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
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
them daily with his own hands Nor did he neglect Justice while he was exercising Mercy but to the amazement and almost terrour of the Beholders pursu'd a Malefactor who had taken Sanctuary in a Pesthouse thinking none wou'd be so desperate as to follow him and with his own hands fetch'd him thence when the other Officers dar'd not venture after him 'T was either his Acquaintance among the Papists before intimated and hence his being consequently better known by those who were of that Party or his industry and indefatigable care in the Discharge of his Office or both to which we may rationally attribute the addressing of the first Discovery of the Popish Plot to him rather than any other The clearest Method for the Description of his Martyrdom will be first to enquire into the Occasion of it and then the Manner Circumstances and Authors and lastly the several Endeavours have been used to clear the Papists of that indelible Guilt which sticks upon 'em from so horrid a Villany For the Occasion of his Martyrdom what was said in the Summing up the Evidence concerning him but modestly and on supposition only we may yet venture to affirm positively This Protestant Magistrate was certainly murder'd because he was a Proâ—estant But the particular and special Reasons were these following 1. He had taken Examinations about the Popish Plot and those not only as the Attorny General said in the Trial of the Assassines perhaps but undoubtedly more than are now extant Mr. Oates addressed himself to him with his Depositions he had taken them and enquired something closely into the Design as his manner was in any thing which belong'd to his Office This the Papists very well knew and therefore found it convenient to be rid of a troublesome busie man who now he was engaged in the business was likely to pierce to the bottom on 't and he being once out of the way the Evidence might very easily have been dispos'd of to their satisfaction But here those whose Interest 't is to get clear of such a Charge object very pertly What need or what advantage in taking off a Justice when the same things were deposed in other places 2. The second Reason or Occasion for this Murder will easily answer that Objection They not only bore him Malice for what he had already done in Oates's case and might probably be ignorant of those secret Passages transacted before King and Council in relation to Oates's Depositions but were sensible of a deeper Reason than all this and which brought them into more danger than the other See it in the Lord Stafford's Trial p. 22. and 24. Mr. Dugdale had received a Letter the very night on which this Gentleman was martyr'd of which more anon with these words in 't This Night Sir E.B.G. is dispatch'd This came from the Papists to Ewers a Popish Priest at my Lord Aston's who after he had read it communicated the good News to Mr. Dugdale telling him One of their Enemies was taken out of the way He being desirous to know how things went ask'd what was the Reason they took away his Life Ewers tells him There was a Message sent to Mr. Coleman when in Newgate to desire him that he wou'd not reveal any thing of the Plot which Message came from the Duke of York To which Coleman replyed What was he the nearer for he had been so foolish as to reveal all to Sir E.B.G. already But upon the Examination of Oates before Sir E.B.G. he was afraid he would come in as Evidence against him having shewn himself eager in the business To which the Duke of York sent word again If he wou'd take care not to reveal but conceal it Sir E.B.G. shou'd not come in against him And the next news was that he was dispatch'd Now this effectually takes off the former Cavil and this Sâ—r Roger cou'd not but be sensible of and concluding so unanswerably against whâ—t he built so much upon e'ne lets it fairly drop and mentions not a syllable of it in all his Book Which Evidence of Mr. Dugdales is beyond contradiction confirm'd by several hints unluckily given in Sir Roger 's own Depositions pa. 187. where Mr. Wynnel deposes Sir E. told him Coleman wou'd dye and mention'd Consults about a Toleration Adding further That he was Master of a dangerous secret that wou'd be fatal to him Hence nothing can be plainer to any reasonable man than that Sir Edmond was acquainted with Mr. Coleman as well as Dr. Oates and knew even the minute Circumstances in those Letters which afterwards were brought against him and stood in fear of his Life for that very Reason as for the same he afterwards lost it For the Manner of his Death those who were Accomplices therein shou'd best know it and the Objections against their Evidence the Reader may find clear'd if he 'll take the pains to look a little lower After the poor Gentleman had several days been dog'd by the Papists as Dr. Oates Mr. Prance and Mr. Bedlow unanimously swear and which he as good as acknowledged to Mr. Robinson as appears on the Trial of his Murtherers they at last accomplish'd their wicked design on Saturday Octob. 12. 