No More Learning

Here therefore is presented a true Account of the Admirable Appearances of God towards two Young Men ; Mr. Benjamin Hewling, who died when he was about 22 Years of Age, and Mr. William Hewling, who died before he arrived to 20 Years : They engaged with the Duke of Monmouth, as their own words were, for the English Liberties, and the Protestant Religion, and for which Mr. William Hewling was Executed at Lyme the 12th of September, 1685. and Mr. Benjamin Hewling at Taun
ton, the 30th of the same Month ; and however severe Men were to them, yet the blessed Dispensation of God towards them was such, as hath made good his Word, that out of the Mouths of Babes he hath ordained Strength, that he may still the Enemy and the Avenger. Then, Reader, would you see
Earthly Angels, (Men that are a little too low for Heaven, and much too
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high for Earth) would you see poor frail Creatures trampling this World under their Feet, and with an holy, serene Counten ance Smiling at the Threats of Tyrants, who are the Terrors of the Mighty in the Land of the Living ? Would you see shackled Prisoners behave themselves like Judges, and Judges stand like Prisoners before them ? Would you see some of the rare Exploits of faith in its highest Elevation, immediately before it be swallowed up in the Beatifical Vision ? To conclude, would you see the Heavenly Jerusalem pourtrayted on Earth ? Would you hear the melodious Voices of ascending Saints in a ravishing
Comfort ready to join with the Heavenly Chorus in their delight ful Hallelujah's ? Then draw near, come and see ! If thou be a Man of an Heavenly Spirit, here is pleasant and suitable Entertainment for thee ; and after thou has conversed a while with these Excellent Spirits, it may be thou wilt judge as I do, That dead Saints are sweeter Companions (in some Respects)
for thee to converse with, than those that are living : And when thou shalt see the magnificent Acts of their Faith, their invin cible Patience, their flaming Love to Christ, their strange Con tempt and Undervaluings of the World, their Plainness and
Simplicity in the Profession of the Gospel, their fervent and brotherly love to each other, their ravishing Prospect (as it were on the Top of Mount Pisgah) of the Heavenly Canaan, their Swan-like Songs and Dying-Speeches. And, Reader, you know the first Lispings of little Children, and last farewels of Dying Saints are always most sweet and charming : Those Fore-tastes of the Rivers of Pleasure, the transporting Glimpses they had
I say, when you see and read these Exemplary Truths, wonder not that the Pious Hewlings longed
so vehemently to be in a better World, though they were to pass through a Thousand Deaths, or the Fiery Trial to it. [But to
come to our intended Matter. ]
After the dispersing of the Duke's Army, they fled and put to
Sea, but were driven back again, and with the Hazard of their Lives got on Shoar, (over dangerous Rocks) where they saw the Country filled with Soldiers, and they being unwilling to fall into the Hands of the Rabble, and no Way of Defence or Escape remaining to them, they surrendred themselves Prisoners to a Gentleman, whose House was near the Place they landed at,
of the Crown of Glory ;
The SuRiiEjf i>br ok the Hew lings.
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and were from thence sent to Exeter Goal, the 1 2th of Jtdy, where remaining some Time, their Behaviour was such, that (being visited by many) caus'd great Respect towards em', even of those that were Enemies to the Cause they engaged in ; and being on the 27th of July put on Board the Swan Frigate, in Order to their bringing up to London, their Carriage was such, as obtained great Kindness from the Commander, and all other Officers in the Ship ; and being brought into the River, Captain Richardson came and took them into his Custody, and carried . them to Newgate, putting great Irons about them, and put them apart from each other, without giving Liberty for the nearest Relation to see them, notwithstanding all Endeavours and Entreaties used to obtain tho' in the Presence of a Keeper which though did greatly increase the Grief of Relations, God, who wisely orders all Things for Good to those he intends Grace and Mercy to, made this very Restraint, and hard Usage a blessed Advantage to their Souls, as may appear by their own Words, when after great Importunity and Charge, some of their near Relations had Leave to speak a few Words to them before the Keeper, to which they replied, They were contented with the Will of God whatever should be. Having been in Newgate three Weeks, there was Order given to carry them down into the West, in Order to their Trial which being told them, they answered, They were glad of and that Morning they went out of Newgate, several that beheld them, seeing them so chear- ful, said, Surely they had received their Pardon, else they could never carry with that Courage and Chearfulness. Although this must be observed, that from first to last, whatever Hopes they received from friends, they still thought the contrary, never being much affected with the Hopes of nor cast down, nor the least discouraged at the worst that Man could do. In their Journey to Dorchester, the Keepers that went with them have
given this Account of them, That their Carriage was so grave, serious, and Christian, that made them admire to see and hear
what they did from such Young Men.
