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An Account of those that Suffered at Bridport and Lyme.
At Bridport one John Sprage, who was a very good Man, and behaved himself with a great deal of Christian-like Courage to the End : His Speech and his Devotions, dr'c. must be omitted, not being possible to take them, by Reason of the
Rudeness, &r'c. and the Shortness of the Time allowed him by the Soldiers.
With Mr. John Sprage there were executed Twelve in the County of Dorset. Mr. John Sprage of Lyme, a Man more fit to die, than he that condemned him was fit to live : He was a
zealous Christian, and a Man that in a Manner lived in Heaven while on Earth ; he was but of an ordinary Estate in this World ; But to be short, his Praise, his Worth, his Fame will never die in those Places where known ; he went about doing good, even in his worldly Employments, as I have been credibly informed ; hardly any thing coming that Way, but what his Spiritual Meditations were upon. He was apprehended near Salisbury, brought to Dorchester, where I saw him several Times, and was conversant with him before his Trial ; he carried himself very moderately to all ; some of divers Principles in Matters of
2o6 'QEfje
flfilegtern ^rangactfong.
Religion, he continually prayed with them, advising and instruct ing them to those holy Duties which were necessary to Salva tion. Being asked, how he could endure those Hardships he had undergone since his being taken? Says he, If this be all, 'tis not so much ; but my Friend, if you were to take a Journey in those Ways you were not acquainted with, you would hope) desire Advice from those that had formerly used those
I
Advice many a Time from a Minister, who hath often told his Congregation of the Troublesomness of the Road, and of the Difficulty of getting through; and hath given me, and
Hundreds of others to understand the Pitts and Stones in the Way, and how to avoid them; he has been a Man used to
(I Ways, or lived near by them: Yes, says he : Then said he,
The Ways of Affliction which
have lately travelled in,
I
had
I
got thus far on comfortably, and
these Roads many Years;
have taken his Advice ; I
am not
End; I afraid
I
be: NowI
if
can truly say, 0 Death where is thy
am trust shall do so to the tofight a Duel with Death, so it must
I
Sting ? And O Grave, where is thy Victory ! Two' or three
thank God
Days after their Sentence, they were drawn to Execution, but were very rudely and approbriously dealt with, to the Shame of those that then had the Charge over them ; their Rigor unto them was more like Turks than Christians. But to conclude, being come to the Place of Execution, he prayed very devoutly with them all, but by the Rudeness of the Guards, there could be no Copy taken to be said to be true : All of them died very cou- ragious, especially this Stout Christian Champion, who spake to them in these Words, (looking on. the Soldiers) saying, Little do
you think that this very Body of mine, which you are now come to see cut in Pieces, will one Day rise up in Judgment against
you, and be your Accuser, for your Delight in spilling of Chris tian Blood; the Heathens have far more Mercy; 'O 'tis sad, when England must out-stripIInfidels and Pagans ! But pray
am not in Charity with you; I forgive you and all the World; and do desire the God of Mercies to forgive you, and open your Hearts, and
take Notice, don't think that
I
turn you Darkness to Light, and thI
am so far, that
from from
e Power Satan
to the Lord
Christ; and so Farewel.
of
going of
the Power Jesus all I of you :
have no
am Dependence
out but upon my
Colonel
li? olmeg.
207
Blessed Redeemer, to whom Icommit my dear Wife and Children and all the World.
The next Place was Lyme, where many of Note died, par ticularly Col. Holmes, who was the first of those there executed, near the same Place where they landed, when they came a-Shoar with the Duke of Monmouth, being brought to the Place after
some Difficulty ; for the Horses that were first put into the Sledge would not stir, which obliged those concerned to get others, which they did from the Coachman, who had that Morn ing brought them to Town ; when they were put into the Sledge, they broke it in Pieces, which caused the Prisoners to go on foot to the Place of Execution ; where being come, as I told you before, the Colonel began thus at the Foot of the Ladder ; he sat down with an Aspect altogether void of Fear, but on the contrary with a kind of smiling Countenance, so began to speak to the Spectators to this Purpose, That he would give them an Account of his first Undertaking in the Design, which was long before in London; for there he agreed to stand by, and assist the D. of Monmeuth, when Opportunity offered ; in Order to which he went to Holland with him, and there continued until
this Expedition, in which God had thought fit to frustrate his and other good Mens Expectations : He believed the Protestant Religion was bleeding, and in a Step towards Extirpation and, therefore he with these his Brethren that were to suffer with him, and Thousands more, had adventured their Lives and their All to save it ; but God Almighty had not appo inted 'em to be the Instruments in so glorious a Work ; yet notwithstanding he did verily believe, and doubted not, but that God would make Use of others, that should meet with better Success, tho' the Way or
Means was not yet visible, but of this he did not doubt : He also was satisfied of the Duke's Title, so that Matter did not afflict him on Account of his engaging on his Score : And going on further with a Discourse of this Nature, he was asked by a Person, Why he did not pray for the King? He with a smiling Countenance answered, / am sorry you do not yet un derstand the Difference between Speaking and Praying; And having ended his Discourse, he then prepared himself by Prayer for his Dissolution, which was very Devout and Pious for half an Hour ; which was as follows :
2o8 dfliegtern ^rangactt'onsL
Colonel Holme's Last Prayer.
Most Glorious, most Great, and most Merciful God, there is none in Heaven or in Earth that is like unto thee ; Heaven is thy Throne, and the Earth is thy Footstool ; who shall say unto thee, What doest thou? Here we are poor deplorable Creatures come to offer up our last Prayers and Services unto thee ; we beseech thy Favourable Ear to our Prayers, and the Comfort of thy Holy Spirit, at this Time ; we praise and magnifie thy Name, for all the Dispensations of thy Providence towards us, especially for this thy Providence, in bringing us to this Place, and at this Time, to suffer Shame for thy Name : Help and assist all of us to submit to thy Will patiently. Pardon all our Sins, remove them out of thy Presence as far as the East is from the West, and accept of us in the Merits of thy Son Jesus Christ ; thou who art the Searcher of Hearts, and Trier of Reins, let there not at the Moment of Death be the least Spark of Sin indwelling in us, nor the Strivings of Flesh and Blood, that may hinder us from a joyful Passage unto thee : Give us Patience also under these Sufferings, and a Deliverance to all others from undergo ing them, and in thy good Time work a Deliverance for poor England, let thy Gospel yet nourish among them, hasten the
downfal of Antichrist, we trust the Time is come ; prevent, O Lord, this Effusion of Christian Blood ; and if it be thy Will, let this be the last : Lord, bless this Town, let them from the highest to the lowest set the Fear of God before their Eyes : Bless all sorts and conditions of Men in all Ranks and Qualities, pardon all their Sins, give them all true repentance, and the Grace of thy Holy Spirit ; fit and prepare us for the chearful Fulfilling of thy Holy Will ; let the Comforter be still with us ; be merciful to all our Friends, and Relations, and Acquaintance ; forgive our Enemies, accept of our Thankfulness for all the Mercies and Favours afforded us, and hear, and graciously answer us in these our Requests, and what else thou knowest needful and expedient for us, and all for our Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ his Sake ; who died for us, that we might reign with him for ever and ever; to whom with thee and thy Blessed
Spirit of Grace be ascribed, as is most due, all Honour, Glory, and Praise, both now and for ever.
Colonel
l^olmes.
209
After having ended his prayer, he took Occasion to speak to his suffering Brethren, taking a solemn Leave of them, encou raging them to hold out to the End, and not to waver, observing that this being a Glorious Sun-shining Day, I doubt not, though our Breakfast be sharp and bitter, it will prepare us, and make us meet for a comfortable Supper, with our God and Saviour, where all Sin and Sorrow shall be wiped away ; so embracing
I shall want Assistance to help me
each of 'em, and kissing of 'em, told the Sheriff, You see imperfect, only one Arm, I
upon this Tragical Stage; which was presently done, and Ex ecution suddenly followed.
He with Eleven more were brought from Dorchester to Lyme, Six in a Coach, and Six in a Cart ; as he was drawn through the Town, he chearfully beholding the People, advised them not to be
discouraged at their severe Deaths ; for that though it was their hard Fortunes to lose the Day in so good a Cause, yet he questioned not but it would be revived again, and by such Means as he nor they could not imagine ; God, I hope and trust, will never let this Nation to fall into Popery. Being brought to the Inn where they stopped near two Hours, until the Butchers had prepared every Thing for the Slaughter, they were visited by a very Worthy Divine, and Vicar of that Town, who offered them those Spiritual Helps, as usual in those Occasions, which some of them embraced, and others not ; their Principles being different
from the Church of England. The Jaylor speaking to Colonel Holmes to knock off his Irons, he said, Great Men of State wear Chains, and 'tis accounted for their Honour, but though there is a vast Difference betwixt those Golden ones and mine, yet I take mine to be more honourable, as that good Apostle said, he accounted it an Honour to suffer Shame for his Master's Name ; the Sledge being in Readiness they prepared
to enter it ; but alas ! Who should draw such Men to Execu tion ? Though Men were so bloody, the very Beasts refused to draw them ; and instead of going forward, they went backwards, and could by no Means make them do which so inraged some Persons, that they took the Coach-Horses out of the Coach, and placed them to the Sledge but presently the Sledge broke in Pieces then spake this worthy good Man Pray, Gentlemen, you see all your strivings will not do to draw us to
am
P
;
;
:
it,
2io flfllesftern tEranssactfonsf.
