love stand by us in the difficult hour take us into thine own Care cause thy Angels to attend us to convey our Souls as soon as they are divided from our Bodies into Abraham's Bosom into the Paradice of our God And Lord we beg that thou wilt be with us with thy extraordinary Presence helping us to trust in thee doing for us beyond what our narrow Hearts are able to ask or think All which we beg for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ in whom O Lord this little time do thou give us Hearts to give thee all Glory Honour and praise now and for evermore Amen Sweet Jesus Amen HONE's Prayer GLorious Lord God â—hou art the God of the whole Creation and the God that created the Heavens and the Earth in six days by thy power we stand here before thee Lord help us to be looking up unto Jesus Christ who is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to Israel and Remission of sins Now Lord for thy mercies sake we would be helped to say That Power that râ—…d up Christ from the dead that is able to raise up our poor Souls before thee from Death to Life O Loâ—d for thy mercies sake wash all our Souls in the Blood of Iesus Christ which speaketh better things than that of Abâ—… and Lord for thy mercies sake pardon aâ—… our sins from our first our Original sins of Sabbath-breaking and our sins of Transgression and the sin for which we are condemned O Lord pardon it and let us not go out of the World with one sin hid in our Souls For thy mercies sake pardon all our sins Lord do thou preserve this Nation and put it into the heart of the King to be mercifull and to rule in truth and Righteousness And for thy mercies sake rule the Affairs of this Nation and help to 〈◊〉 and govern all things for the government of our Souls and our Spirits for thy mercies sake â—nd help us that with joy we may be received into Glory into the eternal Habitations for Christ is sent into the world to that purpose to save sinners of whom we are chief And Lord for thy mercies sake let me have a true belief in Jesus Christ aright to be Looking up to him for Life and for Salvation Oh that we might Perish if we perish and be found doing thy will to the utmost of out power Lord accept of us and help us and be with us this litle time we shall be in this world all which we beg for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom be Glory with the Kingdom both now and for evermore Mr. ROUS's Prayer O Lord our God who art nearer to each and every one of us than we are to our selves It is not all the Confessions to men in the world were it confessed by the Tongues of Angels those glorious Spirits above that can avail any thing with the great God against whom we have sinned or that can proccure pardon for the least transgression which deleâ—…es eternal wrath And therefore for the siâ—s that 〈◊〉 have been guilty of either against the first or the â—…cond Table either against God as our Creator Câ—… as our Redeemer or the Holy and blessed Spirit aâ— our Sanctifier the sins that we have committed agâ—… thy Holy Church and that saith that I hope we die in the belief of the sins that we have been guilty of â—gainst our Neighbours upon one account and another the sins that we have been guilty of against our â—…vernours and Rulers to whom thou hast obliged us under manifold obligations both as men 〈◊〉 Christians the sins that we have been guilty of in our several places Relations and Capacities whatsoevâ—… whatever have been their Circumstances and their Aggravations the least whereof deserves everlaâ—… death without the Merits of Jesus for all those greater or lesser sins whether that original sin 〈◊〉 brought into the world with us that source and fountain and foundations of all other sins â—hose actâ—… sins and transgressions against any of those that thou hast set over us or those that have been equal wâ—… us those relation sins as Husband and wife as Master and servant in every relation and Capacity I 〈◊〉 forgive them and wash them away in the blood of the Lamb of God that stands at the right â—and of 〈◊〉 Majesty on high And because we have no worthiness of our own to recommend us to thee therefore we 〈◊〉 thee for thy Sons sake to fetch arguments from thy self Our righteousness is as filthy rags and the 〈◊〉 of us are as a mensâ—rous cloath Fetch Arguments from the riches of thy Grace from the goodness of 〈◊〉 nature from the multitude of thy mercies from the blood of thy Son from that blessed eternal in â—…cession that we hope he is making for us and for all that belong to the election of Grace and shall 〈◊〉 brought to glory Remember thy Churches 〈◊〉 the fulfiling of thy promises the accomplishing 〈◊〉 thy propheâ—…es through the world the downfal of the man of sin and the destruction of all thy 〈◊〉 Churches implacable enemies Lord hasten the day of the calling the Iews and the fulness of the Gâ—…tiles put an end to Wars and Rumours of Wars let the desire of all Nations come Dwell in thâ—… three Nations be a wall of firâ— round about them Prevent any kind of Insurrection at home all â—…ner of Invasion from abroad let those that tarry behind enjoy peace and truth and righteousness dâ—… in and reign in the heart of the King Lord bless and prosper him in his person give him a lâ—…g a â—…perous and an happy Reign Good Father we pray thee let him live here with a flourishing Crown 〈◊〉 on his head till thou in thy due time shalt receive him