King's Mercy from being extended tâ— me as I am told but the Will of the Lord be done the Life to come is infinitely better than this Many more things are laid to my Charge which I am no more guitly of than your self If your Vncle be in Town go speedily to him and give him my dear Love I pray for you who am Your most Affectionate Uncle J. H. Octob. 5. 1685. A Letter to his Wife Sept. 23. 1685. My Dearest Love I Hope you received a few Lines from me by the way of London once more I write to you by your faithful and trusty Friend W. D. who hath been at Exon. If there be need for it he knows many of my dear and faithful Friends there who wish you would come and live among them and if your Estate fail I think iâ— very advisable so to do I hope God will stand by you and defend you My dear seâ— me in God as I must you I must now bid adieu to all Earthly and Worldly Comforts and all the pleasant and delightful Objects of Sense I bless God for all present Mercies and Comforts hitherto I have had what will be after this day I know not but the Will of the Lord be done My Dear Be very cautious not to speak one Word lest it be wrested to a wrong Sense which may ruinâ— you I have not writ what I would of this Nature take the Advice of Friends and of what I send by our Friend O let not the Everlasting Arms of God be with-drawn from you one Moment and let him strengthen you with all Might according to his glorious Power and to all Patience and Long-suffering with Joyfulness Pray hard for Victory over Passion and be much in private Closet Prayer with God and often read the Holy Bible and other good Books the Lord continually guide direct and counsel you My Dear I return you a thousand thanks for all the Love you have shew'd me and my Children and particularly for the high and great Demoâ—stration you have given hereof in this day of my distress I hope my Daughters will be as dutiful to you and be as much concerned for your comfort and welfare as if you had travelled with them and brought them into the world God bless my dear little Ones and them together I shall die their most affectionate and praying Father God I hope will uphold support and comfort me at the last hour and enable me to overcome the Temptations I shall violently be assaulted with before I die God by his infinite and freest Mercies in Jesus Christ pardon all the neglect of Relative Duties which I have bitterly lamented and bewail'd before God with all the Sins I am guilty of for the sake of our dearest Lord and Redeemer The Lord make you grow in all Gracâ— more than ever and make this great Affliction so humbly purifying and spiritualizing to you as wâ—ll as me that it may work for us both a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory Let him take your Soul into his most dearest Embraces and lodge it in the bosom of his Love here and make us to meet in the full and everlasting Fruition and Enjoyment of him hereafter Though it be daâ—gerous for you to vindicate that I die for yet be not too much cast down for it I will say no more as to that My hearty and affectionate Respects to all my dear Friends I need not name them I hope to meet them with your self to inherit Eternal Life through the Merits of Christ's Death Farewel my Dear farewel in the Lord until we meet to be married to him for ever My heart is as full of Love to thee as it was the first day I married thee and if God spar'd my Life it should have been as fully manifested until death Therefore I rest Your most Affectionate and Endeared Husband J. H. Sept. 23. 1685. Another Letter My Dearest Love I Received your Letter by Mr. Skinner I bless God that you and my Babes are well the Lord continue their Lives to be a Blessing and Comfort to you and enable you to see them well Educated in the fear of God and when God takes me away let him be a Husband to guide direct succour comfort and support you and to lodge your Soul in the Bosom of his Love and let him be a Father to them and their Portion for ever Monday last my Brother went to London to try what could be done for me what the success will be I know not I desire the Lord every day to prepare me for Death and carry me above the Fear of it by the discoveries of his everlasting Love unto my Soul and clearing up my Right and Title to everlasting Life and by Sealing up to me the Pardon of all my Sins through the most precious Blood of Jesus Chrâ—st Let uâ— pray hard and much for each othâ—r When I leave this world it shall be with Prayer foâ—â—hee if God give me life how shall I study to be a comfort to thee and to live up to my Marriage as well as Baptismal â—ovenant to all my Friends Tendâ—r my affectionate Respects I hope their Prayers will one way or other be heard for me let the Almighty be your Proâ—â—ctor Supporter and Comforter There be two Books I do recommend to you to read when you are retir'd as well as in your Family Pierce's Preparation for Death and Fox's Redâ—mption of Time Now let our Soulâ— meet together in one most Blessed God in our dearest Jesus and sweetest Saviour let them clasp and cling about him and be sick for the love of hâ—m and that we may meet to enjoy him fully to Etâ—rnity and be satisfied with his Love for ever A thousand Loves if I had them I would send to thee next to my dearest Lord Jesus and the things that are heavenly spiritual and immortal I love thee what I can spare for thee is convey'd to thee and my dear Children from Thy most Affectionate and Faithful Husband and their most loving Father J. H. Another Letter My most dear Love I Hope you have received my last once more as a dead aâ—d living Man through difficulty I write to you though I yet do not know when or where I shall die but expect Death every day when that Message is brought to me I hope through the Grace and Strengâ—h of Christ it will be no surprize to me that neither my Lips Flesh nor Heart will tremble when I hear it I know the cause for which I suffer God hath and has singled me out from many of my Brethren which I never have been without some apprehensions of for above these twenty years to lay down my Life how far it is for his Cause will be judged at the last day I bless God who hath kept me from all Temptations to Conformity though it has brought me to ruine and destruction in this world it will be no fit Season for you to Vindicate
