Hell Opened, Narrative 6
ON Wedneſday the 29. of March, they left Exon, and were brought on Horſeback to Plymouth in order to their execution.
At the Bridg end, as they were coming out of the City, that vile Woman was heard to lay unto the Hangman boaſtingly, That ſhe had known many Men in her life, and uſed ſeveral other obſcene expreſſions, that I will not ſoil my Paper, nor make my Reader bluſh at the Relation of them.
In their journey, the Girl was very penſive, cared for little or no refreſhment, and at the laſt place where they baited, being deſired to take ſome ſuſtenance; ſhe replied, There was other work for her than to eat or drink, ſhe had a Soul to ſave, would look wholly after that, and no more care for her Body; which ſhould neither eat, nor drink more in this world.
The Nurſe was of a far different temper and deportment, far from ſeriouſneſs, or thoughts of Death and Eternity; The Executioner was her Husband, and if he had not defiled her, they are both abominably wronged.
Now they return again to Plymouth. At their entrance they are attended by Thouſands of People. Perſons of all Age and Quality ran to meet them. They are gazed at as ſo many Monſters. Every one paſſeth his cenſure on them; ſome with bowels of pitty on the poor Girl, ſcarce any one hath Charity for the Nurſe. They went from this Town with their ſin, and under guilt: They return unto it with ſhame, and ſorrow, and under wrath.
Being conducted unto their Chamber, the Reverend and Learned Miniſters of Plymouth, Dr. Aſhton, Mr. Collings, and Mr. Read viſits them, and diſcourſe with them, but the Throng of Spectators was ſo great, that for the preſent much good could not be done by them. Yet ſo ſtrong a flame of divine love toward the Souls of theſe condemned wretches was kindled in the hearts of thoſe grave Divines, that they return again unto them after Ten, and though late at night, yet ſpent a conſiderable ſpace of time in Religious conferences with them, and muſter up all their arguments to induce that obſtinate ſinner the Nurſe to confeſs, and forſake the Devil, and to accept of Gods tender mercies. But the flinty Rock will ſooner guſh out with Waters, and the Adamant be broken to pieces by the Hammer, than her unmoveable Soul utter forth one Syllable of guilt. Heart-work, is hard work. None but the Divine and Omnipotent Arm can unlock it's Doors, or break its Bars in pieces.
With the Maid they had no difficulty, ſhe owneth, and confeſſeth all. Her deſires are for mercy at the hands of God, acknowledging ſhe deſerved and expected none from Men.
They conclude their charitable Viſit with ſeeking God, the Reverend Doctor praying moſt fervently for them.
I alſo viſited them again, and renued my aſſaults and batteries againſt this ſtrong hold of the Devil; but ſhe reſiſts, ſtands out againſt God, and all his Counſels; ſhe reſolves from firſt to laſt, whatever parleys ſhe hath with Heaven, let the Lord humble himſelf never ſo much unto ſo baſe a Murderer, ſhe may treat with him, but unleſs ſhe can obtain her own Terms, her own Articles and Conditions, ſhe will not ſurrender. Sill ſhe hideth her ſin, as Adam; ſtill concealeth ſhe the ſecret of Hell, as if ſhe had been ſworn Privy Counſeller unto the Devil. She will ſooner bite out her Tongue, and ſpit it out of her Mouth, or ſeal up the door of her Lips, than let the depoſi…um Satan have vent, and ſee the Sun. So that I could ſigh unto my ſelf as that German Philip, The old Satan is too hard for young Melancthon.
It was high time to leave her, upon whom no good impreſſions could be wrought.
I then betook my ſelf to the poor Penitent, and asking her how ſhe did, How it went with her Soul? She anſwers me, Never was a poor Creature ſo cheated out of her life: But I forgive the Nurſe front my Heart. And Sir, Though my ſins are many, yet Gods mercies are more, and if Chriſt bath not merits enough to ſave me, I will be contented to be damned eternally.
And afterward inquiring of her into the grounds and reaſons of this her confidence, ſhe told me, she ſaw her ſin, ſhe was unfeignedly ſorry for it, and not only that it was committed againſt her Miſtreſſes, and had ruined them, and her ſelf here; but chiefly this grieved her, that ſhe had thereby diſhonored God her Heavenly Father, who had made her, and Jeſus Chriſt who had died for her, and God the Holy Ghoſt, who had ſanctified her to become his Servant. That however, ſhe would not deſpare of mercy. For the Thief upon the Croſs found mercy from our Saviour at the laſt hour, and I Queſtion not, that he my Saviour hath mercy for me.
Reader, I give thee her very words, neither adding to them, nor ſubſtracting from them; and if they do do not melt thee in reading, I muſt aſſure thee they did me in heating them.
Her Siſters being come to her weeping and crying, ſhe was deſired to ſpeak to them, and urged becauſe her time was ſhort, ſhe anſwered, My time is ſhort indeed, and I am drawing near unto Eternity, but I hope in God to an Eternity of Happineſs.
My great work now was to ſettle her Spirit, and to corroborate her Soul againſt the horrors of her death; and told her after many other diſcourſes, Anne, thou art happier than many here, for I hope before Twenty four hours be paſt, thou wilt be in Heaven. Hold faſt thy hope and confidence in Gods mercy, which ſhal have a good recompence of Reward. No matter for thy puniſhment, ſince thou haſt a pardon.
Yea Sir, ſaith ſhe, I believe, and receive this true and faithful ſaying, worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the world to ſave ſinners, of whom I am chief.
Having got a little ſilence, (and very little indeed it was, the noiſe and tumult of the people ever and anon drowning my voice,) I prayed with theſe Malefactors, and wiſhed them a good Night.
But ſleep they did not. Every hour increaſeth their fears.
