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
the said Lord Chancellor in whose Name the Grant was to pass whether in his Lordships or Mr. Pitts The Chancellor Reply'd That the King had Granted him the Ground for Ninety Nine Years at a Pepper-Corn per Annum and that he was to make over the said Grant to his Landlord Pitt's for the same Term of Years without any Alteration in consideration of his said Landlord Pitt Building him a Cause-Room c. and his the said Lord Chancellor's Enjoying the same during his living in the said Pitt's House and withal urg'd him the said Pitt immediately to take down the King's Park-wall and to Build with all Expedition for he much wanted the Cause-Room and that I should not doubt him for he would certainly be as good as his Agreement with me My Witnesses are Sir Christopher Wren Their Majesties Surveyor Mr. Fisher deâ—easâ—d who belong'd to Sir C. Harbord Their Majesties Land Surveyor Mr. Joseph Avis my Builder Mr. Thomas Bludworth Mr. John Arnold both Gentlemen belonging to the said Lord Chancellor and several others upon which I had a Warrant from Mr. Cook out of the Secretary of State 's Office in the Lord Chancellor's Name with King James's Hand and Seal to pluck down the King's VVall and make a Door and Steps Lights c. into the Park at Discretion which said Warrant cost me 6 l. 5 s. Upon which in about Three or Four Months time I Built the Two Wings of that Great House which is opposite to the Bird-Cages with the Stairs and Tarrass c. which said Building cost me about Four Thousand Pounds with all the inside-work My Work-men being imploy'd by the said Lord Chancellor to sit up the said House and also Offices and Cause-Room for his Use for all which he never paid me one Farthing When I had finished the said Building I demanded of him several times my Grant of the said Ground from the King he often promised me that I should certainly have it but I being very uneasie for want of my said Grant I wrote several times to him and often waited to speak with him to have it done but at last I found I could have no Access to him and that I spent much time in waiting to speak with him altho I liv'd just against his door and also I consider'd that he could not be long Lord Chancellor of England King William being just come I got into the Parlour where he was many Tradesmen being with him that he had sent for I told him that I did not so earnestly demand my Rent of him which was near half a year due but I demanded of him my Grant from King James of the Ground we hâ—d agreed for in consideration of my Building He told me That he would leave my House and that he should not â—arry away the Ground and Building with him which was all the Answer I could have from him And the very next day he went into White-â—all and had the Jesuite Peter's Lodging where he â—ay till that Tuesday Morning King James first Abdicated and went away with Sir Edward Hales the said Lord Chancellor should have gone with them but they dropt him so that Morning finding them to be gone he was fain to shift for himself and to fly with a Servant or at most Two with him and soon after taken and sent to the Tower where he since Died. But to return to the thrid of this Discourse passing by his vehement and pressing Discourse to the Jury against William Lord Russel on his Trial at the Old-Baily which some say greatly influenced them to find him Guilty and add that he did it out of a pique in remembrance he was one of the Members of the Parliament before whom he was brought on his Knees We find him by this time Trying of Dr. Titus Oates upon two Informations upon the Account of his Swearing to the White-Horse Consult and Ireland's being in Town and after a long Debate wherein many sharp Reparâ—ees passed the Jury made a shift to find him Guilty as to the Circumstances I refer you to the Tryal but the Sentence was severe and of its effects few are ignorant wherefore I shall pass it over as also that of Mr. Tho. Dangerfield another of the Evidences in discovering the Contrivanceâ— and carrying on of the Popish Plot which the Papists by these manner of Proceedings accounted to be effectually stifled And now before any thing remarkable happened the Kingdom was alarm'd by the Landing of the late Duke of Monmouth at Lyme in Dorsetshire and the Earl of Argyle in Scotland but however these two unfortunate Gentlemen miscarrying and losing their Lives left a great many of their miserable Followers to feel the severity of Punishment and as for the gleaning the bloody Fields in England they came to the sifting of this Person who with others going down with a Commission to Try them all the Indignities the Dissenters had put upon him came fresh into his remembrance so that he made them find the Laws more cruel than the Sword and wish they had fallen in the Field rather than have come to his handling for he breathed Death like a destroying Angel and sanguined his very Erminâ— in Blood A large Account of which you shall have in its proper place But by the