1678. and under a pretence of a Quarrel which they knew his Care for the publick Peace wou'd oblige him to prevent about Nine at night as he was going home got him into the Water-gate at Somerset-House When he was thus trapan'd in and got out of hearing from the Street toward the lower end of the Yard Green one of the Assassines threw a twisted Handkerchief round his Neck and drew him behind the Rails which notwithstanding his age and weakness are objected against its probability taking him thus at a surprize and in the dark 't was easie for him to do especially three or four more of 'em immediately falling in to assist him there they throtled him and lest that shou'd not be enough punch'd and kickt him on the Breast as sufficiently appear'd when his Body was found by the marks upon it and lest he shou'd not be yet dead enough another of 'em Girald or as I find him called in other places Fitz-Girald wou'd have run him through but was hindered by the rest lest the Blood shou'd have discover'd 'em But Green to make sure work wrung his Neck round as 't was found afterwards on the inspection of the Surgeons For the disposal of the Body they all carried it up into a little Chamber of Hills another of the Murtherers who had been or was Dr. Godwin's man where it lay till Monday night when they remov'd it into another Room and thence back again 'till Wednesday when they carried him out in a Sedan about Twelve a clock and afterwards upon a Horse with Hill behind him to support him till they got to Primrose-Hill or as some say 't is call'd Green-Bury-Hill near a Publick House call'd the White house and there threw him into a Ditch with his Gloves
the Trial of the Murderers witnesses that he had a Discourse with Sir Edmond a little while before his Death about the Plot then newly talkt on Says Robinson I wish the depth of the Matter be found out Sir E. answers I 'm afraid it is not Vpon any Conscience I believe I shall be the first Martyr He acknowledged he had taken several Examinations about it but thought he shou'd have little Thanks for his pains The Esquire askt him Are you afraid No said he I do not fear 'em if they come fairly and I shan't part with my Life tamely Well Sir Roger Is all this the Parliament Was he afraid the Parliament wou'd send a Party to dog him and set upon him and that he did not fear the Parliament but if they came fairly would not part with his Life tamely No any Man that has but half an eye unless that too blinded with Prejudice may see the meaning on 't and that he apprehended danger onely from the Papists against whom he had taken several Examinations The next is of John Wilson the Sadler who Swears Sir Edmond talking with one Mr. Harris then told this Informant That he was in danger for what he acted for the Discovering of the late Plot against his Majesty See how ingeniously this is answer'd His apprehension was from the Parliament not the Papists and for Concealing not Discovering the Plot. These very words Sir Roger has in his Book pag. 281. Now whether this is not a direct Statuimus i. e. Abrogamus What Sir Edmond calls Discovering for Sir R. who knows his Mind better now he 's dead than he himself did while alive to tell us he means Concealing which is quite contrary and how fair a way of answer 't is let any of his best Friends be Judges Twou'd be tedious to bring any more when this does effectually as to his own Judgment Only 't is remarkable that these very things are Sworn upon the Trial by Mr. Oates that Sir E. B. G. had told him He had received Affronts from great Persons for being so zealous in the Business That he had been threatned That he went in fear of his Life from the Popish Party and that he had been dog'd several days but fear'd 'em not if they came fairly to work For other Evidences of his Murther by the Papists that which indeed made the greatest noise was his Death being heard of so far off and in so many different places before 't was known in London This Sir Roger tells us was on purpose spread by the Brothers to throw it on the Papists But here 's this in opposition Dugdale against whom he makes no objection but allows his Evidence makes Oath in my Lord Stafford's Trial and other places That this News was brought to one Ewers a Priest in a Letter which he shew'd him dated the very night 't was done which had these words in 't This very night Sir E. B. G. is dispatch'd Now I 'd fain ask Had these Brothers Correspondence with the Priest wou'd they use such a word as that Dispatch'd Did they write to Ewers too and bid him tell Dugdale That this Sir E B.G. was a busie Man and fit to be taken out of the way as Dugdale swears he did Cou'd Dugdale conspire with Oates so long before they knew one another and while he was himself a Prisoner in Staffordshire and were all those perjur'd who witness that Mr. Dugdale did report this before it cou'd be known by any but the very Conspirators That 't was done in that very place at Somerset-House Providence has left strange Confirmation The first is Bury the Porter's refusing to admit any persons into the Gates about that time the 12 th 13 th 14 th of October Nay that he had deny'd the Prince himself admittance Prince Rupert I suppose it must be and pretended Orders for so doing But these Orders he never produc'd And more like a true Papist deny'd matter of Fact when charg'd with it and tho' he had acknowledg'd to the Council he had never such Orders before when Sir Thomas Stringer came to witness it positively deny'd it Two more veâ—y remarkable Affidavits there are which give mighty strength to all the former One of Spence Captain Spence he 's call'd in some Copies and the other of John Okeley Spence was a tall black Man much like Sir E. B. G. as was witnessed by those who knew him to all which Sir R. only answers He has been told otherwise This Spence passing by the same Water-gate at Somerset-House about Seven at night two days before Sir Edmond's Murther was drag'd in thither being seiz'd by five or six Men but one of 'em when they had him in cry'd out This is not he on which they immediately let him go Here 's a plain Evidence of their Intentions and a Confirmation of what Bedlow Oates and Prance sware of Sir E's being dog'd so long before All that 's answer'd to 't is That there was a Suit of Law depending between this Spence and Mrs. Broadstreet and therefore forsooth he must forswear himself and wilfully damn his Soul only for a Circumstantial Evidence and Reflection on Hill himself three or four years after he was hang'd and so on his Master Dr. Godden and thence again on Mrs. Broadstreet and all this when it had no influence at all on the Suit of Law or them who su'd him But enough of this Let 's now take notice of the next 'T is one John Okeley who that very night Octob. 