Religion may flourish under him I also return thanks to God and the Reverend Clergy that assisted me in my Imprisonment ALICIA LISLE A Letter Writ by Mr. John Hicks Oct. 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 having been concern'd for you next to my own Children before I die I thought fit to write two or three Lines to you as a Manifestation of my great Love to you I earnestly desire the Welfare 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 Creatour 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 die Seek the things which are above and set your Affections upon them have your Conversation in Heaven whilst you are upon Earth 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 M. to assume the Title of King at Taunton when I was not there with him nor in 13 days after he came into England and that I rode too and fro in the West to perswade People to go into his Army when I was in the East and came from thence to him in the West but my Nonconformity cuts me and obstructs the Kings Mercy from being Extended to me as I am told but the Will of the Lord be done the Life to come is infinitely better than this Many more things are laid to my charge which I am no more guilty of than your self If your Uncle be in Town go speedily to him and give him my Dear Love I Pray for you who am Your most Affectionate Vncle J. H. Octob. 5. 1684. A Letter to his Wife Sept. 23. 1684. My Dearest Love I Hope you received a few Lines from me by the way of London once more I write to you by our faithful and trusty Friend W. D. who hath been at Exon. If there be need for it he knows many of my Dear and Faithful Friends there who wish you would come and live among them and if your Estate fail I think it very adviseable so to do I hope God will stand by you and defend you My Dear see me in God as I must you I must now bid adieu unto all Earthly and Worldly Comforts and all the Pleasant and Delightful Objects of Sence I bless God for all present Mercies and Comforts hitherto I have had what will be after this day I know not but the Will of the Lord be done My Dear be very cautious not to speak one Word least it be wrested to wrong Sence which may ruine you I have not writ what I would of this Nature take the Advice of Friends and of what I send by our Friend O let not the Everlasting Arms of God be with-drawn from you one Moment and let him strengthen you with all Might according to his Glorious Power and to all Patience and Long-Suffering with Joyfulness Pray hard for Victory over Passion and be much in private Closet-Prayer with God and often read the Holy Bible and other good Books the Lord continually guide direct and counsel you My dear I return you a thousand thanks for all the Love you have shew'd me and my Children and particularly for the high and great Demonstration you have given thereof in this day of my distress I hope my Daughters will be as dutiful to you and be as much concern'd for your comfort and welfare as if you had travelled with them and brought them into the World God bless my Dear Little-Ones and them together I shall dye their most Affectionate and Praying Father God I hope will uphold support and comfort me at the last hour and enable me to overcome the Temptations I shall violently be assaulted with before I Die God by his Infinite and freest Mercies in Christ Jesus Pardon all the neglect of Relative Duties which I have bitterly lamented and bewail'd before God with all the Sins I am guilty of for the sake of our Dearest Lord and Redeemer the Lord make you grow in all Grace more than ever and make this great Affliction so humbly Purifying and Spiritualizing to you as well as me that it may work for us both a far more Exceeding and Eternal Weight of Glory let him take your Soul into his most dearest Embraces and lodge it in the Bosom of his Love here and make us to meet in the full and Everlasting Fruition and Enjoyment of him hereafter though it is dangerous for you to vindicate that I die for yet be not too much cast down for it I will say no more as to that My hearty and affectionate Respects to all my Dear Friends I need not name them I hope to meet them with your self to inherit Eternal Life through the Merits of Christ's Death Farewel my Dear farewel in the Lord until we meet to be Marry'd to him for ever my Heart is as full of Love tâ—…e as it was the first day I Marry'd thee and if God sparâ—…ife it should have been as fully manifested until Death therefore I rest Your most Affectionate and Endeared Husband J. H. Sept. 23. 1684. Another Letter My Dearest Love I Received your Letter by Mr. Skinner I Bless God that you and my Babes are well the Lord continue their Lives to be a Blessing and Comfort to you and enable you to see them well Educated in the Fear of God and when God takes me away let him be a Husband to guide direct succour comfort and support you and to lodge your Soul in the Bosom of his Love and let him be a Father to them and their Portion for ever Monday last my Brother went to London to try what could be done for me what the success will be I know not I desire the Lord every day to prepare me for Death and carry me above the Fear of it by the discoveries of his everlasting love unto my Soul and clearing up my Right and Title to
