A New Martyrology, Introduction 2 · Account of execution 2 – Hymn
Now follows the Execution of Mr. Sam. Larke.
MR. Sampson Larke, who was a very eminent, pious man, and had lived in that Town, but little b…fore; many years he was there well acquainted, and all People that knew him had a value for him, behaving himself with that Humility and Circumspection, as no body could have any other occasion but to value him: He design'd to have spoken somewhat on a portion of Sc…ipture, and was beginning, having mentioned the place he intended to speak upon, but was interrupted and told the work of the day being great, they should want time, So then he stopt and reply'd, He could make application where he should not meet with interruption: And so apply'd himself to Prayer, which he performed with great Devotion and Zeal for a quarter of an hour, to the great satisfaction of the Auditors; and so taking leave of his suffering Brethren, he mounted the Stage, which was to be the last Act he made in this World; being on the Ladder, he saw some of his Friends and Neighbours, weeping and mourning for him, to whom he spake, Pray weep not for me, I am going to a place of Bliss and Happiness, wherefore pray repair to your Houses, and 'ere you get thither, I doubt not, but I shall be happy with my God and Saviour, where all tears shall be wiped away, and nothing shall remain but Hallelujahs to all Eternity.
There was also Mr. William Hewling of London, a young Gentleman under Twenty, who came over with the Duke of M. he seemed to be in a calm, and composed frame of Spirit, and with a great deal of Courage and Seriousness, he behaved himself. There is already something said of his Converse and Discourse, which amongst others is printed; therefore we shall say no…hing more of him, but that in all manner of appearance he di'd a good Christian, a true Protestant, and doubtless now enjoys the benefit of it. There were several worthy men more there executed, viz. Mr. Christ. Ba…tiscomb, Dr. Temple, Capt. Madders, Capt. Marthews, Captain Kid, &c. in all Twelve, who all of them died with that Courage and Resolution as became Christians, and such who eminently had adventured their Lives and Fortunes, in defence of what was most dear to them; and namely our Religion, which though God did not think fit to desend and secure it, yet in his wisdom we hope it will be in some measure secured by other Instruments, the Glory of the same being only due to him. So that now leaving this Place, we proceed to other parts of the Country, where with the like Butchery were only five executed, amongst whom was one Mr. Taylor of Bristol, who had Command in the Dukes Army, where he behaved himself very stoutly to the last; after the Army was dispersed, he among others was taken, received Sentence of Death at Dorchester, and here brought for the completion of the same, and from thence we hope was translated to Heaven; He spent his time between the Sentence and Execution very devoutly, in confirming and strengthning those that were to be his Fellow-Sufferers; And made it his business to bring them to a willingness to submit to, and a preparedness for Death: The day being come, and he brought to the place of Execution, he thus spoke, My Friends, You see I am now on the Brink of Eternity, and in a few Minutes shall be but Clay; You expect I should say something, as is usual in such Cases; as to the matter of Fact I die for, it doth not much trouble me, knowing to my self the ends for which I engaged with the Duke of M. were both good and honourable. Here being stopp'd, and not suffer'd to proceed further, he then comforted his Fellow-sufferers, desiring them to joyn with him in singing an Hymn, which he himself composed for the occasion as followeth.
A HYMN made by Mr. Joseph Tyler, a little before his Execution.
1.
O Lord, how Glorious is thy Grace,
And wondrous large thy Love;
At such a dreadful time and place,
To such as Faithful prove!
2.
If thou wilt have thy Glory hence,
Though a shameful Dea…h we die,
We bless thee for this Providence,
To all Eternity.
3.
Let these Spectators see thy Grace
In thy poor Servants shine;
While we by Faith behold thy Face,
In that bless'd Son of thine.
4.
Though Men our Bodies may abuse,
Christ took our Souls to rest;
Till he brings forth the joyful news,
Ye are my Fathers blest.
5.
Appear for those that plead thy Cause,
Preserve them in the way,
Who own King Jesus, and his Laws,
And dare not but obey.
6.
O God confound our cruel Foes,
Let Babylon come down;
Let England's King be one of them,
Shall raze her to the ground.
7.
Through Christ we yield our Souls to thee,
Accept us on his Score;
That where he is, there we may be,
To praise thee ever more.
After the Hymn sung he prayed devoutly, for half an hour; after Prayer he gave great satisfaction to all present of his Assurance of Heaven, had many weeping Eyes for him, and was much lamented in the Town, tho' a stranger to the place; so unbuttoning himself, said to the Executioner, I fear not what Man can do unto me; I pray thee do thy work in mercy, for I forgive thee with all my heart, and I also pray to God to forgive thee; don't mangle my Body too much; and so lifting up his hands to Heaven, the Executioner did his Office. There was also one William Cox that died with him, who also died very couragiously, despising the shame, in hopes and expectation of a future better Estate. He and his two Sons were some of the first that came to the Duke of Monmouth, an… all taken, and all condemned together: The Father only suffered, the Sons by Providence were preserved. When he was going to Execution he desired leave to see his Sons, then in another Prison in the Town, to whom he gave his Blessing; and though he was going to be Executed, yet had that satisfaction to hope that God would preserve them, which was so.