The day of their Execution is now come, and early in the morning I gave them another viſit, comforted and confirmed the poor Maid, who deſired me not to leave her at her ſufferings, and dealt again with the Nurſe, though to as little purpoſe as formerly, and then ſought God by Prayer in their behalf.
That duty finiſhed, Turning my diſcourſe to the Maid, Anne, ſaid I, Thy time flies away, thy end is very near, take off thy heart wholly from the world. Be dead unto thy Relations, tell them, the beſt ſervice and kindneſs they can do thee is not to ſee thee, but pray for thee, and let all thy thoughts and deſires be unto God, to be at home with him: long now to be in Heaven and Glory, turn thy Face to the Wall, ſince thou haſt no private Room, and power out thy Soul before the Lord, and wait, yea wait earneſtly for, his Salvation.
Do not fear the Fire, God will carry thee thorough it, it can only hurt thy Body, it ſhall not ſinge thy Soul. Though thy Fleſh and thy Bones be conſumed, thou wilt have many Mourners, and God, I hope will gather thine Aſhes, and grant thee a Glorious Reſurrection. I want words to tell thee what the Joys of Heaven are, but thou wilt ſee, and feel, and taſt, and injoy them very ſhortly. I hope this day thou wilt be with the Lord, and all his bleſſed Saints, and glorious Angels in Paradiſe. She ſaid, Amen.
Notwithſtanding my ill ſucceſs and many repulſes hitherto, yet I would not leave the Nurſe. I reaſoned ſtill with my ſelf, who knoweth but that Grace may be given, and Satan may looſe his hold faſt, and the Prey may be taken out of the Paws of the ſpoiler, out of the jaws of the Devourer?
Satan hath fallen as a flaſh of lightning before the Miniſtry of Gods Holy word, God hath him in a Chain, and though ſhe hath not liſtened to the voice of former admonitions, it may be ſhe ſhall now unto the laſt.
Addreſſing my ſelf, therefore once again unto her, I told her, Nurſe, this is the laſt conference that ever I will have with thee on Earth about thy Soul, and nothing but my real ſence of its worth, and lothneſs that it ſhould be loſt for ever, would ever have ingaged me to it. That I got nothing but trouble, grief, and loſs of time thus to wait upon her, and not to be able to do good. I knew indeed my reward was with the Lord, and my work with my God, but yet I demanded this poor ſatisfaction of her now at parting, that ſhe ſhould not ſend me away with the ſad thoughts of her damnation.
To which ſhe very civilly replyed, Sir, I thank you for all your love to my Soul. I believe that what you have done and ſpoken, hath been in order to my Eternal good.
Well then, I added, ſhall you and I have a little private diſcourſe together? She agreed. Deſiring therefore the people to withdraw at a diſtance, I askt her in her Ear whether ſhe were Guilty or not.
Sir, (ſaith ſhe,) I will tell you all I know — Then ſtopt, at length the repeats again. I will tell you all I know—And then ſtops.
Whereupon I told her, Nurſe, the Devil is leaving thee, God is coming in with mercy, do not now at the laſt hour refuſe it, tell me what you know of this buſineſs, and I aſſure thee upon the word of a Miniſter, that without thy conſent I will not diſcloſe it. Do not fear ſhame, ſhame the Devil, and give Glory to God.
Sir, I confeſs, I did put the Spider into the Cup, and bad the Girl to ſquat it abroad; but it was a Fooliſh and vain word, I never intended any more hurt to my Miſtris, than I do to my own Soul.
I believe ſhe ſpake the truth, for ſhe never intended good to her Soul. Juſt like Doctor Lopez the Jew, who being convented before the Privy Councel, for attempting to Poyſon Queen Elizabeth, told their Honors, That be loved the Queen better than be loved Chriſt. Yea, (ſaid a Noble Lord, thou telleſt the truth, for thou art a Jew, and loveſt both a like.)
And Sir, I knew that this wicked Maid had an intent to make away her Miſtris, and that ſhe did it; but I was loth to diſcover, and now I muſt ſuffer for her fault. I told her no, it was for her own; and ſhe did not yet confeſs any thing to the purpoſe, all this I knew before, you muſt tell me as to your own hand and Guilt in this Murder. None! None at all Sir, that is her anſwer.
But Nurſe, did you not tell ſuch a Miniſter that viſited you in Goal, that you would conſider what he ſpoke unto you? at this ſhe changed countenance, paled and redded once and again, minced, aequivocated, and faltered in her expreſſions; but taking her in all her Evaſions, ſhe could not deny ſhe had promiſed him; and had conſidered of it, yet knew no guilt by her ſelf worthy of death.
Getting no ground here, I askt her concerning the Gold, her Brother took her for his Child, ſhe told me ſhe never had any from him. Why then did you ſpeak to Maſter W. to look after your Money, if you never had any, and be ſuch a Poor Woman?
Sir, I will without any diſſimulation tell yon all the Truth. My Brother acquainted me that there was Ten Pound in a Purſe hanging between the Vallance and the Wall of his Bed Chamber in Loo: Whereupon my Husband got an Horſe in Plymouth, Rode thither and brought it to me. So that I never had any of my Brother, but my Husband had.
Well, Nurſe, this may be as you ſay, though undoubtedly there was more; but how have you diſpoſed of it? She replied, It is put out for my Child. I told her this is a very horrid Theft, the healer was as bad in the ſight of God as the ſtealer; that without Reſtitution there was no Remiſſion: That unleſs ſhe took ſome courſe for its being reſtored, ſhe could never be ſaved: That God would never bleſs it unto her Child: Yea, the very contrary, for it would be a ſnare and a curſe unto her, and an occaſion of deſtruction unto her, otherwiſe, innocent Child.