way for the sake of the West-Country Reader I shall here add a true and impartial Narrative of the late Duke of Monmouth's whole Expedition while in the West seeing that was the Prologue to that bloody Scene that you 'll hear by and by was acted by George Lord Jeffreys the â—â—bject of our present Discourse To begin then May 24. Old Style We left Amsterdam about two of the Clock being Sunday Morning and in a Lighter sail'd for the Texâ—l our Vessels being sent before us thither but meeting with extream cross Winds all the way we arrived not till Saturday Night and then went all on Board Here our Man of War with about 32 Guns where the Dukes Person was was under an Arrest by order of the States of Amsterdam on the Complaint of our Envoy they presuming we had been clear but we broke through our Arrest and Sunday Morning at break of Day set Sail for England We had in all three Ships that of 32 Guns carried most of our Men the other two were for our Ammunition We met with exceeding cross Winds most part of the time we spent on the Seas and Arrived not at Lyme till Thursday June 11. so that from Amsterdam to Lyme we wanted but two days of three Weeks We Landed without any the least Opposition and were received with all expressions of Joy imaginable the Duke as soon as he jump'd out of his Boat on Land call'd for silence and then desir'd we would joyn with him in returning God Thanks for that wonderful preservation we had met with at Sea and accordingly fell on his Knees on the Sand and was the mouth of us all in a short Ejaculation and then
behind the Curtain to raise Divisions amongst them and set them together by the Ears and knock their Logger-heads together yet I find they can agree for their interest Or if there be but a Kid in the case For I hear the Trade of Kid-napping is of much Request in this City they can discharge a Felon or a Traytor provided they will go to Mr. Alderman's Plantation at the VVest-Indies Come come I find you stink for want of Rubbing Gentlemen what need I mind you of these things I hope you will search into them and inform me It seems the Dissenters and Phanaticks fare well amongst you by reason of the favour of the Magistrates for example is a Dissenter who is a Notorious and Obstinate Offender comes before them to be fined one Alderman or other stands up and says He is a good Man though three parts a Rebel well then for the sake of Mr. Alderman he shall be fined but 5 s. Then comes another and up stands another Goodman Alderman and says I know him to be an honest Man though rather worse than the former Well for Mr. Alderman's sake he shall be Fined but half a Crown so Manus manum fricat You play the Knave for me now and I will play the Knave for you by and by I am ashamed of these things And I must not forget to tell you that I hear of some Differences amongst the Clergy those that ought to preach Peace and Unity to others Gentlemen these things must be looked into I shall not now trouble you any further there are several other things but I expect to hear of them from you And if you do not tell me of some of these things I shall remind you of them And I find by the number of your Constables this is a very large City and it is impossible for one or two to search into all the corners of it Therefore mind the Constables of their Duties and call on them for their Presentments for I expect every Constable to bring in his Presentment or that you Present him So Adjourn c. Upon Affidavits read and other Evidence against Sir VV the Mayor Alderman L and others for Kid-napping there being Bills privately preferred to the Grand Jury by J. R. and being found he made the Mayor and the Aldermen concerned to go from the Bench to the Bar to plead to the Informations using many Expressions saying of the Mayor See how the Kidd-napping Rogue looks c. MY Lord after he had left Bristol being come to the King to give an Account of his Affairs in the West the Great Seal being to be disposed of by the Death of the late Keeper he kiss'd the King's Hand for it and was made Lord Chancellor which was only an eâ—rnest of his Desâ—rt for so eminent and extraordinary a piece of Service so now that which remains is to give an Account of divers that had fled and hid themselves up and down in Holes and Privacies whose Friends made all Application to some great Men or other to procure their Pardons some to this and others to such as they thought Fovourites of the King but the Rewards must be ascertained before any Application could be made Divers Lists being sent up and the Rewards ascertained which amongst many of them put together did amount to considerable so that it was now who could find a Friend to relieve his distressed Relations which were forced to wander up and down in Caves and Deserts for fear of being taken But this Misforâ—une attended the Agents that unless my Lord Chancellour were used by his Creatures that were allowed by him so to do other Applications commonly met with Disappointments which caused an Emulation among the