Limb for every Town in Christendom ☞ 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 Sufferings and Dying Speech next follows 9. JAMES Duke of MONMOVTH THE last Person with whom we shall conclude this Mournful Tragedy and the greatest in it is the late James Duke 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 should 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 obliged to judge favourably And besides the good West-Country-men would be very angry if they should not find their Master that they loved so well and suffered 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 Lord Russel This is 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 lost them by their sourness and haughty Pride After Russel's Death he went into Flanders whence had he prosecuted his Design and gone as 't is said he intended into the Emperor'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 After the defeat of his Army at Sedgemoor he fled with the Lord 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 offered with a small Party of Horse to have ventured through all the Guards and took him off the Scaffold But they could not be got together his time was come Providence had designed other things that our Deliverance should be more Just and Peaceable and Wonderful and that the Glory thereof should be reserved for His Sacred Majesty King William Whom God grant long to Reign The Last Speech and Carriage of the Duke of Monmouth upon the Scaffold THE late Duke of Monmouth came from the Tower to the Scaffold attended by the Bishop of Ely the Bishop of Bath and Wells Dr. Tenison and Dr. Hooper which four the King sent him as his Assistants to prepare him for Death The Duke himself entreated all four of them to accompany him to the Place of Execution and to continue with him to the last The two Bishops going in the Lieutenant's Coach with him to the Bars made Seasonable and Devout Applications to him all the way and one of them desired him not to be surprized if they to the very last upon the Scaffold renewed those Exhortations to a particular Repentance which they had so often repeated before At his first coming upon the Scaffold he looked for the Executioner and seeing him said Is this the Man to do the Business Do the Work well Then the Duke of Monmouth began to speak some one or other of the Assistants during the whole time applying themselves to him Monmouth I shall say but very little I come to die I die a Protestant of the Church of England Assistants My Lord if you be of the Church of England you must acknowledge the Doctrine of Non-resistance to be true Mon. If I acknowledge the Doctrine of the Church of England in general that includes all Assist Sir it is fit to own that Doctrine particularly which respects your Case Here he was much urged about that Doctrine of Non-resistance but he repeated in effect his first Answer Then he began as if he was about to make a premeditated Speech in this manner Mon. I have had a Scandal raised upon me about a Woman a Lady of Vertue and Honour I will name her the Lady Henrietta Wentworth I declare That she is a very Vertuous and Godly Woman I have committed no sin with her and that which hath passed betwixt us was very Honest and Innocent in the sight of God Assist In your Opinion perhaps Sir as you have been often told i. e. in the Tower but this is not fit Discourse in this Place Mr. Sheriff Gostlin Sir were you ever married to her Mon. This is not a time to Answer that Question Sher. Gostlin Sir I hoped to have heard of your Repentance for the Treason and Bloodshed which hath been committed Mon. I die very Penitent Assist My Lord it is fit to be particular and considering the Publick Evil you have done you ought to do as much Good now as possibly you can by a Publick Acknowledgment Mon. What I have thought fit to say of Publick Affairs is in a Paper which I have signed I referr to my Paper Assist My Lord there is nothing in that Paper about Resistance and you ought to be particular in your Repentance and to have it well grounded God give you True Repentance Mon. I die very Penitent and die with great Chearfulness for I know I shall go to God Assist My Lord you must go to God in his own way Sir be sure you be truly Penitent and ask Forgiveness of God for the many you have wronged Mon. I am sorry for every one I have wronged I forgive every Body I have had many Enemies I forgive them all Assist Sir your Acknowledgment ought to be particular Mon. I am to die pray my Lord I referr to my Paper Assist They are but a few words that we desire We only desire an Answer to this Point Mon. I can bless God that he hath given me so much Grace that for these two Years last past I have led a Life unlike to my former course and in which I have been happy Assist Sir was there no Ill in these two Years In these Years these great Evils have happened and the giving Publick Satisfaction is a necessary part of Repentance be pleased to own a Detestation of your REBELLION Mon. I beg your Lordship that you would stick to my Paper Assist My Lord as I