A near Relation that went into the West to see the Issue of
Things, and to perform whatever should be necessary for them, gives the following Account
At Salisbury, the 30th of August, had the first Opportunity K
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of Converse with them : I found them in a very Excellent Com posure of Mind, declaring their Experience of the Grace and Goodness of God to them in all their Sufferings, in supporting and strengthning, and providing for them, turning the Hearts of all in whose Hands they had been both at Exon, and on Ship board, to shew Pity and Favour to them ; although since they came to Newgate they were hardly used, and now in their Journey loaded with heavy Irons, and more inhumanely dealt
with. They with great Chearfulness professed, That they were
better, and in a more happy Condition than ever in their Lives, from the Sense they had of the pardoning Love of God in Jesus Christ to their Souls, wholly referring themselves to their wise and gracious God to chuse for them Life or Death; expressing
themselves thus : if
Any thing what pleases God, what he sees best,
so be it : We know he is able to deliver, but not, blessed be his Name, Death is not terrible now, but desirable. Mr. Benjamin Hewling particularly added, Asfor the World, there is nothing in it to make it worth while to live, except we may be serviceable to God
Itherein. And afterward said, Oh / God is a strong
have him so indeed. found
Refuge,
The next Opportunity I had was at Dorchester, where they both
were carried, there remaining together four Days : By Reason of their strait Confinement our Converse was much interrupted ; but this appeared, that they had still the same Presence and Sup port from God, no way discouraged at the Approach of their Trial, nor of the Event of whatever should be.
The 6th of September Mr. Benjamin Hewling was ordered to Taunton to be tried there Taking my Leave of him, he said, Oh! Blessed be God for Afflictions have found such happy
Effects, that would not have been without them for all this World.
remained still at Dorchester 'to wait the Issue of Mr. William Hewling, to whom, after Trial, had free Access, whose Dis course was much filled with Admirings of the Grace of God in Christ, that had been manifested towards him, in calling him out of his natural State. He said, God his holy Spirit did sud denly seize upon his Heart, when he thought not of in his
retired Abode in Holland, as it were secretly whispering in his Heart, Seek ye my Face, enabling him to answer his Call, and
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to reflect upon his own Soul, shewing him the Evil of Sin, and Necessity of Christ, from that Time carrying him on, to a sensible Adherence to Christ for Justification and Eternal Life. He said, Hence he found a Spring of Joy and Sweetness beyond the Comforts of the whole Earth. He further said, He could not but admire the wonderful Goodness of God, in so preparing him,
for what he was bringing him to, which then he thought not of; giving him Hope of Eternal Life, before he called him to look Death in the Face, so that he did chearfully resign his Life to God before he came, having sought his Guidance in itj and that both then, and now the Cause did appear to him very Glorious, notwithstanding all he had suffered in it, or what he further might. Although for our Sins God hath with held these good Things from us. But he said, God had carried on his Blessed
Work on his Soul, in and by all his Sufferings ; and whatever the Will of God were, Life or Death, he knew it would be best for him.
After he had received Ihis Sentence, when he returned to
my spiritual inci eas find Comforts
Prison, he said, Methinks
ing, ever since my Sentence. There is no Condemnation to them
that are in Christ Jesus, it's God that justifies, whom shall condemn ?
When I came to him the next Morning, (when he had received News that he must die the next Day, and in Order to it was to be carried to Lyme that Day) I found him in a more excellent rais'd Spiritual Frame than before : He said, He was
satisfied God had chosen best for him : he knows what the Temptations of Life might have been ; I might have lived and forgotten God, but now I am going where I shall sin no more. 0 ! it's a Blessed Thing to be free from Sin, and to be with Christ. Oh ! the Riches of the Love of Christ to Sinners. Oh ! how great were the Sufferings of Christ for me beyond all
I can undergo ? How great is that Glory to which I am going ? It will soon swallow up all our Sorrow here.
When he was at Dinner, just before his going to Lyme, he dropt many abrupt Expressions of his inward Joy, such as these : Oh ! the Grace of God, the Love of Christ; Oh I that
ILamb, to be ever with the Lord ! He blessed Supper of the for
further said, When
went to Holland, you knew not what
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Snares, Sins and Miseries Imightfall into, or whether ever ive
should meet again : But now you know whither that we shall certainly have a most joyful Meeting.
He said, Pray give my particular Recommendations to all my Friends, with acknowledgments for all their kindness. I advise them all to make sure of an Interest in Christ, for he is the only comfort when we come to die.
One of the Prisoners seemed to be troubled at the Manner of
the Death they were to die ; to whom he replied, am reconciled to it all.
/
bless God
I
Just as he was going to Lyme, he writ these few Lines to a Friend, being hardly suffered to stay so long.
/ am going to launch into Eternity, and I hope and trust into the Arm of my Blessed Redeemer, to whom I commit you and all my dear Relations; my Duty to my dear Mother, and Love to all my Sisters, and the rest of my Friends. Hewling.