everlasting Life and by Sealing up to me the Pardon of all my Sins through the most precious Blood of Jesus Christ Let us Pray hard and much for each other when I leave this World it shall be with Prayer for thee if God give me life how shall I study to be a comfort to thee and to live up to my Marriage as well as Baptismal Covenant to all my Friends Tender my most affectionate Respects I hope their Prayers will one way or other be heard for me let the Almighty be your Protector Supporter and Comforter There be two Books I do recommend to you to read when you are retir'd as well as in your family Pierces Preparation for Death and Foxes Redemption of Time Now let our Souls meet together in one most Blessed God in our Dearest Jesus and sweetest Saviour let them clasp and cling about him and be Sick for the love of him and that we may meet to enjoy him fully to Eternity and be satisfied with his Love for ever a thousand Loves if I had them I would send to thee next to my and 〈…〉 Jesus and the things that are Heavenly Spiritual and 〈…〉 I love thee what I can spare for thee is convey'd to thee and my Dear Children from Thy most Affectionate and Faithful Husband and their most loving Father J. H. Another Letter My most Dear Love I Hope you have received my last once more as a dead and living man through difficulty I write to you though I yet do not know when nor where I shall dye but expect Death every day when that Message is brought to me I hope through the Grace and Strength of Christ it will be no surprize to me that neither my Lips Flesh nor Heart will tremble when I hear it I know the cause for which I Suffer God hath and has singled me out from many of my Brethren which I never have been without some apprehensions of for above these 20 years to lay down my Life how far it is for his cause will be judged at the last day I bless God who hath kept me from all Temptations to Conformity though it has brought me to Ruine and Destruction in this World it will be no fit Season for you to Vindicate that for which I am call'd to suffer be silent and leave it to God I advise 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 infinitely more sweet satisfying to Immortal Spirits as you and I us'd to see Streams from the Fountaint 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 seek 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 self and shall continue to do it until I dye 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 Incorruptible 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 consider your Condition is not single and alone this Countrey 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 Writ it therefore must have many Defects and Imperfections which must be over-look'd and mended preserve the 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. 3d. 1684. 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 troublesome 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 from this State of Pilgrimage home to the Possession of those Heavenly Mansions which my God and Father hath provided for me in and thorough my Lord Jesus Christ It is in him alone I put my Trust and Confidence and therefore can boldly say Who is he that Condemneth It is Christ that died 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 beging 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 yours and the whole Israel of God both now and for ever Which is 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 Troubles I would also make you a Partaker with me in my Joys seeing my Wedding Day is come the Day of the Bridegroom 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 be Married to my Husband
but by my spirit saith the Lord of Hosts I know Afflictions spring not out of the dust God did wonderfully Deliver and Provide for me and has now by his special Providence brought me to this Place and I hope none will either insult or be stumbled at it seeing they ought not for God Almighty does all things well for good and holy Ends though we do not always understand it Love and Hatred is not known by what is before us Eccles 9. 1. 8. 11 12. 13. Afflictions are not only foretold but promised to Christians and are not only tollerable but desirable We ought to have a deep Reverence and Fear of God's displeasure but withal a firm Hope and Dependance on him for a blessed Issue in compliance with his Will for God chastens his own to Refine them and not to ruine them whatever the World may think Heb. 12. 3. to 12. Prov. 3. 11 12. 2 Tim. 1. 8. 2 Tim. 2. 11. 12. Mat. 10 18 to 40. Mat. 16. 24. to 28. We are to imitate our Saviour in his Sufferings as 1 Pet. 2 23. and 1 Pet. 4. 16 to 20. We are neither to despise our Afflictions nor faint under them both are extreams We are not to suffer our Spirits to be exasperated against the Instruments of our trouble for the same Affliction may be an effect of their Passion and yet sent by God to punish us for Sin Thô it is a Comfort when we may say to them with David Psal 59. 3. Not for my Transgression nor for my sin O Lord. Nor are we by fraudulent Pusillanimous Compliances in wicked Courses to bring Sin upon our selves Faint Hearts are ordinarily False Hearts choosing Sin rather than Sufferings and a short Life with Eternal Death before Temporal Death and a Crown of Glory Such seeking to Save a Little Loses All and God readily hardens them to proceed to their own Destruction How many like Hazael 2 King. 8. 