Assassination it must have been by the Rumbalds if not by them as has been proved then not at all If no assassination in this Plot then nothing is left of malignity in it but a lawful and laudable opposition to the breach and ruine of our good Laws and Government and even that as will be proved not proved against most of those that by the iniquity of the times suffer'd for the same We have been forced to give this fair and impartial Scheme or Idea of that design which was at that time represented so formidable and dreadful before we could handsomly proceed to the Death of this Noble Lord or those others that followed him and that as well from the order of the History as for his Vindication And as has been remark'd 'T was necessary for that Party who manag'd our ruine that the forementioned business of the Assassination should be believed and nothing like a real one actually performed to gain Credit to a feigned one onely pretended For what could be a greater Argument that there was some black wickedness at the bottom some sin of an extraordinary stain like the Murder of Princes bearing too hard on his Conscience could possibly induce so great a Man to so unchristian an attempt on his own Person Hence they might and no doubt did argue Hence the very rabble may easily reason Certainly there was more in it than onely just consultations and necessary measures taken for the Publick Safety by the Peers of the Realm by the King and Kingdoms best Friends to deliver his Majesty from those Familiars that haunted him There was more than this and this Lord was conscious of it or else certainly he had never acted what he has Now this would effectually excite that aversion which must necessarily follow from all honest Men to a Party who could be guilty of such horrid designs This must of necessity as in effect it did sway much with those Juries who were to sit upon the Lives of any accused or concerned in the same business had there not been more weighty reasons to be produced below towards the finding 'em guilty Altho 't is certain by their own confession the best excuse they could make for Innocent Blood particularly in Russel's Case was that Confirmation they had to the Evidence sworn against ' em ' by Essex's Murder Besides There might be a barbarous kind of a pleasure in opening this Plot with a Scene so like that which began the Popish one and that in all probability by the same Actors whose hands were deep in the others There was a Gentleman kill'd which contributed very much towards the credit of that Plot tho in another way Here must be one to undergo the same Fate for the same reason And both of 'em too pretendedly to kill themselves Just one as much as another These Preliminaries being cleared 't will be now time to come to the Person of this Noble Lord his Family and former manner of Life Every one knows he was of the Illustrious Family of the Capels whose Father dy'd for a Family whence he deserved better Treatment for his sake and had received it had he not fallen into the Hands of Popish Gratitude and Mercy which his Enemies knowing too well and doubting the Sweetness of temper which all the world ever acknowledged in King Charles the Second would not give him over to their publick Revenge in all probability resolved to take a shorter course with him He had been some years before in the highest place under the King in Ireland and there behaved himself with that Wisdom and Candor inseparable from all the actions of his Life and lived above Blame though not above Envy Being recalled thence unexpectedly and dealt with not very handsomly which yet he bore with a Spirit like a brave man and a Christian. My Lord of Essex was a Person whom 't was no doubt the highest Interest of the Popish Faction to have gotten out of the way even tho' there had been no such extraordinary Reason as has been mentioned He had large Interest a plentiful Estate a great deal of Courage understood the World and the Principles and Practices of the Papists as well as any man having been of several Secret Committees in the Examination of the Plot on which very reason there was as much necessity for his dying as Sir E. B. Godfrey's He was besides all this they very well knew of Inflexible Honesty and so true a greatness of mind they could no more expect to gain him than Heaven it self to be on their side As for the immediate Subject of his Death the manner and cirâ—uâ—stances thereof It must first be granted and a very reasonable demand it is that for the present only supposing he was murder'd by the Papists they would we may be sure make it their business to render the manner of it as dark as the Hell in which 't was contriv'd Murders especially of that magnitude don't use to be committed in the face of all the world and at Noon-day When Power is engaged in any Villany when the same Power is still continu'd or encreas'd and can be easily exercis'd in taking out of the way the Traytors tho' it loves the Treason and when so many years have interven'd since the Fact 't is no wonder at all if things are more in the dark than they would have been had at that very instant Liberty been given to have enquired into it which was so loudly and passionately demanded But this we are yet certain of tho' no more be yet publickly known in this matter than what has formerly been Printed and tho' there may be several reasons both of State and Decency which may perhaps make it convenient that things should always be as they are yet there are already such violent probabilities both that he was murthered and murthered by Papists And of the other side such at least next to impossibilities in his acting it himself that as long as the World stands no modest man will be able either to get by 'em or over 'em nor the most impudent or cunning to out-face or give them an answer For the probability that he was murther'd by Popish Contrivement besides those already named Why they should do it here are these following Arguments That they did it Their Principles too openly known to be deny'd Their Practices in all Ages and this present Sir E.B.G. the very Prototype of Essex Arnold all the pretended Legal Murders all that has since happened But if 't is said some Papists are better and braver than others Let 's come nearer Would those that formerly burnt London those who have since broke all the Obligations of Gratitude and Good Nature nay Publick Faith and the most solemn Oaths which 't is possible for a man to take Who if the Testimonies of such as have confirmed it with their dying Breaths and last drop oâ— Blood may be credited who have encouraged hired paid men for
lived two or three Miles from the place they met him they required him to go with them and shew them the way he knowing the Country better than they did he desired to be excused telling them It was none of his business and besides had no Arms. But hiâ— Excuses signified nothing they forced him amongst them where they went when being come a Party enter'd the House and searcht it Mr. Bragg never dismounted they being then satisfied took him along with them to Chard where then the Duke of Monmouth was Being there after having set up his Horse where he used to do often having occasion there he was much tampered with to engage in the Design but he refused it but the next morning made haste out of Town not seeing the Duke at all calling for his Horse it was told him That it was seized for the Duke's Service So then he took his Cane and Gloves and walked to his own House which was about five or six Miles and was no more concern'd in the Affair than that after the Duke's Defeat at Kings-Sedge-Moore some busie person informeth and requireth a Warrant from a Justice of Peace for the said Mr. Bragg who obliged himself to enter into a Recognizance to appear at the next Assizes the said Justice accounting the matter in it self but trivial and indeed all Men did judge him out of danger At Dorchester he appeared in Court to discharge his Bail on which he was presently Committed and the next day being Arraigned pleading Not guilty put himself on the Trial of God and his Country which found him and 28 more of 30 Guilty the Lord Chief Justice often saying If any Lawyer or Pâ—rson came under