Execution, I verily believe there is more in it than you are aware of ; pray read about the Prophet, that went out of God's Way, his Beast saw that he could not.
Give us Leave, and we will walk to the Place ; being there come, the Colonel prepared first to mount that Tragical Stage, the Heads of his Speech you have before ; imbracing his Fellow- Sufferers, and kissing them,and giving them some ghostly Com forts ; he desired Help of the Sheriff to go up the Ladder, having but One Arm, and the Gallows higher than ordinary, which was granted : And in a short Time after the Executioner
did his Office.
Col. Holmes in his Prayer not mentioning the King, he was
charged as before ; to which he replied, He prayed for him in general, praying for all Mankind. Thus fell the Valiant and good Christian, Col. Holmes ; his Dying-Words we have now found come to pass ; he was much lamented by all that saw him, except by some, that, 'tis feared, are delivered up to a seared
Conscience.
Now follows the Execution of Mr. Sam. Larke.
Mr. Sampson Larke, who was a very eminent, pious Man, and had lived in that Town but little before many Years ; he was there well acquainted, and all People that knew him had a Value for him, behaving himself with that Humility and Cir cumspection, as no Body could have any other Occasion but to value him : He designed to have spoken somewhat on a Portion of Scripture, and was beginning, having mentioned the Place he intended to speak upon, but was interrupted, and told, the Work of the Day being great, they should want Time. So then he stopt, and replied, He could make Application where he should not meet with interruption ; And so applied himself to
Prayer, which he performed with great Devotion and Zeal for a Quarter of an Hour, to the great Satisfaction of the Auditors ; and so taking Leave of his suffering Brethren, he mounted the Stage, which was to be the last Act he made in this World ;
being on the Ladder, he saw some of his Friends and Neighbours weeping and mourning for him, to whom he spake, Pray weep
not for me, I am going to a Place of Bliss and Happiness, Iwherefore pray repair to your Houses, and e'er you get thither,
There was also Mr. William Hewling of London, a young Gentleman under Twenty, who came over with the Duke of Monmouth, he seemed to be in a calm and composed Frame of Spirit, and with a great deal of Courage and Seriousness he behaved himself. There is already something said of his Con verse and Discourse, which amongst others is Printed ; therefore we shall say nothing more of him, but that in all Manner of Appearance he died a good Christian, a true Protestant, and doubtless now enjoys the Benefit of it. There were several worthy Gentlemen more there executed, viz. Mr. Christoph Battiscomb, Dr. Temple, Capt. Madders, Captain Matthews,
Captain Kid, &c. in all Twelve, who all of them died with that Courage and Resolution as became Christians, and such who eminently had adventured their Lives and Fortunes in Defence of what was most dear to them ; and namely our Religion, which though God did not think fit to defend and secure yet in his Wisdom we hope will be in some Measure secured by other Instruments, the Glory of the same being only due to him. So that now leaving this Place, we proceed to other Parts of the Country, where with the like Butchery were only Five executed, amongst whom was one Mr. Tyler of Bristol, who had had Command in the Duke's Army, where he hehaved himself very stoutly to the last after the Army was dispersed, he among others was taken, received Sentence of Death at Dorchester, and here brought for the Completion of the same, and from thence we hope was translated to Heaven. He spent his Time between the Sentence and Execution very devoutly, in confirming and
strengthening those that were to be his Fellow-Sufferers and made his Business to bring them to Willingness to submit to, and Preparedness for Death The Day being come, and he brought to the Place of Execution, he thus spoke, My Friends, you see am now on the Brink of Eternity, and in a few Minutes shall be but Clay you expect should say something, as usual in such Cases, as to the Matter of Fact die for,
I
shall be with God and
happy my Saviour,
doubt not but
where all Tears shall be wiped away, and nothing shall remain but Hallelujahs to allEternity.
211
P 2
is
a it
;
it
I
a
I
I
;
it,
it
:
;
2i2 H« Mlesftern transactionsf.
dIoth not much trouble me, knowing to my self the Ends for which engaged myself with the Duke of Monmouth were both good and honourable. Here being stopp'd, and not suffered to pro ceed further, he then comforted his Fellow-sufferers, desiring them to join with him in singing an Hymn, which he himself
Composed for the Occasion as follows :
A HYMN made by Mr. Joseph Tyler, a little before his Execution.
i.
O Lord, how Glorious is thy Grace,
And wondrous large thy Love ; At such a dreadful Time and Place,
To such as faithful prove !
2.
If thou wilt have thy Glory hence, Though a shameful Death we die,
We bless thee for this Providence, To all Eternity.
3-
Let these Spectators see thy Grace
In thy poor Servants shine ; While we by Faith behold thy Face
In that bless'd Son of thine.
4-
Though Men our Bodies may abuse.
Christ took our Souls to Rest ; Till he brings forth the joyful News,
Ye are my Father's Blest,
5-
Appear for those that plead thy Cause,
Preserve them in the Way,
Who own King Jesus and his Laws,
And dare not but obey.
S$r. feampgon Harke. 213
6.
O God confound our cruel Foes, Let Babylon come down ;
Let England's King be one of them Shall raze her to the Ground.
7-
Through Christ we yield our Souls to thee,
Accept us on his Score ;
That where he is, there we may be,
To praise thee ever more.
After the Hymn sung he prayed devoutly for half an Hour ; after Prayer he gave great Satisfaction to all present of his Assurance of Heaven, had many weeping Eyes for him, and was much lamented in the Town, though a Stranger to the
forgive thee with all my Heart, and
to God to forgive thee; don't mangle my Body too much; and so lifting up his Hands to Heaven, the Executioner did his Office. There was also one William Cox that died with him, who also died very couragiously, despising the Shame, in Hopes and Expectation of a future better Estate. He and his two Sons were some of the first that came to the Duke of Mon mouth, and all taken, and all condemned together : The Father only suffered, the Sons by Providence were preserved. When he was going to Execution he desired Leave to see his Sons, then in another Prison in the Town, to whom he gave his Blessing; and though he was going to be executed, yet had that Satisfaction to hope that God would preserve them, which was so.
Some further Passages relating to Mr. Sampson Larke, with his Prayer at the same Time and Place when Executed.
Immediately after Col. Holmes was executed, this good Man was ordered to prepare to follow ; accordingly going to deliver
Place ; so unbuttoning himself, said to the Executioner,
fear
not what MIan can do unto me; pray thy
also pray
Mercy, for
thee do II
/ Work in
214 t1je afllesftern IxansfactionjJ.
some few Words to the People, some whereof were formerly of his Congregation, but being told he could not expect much Time, because it was so late, and "so many to be executed after him ; so he suddenly conIcluded, and said, / will now speak a few words to him which
his Prayer as followeth :
Blessed Lord God, we thine unworthy Creatures now here
before thee, cannot but acknowledge from the Bottom of our Hearts our own unworthiness ; we must confess we have been grievous Sinners, and have brought forth the evil Fruit of it in
our Lives, to the* great Dishonour of thy Name, for which we have deserved thy heavy Wrath and Indignation to be poured forth upon us, not only in this Life, but in that which is to come.
O let us bless God for our Suffering and Afflictions, as well as for our Mercies, we bless thee in particular for this; O sanctifie it to us ; let us be effectually convinced of the Vanity of the World, and of our own Sinfulness by Nature and Practice, and to see that to be Sin which we never saw before ; O Lord> make us sensible of the absolute Necessity of the Righteousness of Christ to justifie us, and let him be now made much more dear and precious to our Souls than ever, that so we may be
wrought into a more heavenly Frame, and raised to a higher Degree of Spirituality, and so made more meek and humble ; and let us judge charitably of others, that differ from us in Opinion and Judgment. And now, O Lord, though by thy most righteous Judgment we most justly deserve these Sufferings, and such an ignominious Death, for our Sins against thee, not for
Treasons against the Kingdom, let us be in a Preparedness for it. Pardon all our Sins, help us quietly to submit to thy holy will ; speak Peace to all our Souls. Look in Mercy, O Lord, on this poor Nation, especially on this Town, and every par ticular Person in it; let them all mind those Things which concern their Peace, before they are hid from their Eyes. Comfort my dear and distressed Wife, be a Husband unto her, deliver her out of the Paw of the Lion, and the Paws of the Bear. Look upon all thy poor afflicted Ones, all Prisoners and Captives, work Deliverance for them if thou seest it good ; but thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. And now, Lord,
■ ith humble Meekness and submission I submit to thy Will,
am sure will hear me. And so began
9£r. feampson Hacfce. 215
depending upon the Merits of my Saviour, to whom with thy Blessed Self and Spirit be ascribed all Honour and Praise both now and for ever. Amen.
