A New Martyrology, Martyrology · Life 9
Sir Thomas Armstrong.
BUt the next had not so fair play, because they knew he'd make better use on't. They had this Lion in the Toils, and did not intend to let him loose again to make sport, lest the Hunters themselves should come off ill by it. He had been all his Life a firm Servant and Friend to the Royal Family, in their Exile and afterwards: He had been in Prison for 'em under Cromwel, and in danger both of Execution and Starving; for all which they now rewarded him. He had a particular Honour and Devotion for the Duke of Monmouth, and pusht on his Interest on all occasions, being a Man of as undaunted English Courage, as ever our Country produced. He was with the Duke formerly in his Actions in Flanders, and shar'd there in his Danger and Honour. His Accusation was, his being concern'd in the General Plot, and that too of Killing the King; but he was indeed hang'd for running away, and troubling 'em to send so far after him. The particulars pretended against him, were what the Lord Howard witnessed in Russels Trial, [Of his going to kill the King when their first design fail'd.] But this was there onelyonly a Supposal, tho' advanc'd into a form'd Accusation, and aggravated by the Atturney, as the Reason why he had a Trial denied him, when Holloway had one offered, both of 'em being alike Outlawed On which Outlawry Sir Thomas was Kidnapt in Holland, and brought over hither in Chains, and rob'd by the way into the bargain. Being brought up, and askt what he had to say, that Sentence shou'd not pass upon him, he pleaded the 6th of Edw. 6. wherein 'tis provided, [That if a Person outlawed render himself in a year after the Outlawry pronounc'd, and traverse his Indictment, and shall be acquitted on his Trial, he shall be discharged of the Outlawry.] On which he accordingly then and there made a formal Surrender of himself to the Lord Chief Justice, and ask'd the benefit of the Statute, and a fair Trial for his Life, the Year not being yet expired. If ever any thing cou'd appear plain to common Sense, 'twas his Case. The Statute allows a years time, the year was not out, he surrender'd himself, demands the benefit of it; and all the Answer he could get, or Reason to the contrary, was the positive Lord Chief Justice's, [We don't think so, and we are of another Opinion.] Nay, cou'd not have so much Justice as to have Counsel allow'd to plead it, tho' the Point sufficiently deserv'd it, and here was the Life of an old Servant of the King's concern'd in it. When he still pleaded. That a little while before, one, meaning Holloway, had the benefit of a Trial offered him, if he'd accept it, and that was all he now desired.
The Lord Chief Justice answers. That was onelyonly the Grace and Mercy of the King. The Atturney adds, The King did indulge Holloway so far as to offer him a Trial, and his Majesty perhaps might have some Reason for it: The very self-same some Reason, no doubt on't, which Holloway says he had for not pleading. But Sir Thomas (the Atturney goes on) deserv'd no favour, because he was one of the Persons that actually engaged to go, on the King's hasty coming from Newmarket, and destroy him by the way as he came to Town; and that this appeared upon as full and clear Evidence, and as positively testified as any thing could be, and this in the Evidence given in of the late horrid Conspiracy.] Now Id fain know who gives this clear and full Evidence in the Discovery of the Conspiracy. Howard's is meer Supposition, and he's all who so much as mentions a syllable on't that ever cou'd be found on search of all the Papers and Trials relating to that Affair. To this Sir Thomas answers in his Speech, [That had he come 'to his Trial, he cou'd have prov'd my Lord Howard's base Reflections on him to be a notorious falshood, there being at least ten Gentlemen, besides all the Servants in the House, cou'd testifie where he Dined that very day.]
Still Sir Thomas demanded the Benefit of the Law, and no more: To which Jeffreys answer'd, with one of his usual barbarous Insults over the Miserable, [That he shou'd have it by the Grace of God; ordering, That Execution be done on Friday next according to Law. And added, That he shou'd have the full Benefit of the Law:] repeating the Jest lest it should be lost, as good as three times in one Sentence. Tho' had not his Lordship slipt out of the World so slily, he had had as much benefit the same way, and much more justly than this Gentleman.
Then the Chief Justice proceeds, and tells him, We are satisfied that according to Law, we must Award Execution upon this Outlawry: Thereupon Mrs. Matthews, Sir Thomas's Daughter, said, My Lord, I hope you will not Murder my Father: For which, being Brow-beaten and Checkt, She added, God Almighty's Judgments Light upon YOV.