12. going by Somerset-House at the Water-gate about Nine a Clock saw there Sir E. B. G. whom he knew very well living in the same Lane with him he past close by him pull'd off his Hat to him as Sir E.B.G. did to him again when past him he turn'd about and look'd on him And this he told to several persons which witness the same To this the main of what Sir R. objects is 'T was dark and how shou'd he know him Certainly any one that knows London can't be ignorant that we have Lights in the Streets at Nine at night and 't was morally impossible that one who knew him so well who look'd upon him who put off his Hat to him as he to him again and who after all this look'd back upon him that such a one shou'd be mistaken in the Person The last thing to be prov'd is That Sir E.B.G. did not and cou'd not murder himself in that place as is pretended by his Enemies He was first missing on Saturday and therefore according to their account his Body must have been in the place where 't was found till that Thurâ—day night But had it been there on Tuesday or Wednesday the Pack of Hounds which hunted there both of those days must have found him Sir Roger tells us They might have been on t'other side of the Ditch or beat the place carelesly without finding it But Mr. Faucet's Deposition is That he beat that very
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
to consider calmly of the matter and this no doubt was very well known by those who order'd things in the manner before-noted But I say 't were to be wished for the Honour of the English Nation that this had been all the foul play in the case and that there had not been so many Thousand Guinea's imployed in this and other Tryals as the great Agitators thereof have lately confess'd to have been The Names of his Jury as I find them in Print are as follow John Martayn William Rouse Jervas Seaton William Fashion Thomas Short George Toriano William Butler James Pickering Thomas Jeve Hugh Noden Robert Brough Thomas Omeby When he found he must expect neither Favour nor Justice as to the delaying of his Tryal he excepted against the Fore-man of the Jury because not a Freeholder which for divers and sundry Reasons almost if not all the Judges having the happiness to light on different ones and scarce any two on the sâ—me was over-ruled and given against him though that same practice since declared and acknowledged one of the great Grievances of the Nation His Indictment ran in these words He did conspire and compass our Lord the King his Supreme Lord not onely of his Kingly State Title Power and Government of this his Kingdom of England to deprive and throw down but also our said Soveraign Lord the King to kill and to Death to bring and put and the ancient Government of this Kingdom of England to change alter and wholly subvert and a miserable Slaughter among the Subjects of our said Lord the King through his whole Kingdom of England to cause and procure and Insurrection and Rebellion against our said Lord the King to move procure and stir up within this Kingdom of England And lower He and divers others did consult agree and conclude Insurrection and Rebellion against our Sovereign Lord the King to move and stir up and the Guards for the preservation of the Person of our said Soveraign Lord the King to seize and destroy Now that all this was not intended as matter of Form only we may see by the Kings Councils opening the Evidence The first says He was indicted for no less than conspiring the Death of the Kings Majesty and that in order to the same he and others did meet and conspire together to bring our Sovereign Lord the King to Death to raise War and Rebellion against him and to Massacre his Subjects And in order to compass these wicked Designs being assembled did conspire to seize the Kings Guards and his Majesties Person And this he tells the Jury is the charge against him The Attorney General melts it a little lower and tells 'em the meaning of all these Tragical Words were A Consult about a Rising about seizing the Guards and receiving Messages from E. of Shaftsbury concerning an Insurrection Nor yet does the proof against him come up so high even as this though all care was used for that purpose and kind Questions put very frequently to lead and drive the Evidence but one of them Witnessing to any one Point The first of whom was Col. Rumsey who swears That he was sent with a Message from Shaftsbury who lay concealed at Wapping to meet Lord Russel Ferguson c. at Shepherds 's to know of them what Resolution they were come to about the Rising design'd at Taunton That when he came thither the Answer was made Mr. Trenchard had fail'd 'em and no more would be done in that business at that time That Mr. Ferguson spoke the most part of that Answer but my Lord Russel was present and that he did speak about the Rising of Taunton and consented to it That the Company was discoursing also of viewing the Guards in order to surprize 'em if the Rising had gone on and that