William
As they passed through the Town of Dorchester to Lyme, Multitudes of People beheld them, with great Lamentations,
admiring at his Deportment at his parting with his Sister.
As they passed upon the Road between Lyme and Dorchester, his Discourse was exceeding Spiritual, (as those declared who were present) taking Occasion from every Thing to speak of the Glory they were going to. Looking out on the country as he
passed, he said, This is a Glorious Creation, but what then is the Paradice of God to which we are going? 'Tis but a few Hours, and we shall be there, andfor ever with the Lord.
I will not leave you comfortless,
you. Christ will be with us to the last. One taking LeI
for us,
him, he said, Farewel till we meet in Heaven; presently
be with Christ : Oh ! I
ave of shall would not Change conditions with any
in this world; I
To another that asked him how he did now ? He said, Very
would not stay behind
for
ten thousand worlds.
well he blessed God. And farther asking him, if he could look Dealh in the Face with Comfort now it approach'd so near ?
I
am going, and
At Lyme, just before they went to die, reading John 14. 18. He said to one of his Fellow-sufferers, Here is a sweet Promise
I will come 'unto
II 135 He said, Yes, bless God can with great Comfort ; God has
made this a good Night to me, my
I I
are much increased Dorchester : Then taking Leave of him, said, Fare-
Comforts
shall see you no more. To which he replied, How I See
since
wel,
me no more? Yes,
that was by him to the last, he said, Pray remember my dear
left
I
to meet you in Glory. To another
hope
Love to my Brother and Sister
Afterwards he prayed for about three Quarters of an Hour with the greatest Fervency, exceedingly blessing God for Jesus Christ, adoring the Riches of his Grace in him, in all the
Glorious Fruits of it towards him, praying for the Peace of the Church of God, and of these Nations in particular, all with such eminent Assistance of the Spirit of God, as convinced,
astonished, and melted into Pity the Hearts of all present, even the most malicious Adversaries, forcing Tears and Expressions from them ; some saying, They knew not what would become of them after Death ; but it was evident he was going to great Happiness.
When he was just going out of the World, with a joyfuIl Countenance, he said, Oh I now my Joy and Comfort is, that have a Christ to go to, and so sweetly resign'd his Spirit to
would comfort themselves that
shall quickly meet in the Glorious Mount Sion above.
Christ, the 1 2th of September,
An Officer who had shewed so malicious a Spirit as to call
the Prisoners Devils, when he was guarding them down, was now so convinced, that he after told a Person of Quality, That he was never so affected, as by his chearful Carriage and fervent Prayer, such, as he believed, was never heard, especially from one so Young ; and said, I believe, had the Lord Chief Justice been there, he would not have let him die.
The Sheriff having given his Body to be buried, although it was brought from the Place of Execution without any Notice given, yet very many of the Town, to the Number of about 200, came to accompany him ; and several Young Women of the best of the Town, laid him in his Grave in Lyme-Chuich- Yard, the 13th of September, 1685.
After which his Sister wrote the following Letter to her Mother :
I, and tell them,
I
desire they
1685.
am to Christ, and we gone
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Although I have nothing to acquaint my Dear Mother withall, but what is most afflictive to Sense, both as to the Determination of God's Will, and as to my present Apprehen sion concering my Brother Benjamin, yet remaining; yet there is such abundant Consolation mixt in both, that I only wanted an Opportunity to pay this Duty ; God having wrought so Glorious a Work on both their Souls, revealing Christ in them, that Death is become their Friend. My Brother William having already with the greatest Joy declared to those that were with him to the last, that he would not change Conditions with any that were to remain in this World, and he desired that his Relations would comfort themselves, that he is gone to Christ.
My Brother Benjamin expects not long to continue in this World, and is exceeding willing to leave it when God shall call, being fully satisfied that God will chuse that which is best for him and us all ; by these Things God doth greatly support me ; and I hope you also, my Dear Mother, which was and is my Brother's great Desire ; there is still Room for Prayer for one ;
and God having so answered, though not in kind, we have Encouragement still to wait on him.
Honoured Mother,
Your Dutiful Daughter, Hannah Hewling.
