tell you when I came to Prentice I le let that alone I am free of the Company of Drapers and I have lived civilly and honestly in St. Martines at the upper end of Cheap-side I am sure there is a thousand sorrowful souls and weeping eyes for me this day Sir Richard Ford. Pray put that little time that you have to spend here to good use and leave off these relations Turner Have a little patience let me satisfie the World of some particulars I was a constant Church-man t is well known to my Parishioners I never durst see a man in the Church with his Hat on it troubled me very much If a man comes before a Judg on Earth he is not suffered to wear his Hat much less should they before the Magistrate of Magistrates the God of Heaven Sir Richard Ford. Hear me one word those Reverend persons about you methinks they should admonish you to leave off these discourses Mr. Ordinaay We press to the condemnation of a mans self that he might be justified in Gods sight Turner Mr. Sheriff I will hold you but a very little while longer I do here truly confess that I have been as I have said a very great sinner guilty of all the sins in the world Master Ordinary Speak to some particulars Turner Pray be quiet can ye Especially that of Prophaneness I am truly sensible heartily sorrowful for my sins and I do beg of God of his infinite Mercy through the Merâ—ts of Christ who died for me to wash away all my sins and all the sins of this people here present and all the sins of the whole world I do beg that God will open the heart of any man that staggars in Faith to confirm him I do say and pawn my Salvation upon it That no man dare gain say that Jesus Christ died for sinners of whom I am chief That man that lays hold upon Christ by Faith the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against him Truly I am thought to be a great Drinker a Company-keeper my occasion did call me to Taverns but I bless God I think there is no man pardon me for I will not speak it with ostentation I hope no man ever saw me disguised in drink to my knowledg except it was when I was a Boy I am truly heartily and sincerely sorrowful for my sins I do confess them before my God and the whole world that the least of my sins are able to throw me into Hell but that the blood of Jesus Christ that doth wash away the sins of the whole world hath purged and cleansed mine I say I do here heartily solemnly and wholly confess my sins and am truly sorrowful for them that is my confession with more trouble of soul then I am able to express Here I have made my true and faithful confession in the second place I have made restitution so far as in me lay the Gentleman hath every one of his Jewels again every farthing-worth nay he hath two thousand pouds worth more then he missed therefore there was no intention of Felony but my sad fate in meeting with those two sad Officers God of his mercy everlastingly forgive them Mr. Ordinary Express your charity as to the world Turner Do not put me out of my way I must go step by step First I have given you my confession Secondly I have made restitution I have restored all to my power the third thing that is behind of a Christian is my true and unseigned Repentance and my Charity to the whole world that God that is the searcher of all secrets that tries the reigns that knows all the inner-parts knows my soul that I long and desire to be with Jesus Christ in glory Mr. Ordinary Which is best of all Turner I am in perfect charity with the whole world It is expected by some that I should fall upon some persons to recriminate on them I shall not do it the Lord God of his infinite mercy forgive them It was reported te his Majesty that on Sunday last I was drunk and that I abused this reverend person Mr. Ordinary this news was brought me by some that were present when the King was told such stories that I was drunk and ranted and swore God 〈…〉 God sink me and that I had five thousand pounds and I would 〈◊〉 pardon and cared not for the business and would have â— pardon when I please This great reproach was thrown upon me to the King and that with some other scandals has taken off the Kings affections but this is altogether false for Mr. Hicks my Landlord can tell that on Sunday morning he would have had me drank my mornings draught I told him No I would not drink I onely drank one small cup of Cyder in the morning two little glasses of Sack and one glass of Clarret at dinner I went to Church with this reverend Gentleman where I received a great deal of comfort for my Soul for which I thank him he made a sound Schollar-like Sermon and fit for persons in our condition I did perceive they wanted a Clark and I took upon me to officiate as Clark and I was happy I had that opportunity I came home and remained in my