upon a time at dalliance with his Women one of them plucked a Hair from his Breast which being fast rooted plucked off a little of the Skin that the Blood appeared This small Scar festred and gangreened incurably so that in few Days he despaired of life and being accompanied with his Friends and divers Courtiers he brake out into these excellent Words Which of you would not have thought that I being a Man of War should have died by the stroke of a Sword Spear or Bow But now I am enforced to confess the Power of that Great God whom I have so long despised that he needs no other Lance than a little hair to kill so Blasphemous a wretch and contemner of his Majesty as I have been Dr. Burthogge out of Purchas in his Essay upon Human Reason p. 177. Mr. Greenham in his Works which I have not now by me and therefore cannot quote the particular Place and Page as I should do tells us That a certain Man not well grounded in his Religion took view of the Papists Life but not finding it so glorious as they pretended it was joyned with the Familists in whom he so stayed that he grew into Familiarity with them the first Principle that there was no God boyl'd so much in him that he began to draw Conclusions viz. If there be a God he is not so Just and Merciful as they say if there be no God then there is neither Heaven nor Hell or if any the Joys and Pains not so Eternal as some have taught why then do I sell my Pleasures in this World for uncertain Pleasures in another World So this Devilish Illusion prevail'd on him to steal a Horse for which he was Apprehended and at last condemned But by the Providence of God meeting and conferring with a Godly Minister was Reprieved till the next Assize in hope of his Conversion He confessed himself an Atheist but could not be brought any thing from his Atheism The Assize following drew near when he was to be executed and the Place assigned And at the Place of Execution when he should be turned off the Ladder cryed out directly For Christ's sake stay my Life whereupon he spoke these or the like words Well let the World say what they will doubtless there is a God and the same God is Just for ever to his Enemies and everlastingly keeps his Mercies with his Children Now turn me over And so he made an end of his Speech and of his Days This Story I took down in Writing out of Mr. Greenham's Works Five or Six and Twenty Years ago but not having the Book at present I must deliver it with a Latitude without particular Quotations And 't is the more credible because Mr. Greenham if my Memory fail me not extreamly is character'd by Bishop Joseph Hall for a Saint 5. Mr. Mather speaking of the Obstacles which Mr. Eliot met with in Preaching the Gospel to the Indians in New-England tells us That Elliot made a tender of the Gospel to King Philip Ring-leader of the most calamitous War that ever the Pagan Indians made upon them but Philip entertained it with Contempt and Anger and after the Indian Mode he took hold of a Button upon Mr. Eliot's Coat adding That he cared for his Gospel just as much as he cared for that Button The World hath heard saith my Author what a terrible Ruine soon came upon that woful Creature and upon all his People It was not saith he long before the Hand which now writes upon a certain occasion took off the Jaw from the Blasphemous exposed Skull of that Leviathan and the renowned Samuel Lee is now Pastor to an English Congregation sounding and shewing the Praises of Heaven upon that very spot of Ground where Philip and his Indians were lately worshipping the Devil Cotton Mather in Mr. Eliot's Life pag. 114. 6. Pope Leo the Tenth was so Impudent as to make the Promises and Threats contained in the Word of God things to be laughed at mocking the simplicity of those that believe them And when Cardinal Bembus quoted upon ocasion a place out of the Gospel The Pope Answered Quantum nobis profuit fabula haec de Christo O what Profit hath this Fable of Christ brought unto us The Pope having by his Pardons and Indulgences scrap'd together vast Sums of Money to maintain his Courtezans and Whores and to enrich his Bastards As he was one day at Meat News was brought to him of the Overthrow of the French in Lombardy which he much rejoyced at and doubled his Good Chear but before he arose from the Table God's Hand struck him with a grievous Sickness whereof he died within three days Clark's Mar. Chap. 9. p. 40. 7. Pope Julius the Third another Atheist a despiser of God and his Word on a time missing a cold Peacock which he had commanded to be kept for him raged and blasphemed God exceedingly whereupon a Cardinal that was present intreated him not to be so angry for such a Trifle What saith he if God was so angry for eating of an Apple as to thrust Adam and Eve out of Paradise should not I who am his Vicar be angry for a Peacock which is of far more worth than an Apple 8. Francis Ribelius was so Profane that he made a mock at all Religion counting it a thing to be laugh'd at But the Lord struck him with Madness so that he died mocking at all those that talked of God or made any mention of God's Mercy to him CHAP. CIV Divine Judgments upon Cursing RAshness is a fault in any Humane Action but in no cases more dangerous than in meddling with edg'd Tools but above all in the Imprecation of Divine Judgments Men had need to be deliberate and well-advised before they Appeal to Heaven for Vengeance for God is not to be played with And oftentimes it seems good to the Almighty to hear the Prayers of these rash People beyond their Expectation on purpose to strike them with a more dreadful awe of the Divine Majesty and let every one beware by the Examples which follow how they play with the Thunder-bolts of Heaven lest they are checked as the Apostles Luke 9.54 55. 1. In France a Man of good Parts and well instructed in Religion yet in his Passion Cursing and bidding the Devil take one of his Children the Child was immediately possessed with an Evil Spirit From which though by the fervent and continual Prayers of the Church he was at length released yet ere he fully recovered his Health he died Beza 2. Anno Christi 1557. at Forchenum in the Bishoprick of Bamberg a Priest Preaching about the Sacrament used these and such-like blasphemous Speeches O Paul Paul if thy Doctrine touching the Receiving of the Sacrament in both kinds be true and if it be a wicked thing to Receive it otherwise then let the Devil take me And if the Pope's Doctrine concerning this Point be false then am I the Devil's Bond-slave