13. run to Excesses they never thought they were capable of Let Rulers and others read seriously and weigh Prov. 1. 10 to 20. 2 Chron. 28. 6 to 17. Prov. 24. 11 12. and Prov. 28. 10. and avoid what is bad and follow what is good For me I hope by God s strength to joyn with Job Chap. 13. 15. and the Psalmist Psal 22. 4. and 167. and shall Pray as Psal 74. 19 to 24. and Psal 122. 6 to 9. and Luk. 1. 74 75. and shall Hope as Psal 94. 14 15. I do freely forgive all that directly or indirectly have been the cause of my being brought to this place first or last and I pray God Forgive them I pray God send Truth and Peace in these Three Kingdoms and continue and increase the glorious Light of the Gospel and restrain the Spirit of Prophanity Atheism Superstition Popery and Persecution and Restore All that have back-slidden from the Purity of their Life or Principles and Bless his whole People with all blessings Spiritual and Temporal and put an end to their present Trials And I intreat all People to Forgive me wherein I have Offended and to concurr with me to Pray That the great good and merciful God would sanctifie my present Lot and for Jesus Christ his sake Pardon all my Sins and receive me to his Everlasting Glory It is suggested to me that I have said nothing of the Royal Family and it remembers me that before the Justices at my Trial about the Test I said that at my Death I would Pray That there should never want one of the Royal Family to be a Defender of the True Ancient Apostolick Catholick Protestant Faith which I do now And that GOD would enlighten and forgive all of them that are either luke-warm or have shrunk from the Profession of it And in all Events I pray God may provide for the Security of his Church that Antichrist nor the Gates of Hell may never prevail against it The HUMBLE PETITION OF THE WIDDOWS AND FATHERLESS CHIDREN IN THE West of England TO BE Presented to this present Convention WE to the Number of a Thousand and more Widdows and Fatherless Children of the Counties of Dorset Somerset and Devon our dear Husbands and tender Fathers having been so Tyrannously Butcher'd and some Transported our Estates sold from us and our Inheritance cut off by the severe and harsh Sentence of George Lord Jefferies now we understand in the Tower of London a Prisoner who has lately we hear endeavoured to excuse himself from those Tyrannical and Illegal Sentences by laying it on Information by some Gentlemen who are known to us to be good Christians true Protestants and English-men We your poor Petititioners many hundreds of us on our Knees have begg'd Mercy for our dear Husbands and tender Parents from his Cruel Hands but his thirst for Blood was so great and his Barbarism so Cruel that instead of granting Mercy for some which were made appear to be Innocent and Petitioned for by the flower of the Gentry of the said Counties he immediately Executed and so barbarously that a very good Gentlevvoman at Dorchester begging on her Knees the Life of a worthy Gentleman to Marry him and make him her Husband this vile Wretch not having common Civility with him and laying aside that Honour and Respect due to a Person of her worth told her Come I know your meaning some part of your Petition I will grant which shall be that after he is Hanged and Quartered you shall have that Member you best like when living and so I will give Orders to the Sheriff These with many hundred more Tyrannical Acts are ready to be made appear in the said Counties by honest and credible Persons and therefore your Petitioners desire that the said George Jefferies late Lord Chancellour the Vilest of Men may be brought down to the Counties aforesaid where we the good Women in the West shall be glad to see him and give him another manner of Welcome than he had there three Years since And your Petitioners shall ever Pray c. FINIS ADVERTISEMENT THere will now speedily be Publisht a Treatise Entituled The Bloody Assizes or A Compleat History of the Life of GEORGE Lord JEFFERIES from his Birth to this present time c. Wherein amongst other things is given a true Account of his unheard of Cruelties and barbarous Proceedings in his whole Western Circuit the manner of his coming to Dorchester his Tyrannical Behaviour there his Affronts to the Sheriffs and chief Gentlemen of Devon-shire Dorset-shire Somerset-shire c. His barbarous Practices at Exeter Taunton and the City of Wells the Tryals and Condemnation of 947 Persons with their undaunted Courage at the Barr and remarkable Circumstances that attended their Executions Faithfully Collected by several West Countrey Gentlemen now in London who were both Eye and Ear-witnesses Which will be Sold by John Dunton at the Black Raven in the Poultrey over against the Compter ☞ The First and Second Collection of Dying Speeches Letters Prayers c. of those who suffer'd in the West sold by J. Dunton at the Black Raven in the Poultrey ☞ The Joy of Faith er a Treatise opening the true Nature of Faith by S. Lee sold by J. Dunton