Chamber About eight or nine a Clock justice Stringer in Chancery-lane and two or three Knights and Persons of Quality eight or nine in all they had one bottle of Sack among them of which I drank one little cup. And for the swearing of those Oathes I did not do it I hate them they were untruths and the Lord forgive them that raised that scandal Sir I must desire that you would now joyn with me in Prayer but I have forgot one thing it is short That night the Sessions broke up I was put in the Hole it is a most fearful sad deplorable place Hell it self in Comparison cannot be such a place there is neither Bench Stool nor Stick for any person there they lie like swine upon the ground one upon another howling and roaring it was more terrible to me then this Death I would humbly beg that Hole may be provided with some kind of boards like a Court of guard that men may ly down upon them in ease for when they should be best prepared for their ends they are most tormented lying onely upon the ground they were better take them and hang as soon as they have their Sentence Jackson the Keeper Seventeen out of nineteen made their escapes out of that Hole they having onely a Form there Turner I did with these poor Souls pray heartily none were able to pray poor creatures two were dying I prayed with them comforted them assisted them and gave them five shillings when I came out of the Hole now pray joyn with me in Prayer Sir Rich. Ford. If I did think there were a Reprieve to come for you I could be contented to spin out the time thus but in good earnest I expect none unless you had an
apprehension you were not to die you would not thus run to so many impertinencies that methinks cannot fit you for death Turner Truly I expect none pray joyn with me in Prayer HIS PRAYER O Lord God Almighty and Everlasting Father Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all mankinde and all things therein contained I thy wretched miserable Creature make bold here to prostrate my self at thy Footstool humbly beseeching that in the dolorous Passions of Jesus Christ thou would blot out my Transgressions O Lord I am covered all over with sins and iniquities as with Leprosie from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot and who shall deliver me but the Blond of thy Son Jesus Christ O Lord God I have had a fear of thy holy Name a true and unfeigned love towards thee but O Lord thou knowest when I would do good evil is present with me I am loaden with Transgressions and the weight is too heavy for me to bear O Lord make my yoke easie and my burden light O Lord God thou canst as easily do as speak it say but the word and it is done O Lord for thy Son Jesus sake bless with the eternal and everlasting Glory in the World and in the World to come my Gracious King Queen Queen-Mother the Duke of York and all that Family And that thou in thy great mercy would make them glorious in this world and the world to come I desire their poor souls may be happy with thee in glory O Lord bless all his Magistrates from the greatest to the least endue them with thy fear put the Sword of Justice into their hands that they may eschue evil and do good root out covetousness out of their hearts O Lord God I beg this for thy mercy sake to strike them with such a perfect fear that though they have many of them done amiss that thou wilt forgive them and let them never do so again O Lord my God bless the Gentry Nobility Magistrates of this City as of the whole world all in general That thou wouldst be pleased to bless the Commonalty guide them in the path of Jesus Christ if they are in Christ they have all in all Pray God bless the Tribe of Levi the Clergy throughout the whole World from the greatest to the least from him that sits on the Throne the Archbishop to the least inferior Ministers and Parsons Give them into their hearts a true love that their lives may be answerable to their Doctrines and become good examples to all them that hear them And now O Lord I beg of thee that the Ministers that thou hast bestowed upon this Nation and others that profess Jesus Christ may daily increase more and more and that they may grow and live and have blessings showred down upon them that their hearts may be filled with good things Lord I have known when I was a Youth that there was not a tenth of that wickedness that is now committed none heard of them now we should have grown better we have grown worse Call them back O Lord it is as easie with thee as to speak Good Lord bless this Parish wherein I live the Minister and Lecturer and all my Neighbors and pour down a double Blessing of thy Spirit upon them For my poor Family in this Parish I humbly beg in the Bowels of thy Son Christ Jesus that thou wouldst be a Husband to my wife a Father to