Then mounting the Ladder, he called to some of the Town who weeped for him, but were at some Distance, Go Home to your own Houses, pray do not weep for me, and before you get
up yonder Hill, Ishall be with my Heavenly Father in Fulness of Joy and Pleasure for ever more. And so advising those before him to leave off those cruel Sentiments they had taken of him, besides some heavenly Discourses with some of his Friends, he was turned off, to the great Grief of■the good People of the Town, especially those of his own Congregation. To give him nothing but his Due, he was a Man mighty charitable, relieving and visiting the Poor and Needy, Preached in Season and out of Season, and made it his Business to go about doing good, and to put poor Souls in a Way for eternal Life ; he was an Old Christian, as well as Aged in Years ; he was a general Loss, especially to his dear and tender Wife : But all our Losses are nothing to be compared to that Glory that he now enjoys.
Mr. Sampson Larke's Letter to a Friend just before his Execution.
My dear Friend, I am ready to be offered, and the Time of my Departure is at hand ; I have through Grace fought a good Fight, have finished my Course, have kept the Faith, and am in Hopes of the Crown of Righteousness prepared for me, and
all God's faithful Ones : The Experiences I have had of the Promises, hath given me comfortable Hopes that he will carry me to the full End of my Journey, with his Name, and that Truth of his, which I have made Profession of. My great Crime is for my being a Preacher of the Gospel, and here I am to be made a Sacrifice, where I have mostly preached Christ's Gospel. I think my Judges have devised this punish ment for my Hurt, but I trust God will turn it to my Good ; the great Trouble I have is for those good Hearts that I must
leave behind me : but this is my Comfort, knowing that all such as fear God, he will be a Father to them. My dear Wife is greatly troubled, but through Mercy much supported, and
216 Hfa flfllesftern 'Eransfactfonsf.
something quieted ; if any of you have Opportunity to give her Help, I hope you will do it. As for our confessing our selves Guilty, it was expressly as to Matter of Fact, and not of Form ; and this I did with some Freedom, and the rather, because all my worthy Brethren that went before me took that Way, and the many Ways having been used to have a further Discovery, yet nothing of that Kind by any but only by Captain
Jones. Since our Sentence, some wretched Men have been with us, to
draw from us a Confession of our being Rebels, that we might have their Absolution. I bless God, he hath hitherto helped me to be faithful, and I hope he will not leave me in the most needful Time. I must conclude, being ready to be called away ; my dear Love to all my Christian Friends, and especially those in the Goal. The Lord be with you all, Amen. Your dying Friend, in Hopes of Eternal Life, through Jesus Christ, Amen.
Sampson Larke.
From the House of my blessed Bondage in Dorchester, Septemb. 7. 1685.
An Account of those Executed at Sherborn.
At Sherborn, in the same County, were executed Twelve, who all died couragiously, especially one Mr. Glisson of Yeoval, in the County of Somerset, his extraordinary Deportment and Carriage at the Place of Execution, was so very considerable, as gave great Satisfaction to his Friends, and Amazement to his Enemies. He declared to the World that he was a true Protestant, and had not ingaged with the Duke of Monmouth, but judged it high Time to stand up for the Defence of the same, though God Almighty had thought fit to frustrate his Designs, and to bring him to that Place to Seal the same with
his Blood. Also John Savage, and Richard Hall, of Culliton, in the County of Devon, suffered at the same Time and Place ; in their particular Conversation they valued those most that they saw most of Piety in, and pitied others that they saw not so well prepared ; saying, that the Remembrance of our Vanity
a^r. 3|oijn feprape. 217
may cause Compassion towards such as were in such a Con dition; exhorting all to be serious, and to consider their latter End, which deserved the greatest Attention of Mind ; the Way to die comfortably, being to prepare for it seriously; and if God should miraculously preserve us from this Death now before our Eyes, it should be the Duty of us all to spend the remaining Part of our Time, in such a Manner as now, when we see Death
just at the Door. At the Hour of Execution their Chearfulness and Comfort was much increased, saying, Now the Will of God will be done, and he hath most certainly chosen that for us which is best; with many other such like Christian Expressions, too tedious here to be inserted, because we design to keep to our first Intentions, and not to swell this Treatise too big. Upon the whole, after they had with much Earnestness recommended their Souls to the All-wise God by Prayer, they all with much Content and Satisfaction submitted themselves to the Execu tioner, not doubting of a happy Translation, and accordingly were executed and quartered as before ; the rest of the Execu tions in this County, as at Weymouth, Pool, Shafton, Wimborne, &c. ,not being there, we shall pass over, and only give you particular Touches, which we saw to our perfect, Knowledge ; and so we return to Culliton in the County of Devon, where John Sprague and William Clegg, both of that Town, were condemned at Exon, and there brought to be executed. Before they were
brought into the Place, a Messenger came from the Prisoner's with a Request to the Vicar of the Parish, to desire his Com pany and Assistance in this their Extremity, and to administer those Spiritual Helps that were suitable to Men in their Circum stances. Accordingly the said Minister came very readily, and did demand of them, What they had to desire of him ? The dying Persons answered, They desired his Prayers. Accordingly he prayed with them a considerable Space of Time. And after that he asked of them several Qustions, for to give him and the World Satisfaction of the prepared Condition they were in, in Order to their launching into Eternity, especially about the Doc trine of Non-resistance. John Sprague very soberly and mode rately replied, but whether satisfactory or not, we leave to the Reader ; He believed that no Christian ought to resist a lawful Power; but the Case being between Popery and Protestantism,
218 MltHttvn ^rangacttong.
altered the Matter; and the latter being in Danger, he believed that it was lawful for him to do what he did, though God in his Providence had thought fit to bring him to this Place of Execution. After reading a Chapter out of the Corinthians, and singing a Psalm suitable to the Occasion, he very vehemently and fervently recommended his Soul to the All-wise God by Prayer for near half an Hour, to the great Satisfaction of all that heard him ; then his Wife and Children coming to him, weeping bitterly, he imbraced them in his Arms, saying, Weep not for me, but weep for your selves, andfor your Sins, for that he had that quiet Satisfaction, that he was only going to be
translated into a State of Bliss and Happiness, where he should sin and sorrow no more, but that all Tears should be wiped away, wishing them to be diligent in the Service of God. Then recommending his Wife and Children to the Protection of the Almighty God, who hadpromised to be Husband to the Widow, and a Father to the Fatherless, who was faithful and able to make up their Loss in him, in that which should be better for them than he could be; desiring God to be a Refuge for them to
fly to for Security and Preservation from the Troubles that seemed to threaten this poor Nation; the which if they did conscientiously perform, though Death here made a Separation, he doubted not of meeting them in Heaven at last. And so the
Executioner did his Office. During which Time his Brother- Sufferer, William Clegg, was all the Time on his Knees, praying to himself with a seeming Zeal ; suddenly after which, his Time being come to follow his Brother, he only told the People, That his Fellow-sufferer had spoken what he thought was necessary,
and they were also his Sentiments. And so submitted to Exe cution.
An Account of those Executed at Axminster and Honiton.
At Axminster one also was executed, his Name Mr. Rose, he was a Gunner that landed with the Duke of Monmouth, he had a great Resolution, and not at all startled with the Fear
219
ot Death. He said, That he defy'd Death, and all them that were the Occasion of it. He was very couragious, and died so. He spent some Time in private Prayer, and was not allowed Time, because there was to be Execution at Honilon ; so that his Execution being over, we pass on to Honiton, where there were executed, one of which was a Chyrurgeon, his Name, if I do not mistake not, was Mr. Pott, who behaved himself with that extraordinary Christian Courage, that all the Spectators were almost astonished, he being but Young, about Twenty, his Prayers being fervent, his Expressions so pithy, and so becom ing a Christian of greater Age, that drew Pity and Compassion
from all present ; a rude Fellow, just before he was to be exe cuted, called for a Bottle of Wine, and so began the King's Health to One of the Guard, which he perceiving, Poor Soul, said he, your Cup seemeth to be sweet to you, and you think
Imine is bitter; which indeed is so to Flesh and Blood; but yet
Assurance
Estate, that
the Fruition a
of of future
I have that
doubt not but this bitter Potion will be sweetned with theI
Sugar of the loving Kindness of my dearest Saviour, that shall be translated into such a State, where is Fulness of Joy andPleasure forevermore.
