No More Learning

I
I
it,
150 WLt&tevn tCransfactfonsf.
cannot tell how to alter it; but
it made People apt to censure him, as inconsiderate of his Con dition, to which he answer'd, Truly, this is so much my natural
I
have, and do think seriously of my Eternal Concerns;
I I
I do not Cause to be Chearful,for my Peace is made with God, through Jesus Christ my Lord; this is
Temper, that
allow my self to be vain, but
bless God
find
I
my only Ground of Comfort and Chearfulness, the Security of
my Interest in Christ ; for I
expect nothing but Death, and with am sure Death would be most dreadful; but having
I
Believers. Discoursing much of the Certainty and Felicity of
out this
the good Hope of this,
of the triumphant Death of those that suffered at Lyme, he said, This is a good Encouragement to depend upon God. Then speaking about the mangling of their Bodies, he said, Well, the Resurrection will restore all with great advantage; the 15th Chapter of the first of the Corinthians « Comfort enough for all
I
I
Escape, he said, We use this Means for the preserving our Lives, but if God is not with us, it will not effect it; it is our Business first to seek to him for Direction and Success, if he sees good, with resigning our Lives to him, and then his Will be done. After the Disappointments, when there was no Prospect of any other Opportunity, he spake much of the Admirableness of God's Providence in those Things that seem most against us, bringing the greatest Good out of them ; for, said he, We can see but a little Way, God is only wise in all his
I
cannot be When he heard melancholly.
the Resurrection at another Time, he said, / will (as I
think ought) use all lawful Means for the saving of my Life, and
I
fully embrace Death. Upon the Design of attempting an
then if God please to forgive my Sins,
hope
shall as chear-
of us; if we were left to chuse for our selves, we should chuse our own Misery. Afterwards discoursing of the Vanity and Unsatisfyingness of all Things in this World, he said, It is so in the enjoying, we never find our Expectations answered by any thing in and when Death comes it puts an
End to all Things we have been pursuing here Learning and Knowledge (which are the best Things in this World) will then avail nothing nothing but an interest in Christ is then of any
Worth. One reading to his Fellow- Prisoners, Jer. 42. 12, will shew Mercy unto you, that he may have Mercy upon you,
Disposals
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151
an cause you to return to your own Land ; he said, Yes, we shall, but not in this World, Iam persuaded. September 29th at Night, after he heard he must die the next Morning, he was exceedingly composed and chearful, expressing his Satisfaction in the Will of God : The next Morning he was still more
Spiritual and chearful, discovering a very sweet Serenity of Mind in all that he said and did : Whilst he was waiting for the Sheriff, reading the Scriptures, meditating and conversing with those about him of Divine Things, amongst other Things, said
have heard much the Glory Heaven, but of of
/
going to behold it, and understand what it is. Being desired to
he,
disguise himself to attempt an Escape, he said, No, I
ness, now
He further said, This Manner of Death hath been the most terrible Thing in the World to my Thoughts, but I bless God, now am I neither afraid nor ashamed to die. He said, The
how to disturb
cannot tell about it, and methinks it is not my Busi
I
saw good to deliver me, he would open some other door; but see ing he has not, itts more for the Honour of his Name we should die, and so be it. One saying to him that most of the Apostles died a violent Death, he replied, Nay, a greater than the Apostles our Lord himself died, not only a shameful, but a painful death.
my self
have other Things to take up my Thoughts ;
if
God
I
am now
parting with my Friends, and their Grief for me, is my greatest
; but it will be but a very short Time, and we
I for
Difficulty
shall meet again in endless Joys, where my dear Father is
presently joyfully meet. Then musing with himself a while, he with an extraordinary Serious
ness sang these two Verses of one of Herbert's Poems :
Death is still working like a Mole, Digging my Grave at each Remove,
Let Grace work so, and on my Soul Drop from above,
Oh come ! For thou dost know the Way ; Or if to me thou wilt not move,
Remove me where I need not say, Drop from above.
He then read the 53d of Isaiah, and said, He had heard many blessed Sermons from that Chapter, especially from the 16th
already
enter'd, him shall
152 H%t
flfllesftem 'vEransfactiorus.
Verse, A 11 we like Sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own Way, but the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquities of us all ; seeming to intimate some Impress made on his Soul from them, but was interrupted ; then he said, Christ is all : When the Sheriff came he had the same Chearfulness and
Serenity of Mind in taking Leave of his Friends, and in the Sledge, which seemed to increase to the last, (as those present have affirmed) joining in Prayer, and in singing a Psalm with great Appearance of Comfort and Joy in his Countenance, in so much that some of his Enemies (that had before censured his Chearfulness for Unthoughtfulness of his Danger, and therefore expected to see him much surprized) now professed they were greatly astonished, to see such a Young Man leave the World, and go through Death as he did.
Mr. Jenkyn's Letter to Mrs. Scot, on the 26th of
September, Dear Sister,
The News which came in my Brother's Letter of the 226. Instant to Mr. Dewy, did not at all surprize me, for indeed I expected no other ; and seeing all Hopes of saving my Life are blasted, I thought my self bound to write a Line or two to so
near a Relation as your self, wherein I might take my Leave of you, and bid you farewel, till we shall meet again in Glory, and never be separated more : As for my own Part, tho' such a Sort of Death as I am like to suffer, be that which I always dreaded, when at a Distance I have sometimes thought of yet thank my God now draws near, even but a few Hours off, find my self supported under the Thoughts of and hope by his
Strength, who will never forsake his own, shall be enabled chearfully to undergo with Glory to his Name, and Comfort to my own, and the Souls of others that are more nearly concerned for me and as have made my own Endeavour to submit to the Will of God in this sad Dispensation without murmuring or repining,
hope you have been sensible of your Duty in the same Respect, which patiently to submit to his Will, and eye his Hand in this severe Stroak And tho' God has been pleased to deny
Success to your Endeavours for the saving of my Life, yet am
1685.