my childrâ—n a Guide Protector and Director to them all in general Guide them strengthen them in those comforts which last night I gave them and that my Wife may not afflict her self but rejoyce that God hath called me in his due time that I am not taken away by any suddon death which I always prayed against O Lord I have but a short time here but it is thy mercy that I have had time hitherto I have deserved none O Lord. Thou too est away a Gentleman the other night oâ—â— Mr. Snell a Gentleman at the Cock in Lumbard-street a Common Councel man who was well at dinner and died the same night O Loâ—d he had shorter warning then I I am bound to thee for it although I had but a daâ— I humbly beseech thee to stand by me in this my day of trial and moment of tribulation O Christ come in unto me I do lay hold upon thee I do beg that thou that hast promised That whosoever shall repent of his sins thou wilt blot out his transgressions Lord I do repent with an unfeigned repentance never to be repented of And I beseech thee good God that in and through Jesus Christ who hath washed away all my sins in his Blood that thou wilt freely receive my soul when it goes from hence into blessedness Some private Ejaculations LOrd I have often wished to be translated to thee and thou hast granted me my request I give thee humble and hearty thanks O Lord God Give me I humbly beseech thee a true unfeigned sight of my sins O Lord God they are grievous I loath them Lord God thou knowest I believe and I trust and depend upon thee I rest upon thy Son Jesus Christ and his Sufferings I have none in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I will seek after besides thee there is no trust nor confidence to be put but in thee and thy Son Christ Jesus I commit my soul and body into thy arms Lord God guide direct protect and keep and everlastingly preserve me Pour down thy mercies upon all these thy people and sanctifie my afflictions to them that they may set a watch upon their mouths and their eyes and that their tongues speak no guile Good God forgive me that sin of taking thy Name in vain make up my loss to my Wife and children with thy merciful pardon and forgiveness of their sins I shall be with thee in Paradise O Lord my God thou didst feed my soul in the Sacrament refreshed me comforted me in that blessed Ordinance O Lord take not thy Spirit from me but go on with me still and Lord Jesus receive my poor soul O Lord God what shall I render unto thee for all thy benefits In Sacrifices thou delightest not but in a broken and contrite spirit O that is acceptable unto thee The pangs of death are not terrible to me it is thy mercy that I am not afraid of it nor ashamed of it Christ died upon the Cross too O sanctifie this affliction make me truly sensible of thy mercy and let me have an assurance of thee Hear thy servant in distress for thou hast promised that if a sinner knock the door shall be opened if he seek he shall finde Lord I do beg in the Bowels of thy Son Jesus Christ for thy mercies sake for thy goâ—dness sake for all thy attributes sake that thou would receive this poor soul of mine for thy Son Christ Jesus sake who hath taught me further to say Our Father
on Turner I have done that 's for the Children then for William Turner what he did he did at my instigation he acted this at my entreaty it was wholly by my direction therefore let the poor man be likewise discharged if there be no other thing against him but this fault Sir Richard Ford. We will promise that we will take all occasions to give an intimation to the Lord Chief Justice what you have declared in extenuating of his crime as he was a hireling of yours Turner I have told you that it was my sins that hath brought me hither and truly I must deal really with you this Nation is very full of sin of crying sins of sins that without Gods wonderful mercies the Land will suddenly mourn by his hand I have every year expected the sweeping plague to come and take away two thirds of the Nation for the sins that lye upon us and truely notwithstanding the Ministers of God do preach and call and crye aloud yet no body regards them Truely from the Magistrate to the very Peasant there is abundance of neglect to the true Service and fear of God that my Soul has bled and groan'd within me as I have gone up and down the Streets and as I have lain in my bed And I must ingeniously confess to you that I have not once or twice nor a hundred times but a thousand times wished my self dissolved and in another world I have been sick of it not for any want but with the meer trouble the dislike that did so displease me to see all manner of businesse in Tumults and Disorders and sin and all manner of wickednesse That truely I have had no pleasure these latter years in