Hell Opened, Narrative 3
THe Witneſſes having been Examined, their Depoſitions taken, they are all bound over to Proſecute our Malefactors at the next Aſſizes for the County of Devon, whoſe Mittimus is now Signed and Sealed, and they ſent to the High Goal near the Caſtle of Exon.
Here they ſpend full Six Months, but what! In a ſerious and ſad reflection upon their hainous and Crying ſin: In the exerciſes of Repentance, Contrition, and Godlineſs: No, in nothing leſs than in the practice of ſuch indiſpenſible Duties.
In truth they came thither the Slaves and Vaſſals of the Devil, full of Ignorance, and unacquainted with God, and the things of God, they were got into a Priſon, the very Suburbs of Hell, a place (to the Relators knowledge) a Seminary of all Villanies, Prophaneneſs, and Impieties; deſtitute of good Company, good Books, and the good means of Grace, and of all helps, ſaving their Affliction, that might lead them Heaven-ward. And it was very improbable, that under ſo great a want of Spiritual advantages, they ſhould bethink themſelves of Heaven and Eternity. Indeed they might and ought to have done it. But they were captivated by the Prince of Darkneſs, who had blinded the eyes of their underſtandings, and Seared their hearts as with an hot Iron, that they ſhould not ſee, nor know, nor conſider the things that belonged unto their Peace. Beſides they were held in ſtronger Chains than thoſe of Iron; their own iniquities had taken hold of them, and they were bound with the Cords of their ſins.
Here they fed themſelves, and are flattered alſo by their Companions in Ungodlineſs, with the fond and falſe hopes of eſcaping the Juſtice of man; and as for that of God, they never Dream of it, it enters not into their thoughts. Let them but eſcape the Gallows and get out of Goal, they imagine Hell may be avoided with leſs difficulty, and Heaven obtained with far more facility.
Thus Camelion-like they live upon the Air, or with Ephraim upon the Eaſt wind; or as Eſay's Idolator they feed upon Aſhes; a deceived heart hath turned them aſide, that they cannot deliver their Souls, nor ſay, is there not a lie in our right hands? But in the depth of their Senceleſneſs and Security, they are ſurprized with a cold damp.
The Aſſizes are come, the Judges arrived, the Trumpets ſound, and our wretched Priſoners are Summoned unto Judgment. Up they go unto the Bar with heavy hearts, though with undejected Countenances. They had ſome Figleave excuſes to cover their ſhame, and rather than want a Shift and Plea for themſelves, they will add ſin to ſin, lyings and impudent denials. Alas! Poor Souls, this is not to leſſen, but to aggravate your guilt, this doth not hide but diſcover it. You Cloath your ſelves with a Net, your Nakedneſs and filth is the more Apparent. Witneſſes are examined, evidence is produced, the Malefactors are heard and permitted to ſpeak for themſelves, the Bill was found, and an Impartial Jury declares them Guilty, they are caſt, Sentence is pronounced, and now being dead in Law, they Petition for a Tranſportation.
Here is the laſt Refuge of miſerable Murderers; But Juſtice diſpenſeth no favors, they may be Tranſported to another world, not to another Land. Blood cries for Blood. Innocent Blood demandeth Vengeance. God hath ſaid it, and the Righteous Law of England hath confirmed it; that he, who ſheddeth mans Blood, by man ſhall his Blood be ſhed, a man that offers Violence to the blood of any perſon, ſhall flie to the Pit, let no man ſtay him.
Accordingly their Petition is rejected, their Requeſt is denied, they are bidden to prepare for death, all hopes of life here have left and forſaken them.