And recollecting all my former diſcourſes and arguments to her, I preſſed with all poſſible earneſtneſs and importunity, not willfully to precipitate her ſelf into Hell. That there were now but a few Sands in her Glaſs, a few breaths in her body, a few minutes in her time, that ſhe ſhould not play the Fool any longer; love the Devil, and hate God. The Devil had already undone her, yet the Lord was willing to ſave her. He ſent me once again upon that errand, but if ſhe were reſolved to adhere unto her grand Enemy, and utterly forſake the Lord her beſt Friend, I was heartily ſorry for her, I foreſaw ſhe muſt Burn in Hell Everlaſtingly. That in the day of Judgment, I ſhould be a witneſs againſt her, and it would be a fearful thing, that God Almighty ſhould tell her; did not I ſend Miniſter upon Miniſter to Convert, reconcile and ſave thee? Did not this and that come unto thee, Woe and intreat thee with tears in their eyes, with fair and gentle, with terrible and amazing words to confeſs and give Glory to me, but thou wouldeſt not?
Ah! Nurſe! Nurſe! What will you ſay unto the Lord then? She wept; and I wept for Company.
But recovering my ſelf, Woman ſaid I, do not flatter thy ſelf with falſe hopes of Life. For I fear thou keepeſt the Devils Counſel upon that account. Thou muſt die. All the world cannot ſave thee. Ere three hours be ſpent and gone, thou muſt be led unto the Gallows, and thence into Eternity. Oh! Hell! Hell! Hell! Woman is a place and ſtate of unſpeakable, of unſufferable horror and torment: Yet, Flee! Flee! Flee from it! Or thou art undone for ever.
I now Love, Pitty, Intreat, and Pray for thee▪ But if thou wilt be a Reprobate, a caſt away, I take God to witneſs, I have done my duty, my utmoſt to ſave thee, Lord, ſaid I, lifting up my Eyes and Hands to Heaven, I am free of the ruin of this Woman. Let her Blood, and Damnation lie upon her own Head!
And Nurſe, It is a very fearful thing to fall into the bands of the living God. The God to whom thou art going, is a conſuming Fire. Ah! Who can abide his anger? Who can ſtand before his indignation? None will compaſſionate thee at thy death. And in the day of Judgment, thou wilt be an abhorrency to all.
All this wrought nothing upon her beſides tears: Still ſhe avows her innocency; and had I not had unqueſtionable evidence of her guilt, poſſibly I might have been perſwaded ſhe was accuſed and condemned unjuſtly.
After this I ſat down, and Mr. Collings, the Reverend Miniſter of Charles Church coming in, he reaſoned with her for a long time, as alſo my worthy Friend Mr. Sh. But a Marble Quarry affords no Water, nor her ſtony Heart one penitential Tear. At length all their pains being uſeleſs, ineffectual; and unſuccesful, we reſolved to try the Lord once more by Prayer, and ſee whether any mercy might be got out of Heaven for her.
Mr. Collings was our Mouth to God. The condemned Perſons were upon their knees. Duty ended, I departed, and never ſpake more with her, till ſhe was upon the Ladder.
ANd now ſhe is waited on to the Gallows.
The Streets are crowded. The Major, Magiſtrates, and under Sheriff can hardly paſs for the throngs.
The poor Maid is drawn on the Hurdle. The poſture ſhe lay in was on her left ſide, her Face in her Boſom, her Bible under her Arm, ſeeming like one dead, rather than alive.
At length we are come, though ſlowly to the place of Execution. Plimouth was then naked of Inhabitants, the Town was eaſie to be taken, and the Houſes to be plundered, if an Enemy had been at hand to have done it. Cat downe, the Lambhey, Cittadel, Turn-Chappel, and Cat-Water are preſt with multitudes. Some computed their number I'wenty thouſand. But Commanders, who at lived in Wars, and ſeen great Armies, and therefore the moſt competent Judges in this caſe, eſtimated them at one half. I write within compaſs.
The Maid being nailed to her Stake, and the Iron Hoop about her, and the Nurſe mounted upon the Ladder, ſhe deſires. that this Relator might now Pray with her.
But it being thought requiſite that the eſtabliſhed Order of the Church ſhould be obſerved, the Common Prayers were firſt Commanded. Which having been read Audably, and with great Devotion from the By-ſtanders. The 51. Pſalm according to the Girls requeſt was ſung: Who (it was very obſervable,) joyned with the People, ſinging alſo herſelf.
Now ſhe being queſtioned about her offence owns every particular thereof, it having been propounded to her in particulars. Owneth that the Nurſe bad her put it in; Only denieth the Depoſition of Scannels Wife, profeſſing that ſhe cannot remember it: Profeſſeth her hearty and unfeigned ſorrow for her ſin, not only becauſe it had ruined her Miſtreſſes and her ſelf; but principally, and eſpecially becauſe it was an high diſhonor to God, Father, Son, and Spirit, that it made her unworthy of his Favor and Bleſſing; yet ſhe profeſſed her Faith and Hope of Salvation, through the alone Merits of the Lord Jeſus, Into whoſe hands ſhe now commended her ſelf; and deſired to forgive all the World, and that Bloody Woman the Nurſe, who had drawn her into deſtruction; and added, that ſhe ſubmitted patiently to her death, becauſe ſhe had deſerved it. And ſaid, it was her wiſh, that all others would take warning by her Example; and taking this Relator by the hand, Sir, ſaith ſhe, will you not pray with me? Did you not promiſe me yon would? And craving it with Tears, it was readily accorded.
Silence being commanded, and every Perſon compoſed, there was this following Prayer conceived, and poured before the Lord in her behalf.
MOſt Holy Lord God! The Righteous Judg of the whole World! Juſt in all thy Ways, and Holy in all Works! The great and terrible God! a conſuming Fire, and everlaſting burnings! How can ſuch ſinful chaff, and ſtubble as we are ſtand before thee? We muſt needs in a Moment be reduced unto Aſhes, if thou haſt not pitty on us. But bleſſed be thy Name, thou art a God of wonderful Love and Mercies, Thou haſt ſo loved the World as to give thine only begotten Son to the death for us, that we believing in him ſhould not periſh but have everlaſting life.