his Inspection they should not escape the Evidence against him was the Roman Catholick whose House was search'd and a woman of ill Fame to whom the Lord Chief Justice was wonderfully kind but his Evidence which were more than Twenty to prove his Innocence signifyed nothing the Jury being well instructed by my Lord Chief Justice Being thus found Guilty Sentence was presently pronounced and Execution awarded notwithstanding all the Interest that was made for him as before recited Thus being Condemned on Saturday and ordered to be Executed on Monday he spent the Residue of his little time very devoutly and much becoming a good Christian and a true Protestant of the Church of England all which availed nothing with this Protestant Judge he was frequently visited by a worthy Divine of the Church of England who spent much time with him and received great satisfaction from him The said Divine told me That his Deportment Behaviour and Converse was so much like an extraordinary Christian that he could not in the least doubt but this violent passage would put him into the fruition of happiness He wisht and desired a little longer time out of no other design but throughly to repent him of his Sins and make himself more sensible of and fit for to receive the Inheritance that is prepared for those that continue in well-doing to the end When he came to the place of Execution with great Courage and Resolution being as he said prepared for Death He behaved himself very gravely and devoutly Being asked when he was on the Ladder Whether he was not sorry for his being concerned in the Rebellion He replyed That he knew of none that he was Guilty of and prayed them not to trouble him adding He was not the first that was martyr'd he was so much a Christian as to forgive his Enemies And after some private Devotions he suddenly was Translated as we have all hopes to believe from Earth to Heaven The only Favour of this Protestant Judge was to give his Body to his Friends in order to its Interment amongst his Ancestors The Behaviour of Mr. Smith Constable of Chardstock ANother eminent Person that suffered with him at the same time and place was one Mr. Smith who was Constable of Chardstock who having some Monies in his hands that belonged to the Militia which came to the knowledge of some of the Dukes Friends they obliged him to deliver it to them which he was forced to deliver and for this was Indicted for High Tâ—eason in assisting the Duke of Monmouth To which he pleaded Not Guilty The Evidence against him were the same with those that had been against Mr. Bragg The said Mr. Smith informed the Court and the Jury what little Credit ought to be given to the Evidence The Lord Chief Justice thundred at him saying Thou Villain methinks I see thee already with a Halter about thy Neck thou impudent Rebel to challenge these Evidences that are for the King To which the Prisoner reply'd very boldly My Lord I now see which way I am going and right or wrong I must die but this I comfort my self with That your Lordship can only destroy my Body it is out of your Power to touch my Soul God forgive your rashness pray my Lord know it is not a small matter you are about the Blood of man is more precious than the whole World And then was stopped from saying any more The Evidences being heard a strict Charge was given the Jury about him To be short the Jury brought him in Guilty so that he with the rest received the Sentence of Death all together and were Executed on Monday but by particular order from my Lord he was ordered to be first Executed The day being come for Execution being Monday he with a Courage undaunted was brought to the Place where with Christian Exhortations to his Brethren that suffered with him he was ordered to prepare being the first to be executed where he spake as followeth Christian Friends I am now as you see lanching into Eternity so that it may be expected I should speak something before I leave this miserable World and pass through those Sufferings which are dreadful to Flesh and Blood which indeed shall be but little because I long to be before a just judge where I must give an account not only for the occasion of my Sufferings now but for Sins long unrepented of which indeed hath brought me to this dismal place and shameful Death And truly dear Country-men having ransacked my Soul I cannot find my small concern with the Duke of Monmouth doth deserve this heavy Judgment on me but I know as I said before it is for Sins long unrepented of I die in Charity with all men I desire all of you to bear me witness I die a true Professor of the Church of England beseeching the Lord still to stand up in the defence of it God forgive my passionate Judges and cruel and hasty Jury God forgive them they know not what they have done God bless the King and though his Judges had no mercy on me I wish he may find Mercy when he standeth most in need of it Make him O Lord a nursing Father to the Church let Mercy flow abundantly from him if it be thy will
to submit to thy Will patiently Pardon all our sins remove them out of thy presence as far as the East is from the West and accept of us in the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ thou who art the Searcher of Hearts and Tryâ—r of Reins let there not at the moment of Death be the least spark of sin indwelling in us nor the strivings of Flesh and Blood that may hinder us from a joyful passage unto thee Give us patience also under these Sufferings and a deliverance to all others from undergoing them and in thy good time work a deliverance for poor England let thy Gospel yet flourish among them hasten the downfall of Antichrist we trust the time is come Prevent O Lord this effusion of Christiaâ— Blood and if it be thy will let this be the last Lord bless this Town let them from the highest to the lowest set the fear of God before their Eyes Bless all sorts and conditions of Men in all Ranks and Qualities pardon all their sins give them all true Repentance and the Grace of thy Holy Spirit fit and prepare us for the chearful fulfilling of thy Holy Will let the Comforter be still with us be merciful to all our Friends and Relations and Acquaintance forgive our Enemies accept of our thankfulness for all the Mercies and Favours afforded us and hear and graciously answer us in these our Requests and what else thou knowest needful and expedient for us and all for our Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ his sake who died for us that we might Reign with him for ever and ever to whom with thee and thy blessed Spirit of grace be ascribed as is most due all honour glory and praise both now and for ever After having ended his Prayer he took occasion to speak to his suffering Brethren taking a solemn leave of them encouraging them to hold out to the end and not to waver observing that this being a glorious Sun-shining day I doubt not though our Breakfast be sharp and bitter it will prepare us and make us meet for a comfortable Supper with our God and Saviour where all sin and sorrow shall be wiped away so embracing each of 'em and kissing of them told the Sheriff You see I am imperfect only one Arm I shall want assistance to help me upon this Tragical Stage which was presently done and Execution suddenly followed