Blood for Blood, Part 2
Some paſſages omitted in the former Narrative.
ABout ten of the clock the morning ſhe ſuffered, the Officer told her, Now they were ready to go with her to Execution. At this many ſtrangers that were with her, did both with prayers and tears commend her condition to God, ſhe deſiring they might continue the ſame to her end. 'Tis worthy of note to all that ſhall read her manner of deportment at this time: She went down the ſtairs in ſo unconcerned a manner, as though ſhe had not been the perſon to ſuffer, but rather a ſpectator; for while many that know the bitter cup ſhe was to drink, could not ceaſe from deep diſcompoſure, ſhe ſeemed as a perſon free from ſuch fear or torment, as commonly attends thoſe that have ſuch an hour of tryal to undergo. At the foot of the ſtairs ſhe had ſome half an hours repoſe, by reaſon a Cart was not ready. In this intermiſſion did many hearts yern toward her Eternal condition, telling her now there was but one ſtep more between her and that. Then ſhe aſked, how ſhe might know Jeſus Chriſt dyed for her? It was replyed, He dyed for ſinners, yea the greateſt of ſinners; and ſhe knew ſhe was one, and a chief one; and that in the 5th of Romans, ver. 6, 8. it is ſaid, he dyed for the ungodly, even the worſt of people, and the Scriptures did nowhere exclude her by name from benefit in Chriſt's blood: and in 1 Tim. 2.3. it is charged, that prayers and ſupplications be made for all; and in ver. 4. the reaſon is rendred, for God would have all to be ſaved, and come to the knowledge of his Truth
About this time came the Officer with a Rope, and it is worthy of note how ſhe then did behave her ſelf; he makes a nooſe before her eyes, (enough to daunt any beholder, much more the perſon for whom it was making) then he takes her right arm and puts the Rope over that, then over her left, and ſo tyes it with a knot at the middle of her back; ſhe all this while attentive to what was ſpoken by the perſons who came in love to viſit her, appearing without change of countenance or terror of ſpirit; and indeed, excepting the guilt of Murder that lay on her conſcience, her conſtant cariage was more like a Lamb going to the ſlaughter, than a Murderer going to the Gallows. By this time the Cart was ready, which ſhe aſcending, then told us, Nothing troubled her like that ſhe ſhould bring ſuch diſhonour to God by this ſin, wiſhing with all her heart that all that did behold her, might take warning by her miſerable eſtate, how they lived in this World.
Now ſhe is come within ſight of the Gibber, on which ſhe muſt in a very ſhort time ſuffer death; and then the Executioner came and undid the Rope from where it was tyed about her in the Priſon, and taking off her Handkerchief, bares her neck, tyes the Rope about it, fitting the knot to her right ear, at which (to the admiration of ſome preſent) ſhe was not in the leaſt terrified, nor changed in her countenance. Mr. Ordinary now comes to pray with her, and gave her many uſeful exhortations. Then did Mr. P. alſo pray with her in a moſt earneſt manner, as the laſt vocal prayer that was ever like to be put up unto God for her: Then did we all preſent take our farewell of her, beſeeching God in this needful moment not to reject her in this miſerable and low eſtate, which without his mercy and pardon, muſt periſh to all eternity. Then did Mr. P. as a cloſe of all, beſeech her look up to a gracious God, as her laſt and only refuge, and carry with her theſe words to Execution, Into thy hands, O Lord God, do I commit my Spirit. Then did we lead her by the hands to the Ladder, where ſhe was placed a convenient diſtance from the ground, and the Rope faſtned to the Gibbet, while thouſands of Spectators beholding her with a general compaſſion, to whom we ſignified her deſire was to have the benefit of all their prayers: upon which, with one conſent they uncovered their heads, and lift up their hands, uſing this expreſſion, The Lord have mercy upon her Soul. Then ſhe had near a quarter of an hours repoſe to her ſelf upon the Ladder, and though her hands were tyed together, yet ſhe was obſerved often to move them upwards in her private prayer.
Then we begged her to remember to the laſt that God was a very gracious God, and to give us ſome ſign of his goodneſs to her at her departure, if ſhe found it ſo: Upon which ſhe replyed with ſuch a comfortable anſwer as gave us occaſion to give thanks to his Name. And now to the glory of Gods mercy be it ſpoken, and to the deterring all from Evil by her fall, and to the encouragement of ſinners to repentance, that they may find mercy, as we truſt ſhe hath done; for now hath ſhe to our joy (much exceeding our ſorrow) ended her life in Smithfield, near Cloth-Fair Gate, upon the 2d of this inſtant March 1669. with her hands lifted up to God in a moſt fervent manner while ſence remained, which was about half a quarter of an hour; and ſhe continued upon the Gibbet about three quarters more: Then was her Body taken down, and conveyed to the ſame Room her dear Child was by her kild in; and on the next day after in the evening ſhe was buried in Great St. Bartholomew's Church-yard, being acbompanied by a great many Neighbours and Strangers, to perform their laſt office of love for the dead, that had given them no other cauſe while living, but in this great tranſgreſſion.
FINIS.
End of the text · Nathanael Partridge, Blood for Blood (1670)