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
his Speech there had been Affidavits judiciously made of a form'd Design against 'em being besides remov'd away from the City of London which had always so much of the English Blood in 't as heartily to love Parliaments and for that reason wou'd have ventur'd all for their defence From these and such like Reasons 't was that several of the Parliament men went accompanied with some of their Friends well arm'd and accoutred to Oxford of which number this Mr. Colledge was one he waiting on my Lord Clare Paget and Huntington to Oxford where the Parliament foreseeing what has since happen'd wou'd have gone on where they left off in former Sessions which causing great Heats every body knows how abruptly they were dissolv'd not long after their meeting 'T was now grown the entertainment of every Coffee-House and the Subject of every Buffoons Pamphlet to expose and vilifie Parliaments as much as possible and the very name of it was now grown as odious to some men as that of Protestant Mr. Colledge had besides all his other forementioned Crimes been as he declares in his Speech a great Honourer of that august Assembly and had been in former Sessions engaged by â—â—me of the honourable Members to search the places adjoyning the Parliament-House lest there should be a new Gun-powder-Treason hatching for 'em from whence as he says himself he believes he got that Popular Name of Protestant Joyner All these Reasons together were more than enough to get him taken out of the way and for the performance thereof Heins Macnamarra and one or two of the Apostate Evidence of the Popish Plot informed against him Nor is it a wonder that after so many attempts some of those men should be prevail'd with to prove false but rather that under so many temptations any of 'em resisted or were not sooner Villains These Persons swore such mad things against him of taking Whitehall and pulling the King out of it and such other odd wild Stories that partly from the improbability of the matter and partly from the ill Character of the Persons who witness'd it the Jury here in London refus'd to find the Bill but return'd it Ignoramus On which contrary to all Justice and President and Law and Common Reason which forbids a man should be twice in danger of his Life for the same Offence the business was remov'd to Oxford where how little Civility or common Justice he met with in his Tryal was then notorious to all the World A Person being check'd for giving him but assistance and notes in the way of his calling to make his defence when his Life was engaged Yet tho' even those Notes were deny'd him None that heard the Tryal or so much as read it but must grant that he made a very extraordinary Defence and much more than could have been expected from a man of more Learning But he might have spared all his Labour the Business was no doubt on 't resolv'd upon before and he was found Guilty Sentenc'd and Executed according to Order To look back once more and enquire a little deeper into the very original of the matter That there was a design laid to bring in most of the worthy Patriots of England into a Sham-Plot under the odious scare-crow name of Presbyterians not only the Meal-tub-attempt and several other of the same Batch makes sufficiently appear but the late Essay of Fitz-harris above all the rest was enough to satisfie the most prejudiced Persons He had conspired with some others to write a scandalous Libel against the King which was to be laid on such as they 'd call Presbyterians and this to be sent to their Houses or conveyed into their Pockets and there to be seiz'd and the Persons prosecuted thereupon This business the Oxford Parliament had before 'em and began to smell out who set it on foot and being resolv'd to find the bottom on 't lest he should be hang'd up on the sudden to prevent his Confession he now beginning to melt a little as Hubert who fir'd London formerly was they impeached him to keep the examination of that matter to themselves 'T is too long to run over the Proceedings against him and the Court-Parties subtle contrivance to Hang Draw and Quarter him and so to hinder effectually his telling any more Tales 'T is sufficient to observe that this design was prosecuted for several years after and poor Colledge was to bear the first brunt on 't as has been already declared If we reflect yâ—t further on the manner of his Tryal and not look on to any others one wou'd be apt to think 't was impossible a man could be destroyed with more injustice and barbarity than he was or that twelve men who look like Christians could be found out who would hang a Man upon such Evidence as was given against him When a Criminal shall be kept a close Prisoner in the Tower without having sufficient means to make his Defence till he come to his Trial When as has been said he shall be rifled of his Notes by which he could only save his Life on which he depended and that just before he came to his Tryal though assisted therein by that very Council assigned by the Court for him When he shall in vain demand 'em again and call Heaven and Earth to witness that he 's meerly cheated of his Life for want of 'em When all his redress is such a frivolous excuse as not only a Judge but any honest Man would be asham'd to make use of Nay such a sort of a one as is commonly made before the Judges but seldom by 'em That 't was somebody else did it That the Court the Chief-Justice had 'em not nor did take 'em from him when the very Person stood by who rob'd him of 'em and yet he could have no reparation When the Kings Council must whisper the Chief-Justice on the Bench and the Court must be adjourned on purpose to examine into those Minutes which the poor Man had got together to save his Life and even from them get an opportunity to take it away altering the manner of their Prosecution strengthning and bolstering their Evidence where they found it weak or contradictory When all the Evidence against him were not only such as an honest London Jury wou'd not believe though a Country one directed by the Kings Council could make a shift to do it but were every one of 'em who witness'd any thing material confounded by such home Evidence as if any thing in the World could do it did certainly invalidate and annul their Testimonies When one of them swears horridly He cared not what he swore nor whom he swore against for 't was his Trade to get Money by swearing That the Parliament were a company of Rogues for not giving the King Money but he would help him to Money out of the Fanaticks Estates which is explained by what Smith says That if the Parliament would not give the King
find Acceptance with him There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we can be saved but the Name of Jesus Then speaking to the Officers he said Labour everyone of you to be fit to die for I â—ell you you are not fit to dye I was not fit to dye my sâ—lâ— 'till I came in hither but O blessed be God he hath made me fit to dye and hath made me willing to dye In a few moments I shall have the fruition of the blessed Jesus and that not for a day but for ever I am going to the Kingdom of God to the Kingdom of God where I shall enjoy the Presence of God the Father and of God the Son and of God the Holy Spiâ—it and of all the holy Angels I am going to the genâ—ral Assâ—mbly of the first-born and of the Spirit of Just men made perfect O that God should ever do so much for me O that God should concern himself so much for poor Creatures for their Salvation blessed be his name for this was the Design of God from all Eternity to give his only Son to dye for poor miserable Sinners Then the Offiâ—ers going to tye his hands he said What must I be tied then well a brown Thred might have served the turn you need not tye me at all I shall not stir from you for I thank God I am not afraid to dye As he was going out he said Farewel Newgate Farewel all my Fellow prisoners here the Lord comfort you the Lord be with you all Thus much for his Behaviour in the way to his Martyrdom The Place of it was mâ—â—t spitefully and ignominiously ordered almost before his own door and near Guildhall to scare any Good Citizen from appearing vigorously in the Discâ—arge of his Duty for his Countreys Service by his Example If any thing was wanting in his Trial from the haste of it for the clearing his Innocency he sufficiently made it up in solemn Asseverations thereof on the Scaffold God is my Witness says he the Crimes laid to my Charge were falsly and maliciously sworn against me by the Witnesses for I never was at any Consult nor any Meeting where Matters against the Government were discoursed of He adds I never heard or read any Declaration tending that way Again As to the Crimes for which I suffer Vpon the words of a dying man I 'm altogether Innocent Lower he adds He died as he had liv'd in the Communion of the Church of England in whose Ordinances he had been often a partaker and now felt the blessed effects thereof in these his Agonies He was