The Girl, as Guilty of Petty Treaſon and Murder, is Sentenced to be drawn on an Hurdle to the place where ſhe ſhall be Executed, and there Burnt to death. An horrible death! An Emblem and lively Picture of Hell torments! D…awn as if dragged by Devils, Burnt alive, as if in that Lake of Fire and Brimſtone already! Lord! what Rocks are theſe that do not rend and break to pieces at the hearing and thinking of it? Methinks the very Sentence ſhould have ſtruck her dead. There is ſo much of horror in it, that with Nabal her Heart ſhould have died in her. Yet ſhe lives under it. Lord! Let it be in mercy to her! Space is given her to eſcape the wrath of God, though ſhe cannot the vengeance of Man. The Nurſe muſt Hang till ſhe be dead, a too gentle death for ſuch a Prodigy of Ungodlineſs! She Pleads ſtifly her Innocency, diſowns all Guilt, takes no Shame, her Brow is Braſs, ſhe is Impudent, and hath an Whores Forehead. If ever there were a Daughter of Hell, this was one in her proper colors. No evidence ſhall convince her. Confeſs faith ſhe! Then I ſhall Hang indeed, I deny the fact, none ſaw it, none knew it but the Girl, it may be that vile Perſon her Husband, had a Finger in it, but he is gone. Some will pitty me, though none will believe me, none can help me. Yet though ſhe muſt die, as ſure as ſhe was born, the Devil helps her to one Expedient, as ſhe conceives that may ſave her Life. My Lord, I am Innocent, I am with Child, do not kill two Innocents. If I muſt die, let my Child live!
The Reverend Judge is too Righteous to puniſh the Innocent with the Guilty; or to deſtroy the Child for the Mothers fault. Hence a Midwife is commanded to attend the Court, a Jury of Matrons impannell'd, the Murdereſs is ſearched, and after their ſtricteſt Scrutiny and Inqueſt, they find her a Lyar, to have troubled the Court needleſly, ſhe is not quick, as ſhe would bear them in hand, if ſhe have at all conceived.
Upon this they are returned to their Priſons, and now in ſight of Hell. Others pitty them, and tremble at their diſmal State; but poor wretches, they have no Bowels for themſelves, yea, without any gracious Sentiments, without any feeling apprehenſions of their approaching miſery.
Plymouth hath been the firſt Scene of this Tragedy, there had they committed their Murders, and upon the humble Petition of Maſter Weeks, Husband, and Father to the Murdered Perſons, and concurrent Requeſt of the Grand Jury, His Lordſhip grants it to be the place of their Execution. This was a rare Spectacle, ſuch a ſight was never ſeen ſince the foundations of that Town. Oh! that it might be the laſt.
In the Interval of their Sentence and Execution, ſeveral Divines viſit them.
The Right Reverend Dioceſan, out of his Religious care of their happineſs, ordered two, who frequently attended on them, but with no ſucceſs on the Nurſes part. Other Miniſters moved by Charity, and yearning at their miſery, did concur to uſe their utmoſt endeavors to ſave them from Hell. Inſtructions, Exhortations, Prayers, Tears, dreadful denunciations of unſuſterable torments with the damned, ſweet and gratious promiſes in caſe of Confeſſion, Repentance towards God, and Faith in our Lord Jeſus are uſed and urged with the greateſt Vehemency, and induſtry upon the Nurſe; but they beat the Air, they Plow the Rock, they do her no good, their labor of love is loſt, their Prayers return into their own boſoms.
The Relator having viſited them ſeveral times while they were in the High Goal at Exon, thought it convenient to ſubjoyn the ſubſtance and effect of his conferences with them. Poſſibly it may not be diſpleaſing unto his Reader. Coming into the Priſon early in the Morning, he had the Four condemned Perſons brought unto him; and beſpeaks them in theſe words, Miſcrable Souls! I am heartily ſorty to ſee you in this place, and to find you in this Condition. You are here Judged of man, and you muſt die; but what alſo if you are Condemned of God, and muſt to Hell for ever? You are Sinners, are you not? You are Guilty of thoſe Crimes for which Sentence is paſt upon you? Three had ſo much Ingenuity as with Weeping and Trembling to acknowledge it. Alas! Poor wretches, you are weeping becauſe you have offended man, and brought your ſelves to deſtruction. Ah! what a mercy would it be, if you could weep unfeignedly for your offences againſt God, and becauſe you have loſt his Image and favor, which is the greateſt Bleſſing, and deſerved his wrath and Curſe, which is the greateſt miſery.