Now follows the Execution of Mr. Sam. Larke MR. Sampson Larke who was a very eminent pious man and had lived in that Town but little bâ—fore many years he was there well acquainted and all People that knew him had a value for him behaving himself with that Humility and Circumspection as no body could have any other occasion but to value him He design'd to have spoken somewhat on a portion of Scâ—ipture and was beginning having mentioned the place he intended to speak upon but was interrupted and told the work of the day being great they should want time So then he stopt and reply'd He could make application where he should not meet with interruption And so apply'd himself to Prayer which he performed with great Devotion and Zeal for a quarter of an hour to the great satisfaction of the Auditors and so taking leave of his suffering Brethren he mounted the Stage which was to be the last Act he made in this World being on the Ladder he saw some of his Friends and Neighbours weeping and mourning for him to whom he spake Pray weep not for me I am going to a place of Bliss and Happiness wherefore pray repair to your Houses and ' ere you get thither I doubt not but I shall be happy with my God and Saviour where all tears shall be wiped away and nothing shall remain but Hallelujahs to all Eternity There was also Mr. William Hewling of London a young Gentleman under Twenty who came over with the Duke of M. he seemed to be in a calm and composed frame of Spirit and with a great deal of Courage and Seriousness he behaved himself There is already something said of his Converse and Discourse which amongst others is printed therefore we shall say noâ—hing more of him but that in all manner of appearance he di'd a good Christian a true Protestant and doubtless now enjoys the benefit of it There were several worthy men more there executed viz. Mr. Christ. Baâ—tiscomb Dr. Temple Capt. Madders Capt. Marthews Captain Kid c. in all Twelve who all of them died with that Courage and Resolution as became Christians and such who eminently had adventured their Lives and Fortunes in defence of what was most dear to them and namely our Religion which though God did not think fit to desend and secure it yet in his wisdom we hope it will be in some measure secured by other Instruments the Glory of the same being only due to him So that now leaving this Place we proceed to other parts of the Country where with the like Butchery were only five executed amongst whom was one Mr. Taylor of Bristol who had Command in the Dukes Army where he behaved himself very stoutly to the last after the Army was dispersed he among others was taken received Sentence of Death at Dorchester and here brought for the completion of the same and from thence we hope was translated to Heaven He spent his time between the Sentence and Execution very devoutly in confirming and strengthning those that were to be his Fellow-Sufferers And made it his business to bring them to a willingness to submit to and a preparedness for Death The day being come and he brought to the place of Execution he thus spoke My Friends You see I am now on the Brink of Eternity and in a few Minutes shall be but Clay You expect I should say something as is usual in such Cases as to the matter of Fact I die for it doth not much trouble me knowing to my self the ends for which I engaged with the Duke of M. were both good and honourable Here being stopp'd and not suffer'd to proceed further he then comforted his Fellow-sufferers desiring them to joyn with him in singing an Hymn which he himself composed for the occasion as followeth A HYMN made by Mr. Joseph Tyler a little before his Execution 1. O Lord how Glorious is thy Grace And wondrous large thy Love At such a dreadful time and place To such as Faithful prove 2. If thou wilt have thy Glory hence Though a shameful Deaâ—h we die We bless thee for this Providence To all Eternity 3. Let these Spectators see thy Grace In thy poor Servants shine While we by Faith behold thy Face In that bless'd Son of thine 4. Though Men our Bodies may abuse Christ took our Souls to rest Till he brings forth the joyful news Ye are my Fathers blest 5. Appear for those that plead thy Cause Preserve them in the way Who own King Jesus and his Laws And dare not but obey 6. O God confound our
Kingdom have heard in the Publick Letters their names mentioned Some may think they were concerned with the Duke but I never heard there was so much made appear against them as could have made them been brought in guilty of High Misdemeanours had not the Good Gentleman and his Lady been vertuous People abhoâ—ring the Debaucheries of the times and of such a competent Estate able to spare ten or twelve thousand pounds the hard usage this honest brave Gentleman and his vertuous Lady had and their sufferings to relate thâ—m would be to large and besides it is so well known in most places in the West that I shall without saying any more proceed And next for Mr. Parret who was executed at Taunton if I mistake not he said he was a Londoner and a Brewer When he came to the place of Execution he seemed a Man almost unconcerned at Death After some time he began to deliver himself somewhat low in voice to the People and after rising by degrees he seemed more like a Minister in a Pulpit preaching devoutly than a prisoner just going to Execution but I being then not well could not tarry to see his End But the Character I had was That he desired all not to be faint-hearted because of their fall and to think that there was no hopes remaining He said He verily believed God would yet work out deliverence for them and at the time they were in the greatest Extremity that would be God's Opportunity Put your whole trust and confidence and dependence on the Lord and he will never leave you nor forsake you and much more but having no more exact Copy I shall not enlarge but come to some other A further Account of the Behaviour of Mr. Christopher Battiscomb of his lâ—st Speech and Prayer immediately beforâ— he suffâ—red at Lyme 12 th Septemb. 1685. which Account should have been inserted after the Figures 1685. in p. 373. HE was a true Protestant to the last well beloved among the Gentry of that Country But it was his fortune to be concerned with the Duke of Monmouth and was very faithful to him to the last during the time of the Bloody Assizes at Dorchester where he received his Sentence of Death he was divers times sent for to the Chamber of the then L. C. J. and promoted with offers of Life to betray some Gentlemen which he always refused saying he scorned to purchase his Life by such indirect means and he accordingly chose Death rather than Life seeing it could not be purchased but by such unworthy means The day being come he prepared himself and received the Holy Sacrament walking down to the place of Execution with much chearfulness and Christian Courage when he was mounting the Ladder smiled and said I am not afraid of this I am going to a better place from a poor and miserable World to a Celestial Paradise a Heavenly Jerusalem I might have chosen whether I would have undergone this Death if I had hearkned to the L. C. J. but it was upon such unworthy terms that should I have accepted of my Pardon it would have been troublesome to