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it it
is,
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it
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it,
it,
I ;
I
153
satisfied nothing has been wanting on your Parts ; and for all the Trouble you have been at on my Account, tho' I do not live to shew my Gratitude, yet I render you my dying Thanks, and beg your Prayers for my Support in the last Moments of my
Life. If you receive this before my Death, the certain Time of which I have not Notice of, pray remember my Love to my Brother, and Thanks for all Kindnesses ; and as for my Young Relations, my Prayer for them shall be, That they may see more happy Days than I have done, and die a more peaceable, I can not say more happy Death. And now, dear Sister, I take my Leave of you, and commit you to the Protection of that God, who has made every Thing beautiful in his Time, and will shew you the Meaning of this Providence, which now we do not understand, to whom I trust I am now going, and into the Enjoyment of whose Presence I doubt not but e'er long you will meet, dear Sister,
Your affectionate Brother, William Jenkyn.
Mr. Jenkyn's Letter to his Mother, on the 29th of
September,
at 12 at Night, Taunton.
Dear and Honoured Mother,
I have even now received the News of Execution to Morrow, which, tho' I have so short Notice of, yet I hope I am prepared for and by God's Strength enabling me, shall joyfully be carried through The Kindness you have been pleased to shew in your great Concern for me since have been under this Trouble, as well as the Duty owe to so near a Relation as your self, engages me to acquaint you with my present Condition for your Satisfaction, which truly such, that must beg you to accept this present Letter for my last Farewel And tho' this sad Providence cannot but be grievous to so near and affection ate a Relation as your self, yet hope already has, and still does, yield the peaceable Fruits of Righteousness to your self and me, who have been severely exercised with As for my own Part, hope can truly say, that God has by his Providence weaned me from the World, and made me willing to leave and to be dissolved, that may be with Christ, which far better
I I
it :
it is :
:
it, :
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I is
it
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it,
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flfllegtern fEranjsacttong.
And now Iam come to die; I hope I can truly say, I have nothing else to do but to die ; and having fought a good Fight, and finished my Course, I am now in Expectation of that Crown of Reward, which God the Righteous Judge of the whole Earth has promised to all those that love his Appearing and as it is my great Work to be now every Moment fitting my self for my great and last Change, so 'tis the Duty which belongs to you, and the rest of my dear Relations, to resign me up into the Hands of that God, whose I am, and to whom I am going, and not repine at his Righteous Will, which we ought quietly to submit unto. I bless God I die with a clear Conscience, and though I have deserved much worse at the Hands of God for my past Sins, than I am like to undergo, yet I count, with Respect to Man, I die a Martyr for the Protestant Religion, and meerly for doing my Duty in opposing of that Flood of Popery, which seemed to be just overwhelming the Church and Interest
of Christ in these Nations ; and I wish that the Prudentialists of our Age, that have withdrawn their helping Hand from so glorious a Design, do not within a few Days feel the Smart they have deserved by this their Baseness. But being now just leaving the World, it's grievous to look back on these Things ; where fore, dear and honoured Mother, I take Leave of you also, hoping that I shall again meet with you in that Place of Happi ness, where all Tears shall be wiped down from our Eyes, and we shall sorrow no more. I have nothing more to say, but to return you my dying Thanks for all the Trouble and Care you have been at for the saving my Life, which tho' God has not thought fit to make successful, yet my Thankfulness is equally due to you for your Endeavours, as if he had ; therefore I shall end with the subscribing my self,
Dear and Honoured Mother,
Your Thankful and Dutiful Son,
William Jenkyn.
Mr. Jenhyn's Letter to Mrs. Gourden, on the 30th of
1685. at 4 Morning, Taunton.
Though you are at a great Distance from my Eye, yet you are very near my Heart, so that to leave the World before I
September, Dear Sister,
155
have wrote a Line or two to bid you farewel, and comfort you under this sad Providence, would be uncomfortable to me : I hope you have by this Time learnt how to welcome evil as well as good Tidings, and submit to the wise Disposer of all Things, who knows what is good for us, better than we do for our selves: Tho' I question not but the News of my Death, especially in such a violent manner, as within a few Hours I am to suffer will be afflictive to you yet would beg you to consider the Happiness which am gone to, but a few Years sooner taken out of a wicked and troublesom World unto the Quire of triumphant Martyrs in Glory, which place of Happiness, tho' have not deserved by any thing of my own Merits, yet for the Merits of my Mediator and Saviour, who has purchased more for me, than can enter into my Heart to conceive, doubt not but to have Mansion prepared for me in that Place, where the Wicked cease from troubling, and the Weary are at Rest. And now, dear Sister, have nothing more to do in this World, but to be preparing and fitting my self for this Place of Rest, which within a few Hours am going to. therefore leave you and yours to the Protection and Blessing of God, who able to keep and support you under this and all other his afflictive Provi dences, and bring good Issue out of them and who will in his own good Time conduct you safe to that Place of Happiness, where you will meet alone for Christ's Sake,
Dear, Dear Sister,
Your Loving and Affectionate Brother,
William Jenkyn.
Pray remember my Love and Respects to my Brother, and all that enquire after me.
His Character.
He was very promising and ingenious young Gentleman he had great deal of ready Wit, and an extraordinary Briskness
Latin. He was indifferent tall, pretty thin, a fair Complexion,
and Gaitey. He was Course of Philosophy Mechanical Part of
very good Scholar, had run through a but his particular Inclination was to the wherein he had a very happy Genius, and performed many pretty Things. He wrote very good clean
a
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156
Clje
flfllesftern transaction? .
his Nose a little inclining to one Side, being hurt in his Infancy. He led a sober, vertuous Life, and dy'd a happy Death at Taunton, September 30, 1685.
LADY LISLE.