What think you of Sin? Is it as ſweet and pleaſing to you now you muſt die for it, as when at firſt you did commit it? Here they were ſilent and Confounded. Ah! Now you ſee what it is, not to believe God ſpeaking to you from his Word, and by his Miniſters, you were told that ſin would bring ſorrow and ſhame, wrath and death, ſooner or later. The Devil and your own corrupted heart, roſe up againſt this Diſcovery of his will, and you made light and ſlight of it, and what have you got by it ? All the Fruit of your ſin is, that you are aſhamed of it, and grieved for it; its wages is the loſs of Earth, Life, and Heaven, and theſe you are expecting every moment. Man hath caſt you off for your ſins; you cannot ſtand before your earthly Judge: And if God ſhall caſt you out of his bleſſed preſence for ever among the Devils and the Damned Spirits, how would you be able to bear it? They being ſomewhat moved, he askt them, How think you to eſcape the dreadful wrath of God? What means have you to ſave your pretious Souls from Hell? What, Firſt do you believe you have Souls to ſave, a being in your Body, that doth not, that cannote die with your Bodies? Do you believe there is a God, and Devil, a Heaven and Hell, and that all the wicked ſhall be turned into Hell, and that you, all of you ſhall be flung into it for your ſins againſt God? At this they ſhrugd up their ſhoulders, and had nothing to anſwer, but their Repentance. Your Repentance, ſaid I, what is that? Why, our ſorrow for our ſins, we would not commit them again, if they were now undone. Yea indeed, ſo you ſay, and poſſibly think you would not; but you do not know the wickedneſs and deceitfulneſs of your own hearts, if you were now as heretofore, and under the ſame temptations. I know nothing to the contrary but that you would be Guilty of the ſame tranſgreſſions, of as bad, or worſe.
Beſides, ſuppoſe your Repentance were true and real, what amends is that unto God for the manifold diſhonors you have done him? You have broken every command of God, you are Guilty of innumerable ſins, your very birth and nature is horribly corrupted, and all your life long you have been Rebels againſt God, and you think to put off Gods wrath with your pittiful Repentance, a late Repentance, and it may be no other than the very Reprobates have that are now in Hell.
Is this all the ſatisfaction you can make to God? They knew no other; Then it was told them, that God was a great and terrible God, that would not put up the affronts and wrongs had been done him, without ſatisfaction, that he would by no means acquit the Guilty. That they had ſinned, and muſt die eternally, and if ever they were redeemed from Eternal wrath, they muſt make God full a mends, and bring him a Ranſome; and if they had none, nor knew where it was to be had, they muſt expect as ſoon as they died, to be damned for ever.
I asked of them in particular, who or what Jeſus Chriſt was, and what it was he had done for them. To which there was this anſwer made, they could not tell. None that knows a Goal will conceive this a Fable. Hardly any but Atheiſts, and the moſt ignorant wretches in the whole County are clapt up there; and for one ſin they brought with them into it, they carry away Cart-loads out of it. Our County Priſons being the Common Sinks of the Country, and a Shop wherein all impiety is ſooneſt learned and attained.
Their ignorance of Chriſt, his Perſon, Natures, Offices and Undertakings for poor Souls, made me to aggravate their wickedneſs, and to tell them they had wretchedly miſpent their time, and that now they were going out of the World, they muſt learn the Principles of Chriſtian Religion, and I queſtioned whether they had any Repentance that was pleaſing unto God, for they had no Faith, nor knowledge, even of the moſt neceſſary Truths, without which they could not be ſaved. And for my part I muſt not flatter you, you are nearer Hell than Heaven. Upon this there was a diſcourſe made of Chriſt, adapted to their capacities, as alſo of his wonderful love and condeſcenſion in becoming man, and dying for ſinners, and ſatisfying the Juſtice of God, and holding forth his death as the price of Redemption unto all Penitent believers; and that this was now offered unto them upon theſe terms of confeſſing and abhorring their ſins, and themſelves for their ſins: and that if they came to God with a ſence and feeling of the inſupportable burden, of the horrid nature, and infinite number of their ſins, and threw themſelves at his feet proſtrate before him, imploring his mercy for the paſſion of his dear Son, the Lord would be merciful to them, and he would not caſt them off, but would pardon and forgive their hainous and grievous offences.