observ'd by those who stood near the Sledge to have solemnly several times averr'd his absolute Innocence of any Design against the Government and particularly that which he died for There were some Persons who are sufficiently known who were present at and exprest a great deal of barbarous Joy at his Death the open publication of their Names is here spar'd in hopes they have or will repent of so unmanly and unchristian a Behaviour tho' some of them then were so confounded with his Constancy and Chearful Bravery as wickedly to report That he was Drunk or Mad when he died His Quarters were set up on Guildhall in Terrorem and for the same Reason no doubt before mentioned for which he was Executed so near it There was such a terrible Storm the day of his Death as has scarce been known in the memory of man and will never be forgot by those who were in it ten or a dozen Ships being founder'd or stranded in one Road and a vast many more in other places And as Heaven then did him Justice and vindicated his Innocence so Earth also has done it the Judgment against him being Reverst by that honourable ever memorable Parliament which under God and our King has setled the Happiness both of this Age and Posterity There wanted not a sort of men at this time who would have perswaded the World that Murder was a Royal Sport for at this time was Printed a Ballad call'd Advice to the â—ity sung to the King at Windsor wherein are these entertaining Lines Then London be wise and baffle their Power And let 'em play the old Game no more Hang hang up the Sheriffs Those Baboons in Power Those Popular Thieves Those Rats of the Tower The Instruments of shedding this Blood may do well to reflect upon the Fate of Clowdesly one of the Iury-men and upon some others since that were concern'd in that Bloody Tragedy His Character HE was a Person of as known Prudence as Integrity a good Christian a compleâ—t Citizen a worthy Magistrate and a zealous Church of England man He was so cautious and wise that he was noted for it all thro' those worst of times and often propos'd as an Example to others of hotter and more imprudent Tempers nor could the least imputation be fix'd on him of hearing or concealing any unlawful or dangerous Discourses any other ways than by plain force of Perjury being known to have shunn'd some Persons whom he as well as some other prudent men suspected to have no good Designs and to be indu'd with no more honesty than discretion as it afterwards prov'd But he was design'd to glorifie God by such an End as all his care could not avoid which he submitted to with bravery rarely to be met with unless among those who suffered for the same Cause in the same Age or their Predecessors Queen Marys Martyrs There was seen the same tenour of Prudence and Piety thro' all the Actions of his Life tho' most conspicuous in the last glorious Scene of it There was such a firmness in his Soul such vigour and almost extatick Joy and yet so well regulated that it shin'd thro' his Face almost with as visible Rays as those in which we use to dress Saints and Martyrs with which both at his Sentence and Execution he refresht all his Friends and at once dazled and confounded his most bitter Enemies Mr. Charles Bateman THE next and last was Mr. Bateman the Chyâ—uâ—geon a Man of good Sense good Courage and good Company and a very large and generous Temper of considerable Repute and Practice in his Calling A great Lover and Vindicator of the Liberties of the City and Kingdom and of more interest than most of his Station He was swore against by Rouse's Lee and Richard Goodenough upon the old Stories of seizing the Tower City and Savoy We had had a better Defence had he himself been able to have made it But being kepâ— close Prisoner in Newgate the Windows and Rooms all dark and little or no Company he being a free jolly Man and us'd formerly to Conversation and Diversion soon grew deeply melancholy and when he came on his Tryal appeared little less than perfectly distracted on which the Court very kindly gave his Son liberty to make his Defence The first Instance to be sure of that Nature since he himself might
be expected from such young Soldiers being entirely satisfied in the Cause they fought for since 't was â—o less than the Interest of all that was dear to 'em in this World or t'other The Eldest had particularly signaliz'd himself in several Skirmishes and was sent with a Detachment of his own Troop and two more to Myn-head in Somersetshire to bring Cannon to the Army at the very instant the Duke engaged the Kings Forces at fatal Sedgmore and came not up till after the Field was entirely lost to whose absence with so considerable a Party of the Dukes Horse and the most resolved Men of all he had the loss of the day was principally owing Finding all things in Disorder and the Rout beyond recovering he was forc'd to disperse his Troops every one shifting as they could for themselves He and his Brother kept together where what befel 'em after their Friends have given an exact Account which is here following inserted An Account of the Behaviour of Mr. William and Benjamin Heâ—lings before and at their Execution with several Letters to divers of their Relations THe Gracious dealings of God manifested to some in Dying Hours have been of great advantage to those living that heard the same giving them an occasion thereby to reflect on their own State and to look after the things of their Peace before they be hid from their Eyes as also a great encouragement to strengthen the Faith of those that have experienced the Grace of God to them To that end it is thought necessary by Parents especially to preserve to their Children that remain those blessed Experiences that such have had which God hath taken to himself Here therefore is presented a true account of the admirable appearances of God towards two young Men Mr. Benjamin Hewling who dyed when he was about 22 Years of Age and Mr. William Hewling who dyed before he arrived to 20 Years They Engaged with the Duke of Monmouth as their own VVords were for the English Liberties and the Protestant Religion and for which Mr. VVilliam Hewling was Executed at Lyme the 12 th of September 1685. and Mr. Ben. Hewling at Taunton the 30 th of the same Month and however severe Men were to them yet the blessed Dispensation of God towards thâ—m was such as hath made good his Word that out of the Mouths of Babes he hath ordained Strength that he may still the Enemy and the Avenger Then Reader would you see Earthly Angels Men that are a little too low for Heaven and much too high for Earth would you see poor frail Creatures trampling this World under their Feet and with an holy serene Smiling at the Threats of Tyrants who are the Terrors of the Mighty in the Land of the Living Would you see shackled Prisoners behave themselves like Judges and Judges stand like Prisoners before them Would you see some of the rare Exploits of Faith in its highest Elevation immediately before it be swallowed up in the Beatifical Vision To conclude would you see the Heavenly Jerusalem pourtrayed on Earth Would you hear the melodious Voices of ascending Saints in a ravishing Consoâ—t ready to joyn with the Heavenly Chorus in theiâ— deâ—ighâ—ful Hallelujahs Then draw near come and see If thou be a Man of an Heavenly Spirit here is pleasant and suitable entertainment for thee and after thou hast conversed a while these Excellent Spirits it may be thou wilt Judge as I do That dead Saints are sweeter Companions in some respects for thee to converse with than those that are living And when thou shalt see the magnificeâ—â— Acts of their faith their invincible Patience their flaming Love to Christ their strange contempt and undervaluings of the World their plainness and simplicity in the profession of the Gospel their fâ—rvent and brotherly love to each other their ravishing Prâ—spects as it were on the top of Mount Pisgah â—f the Heavenly Canaan their Swan-like Songs and Dying Speeches And Reader You know the first Lisping of little Children and last Farewels of Dying Saints are always most sweet and charming Those Fore-tasts of the Rivers of Pleasure the transporting Glimpses they had of the Crown of Glory I say when you see and read these Exemplary Truths wonder not that the Pious Hewlings long'd so vehemently to be in a better World though they were to pass through a thousand Deaths or the Fiery Tryal to it But to come to our intended matter After the Dispersing of the Dukes Army they fled and put to Sea but were driven back again and with the hazard of their Lives got on shore over dangerous Rocks where they saw the Country fill'd with Soldiers and they being unwilling to fall into the hands of the Rabble and no way of defence or escape remaining to them they surrendred themselves Prisoners to a Gentleman whose House was near the place they landed at and were from thence sent to Exeter Goal the 12 th of July where remaining some time their behaviour was such that being visited by many caus'd great respect towards 'em