Before I conclude, one Mr. Evans a Minister ought not to be omitted, who did all along, in the Time of his Confinement in Prison, behave himself with that Devotion and Strictness, that became a Christian of great Eminency, as indeed he was ; he spent much of his Time in Preaching and Praying to his Fellow-Prisoners, exhorting them to hold out to the End ; he at last by Appointment being condemn'd, was executed by him self ; at which Time and Place he behaved himself with great Courage and Devotion, and with a great Willingness and Chear-
fulness he submitted to Execution. There might have been much more said of this worthy Man, but because we will keep to our Design, shall be omitted. Many others, who were also very Eminent, suffered in this County, for asserting and en deavouring to secure the Protestant Religion.
220 %ty flfllegtern trans(acttong.
The Case of Mr. Simon
Thus having finished what we have to say at present, shall only add the Case of one Mr. Simon Hamling at Taunton, to show that sometimes Innocency will not protect. Mr. Hamling was formely an Inhabitant of the Place, but of late Years had lived two or three Miles from thence ; he was a very honest, worthy, good Christian, but was a Dissenter, and indeed in the Judgment of some fiery Men, that might be Crime enough, as did too sadly appear in divers Cases. But to our Purpose :
Mr. Hamling living in the Country, hearing of the Duke of Monmouth's being in Town, he there came to speak with his Son, who lived in that Place ; where being come he gave him Advice, which was, That as he expected his Blessing and Countenance, he should not at all concern himself in the Matter, but submit to the Will of God in all Things. And having thus advised his Son, he returns home ; and two Days after came again to Town on a Market-day with his Wife, to buy Provisions for his Family, and returned to his House again. And this was all the Times he was in Town whiles the Duke was there. But after the Business was over, he was brought in on Suspicion, being a Dissenter, that was Crime enough, except Coin appear^ to a Justice of that Town, who usually did commit, or dismiss as that appeared. This Man was arraign'd at Taunton, pleaded Not guilty. The Matter above is the Truth of this Case ; the Evidences were two profligate Rascals, that had Incouragement from the Justice, they usually doing what he put them on. The Prisoner had many to prove this Fact, and his Honesty ; but this did not avail, the Jury found him guilty, with two more, who
were presently sentenc'd, and next morning executed, to be Examples to others. It is said, that the Justice made applica tion to our famous Protestant Judge, and hinted some Mistake concerning him. To which, as I have been informed, he should reply, You have brought him on; if he be innocent, his Blood be upon you. Which was a very fine Reply from a merciful
Judge ; but nothing else could be expected, as the whole Treatise evinceth : The tender Mercies of the Wicked being, crueL This Man behaved himself very worthily at the Place of
Hamling.
$®v. ^omas Eatorence. 221
Execution, and did at the last declare his Crime to be the same as is above mentioned, and not otherwise. Thus fell this pious Christian, a Man by all sober People that knew him beloved, and disrespected by none but loose Villains, which at last took away his Life.
There was one Mr. Catchett executed with him, his Crime, being a Constable of the Hundred, he was surprised by a Party of the Duke's, and shewed a warrant to bring in Provisions and other Necessaries for the Use of the Army, which if he had not obeyM was threatned to have his House burnt, cS-'f. , so that he was obliged to do what he did for his own preservation ; but this was not sufficient, for being found guilty, he was also exe cuted at the same Time and Place.
The Case of Mr. Thomas Lawrence.
Mr. Thomas Lawrence at Dorchester, had also very hard Measure. He had the Managing of an Estate belonging to a Person of Quality, who had a Barn in the Parish of Lyme, where the Duke landed. The Day after his landing a Party came and took away three Horses from offthis Estate, which he having the Trust and Care of, makes Application to the Duke for them,
adding, That he ought not to suffer any of his Master's Goods to be wanting, but must endeavour to recover them again. So mov'd hard to the Duke for the Horses, but all would not prevail , but at last had one, and was forced to leave two. This was look'd on as an abetting, being judgM to be by Consent. Afier the Defeat was given, he was had before a Justice of the Peace, who bound him over to the Assises, where appearing, he was committed ; pleaded Not guilty on his Trial, which he pleaded to very honestly, yet was found guilty, and sentenced to die. My Lord was excellent at Improvement, t'was thought he
would, if possible, have brought in the Gentleman that owned the Estate, who was very rich. This honest Mr. Lawrence was to be sacrificed, and his execution ordered to be at Warham, but my Lord's Favourite got a Reprieve for him by the Help of
222 flfllesftern transfactfonsf.
Four hundred Pounds, Two hundred being actually paid, the other secured by Bond.
I promised, before I conclude, to give some Account of the barbarous and cruel Whippings which were executed on many good, honest, and sufficient Persons, both Men and Women, in the Counties of Dorset, Devon, and Somerset, by the severe and cruel Sentence of the Lord Chief Justice ; some for such small
Crimes, as an impartial Man may judge they deserved none at all : More especially one Mr. Stayle of Thorncomb in Devon shire, his Sufferings were so hard, that it caused many to pity
him ; he was a good Liver, well beloved among his Neighbours, and a true Protestant. Also one Mrs. Brown of Lyme suffered very dear in that Nature; she only jokingly said unto the
Iwillpay my Excise to King Monmouth;
Officer of the Excise,
which being sworn before this severe Judge, she was found guilty of a Misdemeanor, was sentenc'd to be whipt in several Market Towns, which accordingly was done. But this Cruelty was not only extended to those of Riper Years, and able better to endure those painful Sufferings, but even to Children. A poor Boy ol
Weymouth, in the County of Dorset, having got some Pamphlet relating somewhat to satisfie the People that the Duke of Mon mouth came to secure the Protestant Religion, had the hard Fortune to take his Trial before this harsh Judge ; I think he was about ten or twelve Years of Age ; he had the Flesh of his Back so cut with the Whipping, that I heard he died with the same ;
but whether he is dead or not, never was such Cruelty in all this World. And now we may see how just the Lord he that all that Time had no Mercy for any but those that appeared loose Villains, pitied but by few.
Madders's Last Prayer at the same Time and Place.
Capt. Madders at the Time of the Duke's Landing was Constable at Crewkern, in the County of Somerset, and so dili gent and active for the King in his Office, that when two Gen
Capt.
a
is
is,
Capt. Slabbersf. 223
tlemen of Lyme came there,- and brought the News of the Duke's Landing, and desired Horses to ride Post to acquaint his Majesty therewith, he immediately secured Horses for them, the Town being generally otherways bent, and assisted them so far as any called Loyal in those Times could do, which was re presented to the Lord Chief Justice, in expectation thereby to save his Life. But an Enquiry being made about his Religion, and returned by a very worthy Gentleman of those Parts, That
he was a good Protestant, an honest Man, had a very good Character amongst his Neighbours : O then, says he, I'll hold a Wager with you he is a Presbyterian, / can smell them forty Miles. Though moderately I now say, they can smell him two
hundred Miles West ; then surely he must die, because he was, and had the Character of a honest Man, a good Christian, and a brave Tradesman. But to be short, I could say a great deal more of him, being immediately acquainted with him, and was with him to the very last. Being brought to the Place of Exe cution, he was the last Man except one executed, and he behaved himself, whilst the rest were executing, with great Zeal ; and lifting up his Hands and Eyes, would often say, Lord, make me so willing and ready to the last.
And God did hear his Prayers;
for though he seemed to the Spectators to be somewhat unwilling to die, yet at the last he died with as much Assurance and Chris tian Resolution as any ; for after his publick Prayer he came once down the Ladder, and prayed again privately, then mounted the
you may have more Liberty; he answered, No,
Ladder again ; the Sheriff saying, Mr. Madders, Ifyou please
I
dissolved, and to be with Christ. Oh ! you cannot imagine
Minutes;
So
publick Prayer was as followeth :
O Eternal and ever blessed Lord God, look down upon me a
miserable Sinner with an Eye of Pity and Compassion, in and through my dear Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ. O Lord,
Mr. Sheriff, now
I
am ready,
I
have received in a
what Comfort and Refreshment
my Comforts are so great that
blessing and praising of God, he was translated, as I hope (we have no Grounds to imagine the contrary) from Earth to Heaven, repeating Rev. 20. 6, Blessed and holy is he that hath Part in the first Resurrection, on such the Second Death hath no Power. His
I
few cannot contain my
self.
I
am willing, and desire to be
thank you,
224
%ty flfiiegtern 'Erangacttong.