;AD those Persons who suffered about Monmouth's liusiness, fell only into the Hands of Cannibals, some of 'em, at least, had 'scaped better than they did from Jeffreys. Those more tame and civil
Creatures would have spared the Old and Whithered, though they had devoured the Young and Tender. But no Age, no Sex made any Difference here ; and as those who were just come into the World, Children and Girls of ten or a dozen Years old were refused Pardon ; so those who were half out of would not be suffered to tumble into the Grave intire, tho', as Juvenal says of Priam, they had scarce Blood enough left to singe the Knife of the Sacrifices. An Instance of this was my Lady Lisle, of such an Age, that she almost slept on her very Trial, condemned for as small a Matter as has been known, by one of those dormant Laws, made only in Terrorem, but hardly ever executed only for corresponding with Nelthorp, an out-law'd Person, and, as was pretended, giving him Shelter at her House, and Hicks, who brought him thither. For Hicks, he was not then convicted, nor in any Proclamation, and so 'tis a Question whether she
could, even in Rigour of Law, deserve Death on his Account. For Nelthorp, he himself says in his last Speech, [That he was wholly Stranger to that worthy Lady neither did she, as he verily believes, know who he was, or his Name, till he was
For this she was found Guilty, and lost her Head at Winchester. Her Case was thought so hard, that the Honour
able House of Parliament have now reverst her Judgment. At her Death she made the following Speech.
The last Speech of the Lady Alicia Lisle.
Gentlemen, Friends, and Neighbours, may be expected that should say something at my Death, and in Order thereunto
taken. ]
I
I
a
it; it,
157
shall acquaint you, that my Birth and Education was both near this Place, and that my Parents instructed me in the Fear of God, and I now die of the Reformed Protestant Religion ; believing that if ever Popery should return into this Nation, it would be a very great and severe Judgment ; that I die in
Expectation of the Pardon of all my Sins, and of Acceptance with God the Father, by the imputed Righteousness of Jesus Christ, he being the End of the Law for Righteousness to every
one that believes ; I thank God through Jesus Christ, that I do depart under the Blood of Sprinkling, which speaketh better Things than that of Abel; God having made this Chastisement an Ordinance to my Soul. I did once as little expect to come to this Place on this Occasion, as any Person in this Place or Nation ; therefore let all learn not to be high-minded, but fear : The Lord is a Soveraign, and will take what Way he sees best to glorifie himself, in and by his poor Creatures ; andII do humbly desire to submit to his Will, praying to him, That possess my Soul in Patience. The Crime that was laid to my Charge, was for entertaining a Nonconformist Minister and others in my House ; the said Minister being sworn to have been in the late Duke of Monmouth's Army ; but I have been told, that if I had denied them, it would not at all have affected me ; I have no Excuse but Surprise and Fear, which I believe my Jury must make Use of to excuse their Verdict to the World. I have been also told, That the Court did use to be of Counsel for the Prisoner ; but instead of Advice, I had Evidence against me from thence; which tho' it were only by hearsay, might possibly affect my Jury ; my Defence being but such, as might be expected from a weak Woman ; but such as it was, I did not
; which, as I have been informed, is usual in such Cases. However, I forgive all the World, and therein all those that have done me wrong ; and in particular, I forgive Colonel Penruddock, although he told me, that he could have taken these Men before they came to my House. And I do likewise forgive him, who desired to be taken away from the Grand Jury to the Petty Jury, that he might be the more nearly concerned in my Death. As to what may be objected in Reference to my Conviction, that I gave it under my
Hand, that I had discoursed with Nelthrofi; that could be no
hear it Repeated again to the Jury
may
158
%ty flfllegtern 'flErangactfong.
Evidence against me, being after my Conviction and Sentence : I do acknowledge his Majesty's Favour in revoking my Sen
tence ; I pray God to preserve him, that he may long reign in Mercy, as well as Justice, and that he may reign in Peace ; and that the Protestant Religion may flourish under him. I also return Thanks to God and the Reverend Clergy, that assisted me in my Imprisonment.
Alicia Lisle.
MR. RICHARD NELTHROP.
IS Name is often enough met with in West's and Rumsey's Plot, and good Reason too, he being not near to answer for himself. As to what he was accused, out-lawed, and executed for, his being con
cerned in a Design for the Assassination of the King and Duke, he solemnly avers, as may be seen below in his Speech, {That he was always highly against and detested any such Thing, was never in the least concerned in it, neither in Purse or Person; never knew of any Arms bought for that Intent, nor did believe there was any such Design. ] Than which, what Words could be more full and satisfactory He went away in the heat of Swearing, and returned with the Duke of Monmouth, thinking his Duty, as he says, to hazard his Life for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and English Liberties but as to the Duke of Monmouth's being declared King, he was wholly passive in it. He was first committed to Salisbury Prison, where he had several Disputes with a Learned and Good Man, whose Opinion then differed from his, concerning the Lawfulness of defending our selves by Arms against illegal Violence, which was his firm Judgment. Thence he was brought to London, and imprisoned in Newgate. He rejected there, with Scorn, some Offers made him of saving his own Life by taking away other Mens and tho' he was under inex pressible Trouble during his close Confinement there, which at length arose to Distraction, and the Impair of his Reason
yet
;
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it,
;
it
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St£r. IBU'cfjarti Seltljrop. 159
'tis remarkable that he, as Bateman before him, before he came to die, after Sentence, was very calm and lively again, the entire Exercise of his Judgment and Understanding returning, with more Joy and Comfort than he had before Pain and Misery. He writ one Letter to his Parents, another to his Children, here inserted together with his last Speech at his Execution the 30th of Octob. 1685. At 2 in the Morning he wrote the Letter to his Parents, &c. , . .
Wherein he speaks much of his Brother, and Fellow-Sufferer, Mr. * Ayloff, if I mistake not, whom he says, [He could embrace with more Joy in the Field of Suffering, than ever he could
have done had he met him in the Field crown'd with Victory and Lawrels. ]
Mr. Richard Nelthrop's Letter to his Parents, Brothers, and Sister.
Dearest Parents, and ever loving brothers, and tender-hearted and beloved sister.