he was asked some few Questions most of which he answered by silence at last he said He did humbly conceive it was not necessary for him to add to his own Accusation since he was not ignorant they had enough already to do his business therefore did not desire to fret his Conscience at that time with answering Questions after which his Libel being read the Court proceeded in usual manner first asking him if he had any thing to say for himself before the Jury closed His Answer was He owned it all saving that part of having designed the King's Death and he prayed all present to believe on the word of a Dying Man he never directly nor indirectly intended such a Villany that he abhorred the thoughts of it and that he blessed God he had the reputation in the World that he knew none had the impudency as to ask him the Question and that he abhorred the thoughts of such an Action and he hoped all good People would believe this which was the only way he had left to clear himself and he was sure that this Truth would once be made manifest to all Men. He was again asked if he had any Exceptions against the Jury he answered No but wished them to do as God and their Consciences directed them They having withdrawn returned their Verdict in half an hours time and brought him in Guilty the Sentence following for him To be taken from that to the next Room and from thence to be drawn in a Hurdle between Two and Four of the Clock to the Cross of Edinburgh the Place of Execution and there to be Hanged Drawn and Quartered He received the Sentence with a devout Courage and Chearfulness After he was delivered into the Town-Magistrate's hands they brought to him two Divines to offer to him their Assistance upon the Castle which he altogether refused telling them If they had any good Wishes for him they should spend them in their Closets and leave him now to seek God in his own way He had several Offers of the same kind of others which he put off in the same manner He was most serious and servent in Prayer the few hours he lived as was observed by several who were present all the while The hour being come he was brought to the Place of Execution where he saluted the People on all sides of the Castle and after having refreshed himself with a Cordial out of his Pocket caused himself to be supported by two Men and spake to the People in these words Gentlemen and Brethren It is appointed for all Men that come into the World once to die after Death to Judgment and since Death is a debt that all of us must pay it is but matter of small moment what way it be done and seeing the Lord is pleased in this manner to take me to himself I confess something hard to Flesh and Blood but blessed be his Name who hath made me not only Willing but Thankful for honouring me to lay down that Life he gave me for his Cause in the which were every Hair on this Head and Beard of mine a Life I would joyfully Sacrifice them for it as I do this day And Providence having brought me hither I think it most necessary to clear my self of some aspersions laid on my Name that I should have had so horrid an Intention of destroying the King and his Brother Saying over again what he had said before to the Justices It was also said on my Name that I was Anti-monarchical it was ever my Thoughts that Kingly Government was the best of all justly executed I mean such as by our ancient Law viz. a King and Free-Parliament the King having as I conceive Power enough to make him great the People also so much Property as to make them Happy they being as it were Contracted to one another and who will deny me that this is the just constituted Government of our Nation how absur'd is it then for Men of sense to maintain that though the one part of this Contract breaketh all Conditions the other should be obliged to perform their part No this Error is contrary to the Law of God the Law of Nations and the Law of Reason But as Pride hath been the Bait the Devil hath catched the most by ever since the Creation so it continues to this day with us It was Pride that caused our first Parents to fall from that blessed Estate in which they were Created they aiming to be higher and wiser than God allowed which brought the everlasting Curse on them and their Posterity for ever It was Pride that caused God to drown the old World It was Nimrod's Pride in building Babel that caused that heavy Curse the division of Languages to be spread among us at this day one of the greatest Afflictions the People of God groan under that there should be so many divisions during their Pilgrimage here but this is their Comfort that the day draweth near whereas there is but one Shepherd there shall be but one Sheep-fold It was therefore the defence of this Party in their just Rights and Liberties At this they rattled the Drums to which he said They need not trouble themselves for he should say no more of his Mind on that subject seeing they were so ungenerous as to interrupt a dying Man only to assure the People that he adhered to the true Protestant Religion detesting the erroneous superstition of many that call themselves so But I dye this day in the defence of the ancient Laws and Liberties of our Nation and though God for reasons best known to himself hath not seen fit to honour us to make us the Instruments for the deliverance of his People yet as I have lived so I dye in the Faith that he will spedily arise for the deliverance of his Church and People which I desire all of you to prepare for thô with grief I may say this is a deluded generation vailed with Ignorance and althô Popery and Slavery be riding in upon