he was very much above but meerly from the true respect he had for 'em and a sense of that imminent Danger they were in which his piercing Judgment and long Experience made him more sensible of and his Courage and Vertue more concern'd at than others not only those who sat unconcern'd Spectators or shar'd in their Ruins but even then most of them who were engag'd with him in the same Common Cause of their Defence and Preservation Nothing of such an impatience or eargerness or black melancholy cou'd be discern'd in his Temper or Conversation as is always the Symptom or Cause of such Tragical-Ends as his Enemies wou'd perswade us he came to Lastly What may be said of most of the rest does in a more especial and eminent manner agree to the illustrious Essex and than which nothing greater can be said of Mortality He liv'd an Hero and dy'd a Martyr Upon the Execrable Murther of the Right Honourable Arthur Earl of Essex MOrtality wou'd be too frail to hear How ESSEX fell and not dissolve with fear Did not more generous Rage take off the blow And by his Blood the steps to Vengeance show The Tow'r was for the Tragedy design'd And to be slaughter'd he is first confin'd As fetter'd Victims to the Altar go But why must Noble ESSEX perish so Why with such fury drag'd into his Tomb Murther'd by slaves and sacrific'd to Rome By stealth they kill and with a secrect stroke Silenâ—e that Voice which charm'd when e'er it spoke The bleeding Orifice o'reflow'd the Ground More like some mighty Deluge than a Wound Through the large space his Blood and Vitals glide And his whole Body might have past beside The wreaking Crimson swell'd into a Flood And stream'd a second time in Capel's Blood He 's in his Son again to Death pursu'd An Instance oâ— the high'st Ingratitude They then malicious Stratagems Imploy With Life his dearer Honour to destroy And make his Fame extinguish with his Breath An Act beyond the Cruelties of Death Here Murther is in all its shapes compleat As Lines united in their Centre meet Form'd by the blackest Politicks of Hell Was Cain so dev'lish when his Brother fell He that contrives or his own Fate desires Wants Courage and for fear of Death expires But mighty ESSEX was in all things brave Neither to Hope nor to Despair a Slave He had a Soul too Innocent and Great To fear or to anticipate his Fate Yet their exalted Impudence and Guilt Charge on himself the precious Blood they spilt So were the Protestants some years ago Destroy'd in Ireland without a Foe By their own barbarous Hands the Mad-men dye And Massacre themselves they know not why Whilst the kind Irish howl to see the Gore And pious Catholicks their Fate deplore If you refuse to trust Erroneous Fame Royal Mac-Ninny will confirm the same We have lost more in injur'd Capel's heir Than the poor Bankrupt age can e're repair Nature indulg'd him so that there we saw All the choice strokes her steddy hand cou'd draw He the Old English Glory did revive In him we had Plantagenets alive Grandeur and Fortune and a vast Renown Fit to support the lustre of a Crown All these in him were potently conjoyn'd But all was too ignoble for his Mind Wisdom and Vertue Properties Divine Those God-like ESSEX were entirely thine In his great Name he 's still preserv'd alive And will to all succeeding times survive With just Progression as the constant Sun Doth move and through its bright Ecliptick Run For whilst his Dust does undistinguish'd lye And his blest Soul is soar'd above the Sky Fame shall below his parted Breath supply William Lord Russel THE next who fell under their Cruelty and to whose Death Essex's was but the Prologue was my Lord Russel without all Dispute the finest Gentleman one of 'em that ever England bred and whose pious Life and Virtue was as much Treason against the Court by affronting 'em with what was so much hated there as any thing else that was sworn against him His Family was ancient tho' not rais'd to the Honours it at present enjoys till King Edward's time when John Russel a Dorsetshire Gentlemen who had done many Services and receiv'd many favours from the Crown both in Henry the Seventh and Henry the Eighth's time being by the latter made Lord High Admiral and at his Death Lord High Steward of England for the Solemnity of the Coronation obtain'd such a Victory for his young Master against his Rebels as was rewarded with the Title of The Earl of BeÌ„dford The Occasion of it thu Idolatry and Superstition being now rooting out by the Publick Authority and Images every where pulling down the Loyal Papists mutined and one of their Priests stabb'd a Commander of the Kings who was obeying his Orders and ten thousand of the deluded Rabble rise in the Defence of that barbarous Action and their old Mass and Holy-water Against whom this fortunate Lord was sent with an Army who routed 'em all relieved Exeter which they had besieg'd and