even of those that were enemies to the Cause they engaged in and being on the 27 th of July put on board the Swan Frigate in order to their bringing up to London their Carriage was such as obtained great kindness frome the Commander and all other Officers in the Ship and being brought into the River Captain Richardson came and took them into his Custody and carryed them to Newgate putting great Irons upon them and put them apart from each other without giving Liberty for the nearest Relation to see them notwithstanding all endeavours and entreaties used to obtain it tho in the presence of a Keeper which though it did greatly increase the Grief of Relations God who wisely orders all things for good to those he intends Grace and Mercy to made this very Restraint and hard usage a blessed advantage to their Souls as may appear by their own Words when after great importunity and charge some of their near Relations had leave to speak a few words to them before the Keeper to which they replied They were câ—ntented with the Will of God whatever it should be Having been in Newgate three Weeks there was Order given to carry them down into the West in order to their Tryal which being told them they answer'd They were glad of it and that Morning they went out of Newgate several that beheld them seeing them so chearful said Surely they had received their Pardon else they could never carry it with that Courage and Chearfulness Altho this must be observed that from first to last whatever hopes they received from Friends they still thought the contrary never being much affected with the hopes of it nor cast down nor the least discouraged at the worst that man could do In their Journey to Dorchester the Keepers that went with them have given this account of them That their Carriage was so grave serious and christian that made them admire to
was Originally instituted by God and this or that Form of it chosen and submitted to by Men for the Peace Happiness and Security of the Govern'd and not for the private Interest and personal Greatness of those that Rule So That Government hath always been esteemed the best where the Supream Magistrates have been invested with all the Power and Prerogatives that might capacitate them not only to preserve the People from Violence and Oppression but to promote their Prosperity And yet where nothing was to belong to them by the Rules of the Constitution that might enable them to injure and oppress them And it hath been the Glory of England above most other Nations that the Prince had all intrusted with him that was necessary either for the advancing the Wellfare of the People or for his own Protection in the discharge of his Office And withall stood so limited and restrained by the Fundamental Terms of the Constitution that without a Violation of his own Oath as well as the rules and measures of the Government he could do them no hurt or exercise any act of Authority but through the administration of such hands as stood obnoxious to be punished in case they transgressed So that according to the Primitive Frame of the Government the Prerogatives of the Crown and the Priviledges of the Subject are so far from justling one another that the Rights reserved unto the People tended to render the King Honourable and Great and the Prerogatives setled on the Prince were in order to the Subjects Protection and Safety But all humane things being Subject to perversion as well as decay it hath been the fate of the English Government to be often changed and wrested from what it was in the first settlement and institution And we are particularly compelled to say that all the boundaries of the Government have of late been broken and nothing left unattempted for turning our limited Monarchy into an absolute Tyranny For such hath been the transaction of Affairs within this Nation for several years last past that though the Protestant Religion and Liberties of the People were fenced and hedged about by as many Laws as the Wisdom of man could devise for their Preservation against Popery and Arbitrary Power our Religion hath been all along countermined by Popish Counsels and our Priviledges ravished from us by Fraud and Violence And more especially the whole Course and Series of the Life of the D. of Y. hath been but been one continued Conspiracy against the Reformed Religion and the Rights of the Nation For whosoever considers his contriving the Burning of London his instigating a Confederacy with France and a War with Holland his fomenting the Popish Plot and encouraging the Murther of Sir Ed. Godfrey to stifle it his charging Treason against Protestants and suborning Witnesses to swear the Patriots of our Religion and Liberties out of their Lives his hireing execrable Villains to Assassinate the late Earl of Essex and causing those others to be clandestinely cut off in hopes to conceal it his adviseing and procuring the Prorogation and Dissolution of Parliaments in order to prevent their looking into his Crimes and that he might escape the justice of the Nation Such can imagine nothing so black and horrid in it self or so ruinous and destructive to Religion and the Kingdom which we may not expect from him The very Tyrannies which he hath exercised since he snatched the Crown from his Brothers head do leave none under a possibility of flattering themselves with hopes of safety either in their Consciences Persons or Estates For in in defiance of all the Laws and Statutes of the Realm made for the security of the Reformed Protestant Religion he not only began his Reign with a bare-faced avowing himself of the Romish Religion but hath called in multitudes of Priests and Jesuits for whom the Law makes it Treason to come into this Kingdom and hath impowered them to exercise their Idolatries And besides his being daily present at the Worship of the Mass hath pubickly assisted at the greatest fopperies of their Superstition Neither hath he been more tender in trampling upon the Laws which concern our Properties seeing in two Proclamations whereof the one requires the Collecting of the Customs and the other the continuing that part of the Excise which was to â—xpire with the late Kings Death he hath violently and against all the Law of the Land broken in upon our Estates Neither is it any extenuation of his Tyranny that he is countenanced in it by an extrajudicial Opinion of seven or eight suborned and forsworn Judges but rather declaring the greatness and extent of the Conspiracy against our Rights and that there is no means feft for our relief but by Force of Arms For advancing those to the Bench that were the scandal of the Bar and Constituting those very Men to declare the Laws who were Accused and Branded in Parliament for Perverting them we are precluded all hopes of Justice in Westminster Hall And through packing together by False Returns new Illegal Charters and other corrupt means he doth at once deprive us of all expectations of Succour where our Ancestors were wont to find it and hopes to render that which ought to be the Peoples Fence against Tyranny and the Conservator of their Liberties the means of subverting all our Laws and of establishing of his Arbitrariness and confirming our thraldom So that unless we could be contented to see the Reformed Protestant Religion and such as profess it extirpated Popish Superstition and Idolatry established the Laws of the Land trampled under foot the Liberties and Rights of of the English People Subverted and all that is Sacred and Civil or of regard amongst men of Vertue or Piety Violated and unless we could be willing to be Slaves as well as Papists and forget the example of our noble and generous Ancestors who conveyed our Priviledges to us at the expence of their Blood and Treasure and withall be unmindful of our duty to God our Country and Posterity deaf to the Cries and Groans of our oppressed Friends and be satisfied not only to see them and our selves Imprisoned Robbed and Murthered but the Protestant Interest throughout the whole World betrayed to France and Rome We are bound as Men and Christians and that in discharge of our duty to God and our Country and for the satisfaction of the Protestant Nations round about us to betake our selves to Arms. Which we take Heaven and Earth to witness we should not havâ— done had not the malice of our Enemies depriveâ— us of all other means of redress and were not the Miseries that we already feel and those which do further threaten us worse than the Calamities of War And it is not for any personal Injuries or private Discontents nor in pursuance of any corrupt Interest that we take our Swords into our hands but for vindicating our Religion Laws and Rights and rescuing our Country from Ruin