Woman After his Burial his Ghost was very troublesome in the Town to many People but especially to the Parson of the Parish who penned this Narrative c. Weinrich p. 212. 19. Eliz. Mudy for bewitching her Mistress to Death at Hadington in Scotland the Mistress Margaret Kirkwood being then hanging her self in her Chamber whilst the Maid was observed at Church to number upon her Fingers 50 or 51 and crying aloud in the presence of them all Now the Turn is done was seized on Suspicion confessed the Witchcraft and was burned for the same Invis World p. 200. It would be endless to give a particular Catalogue of all in England Scotland Ireland France Spain Germany Denmark New-England c. that have been arraigned and executed for Witchcraft Nor is it difficult to believe that those who take their own time to apply themselves to the Devil for his Assistance shall find him ready enough to call upon them in his time for a nearer and more terrible Acquaintance 20. In the Year 1645. there was a notable Discovery of Witches in Essex viz. Elizabeth Clark Ann West and Rebecca her Daughter Rose Hallybread Joyce Boanes Susanna Cock whose Mother Margery Stoakes upon her Death bed had for her Good commended two Imps to her as also Elizabeth Weed of Huntington-shire John Winnick of the same County c. all brought to the Gallows after a legal Tryal Inform. of Witches c. p. 6. 21. An. 1669 current At Mokra in Sweedland Lords Commissioners being sent down by the King on purpose to make Search and Examination there were found 70 Persons a goodly knot who were engaged in Witchery in that one Village 23 of which freely confessed their Crimes and were contented to die the others pleading not Guilty were sent to Fahluna where most of them were afterwards executed Fifteen Children also who confessed as the rest did died as the rest 36 Children between 9 and 16 Years of Age ran the Gantlet 20 more who were less were condemned to be lashed with Rods three Sundays together at the Church-door and the aforesaid 36 were also doom'd to be lash'd this way once a Week for a whole Year together The Number of the seduced Children was about 300. This is taken out of the publick Register of the Lords Commissioners Concerning the late Confederacy of Witches in New-England I have spoke already in this Book and have no more to add but this That if they be Accursed who put their Trust in Man they cannot certainly be expected to be Happy that put their Trust in Devils CHAP. CXL Divine Judgments upon Backsliders and Apostates TO shew that the Almighty God takes it mighty ill from those People that fall back from the Truth of the Gospel after they have made Profession of it there needs no more Evidence to prove it than the many Precepts and Cautions he hath given us against Apostacy and the frequent Exhortations in Sacred Scripture to Perseverance and Continuance in the Faith The Curses threatned to those that Relapse and make shipwreck of a Good Conscience add still more strength to the Evidence but the Execution of his Menaces puts it more out of doubt yet St. Peter's weeping bitterly and turning back again in a penitential way Judas apostatizing and dying in despair the poor Jewish Church living under a dismal Eclipse of the Divine Favour to this Day are Examples for our Instruction To lay down a few more 1. Mr. Bilny An. 1529. abjured the Protestant Doctrine and submitted to the Powers that then were but fell into such Terrors of Conscience that he was near the point of utter Despair and so continued a whole Year his Friends all the time endeavouring to comfort him but in vain At last through God's Mercy he found Comfort and presently resolved to lay down his Life for that Truth which he had before renounced Clark's Eccl. Hist p. 163. 2. Lucian who had made Profession of Religion in the Time of Trajan afterwards fell from it became a Railer against it and at last was torn in pieces by Dogs Suidas 3. Porphyry being reproved for his Faults by some Christians renounced the Profession wrote against the Religion and died in despair Id. 4. Origen being perswaded rather to offer Incense to Idols than be defiled by an ugly Black-a-moor lost the Peace of his Conscience 5. Tamerus being seduced from the Reformed Religion by his Brother a Papist fell into despair and hang'd himself Theat Hist 6. 1569. One Henry Smith in the Middle Temple turning Papist hanged himself in his own Chamber Acts and Mon. 7. Latomus of Lovain once a Professor of the Gospel afterwards an Apostate made an Oration at Brussels before the Emperor Charles V. against Luther and his Followers but so foolishly that he was laughed to scorn afterwards at Lovain in a publick Lecture he fell into an open Frenzy despairing and blaspheming crying out continually that he was damned c. Senercleus in Epist ante Hist de morte Diazii 8. Arnold Bomelius a Student of Lovain and Favourer of the Gospel a Man of good Parts apostatizing to Popery fell into great Trouble of Mind and thence into Depsair and afterwards walking into the Fields with some Scholars he sate down by a Spring side drew out a Dagger and stabb'd himself Acts and Mon. 9. Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester cried out on his Death-bed That he had denied his Master with Peter but not repented with Peter and so stinking above Ground ended his wretched Life Clark's Exampl Vol. I. c. 6. 10. Mr. West Chaplain to Bishop Ridley in King Edward the Sixth's Reign turning Papist in Queeh Mary's fell into such Torment of Conscience that he pined away and died Acts and Mon. 11. Cardinal Pool was a Favourer of the Truth afterwards a Persecutor but within two or three Days after Queen Mary's death himself died in Terror Clark's Exampl Vol. I. c. 6. 12. Peter Castellan Bishop of Maston an Apostate from the Reformed Religion fell into a strange Disease one half of his Body burning like Fire and the other cold as Ice and in this case with horrible Groans and Cries died Ibid. 13. Henry the Fourth King of France after he came to the Crown turned from Protestant to Papist from Bonus Orbi to Orbus Boni though still Borbonius was first stabb'd in the Tongue by John Castile at last in his Breast by Ravilliac and so died Fren. Hist 14. One Richard Denson a Smith in King Edward the Sixth's Days encouraged a young Man then in Prison to suffer But for my part saith he I cannot burn But though he could not for his Religion he was afterwards burnt for his Apostacy by occasion of a Fire in his Shop and House Clark's Exampl Vol. I. c. 6. 15. Francis Spira is a sad Example of God's Judgment in such Cases but I have mention'd him elsewhere 16. Poor Bishop Jewel was forc'd to spend a Recantation-Sermon beyond Sea and many a Prayer and Teat
ghostly Child but notwithstanding let the Superiors of the Society bury it where they list Of the Temporal Things granted me by the Apostolick See or gotten any other way I dispose in this manner I nominate and make my general Heir the House of the professed Fathers in Rome of the Society of Jesus of which Order I was but first of all I will that my Debts he paid if there be any and all Duties discharged to whom they are due then for Forty Days as is the Fashion let there be given to my Family such things as pertain to their Diet that is to say so much as is allotted them in Money for their Bread Wine and Victuals I am able to leave them nothing else because I desired this leave of making my Will to bestow all I had on pious Uses as Churches and Poor People and for that cause gave every one of them Wages or some Allowance beside their Diet. Let there be restored unto my own Brother or his Heirs an Image in a Frame of Robert Clement VIII Let there be given to my Nephew Angelo also a little Picture in a Frame of Robert Cardinal de Nobilibus and one of the two in Frames of S. Charles Borromeus and one of the little Crosses which I wear about my Neck with the Relicks that are in it Let there be restored to the Roman College Six Tomes of the Annals of Baronius which it lent me that the other Six of mine might be given to the same for on this Condition I received of the College the first Six Tomes which was given thereunto in my Name by the Author himself that after my death I should leave them all his Works entire To the sam College I leave one of my three best Vestments with the Stole and Manuple which they please also all my Writings and my whole Library unless it shall please our most Reverend F. General to bestow the Library upon some other House of the Society that is in greater Want To our Blessed Lady's Church in Via which is my Titular I leave another of my three best Vestments such as it shall please mine Heir to give I leave no more to that Church because as the Friars know I have been at great Charge in Building of the same and they requested that of me in lieu of other Ornaments which I had determined to have brought them Whatsoever else doth belong unto me or shall belong whether Immoveables Moveables living Things Duties or Debts owing to me whether Sacred belonging to the Chapel or Profane belonging to my Wardrobe or to my Cellars or other Places whether ready Money or whatsoever else I will as is said that all intirely belong to the Heir viz. to the House of the Professed Fathers in Rome And I appoint and nominate the same for Heir in all and every of these Things For the Help of my Soul I leave or prescribe nothing because very little will come unto my Heir as I suppose seeing I never took care to heap up Money or gather Wealth as also for that I trust or rather know the pious Charity of my Mother the Society of Jesus will not be wanting to help me as it is never wanting to other of her Children and as my self have never been wanting all my Life-time to offer Sacrifices and Prayers for such as were departed out of the same I nominate for Honour's sake my most Illustrious and Reverend Lord Cardinal Aldobrandino for the Executor of this my last Will. I hope there will need no labour in the Execution thereof And I leave unto the said most Illustrious Lord than which have nothing more dear a wooden Cross filled with most precious Relicks the Names of which he shall find in a little Desk covered with red Silk This Will and Testament I will have to stand in force the former two being annulled which in all things and for all I revoke make void and annul notwithstanding this Will hath not perhaps been made with wonted Solemnities as the Law requireth for the Bull of Clement VIII in which leave is given me to make my Will doth expressly grant me this Liberty and further to make it by simple Letter or any other Writing subscribed with my own Hand I Robert Bellarmine do Dispose Ordain Bequeath and Appoint by Testament as above not only in the aforesaid but in any other better form whatsoever Jan. 23. 