The Friday after he was brought to the place of Execution, Dr. Tennison being with him, and on his desire, after he had given what he had to leave, in a Paper, to the Sheriff, Prayed a little while with him. He then Prayed by himself; and after having thanked the Doctor for his great Care and Pains with him, submitted to the Sentence, and died more composedly, and full as resolutely as he had lived. 'Tis observable, that more cruelty was exercised on him than any who went before him, not onelyonly in the manner of his Death, but the exposing his Limbs and Body: A fair warning what particular Gratitude a Protestant is to expect for having oblig'd a true Papist.
Another thing worth remembring, in all other Cases as well as this tho occasion is here taken to do it, is, That whereas in Holloway's Case, Jeffreys's observ'd, [That not one of all concern'd in this Conspiracy had dared to deny it; and lower, to deny the Truth of the fact absolutely.] Tis so far from being true, that every one who suffer'd, did it as absolutely as possible. They were Try'd or Sentenc'd for [Conspiring against the King and Government] that was their Plot; but this they all deny, and absolutely too; and safely might do it: for they consulted for it, not conspired against it, resolving not to touch the King's Person; nay, if possible, not to shed one drop of Blood of any other, as Holloway and others say. For the King's Life, Sir Thomas says as the Lord Russel, [Never had any Man the impudence to propose so base and barbarous a thing to him.] Russel, and almost all besides, say, They had never any design against the Government. Sir Thomas here says the same; [As he never had any Design against the King's Life, nor the Life of any Man, so he never had any Design to alter the Monarchy.]
As he liv'd, he says he dy'd a sincere Protestant, and in the Communion of the Church of England, tho' he heartily wish'd he had more strictly liv'd up to the Religion he believed. And tho' he had but a short time, he found himself prepared for Death; and indeed, as all his Life shew'd him a Man of Courage, so his Death, and all the rest of his Behaviour, did, a Penitent Man, a Man of good Sense, and a good Christian.
At the place of Execution Sir Thomas Armstrong deported himself with Courage, becoming a great Man, and with the Seriousness and Piety suitable to a very good Christian.
Sheriff Daniel told him, that he had leave to say what he pleased, and should not be interrupted, unless he upbraided the Government; Sir Thomas thereupon told him, that he should not say any thing by way of Speech; but delivered him a Paper, which he said contained his mind, he then called for Dr. Tennison who prayed with him, and then he prayed himself.
In his Paper he thus expressed himself, That he thanked. Almighty God, he found himself prepared for Death, his thoughts set upon another World, and …eaned from this; yet he could not but give so much of his little time as to answer some Calumnies, and particularly what Mr. Attorney accused him of at the Bar.
That he prayed to be allowed a Tryal for his Life according to the Laws of the Land, and urged the Statute of Edward 6. which was expresly for it; but it signified nothing, and he was with an extraordinary Roughness condemned and made a precedent; tho' Holloway had it offered him, and he could not but think all the world would conclude his case very different, else why refused to him?
That Mr. Attorney charged him for being one of those that was to kill the King; He took God to witness, that he never had a thought to take away the King's Life, and that no man ever had the Impudence to propose so barbarous and base a thing to him; and that he never was in any design to alter the Government.
That if he had been tryed, he could have proved the Lord Howard's base Reflections upon him, to be notoriously false —He concluded, that he had lived and now dyed of the Reformed Religion, a Protestant in the Communion of the Church of England, and he heartily wished he had lived more strictly up to the Religion he believed: That he had found the great comfort of the Love and Mercy of God, in and through his blessed Redeemer, in whom he only trusted, and verily hoped that he was going to partake of that fulness of Joy which is in his presence, the hopes whereof infinitely pleased him. He thanked God he had no repining, but chearfully submitted to the punishment of his Sins; He freely forgave all the World, even those concerned in taking away his Life, tho' he could not but think his Sentence very hard, he being denied the Laws of the Land.
On the Honourable Sir Thomas Armstrong, Executed June 20. 1684.
HAd'st thou abroad found safety in thy flight,
Th' Immortal honour had not fam'd so bright.
Thou hadst been still a worthy Patriot thought;
But now thy Glory's to perfection brought.
In exile, and in death to England true:
What more could Brutus or just Cato do?