In the cloſe of this conference, Maſter Holmes Chaplain to the High Sheriff came into the Chamber, and after ſome words with the Malefactors, we joyntly parted the Priſoners, I withdrawing into another Room with the Nurſe and Maid, and having preſſed them to a free & ingenious confeſſion of their Guilt, the Girl with tears in her eyes gave me for ſubſtance the ſame confeſſion, and not varying in a circumſtance from that which at her firſt apprehenſion ſhe had made unto the Major, and Juſtice of Plymouth. I adjured her in the name of the All-ſeeing and heart-ſearching God, who hated a Lye, and would caſt all Lyars into the Lake of Fire and Brimſtone for ever, to declare nothing but the Truth: That ſhe had ſinned enough already, and had been Guilty of two Murders, and if the Nurſe were Innocent, ſhe ſhould not for a World accuſe her, for if ſhe did, the Lord might Damn her immediately.
To which ſhe replied with Tears, Sir, I am a loſt Creature, I have no hopes in this World, I would not willingly Damn my Soul, by drawing upon me the Guilt of more Blood, I ſpeak it as in the preſence of God, I had not put in the Poyſon into the Pottage, had not the Nurſe bid me do it. And added, My Body is loſt, but if the Lord would have pitty upon my Soul, it is all that I deſire.
And the Nurſe hath ſaid, ſhe ſhould never confeſs, though ſhe did Hang for it. That I might confeſs what I would, ſhe would not confeſs any thing. Upon this I confronted her with Philip Cary, ſhe obſtinately denies all, ſtands ſtifly to her Innocency, throws all upon the Girl; ſaith. Judge, Jury, and Witneſſes, are all Guilty of her Innocent Blood, and ſhe will lay it at their Doors. Whereupon, I deſired the Maid to go in to Maſter Holmes, and dealt privately with this Vile woman, yet to give Glory unto God by confeſſing of her ſin, and renouncing all commerce with Hell, that if ſhe did hide her ſin, and keep the Devils Counſel, ſhe could never proſper. That it was in vain for her to think of concealing it, for God knew it, the World knew it, her Country condemned her for it, her own conſcience, if ſhe had any left in her, muſt needs accuſe and condemn her. Poſſibly ſaid I, you think of life, and feed your ſelf with vain imaginations of eſcaping death, I told her they were fooliſh and groundleſs, that Juſtice would have its Courſe, that the whole World could not ſave her. That ſhe was already dead in Law, and muſt be as certainly Executed, as ſhe was already Condemned. That ſhe ſtood upon the brink of the Pit, and was ready to drop down into the bottomleſs Gulph of Hell: That ſhe might, if ſhe would, eſcape it. God offered pardon, Life, Heaven and Salvation to her, provided ſhe would but give glory to him by confeſſing her ſin, and taking the ſhame thereof unto her ſelf. That it was better to do it now than upon the Gallows. She had ſerved the Devil long enough, too too long, and it was a miracle of mercy, if ever the Lord ſhewed mercy to her at laſt; but yet I would, and did aſſure her in his name, (as being his Ambaſſador, and ſent with his Commiſſion to reconcile her unto God, whom ſhe had ſo hainouſly diſhonored,) that if ſhe would diſcloſe all this curſed crime, who firſt contrived it, who managed it, and put her upon it, there was hopes. For the Lord was a merciful God unto unfeignd Penitents, and compaſſionated her deplorable condition, and would bring her out of it. That ſhe take care not to Rebel againſt his grace, nor to tear a pardon, that was offered her upon ſuch eaſie terms, in pieces, nor to refuſe Heaven, and all its joys and happineſs.
Alas! Sir, ſaith ſhe, What will you have me ſay? I will tell you all I know of it. I am as free from this Crime, as the Child that is now Born. But the Maid did it. For ſhe told me ſhe was weary of her life by reaſon of her Miſtris, who was ſuch a Curſt Old Woman, that there was no living with her, and that ſhe was reſolved to leave her Service, and go away with the Mountebanks, and that ſhe told me ſhe would fit her, and had bought the Rats-bane of the Mountebanks Boy or Man, with whom ſhe was in Love.