I acknowledge my self a great and grievous Sinner ; I have sinned against the clearest Light and the dearest Love ; I have deserved to have have been spurned from thy Presence, and from the Glory of thy Power, and that thou shouldest now say unto me, I will have no more to do with such an unworthy Wretch, such a polluted, filthy Creature as thou art, and hast been : But, O Lord, there is Mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared ; and thou hast promised, that if a Sinner turn from his Wick
edness, thou wilt have Mercy on him ; and tho' his Sins were as Scarlet, thou wouldest make them white as Wool : Fulfil, O Lord, thy gracious Promise unto me, a poor Supplicant, in this my last Hour of my Life ; purge and cleanse me from all
Sin and Filthiness, give me true Repentance ; and if there lyeth any Sin not yet repented of, O Lord, thou hast heard my Prayers, my Sighs and Groans ; I hope and trust thou hast pardoned all my Sins, and wilt immediately receive my Soul. Look down in Mercy on my dear Wife and Family, be thou a. / Comfort, and all in all unto them. Now, Lord, I am coming to thee, assist me to the last Moment ; comfort my distressed Soul ;
do more for me than I am able to ask for, or think of; but what thou knowest to be needful and necessary for me, in and through the Merits of my dear Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with thee and thy blessed Spirit of Grace be ascribed the King dom, the Power, and the Glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The Dying-words of Capt. Kidd, Executed at the same Time and Place.
This Gentleman was the last executed at that Time ; as soon as Captain Madders was turned off, he began to prepare to follow, and called to his Guards and those present, Do you see this? (pointing up to Eleven that were dead before him) Do you think this is not dreadful to me, that Eleven of Twelve of us,
that but afew Hours since came down
are dead and in
Eternity? AndI
mediately be in the same Condition. Says one to him, // must
together,
am just going to and shall im follow them,
be
will assure you,
I before
3Dr. temple.
to Flesh and Blood. Says he, Well, Gentlemen,
I
But I'll make haste to ; I
I bethink me in Bliss and
dreadful
their Happiness, that they shouldbe so long
Happiness :
is the best Day that ever
am this satisfied
am so
far
concerned, that methinks
I
to be better than the Day of his Birth : And truly so find
to my Flesh, And I freefrom
follow
saw: The Day a Man' s Death is said
I satisfied
and have forgotten God, but now
with Christ : O how great were the Sufferings of Christ for us, beyond all that I can undergo ! How great is that Glory to which I am going! Then taking his Leave of the People then present, he prayed some small Time very devoutly, and with seem ing great Joy and Comfort ; and the Executioner did his Office.
There was executed also at the same Time divers others, as ' Mr. William Hewling, Dr. Temple, Mr. Matthews, with some others.
The Last Speech of Dr. Temple of Nottingham, at the Place of Execution.
Doctor Temple was one of them that Landed with the Duke, and was his Chief Physician and Chyrurgeon ; he lived in Not tingham, but minding to see others of the World, (as I have
heard) goes for Holland, where he came acquainted with the Duke of Monmouth; concerning which he thus spoke, just as he was going off the Ladder.
Christian Friends, and Dear Countrymen,
I have somewhat to say, and not very much, before I depart from you, and shall be seen no more, And,
First, As to my Engagement with the Duke of Monmouth. Secondly, How far I was concerned : And,
Thirdly, I shall leave all of you to be Judges in Matter of Fact :
And so for the
First, As a dying Man I now declare, that when I entred my
self with the Duke of Monmouth, to be his Chyrurgeon, it was on Q
am God hath done his best
for
me :
might have lived
I
no more : 'Tis a blessed Thing to be free from Sin, and to be
of
I itas shall be presently Sin and Sorrow ;
I
am going where
I
shall sin
225
226 %%t flQlegtern Ixans(acttoniS.
no other Account but to serve him in the West-Indies ; where I knew no other Design whatsoever, but to possess himself of some of those Islands, until I had been at Sea two Days, wherein one privately told me, We are absolutely bound for England, and I should take it from him it was true : It much surprized me, but knowing no Way to avoid or to get on Shoar, though was at that Time contrary to my Inclinations, could have avoided would not let others see that had that Dissatisfac tion within me. After our Landing at Lyme, knew was never the
on the might These were the Arguments that Flesh and Blood did create in my Breast for Self-preservation. While was with the said Duke, did
nearer to attempt my Escape, the Country being so beset other Hand, the Duke of Monmouth did win the Day, have raised my Fortunes as high as could expect
him as much Service as could, and faithfully After pleased God to disperse that Army under his Command, endeavoured to secure my self, but by Providence was taken at Honiton, from thence committed to Exon, and after removed to Dorchester,
where received my Sentence, and am now, as you see, just going to Execution The Lord prevent all of you from such ignominious Deaths and advise you all, that you never take any great Thing in Hand, but what you have a Warrant for from the Lord assure you had no Satisfaction in this but this am sure, that have done anything amiss in pardoned bless God have that satisfaction, die a Professor of the Church of England, desire Pardon of all those have any ways wronged or abused, as freely forgive all those that have wronged or abused me am in Charity with all Men. Lord, have Mercy upon me, give me Strength to go through these
Pains, and give me full Assurance now at this last Moment Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.
Also one Samuel Robbins of Charmouth in the County of Dorset, that was executed, or rather murthered, at Warham, in the said County cannot pass him by in Silence, his Case being so extraordinary hard, that to speak moderately betwixt the King and his Case, do say this, that verily believe never Man suffered innocenter as hope you will be satisfied in, after you have heard his Crime, and on what small Grounds he was found guilty, or so supposed, by my Lord Chief Justice.
; I
I if
I ;I I I
I
I
I
I
: I
;:
:
it, ; it is
it
: I
it, I
I
I
: I
if
II III
it,
I
it
I
I
;
I
: I
it :
if I
S^c. Cljarlesf uptake. 227
He used generally in the Summer to use the Crafi of Fishing, to get a competent Maintenance for his Family, and happened to be out at Sea a-fishing before Lyme that Day the Duke came in to land ; and was commanded on Board one of the Duke's Ships, he not knowing who they were, and they bought his Fish of him ; after which they told him that was the Duke of Mon mouth, pointing at him, and that he was just going to Land : He desired to go on Shoar, which was refused, and told, that as soon as the Duke was landed he should have his Liberty ; so ac cordingly he came on Shoar, and was never after with him, or ever took up Arms under him : I leave the Reader to judge whether this was High-Treason or no. This was all he was guilty of, except that he was a good honest Man, a zealous Christian, a Man of a very good Life and Conversation, as I think his Neighbours
will attest in most Towns and Parishes where he lived But alas he had a good Book in his House when taken, call'd, The solemn League and Covenant; this was the High-Treason he must be guilty of, which was aggravated to the Lord Chief Justice, by one or two hot Spirits his Neighbours. But to be short, he received Sentence of Death with great Courage, and not at all dismayed, saying very often in Prison before, Ifit
pleased God to call him now (to glorifie his Name this Pro vidence of his) to Death, he should be ready but (said he) am as Innocent ofany thing have done against any Man that may deserve this Punishment as the Child now unborn. When he came to the Place of Execution, he very chearfully declared his Innocency to the Spectators, as before, and so praying very devoutly for some Time, he was executed His Prayer have no exact Copy of.
Also one Mr. Charles Speake of London, a Gentleman of good Extraction, being Son to the Worshipful George Speake, Esq near Illminster'mthe County ofSomerset, where he was executed His Case also was extraordinary hard but there may be two great Reasons given why he was executed the first was, Because he came from that good Pious Family, which always have been Opposers to Popery, and suffered deeply for their Courage that Way. Secondly, The said Mr. Charles Speake had purchased some great Place in the King's Bench or Common Pleas, which was very profitable to him so that by his Fall there being
Q2
;
; ;
:
;
I a:;
by /
:
I
it,
228 %ty flfilesrteirn
transactions.
