A New Martyrology, Introduction 2 · Speech 6 – Account of execution 7
The …as… Sp…ech 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 Nottingham, but minding to see other parts of the World, (as I have heard) goe… 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 Engagment with the Duke of Monmouth.
Secondly, How far I was concerned: And, Thirdly, I shall leave all of you to be Judges in matt…r 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 no other account but to serve him in the West-Indies; where I kn…w no other design whatsoever, but to possess himself of some of those Islands, until I had been at S…a two days, wherein one privately told me, We are absolut…ly bound for England, and I should take it from him it was true: It much surprized me, but knowing no way to avoid it, or to get on shore, though it was at that time contrary to my Inclinations, if I could have avoided it; I would not l…t others see that I had that dissatisfaction within me. After our Landing at Lyme, I knew it was never the nearer to attempt my escape, the Country being so beset; on the other hand, if the Duke of Monmouth did win the day, I might have raised my Fortunes as high as I could expect: These were the Arguments that Flesh and Blood did create in my Breast for self-preservation. While I was with the said Duke, I did him as much Service as I could, and faithfully: After it pleased God to disperse that Army under his Command, I endeavour'd to secure my self, but by Providence was taken at Honiton, from thence committed to Exon, and after remov…d to Dorchester, where I received my Sentence, and am now as you see, just going to Execution: the Lord prevent all of you from such ignominious Deaths; and I advise you all, that you never take any great thing in hand, but what you have a Warrant for from the Lord: I assure you I had no satisfaction in this; but this I am sure, that if I have done any thing amiss in it, it is pardoned: I bless God I have that satisfaction, I di… a Professor of the Church of England, I desire Pardon of all those I have any ways wronged or abused, as I freely forgive all those that have wronged or abused me; I am in Charity with all men. Lord have mercy upon me, give me strength to go through these pains, & 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: I cannot pass him by in silence, his Case being so ex…raordinary hard, that to speak moderately betwixt the King and his Case, I do say this, that I verily believe nev…r man suffered innocenter; as I hope you will be satisfied in after you have heard his Crime, and on what small grounds he was Guilty, or so supposed by my Lord Chief Justice.
He used generally in the Summer to use the Craft 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 Monmouth, pointing at him, and that he was just going to Land: He desired to go on shore, which was refused, and told, that as soon as the Duke was landed he should have his Liberty; so accordingly he came on shore, 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 Men, a zealous Christian a man of a very good Life and Conversation, as I think his Neighbours will attest it, in most Towns and Parishes where he lived: But alas he had a good Book in his House when taken, called, The Solemn League and Covenant: This was the High Treason he must be guily of, which was aggravated to the Lord Chief Justice, by one or two hot Spirits his Neighbours. But to be short, he received his Sentence of Death with great …ourage, and not at all dismayed, saying very often in Prison before, If it pleased God to call him now (to glorifie his Name by this Providence of his) to Death, he should be ready; but (said he) I am as innocent of any thing I 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 I 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 in the County of Somerset, 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 Kings Bench-or Common-Pleas, which was very profitable to him; so that by his Fall there being a Forfeiture, much money may be made of it; all intercession could not avail with the L. C. J. for his Life. He h…ppened to be at Illminster at the time of the Dukes 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 notwithstanding 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 Accusers have endeavour'd to make me: If it had pleased God, I 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 croud was so great, that I suppose he was shorter than otherwise 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 Inhabitants were weeping and bewailing him: Oh' tis the worst day that ever we saw in this Town! Must this good Gentleman die here? Oh! yet save his Life, I am ready to die for him, and 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 Misdemeanours: had not the Good Gentleman and his Lady been vertuous People, abho…ring the Debaucheries of the times, and of such 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 th…m, would be to large; and besides, it is so well known in most places, in the West, that I shall, without saying any more, proceed.
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 unconcerned 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 deliverence for them, and at the time they were in the greatest Extremity, that would be God's Opportunity. Put your whole trust and confidence, 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.