to an eternal Crown hereafter Bless him in 〈◊〉 Royal Family and Relations in his Royal Brother Bless him in his Royal Confort make the Kiâ—… 〈◊〉 Nursing Father and the Queen a Nursing Mother Conâ—ound all hatred malice and envy all evil speakâ—… every thing that is contrary to sound Doctrine and give thy people that live under him to â—…ew that â—…â—…fulness and respect as becomes Christians and as becomes Loyal Subjects Bless the Clergy by whaâ—…ever Names or Titles distinguished make them sound in their Doctrine and make them useful and 〈◊〉 blameable in their Lives and conversations help them to mind the Souls committed to their Chaâ—… and help them to do their duty that they may be able to say behold here are we and the Children whâ—… thou hast given us now Lord bless all the Nation from the highest to the lowest from the Prince to 〈◊〉 â—easant of all sorts ranks and degrees Give Loyalty towards our dread Soveraign who is a merciful aâ—… gracious Prince whom thou haâ—… set as thy Vicegerent to Reign over us who can do nothing but whâ—… is just and equal before thee to whom he must give an account of all his Transactions even to thee 〈◊〉 King of Kings And Lord grant peace and love and unity one among another and the practical obserâ—…tion of thy holy day and those duties that relate to God and man Grant that those that follow after 〈◊〉 may take particuler Example by us We must needs acknowledge and smite upon our thighs that we 〈◊〉 Justice are brought hither that we having nothing to do but to condemn our selves and justifie the jâ—…ice of all the Land and to pray God to bless his Majestie to Reign in these Nations and those that 〈◊〉 succeed him upon the Throne All which we beg upon the account of our Lord Jesus Christ who 〈◊〉 dead and behold he lives to whom with thy self and eternal Spirit we desire to ascribe as is due 〈◊〉 honour praise and glory everlasting Amen There was these Liues more in the Paper delivered by Captain Walcot than what you have before seen AS to Ireland I am very inclinable to believe could I have charged anybody there with being Engagâ—… in the matter for which I suffer I might have had my life but by the blessing of God I will Charge 〈◊〉 man wrongfully no not to save my life and these being some of the last words I am to speak I do averâ— knew not an English man or Protestant in Ireland any way ingaged in it Besides I was told they thâ—… were mostly concerned did not value Ireland and said it must of course follow England Something I heaâ—… of one Gentleman in the North and whether it be true or false I will not determine FINIS
THE SPEECHES 〈◊〉 Cap. Walcot Jo. Rouse and Will. Hone. one Friday the 20 th of July 1683. â—Aptain Thomas Walcot being drawn to Tiburn in one Hurdle John Rouse and William Hone in another and there put into a Cart the Reverend Dr. Thomas Cartwright Dean 〈◊〉 â—…pon and one of His Majesties Chaplains in Ordinary with Mr. Smith the Ordinary 〈◊〉 â—…gate began to acquaint Captain Walcot That this was the last time he had to spend 〈…〉 World and therefore desired him to make a good use of it telling him that as death 〈◊〉 him Judgment will find him and earnestly exhorted him to make an ingenious Discoâ—…â—nd Confession of what he knew touching the Conspiracy and Treasons of which he 〈…〉 found guilty and received sentence to die 〈◊〉 this Capt. Walcot replyed That he had some Papers in his Pocket of what he had â—…ed to say in writing because his memory was bad therefore he desired they might 〈◊〉 â—…ed out and he would read them 〈◊〉 Dr. Cartwright and the Ordinary spake to Hone and Rouse to the effect before â—…ioned earnestly desiring them to confess the whole of what they knew instancing 〈◊〉 places of Scripture to them as Joshuah's advice to Achan c. my Son confess and give 〈◊〉 to God whom you have dishonoured c. telling them they would have imbrewed 〈◊〉 â—ands in the blood of a merciful and good Prince who had often pardoned and gave 〈◊〉 Acts of Oblivion and indemnity to his Subjects and whose Reign hath preserved the â—…ty of the Protestant Religion amongst us That we cannot enjoy more than we do enâ—…â—…th other good admonitions for them to make cleer discoveries of the truth of what 〈◊〉 knew Captain Walcot in the mean while was prepared to read his Speech 〈◊〉 Cartwright askt him if be could discover any more than he had done already 〈◊〉 I 've not in the general I told the King the thing was laid very deep There was a â—…eman with me last night I told him what I told the King and that was all I told 〈◊〉 I thought an Act of indulgence would be very necessary because he had a great many 〈◊〉 to take Judgment of I know not the particulars of the Design but the King hath the 〈◊〉 Howard Mr. west and others that know more than I. I was never in Councel 〈◊〉 them nor never with them above four five or half a dozen times â—…en looking upon his Paper he began his Speech as follows â—…is great concourse of people do not only come here to see me dye but also to hear 〈◊〉 I shall say and because I would not be reproached and thought to be an Atheist 〈◊〉 I am gone I have two or three words to speak for my Religion I do believe in â—…e persons and one God and I expect and hope to be saved by the Merites and Righâ—…ness of his Son Christ Jesus without the hope of an advantage by any Merits or â—…teousness of my own and I believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament 〈◊〉 the word of God that they were not written according to the will of Man but holy men of 〈◊〉 writ them as they were inspired by the holy Ghost â— beleive that these Scriptures ought to be the Rule of our Faith and the methode of our â—…hipping of God I beleive that as Christ is the head of his Church so he is their Lawâ—… That it is not in the power of any Council or Conclave of Cardinals or power upon 〈◊〉 whatsoever to set up the Precepts and Traditions of men and to make them of equal â—…ty with the word of God I beleive it was not because the Jews rejected and Cruâ—…d Christ that he rejected them but because they rejected his Word which appears by 〈◊〉 Three thousand that God by one Sermon of Peters Converted they being pricked in their 〈◊〉 and touched in their Consciences cryed out Men and Brethren what shall we do and they were that day added to the Church It was certainly because the Jews rejected the Word and Gospel of Christ that the things were hid from their eyes which belonged to their peace It is a dreadful thing to reject the Word of God and it is a dreadful thing to live in a sinful course of life till God withdraws his Spirit from us For it is said it shall not always strive with man Death is the wages of sin I beleive had not Adam sinned he and we his posterity had not dyed Death is said to be the King of Terrors but it is only so to those that are terified with a terrifying Conscience that have the arrows of the Almighty sticking in them from convictions of great guilt and see no hopes of mercy have no assurance of Pardon but those that are Christs he takes away the terror and horror and sting of Death he enables them to say with Paul To me to live is Christ and to die is gain he enables not only to get unto Christ but into Christ and so they have Communion and Fellowship with the Father and the Son It is no hard matter to get the notions of the promises of the Gospel into our heads but unless the Lord is pleased to apply them to our hearts we cannot believe except We be in Christ as branches in the Vine we are not Christians indeed It was the case of poor Francis Spira he was certainly a knowing man but notwithstanding he had not â—aith to apply the promises Christ hath said that he that believes in him though he were dead yet shall he live and he that lives and believes in him shall never dye So if we be able to apply the promises by the Spirit of God we may have comfort through Faith but then Faith is the gift of God and Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and receiving it in the love of God I shall not be tedious Mr. Sheriff I shall be very short Mr. Sheriff take your own time Walcot As to the present occasion of my death I do neither blame the Judges nor the Jury nor the Kings Councel I only blame some men that in reality and in truth were deeper concerned and more engaged than I that came in as Witnesses against me who swore me out of my life to save their own and who for fear they should not do it effectually contrived that That I will appeal to you all whether there be a probability in it or not for they said that I made it a scruple of Conscience to have a hand in killing the King or to embrue my hands in his blood but was so generous as to undertake the Charging his Guards whilst others did it and to the end another might do it Truly I will appeal to all that know me whether they believe me so much an idiot that I should not understand it was the same thing to engage the Kings Guards whilst another killed him as to Kill him with my own hands But however by
But you confess you were consulting this Crime Walcot I was not to have a hand in the Kings Death Dr. Cartwright But it was proposed when you were there Walcot It was so Dr. Cartwright And it was agreed to be done Walcot Truly I do not know how far it was agreed I was there many meetings Dr. Cartwaight These very meetings you could not but be sensible of Walcot There were several meetings wherein the business of the Kings life was never spoke of Dr Cartwright That was agreed in those meetings but you had a tenderer Conscience Walcot I say they were for asserting our Liberties and Properties Dr. Cartwright I would fain have you explain that Walcot Truly Sir since you do press me to speak we were under general apprehensions and so were those Lords that are likely to suffer as I have heard they were under general apprehensions of Popery and Slaveries coming in Dr. Cartwright What sign was there of it you had no persecution at all you were allowed by the Law to meet five in a house besides thâ—…e of the Family It is true the Conventicles have been disturbed of late and I would 〈◊〉 you look upon it as a Judgment of God to bring you to this for forsaking the Churâ—… of England You have forsaken Communion with that Church in that way you were instructed from your youth Walcot I do not come here to dispute of Religion but I come here to die religiously if it pâ—ease God to enable me Dr. Cartwright I pray God enable you But I would not have you charge that as a Crime upon the Witnesses which was their duty Walcot I can't tell how to excuse my Witnesses for aggravating things against me and making them worse than really they were Dr. Cartwright going to reply Walcot Pray Sir give me leave for a man to invite a man to a meeting to importune him to this meeting to be perpetually solliciting him and then to deliver