took their Gods Banners Crucifixes and all the rest of their Trumpery wherein the deluded Creatures trusted for Victory Thus the Family of the Russels were early Enemies to the Romish Superstition tho' this brave Gentleman only paid the Scores of all his Ancestors The Son and Heir of this John was Francis second Earl of Bedford who was as faithful to the Crown as his Father an Enemy and Terror to the French and a Friend to the Protestant Religion as may appear by the Learned Books of Wickliff which he collected and at his Death bequeath'd to a great Man who he knew wou'd make good use of ' em His eldest Son William Lord Russel the present Earl of Bedford is sufficiently known to every true English-man and his Person and Memory will be honoured by them as long as the World lasts But 't is necessary good men should not be immortal if they were we should almost lose their Examples it looking so like Flattery But to do 'em Justice while they are living with more safety and less censure we may discourse of that Noble Gentleman his Son and Name-sake William Lord Russel who made so great a Figure in our Courts and Parliaments before he was sacrificed to the Cruelty and Revenge of his Popish Enemies If we 'd find his first Offence which lay behind the Scene and was indeed the Cause of his Death though other Colours were necessary to amuse the Publick we must look some years backward as he himself does in his last Speech wherein he tells the World He cannot but think his Earnestness in the matter of the Exclusion had no small influence on his present Sufferings Being chosen Knight of the Shire for Bedfordshire where the evenness and sweetness of his Behaviour and his virtuous Life made him so well-beloved that he 'll never be forgotten He began sooner than most others to see into that danger we were in
Memory of these Martyrs who suffered for their vigorous appearance against them and lastly to thank God sincerely and in good earnest that we may now if occasion be defend our Religion and Liberties with our Swords which they could only do by laying down their Lives FINIS An Impartial HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF GEORGE Lord JEFFREYS LATE Lord Chancellour OF ENGLAND The Fourth Edition with large Additions LONDON Printed for Iohn Dunton at the Raven in the Poultry 1693. TO GEORGE Lord JEFFREYS LATE Lord Chancellour of ENGLAND My Lord I Know not to whom I could more properly Dedicate a Treatise of this Nature than to your Lordship who lately was Lord Chief Justice of England and have set such remarkable Copies to inferiour Magistrates What is here offered may serve as a Mirrour in which future Administrators of Publick Justice would do well to look for you may remember my Lord if your Lordships present Afflictions have not made you forget as much Law as you ever learnt Common Law â—uns much upon Presidents And if a Man happen to have none of the best Physiognomies there is no reason why he should streight grow angry and fling stones to break all the Looking-Glasses he meets with only because they represent the true Figure of the Object My Lord The following Treatise is a true Account of your Lordships Life and Actions most of which are ready to be attested upon Oath of your unheard of Cruelties and barbarous Proceedings in your whole Western Circuit In which all may see at what dear rates our Western Martyrs puchased their Religion and how that it cost those glorious Sufferers thaâ— so lately went off the Stage under your Lordships Sentence both Whippings and cruel Imprisoâ—ments â—nd the most exquisite Tortures which none could invent or inflict but your Lordship whose good nature is sufficiently experienced nor any endure but they whose gallant and noble Souls were born up with heavenly Cordials and a Power from on high But my Lord rest assured that their Blâ—od still cries for Vengeance and will be a lasting Monument of your Lordships Câ—uelties whilst History can speak or transmit to incredulous Posterity the Remarkables of elapsed Ages for Hang Draw and Quarter and Try Men afterwards Witness Sir Thomas Armstrong's death c. has been your peculiar Talent But you Lordship will now â—t last do well to remember that King Alfred caused fourty four Judges in one year to be hangâ—d as murderers for their false Judgments I hope your Lordship will pardon this present Address seeing 't is a priviledge we modern Authors hold by Prescription to put any great Body's Name in the Front of our Book Princes have not been able to exempt themselves or their Families from the Persecution of Dedications nor ever was there I humbly conceive any Rule made in your Lordships Court to forbid them Suffer then I beseech your Lordship this Address to remain a Monument to Posterity of the sentiments this Age has of your Lordships Conduct and Merits and Witness to all the World how much its Author