great Men one supposing to have deserved the King's Ear as well as the other which caused other Measures to be taken though some were wheedled out of their mony At last came out a General Pardon with Exceptions very few if any of those that were solicited for not being excepted were of course pardoned but however divers sums of Mony having been paid no Restitution to be had for from Hell is no Redemption A worthy Western Gentleman's purchase came to fifteen or sixteen hundred Guinea's which my Lord Chancellour had Amongst the Exceptions were a parcel of Taunton Girls some of which were Children of Eight or Ten years old however something was to be made of them if these Ladies were judged Guilty of Treason for presenting the Duke of Monmouth with Colours c. and for to preserve these from Trial they were given to Maids of Honour to make up their Christmas Box so that an Agent of theirs was sent down into the Country to compound with their Parents to preserve them from what might after follow if taken so that some according to Ability gave 100 l. others 50 l. all which however did not answer the Ladies first Expectations yet it did satisfie and they were accordingly pardoned Thus we have given you an Account of what hath happened on this Occasion being in every Point truth We might have farther Enlarged but that would have spoiled the Design and swoln our Pocket Companion to a Volume too big We shall therefore next proceed to give you a true and exact List of all them that were condemned and suffer'd in the West in the year 1685. under the Sentence of my Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys With the Names of the Towns where every Man was executed Bath 6. WAlter Baker Henry Body Gerrard Bryant Thomas Clotworthy Thomas Collins John Carter Philipsnorton 12. Robert Cook Edward Creaves John Caswell Thomas Hayward John Hellier Edward Beere Henry Portridge George Pether Thomas Peirce John Richards John Staple John Smith Froome 12. Francis Smith Samuel Vill alias Vile Thomas Star Philip Vsher Robert Beamant William Clement John Humphrey George Hasty Robert Man Thomas Pearle Lawrence Lott Thomaâ— Lott Bruton 3. James Feildsen Humphrey Braden Richard Bole. Wincanton 6. John Howel Richard Harvey John Tucker William Holland Hugh Holland Thomas Bowden Shepton-Mallet 13. Stephen Mallet Joseph Smith John Gilham Jun. Giles Bramble Richard Chinn William Cruise George Pavier John Hildworth John Ashwood Thomas Smith John Dorchester Senior John Combe John Groves Pensford 12. Roger Cornelius John Starr Humphry Edwards William Pierce Arther Sullway George Adams Henry Russel George Knight Robert Wine William Clerk alias Chick Preston Bevis Richard Finier Wrington 3. Alexander Key David Boyss Joshua French Wells 8· William Mead Thomas Coade Robert Doleman Thomas Durston John Sheperd Abraham Bend William Durston William Plumley Uivelscomb 3 William Ruscomb Thomas Pierce Robert Combe Tuton upon Mendip 2. Peter Pranâ—e William Watkins Chard 12. Edward Foote John Knight Williams Williams John Gervis Humphrey Hitchcook William Godfrey Abraham Pill William Davy Henry Easterbrook James Dennett Edward Warren Simoâ— Cross. Crookern â—0 John Spore Roger Burnâ—ll William Pâ—ther James Evory Robert Hill Nicholas Adams Richard Stephens Roberâ— Halswell John Bushel William Lâ—shly Somerton 7.
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
Jealousie and Care The slighted Lover's Maggots and Despair A Womans Body every day to dress A fickle Soul little as theirs or less The Courtiers business th' Impudence o' th' Stage And the defeated Father Peter's Rage A Clock â—ork Spouse with loud eternal Clack A Shop i' th' Change still ty'd to What d' ye lack Worse than these last if any Curses more Ovid e're knew or fiercer Oldham's store 'Till not one part in Body or Soul be free May all their barbed Vengeance show'r on thee Presâ—'d with their weight long may'st thou raving lye Enâ—ying an Halter but not dare to dye And when Condemn'd thou dost thy Clergy plead Some frightful Fiend deny thee Power to read Madness Despair Confusion Rage and Shame Attend you to the Place from whence you came To Tyburn thee let carrion Horses draw In jolting Cart without so much as straw Jaded may they lye down i' th' road and tyr'd And worse than one fair hanging twice bemir'd May'st thou be maul'd with Pulchers Sexton 's Sermon 'Till thou roar out Hemp-sake Drive on Car-man Pelted and Curst i' th' road by every one E'ne to be hâ—ng'd may'st thou the Gauntlet run Not one good Woman who in Conscience can Cry out 'T is pity Troth a proper Man Stupid and dull may'st thou rub off like Hone Without an open or a smother'd groan May the Knot miss the place and fitted be To plague and torture not deliver thee Be half a day a Dying thus and then Revive like Savage to be Hang'd agen In piâ—y now thou shalt no longer Live For when thus satiâ—fi'd I can forgive John Carter THE LIFE and DEATH OF GEORGE Lord JEFFREYS REader Think it not strange if I present you with the memorable Life