Forfeiture, much Money may be made of it ; all Intercession could not avail with the L. C. J. for his Life. He happened to be at Illminster at the Time of the Duke's being there, which was the greatest Crime he was guilty of ; the Validity of his Evidence I leave to those in the West, which know how far it was carried that Way. He was a fine courteous loving Gentleman ; and not withstanding his Youth, he acted the Part of an old Christian Soldier at his Death, preparing himself to undergo those Pains, saying very often, They were nothing to his Deserts from God Almighty ; but as for what I am accused of, and sentenc'd for,
I hope you will believe I am not so guilty as my Judge and Ac
cusers have endeavoured to make me :
should have been willing to have lived some Time longer, but God's Time being come, I am willing, I will be contented to drink this bitter Cup off. Being at the Place of Execution, the Crowd was so great, that I suppose he was shorter than other wise he would have been ; but alas ! How could it be ? For on every Side of him, as well as up and down the Town, the Inha bitants were weeping and bewailing : Oh 'tis the worst Day that ever we saw in this Town ! Must this good Gentleman die
If it had pleased God, I
I
the like. He prayed very heartily for near an Hour, and sung a
Psalm, and so we hope was translated to Heaven, there to sing everlasting Praises and Hallelujahs. His Father and Mother you may easily judge were not a little concerned about him ; but their Adversaries Malice ended not here, but Father and Mother must be brought in, and how many Thousands of Pounds it cost them, I think is too well known in London; and most Parts of the Kingdom have heard in the Publick Letters their Names mentioned. Some may think they were concerned with the Duke, but I never heard there was so much made appear against them, as could have made them been brought in guilty of High Misdemeanors : Had not the good Gentleman and his Lady been Vertuous People, abhorring the Debaucheries ofthe Times, and so much a competent Estate, able to spare Ten or Twelve Thousand Pounds ; the hard Usage this honest brave Gentleman and his vertuous Lady had, and their Sufferings, to relate them, would be too large ; and besides, it is so well known in most Places in the West, that I shall, without saying any more, proceed.
here ? Oh yet save his Life,
am ready to die
for
him I And
St£r. %nrp Botitip. 229
And next for Mr. Parret, who was executed at Taunton; if I mistake not, he said he was a Londoner, and a Brewer. When he came to the Place of Execution, he seemed a Man almost un concerned at Death. After some Time he began to deliver himself somewhat low in Voice to the People, and after rising by Degrees, he seemed more like a Minister in a Pulpit Preaching devoutly, than a Prisoner just going to Execution ; but I being then not well, could not tarry to see his End. But the Character I had, was, That he desired all not to be faint-hearted because of their Fall, and to think that there was no hopes remaining. He said, He verily believed God would yet work out Deliverance
for them, and at the Time they were in the greatest Extremity, that would be God's Opportunity. Put your whole Trust and
and Dependence on the Lord, and he will never leave you, nor forsake you. And much more ; but having no more exact Copy, I shall not enlarge, but come to some other.
The Last Speech of Henry Boddy, Executed at Bath.
While he was in Prison, especially afier Sentence, he behaved himself mighty humble, meek, and was much in Meditation, which was observed by several Divines, especially one, who at tended him to his last, his Name Mr. Simpson. His poor Wife coming to see him at Wells, and to make her Interest with some
Friends, if possible to save his Life ; but finding it lost Labour, and that she could by no Means prevail, she died there for Grief before her Husband was executed, to his great Grief. When he came to the Place of Execution, he delivered himself to the People" in these Words :
Good People, I am come here to pay a Debt due to Nature, which every one, one time or another, must pay, though not in this Manner or Nature. I am condemned as a Traitor and Rebel against my King, which were Things I always hated and abhorred ; and therefore give me so much Time as to deliver my self to you ; and what I say I hope you will believe me at this Time, being just going to give an Account, not only for every idle Word, but for all Things I have done since I have bad a Being.
Confidence
230
Uty flfllesftern 'transactions.
/ was bom in Lyme Regis in the County of Dorset, and bred up a Seaman from my Infancy; I have had the honour to serve his Majesty King Charles the Second, in his Wars with the
it to be the Duty of every true English-man to stand up in his Country's
Dutch and French, divers Times.
I
always thought
I
I
for
I
was in Arms,
with Foreigners, to maintain our ancient Priviledges
I
for any Undertaking now with the late Duke <y Monmouth, for
Quarrel
and Honour of our Nation.
served him faithfully : And as
I Son and Heir; but ifotherwise,
sure they were good, for
and hope the Lord hath pardoned it. While
am sure there's none can say
I did believe him to be my Soveraigris
which 1 am now come to suffer Death; as for my Designs,
am
I
have personally wronged them.
I
therefore ifyou please (speaking to the Minister) do these last Spiritual Services for me, as for to pray with me, and for me.
have done amiss, and am sorry,
desire all yonr Prayers
me to the last.
am no Orator,
The Minister being much taken with him, desired Leave of the Sheriff to ask him some Questions ; which being granted, the
Minister said unto him,
must make bold with you, but not to
I
People on what Groundyou stand;
my and the self
/
pray, but to
holdyou too long before
Whether you do own that Doctrine of Non-resistance, own'd by the Church. That it is not lawful on any Account whatsoever, to take up Arms against the King? 0 Sir ! As to that I answer, Could I have been satisfied he had been my lawful Prince, I should not have done it. But, said the Minister, he is, andyou are not to be Judge; except you own those Things, some People will hardly have Charity for you after you are dead. What matters that, said he ? Would you have me, now you put me so close to to lie No, will not. say, he was my lawful King, was misled in my Judgment, and have committed a great Error but, Lord, hope thou hast washed away all my Sins, in and through the Blood of my dear Redeemer, in whose alone Merits hope for Mercy. desire to be asked no more Questions. Then the Minister prayed very devoutly near half an Hour after which, lifting up his Hands and Eyes to Heaven, he quietly submitted to Death.
I
everlasting State. Now pray resolve me a few Things : First,
satisfie
mean as concerning your
;
I
;
it,
I
I
I
? I
I if
9£r. 3|ofjn ^icfeg. ' 231
Mr. John Hick's Last Speech, 1685.
I suppose the Spectators here present may expect I should speak something before I leave this sanguinary Stage and Pas sage through my Bloody Sufferings, by which my immortal Spirit will be speedily transported into an invisible and eternal World, and I conclude that they have different Resentments hereof. Some resent them with much Joy, high Exultation and Triumph, others with equal Grief and Sorrow ; that to the one I am a most pleasant Spectacle, that they behold me with high Com placency and Delight ; but to the other I am a mournful and un
pleasant one, and they behold me with no less Pity and Com passion. Concerning the first, I can say, I freely and heartily forgive them, and heartily pray that God would most mercifully and graciously prevent their Mourning through Misery, not only here, but eternally hereafter. Concerning the other, I will say, Weep for your own Sins, and for the Sins of the Nation, for the highest Rebellions that ever were committed against the Great and Eternal God ; lament bitterly for those
Sins that have been the meritorious Cause of the late terrible Judgment, that which I fear will cause God to break in upon this Nation with an overflowing Deluge of Judgments, which are far
more tremendous and dreadful. As for sympathizing with
in drinking this bitter Cup appointed for me, I return you most humble and hearty Thanks, earnestly desiring God to come unto you, and fill your Souls with all Celestial Comforts and Spiritual Consolations. Something I must say to purge and clear my self from a false Accusation laid to my Charge ; as that I was en gaged with Colonel Blood in rescuing Col. Mason near Boston, when he was sent down with a Guard from London to York, to be tried for High-Treason ; and that I was the Man that killed the Barber of that City ; and that also I was with him when he stole the Crown. Now as I am a dying Man, and upon the very
Brink of a very stupendious Eternity, (the Truth and Reality whereof I firmly believe) without any Reservation or the least
I do declare in the Presence of the All seeing God, that impartial Judge, before whom in a very little Time I must
I never saw nor conversed with Mr. Thomas Blood, from
Equivocation,
appear,
me,
232
afllesftern transfacti'onsf.
