A New Martyrology, Martyrology · Life 10 – Life 11
Alderman Cornish.
TO make an end of this Plot altogether, 'twill be necessary once more to invert the Order in which things happened, and tho' Mr. Cornish suffer'd not till after the Judges returned from the West, as well as Bateman after him, yet we shall here treat of 'em both▪ and so conclude this Matter.
Mr. Cornish was seiz'd in Octob. 1685. and the Monday after his Commitment, which was on Tuesday or Friday, Arraigned for High Treason, having no Notice given him till Saturday noon. His Charge was for Conspiring to Kill the King, and promising to assist the Duke of Monmouth, &c. in their Treasonable Enterprises. He desired his Trial might be deferred, because of his short time for Preparation; and that he had a considerable Witness an hundred and forty miles off, and that the King had left it to the Judges, whether it should be put off or no. But 'twas denied him; the Att…rney telling him, He had not deserved so well of the Government as to have his Trial delayed. That was in English, because he had been a Protestant Sheriff, he should not have Justice.
The Evidences against him were Rumsey and Goodenough. Rumsey swears, [That when he was at the famous Meeting at Mr. Shepherds, Mr. Shepherd being call'd down, brought up Mr. Cornish; and when he was come in, Ferguson opened his Bosom, and under his Stomacher pull…d out a Paper in the Nature of a Declaration of Grievances, which Ferguson read, and Shepherd held the Candle while 'twas reading; that Mr. Cornish lik…d it, and what Interest he had, said, would joyn with it; and that out of Compassion he had not accus'd Mr. Cornish before.]
Goodenough swears, That he talkt with Cornish of the Design of Seizing the Tower. Mr. Cornish said, He would do what good he could, or to that purpose.
To Goodenough's Evidence was opposed by Mr. Gosprights, who testified Mr. Cornish opposed his being▪ Under-Sheriff saying, That he was an ill Man, obnoxious to the Government, and he'd not trust an hair of his Head with him. And is it then probable that he'd have such Discourses with him as woul… endanger Head and all? Mr. Love, Jekil, and Sir William Turner witness to the same purpose.
As to Rumsey's Evidence, the Perjury lies so full and staring, that 'tis impossible to look into the Trial with half an eye, without meeting it. Compare what he says on Russel's Trial, and here, and this will be as visible as the Sun. Being askt there Whether there was any Discourse about a Declaration, and how long he staid; he says, [He was there about a quarter of an hour, and that he was not certain whether he heard something about a Declaration there, or whether he had heard Ferguson report afterwards that they had then debated it.] Now turn to Cornish's Trial. He is there strangely recovered in his Memory, and having had the advantage, either of Recollection, or better Instruction, remembers that distinctly in Octob. 1685. which he could not in July 1683. [He had been the…e a quarter of an hour] the time he states in the Lord Russel's Trial, but lengthens it out, and improves it now, to so long time as Mr. Shepherds going down, bringing Cornish up, Ferguson's pulli… …ut the Declaration, and reading it, and that, as Shepherd said in Russel's Trial, a long one too, as certainly it must be, if, as 'twas sworn, it contained all the Grievances of the Nation, and yet all this still in a quarter of an hour; thus contradicti…g himself both to Time and Matter.
But he is of such villanous Credit, that his Evidence is scarce fit to be taken even against himself. Let's see then how Shepherd does point-blank contradict, and absolutely overthrow it in every Particular, as expresly as 'tis possible to ruin any Evidence. He says [At one Meeting only Mr. Cornish was at his House to speak with one of the Persons there; that then he himself came up stairs, and went out again with Mr. Cornish. That there was not one word read, nor any Paper seen while Mr. Cornish was there, and this he was positive of, for Mr. Cornish was not one of their Company.]
Now who should know best, Rumsey what Shepherd did, or he what he did himself? Could a man hold the Candle while a Declaration was read, as Rumsey swears Shepherd did, and yet know nothing of it; nay, protest the quite contrary? What sizes the Consciences of his Jury were, let any Christian, Turk, or Jew be Judge; and Providence has already visibly done it on the Foreman of it, who came to an untimely end, being beaten to pieces by the Fall of some Timber at a Fire in Thames-street.
All that is pretended to bolster Rumsey's Evidence, and hinder Shepherd's from saving the Prisoner, was, That Shepherd strengthened Rumsey, and proved Cornish guilty of a lie. But if we enquire into the matter, we shall find one just as true as the other.