When I came to Taunton, to Mr. Benjamin Hewling, he had received the News of his Brother's being gone to die with so much Comfort and Joy, and afterwards of the continued Goodness of God increasing it to the End. He exprest to this Effect, We have no Cause to fear Death, if the Presence of God be with us ; there is no Evil in the Sting being taken away it's nothing but our Ignorance of the Glory that the Saints pass into by Death, which makes appear dark for our selves or Relations in Christ, what this World that we should desire an Abode in It's all vain and unsatisfying, full of Sin and Misery Intimating also his own chearful Expectations soon to follow, discovering then, and all along great Seriousness, and Sense of Spiritual and Eternal Things, complaining of nothing in his present Circumstances, but Want of a Place of Retire ment to converse more uninterruptedly with God and his own
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Soul, saying, That his lonely Time in Newgate was the sweetest in his whole Life. He said, God having some Time before struck his Heart (when He thought of the Hazard of his Life) to some serious Sense of his past Life, and the great Consequences of Death and Eternity, shewing him, that they were the only happy Persons that had secured their Eternal States : The folly and Madness of the Ways of Sin, and his own Thraldom therein, with his utter Inability to deliver himself ; also the Necessity of Christ for Salvation : He said it was not without Terror and Amazement for some Time, the Sight of unpardoned Sin, with Eternity before him. But God wonderfully opened to him the Riches of his Free Grace in Christ Jesus for poor Sinners to flee to, enabling to look alone to a Crucified Christ for Salvation :
He said this blessed Work was in some Measure carried on upon his Soul, under all his Business and Hurries in the Army ; but never sprung forth so fully and sweetly till his close Confine ment in Newgate. There he saw Christ and all Spiritual
Objects more clearly, and embraced them more strongly ; there he experienced the Blessedness of a reconciled State, the Excellency of the Ways of Holiness, the Delightfulness of Communion with God, which remained with very deep and apparent Impressions on his Soul, which he frequently expressed with Admiration of the Grace of God towards him. He said, Perhaps my Friends may think this Summer the saddest Time of my Life ; but I bless God it hath been the sweetest and most happy of it all ; nay, there is nothing else worth the Name
of Happiness. I have in vain sought Satisfaction from the Things of this World, but I never found it ; but now I have found Rest for my Soul in God alone.
O how great is our Blindness by Nature, till God open our Eyes, that we can see no Excellency in Spiritual Things, but spend our precious Time in pursuing Shadows, and are deaf to all the Invitations of Grace, and Glorious Offers of the Gospel! How just is God in depriving us of that we so much slighted and abused ! Oh ! his infinite Patience and Goodness, that after all he should yet sanctifie any Methods to bring a poor Sinner to himself : Oh ! Electing Love, Distinguishing Grace ! What great Cause have I to admire and adore it !
He said, What an amazing consideration is the suffering
of
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Christ for Sin, to bring us to God ; his suffering from wicked men was exceeding great; but alas, what was that to the Dolours of his Soul, under the infinite Wrath of God? This Mystery of Grace and Love is enough to swallow up our
Thoughts to all Eternity.
As to his own Death, he would often say, He saw no Reason
to expect any other;
I
know God is infinitely able to deliver, and
I
am sure will do
which, bless God, am fully satisfied; it's all my Desire that he would chuse for me, and then am sure it will be best, whatever it be; for truly unless God have some Work forme to do in the World for his Service and Glory, see nothing else to make Life desirable In the present State of Affairs, there is nothing to cast our Eyes upon, but Sin, Sorrow, and Misery: And truly, were Things never so much according to our Desires, ifs but the World still, which will never be a Resting-place. Heaven is the only State of Rest and Happi ness there we shall be perfectly free from Sin and Temptation, and enjoy God without Interruption for ever.
Speaking of the Disappointment of their Expectations in the Work they had undertaken, he said with Reference to the Glory of God, the Prosperity of the Gospel, and the Delivery of the People of God, We have great Cause to lament but for that outward Prosperity that would have accompanied it's but of small Moment in self; as could not satisfie,so neither could be abiding for at longest, Death would have put an End to
all Also adding, Nay, perhaps we might have been so foolish, as to have been taken with that Part of with the Neglect of our eternal Concerns and then, am sure, our present Circum stances are incomparably better.
He frequently expressed great Concern for the Glory of God, and Affection to his People, saying, If my Death may advance God's Glory, and hasten the Deliverance of his People, enough saying, was great Comfort to him, to think of so great a Priviledge as an Interest in all their Prayers.
In his Converse particularly valuing and delighting in those Persons, where He saw most Holiness shining also great Pity to the Souls of others, saying, That the Remembrance of our former Vanity may well cause Compassion to others in that
it be
for
his Glory, and my Good; in
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State. And in his Converse prompting others to Seriousness, telling them, Death and Eternity are such weighty Concerns, that they deserve the utmost Intention of our Minds ; for the Way to receive Death chearfully, is to prepare for it seriously ; and if God should please to spare our Lives, surely we have the same Reason to be serious, and spend our remaining Days in his
Fear and Service.
He also took great Care that the Worship of God, which they
were in a Capacity of maintaining there, might be duly per formed ; as Reading, Praying, and Singing of Psalms, in which he evidently took great Delight.
For those three or four Days before their Deaths, when there was a general Report that no more should die ; he said, / don't know what God hath done beyond our Expectations ; if he doth
am sure it is all his own, and by his Grace I will wholy devote it to him.