them yet they do not perceive it thô I am sure there was none marked of God above another for none came into the World with a Sadle on his Back neither booted and spurr'd to ride in Not but that I am well satisfied that God hath wisely ordered different Stations for Men in this World as I have already said Kings having so much Power as to make them great and People as to make them happy And to conclude I shall only add my wishes for all Mens Salvation who were Created for that end After ending these Words he Prayed most fervently about three quarters of an Hour freely Forgiving all Men even his greatest Enemies begging most earnestly the deliverance of Sion particularly Praying for London Edinburgh and Dublin from which the streams run that rule God's People in the three Nations Being asked some hours before his Execution if he thought not his Sentence dreadful he answered He wished he
had a Limb for every Town in Christendom Mr. Ansley'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 leavs nor forsakes those that put their trust in Him I give you many Thanks for your Kindness to me the Lord make it up to you by pouring upon you a Dayly Portion of his most holy Spirit and Deliver you from your Bonds My Eenmies 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 attend you which is the Prayer of your Dying Friend but Living Brother in Christ Jesus Abraham Ansley From Taunton-Castle Sept. 21. 1685. A HYMN made by Mr. Joseph Tyler a little before His Execution O Lord how Glorious is thy Grace How wondrous large thy Love At such a dreadful Time and Place To such as Faithful prove If thou wilt have thy Glory henee Tho shameful Deaths we Dye We Bless Thee for thy Provedence To all ETERNITâ— Let the Spectators see thy Grace In thy poor Servants Shine Whilst we by Faith behold thy Face In that blest Son of Thine The Men our Bodies may abuse Christ take our Souls to Rest Till Thou bringest forth that Joyful News You are my Fathers Blest Appear for those that plead thy Cause Preserve them in thy Way We own King Jesus and his Laws And dare not but Obey Great God confound thy Cruel Foes Let Babylon come down Let Englands King be one of those Shall Raze Her to the Ground Though Christ we yield our Souls to Thee Accept us on his score That where he is there we may be And Praise the evermore Mr. Sampson Lark's Letter to a Friend just before his Execution MY Dear Friend I am ready to be Offered and the time of my Departure is at hand I have through Grace fought a good Fight have finished my course have kept the Faih and am in hopes of the Crown of Righteousness prepared for me and all Gods Faithful ones The experiences I have had of the promises hath given me comfortable hopes that he will carry me to the full end of my Journey with his Name and that Truth of his wich I have made Profession of My great Crime is for my being a Preacher of the Gospel and here I am to be made a Sacrafice where I have mostly Preached Christs Gospel I think my Judges have devised this punishment for my hurt but I trust God will turn it to my good the great trouble I have is for those good Hearts that I must leave behind me But this is my comfort knowing that all such as fear God he will be a Father to them My Dear Wife is greatly troubled but through Mercy much supported and something quieted if any of you have opportunity to give her help I hope you will do it as for our confessing our selves Guilty it was expresly as to matter of Fact and not of Form and this I did with some freedom and the rather because all my worthy Brethren that went before me took that way and the many ways having been used to have a further Discovery yet nothing of that kind by any but onely by Captain Jones Since our Sentence some wretched-men hath been with us to draw from us a Confession of our being Rebels that we might have their Absolution I Bless God he has hitherto helped me to be Faithful and I hope he will not leave me in the most needfull time I must Conclude being ready to be called away my Dear Love to all my Christian Friends and especially those in the Goal the Lord be with you all Amen Your Dying Friend in hopes of Eternal Life through Jesus Christ Amen Sampson Larke From the House of my Blessed Bondage in Dorcester Sept. 7th 1685. The Last Speech of the Lady Alicia Lisle GEntlemen Friends and Neighbours it may be expected that I should say something at my Death and in order thereununto I shall acquaint you that my Birth and Education was both near this place and that my Parents Instructed me in the Fear of God and I now dye of the Reformed Protestant Religion that if ever Popery should return into this Nation it would be a very great and severe Judgment that I dye in expectation of the Pardon of all my Sins and of acceptance with God the Father by the imputed Righteousness of Jesus Christ he being the End of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believes I thank God through Jesus Christ that I do depart under the Blood of Sprinkling which speaketh better things then that of Abel God having made this Castisement an Ordinance to my Soul I did once as little expect to come to this place on this occasion as any Person in this place or Nation therefore let all learn not to be high Minded but fear The Lord is a Soveraign and will take what way he sees best to Glorifie