him up to be hanged as they have done me Dr. Cartwright It was a Crime to sollicit you to those meetings but when you were in it was a duty in you and in them to reveal it if God had given you the grace to reveal them the turn had been theirs which now is yours And whereas you say you cannot excuse them that is uncharitable Walcot I do forgive them and I desire with all my heart God would forgive them Dr. Cartwright You confess you were guilty enough to take away your life Walcot I was so The same measure we mete to another that measure God will mete to us Then Sir I do leave it to God Dr. Cartwright Then you pray this may be the last Blood spilt upon this account Walcot I do so Cartwright Would not you have Traytors brought to their end You talk of spilling Blood as if it were innocent Blood now spilt when you do confess and own the guilt But I shall give you no further disturbance but my Prayers to Almighty God for you that God would give you mercy And then turning to Hone. Dr. C. Mr. Hone give glory to God and unburthen your Conscience for you have but a short time to stay here Hone. I have nothing further to say but that I have been guilty of the Crime Dr. C. You are so Hone. Yes I am guilty of this Crime according to the Law of the Land Dr. C. I and according to the Law of God Hone. Yes Dr. C. You say according to the Law of the Land a man may be sworn out of his life by false Witnesses but you were guilty of conspiring the Death or the King and raising an Insurrection Hone. Truly I must say as the Captain well minded I was drawn in Thou sawest a Thief and thou consentedst with him So I say that I was drawn in I saw the Thief and consented I have looked upon my self since to be the more guilty of Blood and my circumstance was to be drawn in and insnared for I never was at any of their Meetings none of their Cabals but in a pubâ—ick Coffee-house or Tavern where they discoursed the matter of Fact and I was to meet the K. and the D. of York but I did not know at that time when or where nor what was my business Dr. C. But you were to assist Hone. Yes I promised that to assist Dr. C. Do you beg God and the Kings forgiveness for it from the bottom of your heart that you have been guilty of this For if the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch as well he that leads as he that is led although he that leads may faâ—… deeâ—er There are circumstances make one mans Crime greater than anothers The greatness of theirs does not lessen yours Hone. I believed that then I was very near another snare I was resolved to go down into the Countrey and not meddle in the thing at all and had been in the Countrey but meeting with Keeling I freely forgive him for whatsoever is done he called me and discoursing with him I did say I â—as for killing the King and saving the Duke of York Dr. C. Why was you for â—…ng the Duke of York Hone I do not know whâ—… to say as to that there was no reason Dr C. What was your own private reason for killing the King and saving the Duke of York Hone. As to that I think this that the Duke of York did openly profess himself to be a Roman Catholick and I did say I had rather dispose of the K than the D. Dr. C. Had you rather a Papist should Reign over us as you take him to be than the King Hone. I do not know what to say to that D. C. That does deserve a reason Mr. Hone you ought to give some reason of that you cannot but have some reason if you had had a design to kill the Duke and save the King then it might be to prevent Popery but you say the quite contrary God in Heaven forgive you for your murderous design Hone. I know as little of this as any poor silly man in the World I was fain to gather it I had it not so down right I was drawn into it however I am now to die as for the Witnesses I desire the Lord to forgive them Dr. C. They have not wronged you they have done their duty Dr. C. Rouse What say you Rouse As a man and a Christian in the first place as God hath made me a Christian through his Grace that the World may understand that I do not dye as Captain Walcot says an Atheist I do here declare in the presence of God and this vast number of people what Faith I die in In that very Faith which was once delivered and in the Belief of that Doctrine which the Church of England makes profession of and is agreeable to the Word of God being founded upon the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles whereof Jesus Christ is the Corner Stone There
Tavern and from the Tavern to the Coffee-House which hath been the Debauchery of this Age and to bring them into this Dilemma to discourse of those Things neither pleasing to God nor the King nor themselves but their prejudice Thâ— profanation of the Sabbath-day is commonly discourst of in this place God forgive me for not observing it as I should I pray God those that follow me may be more careful of theiâ— Duty to God and man for the good of themselves their souls and their families those thaâ— are young especially and coming up that they may chiefly mind their Concerns for Eternity and that they would pay their Duty and Homage to the King and those that God has set oveâ— them and not neglect that great Command to pray for the King and all that are in Authority Being asked if they had any thing more to say they said No Mr. Ordinary then prayed with them and sung a Psalm and then they desired to Pray themselves which was granted