But the 29th of September, about Ten or Eleven at Night, we found the Deeeitfulness of this Report, they being then told they must die the next Morning, which was very unexpected, as to the Suddenness of it ; but herein God glorified his Power, Grace, and Faithfulness, in giving suitable Support and Comfort by his blessed Presence, which appeared upon my coming to him at that Time, finding him greatly composed : he said,
Though men design to surprise, God doth and will perform his Word, to be a very present Help in Trouble.
prolong my Life,
I
The next Morning when I saw him again, his Chearfulness and Comfort were much increased, waiting for the Sheriff with the greatest Sweetness and Serenity of Mind ; saying, Now the
I
will of God is determined, to whom referred
have and he hath chosen most certainly that which is best.
Afterward with a smiling Countenance he discoursed of the Glory of Heaven, remarking with much Delight, the third, fourth, and fifth Verses of the 22d of the Revelations, And there shall be no more Curse but the Throne of God, and of the Lamb, shall be in and his Servants shall serve him, and they
shall see his Face, and his Name shall be in their Foreheads, and there shall be no Night there, and they shall need no Candle nor Light of the Sun, and they shall reign for ever and ever. Then he said, Oh, what a happy State is this Shall we be loth
!
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to go to enjoy this ! Then he desired to be read to him, 2 Cor. 5. For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a House not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens; to the tenth or eleventh Verses. In all, his Comforts still increasing, expressing his sweet Hopes and good Assurance of his Interest in this glorious Inheritance, and being now going to the Possession of seeing so much of this happy Change, that he said, Death was more desirable than
he had rather die than live any longer here. As to the Manner of his Death, he said, When have considered others under these Circumstances, have thought it very dreadful, but now God hath called ? ne to it, bless God have quite other Apprehensions of it; can now chearfully embrace as an easie Passage to Glory And though Death separates from the Enjoyments of each other here, it will be but for a very short
Time, and then we shall meet in such Enjoyments as now we cannot conceive, andfor ever rejoyce in each other's Happiness. Then reading the Scriptures, and musing with himself, he intimated the great Comfort God conveyed to his Soul in saying, what an invaluable Treasure this blessed Word of
God; in all Conditions here is a Store of strong Consolation. One desiring his Bible, he said, No, this shall my Companion to the last Moment of my Life. Thus praying together, reading, meditating, and conversing of Heavenly Things, they waited for the Sheriff, who, when he came, void of all Pity or Civility, hurried them away, scarce suffering them to take Leave of their Friends. But notwithstanding this, and the doleful Mourning of all about them, the Joyfulness of his Countenance was encreased. Thus he left his Prison, and thus he appeared in the Sledge, where they sat about half an Hour, before
Officers could force the Horses to draw, at which they were greatly enraged, there being no visible Obstruction from Weight or Way. But at last the Mayor and Sheriff hall'd them forwards themselves, Balaam-like driving the
Horses.
When they came to the Place of Execution, which was sur
rounded with Spectators, many that waited their Coming with
Life
Sorrow, said, That when they saw him and them come with such Chearfulness and Joy, and Evidence of the Presence
great
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of God with them, it made Death appear with another Aspect.
They first embraced each other with the greatest Affection ; then two of the Elder Persons praying audibly, they joined with great Seriousness. Then he desired Leave of the Sheriff to pray particularly, but he would not grant only askt him he would pray for the King He answered, pray for all Men. He then requested they might sing a Psalm the Sheriff told him, It must be with the Ropes about their Necks which they chear- fully accepted, and sung with such heavenly Joy and Sweetness, that many present said, It both broke and rejoyced their Hearts.
Thus in the Experience of the Delightfulness of praising God on Earth, he willingly closed his Eyes on a vain World, to pass to that Eternal Employment, Sept. 30. 1685.
All present of all Sorts were exceedingly affected and amazed. Some Officers that had before insultingly said, Surely these Per sons have no Thoughts of Death, but will find themselves sur
prised it; after said, That they now saw he and they had some thing extraordinary within, that carried them through with such Joy. Others of them said, They were so convinced oftheir Happiness, that they would be glad to change Conditions with
them. All the Soldiers in general, and all others, lamenting exceedingly, saying, That was so sad a Thing, to see them so cut off, they scarce knew how to bear it.
Some of the most malicious in the Place, from whom nothing but Railing was expected, said, (as they were carried to their
Grave in Taunton Church, voluntarily accompanied by most of the Town) That these Persons had left a sufficient Evidence, that they were now glorified Saints in Heaven.
A great Officer in the King's Army has been often heard to say, That you would learn to die, go to the Young Men of Taunton.
Much more was utterVi by them, which shewed the blessed and glorious Frames of their Hearts, (to the Glory of Divine Grace) but this what occurs to Memory.
Mr. Benjamin Hewling, about two Hours before his Death, writ this following Letter, which shewed the great Composure of his Mind.