an honest Man in England that took him not for a Knave not excepting the King that had given him another Testimony in Words In the next page follows An Abstract of Monmouth's true Speech A brief Abstract of his true Speech I Repent in general of all my Sins and am more particularly concerned for what â—lood hath been spilt on my Account and the rather seeing the Issue is such as I fear will prove of fatal consequence to the Reformed Protestant Religion Instead of being counted Factious and Rebellious the very opposing of Popery and Arbitrary Power now arising and appearing plain enough would sufficiently have protected my Cause besides several other most hainous and notorious Crimes such as the unhappy Fate of the Earl of Essex and my Father of ever blessed Memory and others now covered over with Jesuitical Policy should have been detected and avenged I have lived and shall now die in the Faith of this that God will work a Deliverance for his People and then will be discovered the great and horrid and scarcely to be parallell'd Villanies our Enemies have been guilty of but now you see my case is desperate yet know that I die a Martyr for the People and shall rather pity the State that their false and covetous Minds have brought themselves and me to then discover who are the Persons concerned in my overthrow and I heartily forgive all that have wronged me even those that have been instrumental in my Fall earnestly praying for their Souls And I hope King James will shew himself to be of his Brothers Blood and extend his mercy to my Children even as he was wont to his greatest Enemies they being not capable to act and therefore not conscious of any Offence against the Government His ELEGY COme Mortals come now set your selves to weep Is not your glorious M gone to sleep Send us some Tears you Indians from your Shore For it 's our Grief that we can mourn no more We want some Mourners from the utmost Coast Of all the Earth that Grief may not be lost When Britain hath set down and mourn'd her fill She ought to send for other Mourners still Created Things come set your selves to mourn Since lovely M from the World is torn Should you not Mourn and tell your Children so That Ages hence may mourn and sorrow too 'Cause we have lost so great a good as this Who was our Flow'r and mourning Europe's Bliss The Sun did mourn the morning of that Day And with the Clouds of Darkness did array His glorious Face that Mortals might not see His Royal Rays while they did murther thee O Lovely Mon Glory of our Land Who for God's Word did like a Pillar stand All things but Devils seemed then to weep Nor could the Earth almost in silence keep Methought all Joy would vanish from the Earth And pleasantness would stop with Mon 's Breath Methought the Sun might now be angry grown And would no more on Earth be seen or known We fear'd the Heavens now disturbed were And for the Earth would take no further care All good Men griev'd to see that fatal Blow Whilst Floods of Tears did from the Heavens flow But that black Blow instead of proving three Like Russel's Fate Five Bloody Stroaks they see Ye Ages all let this recorded be And let all Mankind M mourn for thee Could we but draw those blessed Looks of his As when we saw him walking hence to Bliss When from the Tower he did the Hill ascend Where Troops of Angels did his Soul attend One would have thought to see him in that throng That he to Bliss already did belong His Countenance all others did out-shine And made his very Foes to Grief incline No sooner was his Soul arriv'd in Bliss Where he receiv'd a better Crown for this But Phoebus and the Earth began to shine And pleasant Looks towards us do incline The Clouds and Tears were wip't from Heavens face And glorious Brightness did again take place Now â—appy Soul we leave thee to thy rest To live in Joys that cannot be exprest ARgile and the Duke of Monmouth being now both safe in their Graves King James was so pufft up with a petty Victory over a few Clubmen and so wrapt up with a Conceit that he had now conquer'd the whole Nation so that now believing himself impregnable he resolves to be reveng'd upon the Western People for siding with his Capital Enemy Monmouth and to that purpose sends down his Executioner in Ordinary Jeffryes not to decimate according to the Heathen way of Mercy but with the Bâ—som of his Cruelties to sweep the Country before him and to depopulate instead of punishment at what time Acquaintance or Relation of any that fell in the Field with a slender Circumstance tack'd to either was a Crime sufficient for the Extirpation of the Family And young and old were hang'd by Clusters as if the Chief Justice had designed to raise the Price of Halters besides the great number of those that upon bare suspition were transported Beyond Sea and there sold for Slaves and the purchase Monâ— given away to satisfie the Hunger of needy Papists After Ages will read with Astonishment the barbarous Usage of those poor People of which among many instances this one may seem sufficient whereby to take the Dimensions of all the rest That when the Sister of the two Hewlings hung upon the Chief Justices Coach imploring Mercy on the behalf of her Brothers the merciless Judge to make her let go caus'd his Coach-man to cut her hands and fingers with the Lash of his Whip Nor would he allow the Respite of the Execution but for two days tho' the Sister with Tears in her Eyes offer'd a hundred pound for so small a Favour And whoever shelter'd any of those forlorn Creatures were hurried to the Slaughter-house with the same inexcrable Out-rage without any consideration either of Age or Sex witness the Execution of the Lady Lisle at Winchester As for Argilâ— and the Duke tho' they might die pityed yet in regard they had declared open Hostility it was no more than they were to expect upon ill Success We shall now to compleat our Western Martyrology and that we may not be too tedious proceed to give the particular Cases of those that were Condemn'd and Executed in the West with their Christian Behaviour and Dying Speeches as their plain Country Friends have preserv'd ' em The Dying Speech and Behaviour of Mr. Matth. Bragg AND we being with Mr. Matthew Bragg who was a Gentleman and descended from an ancient and good Family he was bred an Attorney in which he practised the Law His Case being this He hapned to be upon the Road riding home to his House being come from a Gentleman's House for whom he kept Courts He as before being met with by a Party of Horse belonging to the Duke of Monmouth who were going to search the House of a Roman Catholick for Arms who
to those poor Prisoners to be hereafter tryed and Lord if it be thy holy Will stop this issue of Christian Blood and let my guiltless Blood be the last spilt on this account Gentlemen all farewel farewel all the things of the World Then singing some few Verses of a Psalm and putting up some private Ejaculations to himself said O Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit and so submitted to the Executioner Sept. 7. 1685. The Behaviour and Dying Speech of Mr. Joseph Speed of Culliton AT the same time and place as he came near the place of his Execution he spying his Country-man and Friend called him and said I am glad to see you here now because I am not known in these parts being answered by his Friend I am sorry to see you in this Condition He replies It is the best day I ever saw I thank God I have not led my Life as Unchristian-like as many have done having since the years of 16 always had the Checks of Conscience on me which made me to avoid many gross and grievous Sins my course of Life hath been well known to you yet I cannot justifie my self all Men err I have not been the least of Sinners therefore cannot excuse my self but since my confinement I have received so great comfort in some assurance of the Pardon of my Sins that I can now say I am willing to die to be dissolved and to be with Christ and say to Death Where is thy Sting and to Grave Where is thy Victory Being ask'd by some rude Soldiers Whether he was not sorry for the Rebellion he was found guilty of He couragiously reply'd If you call it a Rebellion I assure you I had no sinister ends in being concerned for my whole design in taking up Arms under the D. of M. was to Fight for the Protestant Religion which my own Conscience dictated me to and which the said Duke Declared for and had I think a lawful Call and Warrant for so doing and do not question that if I have committed any sin in it but that it is pardoned Pray Mr. Sheriff let me be troubled no farther in answering of Questions but give me leave to prepare my self those few minutes I have left for another World and go to my Jesus who is ready to receive me Then calling to his Friend who stood very near him said My dear Friend you know I have a dear Wife and Children who will find me wanting being somewhat incumber'd in the World let me desire you as a Dying Man to see that she be not abused and as for my poor Children I hope the Father of Heaven will take care of them and give them Grace to be dutiful to their Distressed Mother and so with my dying Love to all my Friends when you see them I take leave of you and them and all the World desiring your Christian Prayers for me to the last moment then repeating some Sentences of Scripture as Colossians chap. 