some undertook to view 'em and that the Lord Russel was by when this was undertaken But this being the main Hinge of the business and this Witness not yet coming up to the purpose they thought it convenient to give him a Jog to Refresh his Memory Asking him Whether he found my Lord Russel averse or agreeing to it Who no doubt answer'd Agreeing But being afterwards in the Tryal ask'd Whether he could Swear positively that my Lord Russel heard the Message and gave any Answer to it All that he says is this That when he came in they were at the Fire side but they all came from the Fire-side to hear what he said All that Shepherd witnesses is That my Lord Russel c. being at his house there was a Discourse of surprizing the Kings Guards and Sir Thomas Armstrong having viewed them when he came thither another time said They were remiss and the thing was feizible if there were Strength to do it and that upon his being question'd too as Rumsey before him Whether my Lord Russel was there He says He was at that time they discours'd of seizing the Guards The next Witness was the florid Lord Howard who very artificially begins low being forsooth so terribly surprized with my Lord of Essex's Death that his Voice fail'd him till the Lord Chief Justice told him the Jury could not hear him in which very moment his Voice returned again and he told the reason why he spoke no louder After a long Harangue of Tropes and fine Words and dismal General Stories by which as my Lord complains the Jury were prepossessed against him he at last makes his Evidence bear directly upon the point for which he came thither And swears That after my Lord Shaftsbury went away their Party resolved still to carry on the design of the Insurrection without him for the better management whereof they erected a little Cabal among themselves which did consist of Six Persons whereof my Lord Russel and himself were two That they met for this purpose at Mr. Hambden's house and there adjusted the place and manner of the intended Insurrection That about ten days after they had another meeting on the same business at my Lord Russel's where they resolved to send some Persons to engage Argyle and the Scots in the design and being ask'd too that he was sure my Lord Russel was there Being ask'd whether he said any thing he answer'd That every one knew him to be a Person of great Judgment and not very lavish of Discourse Being again goaded on by Jeffreys with a But did he consent We did says he put it to the Vote it went without contradiction and I took it that all there gave their consent West swears That Ferguson and Col. Rumsey told him That my Lord Russel intended to go down and take his Post in the West when Mr. Trenchard had fail'd ' em Whose hear-say-Evidence being not encouraged Jeffreys ends very prettily telling the Court they would not use any thing of Garniture but leave it as it was As for Rumsey the first Witness As to his Person My Lord Candish prov'd on the Trial that my Lord Russel had a
Holloway says he had for not pleading But Sir Thomas the Atturney goes on deserv'd no favour because he was one of the Persons that actually engaged to go on the King 's hasty coming from Newmarket and destroy him by the way as he came to Town and that this appeared upon as full and clear Evidence and as positively testified as any thing could be and this in the Evidence given in of the late horrid Conspiracy Now Id fain know who gives this clear and full Evidence in the Discovery of the Conspiracy Howard's is meer Supposition and he 's all who so much as mentions a syllable on 't that ever cou'd be found on search of all the Papers and Trials relating to that Affair To this Sir Thomas answers in his Speech That had he come 'to his Trial he cou'd have prov'd my Lord Howard 's base Reflections on him to be a notorious falshood there being at least ten Gentlemen besides all the Servants in the House cou'd testifie where he Dined that very day Still Sir Thomas demanded the Benefit of the Law and no more To which Jeffreys answer'd with one of his usual barbarous Insults over the Miserable That he shou'd have it by the Grace of God ordering That Execution be done on Friday next according to Law And added That he shou'd have the full Benefit of the Law repeating the Jest lest it should be lost as good as three times in one Sentence Tho' had not his Lordship slipt out of the World so slily he had had as much benefit the same way and much more justly than this Gentleman Then the Chief Justice proceeds and tells him We are satisfied that according to Law we must Award Execution upon this Outlawry Thereupon Mrs. Matthews Sir Thomas's Daughter said My Lord I hope you will not Murder my Father For which being Brow-beaten and Checkt She added God Almighty's Judgments Light upon YOV The Friday after he was brought to the place of Execution Dr. Tennison being with him and on his desire after he had given what he had to leave in a Paper to the Sheriff Prayed a little while with him He then Prayed by himself and after having thanked the Doctor for his great Care and Pains with him submitted to the Sentence and died more composedly and full as resolutely as he had lived 'T is observable that more cruelty was exercised on him than any who went before him not onely in the manner of his Death but the exposing his Limbs and Body A fair warning what particular Gratitude a Protestant is to expect for having oblig'd a true Papist Another thing worth remembring in all other Cases as well as this tho occasion is here taken to do it is That whereas in Holloway's Case Jeffreys's observ'd That not one of all