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Mr. Hewling's Last Letter a little before his Exe cution, Taunton, Septemb. 30. 1685.
Honoured Mother,
That News which I know you have a great while feared, and
we expected, I must now acquaint you with, That notwith standing the Hopes you gave in your two last Letters, Warrants are come down for my Execution, and within these few Hours I expect it to be performed. Blessed be the Almighty God that gives Comfort and Support in such a Day ; how ought we to magnifie his holy Name for all his Mercies, that when we were running on in a Course of Sin, he should stop us in full Career,
and shew us that Christ whom we had pierced, and out of his Free Grace enable us to look upon him with an Eye of Faith, believing him able to save to the utmost all such as come to him. Oh admirable long-suffering Patience of God, that when we were dishonouring his Name, he did not take that Time to
bring Honour to himself by our Destruction. But he delighteth not in the Death of a Sinner, but had rather he should turn to him and live : And he has many Ways of bringing his own to himself. Blessed be his Holy Name, that through Affliction he has taught my Heart in some Measure to be comformable to his Will, which worketh Patience, and Patience worketh Experience, and Experience Hope, which maketh not ashamed. I bless God I am not ashamed of the Cause for which I lay down my Life ; and as I have engaged in and fought for so now am going to seal with my Blood. The Lord still carry on the same Cause which hath been long on Foot and tho' we die in
and for question not but in his own good Time he will raise up other Instruments more worthy to carry on to the Glory of his Name, and the Advancement of his Church and
People.
Honoured Mother, know there has been nothing left un
done by you, or my Friends, for the Saving of my Life, for which return many hearty Acknowledgments to your self and them all and it's my dying Request to you and them, to pardon all Undutifulness and Unkindness in every Relation. Pray give my Duty to my Grandfather and Grandmother, Service to my Unkles and Aunts, and my dear Love to all my Sisters to every
;
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Relation and Friend a particular Recommendation. Pray tell 'em all how precious an Interest in Christ is when we come to die, and advise them never to rest in a Christless Estate. For if we are his, it's no Matter what the World do to] us, they can but kill the Body, and blessed be God the Soul is out of their
Reach, for I question not but their Malice wishes the Damnation of that, as well as the Destruction of the Body ; which has too evidently appeared by their deceitful flattering Promises. I commit you all to the Care and Protection of God, who has promised to be a Father to the Fatherless, and a Husband to the Widow, and to supply the Want of every Relation. The
Lord God of Heaven be your Comfort under these Sorrows, and your Refuge from those Miseries we may easily foresee coming upon poor England, and the poor distressed People of God in it. The Lord carry you through this Vale of Tears with a resigning, submissive Spirit, and at last bring you to himself in
Glory ; where I question not but you will meet your dying Son,
Their Characters.
They were both of sweet and obliging Tempers, as has
appeared in their History, it being a very hard Matter for their worst Enemies, when they once knew 'em well, not to honour and love 'em. Mr. Benjamin, the Elder, reconciled the Lamb and the Lion exactly. In the Field he seem'd made only for War, and any where else, for nothing but Love. He, without Flattery, deserved to be called a very Fine Man, of a lovely
Proportion, extreamly well made, as handsom a Meen, and good an Air, as perhaps few in England exceeded him : His
Picture is pretty like him.
The Younger, Mr. William, somewhat taller, and more
slender. His Face fresh and lively, as his Spirit, being Master of an extraordinary Vivacity and Briskness of Temper. Both of 'em Vertuous, Pious, and Couragious, far above their Years, and indeed, seem'd to be Men too soon, one of 'em not being Twenty, the Eldest but Two and Twenty when they died ; verifying that common Observation, That whatever is perfect sooner than ordinary, hasgenerally a shorter Periodprefixed than what's more base and ignoble.
Benjamin
Hewling.
it,
144 tlje MRt&ttm transactionsf.
MR. CHRISTOPHER
BATTISCOMB.
E was another Young Gentleman of a good Family, and very great Hopes, and of a fair Estate, which lay in Dorsetshire, somewhere between Dorchester and Lyme. He had studied some Time at the
Temple, and having Occasions in the Country about the Time of my Lord RussePs Business, he was there seized, on Suspicion of being concerned in and clapt into the County Goal at Dorchester, where he behaved himself with that Prudence and winning Sweetness, and shewed so much Wit, and innocent Pleasantry of Temper, as extreamly obliged both all his Keepers and Fellow-prisoners, and even Persons of the best Quality in that Town. 'Tis indeed genteel, well bred Place, as almost any in England, at such a Distance from London. The Streets are fair and large, and Buildings pretty regular Two plentiful Rivers running by it. It stands on a^Chalky Hill, but wants not Store of good Water. The Market-House a plea sant little Pile, that very much sets off the Town. There are Three Churches in and One in its adjoining Parish. endowed with several Alms-houses, good Grammar-School well enough provided, which has had the happiness of Ingenious Masters, and by their Care, produced no inconsiderable Number of good Scholars. There are two or three fine old Roman Forti fications near the Town, which Camden and Speed take Notice of. The People on't are generally Civil and Gallant enough, not little on the extream that Way. They knew how to value such a Gentleman as Battiscomb, and made him such frequent Visits in the Prison, till the Place self was so far from being scandalous, that there was generally all the Conversation, and where you might be sure to meet the best Company in the Town of both sexes. Mr. Battiscomb had the Happiness not to be dis pleasing to the Fair Sex, who had as much Pity and Friendship for him as consisted with the Rules of Decency and Virtue and
perhaps their Respect for him did not always stop at Friendship,
tho' still preserved the other Bounds inviolable.