Through the infinite Goodness of God, the nearer I approach
my End, the more Joy and Comfort I find in my
Estate, (that I may so call it :) I can through Mercy say, that I have found more true Delight and Content this Night, than in
all the Days and Nights of my whole Life ; and I hope the Lord will continue that his Name may be glorified by me the meanest and poorest of all his Servants, but through free Grace faithful unto the End My soul ravished, can hardly write, and my Comforts are more unspeakable than my Terrors were.
did this Evening see my dearest Brother and Companion his Face was to me as that of an Angel, and he gave me that Comfort, that cannot but say my Love to him beyond what ever had to my dearest Relations. When God comes, every Thing has a Beauty and Lustre upon here an Answer of
Prayers, and such an Answer, as, dearest Relations, must engage you all to be constant in the Performance of that Duty, which, like Jacob's Ladder, tho' stand upon the Earth, yet reaches
This pious and couragious Man, Mr. Ayloff, suffered Martyrdom in London about the same Time that Mr. Nelthrof did.
suffering
* ,
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I is
it,
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;
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160 Hge flfllegtern tCrangacttong.
up to Heaven : Here's the Love of God made manifest to a poor Sinner at the last Hour, like the Thief upon the Cross, he that never knew before what the Love of God was to his Soul, finds it now filled with and running over. Now bless the Lord, my Soul Yea, all that within me, bless his holy Name for this Dispensation. Now Light appears out of Dark ness in the Face of Jesus now all worldly Joy and Comforts seem to me (as they are) Things not hard to part with Father,
Mother, Brothers, Sister, Wife, Children, House, and Lands are (as my dear Saviour saith) to be parted with for him, or we are not worthy of him bless his Name, find no Reluctancy to do he has brought me to his Foot-stool, and can say heartily, The Will of the Lord be done in this Matter. never before but saw Beauty in worldly Comforts, but now those seem so faded by the greater Lustre and Beauty, that see in God in
Christ Jesus, that am astonished where have been wandering all my Days, spending my Time and my Money for that which
strive to get a Taste of this Love of God in And will perfectly wean you from this deceitful,
not Bread.
Christ Jesus
foolish World. What worldly Honour and Riches set not your Hearts upon them, but get a Treasure in Heaven, that your Hearts may be there also. lose no Time For you ever knew the Sweetness of you would never be at Rest till you found him whom your Soul loved will be more, yea, in finitely more than all worldly Injoyments can afford you, tho' in their greatest Perfection will make your Life sweet, and your Death most comfortable It the Bread which this World knoweth not of, and therefore maketh little or no Inquiry after it. Dearest Relations, whilst you and my other dear Friends are like Aaron and Hur, holding up the Hands of Moses, am through Grace, getting Victory over the Amalekites. can embrace my dear and beloved Brother and Companion with more Joy in the Field of suffering, than ever could have done, had met him crowned with the Lawrels of Victory the Mercy to die with such a Friend, and such a valiant Souldier of Jesus, who hath kept his Garments clean. now begin to pity you that stay behind, who have many Temptations to conflict
with for a little, yea, a very little Time, and my Warfare will be accomplished and God continue his Love and Influence
;
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S^ir. Kicliarti
i|5elthrop. 161
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 Will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his Sight, through
Christ, to whom be Glory for ever and ever, Amen. Richard
From the Palace of Newgate, Oct. the 30th, 1685. Two of the Clock in the Morning.
Mr. Richard, Nelthrop's Letter to his Children.
My Dear Children,
The Providence of God has so ordered that your poor and ever-loving Father taken from you in such a Manner as may
cast both worldly Loss and Reproach upon you but 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, your dying Father charges and conjures you, that you will answer 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 and remember that Obedience to Parents hath the
M
Jesus Nelthrop.
;
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promise of this Life, as well as of Eternal Life. Pay a great Duty and Obedience to your Grandfather and 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 Cal lings 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 God's 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 and 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 Rai ment ; and if the Lord bless you with any temporal Goods, remember they are Talents, employ them well to the Master's Use : No Duty is so acceptable to God as Charity, that's it which your Saviour exalts so far that he sIays, Come ye Blessed
of my Father, inherit the Kingdom ; for
was an hungry and yefed me; naked, andye cloathed me ; sick, and in Prison, and you 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
St£r. Ei'cliacti i! 2elttjrop. 163
Honour or Dishonour, Riches or Poverty ; but Remember what soever it be, it is God's 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 affectionte 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 anything too much to do for you. My dear Children, fare well, 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 Affectionate and Loving Father,
Nelthrop.
The great and inexpressible Trouble and Distraction I have been under since I came into Trouble, especially since close Confinement in Newgate, hath so broken my Reason, that for
many Weeks 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 Wife hath had the Favour granted her of coming to see me, I am at present under great Composedness of Mind, through the infinite Goodness of the Lord. As to what I stand out-lawed for, and am now sen tenced to die, I can with Comfort appeal to the great God, be fore whose Tribunal I am to appear, that what I did was in the
Simplicity 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,
M2
Newgate, 29 Octob. 1685.
Mr. Nelthrop's Last Speech.
Richard
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and which I always detested ; and I was never in the least con cerned in neither in the Purse nor Person, nor never knew of any Arms bought for that intent, nor did believe there was any such Design, or ever hear of any Disappointment in such an Affair, 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, was in the North when the late King was at New-market, and the first News had of the Fire, was at Beverly in York-shire. As to my coming over with the late
Duke of Monmouth, 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 Duke of Monmouth's being declared King, was wholly passive in never having been present at any publick Debate of that Affair, and should never have advised but complained of to Colonel Holmes, and Captain Patchet. believe the Lord Gray and Mr. the
Chief Promoters of it. As to the Temptation of becoming an Evidence, and bringing either into Trouble or Danger the meanest Person of his Life, upon the Account for which suffer,
always abhorred and detested the Thoughts of both when in and out of Danger, and advised some very strongly against 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, was preserved from and indeed was wholly incapable, and could never receive the least Shadow of Comfort from but thought Death more eligible, and was some Time afore, out of my distracted and disquieted Condition, wholly free from tho' not without other Temptations far more Criminal in the Sight of Men. bless
the Father of all Mercies, and God of all Consolations, that find a great Resignedness of my Will to his, finding infinitely more Comfort in Death, than ever 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
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those that do so. I am heartily and sincerely troubled for what hath happened, many Men's Lives being lost, and many poor distressed Families ruined : 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 Ladyship, 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 to any 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 Mercy, 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
come unto thee, O blesssd 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 IScarlet Dye ? Yet thou
Oppressed, and to be a Physician to the Sick.
canst make them as white as Snow.
see noIthing in my
but what must utterly ruin and condeI
mn me,
for one Action of my whole Life, but
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
self cannot answer
cast my wholly upon self
166 tlElje
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through the imputed Righteousness of thy Son; he payed the Debt by his 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 thro' the alone Merits of tny dearest
Ipraise thee : To whom, with thy and self
Redeemer, for whom
holy Spirit, be ascribed all Glory, Honour, Power, Might, and
Dominion for and ever, Amen.