1611. In his Sickness he used often to kiss a little Cross of Silver and therewith to bless himself and mutter over some Prayers In his last Hours after the Pater-Noster and Ave Maria repeated over and over again together with the Creed he breathed his last Sept. 17. about Six or Seven in the Morning In the Relation of his Death published by J. C. 1621. I put this Copy of Bellarmine's Will the rather in this Place to oppose it to Calvin's mentioned before because Opposites set one against another give the greater Light one to another I might have set down a Parcel of Luther's Will too Lord I thank thee that thou wouldst have me live a poor and indigent Life upon Earth I have neither House nor Land nor Possessions nor Money to leave Thou Lord hast given me Wife and Children them Lord I give back to thee c. See the Chapt. of Good Pastors c. Luther had a Wife and Children but no Estate to leave them Calvin's Inventory according to Computation amounted not to above a Hundred Pound Bellarmine's seems to consist mostly in a Library of Books Vestments and Pictures 13. Oecolampadius in the 49th Year of his Age falling sick of an Ulcer that broke forth about the Os sacrum sent for the Ministers of the Church and bespake them to this purpose Oh my Brethren the Lord is come He is come he is now calling me away c. I desired to speak with you to encourage you to continue faithful Followers of Christ to persevere in Purity of Doctrine in Lives conformable to the Word of God Christ will take care for the Defence of his Church therefore Let your Lights so shine before Men c. Continue in Love unfeigned walk as in God's Presence adorn your Doctrine with Holiness of Life A Cloud is arising a Tempest is coming and some will fall off but it becomes you to stand fast and God will assist you c. For my self I value not the Aspersions that are cast upon me I bless God I shall with a clear Conscience stand before the Tribunal of Christ I have not seduced the Church of Christ as some affirm but leave you all Witnesses that at the last gasp I am the same that formerly I was He had nothing to give and therefore made no Will but calling for his Children he stroked them on the Head and tho the Eldest was but three Years old bid them See that they loved God and desired his Wife and Kindred to take care they might be brought up in the Feat of
Execution he was not suffered to speak to the People who much lamented his Death yet was very chearful saying Thanks be to God I am even at home And when he had prayed and made himself ready he went to the Stake and kissed it The Fire being kindled he held up his Hands and called upon God saying Merciful Father of Heaven for Jesus Christ my Saviour's sake receive my Soul into thy hands And so stood still without moving till one with an Halberd struck out his Brains Ibid. p. 178. 30. Mr. Bradford as soon as he approached the Stake fell flat on the Ground intending there to pur forth his Prayers to Almighty God for he was not permitted to do it publickly but Woodroffe the Sheriff commanded him to arise and dispatch for the People encreased and pressed upon him Whereupon as soon as he got up he embraced the Stake and kissed it put off his Cloaths gave them to his Servant comforted the Stripling that was to be burned with him and earnestly exhorted the People to Repentance Which so enraged the Sheriff that he commanded his Hands to be tyed His last Words that were audible were Strait is the way and narrow is the gate that leads to salvation and few there be that find it He endured the Flame as a fresh gale of Wind in a hot Summer's Day without any Reluctancy Ibid. p. 189. 31. Bishop Ridley and Bishop Latimer suffered together but were not permitted to speak at the Stake The Evening before their Execution Ridley washed his Beard and his Feet and bad those that supped with him to his Wedding the next Day demanding of his Brother Mr. Skipfide whether he thught his Sister his Wife could find in her Heart to be there and he answering That he durst say she would with all her Heart he professed to the thereof very glad At Supper-time he was very chearful and merry desiring those there present that went of which number Mrs. Irish his Hostess tho' an eager Papist was one to quiet themselves affirming That tho' his Breakfast was like to be somewhat sharp and painful yet his Supper he was sure would be pleasant and sweet They endured a long time in the Fire with most grievous Pains to the great Grief of the Beholders thro' the Indiscretion of those that composed the Pile burning as it were by piece-meal till at last their Souls mounted as in a flaming Chariot up to Heaven Ibid. p. 203 204. 32. Bishop Latimer when he came to the Stake lifting up his Eyes with a comfortable and lovely Countenance cried out God is faithful who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able and when the Fire was kindled O Father of Heaven receive my Soul His Blood as he was burning running out of his Heart in such abundance as if all the Blood of his Body had been gathered thither to the great Astonishmnt of the Beholders Ibid. p. 210. 33. Mr. Philpot going into Smithfield and the way being very foul two Officers took him up and bore him to the Stake to whom he said merrily What will you make me a Pope Being got into Smithfield he kneeled down and said I will pay my Vows in the midst of thee O Smithfield and kissing the Stake Shall I disdain to suffer at this Stake when my Lord and Saviour refused not to sufer a most vile Death for me And when the Fire was kindled with much Meekness and Comfort he resigned up his Spirit unto God Ibid. p. 222. 