sweet,
'Tis
Pity
it
a
; is
if
it
a
it,
is
;
a
it,
S^r. Cljrisftopfjer ©attfsfromb* 145
generally but a little Way from Love, especially when the Object of it is any thing extraordinary. But after he had been there some Time, and nothing could be proved against him which could any ways affect him, he was at length, almost un willingly delivered from this Sort of happy Slavery.
And when the Duke landed, appeared with him, and served him with equal Faith and Valour, till the Rout at Sedgmoor, when he fled with the rest, and got up as far as Devonshire, where he was seized in a Disguise, and brought to his Old Palace, the
Prison at Dorchester.
He behaved himself there the second Time in the same cour
teous, obliging Manner as he did at the first, tho' now he seemed more thoughtful and in Earnest than before, as knowing nothing was to be expected but speedy Death : though his
Courage never droopt, but was still the same, if it did not increase with his Danger. At his trial Jeffreys railed at him with so much Eagerness and Barbarity, that he was observed to foam almost upon the Bench. He was so angry with him, because he was a Lawyer, and could have been contented all
such as he should be hang'd up without any Trial ; and truly 'twas no great Matter whether he or the rest had had that Formality, or no. Mr. Battiscomb was as undaunted at the Bar, as in the Field, or at Execution. How he demeaned him self in Prison before his Death, take this following Account verbatim, as 'twas written by his Friends. Tho' that which occurred most remarkable after his Sentence, must not be omitted. Several Young Ladies in the Town, among whom one, who is particularly mentioned in the Poem, went to Jeffreys to beg his Life, who repuls'd 'em at such a brutish Rate, as nothing with one Spark of Humanity would have been guilty of, and in a Manner even too uncivil to be mentioned. The Particulars may be seen in the Petition of the Widows and
Orphans of that Country.
The Account given of him by his Relations.
He was observed to be always serious and chearful, ready to entertain Spiritual Discourse, manifesting Affection to God's People and his Ordinances ; he seemed to be in a very calm
L
146 C&e flfliegtern Crangamong,
Indifference to Life or Death, referring himself to God to determine expressing his great Satisfaction as to some Opportunities of Escape that were slipt, saying, That truly he
sometimes thought the Cause was too good to flee from suffering in it, though he would use all lawful Means for his Life; but the Providence of God having prevented this, he was sure was best for him, for he said, he blest God he could look into Eternity with Comfort. He said, with Respect to Relations and Friends, to whom his Death would be afflictive, that he was willing to live, God saw good; but for his own Part, he thought Death much more desirable. He said, have enjoyed enough of this World, but never found any thing but Vanity in no Rest or Satisfaction. God, who an Infinite Spiritual Being, is the only suitable Object for the Soul of Man, which Spiritual in its Nature, and too large to be made happy by all that this World can afford, which is all but sensual. There
fore methinks, see no Reason why should be unwilling to leave it Death, since our Happiness can never be perfected till then, till we leave this Body, where we are so continually clogg'd with Sin and Vanity, frivolous and foolish Trifles. Death in self is indeed terrible, and Natural Courage is too low to encounter it; nothing but an Interest in Christ can be our Comfort in he said, which Comfort hope have; in timating much Advantage to his Soul by his former Imprison ment.
The Day he went from Dorchester to Lyme, after he had received the News of his Death the next Day, he was in the same serious Chearfulness, declaring still the same Apprehension of the Desireableness of Death, and the great Supports of his
Mind under the Thoughts of so sudden passing through alone from the Hope of the Security of his Interest in Christ taking
Leave of his Friends with this Farewel, Tho' we part here, we shall meet in Heaven. Passing by his Estate, going to Lyme, he said, Farewel Temporal Inheritance, am now going to my
Heavenly, Eternal One. At Lyme, the Morning that he died, appeared that he had the same Supports from God, meeting Death with the same Chearfulness and after he had prayed
a while to himself, without any Appearance of Reluctancy, yielded up his Spirit, Sept. 12. 1685.
it
;
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I
I
is
;
I it,
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it, Iif
by
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it
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SlfH\ Cfjrisrtopfjer Battteromtu 147
A further A ccount of the Behaviour of Mr. Christopher Battiscomb, of his last Speech and Prayer, immedi ately before he suffer'd at Lyme, the izth of Sep
tember, l685.