Dear Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit, Amen.
Newgate, Octob. 29. 1685.
Richard Nelthrop.
MRS. GAUNT
NE of the great Reasons why Mrs. Gaunt was burnt, was, 'tis very possible, because she lived at
Wapping ; the honest Seamen, and hearty Protes tants thereabouts, being such known Enemies to Popery and Arbitrary Government, that the Friends of both gave all who oppose the Name of Wappingers as an odious Brand and Title. She was a good, honest, charitable Woman,
who made her Business to relieve and help whoever suffered for the forementioned Cause, sparing no Pains, refusing no Office to get them Assistance, in which she was the most in dustrious 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^ 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 Money she was charged to give him, and that he himself, an Out-lawed Person, his Out-lawry not yet revers'd, he not being Out-lawed when she was with him, and hid him away. That which she writ in the Nature of a Speech, has
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a great deal of Sense and Spirit, and some strange Expressions which were mentioned in the Introduction to all these Matters ; which she concludes with these Words addrest to her Enemies, [From her that finds no Mercy from you. ]
Were my Pen qualified to represent the due Character of this Excellent Woman, it would be readily granted, That she stood most deservedly entituled to an Eternal Monument of Honour in the Hearts of all sincere Lovers of the Reformed Religion. All true Christians (tho' in some Things differing in Persuasion with her) found in her a Universal Charity and sincere Friendship, as is well known to many here, and also to a Multitude of the Scotch Nation, Ministers and others, who for Conscience Sake were formerly thrust into Exile. These found her a most refreshing Refuge. She dedicated her self with unwearied Industry, to provide for their Supply and Support, and therein (I do incline to think) she outstripped every individual Person
not the whole Body of Protestants in this great City. ) Hereby she became exposed to the implacable Fury of Bloody Papists, and those blind Tools who co-operated to promote their accursed Designs. And so there appeared little Difficulty to procure a Jury (as there were well-prepared Judges) to make her a Sacrifice as a Traitor to the State. Her Judges, the King's Counsel, the Solicitor-General, the Common-Serjeant, 6W. rackt their Inventions to draw Burton and his Wife to charge Mrs. Gaunt with the Knowledge of his being in a Plot, or in the Proclamation, but nothing of that could be made out, nor is here any Sort of Proof that Mrs. Gaunt harbour'd this ungrate ful Wretch, or that she gave him either Meat or Drink, as the Indictment charges her ; but notwithstanding that, her Jury brought her in Guilty.
The Sentence was executed upon this Excellent Woman upon Friday then following, being the 23d Octob. 1685. when she left her Murderers the following Memorial.
Newgate, 2. zd of Octob. 1685.
Mrs. Gaunt's Speech, written the Day before her Sufferings.
Not knowing whether I should be suffered or able, because of Weaknesses that are upon me through my hard and close
(if
168 tElje flfllegtern ^ranstactt'ong.
Imprisonment, to speak at the Place of Execution ; I writ these few Lines to signifie, That I am well reconciled to the Way of my God towards me, though it be in Ways I looked not for ; and by Terrible Things, yet in Righteousness ; having given me Life, he ought to have the disposing of when and how he pleases to call for and desire to offer up my All to him, being but my reasonable Service and also the first Terms that Jesus Christ offers, that he that will be his Disciple, must for sake all, and follow all and therefore let none think hard, or be discouraged at what hath happened at me for he doth nothing without Cause, in all he hath done to us, he being holy in all his Ways, and righteous in all his Works and 'tis but my Lot in common with poor desolate Sion at this Day. Neither do find in my Heart the least Regret for what have done in the Service of my Lord and Master Jesus Christ, in succouring and securing any of his poor Sufferers, that have shewed Favour to his righteous Cause Which Cause, though now be fallen and trampled upon, as had not been anointed, yet shall revive, and God will plead at another Rate than ever he hath done yet, and reckon with all its Opposers and malicious
Haters and therefore let all that love and fear him. not omit the least Duty that comes to Hand, or lyes before them, know ing that now hath need of them, and expects they shall serve him. And desire to bless his holy Name, that he hath made me useful in my Generation to the Comfort and Relief of many Desolate Ones; and the Blessing of those that are ready to perish has come upon me, and being helpt to make the Heart of the Widow to sing. And bless his holy Name, that in all this, together with what was charged with, can approve my Heart to him, that have done His Will tho' does cross Man's Will, and the Scriptures that satisfie me are, Isaiah
Hide the Outcasts, betray not him that wandereth. And Obad. 13. 14, Thou shouldst not have given up those of his that did escape in the Day of his Distress. But man says, You shall
give them up, or you shall die for it. Now who to obey, judge ye. So that have Cause to rejoyce and be exceeding glad, in that suffer for Righteousness Sake, and that am accounted worthy to suffer for Well-doing, and that God has accepted any Service from me, which has been done in Sincerity, tho' mixed
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with manifold Infirmities, which he hath been pleased for Christ's Sake to cover and forgive. And now as concerning my Fact, as it is called, alas it was but a little one, and might well become a Prince to forgive ; but he that shews no Mercy, shall find Inone : And I may say of it in theI Language of
for
Door of the furious Judge ; who, because I could not remem ber Things through my Dauntedness at Burton's Wife's and Daughter's Vileness, and my Ignorance, took Advantage thereat, and would not hear me, when I had called to Mind that which I am sure would have invalidated their Evidence ; tho' he granted something of the same Nature to another, yet denied it
to me. My Blood will also be found at the Door of the un righteous Jury, who found me Guilty upon the single Oath of an Out-lawed Man ; for there was none but his Oath about the Money, who is no legal Witness, though he be pardoned, his Out-lawry not being recalled ; and also the Law* requires two Witnesses in Point of Life : And then about my going with him to the Place mentioned, 'twas by his own Words, before he was Out-lawed, for 'twas two Months after his absconding ; and tho' in a Proclamation, yet not High Treason, as I have heard ; so that I am clearly murdered by you. And also Bloody Mr. A. who has so insatiably hunted after my Life ; and though it is no Profit to him, through the ill Will he bore me, left no Stone unturned, as I have Ground to believe, till he brought it to
this ; and shewed Favour to Burton, who ought to have died for his own Fault, and not bought his own Life with mine ; and Capt. R. who is cruel and severe to all under my Circumstances, and did at that Time, without all mercy or Pity, hasten my Sentence, and held up my Hand, that it might be given ; all which, together with the Great One of all, by whose Power all these, and a Multitude more of Cruelties are done, I do heartily
and freely forgive, as against me ; but as it is done in an im placable Mind against the Lord Christ, and his righteous Cause
Jonathan,
did but taste a little Honey, and lo
must die
it. I did but relieve an unworthy, poor, distressed Family, and lo I must die for it. Well, I desire in the Lamb-like Gospel Spirit to forgive all that are concerned, and to say, Lord, lay it not to their Charge; but I fear he will not : Nay, I believe when he comes to make Inquisition for Blood, it will be found at the
169
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tEfje Q(lierstem tlra reacttong.