concern'd in this Conspiracy had dared to deny it and lower to deny the Truth of the fact absolutely T is so far from being true that every one who suffer'd did it as absolutely as possible They were Try'd or Sentenc'd for Conspiring against the King and Government that was their Plot but this they all deny and absolutely too and safely might do it for they consulted for it not conspired against it resolving not to touch the King's Person nay if possible not to shed one drop of Blood of any other as Holloway and others say For the King's Life Sir Thomas says as the Lord Russel Never had any Man the impudence to propose so base and barbarous a thing to him Russel and almost all besides say They had never any design against the Government Sir Thomas here says the same As he never had any Design against the King's Life nor the Life of any Man so he never had any Design to alter the Monarchy As he liv'd he says he dy'd a sincere Protestant and in the Communion of the Church of England tho' he heartily wish'd he had more strictly liv'd up to the Religion he believed And tho' he had but a short time he found himself prepared for Death and indeed as all his Life shew'd him a Man of Courage so his Death and all the rest of his Behaviour did a Penitent Man a Man of good Sense and a good Christian. At the place of Execution Sir Thomas Armstrong deported himself with Courage becoming a great Man and with the Seriousness and Piety suitable to a very good Christian. Sheriff Daniel told him that he had leave to say what he pleased and should not be interrupted unless he upbraided the Government Sir Thomas thereupon told him that he should not say any thing by way of Speech but delivered him a Paper which he said contained his mind he then called for Dr. Tennison who prayed with him and then he prayed himself In his Paper he thus expressed himself That he thanked Almighty God he found himself prepared for Death his thoughts set upon another World and â—eaned from this yet he could not but give so much of his little time as to answer some Calumnies and particularly what Mr. Attorney accused him of at the Bar. That he prayed to be allowed a Tryal for his Life according to the Laws of the Land and urged the Statute of Edward 6. which was expresly for it but it signified nothing and he was with an extraordinary Roughness condemned and made a precedent tho' Holloway had it offered him and he could not but think all the world would conclude his case very different else why refused to him That Mr. Attorney charged him for being one of those that was to kill the King He took God to witness that he never had a thought to take away the King 's Life and that no man ever had the Impudence to propose so barbarous and base a thing to him and that he never was in any design to alter the Government That if he had been tryed he could have proved the Lord Howard's base Reflections upon him to be notoriously false He concluded that he had lived and now dyed of the Reformed Religion a Protestant in the Communion of the Church of England and he heartily wished he had lived more strictly up to the Religion he believed That he had found the great comfort of the Love and Mercy of God in and through his blessed Redeemer in whom he only trusted and verily hoped that he was going to partake of that fulness of Joy which is in his presence the hopes whereof infinitely pleased him He thanked God he had no repining but chearfully submitted to the punishment of his Sins He freely forgave all the World even those concerned in taking away his Life tho' he could not but think his Sentence very hard he being denied the Laws of the Land On the Honourable Sir Thomas Armstrong Executed June 20. 1684. HAd'st thou abroad found safety in thy flight Th' Immortal honour had not fam'd so bright Thou hadst been still a worthy Patriot thought But now thy Glory 's to perfection brought In exile and in
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
King Charles the Second and the City of London beginning to raise her self out of her Ashes more stately and magnificent than before she sunk in Flames a Sacrifice to the Revenge and Malice of the Papists as by the late Inscription on the Monument and upon Record it appears This great City I say regaining her Trade her Priviledges and Customs were kept up with great exactness so that in the Courts at Guild-Hall there was much Business which being consider'd by this Person as more beneficial than that at Westminster by reason of its frequency and being carried on briefer and with less difficulty which induced him to give his Attendance as also at Hixes-Hall and other inferiour Courts and Places insomuch that he being of a bold Presence and having naturally a fluent Tongue an audible Voice and good Utterance he had not pleaded often before he was very much taken Notice of and gain'd so much Credit with the People that they prefer'd him before any of the younger sort of Barristers by which means he found his Stars begin to smile upon him so that he was in a manner Courted to take Fees and had Breviates thrust into his Hand frequently in the middle of a Cause by Persons when they perceived it went ill on their sides and was like to go against them Thus flush'd with success he now thought of nothing more than how he might climb nor did he want an Opportunity for the next Station we find him in is that of Common Serjeant to the great and honourable City of London and so much Fortune favour'd him at this time that Alderman Jeffreys the great Smoaker having often observ'd his Discourse and Actions took such a liking to him that being of the same Name