is Your Lordship 's Most humble Servant JAMES BENT A POEM To the MEMORY of GEORGE Lord JEFFREYS I Cannot hold hot struggling Rage aspires And crowds my free-born breast witâ— noblâ— fires Whilst prudent fools squeak Treason through the Nose And whine a quivering Vote in sneaking Prose My Muse soars out of reach and dares despise What e're below atteâ—pts to Tyrannize Tho I by some base Nero shouâ—d be clad In such a Gown as the old Christians had In Clouds of Satyr up to Heaven I 'de roul For he could burn my shell but not my Soul Tho Nature her auspicious aid refuse Revenge and Anger shall inspire my Muse Nature has given me a complaining part And murder'd Protestants a resenting Heart Then room for bloody Jeffreys or he 'll swear By all the Aps from St. Cadwalladar Prutus hur creat Cranfather if hur enquire And Adam's Cranfather was Prutus sire Famous ap Shâ—nkin was hur elder Brother Some Caledonian Sycorax hur Mother Or some she De'il more damn'd than all the rest At their blaâ—k Feast hur lustful Sirâ— comprest Thence do I thâ—nk this Câ—codemon rose Whose wrathful Eyâ—s his inward baseness shows His shape is all inhumâ—n and uncouth But yet he 's chiefly Devâ—l about the MOUTH With care this Brat was nurs'd for fear it shou'd Grow tame and so degen'rate into good With City charteâ—s he was wrap'd about And Acts of Parliament for swadling-clout As he grew up he won a noble Fame For which Squire Ketch hath sworn him publick shame And won't it be a pretty sight to see 't The Hang man Rope and bloody Jeffreys meet Jeffreys who cherisht spite as all can tell Jeffreys who was the darling Brat of Hell Oft with success this mighâ—y Blast did bawl Where loudest Lungs and biggest Words win all And still his clenched Arguments did end With that home-thrust He is not Caesar's Friend Sometimes that jaded Ears he might release Good Man he has been fee'd to hold his Peace Hear him but never see him and you 'd swear He was the Cryâ—r not the Counseller He roars as if he only chanc'd to find Justice was now grown deaf as well as blind This Dâ—my fiâ—nd this Hurricane of Man Was sent to butcher all i' th' West he can 'T was him the Popish Party wisely chose To splutter Law and the dinn'd Rabble pose They have a thousand Tongues yet he can roar Far louder tho they had a thousand more Unto long winded Cook he scorns to go But Pleads His Majesty will have it so He 's for all Mischief set by Nature bred He rails at all before him and is fed Hyaena like by tearing up the Dead Th'unluckiest Satyrist alive that still Writes his own Character in all that 's ill Of all the World most fit a Vice t' expose That all its Cause Effects and Motions knows Stranger to none can no advantage lose Big with conceit the empty shape looks great His own dear self obligingly doth treat Rewards his Soul in any garb will lap His ductile Soul will put on any shape Vice hath his Patronage and there 's no fear But Hell in time may his Protection share The rather'cause the God of Gold is there He courts loud rumour but lâ—ts truth alone Conscious of guilt he shuns being justly known And by 's oft changing flyes a definition Learn'd but in ill Ingenious but in spite Virtuous by accident by chance a Wit Modest when beat in suffering valiant Honest when forc'd and moderate when in want True but for interest Civil but for dread Devout for Alms and Loyal but for bread Thy mushroom Greatness I dare now arraign For all thy Hectoring now will be in vain Here take this Pass ere we for ever part Then run and then Farewell with all my heart The Lawyers yelling in their feign'd debate And the fleec'd Client's Wisdom all too late The keeping Cully's
A Brief Extract of Captain Walcots Prayer O Lord our God Thou art a God of present help in time of Trouble a God that hast promised to be with thy People in the Fire and in the Water O Lord we pray Thee that thou wilt afford thy Presence to thy poor suffering Servants at this time O Lord thy Servant that speaketh doth confess that the Iniquities at his Heels have justly overtaken him O do thou bathe each of our Souls in that Fountain set open for Sin and for Vncleanness O do thou enable every one of us from the inward Evidence of thy Spirit to say with thy Servant Job That we know and are assured that our Redeemer lives O give us some inward Tasts of those Heavenly Joys that we hope through the Mercy of Jesus Christ in a little time to have a more full Fruition of O Lord do thou speak Peace to every one of our Consciences though we lie under a Sentence of Death from Man we beg that we may have a Sentence of Life Eternal from our God and though we meet Thee O Lord in a Field of Blood we beg that Thou wilt come to meet with us in a Field of Mercy O Lord though we have been Prodigals we desire to return unto our Fathers House where there is Bread enough O enable us to come unto Thee as Children to