the world indeed I have not I have to my poor Wife said many a hundred times Lord God that thou wert in thy grave and I too were it not for these poor Children truely I could beg it of God seeing all people are in Combustion none tied in love and amity When I was a Boy there was no such doings my Father I told you was a Minister there was eight or ten Gentlemen adjoyning Families who kept a house of Hospitality loving friendship peace and quietnesse but now there is no such thing in the world It is a new world a world of malice and difference and 't is too blame that Brethren do not hang together in unity It is expected that I should declare here as a dying man somewhat to free my self from those Aspersions Accusations and Calumnies that have been laid upon me those marks with black coals that People have laid upon me I do declare to you there is a great many of scandals that lie upon me I shall not Justifie my self at all but rather accuse my self that I am as St. Paul saith The greatest of Sinners But for those things that are laid upon me I must clear my Family and my Reputation as I can before God and in Jesus Christ It is laid upon me that I should take 200 l. of Dr. Hewyt's Lady for to assist her in the helping her Husband that was in the getting him a Pardon or Repreive To that I answer I know not whether I shewed you Mr. Sheriffs my Ladies Certificate or no I heard not of this businesse till within these two nights I never heard of her nor her Husband in such a manner no I would not have had that sin mixed with my blood not for ten thousand worlds I should have thought when ever it had entered into my Cogitations I should have thought my self eternally lost But about that I sent Mr. Gray of Black-Friers who rode 32. miles the other night and he hath brought a Certificate under her Ladiships hand to the King which Certificate if they will go to my Wife they may have it and Print it She writes showing it to the Kings most Excellent Majesty that she was informed that James Turner Gent. a Prisoner in Newgate is accused for taking 200 l. of her towards the Repreiving of her Husband she doth declare she never knew him nor heard of him therefore she is bound in Conscience to free him and so she humbly takes her leave this is attested by that Gentleman with an Affidavit under the hand of Sir John Brampston Knight She got a Letter from Secretary Thurlow wherein he writes and sets forth all the businesse that one Col. Whetton had 235 l. of my Lady Hewyt to procure this businesse and that Whetton did pretend that he had given Thurlow a hundred pound of it to that purpose which he there under his hand denyed that he ever received one penny directly or indirectly so that Whetton was the person clearly accused and she sent me word she is suing him for the money So for that I hope I have vindicated my self before God and the World In the second place there is another calumny thrown upon me and that is that I should cozen or deceive the King that now is of some money when I was beyond Sea with him truely it is well known to thousands of the World I was never out of England never beyond Sea with the King never cozened him of a penny that I have served Him and His Father with all the substance that I had with my blood and with all my fortune and goods as a hearty Subject should and I pray God receive my Soul but with a drop of his mercy so sure as I served the old King and prayed for him and loved him The first Commission that ever I had was eldest Captain of Horse to William Marquiss of Newcastle in his own Regiment I gave him the Troop fourscore and seventeen men well Hors'd I never received one penny advance for the said Troop and but one Weeks pay for my self and Officers and three Weeks pay for my Troopers in all my Life not a penny more I served him faithfully four years or thereabouts I was a Prisoner at London-house at York in the Tower at the Council of State the Court Marshal the Council of War of Oliver's I was a Prisoner at Luton in Bedfordshire bringing the King up from Newark to Oxford I was wounded shot in the Neck and taken Prisoner and 't is very well known by Mr. William Cotton who is one of the Gentlemen Harbingers of the Kings he is the ancientest to this King and hath served his Father in that Office it was his fortune to be hard by when I was shot who was then a stranger to me but he being one of the Kings Servants and hearing a Lieut. Col. of the Kings was slain he came in after I was shot I was crept into a hedge among briars and thorns so deep that he was forced to cut a way to come at me and so drew me out or I had dyed there I was Prisoner at Luton so to St. Albans where I lay in Cure in the Compter till it cost me my first penny reckoning 60. odd pounds in gold they