We are greater Sinners than the Apoſtate Angels, and yet have greater Mercies afforded us, though they are better capacited to ſerve God than our ſelves, and never ſinned againſt thee but once, yet thou didſt utterly reject them, never gaveſt a Chriſt to them, nor to die for them; whereas thou haſt beſtowed him on us the moſt unworthy Perſons, Sons and Daughters of ſinful Adam, who have never ceaſed ſinning againſt thee.
We are all Sinners by Nature, and from our Youth upward. We were conceived in ſin, and born in iniquity. Our Infancy, our Youth, and riper years have been all spent in the drudgery of ſin. We have broken all the Commandments of our God in heart, thought, word, and deed; ſinned againſt the Law, and againſt the Goſpel; againſt all the means uſed by our God to reclaim, and to reform us. We have despiſed the beſt of Mercies, and deſerved the worſt of Judgments, yea to be burnt up with unquenchable flames, as this poor, wretched Malefactor is now ready to be with thoſe that are temporal. But hitherto thou haſt spared and reprieved us, and given us space for Repentance, and waiteſt to be gracious to us, and biddeſt us, ſeek thee O our God, whileſt thou mayeſt be found, and call upon thee whileſt thou art near, it forſake our ungodlineſs, and to forego all our wickedneſs, and thou wouldeſt abundantly pardon; yea thou art ſo gracious, as to bid and incourage us to Pray for others, with promiſes of Audience and Acceptance.
This emboldens us to make our addreſſes to thee for this poor condemned Creature, ready to be executed. We confeſs for her, and ſhe doth acknowledg for her ſelf, Lord! her great and grievous offences, that ſhe hath been a Rebel againſt thee all her days, lived in ſin, neglected duty, neglected getting the ſaving knowledg of God, and acquaintance with thee; that ſhe hath not hearkened to the voice of God speaking from his holy Word unto her; but liſtned readily unto the Temptations and Suggeſtion of the Devil, a Murderer from the beginning, and by whoſe enticements ſhe hath embrewed her hands in Blood, in the guilt of innocent Blood of her Relation and Superiors, which crys to Heaven for vengeance againſt her. Lord! ſhe cannot ſtand before the Juſtice of Men. Ah! how unable is ſhe to ſubſiſt at the Bar of God? Man hath juſtly contemned her, and the Lord might juſtly damn her, and that to all Eternity. The wages of her ſin is death, death Temporal, and Eternal.
But Lord! though ſhe is miſerable, thou art merciful; though ſhe is full of ſins, thou art full of pardons; though ſhe is helpleſs in her ſelf, yet in thee Lord, is ſhe not hopeleſs. Bleſſed be God that hath opened a Door of hope for her in the Reſurrection of Chriſt Jeſus, who was delivered to the death for her ſins, and roſe again from the dead, that ſhe might be juſtified. Thy Free guift in Chriſt Jeſus is Eternal Life, Oh! How ſweet is thy mercy?
Suffer us, Bleſſed Father! in all humility to plead with thee in her behalf, Oh, That thou wouldeſt be gracious to her! she is thy Creature, the work of thine hands, do not deſtroy her! She is the purchaſe of thy Sons blood, Oh, Let him not looſe her! Chriſt died for her, Oh, Let him not die in vain for her! Therefore ſave her! Her ſins are many, but thy mercies are infinitely more, her ſins are Bloody, Crimſon, Scarlet, and crying ſins. but the blood of Jeſus cleanſeth from all ſins. Bloodſhed by her cryeth down Vengeance on her. But yet, dear Lord! Hear! Oh hear the lowder outcries of thy Sons blood for her! She is, if ever any, an object worthy of pitty, not from any worth in her, but becauſe of her miſery. If God do not help her, who will? Who can? Men and Angels cannot ſave her, but Jeſus Chriſt can. He is able. And Beſſed be thy name, ſweet Jeſu! Thou art willing alſo even to the worſt and utmoſt to ſave.
Thou art an Almighty, and All ſufficient Saviour, thine arm is not ſhortened, thy Grace is not exhauſted. Oh, Magnifie thy Grace now, even now upon her! Thou haſt ſaid, that the weary, the heavy laden ſhould come unto thee, and thou wouldeſt give them reſt: And that ſuch as come unto thee, though the greateſt ſinners, thou wouldeſt not caſt out 'Tis late indeed that ſhe comes unto thee, but not too late. Truth Lord! Late Repentance is ſeldom true, but yet true Repentance is never too late. Bitter late than never.
Thou haſt given us one inſtance, one example of the Thief on the Croſs ſaved at the Eleventh, at the laſt hour ſave one, 'tis but one, that we ſhould not preſume; and yet one, that we. ſhould not deſpair; Oh Lord, ſhe will not deſpair of thy mercy, that were a greater ſin than all the reſt that ſhe hath committed. Now Lord, though late ſhe comes unto thee, ſhe throws her ſelf at thy Feet, and we thy poor Servants come unto thee, and proſtrate our ſelves at thy fleet for her: Oh! Do not caſt her out of thy ſight! Oh! Let her not be Damned, but ſaved! This is a true and faithful ſaying, worthy of all acceptation, moſt worthy of hers, and ſhe accepts of it, and reſts upon it, and truſts unto it, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the World to ſave ſinners, Of whom ſhe is chief, Thou art willing that all ſhould be ſaved: Therefore thou art willing ſhe ſhould be ſaved alſo. Thou haſt put theſe words into her mouth, and into our mouths for her. That if Jeſus Chriſt, hath not merits enough to ſave her, ſhe, and we alſo will be contented that ſhe ſhould be Damned for, ever.