This was all I could get from her then, and not one Syllable of it true. I told her, ſhe ſhould beware of Lying, and falſe Witneſs bearing, and not let the Devil ſit upon her heart and Tongue; and added, when you knew this Girl had an intent to make away her Miſtris, why had not you diſcovered it? She ſaid, That indeed it was her fault, if it were a fault. I told her, conſent unto, and concealing of Murder, was Intentional Murder before God and Man, and that ſhe had a real hand in it. She told me ſhe had none at all, and could give me no other anſwer.
Our ſecret conference being ended, I brought the Maid again unto her, who avowed her former Confeſſion, diſavowed all acquaintance with the Mountebanks Servant, never to have talked with him but once at the Conduit when ſhe fetcht water; and maintained to her face, that this wicked woman the Nurſe, did oftentimes perſwade her to run away from her Miſtreſs, and if ſhe would have gone away the Saturday before the fact was committed, ſhe would help her to a Riding Suit.
Unto this ſhe made no reply.
Returning with them unto Maſter Holmes, he preſſed upon them the evil of their ſin, adviſed them to Repentance: and beſpeaking the Nurſe, Philip Cary, ſaid he, there is a report and Suſpition of your having been unclean with your Maſter. At which ſhe fell down upon her Knees in the midſt of us, and impricated moſt direfully upon her ſelf, is he ever knew her to be a man or woman, more than by giving ſuck unto his Grand Child.
Having cleared her Maſter, but not confeſſing any other thing or ſin, Maſter Holmes being deſired by me, concluded this conference with Prayer, and we departed.
In the evening I returned again unto theſe Priſoners, And dealt with the Nurſe to acknowledge her Crime, freely to unboſome her ſelf unto me, that I might ſpread it before the Lord in Prayer, and intreat him for a broken heart, and a new Spirit for her.
And withdrawing from the Company that crowded on us into a private Chamber, I deſired her for Gods ſake, her poor Souls ſake, (with cears in my eyes,) that ſhe would yet leave ſin before ſin left her, that ſhe would flee from that wrath to come, that ſhe would bid defiance unto the Devil, who ſhe ſaw had ruined her, and would Damn her everlaſtingly; that ſhe would yet accept of grace and peace, and reconciliation with God; it was late indeed to return unto him, but not too late, how ever ſhe muſt not thus dally with the Divine Majeſty, to put him off with delays and lies. That ſhe ſhould not be afraid of ſhame, that it was the greateſt ſhame and reproach unto her to have committed, and concealed this ſin; but it would be a ſtep to Honor and Eternal Glory to confeſs it, good men would then pitty her, pray for her, and God would ſave her.
And added, that if ſhe would not confeſs it publickly to the World, (which yet was her duty, and if ever the Lord gave her Repentance ſhe would do it more feely, and in a more ample manner than I could deſire,) ſhe ſhould at leaſt confeſs it unto me, and I promiſed her upon the word of a Miniſter, that without her conſent I would never divulge it: Or if ſhe would not truſt me with ſuch an important ſecret, I adviſed her to ſingle out ſome Godly Learned Miniſter, or ſome Judicious private Chriſtian, to whom ſhe might Communicate it, and have the benefit of their Aſſiſtance, Counſels, and Directions in order to her Salvation. That it was impoſſible for her to get to Heaven without it. Confeſſion being a main and principal ingredient into Repentance.
To this ſhe anſwered poſitively ſhe would not, and as peremptorily, that it was enough to confeſs to God, and why ſhould ſhe confeſs unto men?
I told her God required in publick, ſcandalous and crying Crimes, ſuch as thoſe whereof ſhe was Guilty, and eſpecially now the lot of God had attached her, and his holy righteous providence had condemned her, that ſhe ſhould confeſs, accuſe, ſhame and condemn her ſelf publickly. That otherwiſe ſhe ſlandered moſt unworthily the Right Honorable Judge, and the whole Court; and endeavored to raiſe up a baſe and ſcandalous ſuſpition of them, as if they had maliciouſly took away her life.
To which ſhe in plain terms ſaid, They had, ſhe was Innocent, and they muſt anſwer for it unto God.
