A New Martyrology, Introduction 2 · Speech 4
The Dying Speech and Behaviour of Mr. Matth. Bragg.
AND we being with Mr. Matthew Bragg, who was a Gentleman, and descended from an ancient and good Family; he was bred an Attorney, in which he practised the Law: His Case being this, He hapned to be upon the Road riding home to his House, being come from a Gentleman's House for whom he kept Courts. He, as before, being met with by a Party of Horse belonging to the Duke of Monmouth, who were going to search the House of a Roman Catholick for Arms, who lived two or three Miles from the place they met him, they required him to go with them, and shew them the way, he knowing the Country better than they did; he desired to be excused, telling them, It was none of his business, and besides had no Arms. But hi… Excuses signified nothing, they forced him amongst them, where they went; when being come, a Party enter'd the House and searcht it: Mr. Bragg never dismounted, they being then satisfied, took him along with them to Chard, where then the Duke of Monmouth was. Being there, after having set up his Horse where he used to do, often having occasion there, he was much tampered with to engage in the Design, but he refused it, but the next morning made haste out of Town, not seeing the Duke at all; calling for his Horse it was told him, That it was seized for the Duke's Service. So then he took his Cane and Gloves, and walked to his own House, which was about five or six Miles, and was no more concern'd in the Affair, than that after the Duke's Defeat at Kings-Sedge-Moore, some busie person informeth, and requireth a Warrant from a Justice of Peace for the said Mr. Bragg, who obliged himself to enter into a Recognizance to appear at the next Assizes, the said Justice accounting the matter in it self but trivial; and indeed all Men did judge him out of danger. At Dorchester he appeared in Court to discharge his Bail, on which he was presently Committed, and the next day being Arraigned, pleading Not guilty, put himself on the Trial of God and his Country, which found him and 28 more of 30, Guilty; the Lord Chief Justice often saying, If any Lawyer or P…rson came under his Inspection, they should not escape; the Evidence against him was the Roman Catholick, whose House was search'd, and a woman of ill Fame, to whom the Lord Chief Justice was wonderfully kind; but his Evidence which were more than Twenty, to prove his Innocence, signifyed nothing; the Jury being well instructed by my Lord Chief Justice. Being thus found Guilty, Sentence was presently pronounced, and Execution awarded, notwithstanding all the Interest that was made for him, as before recited.
Thus being Condemned on Saturday, and ordered to be Executed on Monday, he spent the Residue of his little time very devoutly, and much becoming a good Christian, and a true Protestant of the Church of England, all which availed nothing with this Protestant Judge: he was frequently visited by a worthy Divine of the Church of England, who spent much time with him, and received great satisfaction from him. The said Divine told me, That his Deportment, Behaviour and Converse was so much like an extraordinary Christian, that he could not in the least doubt but this violent passage would put him into the fruition of happiness. He wisht and desired a little longer time, out of no other design, but throughly to repent him of his Sins, and make himself more sensible of, and fit for to receive the Inheritance that is prepared for those that continue in well-doing to the end. When he came to the place of Execution with great Courage and Resolution, being, as he said, prepared for Death, He behaved himself very gravely and devoutly. Being asked, when he was on the Ladder, Whether he was not sorry for his being concerned in the Rebellion? He replyed, That he knew of none that he was Guilty of; and prayed them not to trouble him; adding, He was not the first that was martyr'd; he was so much a Christian as to forgive his Enemies. And after some private Devotions he suddenly was Translated, as we have all hopes to believe, from Earth to Heaven. The only Favour of this Protestant Judge, was to give his Body to his Friends, in order to its Interment amongst his Ancestors.