But Bleſſed be our God! The merits of our Saviour are Infinite, Oh! Lord, make application of them unto her poor Soul. Oh! Take away for Chriſts ſake all her ſins! Blot out her iniquities at a Cloud, and her Tranſgreſſions as a thick Cloud, Though her ſins have abounded unto her Condemnation, yet let thy grace much more, infinitely more abound unto her juſtification. Enter not into judgment with her, Oh Lord! Deliver her from blood guiltineſs, Oh God, thou God of her salvation! And her Tongue, and our mouths ſhall ſing aloud of Chriſts Righteouſneſs and of thy Faithfulneſs.
Oh, take away whatſoever may hinder the Communications of thy Love, favor, and salvation unto her! Purge ſin out of her! Give a broken, contrite, and truly Peritent heart unto her! She is Mourning for her ſin, and miſery: Oh, waſh her in the blood of the Lamb, in that Fountain opined for ſin and for Uncleanneſſes, in the lavor of Regeneration! Oh, ſanctifie, and renew her by thy Holy Spirit! Take away all the ſpots and blots of her ſin! Though ſhe be defiled and deformed with innumerable and thoſe the moſt abominable, yet canſt thou renſe and cleanſe her in a moment. No unclean thing ſhall enter into thy Kingdom. Without Holineſs none can ſee the Lord. Now the Lord Sanctifie her throughout, in her whole Soul, Body and Spirit.
And though ſhe hath been by the wiles of the Devil cheated of her life, and is now to ſuffer Juſtly for her evil deeds, give her to bear patiently the indignation of her God, becauſe ſhe hath ſinned againſt thee, and to accept of the puniſhment of her iniquity! Though ſhe muſt burn in Temporal flames, yet let her not burn in Everlaſting flames! Oh, Let the ſtreams of Chriſts blood quench out the flames of thy wrath! Though ſhe die in Earth, Lord! Save her from Hell! Oh, Give her Faith, the Faith of Gods elect! And the Lord ſtrengthen her Faith! Oh, Confirm her hope! Oh, Give her to abound in hope through thy Holy Ghoſt given to her! Oh, Grant that Faith, Hope, and patience may have their perfect work in her.
Give in ſome token, ſome pledge of thy good will unto her, if it be thy good pleaſure! Oh, revive, ſupport, and comfort her drooping Spirits! Though ſhe be in the Valley and ſhaddow of death; do not forſake her! Oh, do not forſake her! Say unto her, thou art her Salvation! Tell her, that after ſhe hath ſuffered a little while, ſhe ſhall be with thy ſelf in Heaven, perfect with thee in Glory! Say unto her as unto the Thief upon the Croſs, this day thou ſhalt be with me in Paradiſe!
Oh, keep off Satan from her! He is never more buſie, …han when thy poor Worms are weakeſt, and leaſt able to defend themſelves from him. Lord Jeſu! Fight for her againſt him! Keep her pretious and immortal Soul from him! Oh, Be with her now in theſe her laſt agonies. Give thy Holy Angels to wait upon her, and in that very moment that her Soul ſhall go out of her Body, let thoſe Glorious Angels carry it into Abrahams boſome! Into thy hands do we commend her. Into thy hands doth ſhe commit her Spirit Dear Jeſu! Save it! For thou haſt loved, redeemed, and died for it! And now Lord, though earth will looſe a bloody Sinner, yet let Heaven be augmented by one saint more!
O Look down from Heaven, the Habitation of thy Holineſs and Glory upon this numerous Aſſembly! Oh, let them not be idle Spectators of theſe dreadful Providences. Oh, That they may be Ordinances for this good, for their Converſion and Reformation! Oh, That every Soul, that is gazing here may ſmite upon his Breaſt, and lament that Univerſal corruption which is in our nature, and the woful effects of our ſin. Sin having once conceived, bringeth forth death.
We have the root of the matter in us, the very cauſes of thoſe ſins, for which theſe Malefactors ſuffer, had we the ſame temptations we might be Guilty of the like tranſgreſſions. And were it not for the Cords and Curbs of thy Reſtraining Grace, we ſhould be in their Condition. Bleſſed be God we are not! 'Tis thou only that haſt made us to differ. Oh, That all Maſters of Families, Parents of Children, would ſee that they in their own Perſons, and with their Families do ſerve the Lord! Oh, Let there be no 'Prayerleſs Families, no uncatechized Children in this Place!
Look once more we pray thee, with mercy upon this thy poor Creature! She is very low, very miſerable, yearn upon her with bowels of compaſſion, and embrace her with arms of everlaſting lave! Be her God and her Guide unto death, and her Saviour from everlaſting death!
And all we beg, in, and for the ſake of our deareſt Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, who ſits on the Right hand making interceſſion for her, and for us. Hear us for his ſake, and gratiouſly anſwer us, and do abundantly for her, and us, beyond what we can ask or think! To him, with thy ſelf Holy Father, and Eternal Spirit, be Everlaſting Glory, Dominion, Praiſe, and Thanksgiving. Amen.
Prayer being ended, I lifted up my hands over her, and ſaid, Anne, the Lord bleſs thee, and keep thee! The Lord make his Face to ſhine upon thee, and be gracious to thee! The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon thee, and give thee Peace! And if thy Repentance be true, and thy peace made with God, and our Prayers heard, as I hope they all are, death wont be terrible unto thee. Now Farewel Life, welcome Death. God will ſend his Holy Angels in a Fiery Chariot to Convey thy Soul into Heaven.
THis poor wretch weeping, and wringing me by the hand, Sir, ſaith ſhe, I am never able to requite you for all your labor of love, care and pains about the Salvation of my pretious Soul; but the Lord. will, I hope. The Lord reward you! The Lord recompenſe you for all theſe kindneſſes! I thank you with all my Heart.