3. v. 1 2. If you then c. and praying very fervently said I thank God I have satisfaction I am ready and willing to suffer shame for his Name And so pouring forth some private Ejaculations to himself and lifting up his hands the Executioner did his Office Tâ—e Soldiers then present said They never before were so taken with a Dying Mâ—n's Speech his Courage and Christian-like Resolution caused many violent Men against the Prisoners to repent of their Tyranny towards them some of whom in a short time died full of horror And thus fell this good Man a true Protestant and one that held out to the end An account of those that suffer'd at Bridport and Lime AT Bridport one John Sparke who was a very good Man and behaved himself with a great deal of Christian-like Courage to the end His Speech and his Devotions c. must be omitted not being possible to take them by reason of the rudeness c. and the shortness of the time allowed him by the Souldiers Next place was Lime where many of Note died Particularly Col. Holmes who was the first of those there executed near the same place where they landed when they came ashore with the Duke of M. Being brought to the place after some difficulty for the Horses that were first put into the Sledge would not stir which oblige-those concerned to get others which they did from the Coachman who had that morning brought them to Town when they were put into the Sledge they broke it in pieces which caused the Prisoners to go on foot to the place of Execution where being come as I told you before the Colonel began thus at the foot of the Ladder he saâ— down with an Aspect altogether void of Fear but on the contrary with a kind of smiling Countenance so began to speak to the spectators to this purpose That he would give them an account of his first undertaking in the design which was long before in London for there be agreed to stand by and assist the D. of M. when opportunity offer'd in order to which he went to Holland with him and there continued until this Expedition in which God had thought fit to frustrate his and other good Mens Expectations He believed the Protestant Religion was bleeding and in a step towards Extirpation and therefore he with these his Brethren that were to suffer with him and Thousands more had adventured their Lives and their All to save it but God Almighty had not appointed 'em to be the Instruments in so glorious a Work yet notwithstanding he did verily believe and doubted not but that God would make use of others that should meet with better success tho the way or means was not yet visible but of this he did not doubt He also was satisfied of the D's Title so that matter did not afflict him on account of his engaging on his Score And going on further with a Discourse of this nature he was asked by a Person Why he did not pray for the King He with a smiling Countenance answer'd I am sorry you do not yet understand the difference between Speaking and Praying And having ended his Discourse he then prepared himself by Prayer for his Dissolution which was very devout and pious for half an hour which was as follows Colonel Holme's Last Prayer MOst glorious most great and most merciful God there is none in Heaven or in Earth that is like unto thee Heaven is thy Throne and the Earth is thy Footstool who shall say unto thee What doest thou Here we are poor deplorable Creatures come to offer up our last Prayers and Services unto thee we beseech thy favourable Ear to our Prayers and the comfort of thy holy Spirit at this time we praise and magnifie thy name for all the Dispensations of thy Providence towards us especially for this thy Providence in bringing us to this place and at this time to suffer shame for thy Name Help and assist all of us
Kingdom have heard in the Publick Letters their names mentioned Some may think they were concerned with the Duke but I never heard there was so much made appear against them as could have made them been brought in guilty of High Misdemeanours had not the Good Gentleman and his Lady been vertuous People abhoâ—ring the Debaucheries of the times and of such a competent Estate able to spare ten or twelve thousand pounds the hard usage this honest brave Gentleman and his vertuous Lady had and their sufferings to relate thâ—m would be to large and besides it is so well known in most places in the West that I shall without saying any more proceed And next for Mr. Parret who was executed at Taunton if I mistake not he said he was a Londoner and a Brewer When he came to the place of Execution he seemed a Man almost unconcerned at Death After some time he began to deliver himself somewhat low in voice to the People and after rising by degrees he seemed more like a Minister in a Pulpit preaching devoutly than a prisoner just going to Execution but I being then not well could not tarry to see his End But the Character I had was That he desired all not to be faint-hearted because of their fall and to think that there was no hopes remaining He said He verily believed God would yet work out deliverence for them and at the time they were in the greatest Extremity that would be God's Opportunity Put your whole trust and confidence and dependence on the Lord and he will never leave you nor forsake you and much more but having no more exact Copy I shall not enlarge but come to some other A further Account of the Behaviour of Mr. Christopher Battiscomb of his lâ—st Speech and Prayer immediately beforâ— he suffâ—red at Lyme 12 th Septemb. 1685. which Account should have been inserted after the Figures 1685. in p. 373. HE was a true Protestant to the last well beloved among the Gentry of that Country But it was his fortune to be concerned with the Duke of Monmouth and was very faithful to him to the last during the time of the Bloody Assizes at Dorchester where he received his Sentence of Death he was divers times sent for to the Chamber of the then L. C. J. and promoted with offers of Life to betray some Gentlemen which he always refused saying he scorned to purchase his Life by such indirect means and he accordingly chose Death rather than Life seeing it could not be purchased but by such unworthy means The day being come he prepared himself and received the Holy Sacrament walking down to the place of Execution with much chearfulness and Christian Courage when he was mounting the Ladder smiled and said I am not afraid of this I am going to a better place from a poor and miserable World to a Celestial Paradise a Heavenly Jerusalem I might have chosen whether I would have undergone this Death if I had hearkned to the L. C. J. but it was upon such unworthy terms that should I have accepted of my Pardon it would have been troublesome to me I die a true Protestant I am in Charity with all Men God preserve this Nation from Popery the Lord bless you all So taking his leave of them he knew after Prayer he launched into Eternity A further Account of Mr. John Sprage of Lyme which should have been inserted after the word Souldiers in pag. 444. but was there omitted through the Printers mistake WIth Mr. John Sprage there were Executed Twelve in the County of Dorset Mr. John Sprage of Lyme a Man more fit to die than he that Condemned him was fit to live He was a zealous Christian and a Man that in a manner lived in Heaven while on Earth he was but of an ordinary Estate in this World But to be short his Praise his Worth his Fame will never die in those places where known he went about doing good even in his worldly Employments as I have been credibly informed hardly any thing coming that way but what his Spiritual Meditations were upon He was apprehended near Salisbury brought to Dorchester where I saw him several times and was conversant with him before his Tryal he carried himself very moderately to all some of divers Principles in matters of Religion he continually prayed with them advising and instructing them to those holy Duties which were necessary to Salvation Being asked how he could endure those hardships he had undergone since his being taken Says he If this be all 't is not so much but my Friend if you were to take a Journy in those ways you were not acquainted with you would I hope desire Advice from those that had formerly used those ways or lived near by them Yes says he Then said he The ways of Affliction which I have lately travelled in I had Advice many a time from a Minister who hath often told his Congregation of the troublesomness of the Road and of the difficulty of getting through and has given me and hundreds of others to understand the pitts and stones in the way and how to avoid them he has been a Man used to those Roads many years I have taken his Advice I am got thus far on comfortably and I trust shall do so to the end I am not afraid to fight a Duel with Death if so it must be Now I thank God I can truly say O Death where is thy Sting and O Grave where is thy Victory Two or three days after their Sentence they were drawn to Execution but were very rudely and opprobriously dealt with to the shame of those that then had the charge over them their Rigor unto them was more like Turks than Christians But to conclude being come to the place of Executition he prayed very devoutly with them all but by the rudeness of the Guards there could be no Copy taken to be said to be true All of them dyed very Couragious especially this stout Christian Champion who spake to them in these words looking on the Souldiers saying Little do you think that this very Body of mine which you are now come to see cutt in pieces will one day rise up in judgment against you and be your Accuser for your delight in spilling of Christian Blood the Heathens have far more Mercy O 't is sad when England must outstrip Infidels and Pagans but pray take notice don't think that I am not in Charity with you I am so far that I forgive you and all the World and do desire the God of Mercies to forgive you and open your hearts and turn you from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the Lord Jesus Christ and so Farewell I am going out of the power of you all I have no dependence but upon my blessed Redeemer to whom I commit my dear Wife and Children and all the World A further Account of the Behaviour of Collonel Holms in Lyme and at