I told her, I heard the Devil ſpeaking with her tongue, and was afraid to ſtay with her any longer, leaſt the ſhould tear her in a Thouſand pieces before me. I had known many hard-hearted Murderers this Thirteen years laſt paſt in this Goal, but never before met with the like; That I ſaw, ſhe was reſolved to be Damned, and go to Hell: And I was ſeriouſly perſwaded, that ſince ſo many Miniſters had been with her, and treated with her about everlaſting life to no purpoſe, and that all my poor endeavors were unſuccesful, that God would never grant her Grace to repent, but that ſhe was a Veſſel of wrath, and preparing her ſelf a pace for endleſs deſtruction.
At theſe words ſhe began to weep, and wept bitterly, wringing her hands, crying, Oh! Sir, What ſhall I do? Will you have me ſpeak that which I do not know? I am Innocent.
Well woman ſaid I, if you be Innocent as to this Crime, tell me, are you not Guilty of ſome other Capital Crime deſerving death? For though the Lord may ſuffer an Innocent perſon to undergo an unjuſt Sentence from men, yet if he have any Grace, he will own the Juſtice of God in mans injuſtice. It is rare, very rare indeed, that God the Wiſe and Righteous Governor of the World ſuffers the Innocent to be Condemned, and the Guilty abſolved; but if he do, is there not a Cauſe for it? Were I in your Caſe, I would ſay unto the Lord, do not Condemn me, ſhew me wherefore thou contendeſt with me? Come, unrip your heart, and tell me what ſins thou haſt been Guilty of, that though you need no Repentance for this Murder for which as you ſay, you are unjuſtly Condemned, yet you may be holpen unto Repentance for them.
Sir, I know no ſin at all that I am Guilty of, is her reply. No Sir, none at all.
Ah! poor wretch, Guilty of no ſin? Is not thy nature depraved? Hath not thy life been debauched? How haſt thou improved thy time here in Priſon? In Prayers, Repentance, and preparation for death.
Still ſhe anſwers, No ſin deſerving death: It may be ſhe had committed ſome little ſins as all others do, but for ſins deſerving death, ſhe never had committed any.
I told her ſhe was a perfect ſtranger to her own heart, that ſhe was full of ſin all over, but blind and could not ſee them; that her little ſins were all damnable, and as ſhe knew one drop of Poyſon would kill as bad as a Spoonful, ſo one little ſin without Repentance would as infallibly Damn her as the greateſt; that for my part I did utterly deſpair of her Salvation, ſeeing the Devil to be ſo ſtrong in her, that ſhe was in the Gall of bitterneſs and bond of Iniquity, and ſeared that ſhe would go to Hell with a lye in her mouth; ſhe was now pleaſing the Devil, and thought ſhe had found his Service ſo profitable and beneficial to her, that ſhe was reſolved to ſerve him to the laſt, and to hear the Lord Thunder in her Ears, Go! Thou Curſed Murdereſs into everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels for ever.
At this ſhe wept again, and told me ſhe was a poor*Ignorant. Ingrant Soul. But ſhe hoped it would not be ſo bad with her as I ſpake.
I told her it was my hearts deſire it might not be ſo. I pittied her from my Soul. I labored for her everlaſting welfare. I had no other deſign upon her than to pluck her out of the Jaws of Hell. That I had nothing but labor for my pains, and was afraid I ſhould be a Witneſs at the laſt day againſt her for her refuſal, her ſtubborn, wilful rejection of everlaſting life.
That ſo her Brother had done before her, and would never repent, nor confeſs, till he was upon the Gallows ready to be turned over, and then out all came, when he could live no longer to the Devil, then he would go to God; and God muſt be put off with the Devils leavings.
To which ſhe rejoyned, that her Brother had made a Godly end, and ſhe was ſure he was now in Heaven, and did wiſh ſhe might make as good an End. And ſaid I, I pray God you may make a better!
Now that the Curioſity of my Reader, who will inquire concerning her Brother, may be ſatisfied: I ſhall give an account of him briefly, craving pardon for amuſeing him with this Digreſſion. Take then his and ſubſcribed with his own hand at Lanceſton in Cornwall, April the Third, 1675. Juſt as he was a turning over, for till then he would make none.