And as I was departing from her, ſhe helpake me, Sir, pray intreat for me, that I may not be put to too much torture. I anſwered her in broken words and tears (for few there refrained.) That I would do my utmoſt endeavor to prevent it: And turning my ſelf to the Gentlemen in Authority. Gentlemen, the Engliſh temper abhors Cruelty, ſhow ſame Bowels to this poor Creature. I need not intreat it, there was ſuch a Clowd of grief ſitting upon all their Faces, and ſo much tenderneſs and companion, that they would have done their utmoſt to have hindred it.
Two—went to the Maid, and asked her what Faith and what Repentance were. And one of them proceeded to inſtruct her in the nature of Faith, that it was to take Chriſt as Lord and King, and to ſubmit unto all his Laws, to be Governed by them, and in particular to this of ſuffering the puniſhment inflicted on her for her ſin.
At which putting them off with my Hand, I replied.
Gentlemen; do not trouble her, 'tis unſeaſonable now to Catechize her in Doctrinals; ſhe ſtands in need of ſome Soveraign Cordials to revive and ſupport her drooping Spirit in theſe her laſt Agonies with death, and conflicts with the Devil.
And Addreſſing my ſelf once again unto her, Anne ſaid I, fear not, but caſt thy ſelf upon the everlaſting mercies of God in the blood of Chriſt Jeſus, and thou ſhalt be ſaved. Since thou muſt die, die upon this, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the World to ſave ſinners, of whom thou art chief. And 'twill be but a quarter of an hour, and thou ſhalt be freed from all ſins and torments. Say. Into thy hands I commit my Spirit. Lord ſave it! For thou haſt died for it. Lord Jeſu, thou Son of David have mercy upon me! Oh, Thou Lamb of God receive my Soul!
I left her, expecting no anſwer. The Rope is now drawn cloſe unto her Neck, and the Hangman would have ſet Fire unto the Fu…ze before ſhe was ſtrangled but ſome more charitable and tender-hearted, cryed to him to take away the Block from under her Feet; which having done, ſhe ſoon fell down, and expired in a Trice.
And it was obſervable, that all the skill and diligence of the Executioner and his Aſſiſtants, could not make either Powder, Wood, or Fewel to take fire; till ſhe had been dead a Quarter of an hour; as alſo, that as ſoon as the fire was kindled, the Wind which blew before in the back of the Nurſe, immediately ſhifted, and drove the ſmoke full in her Face; as if God had ſpoken to her, The Smoke of my Fury, and Flames of my Fiery Vengeance are now Riding upon the Wings of the Wind towards thee.
And now for Two hours, the Nurſe feeds her eyes, and feaſts her thoughts with the ſad ſpectacle of this poor Maids burning.
The flames being well allayed, ſeveral Miniſters, and worthy Gentlemen indeavor yet the Repentance, Converſion, and Saving of her Soul. But All ſucceeds as formerly. She denies her guilt; pleads her Innocency, accuſeth Judg, Jury, Witneſſes, Country, and all of her Murther; that ſhe is Murthered, that they take away her Life unjuſtly: Nay, that they kill too; ſhe is with Child, expects to be delivered about Midſummer. What will you Murther one that is unborn? And a great deal more of the like ſtuff.
That ſhe was not with Child we heard evidenced upon Oath at her condemnation. And a skilful Hand-Woman, ſearching her but a night before her Execution, could never diſcover any ſuch thing.
Moſt probable the true ground of all her denials, was a fooliſh hope of Life; the Hangman as it is commonly noiſed, having promiſed never to execute her. Whatever familiarities had paſt between them Two in Jail, I know not. This is certain, the Hangman brought the under Sheriff to terms juſt as they were leaving Plymouth, and going to the place of Execution. And the Girl being diſpatched, he ran away with the Halter under the Clifts; and when he was brought back, lay aſleep at the Foot of the Gallows, or at leaſt pretended ſleep, and ſo deſerted Execution.
Beſides another Accident intervened, which put a ſtop for a time, and had it not been prudently and preſently compoſed upon the place, would have totally ſuſpended, for that day at leaſt, her Execution.
All theſe Circumſtances jumping in one upon the other, contributed to the ſtrengthening of her Heart in the falſe hopes of Life. For what ſhe would have, it was an eaſie matter to perſwade her to believe and hope.
But at length ſhe hath worn out all patience both of God, and Man. And the Halter is faſtened to the Gibber, and put about her Neck. Now Miniſters ply their work with her, becauſe ſhe is upon the brink of Deſtruction, and in view of Hell.
No ſin ſhe acknowledged, no guilt as to the Fact for which ſhe is condemned. Indeed ſhe confeſſeth, She had been a Swearer, Lier, and Sabbath breaker, but none others trouble her. As to Money that her Brother ſtole, and was in hers, or her Husbands hands, ſhe now chargeth upon a dead Perſon, having wronged her in her life, the muſt miſchief her at her death too. No Bond, nor Bill can ſhe produce, nothing under the Deceaſed's hand can ſhe ſhow for her having received it; yet doth ſhe charge Mr. W. to look that it be reſtored unto the right Owner.
Miniſters however lament her deplorable condition, eſpecially ſince juſt as ſhe is going out of the World, ſhe cryes, Judg and Revenge my cauſe, O Lord! Which made this Relator tell her, He now ſaw, what he formerly feared, viz. That God was departed from her, that the Devil was already in her heart, for he ſat upon her tongue, that troops of Devils were upon the Ladder by her, all gaping for her; and that within in a few moments, they would have her wretched Soul into Hell with them; and then, and there ſhe would be ſoon ſenſible of her madneſs in dying with a Lye in her Mouth, and confeſs, and mourn for her folly and madneſs in rejecting Heaven and Salvation, but it would be too late, and to no purpoſe: For her condition, whatever it might be here, would infallibly be there unalterable, and irreverſible.