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
that for which I am call'd to supper be silent and leave it to God I advise you to all Prudence in this case have your own reserv'd thoughts and let them concerning me support and comfort you if there never happen a time for you to Glory in my Sufferings it will be hereafter do you but walk with God though through Prudence you must hold your Tongue and be not asham'd you had such a Husband I thank God that gave it me whose Courage and Publick Spirit for the Protestant Religion the Civil Liberties of his Country even true English Liberties hath in this ignominious way brought me to the Conclusion and End of my time Mourn not my Dear as one without Hope let the World know you have something from me something from your self as a Christian but ten thousand times more from God to comfort and support you see Christ by an eye of Faith infinitely more lovely and beautiful than my self let him be married to your Soul let him be the chiefest of ten thousand and more dear and precious to you it is not long we shall be separated before we shall see one another in a Spiritual Enjoyment separated from all Fleshly Pleasures and Delights yet iâ—finitely mâ—re sweet and satisfying to Immortal Spirits as you and I us'd to see Sâ—reâ—ms from the Fountain and the largest Streams in the Ocean so let us see one another in God the ever-flowing and over-flowing Fountain of all Good the fathomless and boundless Ocean of Good Seâ—k much the things which are above live with your Affections set upon them and have your Conversation in Heaven whilst you are upon Earth I continue yet to pray for you as for my seâ—f and shall conâ—inue to do it until I die in my last Prayers you shall be interested with my dear Babes whom I hope God will take into Covenant with him and number them among his Adopted Ones and of that incorrupâ—ible Inheritance which is in Heaven I hope God will spare your Life to see them Educated and guide and assist you therein and theirs to be a blessing and comfort to you Coâ—sider your Condition is not single and alone this Country affords a multitude of the like sad and deplorable Instances let this make you more to possess your Soul with Patience and Humility calmly and quietly to submit to the good Will of God I have left a Paper behind me for you to read and our Friend can tell with what difficulty I write it therefore must have many Defects and Imperfections which must be over-looked and mended preserve â—he two Bibles for my dear James and Betty What shall I say more my Dearest I must break off with my Heart full of Love to thee and subscribe my self Thy most dear and Affectionate Husband till Death J. H. Octob. 3. 1685. Captain Abraham Ansley's Last Speech I Am come to pay a Debt to Nature 't is a Debt that all must pay though some after one manner and some after another The way that I pay it may be thought by sâ—me few ignominious but not so by me having long since as a true Engliâ—hman â—houâ—ht it my Duty to venture my â—ife in defence of the Protestant Religion against Popery and Arbitrary Power For this same purpose I came from my House to the D. of M's Army At first I was a Lieutenant and then a Captain and I was in all the Action the Fâ—ot was engaged in which I do not repent For had I a thousand Lives they should all have been engaged in the same Cause although it has pleased the wise God for reasons best known to himself to blast our Designs but he will deliver his People by ways we know nor think not of I might have saved my Life if I would have done as some narrow-soul'd Persons have done by impeaching others but I abhor such ways of Deliverance choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy Life with Sin As to my Religion I own the way and Practice of the Independent Church and in that Faith I die depending on the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ for my Eternal Salvation His Blessing be with you all Farewell to thee poor England Farewell Abraham Ansley Mr. Annesley's Last Letter SIR I now send you my last Farewel being going to lay down my Life with joy and assurance of Life eternal for which blessed be the Holy one of Israel who never leaves nor forsakes those that put their trust in him and give you many thanks for your kindness to me the Lord make it up to you by pouring upon you a daily Portion of his most Holy Spirit and deliver you from your Bonds My Enemies have done what they could to afflict this Body but blessed be the most High who has given me Strength Patience and Courage to endure all they can lay upon me The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Fellowship of his Holy Spirit â—ttend you which is the Prayer of your dying Friend but living Brother in Christ Jesus ABRAHAM ANSLEY From Taunton Castle Sept. 21. 1685. Mr. Josias Askew's Letter to his Father Honoured Father I not having an opportunity to make my Gratitude known to you for all your Endeavours for the saving a poor vain perishing and troublesom Life and seeing it is all in vain I would desire you both to acquiesce in the Will of God and rejoyce with me for this happy day of my departure â—rom this State of Pilgrimage home to the Possession of those Heavenly Mansions which my God and Faâ—her hath provided for me in and through my Lord Jesus Christ It is â—n him alone I put my Trust and Confidence and theâ—efore can boldly sâ—y Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyâ—d yea rather that is risen again and is set down at the right hand of God making intercession for all those that have a well grounded Confidence in him My time is but short and by reason of Company I am disturbed therefore I conclude with my last Breath begging of God that he would keep you constant in his Fear in this day of great temptation and at last receive you to his Glory where we shall once more unite in praising without interruption or distraction World without end Amen Until which time the Grace of God the Father the Love of God the Son the comfortable Refreshings of God the Holy Ghost be with you all youâ—s and the whole Israel of God both now and for ever Which iâ— the hearty Prayer of your Son JOSIAS ASKEW Pray remember me to all with Joy Another Letter to his Friend MADAM YOU have been a Partaker with me in my troubleâ— I would also make you partaker with me in my Joys seâ—ing my Wedding day is come the day of the Bridgroom is at hand and I am this day to be stript of my Rags of Corruption to be cloathed upon with the white Robe of his Righteousness and Purity and to
trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation But deliver us from Evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen After which going up the Ladder he desired the Executioner not to be hard to him who answered No and said I pray Master forgive me To which he said I do wiâ—h my whole Heart and I pray God forgive thee but I advise thee to leave off this bloody Trade The Executioner said I am forced to do what I do it 's against my mind So lifting up his hands to Heaven the Executioner did his Office The Behaviour and Dying Words of Mr. Roger Satchel who was executed at Weymouth in the County of Dorset THis Gentleman at the time of the Dukes landing at Lyme lived at Culliton about five Miles West of that Town and was supposed to be concerned in the design with the Duke He always was a great Admirer of him which got him many Enemies among the Gentry of that County He always hated the name of a Papist and as it fell out he did foresee Popery advancing as his Words to divers of his Neighbours can testifie As for his Disposition he was of a very generous and Heroick Spirit But to proceed No sooner had he the news of the Dukes being landed but he sets himself to work to serve him desiring all he knew to joyn with him and was one of the first that went to him to Lyme and was with him to the end But after the Rout travelling to and fro to secure himself was at last taken at Chard by three Moss Troopers under no Discipline who made it their business to ruine their Neighbours in those parts they are so well known I need not say any more He was from thence carry'd to Ilchester and so secured in Ilchester Goal and at the Bloody Assizes at Dorchester took his Tryal and received his Sentence with the rest Great application was made for him but my L. C. Justice Jeffreys Ears were deaf and so was order'd to be executed at Weymouth After Sentence two of his Friends came to him and told him There was no hope He answer'd My hope is in the Lord. After which he spent most of his time before Execution in Prayer and Meditation and conferring with many good Persons The morning being come he prepared himself and all the way drawing to Execution was very devout Being come to the place there was a Minister I think of that place who sung a Psalm and prayed with them and would have some Discourse with this Person which he avoided as much as possible but he asked him What were his Grounds for joyning in that Rebellion who answered Had you Sir been there and a Protestant I believe you would have joyned too but do not speak to me about that I am come to die for my sins not for my Treason against the King as you call it So pointing to the Wood that was to burn his Bowels he said I do not care for that what matters it what becomes of my Body so my Soul be at rest So praying to himself near half an hour and advising some he knew never to yield to Popery he was turned off the Ladder He was a couragious bold spirited Man and one of great Reason Just and punctual in all his business and one that did much good amongst his Neighbours There was at the same time and place one Mr. Lancaster executed whose Courage and Deportment was such that he out-braved Death and in a manner challenged it to hurt him saying I die for a good Cause and am going to a gracious God I desire all your Christian Prayers 't is good to go to Heaven with Company And much more he spake concerning the Duke of Monmouth whom he supposed at that time to be living and so praying privately for some small time he was turned or rather leaped over the Ladder If I mistake not he said he was born or lived in Bridport The last Speech of Mr. Benjamin Sandford at the place of Execution at Bridport HE with Nine more were brought from Dorchester to Bridport to be Executed Coming to the place of Execution he held up his Hands to Heaven and turning himself to the People said I am an Old Man you see and I little thought to have ended my days at such a shameful place and by such an ignominious Death and indeed it is dreadful to Flesh and Blood as well as a Reproach to Relations but it would have been a great deal more if I had suffered for some Felonious Account Says one to him Is not this worse do you think than Felony He answered I know not any thing that I have done so bad as Felony that this heavy Judgment should fall upon me except it be for my sins against my God whom I have highly provok'd and must acknowledge have deserved ten thousand times more Lord I trust thou hast pardoned them Seal my pardon in the Blood of my Saviour Lord look upon and be with me to the last Moment There was also Executed at the same time one John Bennet a poor Man but pious and of good Report with his Neighbours in Lyme where he lived I have heard that when he was on Trial a certain Person inform'd his Lordship that the Prisoner then at the Bar had Alms of the Parish And that his Lordship should reply Do not trouble your selves I will ease the Parish of that trouble In Prison and at the place of Execution he behaved himself so to all that many of his Enemies pitied him and would if it had lain in their power as they said have saved him His Son being then present offered to have died for him and was going up the Ladder if it might have been suffer'd He prayed some short time and so was translated as we have hopes to think from this troublesome World into Celestial Joy and Happiness Next follows many Excellent Hymns made by several Worthy Persons that were Prisoners for the sake of Christ. TRiumphing Songs with glorious Tongues Let 's offer unto him That loved so to undergo The product of our Sin Leaving his Throne from Heaven came down Sinners for to Redeem From Hell and Wrath and second death Christ underwent great pain His side was gor'd his hands were bor'd His feet were nailed down And all was for the Redemption Of sinful wicked Man O how straitned prest and pained Was Christ to be Baptized And in Affliction to be plunged His Body Sacrificed Let God be blest for Jesus Christ Who is our splendid King Hallelujahs sweet with spirit meet High praises to him sing For Blood for Wounds for Love whose bounds Extended unto all For scoffâ— and smites for jeers for flouts Which upon Christ did fall Now Christ haste unto us again Thy Scepter for to sway Thy Kingdom come thy will be done Come Jesus come away With glorious bands and shiâ—ing trance Of Angels in the Skye Which forth
the Cruelty of Men when in their Power and how the Devil stirreth up his Instruments to pursue those that adventure for the Cause of God and Religion Here were in this County Executed 239. the rest that were Condemned were Transported except such as were able to furnish Coin and that not a little for an account was taken of Mens abilities according to which the purchase for Life must be managed by two of his Favourites who had a small share the rest went into his Lordships Pocket according to the Actions of Rome where Sins of any kind may be pardoned for mony This indeed was a glorious Design in the Eye of Mother Church to root out Heresie by Executions and Transportations to make room for a pack here Expedition must be made to conclude at Wells for that a great Man being fallen our great Judge designing his Chair which in short he had as the Reward of so eminent and extraordinary a piece of Service as he did for the Advancement of the Roman Catholicks Interest which is cruel always where it prevails Thus we leave the Town of Taunton after awarding Execution to many there and their Quarters to be scatter'd up and down the County and so we proceed to Wells where divers Prisoners that had been carried from Goal to Goal in expectation of Evidence against them were in Carts removed to Wells in which place to finish this Expedition the same Method as was at the former Assizes was also taken here by a severe Charge affronting the Gentlemen of this County as he had done in all the Counties before terrifying the Juries when any pleaded to make them to bring in the persons Guilty some of which being over-awed and it is doubted contrary to their Judgments which if so the Lord forgive them Here were many eminent and worthy persons that received the Sentence of Death but the Executions of the County being put together as you have before seen we make no particular Division of the Number here and the Number at Taunton the whole being recited before We shall therefore endeavour to be as brief as we can to give you what we think material and truly matter of Fact my Lord now being come to conclude this extraordinary Commission and in haste to be elevated maketh all manner of dispatch to repair to the King then at Windsor to give an Account of his Transactions and to receive the Reward of his meritorious service in this Butchering of Protestants which is so acceptable to his Holiness and his bigotted Disciples as nothing can be more and indeed if you will believe them a Work that merits Heaven at last besides what Temporal Preferments are thought fit in this World If this cruel Judge were a true Protestant his Case is much the worse being made use of as a Tool to destroy and carry on Popish Designs Thus the Affairs being ended the Country filled with Heads and Quarters of those that were Executed the rest that had not wherewith to purchase their Lives left in Custody in order to Transportation I shall next add the Charge given by the Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys at the City of Bristol Monday September 21. 