their Parents Lord put to thy helping Hand Lord teach us truly to leave no Sin unrepented of in any one of our Hearts And O Lord we beg that with us thou wilt give us leave to recommend unto thy Care our Poor Wives and Children Thou hast promised to be the Father of the Fatherless and the Husband of the Widow and thou hast commanded us to cast the Care of them upon Thee O do thou make Provision for them and enable them to hear this severe stroke with Patience O Lord we also beseech Thee in the behalf of these Poor Kingdoms wherein we are that Thou wilt be merciful to them prevent Divisions among them heal all their Breaches compose their Differences make all that are thine of one Heart and Mind in the things of thee our God Lord favour us with thy Mercy assure us of thy Love stand by us in the difficult Hour take us into thine own Care cause thy Angels to attend us to convey our Souls as soon as they are divided from our Bodies into Abraham 's Bosom All which we beg for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ in whom O Lord this little time do thou give us Hearts to give thee all Glory Honour and Praise now and for evermore Amen Sweet Jesus Amen Hone was accused and owns himself Guilty of a Design to Kill the King and the Duke of York or one or neither for 't is impossible to make any Sense of him When they came to suffer Walcot read a Paper in which was a good rational Confession of his Faith Then comes to the Occasion of his Death for which he says he neither blames the Judges Jury nor Council but only some men that in reality were deeper concern'd than he who combin'd together to swear him out of his Life to save their own and that they might do it effectually contriv'd an untruth c. He forgives the World and the Witnesses Gives his Friends advice to be more prudent than he had been prays that his may be the last Blood spilt on that account wishes the King wou'd be merciful to others says he knew nothing of Ireland and concludes with praying God to have mercy upon him He had then some Discourse with Cartwright wherein he tells him That he was not for contriving the Death of the King nor to have had a Hand in 't and being urg'd with some Matters of Controversie tells him He did not come thither to dispute about Religion but to die Religiously But tho' dying be a serious Business yet 't is almost impossible to read his Discourse with the Dean without as violent temptations to laughter as Compassion Never was so exact an Imitation of the Scene of the Fisherman and Kings in the Rehearsal when he tells 'em Prince Pretty-man kill'd Prince Pretty-man One wou'd think him very near in the same Case with Bateman who came after him His Replies are so incongruous that there 's hardly either Sense or English to be made out of ' em But the poor Fellow talks of Snares and Circumstances and no body knows what and says in one Line He was to meet the King and Duke of York but he did not know when where nor for what In the next he was for killing the King and saving the Duke and when askt the Reason answers the only sensible thing he said all through That he knew no Reason that he did not know what to say to 't And when the Dean charges him with the Murderous Design That he knew as little of it as any poor silly man in the World Rouse comes next gives an Account of his Faith professing to die of the Church of England tells his former Employment and manner of Life acknowledges he heard of Clubs and Designs but was never at 'em and a perfect Stranger to any thing of that Nature Gives a Relation of what past between him and his Majesty on his Apprehension Talks somewhat of Sir Thomas Player the Earl of Shaftsbury and accommodating the King's Son as he calls it tho' not while the King reign'd Then falls upon Lee and the Discourse they had together who as he says swore against him on the Trial those very words he himself had used in pressing him to undertake the Design Speaks of a Silvers Ball which he proposed to be thrown up on Black-Heath and after some Discourse with the Ordinary gives the Spectators some good Counsel Then they all three singly prayed and then the Sentence was Executed upon ' em Algernon Sidney Esq THe next Victim to Popish Cruelty and Malice was Colonel Algernon Sidney of the ancient and noble Name and Family of the Sidneys deservedly famous to the utmost bounds of Europe who as the ingenious Mr. Hawles observes was meerly talkt to death under the notion of a Common-wealths Man and found Guilty by a Jury who were not much more proper Judges of the Case than they wou'd have been had he writ in Greek or Arabick He was arraign'd for a Branch of this Plot at Westminster the 17 th of Novemb. 1683. where tho' it cannot be said the Grand Jury knew not what they did when they found the Bill against him since no doubt they were well instructed what to do yet it must that they found it almost before they knew what ' t was being so well resolv'd on the Case and agreed on their Verdict that had he been Indicted for breaking up an House or robbing on the High-way 't was doom'd to have been Billa vera as much as 't was now For tho' the Indictment was never presented to 'em before they came