That ſhe was going into a Lake of Fire and Brimſtone there to be tormented for ever and ever; and when ſhe was in the midſt of thoſe Eternal torments, ſhe would remember that I had told her of it.
A Pſalm was called, and part of the Twenty fifth ſung. Never did I ſee but one in that heavy condition. Whilſt the people ſing, ſhe cries and weeps bitterly, the very terrors of death are upon her, ſhe cries as if her Heart would break. Indeed her Soul was overwhelmed with unmeaſurable horrors and fears; ſhe had no mind to die, nor could ſhe be vouchſafed Life. What hopes could ſhe have in her departure, who never laid any ſollid baſis for good hopes during life?
The Pſalm is now sung out, and yet is ſhe ſummoned to confeſs, but it is as good ſpeak to the ſtones, or to the Deaf Adder, that ſtops his ear, ſhe will never be charmed, let the Charmers Charm never ſo wiſely.
At laſt being demanded whether ſhe would have any Prayers, or any Perſon Pray for her, ſhe ſaid yes, and pointed to this Relator, deſiring him to perform that Office for her: Who replied, that he was moſt willing to ſerve and ſave her Soul: But in as much as ſhe made no Confeſſion of her Crying ſins of Murther, and of her Theft and Uncleanneſs, and other Villanies whereof me knew her ſelt Guilty, he durſt not take the name of God in vain tor her ſake; Beſides he ſhould but tempt God to ask a pardon for her, Who reſolved never to take it upon Gods Terms.
In ſhort, if ſhe would be yet ingenious, and give Glory to God by adoring his Juſtice, and ſhameing her ſelf, and renouncing her ſin and the Devil, there Was no perſon more willing to pray with her, and pray for her than himſelf.
To which ſhe making no reply, Mr. R. the Miniſter conceived a pithy and pertinent Prayer, lamenting the depravedneſs of our Nature, the horribleneſs of Gods wrath, the poſſibility of Salvation refuſed by deſperate ſinners, and as we feared in particular by this Malefactor his dear Siſter now ready to be turned over. He petitioned that if it were not yet too late, that God would give her Repentance, and break her ſtony heart, and cauſe her to glorifie him at the laſt by an ingenious and full Confeſſion.
Prayer being ended, ſhe is once again asked, whether ſhe would confeſs. But being obſtinate in her refuſals, ſhe prayed for her ſelf in the words of the lords Prayer, ſaid the Creed; and being yet exhorted to Remember the merciful nature of God, who would ſave her, as we yet hoped, provided ſhe would come unto his Terms of Confeſſion and Repentance.
She tells us. She cannot confeſs that whereof is not Guilty.
Being asked whether ſhe could die in Charity with her Witneſſes and Accuſers. She ſaid, I forgive all the World.
And a while after, without any viſible tokens of Religion, Grace, or Devotion, without any obſervable preparedneſs or willingneſs for death, by any of thoſe many Divines that had painfully dealt with her, or Chriſtians that beheld her, ſhe was turned off the Ladder, and went into that other World. She went out like the Snuff of a Candle, leaving a ſtench behind her.
And if it be asked, what is become of her Soul?
I anſwer, the Queſtion is idle, needleſs, overcurious, and unprofitable, 'tis not for ſaucy Creatures, poor crawling Earth-worms, (ſuch at our ſelves are) to pry into the deep ſecrets of Gods Eternal Counſels, nor to peep into the ſacred Ark of his bottomleſs decrees. Theſe inſcrutable purpoſes of God by reaſon of their inexplicable difficulties will amaze and puzle us; nor can we ever poſſibly attain unto any infallible certainty or ſatisfaction concerning her. I know the abſolute and uncontroulable Soveraignty of Divine Grace and mercies, and that God can come in, if he pleaſe, between the Bridge and Water, the Cup and the Lip. But who can inform, or aſſure me that God did ſo to her? She is gone unto her Judge, hath undergone her Doom; and if ſhe be ſaved, it is a Thouſand mercies unto the World, that the World neither doth, nor can know it.
But did ſhe not proteſt her Innocency to the very laſt.
I know ſhe did, and is ſhe Innocent becauſe ſhe ſaid ſo? Dying perſons are indeed to be credited: But then they muſt be perſons of credit and ſerious; and if Condemned Malefactors, ſuch as are moſt Eminent and exemplary for their Repentance. Can any one Man or Woman living, that Converſt with her from firſt to laſt, from her Impriſonment to her Execution, avow upon her knowledge, that ſhe ſaw ſo much as one poor token of a broken heart, of a ſincere Penitent in her? Produce it, and it ſhall be Thankfully accepted.
Had ſhe been Innocent, ſhe could not have been ſo much concerned for life as ſhe was? I told her in 'Plymouth and Exon, and ſhe was told the ſame by a Reverend Divine, that Innocency was a Wall of Braſs, it would carry a Perſon above the fear of Death, make her to outbrave Death; ſhe could go triumphantly into the preſence of the Eternal Judg, and bleſs him that ſhe was condemned unjuſtly.
Beſides, her Innocence as to this Fact, would have ingaged her to a more curious and exact ſcrutiny into her life paſt, to have found out the true cauſe of Gods anger in ſhortning her days, and to a moſt holy life, and religious preparation of her Soul for death, during the whole time of her impriſonment. None of which ſhe had done; unleſs looſeneſs, prophaneneſs, and uncleanneſs muſt be expounded, and taken for it.
Finally, I lookt upon her as a deſperate and Forelorne wretch, and told her it was no new thing to find her ſuch. 'Tis no new thing tor the worſt of ſinners to be deſperate. Were not Cain, Saul, Abimelech, Achitophel and Judas deſperate? This Relator heard a man Condemned to be Hanged, utter upon the Ladder theſe words.