and Actions of a Person so well known in this great Kingdom And peradventure Fame has not been silent in other Countreys especially since he has been advanced to be a Chief Minister of State and sat as it were steering at the Helm of Government Various indeed are the Changes of Worldly Affairs and the Actions of Human Life which have been more particularly exemplified in the Rise and Fall of the Person the Subject of this Discourse who from almost a mean obscurity soar'd to the losty Pyramid of Honour where for a while like an unfixed Star he appeared to the Eyes of the wondring Nation giving an imperfect lustre till by the sudden turn and change of unsteady Fortune he dropt headlong from his Sphere and lost at once his Grandeur and his Power To let Mankind see how little trust there is to be given to the smiles of flattering Greatness especially when attained by violent and pressing motions I now proceed to trace this unfortunate Favourite in the sundry Capacities and Stations that have hitherto made up the Series of his Life He was born at Acton near Wrexam in Denbighshire in Wales about the Year 1648. his Fathers name was Jeffreys being reputed a Gentleman in that Country though of no large Fortune or Estate however he lived very comfortably on what he had improving his yearly Income by his Industry and gain'd by his plain and honest Endeavours a good repute amongst the Gentry of those Parts Insomuch that it was not long before he upon the recommendation of some Person of Interest and Ability gain'd a Wife of a good House and they lived very comfortably together in their rural Habitation being far from Ambition or striving for Court-favour but contented with what God had blessed them with and the fruits of their own Industry they found a solid Happiness in that Contentment Nor had they lived together any considerable time but amongst other Children the fruits of Wedlock God was pleased to bestow on them the Person who is intended the Subject of this Discourse who was in due time Baptized by the Christian Name of George whether he had Godfathers c. it does not occur however he under the care and diligence of his industrious Parents grew up and appear'd to all that studied him of a very prompt and ready Wit active and striving for Preeminence even among his Compeers in his tender Age which lively demonstrated that an Air of Ambition was inherent to his Person As soon as he was capable to receive Learning he was put to a Country School where he was furnished with such Education as that afforded which was not extraordinary yet his Natural Parts set it off to the best Advantage and growing to years of somewhat a ripe Understanding and not very tractable his Father by the Advice of some of his Confidents caused him to be brought to London and finding him not inclinable to any Trade but rather addicted to Study he entred him or by his procurement he was entered into the Free-School of Westminster where he profited much so that he was by the care of the worthy Master thereof soon enabled to understand the Languages or at least so many of them as were convenient for the study of the Law which above other things he aimed at tho' his Father seemed not very plyable to his desires for perceiving in his Soul a more than ordinary Spark of Ambition fearing it might kindle into a flame and prove one day his ruine he laboured to hinder the ways he conceiv'd most likely to bring it upon him and is reported to say when he found he could not dissuade him from what he purposed gently clapping him on the back Ah George George I fâ—ar thou wilt die with thy Shoes and Stockings on What he meant by that Expression I determine not but leave the Reader to interpret Upon the Coming in of King Charles the Second and the restoring the Face of Affairs in the Kingdom the Law reviv'd again and began to flourish the Practitioners liv'd in much Credit and Reputation and many of them purchased large Estates which served to wing the desire of this Person with impatience and some say he was the rather incited to it by a Dream he had whilst a Scholar at Westminster School viz. That he should be the chief Scholar in that School and afterward should enrich himself by Study and Industry and that he should come to be the second Man in the Kingdom but in conclusion should fall into great disgrace and misery This is confidently reported and some say himself told it to sundry Persons since when he found the second part of it was fulfilled by acquiring the Chancellourship and standing high in the Favour of his Prince However We find the latter part did not deter him from his purpose for having enter'd himself in the Inner-Temple House one of the Chief Inns of Court after his performing such things as are conformable to the Customs of the House we find him call'd to the Bar by the Interest he made with the Benchers and Heads of that Learned Society earlier than had been usual leaping over the Heads of elder Graduates This happening about the Twentieth year of the Reign of