probably had he been in his Senses have remembred and pleaded many things more which would have invalidated their Evidence against him But had not the mistaken Piety of his Son undertook his Defence certainly they could never have been such Cannibals to have try'd one in his Condition Yet could but what he brought for him been allowed its Weight and Justice he had escaped well enough For as for Lee one Baker Witness'd He had been practic'd upon by him in the year 83. and would have had him insinuate into Bateman 's Company and discourse about State-Affairs to trepan him by which means he should be made a Great Man 'T was urged besides that there was three Years between the Fact pretended and Lee's Prosecution of him which tho' they had but one Witness could have brought him to punishment which would have been judged sufficient by any but those who would be content with nothing but Blood For Goodenough he was but one Witness and pardon'd only so far as to qualifie him to do mischief However he was found Guilty and just before his Execution very much recovered himself dying as much like a Christian and with as great a presence of Mind as most of the others Dr. Oats Mr. Johnson and Mr. Dangerfield WE are now obliged by the thrid of our History to resume a Subject which 't is not doubted will be ungrateful enough to some Persons and that is the Popish Plot the belief of which by the indefatigable Industry of that Party and the weekly pains of their Observator and especially this last pretended Plot against the Government was now almost entirely obliterated out of the minds of the less thinking part of the Nation To accomplish which more fully 't was thought necessary by the Managers either quite to take off or expose to Miseries and Disgraces worse than Death all those few Persons who remain'd honest and firm to their first Evidence the generality of the World judging by outward appearance and thinking it impossible but that one who stood in the Pillory and was whipt at the Carts-Arse must be a perjur'd Rogue without more ado Mr. Bedloe was dead and his Testimony therefore would be easier forgotten tho' at his last Breath after the Sacrament he Solemnly and Juridically confirmed every word of it before one of the Judges who was happily in Bristol at the time of his Death Most of the Under-Evidences in the Plot were threatned or promised or brought off from what they had witness'd or forc'd to leave the Land for the securing their Persons None remain now besides Oats and Dangerfield with whom all means possible fair and foul had been used to make 'em turn Villains and deny their Evidence but to their eternal Praise they still continued firm to their first Testimony to the Rage and Confusion of their Enemies They therefore went first to work with the Doctor and 't will be worth the while to consider the Reason of his first Prosecution by which men that are not very much prejudiced may see the Reason and Justice of those which follow and 't was For scandalizing the Duke of York with that notorious Truth That he was reconciled to the Church of Rome adding What every one knows that 't was High Treason so to be Would but the Doctor 's greatest and most passionate Enemies reflect on this beginning of his Sorrows as well as calmly examine all that 's to come they must form a juâ—ter Judgment of his Person and Actions than what seems too deeply fixed in 'em ever to be rooted out for which he was adjudged to pay that reasonable little Fine of a 100000 Pounds which till he paid tho' there was no great haste for his doing it he was committed to â—he Bench. Having him thus in Limbo they resolved to strike at the root with him and therefore after new fruitless attempts to make him quâ—t and revoke his Evidence they made the last Effort on his Constancy and Honesty and indeed Life it self Indicting him on the 8 th and 9 th of May 1685. for Perjury in some branches of his Evidence given in some of it almost Seven Years before His first Accusation waâ— For-Swearing in Ireland 's Tryal he himself was here in London whereas t was pretended he was at that very time at St. Omers The Second That Ireland was at that time in Town when they would have it believed he was in Staffordshire The Evidence for the first were all Lads of St. Omers who though they blunder'd ill-favour'dly in former Attempts the same way and were accordingly told so by the Court in other Tryals were now grown expert in the Business being all of a Religion that makes Perjury meritorious all Youths and Boys and under such a Discipline as