me I die a true Protestant I am in Charity with all Men God preserve this Nation from Popery the Lord bless you all So taking his leave of them he knew after Prayer he launched into Eternity A further Account of Mr. John Sprage of Lyme which should have been inserted after the word Souldiers in pag. 444. but was there omitted through the Printers mistake WIth Mr. John Sprage there were Executed Twelve in the County of Dorset Mr. John Sprage of Lyme a Man more fit to die than he that Condemned him was fit to live He was a zealous Christian and a Man that in a manner lived in Heaven while on Earth he was but of an ordinary Estate in this World But to be short his Praise his Worth his Fame will never die in those places where known he went about doing good even in his worldly Employments as I have been credibly informed hardly any thing coming that way but what his Spiritual Meditations were upon He was apprehended near Salisbury brought to Dorchester where I saw him several times and was conversant with him before his Tryal he carried himself very moderately to all some of divers Principles in matters of Religion he continually prayed with them advising and instructing them to those holy Duties which were necessary to Salvation Being asked how he could endure those hardships he had undergone since his being taken Says he If this be all 't is not so much but my Friend if you were to take a Journy in those ways you were not acquainted with you would I hope desire Advice from those that had formerly used those ways or lived near by them Yes says he Then said he The ways of Affliction which I have lately travelled in I had Advice many a time from a Minister who hath often told his Congregation of the troublesomness of the Road and of the difficulty of getting through and has given me and hundreds of others to understand the pitts and stones in the way and how to avoid them he has been a Man used to those Roads many years I have taken his Advice I am got thus far on comfortably and I trust shall do so to the end I am not afraid to fight a Duel with Death if so it must be Now I thank God I can truly say O Death where is thy Sting and O Grave where is thy Victory Two or three days after their Sentence they were drawn to Execution but were very rudely and opprobriously dealt with to the shame of those that then had the charge over them their Rigor unto them was more like Turks than Christians But to conclude being come to the place of Executition he prayed very devoutly with them all but by the rudeness of the Guards there could be no Copy taken to be said to be true All of them dyed very Couragious especially this stout Christian Champion who spake to them in these words looking on the Souldiers saying Little do you think that this very Body of mine which you are now come to see cutt in pieces will one day rise up in judgment against you and be your Accuser for your delight in spilling of Christian Blood the Heathens have far more Mercy O 't is sad when England must outstrip Infidels and Pagans but pray take notice don't think that I am not in Charity with you I am so far that I forgive you and all the World and do desire the God of Mercies to forgive you and open your hearts and turn you from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the Lord Jesus Christ and so Farewell I am going out of the power of you all I have no dependence but upon my blessed Redeemer to whom I commit my dear Wife and Children and all the World A further Account of the Behaviour of Collonel Holms in Lyme and at
that seek the ruine of their Parents that begot them and brought them forth or them that lay violent hands upon themselves dashing out their own Brains cutting their own Throats hanging and drawing themselves ripping up their own Bellies tearing out their own Bowels they being in different senses Children and Members of that Body Politick they design and attempt the Destruction of and when I know not how long the Duration and Continuance of these things shall be or a Conclusion or End by God shall be put thereto who by Divine and Unerring Wisdom governs the World why shall my Soul be unwilling to take its flight into the unseen and eternal World Where no sullied sordid or impious thing most incongruous and unbecoming Nature shall be seen and found and where I shall behold no narrow conclusive contracted Soul there habitually preferring their private before a publick good but all most unanimously and equally center in one common universal good and where the sighs and groans and cries of the afflicted and persecuted shall be heard no more for ever I earnestly exhort all most highly to prize and value Time and diligently improve it for Eternity to be wise seriously and seasonably to consider of their latter End for by the irrepealable and irreversible Law of Heaven we must all die yet we know not how where or when Live with your Souls full of solicitude and care with a most deep concernedness and most diligent industriousness whilst you have time and opportunity and the means of Grace Health and Strength make sure of these two great things viz. 1. What merits for you a Right and Title to Eternal Life and Glory and the future unchangeable Blessedness as the Redeemers most precious Blood and Righteousness that thereby a real Application and Imputation may be unto you by sincere Believing 2. That that which makes you qualified Subjects for it is the great work of Regeneration wrought in your Souls being renewed in the Spirit of your Minds the Divine Nature being imprest upon them repairing of the depraved Image of God in you thâ—t being transformed into his own likeness thereby in the World you may mind anâ— savour more the things of the Spirit than the things of the Flesh Celestial and Heavenly more than Terrestrial and Earthly Superiour more than inferiour things And therewith have a holy Life and Conversation conjoyned that results and springs from the same as Fruit from the Root and Acts from the Habits Let all in order thereto seriously consider these few Texts of sacred Scripture let them predominately possess you let them be deeply and indelibly Transcribed upon your Souls let them be assimilated thereunto and made the written Epistles the lively Pictures thereof Matth. 5.8 20. Blessed be the pure in heart for they shall see God Vers. 20. For I say unto you except your Righteousness exceed the Righâ—eousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven John 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God c. Gal. 5.19 20 to 23. Now the works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Adultery c. James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of fiâ—st fruits of his Creatures 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Vers. 13. Wherefore gird up the loyns of your Minds c. Colos. 3.1 2. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things that are above Set your affections on things above not c. Gal. 5.24 And they that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts c. Eph. 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins Rev. 20.