Cornish on his Trial is said to have denied his being at the Meeting, and discoursing with the D. of Monmouth: Which they'd have us believe Shepherd swears he was, tho' not a syllable of it appears. [He had been there several times, Shepherd says, but was not of their Consult, knew nothing of their Business, nor can he be positive whether 'twas th… Duke of Monmouth he came to speak with that Evening.] But supposing in two or three years time, and on so little Recollection. Cornish's Memory had slipt in that Circumstance, what's that to Shepherd's Evidence against the very Root of Rumsey's which hang'd the prisoner?
In spight of all he was found Guilty, and Condemn'd, and even that Christian serenity of Mind and Countenance wherewith twas visible he bore his Sentence, turn'd to his Reproach by the Bench.
He continued in the same exc…llent Temper whilst in Newgate, and gave the World a glaring Instance of the Happiness of such Persons as live a pious Life, when they come to make an end on't, let the way thereof be never so violent. His carriage and behaviour at his leaving Newgate was as follows.
Some passages …f Henry Cornish Esq before his Sufferings.
COming into the Press-yard, and seeing the Ha…ter in the Officers hand, he said, Is this for me? the Officer answered, Yes; he replied, Blessed be God, and kissed it; and after said, O blessed be God for Newgate, I have enjoyed God ever since I came within these Walls, and blessed be God who hath made …e fit to die. I am now going to that God that will not be mocked, to that God that will not be imposed upon, to that God that knows the Innocency of his poor Creature. And a little after he said, Never did any poor Creature come unto God with greater Confidence in his Mercy, and Assurance of Acceptation with him, through Jesus Christ, than I do; but it is through Jesus Christ, for there is no other way of coming to God but by him, to find Acceptance with him: There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we can be saved, but the Name of Jesus. Then speaking to the Officers, he said, Labour everyone of you to be fit to die, for I …ell you, you are not fit to dye: I was not fit to dye my s…l… 'till I came in hither; but O blessed be God, he hath made me fit to dye, and hath made me willing to dye! In a few moments I shall have the fruition of the blessed Jesus, and that not for a day, but for ever. I am going to the Kingdom of God, to the Kingdom of God where I shall enjoy the Presence of God the Father, and of God the Son, and of God the Holy Spi…it, and of all the holy Angels; I am going to the gen…ral Ass…mbly of the first-born, and of the Spirit of Just men made perfect: O that God should ever do so much for me! O that God should concern himself so much for poor Creatures, for their Salvation▪ blessed be his name! for this was the Design of God from all Eternity, to give his only Son to dye for poor miserable Sinners. Then the Offi…ers going to tye his hands, he said, What, must I be tied then? well a brown Thred might have served the turn; you need not tye me at all, I shall not stir from you, for I thank God I am not afraid to dye. As he was going out, he said, Farewel Newgate, Farewel all my Fellow prisoners here, the Lord comfort you, the Lord be with you all.
Thus much for his Behaviour in the way to his Martyrdom. The Place of it was m…t spitefully and ignominiously ordered, almost before his own door, and near Guildhall, to scare any Good Citizen from appearing vigorously in the Disc…arge of his Duty for his Countreys Service, by his Example If any thing was wanting in his Trial, from the haste of it, for the clearing his Innocency, he sufficiently made it up in solemn Asseverations thereof on the Scaffold: [God is my Witness, says he, the Crimes laid to my Charge were falsly and maliciously sworn against me by the Witnesses: for I never was at any Consult, nor any Meeting where Matters against the Government were discoursed of.] He adds, [I never heard or read any Declaration tending that way.] Again, [As to the Crimes for which I suffer, VponUpon the words of a dying man, I'm altogether Innocent. Lower he adds, [He died as he had liv'd, in the Communion of the Church of England in whose Ordinances he had been often a partaker, and now felt the blessed effects thereof in these his Agonies.
He was observ'd by those who stood near the Sledge, to have solemnly, several times, averr'd his absolute Innocence of any Design against the Government, and particularly that which he died for.