Captain Walcot Prayer O Lord our God Thou art the God of present help in time of trouble a God that hast promised to be with thy people in the Fire and in the water O Lord we pray thee that thou wilt afford thy presence to thy poor suffering Servants at this time that thou wilt enable us to pray with faith to trust in thee to be in expectation and hope of Mercy from thee O Lord thy Servant that speaketh doth confess that the Iniquities at his â—eels have justly overtaken him that just and righteous art thou in all thy Judgments that he hath reason to bear thy Indignation because he hath sinned O Lord we beg even for thy Son Christ Jesus's sake that our sins may not be brought to our remembrance in order to our despondency or discouragement or our despairing in thy Mercy but rather O Lord in order to an assurance that our great God hath pardoned and forgiven them in the Blood of his Son O do thou bath each of our Souls in that Fountain set open for sin and for Vncleannes Give us O Lord inward Spiritual strength from thy self and give us cause to bless thy name for inward supporting Graces for inward assistances O let us find an increase of spiritual strength let us be assured that our sins are done away and let us also be assured that our names are written in the Book of Life and let it be such an assurance as may be matter of joy and rejoycing to our Souls O do thou enable every one of us from the inward evidence of thy spirit to say with thy Servant Job That we know and are assured that our Redeemer lives O do thou give us such an assurance of an Interest in thee that we may be inabled in deed in reality and in truth to say that we have run our race and we have finished our course with Joy O let us now receive the fruit of those many Petitions that we have put up unto the. O let us now find the Spirit influencing our hearts to a yielding patience and a thorow subjection to the will of God let us find thy Spirit assuring us that we are thine O let us have stronger Evidences of thy Love stronger Testimonies of thy Affection O give us some inward Tastes of those heavenly Joys that we hope through the Mercy of Jesus Christ in a little time to have a more full Fruition of O Lord do thou speak peace to every one of our Consciences enable us to take hold of thy Strength that thou mayst make peace with us and let us not be discouraged O Lord since we have a High-Priest that can be touched with our Infirmities let us with Boldness have access to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and grace to help in time of need O take away the sting and Terror that is in Death in any one of us by assuring us of our Interest in thee by assuring us that our names are recorded in the Book of Life tho we lye under a Sentence of Death from Man we beg that we may have a Sentence of Life eternal from our God and tho we meet thee O Lord in a Field of Blood we beg that thou wilt come to meet with us in a Field of Mercy O Lord Extend thy mercy than Lord whose Compassions faileth not cause the Bowels of thy tender Pity to yearn with Compassion towards us enable every one of us O Lord to die believing in Jesus Christ to die hoping in his Mercy to die relying upon him for Justification for Sanctification and for Adoption O Lord though we have been Prodigals we desire to return to our Fathers House where there is Bread enough O enable us to come unto thee as Children to their Parents O let our Prayers be offe'rd with so much Fervour in Christ Jesus that thou may'st think it reasonable to assure us of thy love O let the Intercession of Jesus Christ be accepted O Lord we beg that he may be our advocate if our advocate be our Judge certainly we cannot miscarry O let Jesus Christ be the hope of every oe of our Souls and Lord let not our hope be like that of the Hypocrite but let our Faith be built upon the Rock of Ages and let us not fail from the apprehension of Affliction and Punishment from men Yet O Lord do thou so order our hearts and our Spirits aright that thou may'st be the Lot of our inheritance and our Portion for ever O do thou interest us in thy self Lord carry on thy own Work We desire to come unto thee that we may have life Lord pâ—t to thy helping Hand Lord teach us truly to leave no Sin unrepented of in any one of our Hearts And O Lord we beg that with us thou wilt give us leave to recommend unto thy Care our poor Wives and Children Thou hast promised to be the Father of the Fatherless and the Husband of the Widdow and thou hast commanded us to cast the care of them upon thee O do thou make Provision for them deal kindly with them imprint thy own image upon them and enable them to bear this severe strocke with Patience O Lord stand by and support them let their Ways be found so pleasing and acceptable unto thee that thou mayst think it reasonable to make all their Enemies at Peace Lord interest them in thy Love and do thou favour them with thy Mercies and loving Kindnesses O Lord we also beseech thee in the behalf of these poor Kingdoms wherein we are that thou wilt be merciful to them prevent Divisions among them heal all their Breaches compose their Differences make all that are thine of one Heart and Mind in the things of our God And Lord if it be thy Will do thou rule in the Heart of the King that he may rule and reign for thee and for the good of thy Church and people Lord favour us with thy mercy assure us