and Followers, I leave it to him who is the Avenger of all such Wrongs, who will tread upon Princes as upon Mortar, and be terrible to the Kings of the Earth : And know this also, that though ye are seemingly fixt, and because of the Power in your
Hand,' are writing out your Violence, and dealing with a despite ful Hand, because of the old and new Hatred ; by impoverishing and every Way distressing of those you have got under you ; yet unless you can secure Jesus Christ, and all his Holy Angels, you shall never do your Business, nor your Hands accomplish your Enterprizes ; for he will be upon you ere you are aware ; and therefore, O that you would be wise, instructed and learn, is the Desire of her that finds no Mercy from you,
Elizabeth Gaunt.
Postscript.
Such as it you have from her, who hath done as she could, and sorry she can do no better hopes you will pity
and cover Weakness, Shortness, and any thing that
and begs that none may be weakned or humbled at the Lowness of my Spirit for God's Design to humble and abase us, that he alone may be exalted in this Day and hope he will appear in the needful Time, and may be reserve the best Wine till last, as he hath done for some before me none goeth to War fare at his own Charge, and the Spirit bloweth, not only where, but when listeth and becomes me, who have so often grieved, quenched, and resisted to wait for and upon the
Motions of the Spirit, and not to murmur but may mourn, because through Want of honour not my God, nor his blessed Cause, which have so longed loved and delighted to love and repent of nothing about but that served him and
no better.
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171
A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF MR. ROSE-
WELL'S TRIAL &
ACQUITTAL.
BOUT the same Time, Mr. Rosewell, a very worthy Divine, was tried for treasonable Words in his Pulpit upon the Accusation of very vile and lewd Informers; and a Surry Jury found him guilty of High Treason,
upon the most villanous and improbable Evidence that had been ever given, notwithstanding Sir John Talbot (no Coun- tenancer of Dissenters) had appeared with great Generosity and
Honour, and testified, That the most material Witness was as scandalous and infamous a Wretch as lived.
It was at that Time given out by those who thirsted for Blood, that Mr. Rosewell and Mr. Hays should die together; and it was upon good Ground believed, that the happy Deliverance of Mr. Hays did much contribute to the Preservation of Mr. Rose- well; tho', it is very probable, that he had not escaped, had not Sir John Talbot's worthy and most honourable Detestation of that accursed Villany, prompted him to repair from the Court of King's Bench, to King Charles II. and to make a faithful Representation of the Case to him ; whereby, when inhuman bloody Jeffreys came a little after in a Transport of Joy, to make
"his Report of the eminent Service he and the Surry Jury had done in finding Mr. Rosewell guilty ; the King (to his Disap pointment) appeared under some Reluctancy, and declared that Mr. Rosewell should not die. And so he was most happily delivered.
THE EARL OF ARGYLE.
E must now take a Step over into Scotland, that poor Country, which has been harass'd and tired for these many Years, to render them perfect Slaves, that they might help to enslave England, to prevent
which, and secure the Protestant Religion, which 'twas grown
to do, but by Arms ; this good Lord embarkt from Holland about the same Time with the Duke, and arrived in
impossible
172 flfllastern ^rangacti'ong.
Scotland with what Forces he could make ; to which were added some others who joined him ; which after several Marches and Countermarches, were at length led into a Boggy Sort of a Place, on Pretence, or with Intention to bring him off from the other Army then upon the Heels of 'em, where they all lost one
another, dispersed and shifted for themselves : the Earl being taken by a Country-man, and brought to Edinburgh, where he suffered for his former unpardonable Crime—requiring Care should be taken of the Protestant Religion, and explaining his taking the Test comformable thereto ; for the Legality of which he had the Hands of most of the eminent Lawyers about the City. He suffer'd at Edinburgh the 30th June, 1685. His
Speech has a great deal of Piety and Religion, nor will it be any Disgrace to . say, 'twas more like a Sermon. —'Tis as follows.
The Earl of Argyle's last Speech, June 30. 1685.
Job tells us, Man that is bom of a Woman, is of few Days, andfull of Trouble ; and I am a clear Instance of it. I shall not now say any thing of my Sentence, or Escape about three Years and a half ago ; nor of my Return, lest I may thereby give Offence, or be tedious : Only being to end my Days in your Presence, I shall, as some of my last Words, assert the Truth of the Matter of Fact, and the Sincerity of my Intentions, and
Professions that are Published.