tho' not in the least any Relation he back'd him with his Purse and Interest which was not inconsiderable and thereby not only enabled him to carry on his Grandeur but to purchase as he found a conveniency or advantage in order to his keeping it up in the World These I say being the Degrees by which he was climbing the slippery Stair of Honour to contract a firmer Alliance he Addressed himself to a brisk young Widow Daughter to Sir Thomas Bludworth then one of the Aldermen of the City and who in the time of the dreâ—dful Conflagration had the Chair as being then Lord Mayor and so far prâ—vail'd upon the Lady and her Father that he gain'd both their Consents and the Contract was made the Nuptials solemnized And soon after he had the pleasure to behold the Fruits of her Labour Sir John Howel the Recorder of London giving place the Recordership became vacant which made this Person lay hold of that Opportunity to use his own and the Interest of his Friends to acquire that Place of Trust and Honour nor did his Measures fail him for by the powerful influence he had by this time gain'd over sundry Persons who were best able to promote him to what he so earnestly labour'd to arrive at he was chosen and confirm'd Recorder of the Honourable City taking upon him the Charge and Care of the Writings Papers c. that belong to so great a Charge and Trust as that of a Recorder of the City of London By this means being become as himself declar'd The Mouth of the City and as we may term him Capital Judge in the Guild-Hall in Controversies at the Sessions held there c. and the Power of breathing forth Sentences of Punishment being put into his hands he found his Ambition enlarg'd aiming at nothing more than to become a Court-Favourite Nor was it long before an Opportunity offer'd it self to make him to be taken notice of For so it happened that some Persons had imprinted a Psalter and Entituled it the beter to shadow the Injury they had done to the Company of Stationers by invading their Property The King's Psalter which occasioning a Disputâ— it was referred to a Hearing before the Council at Whitehall the King being present and the Company the better to make out their Title and Claim carried with them this Person as their Counsel who in the opening of the Case and making the Complaint of the apparent Injury done to the Company in printing what was really their Propriety he had this Expression viz. They hâ—ve teem'd with a spurious Brat which being clandestinely midwiv'd into the World the better to cover the Imposture they lay it at your Majesties door c. This though the King might have taken it for sundry Reasons as a Reflection upon his Royal Person yet he was so far from resenting it that way that he only turned to one of the Lords that sâ—t next him and said This is a bold Fellow I 'll warrant him And indeed the Stationers had the Matter declar'd by the Honourable Board in their Favour About this time the Popish Plot being discovered by Dr. Oates and others the Nation was for a while in a Ferment and matters run extremely high in Disputes and Controversies and he sail'd with the Current declaring with much heat and violence against the Priests Jesuits and others of the Conspirators and Romish Faction as appeared not only by his vehement expressions in pleading against 'em but the alacrity and little concern that was visible in his Countenance when at any time as Recorder of London he past sentence of Death upon any of them which he frequently did with more or less reproach and became in a manner the terror of that Party But no sooner he perceiving the Wind tacking at Court and that there was some misunderstanding between King Charles the Second and his Parliament but he began to fall off and grow cold in prosecuting the ends of the Government being frequently at Court and labouring as much as in him lay to draw the Magistracy of the City after him as appears more especially by one passage viz. The King being recovered of an Indisposition that had for some time put the Kingdoms in a fear and doubt of his Life the Lord Mayor and Aldermen went to congratulate him upon his going abroad after which and a favourable reception it was proposed by this Person that they should in like manner wait upon his Royal Highness then Duke of York who was not long before returned from Flanders but perceiving no forwardness to be seconded he only with his Father-in-Law stayed behind to gain that Access These and other Proceedings created in the City a Jealousie that he had espoused an Interest to their prejudice which wrought so strongly in their Conceits that it was concluded in the Council-Chamber at Guild-Hall that he should resign his Recordership and accordingly they sent to him to deliver back the Papers and Writings they had entrusted him with which accordingly was done and Sir George Treby constituted Recorder in his stead This so netled him that he now openly declar'd himself to be what before was only suspected indulging his thoughts in nothing more than how he might
