A New Martyrology, Introduction 2 · Account of executions 2 – Account of execution 4
An Account of those Executed at Sherborn.
AT Sherborn, in the same County, were Executed Twelve, who all died Couragiously, especially one Mr. Glisson of Yeovel, in the County of Somerset, his extraordinary deportment and carriage at the place of Execution, was so very considerable, as gave great satisfaction to his Friends, and amazement to his Enemies. He declared to the World that he died a true Protestant, and had not ingaged with the Duke of Monmouth, but judged it high time to stand up for the Defence of the same, though God Almighty had thought fit to frustrate his Designs, and to bring him to that place to Seal the same with his Blood. Also John Savage, and Richard Hall of Culliton, in the County of Devon, suffered at the same time and place; in their particular Conversation, they valued those most that they saw most of Piety in, and pitied others that they saw not so well prepared; saying, that the remembrance of our vanity may cause compassion towards such as were in such a Condition; exhorting all to be serious, and to consider their latter end, which deserved the greatest attention of Mind; the way to die comfortably, being to prepare for it seriously; and if God should miraculously preserve us from this Death now before our eyes, it should be the duty of us all to spend the remaining part of our time, in such a manner as now, when we see Death just at the door. At the hour of Execution their chearfulness and comfort was much increased, saying, Now the Will of God will be done, and be hath most certainly chosen that for us which is best; with many other such like Christian Expressions, too tedious here to be inserted, because we design to keep to our first Intentions, and not to swell this T…eatise too big. Upon the whole, af…er they had with much earnestness recommended their Souls to the All-wise God by Prayer, they all with much content and satisfaction, submitted themselves to the Executioner, not doubting of a happy Translation, and accordingly were executed and quartered; before the rest of the Executions in this County, as at Weymouth, Pool, Shafton, Wimborne, &c. not being there, we shall pass over, and only give you particular touches, which we saw to our perfect knowledge, and so we retu…n to Culliton in the County of Devon, where John Sprague and William Clegg, both of that Town, were condemned at Exon, and there brought to be Executed. Before they were brought into the place, a Messenger came from the Prisoners with a Request to the Vicar of the Parish, to desire his Company and Assistance in this their Extremity, and to Administer those spiritual Helps that were suitable to Men in their Circumstances. Accordingly the said Minister came very readily, and did demand of them, VVhat they had to desire of him? The dying Persons answered, They desired his Prayers? Accordingly he prayed with them a considerable space of time. And after that, he asked of them several Questions, for to give him and the World satisfaction of the prepared Condition they were in, in order to their lanching into Eternity, especially about the Doctrine of Non-Resistance. John Sprague very soberly and moderately replied, but whether satisfactory or not, we leave to the Reader; He believed that no Christian ought to resist a lawful Power; but the Case being between Popery and Prostantism, altered the matter; and the latter being in danger, he believed that it was lawful for him to do what he did, …hough God in his Providence had thought fit to bring him to this place of Execution. After reading a Chapter out of the Corinthians, and singing a Psalm suitable to the occasion, he very vehemently and fervently recommended his Soul to the All-wise God by Prayer, for near half an hour, to the great satisfaction of all that heard him; then his Wife and Children coming to him weeping bitterly, he imbraced them in his Arms, saying, VVeep not for me, but weep for your selves, and for your sins, for that he had that quiet satisfaction, that he was only going to be translated into a state of Bliss and Happiness, where we should sin and sorrow no more, but that all Tears should be wiped away, wishing them to be diligent in the Service of God. Then recommending his Wife and Children to the protection of the Almighty God, who had promised to be a Husband to the VVidow, and a Father to the Fatherless, who was faithful and able to make up their loss in him, in that which should be bett… for them, than he could be; desiring God to be a Refuge for them to fly to for security, and preservation from the Troubles that seemed to threaten this poor Nation; the which if they did conscientiously perform, though Death here made a separation, he doubted not of meeting them in Heaven at last. And so the Executioner did his Office. During which time his Brother-sufferer, VVilliam Clegg was all the time on his Knees, praying to himself with a seeming Zeal; suddenly after which his turn being come to follow his Brother, he only told the People, That his Fellow-sufferer has spoken what he thought was necessary, and they were also his Sentiments. And so submitted to Execution.
An Account of those Executed at Axminster and Honiton.
AT Axminster one also was Executed, his Name Mr. Rose, he was a Gunner, that landed with the Duke of Monmouth, he had a great Resolution, and not at all started with the fear of Death. He said, That he defy'd death, and all them that were the occasion of it. He was very couragious and died so. He spent some time in private Prayer, and was not allowed time, because there was to be Execution at Honiton; so that his Execution being over, we past on to Honiton, where four were executed, one of which was a Chyrurgeon, his Name, if I do not mistake, was Mr. Pott, who behaved himself with that extraordinary Christian Courage, that all the Spectators were almost astonished, he being but young, about Twenty, his Prayers being servent, his Expressions so pithy, …nd so becoming a Christian of greater Age, that drew pity and compassion from all present; a rude Fellow, just before he was to be executed, called for a Bottle of Wine, and so began the Kings Health to one of the Guard; which he perceiving, Poor Soul, said he, Your Cup seemeth to be sweet to you, and you think mine is bitter; which indeed is so to Flesh and Blood; but yet I have that assurance of the fruition of a future Estate, that I doubt not but this bitter Potion will be sweetned with the Sugar of the loving kindness of my dearest Saviour, that I shall be translated into such a State, where is fulness of Joy and Pleasure for evermore.