34. Archbishop Cranmer when tied to the Stake thrust first of all his Right Hand into the Fire wherewith he had subscribed to Popery crying out Ah my unworthy Right Hand So that his Hand died a Malefactor and the rest of his Body a Martyr Ibid. p. 228. 35. Bugenhagius drawing near to his End often repeated This is Life Eternal to know Thee the only true God and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ and so quietly departed this Life Aged 73. Ibid. p. 233. 36. Phil. Melancthon in the midst of many Heavenly Prayers surrendred his Soul unto him that gaveit Aged 63. Ibid. p. 241. 37. Hyperius falling sick of a Fever gave diverse Instructions to his Wife for the Education of his Children to his Children for the serving of God and obeying their Mother and when his Friends visited him requested them to bear Witness That he now died in that Faith which he had taught while he lived and so yielded up his Spirit to God Aged 53. Ibid. p. 265. 38. John Brentius falling sick of a Fever made his Will and therein set down a Confession of his Faith received the Sacrament exhorted the Ministers of Stutgard to Unity in Doctrine and a mutual Love always saying That he longed for a better an Eternal Life and so died Aged 71. Ibid. p. 298. 39. Bishop Jewel died praying and prayed dying His last Words worthy to be written with the Point of a Diamond never to be razed out were these A Crown of Righteousness is laid up for me Christ is my Righteousness this is my Body this day quickly let me come unto thee this day let me see thee Lord Jesus He was arrested by Death as he was preaching at Lacock upon those Words Walk in the Spirit and so carried from the Pulpit to Bed from which he never rose more Ibid. p. 311. 40. John Knox a Day or two before his Death sending for Mr. Lawson Mr. Lindsey the Elders and Deacons of the Church told them the Time was approaching which he long thirsted for wherein he should be released from all his Cares and be with his Saviour Christ for ever And now saith he God is my Witness whom I have served with my Spirit in the Gospel of his Son that I have taught nothing but the true and sincere Word of God I am not ignorant that many have and do blame my too great Rigor and Severity but God knows that in my Heart I never hated those against whom I thundered God's Judgments I did only hate their Sins and laboured according to my power to gain them to Christ That I did forbear none of what Condition soever I did it out of Fear of my God who hath placed me in the Function of his Ministry and I know will bring me to an Account Now Brethren for your selves I have no more to say but to warn you to take heed to the Flock over which God hath placed you Overseers which he hath Redeemed by the Blood of his only-begotten Son And you Mr. Lawson Fight a good Fight do the Work of the Lord with Courage and with a willing mand and God from Heaven bless you and the Church whereof you have the Charge Against it so long as it continues in the Doctrine of the Truth the Gates of Hell shall not prevail Having thus spoken and the Elders and Deacons being dismissed he called the two Preachers to him and said There is one thing that grieves me exceedingly you have
who had had Command in the Duke's Army where he behaved himself very stoutly to the last after the Army was dispersed he among others was taken received Sentence of Death at Dorchester and here brought for the completion of the same and from thence we hope was translated to Heaven He spent his time between the Sentence and Execution very devoutly in confirming and strengthning those that were to be his Fellow-Sufferers and made it his Business to bring them to a Willingness to submit to and a Preparedness for Death The Day being come and he brought to the Place of Execution he thus spoke My Friends You see I am now on the brink of Eternity and in a few Minutes shall be but Clay You expect I should say something as is usual in such Cases As to the Matter of Fact I die for it doth not much trouble me knowing to my self the Ends for which I engaged with the Duke of Monmouth were both Good and Honourable Here being stopp'd and not suffer'd to proceed further he then comforted his Fellow-Sufferers desiring them to joyn with him in singing an Hymn which he himself composed After the Hymn sung he prayed devoutly for half an Hour After Prayer he gave great Satisfaction to all present of his Assurance of Heaven had many weeping Eyes for him and was much lamented in the Town tho' a Stranger to the Place So unbuttoning himself said to the Executioner I fear not what Man can do unto me I pray thee do thy Work in Mercy for I forgive thee with all my Heart and I also pray to God to forgive thee Don't mangle my Body too much And so lifting up his Hands to Heaven the Executioner did his Office 5. WILLIAM COX THere was also one William Cox that died with him who also died very courageously despising the Shame in Hopes and Expectation of a future better Estate He and his two Sons were some of the first that came to the Duke of Monmouth and all taken and all condemned together The Father only suffered the Sons by Providence were preserved When he was going to Execution he desired leave to see his Sons then in another Prison in the Town to whom he gave his Blessing and though he was going to