oblige them to obey their Superiors without any reserve or questioning the Reason or Justice of the thing all or most of 'em afterwards rewarded with Places of Trust and Profit under King James as no doubt promised 'em before for their good Service They all swore point blank That Oats was at St. Omers when he swears he was here at the Consult Not one of these Witnesses who had not been bred at St. Omers and but one who pretended to be a Protestant For the second Indictment Of Irelands not being in Town in August as Oats had sworn him They brought several Witnesses to prove it and that he was at that time in Staffordshire most if not all of which were great Papists In answer to which let 's first be persuaded fairly to consider what may be said in his Defence and most part of his Vindication is over And first These were most or all of 'em the self-same Witnesses who in the successive Tryals Whitebreads Harcourts c. and Mr. Langhorns could not find Credit and who had several Witnesses who swore point-blank contrary to what they affirmed some of whom were dead before this last Tryal Let 's then consider what Defence Oats made for himself which in spite of his own and Jeffreys passions seems strenuous and unanswerable He had in the former Tryals produced no less than Eight Persons who swore positively to his being in Town at that very time when the Jesuits and their Younkers would so fain had him been out of it whose Names were Mr. Walker an ancient Minister of the Church of England Sarah Ives Mrs. Mayo Sir Richard Barker Mr. Page Mr. Butler William Smith and Mr. Clay a Romish Priest four of which Mayo Butler Page and Walker he now produced again at his Tryal the two first of whom positively swore the same they did before the Minister was too old to remember and the last too fearful positively to affirm what they had before done As to the 2 d Indictment a Crowd of Witnesses such as they were came to testifie Ireland was in Staffordshire when Oats swore him to be in London To this same Objection he had formerly answerd and prov'd by the Oaths of Mr. Bedloe
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
William Gillet Thomas Lissant William Pocock Christopher Stephens George Cantick Robert Allen Joseph Kelloway Yeovil 8. Francis Foxwell George Pitcher Bernard Devereax Bernard Thatcher for concealing Bovet William Johnson Thomas Hurford Edward Gillard Oliver Powel Netherstoe 3. Humphrey Mitchel Richard Cullverell Merrick Thomas Dunster 3. Henry Lackwell John Geanes William Sully Dulverton 3. John Basely John Lloyd Henry Thompson Bridgewater 12. Robert Fraunces Nicholas Stâ—dgell George Lord Jeffreys Joshua Bâ—llamy William Moggeridge John Hurman Robert Roper Richard Harris Richard Engram John Trott Roger Guppey Roger Hore Isaiah Davis Ratcliffe-Hill at Bristol 6. Richard Evans John Tinckwell Christopher Clerk Edward Tippoâ— Philip Cumbridge John Tucker alias Glover Illminster 12. Nicholas Collins Sen. Stephen Newman Robert Luckis William Kitch Thomas Burnard William Wellen John Parsons Thomas Trocke Robert Fawne Western Hillary John Burgen Charles Speake Stogersey 2. Hugh Ashley John Herring Wellington 3. Francis Priest Philip Bovet Robert Reed South-petherton 3. Cornelius Furfurd John Parsons Thomas Davis Porlock 2. James Gale Henry Edny Glasenbury 6. John Hicks Richard Pearce Israel Briant William Mead James Pyes John Broâ—me Taunton 19. Robert Perret Abraham Ansley Benjamin Hewling Peirce Murren John Freake John Savage Abraham Matthews William Jenkins Henry Lisle John Dryer John Hucker Jonathan England John Sharpe William Deverson John Williams John Patrum James Whittom William Satchel John Trickey Langport 3. Humphrey Peirce Nicholas Venton John Shellwood Arbridg 6. Isaac Tripp Thomas Burnell Thomas Hillary John Gill Senior Thomas Monday John Butcher Cutherston 2. Richard Bovet Thomas Blackmoâ—e Minehead 6. John Jones alias Evens Hugh Starke Francis Barlet Peter Warren Samuel Hawkins Richard Sweet Evilchester 12. Hugh Goodenough Samuel Cox William Somerton John Masters John Walrand David Langwell Osmond Barrâ—t Matthew Cross Edward Burford John Mortimer John Stevens Robert Townsden Stogummer 3. George Hillard John Lockstone Arthur Williams Castlecary 3 Richard Ash Samuel Garnish Robert Hinde Milton-port 2. Archibald Johnson James Maxwel Keinsham 11. Charles Chepman Richard Bowden Thomas Trock Lewis Harris Edward Halswell Howel Thomas George Badol Richard Evans John Winter Andrew Rownsden John Phillelrey Suffer'd in all 239 Besides those Hanged and Destroyed in Câ—ld Blood This Bloody Tragedy in the West being over our Protestant Judge returns for London soon after which Alderman Cornish felt the anger of some body behind the Curtain for it is to be Noted that he was Sheriff when Best prayed an Indictment might be preferr'd and was as well as Sheriff Bethel earnest in promoting it in