1685. In his Return from his Western Campaigne Gentlemen I Am by the Mercy of God come to this great and populous City a City that boasts both of its Riches and Trade and may justly indeed claim the next place to the great and populous Metropolis of this Kingdom Gentlemen I find here are a great many Auditors who are very intent as if they expected some formal or prepared Speech but assure your selves we come not to make neither set Speeches nor formal Declamations nor to follow a couple of puffing Trumpeters for Lord we have seen those things Twenty times before No we come to do the King's business a King who is so Gracious as to use all the means possible to discover the Disorders of the Nation and to search out those who indeed are the very Pest of the Kingdom To this end and for this purpose are we come to this City But I find a special Commission is an unusual thing here and relishes very ill nay the very Women storm at it for fear we should take the upper hand of them too for by the by Gentlemen I hear it is much in fashion in this City for the Woman to govern and bear sway But Gentlemen I will not stay you with such needless Stories I will only mention some few things that fall within my knowledg for Points or Matters of Law I shall not trouble you but only mind you of some things that lately hath happened and particularly in this City for I have the Kalender of this City in my Pocket and if I do not express my self in so formal or set a Declamation for as I told you I came not to make Declamations or in so smooth Language as you may expect you must attribute it partly to the pain of the Stone under which I labour and partly to the unevenness of this days journey Gentlemen I may say that even some of the youngest amongst us may remember the late horrid Rebellion how men under colour of Law and pretext of Justice after they had divested a most Gracious and most Merciful Prince of all his Royal Power by the Power of the Sword they I say under colour of Law and pretext of Justice which added the more to the Crime that it was done under colour of such pretended Justice brought the most Mild and Meekest Prince next to our ever Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ if we may but compare him to a Man to die a Martyr the first blessed Martyr pardon the expression besides our most blessed Jesu who suffered for us on the Cross I say besides that Blessed Son of God this I say was the first Royal Martyr not suffering him to speak for himself or make his defence a Liberty which is given to the vilest Traitor and this was done not to descant on the number by Forty one The Rebels not resting here for Rebellion is like the sin of Witchcraft Divested the Lineal Legal and Rightful Heir of the Crown of all his Power and Prerogative till the Mighty God of Heaven and Earth God Almighty restored him to his Just Right And he as if begot in Mercy not only forgave all Offences and pardoned voluntarily even all that had been in actual Arms against him excepting those accursed Regicides but also made it a Crime for any one that should but remember or upbraid any of their past Crimes and Rebellions Good God! O Jesu that we should live in such an Age in which such a Prince cannot be safe from the seditious contrivances of Pardoned Rebels Had we not the Rye Conspiracy wherein they not only designed to have Murthered that Most Blessed for so now we may conclude him to be with God Almighty and Gracious King but also his Most ever Dear and Victorious Brother Had we not the Bill
of Exclusion which our most Gracious King told us he could not without a manifest Infringement of the Royal Prerogatives of the Crown which are too sacred for us to touch consent to Had we not the Cursed Counsel of Achitophel Kings are God's Vicegerents on Earth and are indeed Gods on Earth and we Represent them Now when God Almighty had of his Infinite Goodness called this Blessed Prince unto himself he sends a Prince who assures us he will imitate his Royal Brother and Renowned Predecessor in all things especially in that of his Clemency and Mercy and that too upon the word of a King A King I will assure you that will not be worse than his Word Nay Pardon the Expression that dare not be worse than his Word Which of you all that had a Father Murthered by another and that deliberately too under colour of Justice which added to the Crime and your Brother nay your selves thrust out from your Inheritancâ— and banished from your Country nay that sought your blood likewise would not when it was in your power revenge such Injuries and ruin such Persecutors But here our most blessed Prince whom God long preserve hath not only forgiven but will venture his Life for the Defence of such his Enemies Has he not ventured his Life already as far as any man for the Honour of these Kingdoms Nay I Challenge this City to shew me any one man of it that perchance may not be worth a Groat that has ventured his Life so far for the safety of these Kingdoms as this Royal Prince hath done Good God! what an Age do we live in shall not such a Prince be secure from the Sedition Rebellion and Plots of Men He is scarce seated on his Royal Throne where God Almighty grant he may long Reign but on the one hand he is invaded by a Condemned Rebel and Arch-Traytor who hath received the just reward of his Rebellion On the other hand up starts a Poppet Prince who seduces the Mobile into Rebellion into which they are easily bewitched for I say Rebellion is like the sin of Witchcraft this man who had as little Title to the Crown as the least of you for I hope all you are Legitimate being overtaken by Justice and by the goodness of his Prince brought to the Scaffold he has the confidence good God! that men should be so impudent to say That God Almighty did know with what joyfulness he did die a Traytor having for these two years last past lived in all Incontinency and Rebellion notwithstanding goodness of an Indulgent Prince so often to pardon him but it is just like him Rebellion as I told you is like the sin of Witchcraft For there was another which I shall not name because I will not trample on the dust of the Dead but you may remember him by the words of his Speech he tells you That he thanks his God that he falls by the Ax and not by the Fiery Trial. He had rather he had as good have said die a Traytor than a Blessed Martyr Great God of Heaven and Earth what reason have men to Rebel But as I told you Rebellion is like the sin of Witchcraft Fear God and Honour the King is rejected by People for no other reason as I can find but that it is written in St. Peter Gentlemen I must tell you I am afraid that this City hath too many of these People in it And it is your Duty to search them out For this City added much to that Ships Loading there was your Tyly's vour Roe's and your Waâ—es men starred up like Mushrooms Scoundrel Fellows mere Sons of Dunghills These men must forsooth set up for Liberty and Property A Fellow that carries the Sword before Mr. Major must be very careful of his Property and turn Politician as if he had as much Property as the Person before whom he bears the Sword though perchance not worth a Groat Gentlemen I must tell you you have still here the Tyly's the Roe's and the Wades I have brought a Brush in my Pocket and I shall be sure to Rub the Dirt where ever it is or on whomsoever it sticks Gentlemen I shall not stand Complementing with you I shall talk with some of you before you and I part I tell you I tell you I have brought a Besome and I will sweep every mans door whether great or small Must I mention Particulars I hope you will save me that trouble yet I will hint a few things to you that perchance I have heard of This is a great City and the Magistrates wonderful Loyal and very forward to assist the King with Men Mony and Provisions when the Rebels were just at your Gates I do believe it would have went very hard with some of you if the Enemy had entered the City notwithstanding the Endeavours that was used to accomplish it Certainly they had and must have great incouragement from a Party within or else why should their design be on this City Nay when the Enemy was within a Mile of you that a Ship should be set on fire in the midst of you as a Signal to the Rebels and to amuse those within when if God Almighty had not been more gracious unto you than you was to your selves so that Wind and Tyde was for you for what I know the greatest part of this City had perished and yet you are willing to believe it was an Accident Certainly here is a great many of those men which they call Trimmers A Whig is but a meer Fool to these for a Whig is some sort of a subject in comparison of these for a Trimmer is but a cowardly and base-spirited VVhig for the VVhig is but the Journey-man-Prentice that is hired and set on in the Rebellion whilst the Trimmer is afraid to appear in the Cause he stands at a doubt and says to himself I will not assist the King until I see who has the best of it And refuses to entertain the King's Friends for fear the Rebels should get the better of it These men stink worse than the worst dirt you have in your City these men have so little Religion that they forget that he that is not for us is against us Gentlemen I tell you I have the Kalendar of this City here in my hand I have heard of those that have searched into the very sink of a Conventicle to find out some sneaking Rascal to hide their Mony by night Come come Gentlemen to be plain with you I find the dirt of the Ditch is in your Nostrils Good God! where am I in Bristol This City it seems claims the Priviledge of Hanging and Drawing amongst themselves I find you have more need of a Commission once a Month at least The very Magistrates which should be the Ministers of Justice fall out one with another to that degree they will scarce Dine with each other whilst it is the business of some cunning men that lye