1656, till after he stole the Crown, which was in 71 or 72, nor was ever engaged with him in any of his Treasonable Plots or Practices. 'Tis true, I being involved in great Trouble of an other Nature, (of which I have given to the World a Narrative, and which is notoriously known in the Country where I then
lived, by some that were Enemies to me for my Preaching) I was persuaded to apply my self to Mr. Blood, to procure by his Intercession his late Majesty's gracious Favour : Accordingly he brought me into his Royal Presence ; while I was there, his Majesty carried it with great Clemency, without expressing one Word of that which I am now charged with. Mr. Blood continued with his Majesty a little longer than I did ; then he told me that he had granted me a Pardon, which I did thank fully accept of, knowing it would free me from all Penalties and Troubles that I was obnoxious to, and were occasioned to me by my Non-conformity. Then engaging him to take out my Pardon ; he told me, That he got it out with several others that had been engaged with him in several Treasonable Designs
and Actions ; at which I was troubled, supposing it might be im puted to me thereby ; yet, God knows, I have often since re flected upon it with great Regret and Dissatisfaction. If Mr. Blood did inform the late King to make himself the more consi derable, and to bring as many of his Party as he could to accept of their Pardons, that he might be rendered utterly incapable of Plotting any further Mischief against his Government, or any
otherways that I was engaged with him in any ofhis Treasonable Attempts ; I now appeal to God, as a dying Man, concerning that he hath done me an irreparable Wrong. also in the same Manner do declare, that was never ingaged with any Party in Plotting or Designing, or Contriving any Treason or Rebellion against the late King, and particularly, that was altogether unconcerned in, and unacquainted with that for which my Lord
Russel and others suffered, and as much a Stranger to any against the present King. And whereas reported of me, That at Taunton persuaded the late Duke of Monmouth to assume the Title ofKing; do once more solemnly declare, That saw not the said Duke, nor had any Converse with him
'till he came to Shipton-Mallet, which was thirteen
he landed, and several Days after he had been at Taunton. And
Days after
I
I
I
I
it is
II
it,
9&r. loljn ^tcfeg. 233
'tis as false that I rid to and fro in the West to stir up and per suade Men to go into his Army, and rebel against his present Majesty ; for I was in the East-Country when the Duke landed, and from thence I went directly to him, when he was at Shipton- Mallet, not one Man accompanying me from thence. But hitherto as I lived, so now I die, owning and professing the true Reformed Christian (commonly called the Protestant) Religion, which is founded on the pure written Word of God only, and which I acknowledge likewise to be comprehended in the Articles of the Doctrine of the Church. This Religion I have made a reasonable and free Choice of, and have heartily embraced, not only as it protests against all Pagan and Mahometan Religion, but against the Corruption of the Christian ; and I humbly and earnestly pray to God that by his Infinite Wisdom and Almighty Power, he will prevent not only the utter Extirpation but Dimi nution thereof, by the Heighth and Influence of what is con trary thereto ; and for that End the Lord make the Professors of it to live up more to its Principles and Rules, and bring their Hearts and Conversations more under the Government and Power of the same. ' I die also owning my Ministry, Non conformity, for which I have suffer'd so much, and which doth now obstruct the King's Grace and Mercy to be manifested and extended to me : For as I chose it not constrainedly, so I appeal to God as a dying Man, not moved from Sullenness or Humour, or factious Temper, or erroneous Principles of Edu cation, or from secular Interests, or worldly Advantages, but clearly from the Dictates of my own Conscience, and as I judged it to be the Cause of God, and to have more of Divine Truth in it than that which is contrary thereto ; so now I see no Cause to repent of nor to recede from not questioning but God will own at the last Judgment-day. If no more had been required after the late King's Restauration to qualifie Ministers for Publick Preaching, than was after the first Restauration from the Time of Charles the First, probably might have satisfied my self
therewith, and not scrupled Conformity thereto but the Terms and Conditions thereof, by a particular Law made in 1662, being not only new, but so strict and severe, that could never have Satisfaction in my own Conscience, after all Endeavours used for
Compliance therewith, and Conformity thereto To say
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nothing of the Covenant, which I never took, but the giving my Assent and Consent, have been too diflicult and hard for me to comply with. And I very well remember, that about Fourteen Years ago, entring into a Discourse with Mr. Patrick Heldore, an Irish-man, who was contemporary with me in Dublin, concern ing Conformity, which he much endeavour^ to persuade me to ;
I urg'd the Severity of the foremention'd Conditions against and after some Debates and Reasons with him, told him did believe they were contrived and designed on Purpose to prevent our Publick Preaching, and to keep us out of the Church To which he Ingenuously replied, He judged was so For, said he, a Bishop in Ireland {whose Name have forgot) told me the very same.
But though could not wade through, and conquer this Diffi culty, yet censure not those that did and believe after all the hottest Disputes, and most vehement Debates, and violent contests between Conformist and Non-conformist, there are of both Parties will be glorified in Heaven hereafter. According to the 29th Article of the Church of England, a visible Church
a Congregation of Faithful Men, in the which the pure Word of God Preached, the Sacraments of the Lord duly admi- nistred, according to Christ's Ordinance, and all those Things that of Necessity are requisite and necessary to Salvation so with such Church have held the most intimate Communion, and with such (did live) could hold would not therefore be so incorporated with any Church, as to exclude me from, and render me incapable of holding Communion with other
Churches was never strongly bound up to any Form of Ecclesiastical Government, but that under which a pure and undefined Religion doth flourish, and that which contains and really practises Holiness, and advances the Kingdom of God in the World, that can approve of, and willingly live under, were
to live.
did approve of the ancient and present Form of Civil Go
vernment, English Monarchy am fully satisfied with, and do also declare, that not warrantable, for any Subject to take up Arms against, and resist their Lawful Soveraigns and Rightful
Princes And therefore had not been convinced
Things that have read and heard, to believe that the late Duke
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of Monmouth was the Legitimate Son of his Father Charles the Second, I had never gone into his Army, judging that without this I could not be freed from the Guilt of Rebellion, which I always resolved to keep my self clear from : And tho' his Father denied he was married to his Mother, I thought it might be answered with this ; That Kings and Princes, for State-Reasons, ofien cannot be fathomed by their Subjects, affirming and deny- ings Thing which otherwise they would not do, and make even their natural Affections to truckle and stoop thereto. I exhort all to abhor all Treasonable Plots, and Pretences of all Rebellion, with the highest Detestation, and to take the plain Text of Sacred
Scripture to walk by, in honouring and obeying, and living in Subjection to Rightful Kings, and not readily to receive, or suddenly to be impress'd with evil Reports and Defamations of them, also not rashly to be Propagators of the same.
I desire God to forgive all mine Enemies, and to give me an Heart to forgive them, which are many, some mighty, and all most malicious : Particularly Barter of Lisnel, who betrayed me,
and proved such a Traitor to James D. of Monmouth, his old and intimate Friend. I am grievously afflicted that I should prove the Occasion of the great Sufferings of so many Persons and Families : But this hath fallen under the Just and Wise Ordering of Divine Providence, as David's going to Abimelech, when he proved the Occasion of the Death of all the Persons, Men, Women, and Children in the City : But who shall say unto God, What doest thou ? The Care of my most dear Wife and a great many Children, I cast upon God, who I hope will be better than the best of Husbands unto her, and the best of Fathers unto them : God knows how just and legal Right my Wife hath unto her Estate ; to him therefore I commit her, to defend her from the Violence and Oppression of Men, particularly from a most inhumane and unnatural Brother : But no Wonder if he will lay violent Hands upon his Sister's Estate, that hath so often laid them on his own Father. I die a deeply humbled, self- judging, and self-condemning Sinner, loathing and abhorring my many and great Iniquities, and my self for them, earnestly desiring full Redemption from the Bonds of Corruption, under which I have groaned so many Years, longing for a most perfect Conformity to the most Holy and Glorious God, the only infinite
236 %ty QBegttvn Hvm&mitm$.
pure Being ; thirsting for a perfect Diffusion of his Grace through all the Powers and Faculties of my Soul, panting after perfect Spiritual Life and Liberty, and a consummate Love to my
dearest Jesus, who is an All-comprehensive Good, and to be satisfied with his Love for ever : A vigorous and vehement Zeal for the Protestant Religion, with a Belief I had of the Duke's Legitimacy, hath involved me in this ignominious Death ; yet blessed be God, that by sincere Repentance and true Faith in the Blood 9f Jesus, there is Passage from it to a glorious eternal Life, and from these bitter Sorrows to the Fulness of sweetest Joys that are in his Presence, and from these sharp bodily Pains to those most pure Pleasures, that are at his Right Hand for evermore : And blessed be God, that such a Death as this cannot prevent and hinder Christ's changing of my vile Body, and fashioning it like his Glorious Body, in the general Resurrection- Day.