There were some Persons, who are sufficiently known, who were present at, and exprest a great deal of barbarous Joy at his Death: the open publication of their Names is here spar'd, in hopes they have or will repent of so unmanly and unchristian a Behaviour; tho' some of them then were so confounded with his Constancy and Chearful Bravery, as wickedly to report, That he was Drunk or Mad when he died. His Quarters were set up on Guildhall, in Terrorem, and for the same Reason, no doubt, before mentioned, for which he was Executed so near it. There was such a terrible Storm the day of his Death, as has scarce been known in the memory of man; and will never be forgot by those who were in it; ten or a dozen Ships being founder'd, or stranded in one Road, and a vast many more in other places. And as Heaven then did him Justice, and vindicated his Innocence, so Earth also has done it, the Judgment against him being Reverst by that honourable, ever memorable Parliament which under God and our King, has setled the Happiness both of this Age and Posterity.
There wanted not a sort of men at this time who would have perswaded the World, that Murder was a Royal Sport; for at this time was Printed a Ballad call'd Advice to the …ity, sung to the King at Windsor, wherein are these entertaining Lines.
Then London be wise, and baffle their Power,
And let 'em play the old Game no more,
Hang, hang up the Sheriffs,
Those Baboons in Power,
Those Popular Thieves,
Those Rats of the Tower.
The Instruments of shedding this Blood may do well to reflect upon the Fate of Clowdesly, one of the Iury-men, and upon some others since that were concern'd in that Bloody Tragedy.
His Character.
HE was a Person of as known Prudence as Integrity, a good Christian, a comple…t Citizen, a worthy Magistrate, and a zealous Church of England man. He was so cautious and wise, that he was noted for it all thro' those worst of times, and often propos'd as an Example to others of hotter and more imprudent Tempers; nor could the least imputation be fix'd on him of hearing, or concealing any unlawful or dangerous Discourses, any other ways than by plain force of Perjury, being known to have shunn'd some Persons, whom he, as well as some other prudent men, suspected to have no good Designs, and to be indu'd with no more honesty than discretion, as it afterwards prov'd. But he was design'd to glorifie God by such an End as all his care could not avoid, which he submitted to, with bravery rarely to be met with, unless among those who suffered for the same Cause in the same Age; or their Predecessors, Queen Marys Martyrs. There was seen the same tenour of Prudence and Piety thro' all the Actions of his Life, tho' most conspicuous in the last glorious Scene of it. There was such a firmness in his Soul, such vigour, and almost extatick Joy, and yet so well regulated, that it shin'd thro' his Face, almost with as visible Rays as those in which we use to dress Saints▪ and Martyrs, with which both at his Sentence and Execution, he refresht all his Friends, and at once dazled and confounded his most bitter Enemies.
Mr. Charles Bateman ▪
THE next and last was Mr. Bateman the Chy…u…geon, a Man of good Sense, good Courage, and good Company, and a very large and generous▪ Temper, of considerable Repute and Practice in his Calling: A great Lover and Vindicator of the Liberties of the City and Kingdom, and of more interest than most of his Station. He was swore against by Rouse's Lee, and Richard Goodenough, upon the old Stories of seizing the Tower, City, and Savoy We had had a better Defence, had he himself been able to have made it: But being kep… close Prisoner in Newgate, the Windows and Rooms all dark, and little or no Company, he being a free jolly Man, and us'd formerly to Conversation and Diversion, soon grew deeply melancholy; and when he came on his Tryal, appeared little less than perfectly distracted; on which the Court very kindly gave his Son liberty to make his Defence—The first Instance to be sure of that Nature; since he himself might probably, had he been in his Senses, have remembred and pleaded many things more, which would have invalidated their Evidence against him. But had not the mistaken Piety of his Son undertook his Defence, certainly they could never have been such Cannibals to have try'd one in his Condition.—Yet could but what he brought for him, been allowed its Weight and Justice, he had escaped well enough. For as for Lee, one Baker Witness'd, [He had been practic'd upon by him in the year 83. and would have had him insinuate into Bateman's Company, and discourse about State-Affairs to trepan him, by which means he should be made a Great Man] 'Twas urged besides, that there was three Years between the Fact pretended, and Lee's Prosecution of him, which, tho' they had but one Witness could have brought him to punishment, which would have been judged sufficient by any, but those who would be content with nothing but Blood. For Goodenough, he was but one Witness, and pardon'd only so far, as to qualifie him to do mischief. However he was found Guilty; and just before his Execution, very much recovered himself, dying as much like a Christian, and with as great a presence of Mind as most of the others.