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no power Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no Condemnation c. 1 Pet. 1.15 But as he that hath called you is holy so be ye c. Vers. 23. Being born again not of corruptible Seed c. Psal. 4.3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself c. I shall mention now no more the whole Bible abounds with these Texts with what a Renovation and Change of our Carnal and Corrupt Hearts and Natures there must be with Holiness of Life and Conversation before we can be capable of a future and blessed Immortality and of inheriting the Kingdom of God for ever and ever Amen A Letter written by Mr. John Hicks Octob. 5. the day before his Death My Dear Nephew I Am yet in the Land of the Living though in the Mouth of Death I have been concern'd for you next to my own Children before I die I thought fit 〈◊〉 write two or three Lines to you aâ— a Manifestation of my great Love to you I earnestly desire the welfar of you here and to Eternity hereafter next to my own Wife and Children you will want me when I am gone but I hope the Lord will take care of you make it your business to walk with him to serve him faithfully flee youthful Lusts and Remember your Creator in the days of your Youth be deeply concern'd to have your Heart and Nature chang'd and an interest in Christ secur'd unto you Death comes suddenly you know not when where nor how you shall die Let time therefore be most precious to you fill it up with Work and Duty Live by faith more than by sense and this will stand by you when you come to â—ie Seek the things which are above and set your Affections upon them have your Conversation in Heaven whilst you are upon Eaâ—th When you see your Parents give my dear Love to them and their Children the Lord grant that we may meet in his everlasting Kingdom When you see any of your Cousins give my dear Love to them and be not asham'd of my Sufferings I wrote last Saturday was a Seven-night to my Brother George but whether he is at London or Worcester I know not I wrote to him to desire him to Petition the King that some Favour and Mercy might be shewed me if he thought fit Things that are made to aggravate my Crime I am clear from as that I perswaded the Duke of Monmouth to assume the Title of King at Taunton when I was not there with him or in Thirteen days after he came into England and that I rode to and fro in the West to perswade People to go in to his Army when I was in the East and caâ—â— from thence to hiâ— in the West but my Non-conformity cuts me and obstructs the
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
God continue his Love and Influence upon my Soul it will be both short and sweet I have little of this World about me I leave you all the Legacy of what was ever dearest to me the best of Wives and five poor Children who must pass through an evil and sinful World but I have committed them to God who hath commanded to cast our Fatherless Children and Widows upon him Dear Parents Brothers Sister all adieu my time draws on my Paper is finished and your dying Child and Brother recommends you all to him who is All-sufficient to the God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus the great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant who will make you perfect in every good work to do his VVill working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen RICHARD NELTHROPE From the Palace of Newgate Octob. the 30 th 1685. Two of the Clock in the Morning Mr. Richard Nelthrope's Letter to his Children My Dear Children THE Providence of God hath so ordered it that your poor and ever-loving Father is taken from you in such a manner as may cast both worldly Loss and Reproach upon you but I charge you let not this be a Stumbling-block to you in the way of God but that you remember your Creator in the days of your Youth That you never neglect a day without reading the Holy Scripture wherein you 'll find your Duty both to God and Man there you 'll find the way to everlasting Life there you 'll find Christ Jesus instructing you and dying for you Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and all other things will be added to you After your Duty to God Almighty mighty your Dying Father charges and conjures you as you 'll answer it at the great day of Appearance of our dearest Saviour that you be dutiful and loving to the best of Mothers as long as God shall continue that great Mercy to you Hearken to her Voice and be obedient to the Words of her Mouth for she 'll be faithful to your Souls and Bodies â—nd remember that Obedience to Parents hath the promise of this Life as well as of Eternal Life Pay a great Duty and Obedience to your Grandfather Grandmother Uncles and Aunt who all of them have not only testified the greatest Love to your Dying Father but from whom if you carry your selves as becomes you you may expect both the good things of this World and Advice and Counsel for what is beyond all temporal Blessings Diligence in your lawful Callings to which God shall in his Providence appoint you is both commendable and a Duty but let not the eager pursuit of the things of this World justle out the time allotted for better things Prayer will bless what you get in your Employments and so at once you obtain Gods Blessing upon worldly Mercies and find God manifesting himself to you in his dear Son Christ Jesus in pardon of your sins and receiving worldly things in the Covenant Your tender Years in which I leave you in this wicked and deceitful world may render you subject to many Temptations but I commit you to the Father of the Fatherless who is able to preserve you both in Soul Body Your poor Father hath no Legacy to leave you but the blessing of the great Jehovah which he begs for you upon the bended Knees of his Soul The Lord God bless you with the Dew of Heaven and if he sees good give you Jacob's Portion Food and Raiment and if the Lord bless you with any temporal Goods remember they are Talents employ them well to the Masters use No Duty so acceptable to God as Charity that 's it which your Saviour exalts so far that he saith Come ye Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom for I was an hungry and ye fed me naked and ye clothed me sick and in Prison and ye visited me I die and leave you but if you keep close to God and his ways he will never leave you nor forsake you The Sum of the whole is Fear God and keep his commandments Do that to all others that you would they should do to you is the golden Rule of the Gospel and will be a great Preservative to you from offending either God or Man Eternity calls me away and I have neither time nor opportunity to add more Your Duties may be various in the world as Servants as Masters as Husbands as Wives as Parents There is no condition of Life but hath its Comforts and its Troubles the Lord fit you for whatsoever condition he calls you to whether Honour or Dishonour Riches or Poverty But remember whatsoever it be it is Gods Providence orders and governs the World Dear James as thou art the eldest strive to be the best and a good Example to the rest a dutiful and a loving Son Whatever thou or the rest have lost by me God can make up in this Life My dear Babes who have been all Pledges of my Love by the best and most affectionate Wife I do once more beg it of you as my last Request that you obey love and honour her who hath been the greatest worldly Blessing to your Father and will never think any thing too much to do for you My dear Children Farewel I must now take my leave both of you and all worldly Comforts I trust and hope I am going to the Eternal Inheritance where sin and sorrow cease and that I may meet you at the right Hand of my blessed Saviour is the dying Prayer of Dear Children Your Affectionaâ—e and loving Father RICHARD NELTHROPE Newgate 29. Octob. 