himself in and by his poor Creatures and I do humbly desire to submit to his Will Praying to him That I may possess my Soul in Patience The Crime that was laid to my Charge was for entertaining an Non-conformist-Minister and others in my House the said Minister being Sworn to have been in the late Duke of Monmouths Army but I have been told that if I had denyed them it would not at all have effected me I have no excuse but surprize and fear which I believe my Jury must make use of to excuse their Verdict to the World. I have been also told That the Court did use to be of Counsel for the Prisoner but instead of Advice I had Evidence against me from thence which though it were only by hear say might possibly affect my Jury my defence being but such as might be expected from a weak Woman but such as it was I did not hear it Repeated again to the Jury which as I have been informed is usual in such cases However I forgive all the World and therein all those that have done me wrong and in particular I forgive Colonel Penrudduck although he told me that he could have Taken these men before they came to my House and I do likewise forgive him who desired to be taken away from the Grand Jury to the Petty Jury that he might be the more nearly concerned in my Death as to what may be objected in reference to my Conviction that I gave it under my hand that I had Discoursed with Nelthrope that could be no Evidence against me being after my Conviction and Sentence I do acknowledge His Majesty's Favour in Revoking my Sentence I pray God to preserve him that he may long Raign in Mercy as well as Justice and that he may Raign in Peace and that the Protestant
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 to let 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 saw at the place of Suffering and so vehemently as he was tried by the Adversary yet it did not in the least dis-compose 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 and to see his Deportment and hear the Gracious Words that proceeded out of his Mouth He remembreth his Duty to you both and left Pauls 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 passed 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 Next followes 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 was bor'd His feet was 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 scoffs 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 shining trance Of Angels in the Skye Which forth shall sing Triumphing Songs With sweet Hallelujah Set up thy standard and prepare War against Babylon For her destruction draweth near As here we read her doom Lord blow the Trumpet and awake The Nations round about Stir up the spirit of the Meeds Which did old Babel rout For Babel must drink of that Cup Which Sion deep did wound Jerusalem did first begin And so the Cup goes round But Babel must drink up the dregs Of Wrath which do remain With which no mixture she shall have To mitigate her pain For 't is the vengeance of our God And of his Temple too The vials that fill up his Wrath The three last Trumpets wo. When Jacob as a battel AX In great Jehovah's hand Shall break down all those Mountains tall That in his way do stand O then let us Rejoyce because The time appointed is That Babel shall be seen to fall And Sion shine in Bliss Our Lord draws near as doth appear By Signs by him fore-told Then Virgins come meet your Bridegroom His Wonderous Works behold The Night grows dark be still and hark What is the Bridegrooms Voice That when the Cry comes swiftly by It may your Hearts rejoyce Your Light grows dim arise and trim Your Lamps from all their Soyl And see your Light shines clear and bright Supply'd with Gospel-Oyl Some Virgins now do Sleepy grow And don't their Vessels fill Nor fear a want when Oyl grows scant And none be found to sell And at Mid-night all in a Fright Oyl-shops they cannot find And none will spare out of his share And so they are left behind Thus Foolish sleep in dangers deep And think their Lord delays But his own Bride hath surely spide Some of his Glorious Rayes And will not sleep unless she keep Her Watch-lights burning still With Oyl in store layd up therefore Let him come when he will. And though her Garments had some rents And spots not perfect white Yet they 'll be cleans'd or quickly chang'd For Rayments of Delight With her Bridegroom she will find room In Chambers of his Love When the Unwise he will despise And them from him remove THE Earl of Argyle's LAST SPEECH June the 30th 1685. JOB tells us Man that is born of a Woman is of few Dayes and full of Trouble and I am a clear Instance of it I shall not now say any thing of my Sentence or Escape about three Years and a half agoe nor of my Return lest I may thereby give Offence or be tedious Only being to end my dayes in your Presence I shall as some of my last Words assert the Truth of the matter of Fact and the Sincerity of my Intentions and Professions that are Published That which I intend mainly now to say is To express my humble and I thank God chearful Submission to his Divine Will and my willingness to Forgive all men even my Enemies and I am heartily well satisfied there is no more Blood spilt and I shall wish the Stream thereof may stop at me And that if it please God to say as to Zerubbabel Zech. 4. 6. Not by might nor by Power