alledging that it was no ways reasonable that the Juries of London should lie under such a reproach c. But passing this over we now find this Person Arriv'd at the Pinacle of Honour the Purse and Mace were reserved for him vacant by the Death of the Lord Keeper North and he advanced to the Lord Chancellourship of England rais'd by this means as one might think above the Envy of the Croud and it might be wished in so dangerous a heighth he had looked better to his Footsteps for now being created Baron of Wem we find him in a High Commission or Ecclesiastical Court Suspending rhe Honourable Lord Bishop of London from performing the Episcopal Office and Function of that See and for no other default than not readily complying with the Kings Letter in Suspending Dr. Sharp Dean of Norwich for Preaching a Sermon in the Parish Church of St Giles in the Fields at the request of the Parishioners shewing the Errors and Fallacies of the Romish Religion the better to confirm them in the Faith and Doctrine of the Church of England Nor was it this good Bishop alone that was aimed at for Magdalen Colledge in Oxford was next attempted and in that very Mother of Learning and Chief Seminary of our Church such alterations made as startled the Kingdom by whose Counsel I undertake not to determine but in the midst of Liberty of Conscience as twice declared The Church of England had a Test put upon her Sons which seemed such a Paradox that has been rarely heard of viz. To Read the Kings Declaration for Liberty of Conscience in the Churches during the time of Divine Service and a Mark and Penalties threatned to the Refusers which was evidently demonstrated by the Imprisonment of those pious Patriots of their Country and Pillars of the Church His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Bishop of Bathe and Wells Ely Peterborough Chichester St. Asaph and Bristol who for shewing their Reasons why they could not comply with this Command by way of Humble Petition were sent to the Tower and afterwards Tryed upon Information of High Misdemeanour at the Court of Kings-Bench where their Innocency appearing in a large manner they were acquitted to the scandal of their Accusers yet Orders were sent into all parts of England to return and account to the Lord Chancellor of those that refused to Read the Declaration that they might be proceeded against for a Contempt of what their Consciences would not permit them to do and for a time they were extreamly hot upon it Much about this time there was a considerable Suit depending before him in Chancery between a great Heiress and others which was sufficiently talk'd of in the World not without loud and deep reflections on his Honesty and Honour for having given the Cause for the young Lady he very speedily afterwards married her to his Son with this remarkable Circumstance She being a Papist to make sure Work he married them both ways both by a Priest of the Church of Rome and a Divine of the Church of England And here I think we may place the Heighth and Acme of his Honour and Happiness where he 's not like to tarry long for on the News of the great Preparations in Holland and that the Prince of Orange was certainly design'd for England the determined Councils cool'd and then quite ceas'd so that the Church of England men whose Cause the Prince had espoused were restored again to the Commissions and Trusts they had by what Justice I know not been lately deprived of and amongst other Charters that were on this occasion restored was that of the City of London and that which makes it more memorable was that it was brought to Guild-Hall by this Person tho he was not attended with the Shouts and Acclamations he expected nor seem'd so florid or frolicksom as heretofore which some looked upon as a bad Omen and it 's reported soon after he being ask'd by a Courtier What the Heads of the Princes Declaration were he should answer He waâ— sure his was one whatever the râ—st were When the late King James was secur'd at Feversham he desired to see his Landlord and demanded his Name who proved a Person who had turned himself over to the Kings Bench for a Fine which fell upon him and Captain Stanbrooke in Westminster by the Lord Chancellours means at the Board which King James calling for a Pen and