That which I intend mainly now to say, To express my
humble, and thank God) chearful Submission to his Divine Will and my Willingness to forgive all Men, even my Enemies; and am heartily well satisfied there no more Blood spilt, and shall wish the Stream thereof may stop at me And that (if please God) to say, as to Zerubbabel, Zech. Not Might, nor Power, but my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.
know Afflictions spring not out of the Dust God did wonderfully deliver and provide for me, and has now by his special Providence brought me to this Place and hope none will either insult or stumble at seeing they ought not for
God Almighty does all Things well, for good and holy Ends, tho' we do not always understand it. Love and Hatred not known by what before us, Eccles. 1. and 11, 12, 13.
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Afflictions are not only foretold, but promised to Christians ; and are not only tolerable, but desirable.
We ought to have a deep Reverence and Fear of God's Dis pleasure ; but withal, a firm Hope and Dependance on him for a blessed Issue, in Compliance with his Will ; for God chastens his own, to refine them, and not to ruin them, whatever the World may think, Heb. 12. 3. to 12. Prov. 3. n, 12. 2 Tim. 1. 8. 2 Tim. 2. 11, 12. Matth. 10. 18. to 40. Matth. 16. 24. to 28.
We are to imitate our Saviour in his Sufferings, as 1 Pet. 2. 23. and 1 Pet. 4. 16. to 20.
We are neither to despise our Afflictions, nor to faint under them ; both are Extreams.
We are not to suffer our Spirits to be exasperated against the Inslruments of our Trouble ; for the same Affliction may be an Effect of their Passion, and yet sent to God to punish us for Sin : Tho' 'tis a Comfort when we may say to them with David Psal. 59. 3, Not for my Transgression, nor for my Sin, 0 Lord.
Nor are we, by fraudulent, pusillanimous Compliances in wicked Courses, to bring Sin upon our selves : Faint Hearts are ordinary false Hearts ; Chusing Sin rather than Sufferings, and a short Life with eternal Death, before temporal Death and a
Crown of Glory : Such seeking to save a little, loses all ; and God readily hardens them to proceed to their own Destruction. How many, like Hazael, 2 Kings 8. 13, run to Excesses they never thought they were capable of ! Let Rulers and others read seriously, and weigh Prov. 1. 10. to 20. 2. Chr. 28. 6. to 17. Prov. 24. 11, 12. and Prov. 28. 10. and avoid what is bad, and follow what is good.
For me, I hope by God's Strength to join with Job, Chap. 13. 15. and the Psalmist, Psal. 22. 4. and 16. 7. and shall pray, as Psal. 74. 19. to 24. and Psal. 122. 6. to 9. and Luke 1. 74. 75,
and shall hope, as Psal. 94. 14, 15.
I do freely forgive all that directly or indirectly have been the
Cause of my being brought to this Place, first or last ; and I pray God forgive them. I pray God send Truth and Peace in these three Kingdoms ; and continue and increase the Glorious Light of the Gospel, and restrain the Spirit of Prophanity, Atheism, Superstition, Popery, and Persecution, and restore all
i74 Ufa Miejstern 'Erangactfong.
that have back-slidden from the Purity of their Life or Principles; and bless his whole People with all Blessings, spiritual and temporal, and put an End to their present Trials.
And I intreat all People to forgive me wherein I have offended, and concur with me to pray, That the great, good, and merciful Cod would sanctijie my present Lot. and for Jesus Christ his Sake pardon all my Sins, and receive me to his Eternal Glory.
It is suggested to me, That I have said nothing of the Royal Family ; and it remembers me, that before the Justices at my Trial about the Test, I said, That at my Death I would pray, That there should never want one of the Royal Family to be a Defender of the True, Ancient, Apostolick, Catholick, Protestant Faith; which I do now : And that GOD would enlighten and forgive all of them that are either luke-warm, or have shrunk from the Profession of it. And in all Events, I pray God may provide for the Security of his Church, that Antichrist, nor the
Gates of Hell may never prevail against it.
COLONEL RUM-BOLD.
T the same Place died Colonel Richard Rumbold, June 26. 1685. most of what occurred considerable in his Defence and Speech, you have already in the Business of the Assassination. Two or three
Passages more there are worth Remarks in the same, as Argu ments of his Sense and Courage. [For this Cause, he says, were every Hair of his Head and Beard a Life, he'd joyfully sacrifice 'em all. ] [That he was never Antimonarchical in his Principles, but for a King and Free Parliament ; the King having Power enough to make him great, and the People to make 'em happy. ] [That he died in the Defence of the just
Laws and Liberties of the Nations. ] [That none was markt by God above another ; for no Man came into the World with a Saddle on their Backs, nor others booted and spurr'd to ride upon 't. ] And being askt if he thought not his Sentence dread ful ? Answered, [He wisht he had a Limb for every Town in Christendom. ]
burgh,
Colonel Kumbolti,
175
The last Speech of Col. Richard Rumbold, at the Market-Cross at Edinburgh, with several Things
that passed at his Trial, 26 June,
At the same Place died Colonel Richard Rumbold, about Eleven of the Clock he was brought from the Castle of Edin
to the Justices Court, in a great Chair, on Men's Shoulders ; where at first he was asked some Questions, most of which he answered with Silence ; at last said, He humbly con ceived, it was not necessary for him to add to his own Accu sation, since he was not ignorant they had enough already to do his Business ; and therefore he did not design to fret his Conscience at that Time with Answering Questions. After which, his Libel being read, the Court proceeded in usual Manner ; first asking him, If he had any thing to say for him self before the Jury closed ? His Answer was He owned it all, saving that Part, of having designed the King's Death ; and desired all present, to believe the Words of a dying Man ; he never directly nor indirectly intended such a Villany ; that he abhorred the very Thoughts of it ; and that he blessed God he had that Reputation in the World, that he knew none that had the Impudence to ask him the Question ; and he detested the Thoughts of such an Action ; and he hoped all good People would believe him, which was the only Way he had to clear himself ; and he was sure that this Truth should be one Day made manifest to all Men. He was again asked, If he had any Exception against the Jury ? He answered, No ; but wished them to do as God and their Consciences directed them. Then they withdrew, and returned their Verdict in half an Hour, and brought him in Guilty. The Sentence followed ; For him to be taken from that Place to the next Room, and from thence
to be drawn on a Hurdle, betwixt Two and Four of the Clock, to the Cross of Edinburgh, the Place of Execution, and there to be Hang'd, Drawn, and Quarter'd. He received his Sentence with an undaunted Courage and Chearfulness. Afterwards he was delivered into the Town-Magistrate's Hands ; they brought to him two of their Divines, and offered him their Assistance upon the Scaffold ; which he altogether refused, telling them,
1685.