. ! .
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 prompted 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, he smiled, and said,
am
not afraid of
I would have undergone this had hearkned to the L. C. but it was upon such
my Pardon, die a True
A Poem on a Lady that came to my Lord Chief Justice, to beg Mr. Battiscomb's Life, Sister to one of the Sheriffs in the West, which he denied.
Harder than thine own Native Rocks !
To let the Charming Silvia kneel,
And not one Spark of Pity feel ; Harder than sensless Stones and Stocks !
L2
I
World, to a Celestial Paradise, a Heavenly Jerusalem;
Protestant; I
with all Men : God
am going to a better Place,
this,
might have chosen, whether
from
I unworthy Terms, that should
I
it would have been troublesom to me;
Death, if
J.
have accepted
of I
am in
this Nation from Popery; the Lord bless you all. So taking his Leave of them he knew, after Prayer, he launched into Eternity.
Charity
preserve
/
a poor and miserable
148 W$t
fallesstern
tltangacrtong.
Ye Gods ! What Showers of Pearls she gave ! What Precious Tears ! Enough to save
A Bleeding Monarch from the Grave.
By every hapless Virgin Curst :
Winter Blasts not more unkind ;
Deaf as the rugged Northern Wind ; By some Welsh Wolf in Murders nurst.
Hast thou Eyes ? Or hast thou none ? Or are they worse than Marble grown ? Since Marbles weep at Silvia's Moan.
Rebels stiff, and supple Slaves,
All the Frantick World divide,
One must stoop, and t'other ride ; Cringing Fools, and Factious Knaves ;
Tho' falling on the Loser's Part, Gentle Death arrests my Heart, And has in Honey dipt his Dart.
Life farewel, thou gaudy Dream,
Painted o'er with Grief and Joys,
Which the next short Hour destroys ; And drowns them all in Lethe's Stream :
What blest Mortal would not die, Might he with me Embalmed lye,
In Precious Tears from Silvia's Eye ?
His Character.
All that knew or saw him, must own, Mr. Battiseomb was very much a Gentleman. Not that thin Sort of Animal that flutters from Tavern to Play-house, and back again, all his Life ; made up of Wig and Crevat, without one Dram of Thought in his Composition ; but one who had solid Worth, well drest and set out to the World. His Body made a very handsom and credit able Tenement for his Mind ; and 't had been Pity it should have liv'd in any other. He was pretty tall, well made, I think, inclining to Black ; not altogether unlike Mr. Benjamin Hew-
ling, as he has been thought to resemble the Duke of Monmouth.
apr. flflMUi'am 3Ienfepn.
149
He was Witty, Brave, exactly Honourable, Pious, and Vertuous : And if ever that Character belonged to any Man, it did eminently to Mr. Battiscomb, That he lived universally Beloved, and died as generally Lamented.
MR. WILLIAM
IS Father was sufficiently known, and his Circum stances hard enough, being seized only for his Opinion, and clapt up close in Newgate; where the Inconvenience of the Place, and Want of the Exer
cise he formerly enjoyed, quickly killed him, as he used to say before his Confinement, 'twould certainly do if ever it happen'd. Thus was he requited by that very Person, for whom with Mr. Love he ventured his Life so deeply, and so hardly escaped with it. 'Twas his inhumane Treatment which edged and animated his Son ; and the Revenge of his Father's Blood may be pre sumed to have gone very far in pushing him on to engage his Life and Fortune in this undertaking, he having given Funeral Rings for his Father with this Posie, William Jenkyns, murder'd in Newgate. He was his Father's only Son, who had taken Care to have him educated suitable to his Ingenuous Birth and Inclinations ; he improved sufficiently in all useful Learning, and was now about one or two and Twenty. He and several Young Gentlemen rode down from London a little before the Duke landed, and were taken on Suspicion, and laid up in Ilchester Goal, till the Duke himself came and relieved them. He continued in his Army till the Rout, when, if I mistake not, he got to Sea, and was forced back again with the Hewlings, or some others. He was condemned at the Bloody Assizes in Dorchester.
A Friend discoursing to him at Dorchester about his Pardon, and telling him the Doubtfulness of obtaining he replied.
Well, Death is the worst they can do, and bless God, that will not surprize me, for hope my great Work is done. At Taunton being advised to govern the Airiness of his Temper, telling him,
JENKYN.
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
I
;
it,
:
Mii'Htam 3! enl$pn.
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.
I
:
it it
is,
I
I
it
I
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, :
I
I
I is
it
I I
it,
I
i54
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
a
a
it, aI; ;a
;
is
I
;I
I
II
I
it,
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
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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
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'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.
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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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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.