discourse to the Jury against the Lord Russel p. 25. His sordid Treat of Mâ— Baxter D d 2 p. 431. A Narrative of Monmouths whole Expedition while in the Wâ—st which was the Prologue to Jeffreys cruelties there p. 24. His secret Villanies p. 35. His Bloody Practices in the West p. 36. The Charge given by the Lord Jeffreys at Bristol in his return from his Wâ—stern Campaign p. 44. He calls the Mayor of Bristol Kidnapping Rogue p. 52. He is made Lord Chancellor for his Cruelties in the West Ibid. How he raised Money by procuring Pardons p. 53. He is made Baron of Wem p. 59. What followed thereupon Ibid. The P. of Oâ—ange approaching he flies to Wapping in a Disguise p. 62. He is taken and brought before the Lord Mayor Ibid. Is committed to the Tower p. 63. The Western Widows Petition against him while in the Tower Ibid. He dies in the Tower p. 64. His Character p. 65. A Letter sent to him there p. 66. His Elegy p. 67. p. 533. Jenkins William his Behaviour both before and at his Execution with several Letters to divers of his Relations His Character p. 385. p. 375. Introduction to the New Martyrology shewing the Reasons why this work is Undertaken Johnson the Accusation against him His Address to all English Protestants in the Army p. 151. His Character p. 152. p. 149. K. K S Cruelties related by an Eye and Ear witness who also gives an account of other Western Barbarities p. 524. King John an account of his last Speech at the place of Execution at Edenburgh p. 418. Kidd John his last Speech at the place of Execution at Edenburgh p. 424. Kidd Capt. his dying Speech in the West of England p. 467. L. LArke Sampson his Sufferings His last Words p. 448. Some further Passages relating to Mr. Sampson Larke with his Prayer when executed p. 452. His Letter to his Friend just before his Execution p. 452. p. 447. Laurence Thomas his Case and Sufferings p. 462. Lisle Lady her Sufferings Her last Speech p. 386. p. 385. List of all them that were condemn'd and suffer'd in the West in the Year 1685. Jeff. Life p. 54. M. MAdders Sufferings His last VVords upon the Ladder p. 465. His last Prayer p. 466. p. 464. Matthews last Speâ—ch and Prayer at the place of Execution p. 511. Monmouth â—uke his Sufferings and Death His Declaration in the West D d 2 p. 117. A brief Abstract of his true Speech p. 433. His Elegy p. 434. p. 431. Monmouth and Argile being both defeated what followed thereupon p. 435. N. NElthrope Richard his Sufferings His Letter to his Parents Brothers and Sisters p. 390. His Letter to his Children p. 393. His last Speech p. 396. p. 388. Noises Sufferings He engages in the Prentices Petition to the Lord Mayor p. 170. A Copy of the said Petition Ibid. An account of 30000 Prentices that signed it p. 172. The Speech that was made at presenting this Petition p. 173. The Lord Mayors answer to the Prentices Speech p. 175. The Names of the 20 Presenters of this Petition Ibid. A Poem dedicated to 'em p. 176. p. 168. O. OAtes an account of his Life and Sufferings His Character p. 148. p. 142. P. PArrots Sufferings His Behaviour at the place of Execution Ibid. His last Speech Ibid. p. 473. Poem to the memory of those who suffered in the West next the Title page Potts sufferings courage and dying VVords p. 459. R. REview of what has been written in this New Marâ—yrology p. 529. Robins of Charmouth his Sufferings His last Sayings p. 471. p. 470. Roses Suffâ—â—ings and Courage p. 459. Roswâ—lls Tryal and Acquittal p. 407. Rouses Tryal and Accusation His dying VVords p. 100. p. 99. Rumbold a brief 〈◊〉 of his Sufferings A larger account of Rumbolds Sufferings with his last Speech and several things that past at his Tryal p. 413. p. 412. Russel Lord his Life Tryal and Martyrdom His Elegy p. 85. His Character p. 86. An Account of his last Speech p. 88. p. 64. S. SAndfords last Speech at the place of Execution p. 515. Saâ—chels Behaviour and dying VVords p. 513. Sherborn an account of those executed there with their dying VVords p. 456. Sidney Algernoon his Sufferings Tryal and Martyrdom His Petition to his Majesty p. 111. An account of the Paper he delivered to the Sheriffs on Tower-Hill p. 115. His Epitaph p. 119. His Character Ibid. p. 104. Smith of Charâ—stock his Behaviour and dying Speech p. 440. Speak Charles his Sufferings and last words p. 472. Speed of Culliton his Behaviour and dying Speech p. 442. Spâ—ague and Cleg executed at Culliton with their dying words p. 457. Sprague John a further account of him p. 475. T. TEmple his last Speech p. 468. Tylers Suffâ—rings He is executed with some other Persons p. 449. His lâ—st Speech Ibid. A Hymn made by him a little before his Execution p. 450. p. 449. W. WAlcot his Life Tryal and Martyrdom An account of his Speech p. 99. His last Prayer p. 100. p. 93. Western Transactions the Introduction to 'em with general Observations upon 'em The Lives and dying Speeches of those that suffered in the West p. 437. p. 177. VVhippings in the West Mr. Hale whipt Ibid. Mrs. Brown whipt Ibid. A poor Boy of Weymouth of 12 years of Agâ— was whipt till he had the Flesh of his back so cut with whipping that he died p. 464. p. 463. FINIS * This Pious and couragious Man Mr. Ayloff suffer'd Martyrdom in London about the same time that Mr. Nelthrop did Here was a glorious Instance of Filial Affection As I find 'em in his Treatise entituled They cry of the Oppressed p. 105. * Aâ—d behold thou art taken in thy mischief because thou art a bloody Man 2 Sam. 16. â— 8.