Party his name was Best and desired him to remember his Service to his Lordship upon notice of which he immediately caused him to be fetched back and committed him to York Goal from whence he was brought by Habeas Corpus to the Kings Bench and Imprisoned for a Fine of 500 l. c. And other instances of the greatness of his Stomach tho' in another nature is that which so remarkably happened at Kingstone upon Thames at the Midsummer Assizes held there for the County of Surrey 1679. At this Assize being Counsel in a Case upon Nisi prius before Sir Richard Weston one of the Baronâ— of the Exchequer and desiring to ingross all the Questions without suffering those on the other side to ask the Witness what was convenient in carrying on and managing the Cause he was desired by the Judges to hold his Tongue c. upon which some words passing this Person told him He did not use him like a Counsellor curbing him in the managing his Breviate c. to which the Judge fiercely replyed Ha! since the King has thrown his favours upon you in making you Chief Justice of Chester you think to run down every body if you find your self aggrieved make your complaintâ— here 's no body cares for it And this Person replying That he had not been used to make complaints but rather stopped those that were made when being again commanded to hold his Tongue he sat down and wept for anger c. And here by the way it will not be amiss to let the Reader have a taste of some passages that happened on the publick Stage of business in the Jocular part of this great Man's Life and the Repartees he met with of which I shall instance a few Once it happened upon a Trial that a plain Country Fellow giving Evidence in the Court and pressing it home moved this Person who was Counsel on the other side to pick a quarrel with the poor mans Leather Doublet and amongst other Interrogations bawl'd out You Follow in the Leather Doublet pray what have you for swearing The man upon this looking steadily on him replyeâ— Truly Sir if you have no more for Lying than I have for Swearing you might wear a Leather Doublet as well as I. This bluntly retorted moved at that time much laughter and filled the Town with the Discourse of it Another time it so fell out that some Musicianers brought an Action against a person at whose Wedding they had play'd for the money they were promised or expected when in the midst of the Evidence this Person called to one of them viz. You Fidler c. at which the man seeming to be disgusted he again upon the Parties alledging himself to be a Musicianer demanded What difference there was between a Musicianer and a Fidler As much Sir said he as there is between a pair of Bagpipes and a Recorder And he then being Recorder of London it was taken as a suitable Repâ—rtee A Country Gentleman having Marryed a City Orphan comes and demands her Fortune which was about 1100 l. but by all Friends that he could make could not procure it till he goes to Jeffreys then Recorder and gave him 10 Guineas to be his Friend to get out his Wifes Fortune upon which Jeffreys told him that the Court of Aldermen would sit such a day the Gentleman appearing was call'd in Jeffryes being present who ask'd him Sirrah what 's your business Upon which the Gentleman told him That he had married a City Orphan and desired he might have her Portion out o' th' Chamber upon which Jâ—ffreys askt him If he had askt the consent o' th' Court of Aldermen He told him No Upon which he call'd him Rogue Rascal Sirrah you should have ask't leave from the Court for such a Marriage He told him he understood not the custom o' th' City and begg'd their pardon being a Country Gentleman Upon this Jeffreys abus'd him again but afterwards gives him a Note for his Mony his Publick Railing upon him being only to blind the Court that they might not suspect him Bribed Being at a Country Assize as Judge an Old Man with a great Beard came to give Evidence before him and not doing it to his mind he began to cavil with his Beard and amongst other Expressions told him That if his Conscience was as large as his Beard he might well swear any thing This so netled the Old Blade that without any respect to his Greatness he briskly replyed My Lord If you go about to measure Consciences by Beards you Lordship has none Many more of this kind might be mentioned but not being greatly to the purpose they are willingly omitted Which the Reader will be apt to believe if he examines his Dealings with Mr. Moses Pitt Bookseller which that I may set in their true light I shall give 'em in Mr. Pitts own words which are as follows Among several Houses I built both in King-street and Duke-street Westminster I built a great House in Duke-street just against the Bird Cages in St. James's Park which just as I was a finishing I Lett to the Lord Chancellor Jeffreys with Stables and Coach-houses to it for 300 l. per Annum After which when he the said Chancellor came to see the House Alderman Duncomb the great Banker being with him and looking about him saw between the House and St. James's Park an idle piece of Ground he told me He would have a Cause-Room built on it I told him that the Ground was the Kings He told me that he knew it was but he would Beg the Ground of the King and give it me He also bid me make my own Demands and give it him in Writing the which I did and unto which he did agree and commanded me immediately to pull down the Park-Wall and to build as fast as I could for he much wanted the said Cause-Room My Agreement with him was That he should beg of King James all the Ground without the Park-Wall between Webbs and Storeys inclusive which said Ground is Twenty Five Foot in breadth and near Seven Hundred Foot in length to the best of my Memory for Ninety Nine Years at a Pepper-Corn per Annum which he the said Lord Chancellour was to make over the said King 's Grant to me for the said number of Years without any Altâ—rations with liberty to pull down or Build on the King's Wall and to make a Way and Lights into the King's Park according as I pleas'd In consideration of my Building on the said Ground of the Kings and the said Lord Chancellor's Enjoyment of it during his Occupation of the said House All which the Lord Chancellor Agreed to For that purpose sent for Sir Christopher Wren Their Majesties Surveyor and my self and Ordered Sir Christopher to take care to have the said Ground measured and a Plat-form taken of it and that Writings and Deeds be prepared for to pasâ— the Great Seal Sir Christopher ask'd