176
flfliegtern ^rangactfong.
That if they had any good Wishes for him, he desired they would spend them in their own Closets, and leave him now to seek God in his own Way. He had several Offers of the same kind by others, which he put off in like Manner. He was most serious and fervent in Prayers the few hours he lived, (as the Centinels observed, who were present all the while. ) The Hour being come, he was brought to the Place of Execution, where he saluted the People on all Sides of the Scaffold, and after having refreshed himself with a Cordial out of his Pocket, he was sup ported by two Men, while he spoke to the People in these Words :
Gentlemen and Brethren, It is for all Men that come into the World once to die, and after Death to Judgment ; and since Death is a Debt that all of us must pay, it is but a Matter of small Moment what Way it be done ; and seeing the Lord is pleased in this Manner to take me to himself, I confess, some thing hard to Flesh and Blood, yet blessed be his Name, who hath made me not only willing, but thankful for his honouring me to lay down the Life he gave, for his Name ; in which, were every Hair in this Head and Beard of mine a Life, I should
joyfully sacrifice them for as do this and Providence having brought me hither, think most necessary to clear my self of some Aspersions laid on my Name and first, That should have had so horrid an Intention of destroying the King and his Brother.
[Here he repeated what he had said before to the Justices on this Subject. ]
It was also laid to my Charge, That was Antimonarchical.
It was ever my Thoughts, That Kingly Government was the best of all, justly executed mean, such as by our Ancient Laws that is, a King, and a Legal, Free-Chosen Parliament. The King having, as conceive, Power enough to make him Great the People also as much Property as to make them Happy they being, as were, contracted to one another. And who will deny me, that this was not the Just Constituted Govern ment of our nation How absurd then for Men of Sense to
maintain, That tho' the one Party of this Contract breaketh all Conditions, the other should be obliged to perform their Part No this Error contrary to the Law of God, the Law of Nations, and the Law of Reason. But as Pride hath been the
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Colonel Eumbolo.
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Bait the Devil hath catched most by ever since the Creation, so it continues to this Day with us. Pride caused our first Parents to fall from the blessed Estate wherein they were created ; they aiming to be higher and wiser than God allowed, which brought an everlasting Curse on them and their Posterity. It was Pride caused God to drown the Old World. And it was Nimrod's Pride in building Babel, that caused that heavy Curse of Division of Tongues to be spread among us, as it is at this Day, One of the greatest Afflictions the Church of God groaneth under, that there should be so many Divisions during their Pilgrimage here ; but this is their Comfort that the Day draweth near, where, as there is but One Shepherd, there shall be but One Sheepfold. It was therefore in the Defence of this Party, in their Just Rights and Liberties, against Popery and Slavery —
[At which Words they beat the Drums :] To which he said ;
They need not trouble themselves, for he should say no more of his Mind on that Subject, since they were so disingenuous, as to interrupt a dying Man, only to assure the People, he adhered to the true Protestant Religion, detesting the Erroneous Opinions
of many that called themselves so ; and I die this Day in the Defence of the Ancient Laws and Liberties of these Nations : And though God, for Reasons best known to himself, hath not
seen it fit to honour us, as to make us the Instruments for the Deliverance of his People ; yet as I have lived, so I die in the Faith, that he will speedily arise for the Deliverance of his Church and People. And I desire of all you to prepare for this with
I may say, This is a deluded Generation, vailed with Ignorance, that tho' Popery and Slavery be riding in upon them, do not perceive it ; though I am sure there was no Man born
marked of God above another ; for none comes into the World with a Saddle on his Back, neither any booted and spurr'd to ride him ; not but that I am well satisfied, that God hath wisely ordered different Stations for Men in the World, as I have al ready said : Kings having as much Power as to make them
great, and the People as much Property as to make them happy. And to conclude, I shall only add my Wishes for the Salva tion of all Men, who were created for that End.
After ending these Words, he prayed most fervently near three Quarters of an Hour, freely forgiving all Men, even his
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greatest Enemies, begging most earnestly for the Deliverance of Sion from all her Persecutors, particularly praying for London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, from which the Streams run that rule
God's People in these three Nations. If
Being asked some Hours before his Execution, he thought not his sentence dreadful ? He answered, He wished he had a
Limb for every Town in Christendom.
A brief Account of the last speech of Mr. John King, at the Place of Execution at Edinburgh, on the 14th Day
ofAugust, 1679
Men and Brethren,
I do not doubt but that many that are Spectators here, have some other End, than to be edified by what they may see and hear in the last Words of One going to Eternity ; but if any one of you have Ears to hear, (which I nothing doubt but some of this great Gathering have) I desire your Ears and Attention, if the Lord shall help and permit me to speak to a few Things.
I Bless the Lord, since infinite Wisdom and holy Providence has so carved out my Lot to die after the Manner that I do, not unwillingly, neither by Force : It's true I could not do this of my self, Nature always having an Inclination to put the Evil Day far off, but through Grace I have been helped, and by this Grace yet hope I shall : 'Tis true, thro' Policy I might have shunned such a hard Sentence, if I had done some Things ; but though I could, I durst not, God knows, redeem my Life with the loss of my Integrity and Honesty. I bless the Lord, that since I have been apprehended and made a Prisoner, God hath very wonderfully upholden me, and mIade out that comfortable
Word, Fear not, be not dismayed,
strengthen thee,
Righteousness, Isaiah 42. 10. I thank the Lord he never yet gave me Leave so much as to have a Thought, much less to seek
am with thee,
I will uphold thee by the Right Hand
of
my
I will
9pr.