I am now going into that World, where many dark Things shall be made perfectly manifest and clear, and many doubtful Things fully resolved, and a plenary Satisfaction given concern ing them ; all Disputes and Mistakes concerning Treason, Re bellion, and Schism, shall be at an End, and cease for ever ;
Many Things that are innocent, lawful, and laudable, which have foul Marks and black Characters stampt and fixt upon 'em here, they shall be perfectly purified and fully cleansed from there ; where at one View more shall be known of them, than by all wrangling Debates and eager Disputes, or by reading all Polemical Books concerning them here. I greatly deplore and bewail the greedy Appetite and insatiable Thirst, that Professing Protestants have after the Blood of their Brethren, and the high Pleasure they take in the Effusion thereof. But what will not Men do, when they are either judicially blinded, or their secular
worldly Interest insensibly insinuates and winds it self into their Religion, is so twisted and incorporated with that animates and acts the Life and Soul, the vital Form and Power, and made wholly subservient thereunto
bless God for all my Sufferings, and particularly for this last for the Benefit and Fruit of by God's sanctifiying of them to me, have been great hereby have been effectually convinced of the Vanity of the World, and my own Sinfulness
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by Nature and Practice, and to see that to be Sin which I never saw before ; and to be more throughly humbled for what I know to be sin, not only of Commission, but of Omission also ; Hereby I have been brought to a more thorough, deep, inward Sense and Feeling of the absolute Necessity of the Right eousness of Christ to justifie me, and he hath been made much more dear and precious to my Soul, than ever he was before. Hereby my Soul hath been more refin'd, from the Dross of Sen suality, wrought into a more Heavenly Frame, raised up to a higher Pitch of Spirituality ; hereby I am made more meek and humble, and so judge more charitably of others that differ from me in Opinion and Judgment ; So that by God's most Righteous Judgment I have been apprehended, and most justly and deservedly undergo this Suffering for my Sins, yet I hope they have wrought for me a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory, fitting and preparing me, making me a better qualified Subject for, and far more meet to be a Partaker of the same. By the Grace and Strength of God, I will not purchase my Life by the Death and Blood of my Protestant Brethren, but chuse to die rather than be a Betrayer of them ; the impetuous and violent Assault of this I dreaded more than
Death it self. Blessed be God I was not exposed unto and conquered by as some have been Having such full bodily Vigour and Strength, being in such perfect Health, notwithstand ing my Age, predominating in me, hath made more difficult to die, than had been clogged and incumbered with infirmi ties, made to bow and stoop under them by prevailing Diseases and Distempers, gradually worn out therewith, which many Times makes Men weary of Life, and to desire to die and this in Conjunction with many Things, (which forbear to mention) highly gratifying and pleasing to Sense, which must leave for ever, strengthens and heightens the Difficulty, and begets a greater Regret and Reluctancy in my Will, to have the Earthly
Tabernacle of my Body dissolved, and my Soul to dislodge and quit the same. But now when the black and gloomy Shades of Death do overspread me, can say, to the Glory of God's most Free and Powerful Grace, True Faith in some Measure hath changed the Difficulty into a Facility and Easiness of Dying
hath very much subdued the Reluctancy of my Will against it;
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for it makes future Things present, and invisible Things visible, and doth realise and substantiate the same to me ; and as by it I penetrate and pierce into Eternity, and behold invisible and immortal Things, so hereby, blessed be God, I have obtained a
greater Victory over Sense : The World is crucified to me, and I to the World, and all the most pleasant and delightful Objects therein, all finite, fading Creatures, Comforts and Enjoyments,
are become minute and small, despicable and contemptible to me, in Comparison thereof, being infinitely contained and com prehended therein : Shall my Soul clasp and cling about these mortal and perishing Things ? Shall it cleave and be glued to them ? Shall it be confined and captivated into what is kept in
the narrow Bounds of Time, and in this lower World ? Shall it earnestly desire and thirst for muddy Streams, yea Rivers of Flesh-pleasing Good ; when by an Eye of Faith I can look into the indeficient, inexhaustible, purest Fountain ; the immense, immensurate Ocean of Divine Good ; hoping to drink thereof,
to swim and bathe my Soul therein for ever and ever ? And when I consider how long my Ears have been bound up, and tied to their innumerable and horrid Oaths, and cursed Blas phemies, and mine Eyes to see the Prophanation of the Day of
God ; and when I beheld such an overflowing Flood of most prodigious Impiety, such an Inundation of most monstrous Iniquity, so much Hell upon Earth, and that there is so much Decay of holy Zeal, and true Piety, and Christian Religion, amongst the Professors of such seeming incurable Breaches and Divisions, such expiring Love, and Charity, and Partings among 'em ;'it hath powerful Influence on my Soul to reconcile
more to Death, and makes electively, and from Choice, to leave this present World, and to take up my Abode in that which unseen and future, where there shall be nothing but perfect Love and Holiness sinless State, and serving God with all Un- weariedness and Perfection, with the highest Complacency and
Delight that immortal Souls can be capable of There perfect Peace and Concord, the innumerable Company of Angels, and the Spirits of Just Men made perfect, all fastned together with indissolvable and uninterrupted Chains of most pure Love, and all continually wrapt up in, and transported with the highest Admiration of God's Love, his infinite and incomprehensible
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Excellencies and Perfections, singing Hallelujahs to him without ceasing and triumphing in his Praise for ever and ever. The Con sideration also, that I know so little of these sublime, profound and Divine Mysteries ; of the most glorious Mystery of Salvation by Jesus Christ ; that I am so uncapable to fathom the Depth of the Providences of God, whose ways are in the Sea, and whose Paths are in the deep Waters, and whose Footsteps are not known, and particularly in the late stupendious and amazing one ; and that
I am so ignorant of the Nature of Angels and Spirits, with their Offices and Operations, and of their high and glorious Excellen cies ; and that I am so little acquainted with the Nature of my own Soul, as at present dwelling in, and united to my Body, and as disunited and separated from it ; how without corporeal Organs it shall most vivaciously and vigorously perform all its proper Functions and Offices, and more than ever strongly and indefatigably serve the Lord Jesus, most fervently and abun dantly love him, and delight in him every way, much more obtain the supream and highest End of its Creation and Being ; and this makes me much more willing to die, that I may have
the Knowledge thereof, with innumerable other Things ; that I am now either ignorant of, or do but imperfectly know, and so be made happy by a Plenitude of Fulness of injoying intellectual Pleasures, which are of all other most suitable, sweet, and satis factory to immortal Souls. And also I see that he that departs from Iniquity makes himself a Prey ; and so many plunging themselves into the Ways of Iniquity, lest they should be ac counted odious and vile, which makes them so much degenerate not only from Christianity, but from Humanity it self, as if they were scarce the Excrement of either ; contemning even that most Noble, Generous, Heroick Spirit that dwelt in many Heathens, who accounted it most Honourable and Glorious to contend for their Rights and Liberties, yea, to suffer Death, and the worst of Deaths, in Defence of the same ; and judge them accursed and most execrable in the World that do so ; and not only so, but for their own Profit and Advantage, have many of them inslaved their Posterity by and are most industrious and laborious, most fierce and furious to destroy them, whereby they are become as unnatural as Children that seek the Ruin of their Parents that begot them, and brought them forth or them that lay
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'SElje flfllestern 'Cransfactionsf.
violent Hands upon themselves, dashing out their own Brains, cutting their own Throats, hanging and drawing themselves, rip
ping uptheir own Bellies, tearing out their own Bowels, they being in different Senses Children and Members of that Body Politick they design and attempt the Destruction of ; and when I know not how longthe Duration and Continuance of these Things shall be, ora Conclusion or End by God shall be put thereto, whoby Divine and Unerring Wisdom governs the World ; why shall my Soul be unwilling to take its Flight into the unseen and eternal World ? Where no sullied, sordid, or impious Thing, most incongruous and unbecoming Nature, shall be seen and found, and where I shall behold no narrow, conclusive, contracted Soul there, habitually preferring their private before a Publick Good, but all most unanimously and equally center in one com mon, universal Good, and where the Sighs, and Groans, and
Cries of the Afflicted and Persecuted shall be heard no more for ever.
I earnestly exhort all most highly to prize and value Time, and diligently improve it for Eternity ; to be Wise, seriously and seasonably to consider of their latter End : For by the irre- peatable and irreversible Law of Heaven we must all die, yet
we know not how, where, or when. Live with your Souls full of Solicitude and Care, with a most deep Concernedness and most diligent Industriousness, whilst you have Time and Opportunity, and the Means of Grace, Health, and Strength, make sure of these two great Things, viz.
1. What merits for you a Right and Title to eternal Life and Glory, and the future unchangeable Blessedness, as the Re deemer's most precious Blood and Righteousness ; that thereby a real Application and Imputation may be unto you by sincere Believing.
2. That that which makes you qualified Subjects for the great Work of Regeneration, wrought in your Souls, being re newed in the Spirit of your Minds, the Divine Nature being imprest upon them, repairing of the depraved Image of God in you that being transformed into his own Likeness, thereby in the World you may mind and favour more the Things of the
Spirit than the Things of the Flesh, Celestial and Heavenly more tfjin Terrestrial and Earthly, superiour more than inferiour
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- Things: And therewith have a holy Life and Conversation conjoined, that results and springs from the same, as Fruit from the Root, and acts from the Habits. Let all, in Order thereto, seriously consider these few Texts of Sacred Scripture, let them predominately possess you ; let them be deeply and indelibly transcribed upon your Souls ; let them be assimilated thereun to, and made the written Epistles, the lively Pictures thereof, Mat. 5. 8, 20. Blessed be the pure in Heart, for they shall see
God. Ver. 29. For I
ness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no Case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. IJohn 3. 3.
say unto yon, Except your Righteous
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily,
say ? tnto thee, except a Man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of
God. 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10, 11. Know ye not that the Unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, &>c. Gal. 5. 19, 20, to 23. Now the Works ofthe Flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, &*c. James 1. 18. Of his own Will begat he us with
the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of First-fruits of his Creatures. 1 Pet. 1. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again to a lively Hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ver. 13. Wherefore gird up the Loins of your Mind,
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the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts, &*c. Eph. 2.