1685. Mr. Nelthrope's Last Speech THE great and inexpressible trouble and distraction I have been under since I came into trouble especially since my close Confinement in Newgate hath so broken my Reason that for many VVeeks last past till the day my Sentence was passed I have not had any composure of Mind and have been under the greatest trouble imaginable Since my dearest VVife hath had the favour granted her of coming to me I am at present under great composedness of Mind thro' the infinite goodness of the Lord. As to what I stand Outlawed for and am now sentenced to die I can with comfort appeal to the great God before whose Tribunal I am to appear that what I did was in the sâ—â—plicity of my heart without seeking any private Advantage to my self but thinking it my Duty to hazard my Life for the preservation of the Protestant Religion and English Liberties which I thought invaded and both in great danger of being lost As to the design of assassinating the late King or his present Majesty it always was a thing highly against my Judgment and which I always detested and I was never in the least concerned in it neither in Purse nor Person nor never knew of any Arms brought for
that intent nor did I believe there was any such design or ever heard of any disappointment in such an Affair or Arms or Time or Place save what after the Discovery of the General Design Mr. West spoke of as to Arms bought by him And as to my self I was in the North when the late King was at New-market and the first News I had of the Fire was at Beverly in Yorkshire As to my coming over with the late D. of Monmouth it was in prosecution of the same ends but the Lord in his Holy and Wise Providence hath been pleased to blast all our undertakings tho there seemed to be a very unanimous and zealous Spirit in all those that came from beyond the Seas And as to the D. of Monmouth's being declared King I was wholly passive in it I never having been present at any publick Debate of that Affair and should never have advised it but complained of it to Col. Holmes and Captain Patchet I believe the Lord Gray and Mr. F the chief Promoters of it As to the temptation of being an Evidence and bringing either into trouble or danger the meanest Person of his Life upon the Account for which I suffer I always abhorred and detested the thoughts of it both when in and out of danger and advised some very strongly against it except when under my Distraction in Prison that amongst other temptations did violently assault me but through the goodness of my dearest God and Father I was preserved from it and indeed was wholly incapable and could never receive the least shadow of comfort from it but thought Death more eligible and was some time asore out of my distracted and disquieted condition wholly free from it though not without other Temptations far more Criminal in the sight of men I bless the Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations that I find a great Resignedness of my Will to his finding infinitely more comfort in Death than ever I could place in Life tho in a condition that might seem honourable every hour seeing the Will of God in ordering this Affair more and more cleared up to me God hath given God hath taken blessed be his holy Name that hath enabled me to be willing to suffer rather than to put forth my hand to Iniquity or to say a Confederacy with those that do so I am heartily and sincerly troubled for what hath happened many mens Lives being lost and many poor distressed Families ruin'd the Lord pardon what of sin he hath seen in it He in his wonderful Providence hath made me and others concerned Instruments not only for what is already fallen out but I believe for hastening some other great work he hath to do in these Kingdoms whereby he will try and purge his People and winnow the chaff from the Wheat the Lord keep those that are his faithful unto the end I die in Charity with all the World and can readily and heartily forgive my greatest Enemies even those that have been Evidences against me and I most humbly beg the pardon of all that I have in the least any way injur'd and in a special manner humbly ask pardon of the Lady Lisle's Family and Relations for that my being succoured there one Night with Mr. Hicks brought that worthy Lady to suffer Death I was wholly a Stranger to her Ladiship and came with Mr. Hicks neither did she as I verily believe know who I was or my Name till I was taken And if any other have come toany loss or trouble I humbly beg their pardon and were I in a condition I would as far as I was able make them a requital As to my Faith I neither look nor hope for merey but only in the Free-grace of God by the Application of the Blood of Jesus my dearest and only Saviour to my poor sinful Soul My distresses have been exceeding great as to my Eternal State but through the infinite goodness of God tho I have many sins to answer for yet I hope and trust as to my particular that Christ came for this very end and purpose to relieve the Oppressed and to be a Physician to the Sick I come unto thee O blessed Jesus refuse me not but wash me in thine own Blood and then present me to thy Father as righteous What tho' my Sins be as Crimson and of a Scarlet Dye yet thou canst make them as white as Snow I see nothing in my self but what must utterly ruine and condemn me I cannot answer for one action of my whole Life but I cast my self wholly upon thee who art the Fountain of Mercy in whom God is reconciling himself to the World the greatest of Sins and Sinners may find an All sufficiency in thy Blood to cleanse 'em from all sin O dearest Father of Mercy look upon me as righteous in and through the imputed Righteousness of thy Son he hath payed the Debt by his own own Offering up himself for sin and in that thy Justice is satisfied and thy Mercy is magnified Grant me thy Love O dearest Father assist me and stand by me in the needful hour of Death give thy Angels charge over my poor Soul that the Evil One may not touch nor hurt it Defend me from his power deliver me from his rage and receive me into thine Eternal Kingdom in and through the alone Merits of my dearest Redeemer for whom I praise thee To whom with thy self and holy Spirit be ascribed all Glory Honour Power Might and Dominion for ever and for ever Amen Dear Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Amen R. NELTHROPE Newgate Octob. 29. 1685. Mrs. Gaunt ONe of the great Reasons why Mrs. Gaunt was burnt was 't is very possible because she lived at Wapping the honest Seamen and hearty Protestants thereabouts being such known Enemies to Popery and Arbitrary Government that the Friends of both gave all who oppose it the Name of Wappingers as an odious Brand and Title She was a good honest charitable Woman who made it her business to relieve and help whoever suffer'd for the forementional Cause sparing no pains refusing no office to get them assistance in which she was the most industrious and indefatigable woman living Among others whom she had thus relieved who were obnoxious persons was one Burton whom with his Wife and Family she had kept from starving for which may the very name of 'em be register'd with Eternal Infamy they swore against her and took away her Life Tho she says in her Speech there was but one Witness against her as to any mony she was charg'd to give him and that he himself an Outlawed person his Outlawry not yet revers'd he not being outlawed when she was with him and hid him away That which she writ in the Nature of a Speech has a great deal of Sense and Spirit and some strange Expressions which were mention'd in the Introduction to all these matters which she concludes with these words addrest to her