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
Ink bid the Gentlemen write the Discharge as effectually as he would which he signed Adding that he was now sensible my Lord Chancellor had been a very ill Man and done very ill things If he was thus censur'd by his Master for his former Services he had a bad Opinion of him Without Prophecy any man might predict his Service and Interest was ceased and his Life would have been like the Scape Goat he must have born all their Crimes and been beheaded for his own for no less indignation than Death was couched in the Words Thus may be seen what would have been his end The Court by this time beginning to scatter and the Prince of Orange approaching the King thought fit to withdraw himself upon notice of which the Lord Chancellor betook him self to Wapping disguised like a Sea-man in order to his escape to Hamborough in a Collier but being discovered he was brought before Sir J. Chapman Lord Mayor of the City London in a strange disguise very different from the Habit in which he formerly appeared And by reason of the Lord Mayors Indisposition he not being able to Commit him he offered to go to the Tower to be out of the hands of Rabble who there in great numbers with clubs and staves threatned him with present destruction But having a Guard of the Train'd-bands to conduct him he got thither safe and soon after was charged in custody by a Warrant of Commitment from the Lords at White-hall where he continued under much affliction aâ—d indisposition having since moved for his Habeas Corpus to be bailed but was not able to attain it He had not been in the Tower many days but as 't is said whether true or no I cannot affirm he had a Barrel of Oysters sent him upon sight of which he said to the bearer Well then I see I have some Friends left still but upon opening the Barrel he he found them to be only Friends that were impatient till they gave him a prospect of his future destiny for verily the mighty Present was nothing but a good able Halter Now as I sâ—id before whether this passage be true or no. I cannot say but this I am sure if we consider his Lordships Life and Cruelties the Moral of it is veâ—y good The Humble Petition of the VVidows and Fatherless Children in the West of England 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 Jeffreys 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 Petitioners 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 Gentlewoman at Dorchester begging on her Knees the Life of a worthy Gentleman to Marry him and make him her Husband this vile Wretch having not 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 thaâ— 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 Jâ—ffreys late Lord Chancellor 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 â—ver Pray c. Thus he continued for some months in the Tower his Chronical Indispositions the Stone c. encreasing very fast upon him The ingenious Dr. Lower was his Physician But Nature being now tired out by a tedious Combat with his Disease and the Guilt of his former bloody Life we hope it touched his Conscience He having besides by his intemperate Life notoriously known contracted an ill habit of Body he at last very happily for himself if not his Relations too dy'd in the Tower the Morning about Nine of the Clock An. Dom. 1689. Thus Reader you have seen the Rise and Fall of this Unfortunate Great Ill Man And so at present after we have endeavoured at his Character we take our Farewel Jeffreys's Character HE was of Stature rather above a middle sort than below it his Complexion inclining to Fair his Face well enough full of a certain briskness tho' mixt with an Air a little malicious and unpleasant He was a man of tolerable sense and had as of necessity he must by so long practice and going through such Publick Places got some Law tho' as little as 't was more than he had occasion to make use of since the Dispensing Power having as good as seated all Law in the Kings Breast he by that found out a more compendious method of attaining it than was formerly known He had a pretty large stock of Ill Nature and Wit in which lay his greatest Excellency tho' a very unenvy'd one But in fine His Brow and his Tongue were absolutely the two best Accomplishments he was master of By the help of which and that before mentioned by his brisk sudden and sharp Interrogatories he sometimes put falshood and perhaps oftner the truth it self out of countenance But that ill-favour'd Wit which he had lay all of the wrong side much like that of those unlucky Animals all whose Wit lyes in tricks and mischief He spoke many pleasant things but very few handsom ones disgracing all with intolerable Railing mean passions and perfect Billings-gate and would commonly even upon the Bench it self fall into Heats both as to words and actions not only unworthy of a Judge but even of any prudent man He seem'd without wronging him to have a great deal of baseness and cruelty in his Nature having a particular delight and relish in Cruelty and Blood and such things as give horrour and aversion to all the rest of mankind He was in this case worse than even Nero for whereas that monster had once so much good Nature or at least pretended it that when he was to sign a Warrant for the execution of
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.