be Executed yet had that Satisfaction to hope that God would preserve them which was so An Account of those Executed at Sherborn 1. AT Sherborn in the same County were Executed Twelve who all died Courageously especially one Mr. Glisson of Yeovel in the County of Somerset His extraordinary Deportment and Carriage at the Place of Execution was so very confiderable as gave great Satisfaction to his Friends and Amazement to his Enemies He declared to the World That he died a true Protestant and had not ingaged with the Duke of Monmouth but judged it high time to stand up for the Defence of the same though God Almighty had thought fit to frustrate his Designs and to bring him to that Place to seal the same with his Blood 2. JOHN SAVAGE and 3. RICHARD HALL ALso John Savage and Richard Hall of Culliton in the County of Devon suffered at the same Time and Place In their particular Conversation they valued those most that they saw most of Piety in and pitied others that they saw not so well prepared saying That the Remembrance of our Vanity may cause Compassion towards such as were in such a Condition Exhorting all to be serious and to consider their Latter End which deserved the greatest Attention of Mind the way to die comfortably being to prepare for it seriously At the Hour of Execution their Chearfulness and Comfort was much encreased saying Now the Will of God will be done and he hath most certainly chosen that for us which is best with many other such-like Christian Expressions too tedious here to be inserted 4. JOHN SPRAGVE and 5. WILLIAM CLEGG WE return now to Culliton in the County of Devon where John Sprague and William Clegg both of that Town were condemned at Exon and there brought to be Executed Before they were brought into the Place a Messenger came from the Prisoners with a Request to the Vicar of the Parish to desire his Company and Assistance in this their Extremity and to Administer those Spiritual Helps that were suitable to Men in their Circumstances Accordingly the said Minister came very readily and did demand of them What they had to desire of him The dying Persons answered They desired his Prayers Accordingly he prayed with them a considerable space of time and after that he asked of them several Questions for to give him and the World satisfaction of the prepared Condition they were in in order to their launching into Eternity especially about the Doctrine of Non-Resistance John Sprague very soberly and moderately replied but whether satisfactory or not we leave to the Reader He believed That no Christian ought to resist a lawful Power but the Case being between Popery and Protestantism alter'd the Matter and the latter being in danger he believed that it was lawful for him to do what he did though God in his Providence had thought fit to bring him to this Place of Execution After reading a Chapter out of the Corinthians and singing a Psalm suitable to the Occasion he very vehemently and fervently recommended his Soul to the All-wise God by Prayer for near half an Hour to the great Satisfaction of all that heard him Then his Wife and Children coming to him weeping bitterly he imbraced them in his arms saying Weep not for me but weep for your selves and for your Sins for that he had that quiet Satisfaction that he was only going to be translated into a state of Bliss and Happiness where we should Sin and Sorrow no more but that all Tears should be wiped away wishing them to be diligent in the Service of God Then recommending his Wife and Children to the Protection of the Almighty God who had promised to be a Husband to the Widow and a Father to the Fatherless who was faithful and able to make up their loss in him in that which should be better for them than he could be desiring God to be a Refuge for them to fly to for security and preservation from the Troubles that seemed to threaten this poor Nation the which if they did conscientiously perform though Death here made a separation he doubted not of meeting them in Heaven at last And so the Executioner did his Office During which time his Brother-sufferer William Clegg was all the time on his Knees praying to himself with a seeming Zeal suddenly after which his turn being come to follow his Brother he only told the People That his Fellow-sufferer had spoken what he thought was necessary and they were also his Sentiments And so submitted to Execution An Account of those Executed at Axminster and Honiton 1. AT Axminster one also was Executed his Name Mr. Rose he was a Gunner that landed with the Duke of Monmouth
him a thousand Blessings and God at the same time made him also taste in his Mind ineffable Consolations but above all he knew not how to express those Comforts he felt in the Holy Assemblies and particularly in those where he administred the Lord's Supper In the mean time he had daily Experience of a very remarkable thing which the rest of God's Servants did doubtless experience as well as he and that is that thô he were surrounded with an Army of Enernies who ran about and made continual Search after him to take him yet while he was in these Religious Meetings and opened his Mouth to call upon the Name of the Lord to sing his Holy Praises and to preach his Word he had commonly as calm a Mind as if he had been in a free Country and the like Tranquility he also enjoyed when he took his Pen in Hand to labour for the Advancement of God's Kingdom and for the Consolation of his desolated Church and if God shall be pleased to favour him with Life and Means to publish some Works which