Gentlemen, I value not my life of a Ruſh, I fear not death; and without any more Ceremonies or ado, (and Soldiers are none of the moſt Religious.) He willfully leapt off of the Ladder at Crimble-paſſage: Where had not others ſhown his body more mercy than he did hi own Soul, he might have periſht everlaſtingly.
I know not whether ſhe had as much Courage. Sure I am, Death never ſtruck unto her Spirits; till the Pſalm was a Singing, and it was a doleful Tune unto her. Her heart was then up in her mouth. If it were not broke with the ſence of ſin, and near approaches of Divine wrath, it was with the very horrors of death. Others Sang, ſhe did but howl and yell. Methought the expreſſions of her grief, and vehemency of her paſſions, raiſed ſtrange reſentments and compaſſions in the Spectators.
One, and but one have I known in her condition, a big and tall Fellow, that upon the ſcore of his ſtrength, could have affrighted the King of Terrors: Yet after Sentence (and for Burglary was he Sentenced unto death,) his heart failed him, his Spirits ſunk, his Soul died within him: All his Language, and that too in groans and Floods of Tears, with blubbered Cheeks and wringed hands, was: I ſhall die! I ſhall die! I ſhall die! I ſhall die! Woe is me! I ſhall die! I ſhall die!
Though I came to him into the Jail, took him by the hand, intreated him upon my knees, not to be ſo much concerned for the loſs of his Natural Life: But to look after another, a better Life, after the life of his miſerable Soul; Yet no Arguments, no motives could prevail upon him. He was Deaf in that ear. A ſtone might have heard and anſwered, but this wretch would give none other anſwer, than, I ſhall die! I ſhall die! Woe is me! I ſhall die! I ſhall die! The terrors of death, like an opiate Medicine, had quite ſtupified him, that he could not liſten unto the beſt Counſels for his Souls welfare.
But what and if this vile woman had been Guilty of ſome other Capital Crimes? I know of the dead rue beſt muſt be ſpoken; but then thoſe dead perſons ſhould not be Impenitent Criminals.
It is no pleaſure to me, no pleaſing task to Rake in Dunghils. Would to God all Vices were Buried together with hers, though under the Gibbet! It were no difficult matter, nay a man might with a wet Finger, prove her Guilty of ſoul and frequent Adulteries, of Debauching Young perſons, of proſtituting her ſelf in Priſon, are theſe no Capital offences? Let them not be! What meant ſhe by thoſe words unto the Girl, that to her knowledg a little Poyſon in Cream had made one away in leſs time than you could go from her Matters Houſe to the Gate.
I am apt to think that ſhe would not confeſs this Murder leſt ſome other might out alſo. There was a ſhrewed Item in her Exon acknowledgment, That ſhe knew ſhe ſhould be damned, though not for this Crime.
It brings to my remembrance a Story which I had from Mr. B. Cl. a very holy Man of God, a Reverend Miniſter of the Goſpel, (who if yet in the Land of the living, is one of the moſt Ancient Laborers in the Lords Vineyard in this Weſtern Dioceſs,) that in his younger days when he was Miniſter of Petrocks by the Caſtle of Dartmouth, he was ſent to Viſit and Pray with a dying Man, under very much trouble of Conſcience.
His caſe was this, Sir, ſaid he unto the Miniſter, about Seven months ſince, as I was walking to Buſcow, I met a Camerade of mine, who had gone to Sea about a fortnight ſince, and taking him by the hand, wondring at his arrival, I ſaid, VVhat cheat Mate? What makes thee return ſo ſoon, and look ſo Pale? I am dead quoth this Spectrum. Dead Man, and yet walk, and talk? Yes, ſaith he, I am dead. I was took ſick ſhortly upon my going to Sea; and died this day, and about an hour ſince, ſo many Leagues off, was I thrown overboard.
Now I deſire thee to go home, and tell my Wiſe of it, and to open my Coffer, and ſhow her my Will, and ſee my Legacies paid; which having promiſed to do for him, at parting he added, And at for that buſineſs between thee and me, that thou well woteſt off, I charge thee, that thou never speak of it to any Man living, for if thou doſt, I will in that very moment tear thee in a thouſand pieces.
Now Sir, this lies heavy, heavy upon my Conſcience. Fain would I declare it, It is upon my Tongue, but I cannot. And why can you not? Oh Sir, do not you ſee him? Do not you ſee him? Look how terrible he is! There he is juſt againſt me. Oh! how doth he threaten me? I would tell you, but I dare not, And whatever arguments this Reverend Perſonage could uſe unto the ſick Man, he could never bring him to a Confeſſion; but he pines away under his terrors, and horrors; till at laſt not being able to ſubſiſt any longer by reaſon of them, he died.
Whether there be any parallel between the conditions of this Man, and Woman, I leave it unto my Readers judgment.
The poor Girl, at her Death, at the very point of Death charged her with it. This Philip Cary her ſelf confeſſed before the Major of Plymouth at her Examination, and the very day before her Execution to this Relator, that ſhe knew of it. And is ſhe Innocent? We have reaſon to believe the confeſſion of a Penitent, before the denial of a ſtubborn, and impenitent VVoman.
Beſides, ſhe had a very fair trial before the Judg. There were no leſs than Nineteen VVitneſſes that gave in their Evidence to his Lordſhip, and the Grand Jury upon Oath againſt her. Yet ſhe ſaith, Not guilty: Yea, and takes it to her death, that ſhe is Innocent, knew nothing of Poyſon.
But what if all this be nothing but Lyes, and Impoſture? VVhat if evidence appears againſt her after death, and that ſhe did both know of it, and buy the Poyſon alſo?
Reader I will not amuſe thee, call thine Eyes upon what follows, and thou wilt be in ſo me meaſure ſatisfied.