cruel Foes Let Babylon come down Let England's King be one of them Shall raze her to the ground 7. Through Christ we yield our Souls to thee Accept us on his Score That where he is there we may be To praise thee ever more After the Hymn sung he prayed devoutly for half an hour after Prayer he gave great satisfaction to all present of his Assurance of Heaven had many weeping Eyes for him and was much lamented in the Town tho' a stranger to the place so unbuttoning himself said to the Executioner I fear not what Man can do unto me I pray thee do thy work in mercy for I forgive thee with all my heart and I also pray to God to forgive thee don 't mangle my Body too much and so lifting up his hands to Heaven the Executioner did his Office There was also one William Cox that died with him who also died very couragiously despising the shame in hopes and expectation of a future better Estate He and his two Sons were some of the first that came to the Duke of Monmouth anâ— all taken and all condemned together The Father only suffered the Sons by Providence were preserved When he was going to Execution he desired leave to see his Sons then in another Prison in the Town to whom he gave his Blessing and though he was going to be Executed yet had that satisfaction to hope that God would preserve them which was so Some further Passages relating to Mr. Sampson Larke with his Prayer at the same time and Place when Executed IMmeâ—iately after Colonel Holmes was Executed this gâ—od Man was ordered to prepare to follow accordingly going to dâ—liver some few words to the People some whereof were formerly of his Congregation but being told he could not expecâ— much time because it was so late and so many to be Executed afteâ— him so he suddenly concluded and said I will now speak a few Words to him whicâ— I am sure will hear me And so began his Prayeâ— as followeth Blessed Lord God we thine unworthy Creaturâ— now here before thee cannot but acknowledge from thâ— bottom of our hearts our own unworthiness we muâ—â— confess we have been grievous sinners and have brougâ—â— forth the evil Fruit of it in our Lives to the greâ—â— dishonour of thy Name for which we have deserved thy heavy wrath and indignation to be poured forth upon us not only in this life but in that which is to come O let us bless God for our Sufferings and Afflictions as for our Mercies we bless thee in particular for this O sanctifie it to us let us be effectually convinced of the vanity of the World and of our own sinfulness by Nature and Practice and to see that to be sin which we never saw before O Lord make us sensible of the absolute necessity of the Righteousness of Christ to justifie us and let him be now made much more dear and precious to our Souls than ever that so we may be wrought into a more heavenly Frame and raised to a higher degree of Spirituality and so made more meek and humble and let us judge charitably of others that differ from us in Opinion and Judgment And now O Lord though by thy most righteous Judgment we most justly deserve these Sufferings and such an ignominious Death for our Sins against thee not for Treasons against the Kingdom let us be in a preparedness for it Pardon all our Sins help us quietly to submit to thy holy Will speak peace to all our Souls Look in mercy O Lord on this poor Nation especially on this Town and every particular Person in it let them all mind those things which concern their peace before they are hid from their eyes Comfort my dear and distressed Wife be a Husband unto her deliver her out of the Paw of the Lyon and the Paws of the Bear Look upon all thy poor afflicted ones all Prisoners and Captives work deliverance for them if thou seest it good but thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven And now Lord with humble meekness and submission I submit to thy Will depending upon on the Merits of my Saviour to whom with thy blessed Self and Spirit be ascribed all Honour and Praise both now and for ever Amen Then mounting the Ladder he called to some of the Town who weeped for him but were at some distance Go home to your own Houses pray do not weep for me and before you get up yonder Hill I shall be with my heavenly Father in fulness of joy and pleasure for evermore And so advising those before him to leave off those cruel Sentiments they had taken of him besides some heavenly Discourses with some of his Friends he was turned off to the great grief of the good People of the Town especially those of his own Congregation To give him nothing but his due he was a man mighty charitable relieving and visiting the poor and needy Preached in season and out of season and made it his business to go about doing good and to put poor Souls in a way for Eternal Life he was an old Christian as well as aged in years he was a general loss especially to his dear and tender Wife But all our losses are nothing to be compared to that Glory that he now enjoys Mr. Sampson Larke's Letter to a Friend just before his Execution MY dear Friend I am ready to be offered and the time of my Departure is at hand I have through Grace fought a good fight have finished my course have kept the Faith and am in hopes of the Crown of Righteousness prepared for me and all God's faithful Ones The experiences I have had of the Promises hath given me comfortable hopes that he will carry me to the full end of my Journey with his Name and that Truth of his which I have made Profession of My great Crime is for my being a Preachâ—r of the Gospel and here I am to be made a Sacrifice where I have mostly preached Christ 's Gospel I think my Judges have devised this punishment for my hurt but I trust God will turn it to my good the great trouble I have is for those good Hearts that I must leave behind me But this is my comfort knowing that all such as fear God he will be a Father to them My dear Wife is greatly troubled but through Mercy much supported and something quieted if any of you have opportunity to give her help I hope you will do it As for our confessing our selves Guilty it was expresly as to matter of Fact and not of Form and this I did with some freedom and the rather because all my worthy Brethren that went before me took that way and the many ways having been used to have a further Discovery yet nothing of that kind by any but only by Captain Jones Since our Sentence some wretched men have been with us to draw from us a Confession of our