A further Account of the Behaviour of Mr. Christopher Battiscomb, of his l…st Speech and Prayer, immediately befor… he suff…red at Lyme, 12th. Septemb. 1685. which Account should have been inserted after the Figures 1685. in p. 373.
HE was a true Protestant to the last, well beloved among the Gentry of that Country: But it was his fortune to be concerned with the Duke of Monmouth, and was very faithful to him to the last, during the time of the Bloody Assizes at Dorchester, where he received his Sentence of Death; he was divers times sent for to the Chamber of the then L. C. J. and promoted with offers of Life to betray some Gentlemen, which he always refused, saying, he scorned to purchase his Life by such indirect means; and he accordingly chose Death rather than Life; seeing it could not be purchased, but by such unworthy means. The day being come, he prepared himself, and received the Holy Sacrament, walking down to the place of Execution, with much chearfulness and Christian Courage, when he was mounting the Ladder, smiled, and said, I am not afraid of this, I am going to a better place, from a poor and miserable World, to a Celestial Paradise, a Heavenly Jerusalem; I might have chosen, whether I would have undergone this Death, if I had hearkned to the L. C. J. but it was upon such unworthy terms, that should I have accepted of my Pardon, it would have been troublesome to me; I die a true Protestant; I am in Charity with all Men: God preserve this Nation from Popery; the Lord bless you all: So taking his leave of them he knew, after Prayer, he launched into Eternity.
A further Account of Mr. John Sprage of Lyme, which should have been inserted after the word Souldiers, in pag. 444. but was there omitted through the Printers mistake.
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 Tryal; he carried himself very moderately to all; some of divers Principles in matters of Religion, he continually prayed with them, advising and instructing them to those holy Duties which were necessary to Salvation: 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 Journy in those ways you were not acquainted with, you would (I hope) desire Advice from those that had formerly used those ways, or lived near by them: Yes, says he: Then said he, The ways of Affliction which I have lately travelled in, I had 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 has 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 those Roads many years; I have taken his Advice; I am got thus far on comfortably, and I trust shall do so to the end; I am not afraid to fight a Duel with Death, if so it must be: Now I thank God I can truly say, O Death where is thy Sting? and O Grave, where is thy Victory? Two or three days after their Sentence, they were drawn to Execution, but were very rudely and opprobriously 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 Executition, 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 dyed very Couragious, especially this stout Christian Champion, who spake to them in these words, (looking on the Souldiers) saying, Little do you think that this very Body of mine, which you are now come to see cutt in pieces, will one day rise up in judgment against you, and be your Accuser, for your delight in spilling of Christian Blood; the Heathens have far more Mercy: O 'tis sad, when England must outstrip Infidels and Pagans! but pray take notice, don't think that I am not in Charity with you; I am so far, that I forgive you and all the World; and do desire the God of Mercies to forgive you, and open your hearts, and turn you from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to the Lord Jesus Christ; and so Farewell. I am going out of the power of you all; I have no dependence but upon my blessed Redeemer, to whom I commit my dear Wife and Children, and all the World.
A further Account of the Behaviour of Collonel Holms in Lyme, and at the place of his Execution, which should have been inserted after had followed, in pag. 447.
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, usually in those Occasions, which some of them embraced, and others not; their Principles being Different from the Church of England: The Jaylor speaking to Coll. Holmes to knock off his Irons, he said, Great Men of State wear Chains, and 'tis accoun… ed 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 Masters Name; the Sledge being in readiness they prepared to enter it; but Alas! who shou'd draw such Men to Execution 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 it, 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 Gentltmen you see all your strivings will not do, to draw us to Execution, I verily believe there is more in it than you are aware of; pray read about the Prophet, that went out of Gods way, his Beast saw that he could not.
Give us leave, and we will walk to the place; being there come, the Collonel 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 Comforts; 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.
Collonel Holmes in his Prayer not mentioning the King, he was charged as before; to which he replyed, he prayed for him in general, praying for all Mankind. Thus fell the valiant and good Christian Coll. 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.