he has composed in the midst of so many Dangers and which he sent to the Court for to vindicate the Doctrine which he preached the Reader will doubtless be surprized that amidst so many Troubles he could be possest with a Mind so calm as to write Things of that nature but God perfecteth his Strength in the Weakness of his Children On the other hand he had the Comfort to be a Witness of all the Wonders which God did for the Salvation of his poor People he could not but admire the Graces he bestowed on so many faithful Servants which he raised up daily in an extraordinary manner who were weak and contemptible in the Eyes of the Flesh but whom he strengthned by his Spirit whereby he accompanied at the same time his Word with a wonderful efficacy and of which many from time to time sealed the Truth by their own Blood with an unshaken Constancy thô they were pleased to Honour him so far as to look upon him as their Brother and Colleague in the Work of the Lord and that they esteemed him also as a Person to whom God was pleased to give greater Degrees of Light than to many others and that he edified then by his Conversation yet he never compared the Graces which they had received of the Lord with those which it pleased God to bestow upon him but that he found very great matter of Humiliation administred to him and that he esteemed those faithful Servants of God much more excellent than himself he saw plainly that God was pleased to lay up Treasures in Earthen Vessels that it was his Spirit which made those dumb Ones to speak which drew forth Praises from the Mouths of those little Babes and which made those mystical Stones to cry out One Night as he was going towards a place which he had appointed for a Meeting as he drew nigh unto it be heard the Voice of a Person who spake in the midst of the People whereupon he drew somewhat nigher and finding that he who spoke prayed to God he fell down upon his Knees as 't is a constant usage in the Religious Meetings of France and there be heard a long and excellent Prayer wherewith he was much edified when it was ended he drew nigh to the Person that pray'd and he found him to be a young Man and a poor Trades-man to whom he said Brother if you be disposed to make some Exhortation to the People you may proceed Alack replied that poor Trades-man how hould I do it I can neither Write nor Read Some time after this young Man as he went from place to place to pray for the Consolation of the People being taken with another young Man named Compan who together with him did what he could in that kind for the Peoples support they were both of them condemned to the Gallies and suffered their Punishment boldly confessing the Name of the Lord. I have noted before that Brousson had made choice of Henry Poutant for his Guide and Companion in the Work he was engaged in who was a young Man of about Five and twenty Years old full of Zeal and Piety and of unblamable Life and who having learnt to write in the Woods while he was with Brousson he put him upon Copying his Sermons as he had done himself and to disperse them in such Places where himself could not go to preach the Gospel But as he had Copied about a Dozen and that he saw that Brousson who had declined in his Health was then sick at Nismes he told him he was very desirous to go and visit their Brethren from place to place and read his Sermons unto them which Proposal being well liked of by Brousson he recommended him to the Grace of God and so Poutant went from place to place labouring every-where for the Instruction and Comfort of his Brethren when he had got together some faithful Ones he began with the Confession of Sin then sung a Psalm after which he pray'd again the second time to implore the Aid of the Holy Spirit in the succeeding Exercise then he read some Chapter in the Scripture and some Sermon the reading whereof was followed by a warm Exhortation which he made to those that were present upon the Things which they had heard and lastly he concluded the whole with an excellent Prayer which he made with admirable servour of Spirit as Brousson found that God bestowed a particular Blessing on his Labour he told him when he returned to him That he ought to continue his Work it was what himself greatly desired but finding Brousson somewhat re-established in his Health and that he was now in a Condition himself to go and preach the Gospel in Person as he had constantly done by Writing during the time of his Sickness by sending up and down Copies of his Sermons among the Faithful he had some regret to abandon Brousson knowing the need he had of his assistance for Poutant knew perfectly well all the Country whereas another faithful Friend whom Brousson had pitched upon for his Companion and who had already been some time with him did not know it near so well but Brousson told him he had rather want his assistance than that the People should be deprived of the Edification which they might receive by his Labours and that God who knew the sincerity of his Intentions would take care of him insomuch that being separated from him after that Brousson had again recommended him to the Grace of God God hath since that time done great things by his Ministry Brousson on his part set himself again to gather Meetings but as he found himself still very feâ—ble he could not from thence forward but every Eighth Day or thereabouts exercise his Function in the mean time he found the Zeal of the People much inflamed during his Sickness whether arising from the fear they had of being deprived of