Before I conclude, one Mr. Evans a Minister ought not to be omitted, who did all along in the time of his confinement in Prison, behave himself with that Devotion and Strictness, that became a Christian of great Eminency, as indeed he was; he spent much of his time in preaching and praying to his Fellow Prisoners, exhorting them to hold out to the end; he at last by appointment being Condemn'd, was executed by himself; at which time and place he behaved himself with great Courage and Devotion, and with a great willingness and chearfulness, he submitted to Execution. There might have been much more said of this worthy Man, but because we will keep to our design, shall be omitted. Many others, who were also very Eminent, suffered in this County, for asserting and endeavouring to secure the Protestant Religion.
The Case of Mr. Simon Hamling.
THus having finished what we have to say at present, shall only add the Case of one Mr. Simon Hamling at Taunton, to shew that sometimes Innocency will not protect. Mr. Hamling was formerly an Inhabitant of the place, but of late years had lived two or three Miles from thence; he was a very honest, worthy, good Christian, but was a Dissenter, and indeed in the judgment of some fiery men, that might be Crime enough, as did too sadly appear in divers Cases. But to our purpose: Mr. Hamling living in the Country, hearing of the Duke of Monmouth's being in Town, he there came to speak with his Son, who lived in that place; where being come, he gave him advice, which was, That as he expected his Blessing, and Countenance, he should not at all concern himself in the matter, but submit to the VVill of God in all things. And having thus advised his Son, he returns home; and two days after came again to Town on a Market day with his Wife, to buy Provisions for his Family, and returned to his House again. And this was all the times he was in Town, whiles the Duke was there. But after the Business was over, he was brought in on Suspicion, being a Dissenter, that was Crime enough, except Coin appear'd to a Justice of that Town, who usually did commit or dismiss as that appear'd. This Man was arraign'd at Taunton, pleaded Not guilty. The Matter above is the truth of this Case; the Evidences were two profligate Rascals, that had incouragement from the Justice, they …sually doing what he put them on. The Prisoner had many to prove this Fact, and his Honesty; but this did not avail, the Jury found him Guilty, with two more, who were presently Sentenc'd, and next morning executed for to be Examples to others. It is said, that the Justice did make application to our famous Protestant Judge, and hinted some Mistake concerning him. To which, as I have been informed, he should Reply, You have brought him on, if he be innocent, his Blood be upon you. Which was a very fine Reply from a merciful Judge; but nothing else could be expected, as the whole Treatise evinceth: The tender Mercies of the wic…d being cruel. This Man behaved himself very worthily at the place of Execution, and did at the last declare his Crime to be the same as is above mentioned, and not otherwise. Thus fell this pious Christian; a Man, by all sober People that knew him, beloved; and disrespected by none but loose Villains, which at last took away his Life.
There was one Mr. Gatchett executed with him, his Crime, being a Constable of the Hundred, he was surprized by a Party of the Dukes, and shewed a Warrant to bring in Provisions and other Necessaries for the use of the Army, which if he had not obeyed, was threatned to have his House burnt, &c. so that he was obliged to do what he did for his own preservation; but this was not sufficient, for being found Guilty he was also executed at the same time and place.
The Case of Mr. Thomas Lawrence.
MR. Thomas Lawrence at Dorchester, had also very hard measure. He had the managing of an Estate belonging to a Person of Quality, who had a Barn in the Parish of Lyme, where the Duke landed. The day after his landing, a Party came and took away three Horses from off this Estate, which he having the trust and care of, makes application to the Duke for them, adding, That he ought not to suffer any of his Masters Goods to be wanting, but must endeavour to recover them again. So mov'd hard to the Duke for the Horses, but all would not prevail; but at last had one, and was forced to leave two. This was look'd on as an abetting, being judg'd to be by consent. After the Defeat was given, he was had before a Justice of the Peace, who bound him over to the Assizes, where appearing, he was Committed; Pleaded Not Guilty on his Trial, which he pleaded to very honestly; yet was found Guilty, and sentenc'd to die. My Lord was excellent at Improvement, 'twas thought he would, if possible, have brought in the Gentleman that owned the Estate, who was very rich. This honest Mr. Lawrence was to be sacrific'd, and his Execution order'd to be at Warham; but my Lord's Favourite got a Reprieve for him by the help of Four hundred pound. Two hundred pound being actually paid, the other secur'd by Bond.
I promised before I conclude, to give some account of the barbarous and cruel Whippings which were executed on many good, honest, and sufficient Persons, both Men and Women, in the Counties of Dorset, Devon, and Somerset, by the severe and cruel Sentence of the Lord Chief Justice; some for such small Crimes, as an impartial Man may judge they deserved none at all: more especially one Mr. Stayle of Thorncomb in Devonshire, his Sufferings were so hard, that it caused many to pity him; he was a good liver, well beloved among his Neighbours, and a true Protestant. Also one Mrs. Brown of Lyme, suffered very dear in that nature; she only jokingly said unto the Officer of the Excise, I will pay, my Excise to King Monmouth; which being sworn before this severe Ju…ge, she was found Guilty of a Misdemeanor, was sentenc'd to be whipt in several Market Towns, which accordingly was done. But this Cruelty was not only extended to those of riper years, and able better to endure those painful Sufferings, but even to Children. A poor Boy of Weymouth in the County of Dorset, having got some Pamphlet relating somewhat to satisfie the People that the Duke of Monmouth came to secure the Protestant Religion, had the hard fortune to take his Trial before this harsh Judge; I think he was about ten or twelve years of Age; he had the flesh of his Back so cut with the whipping, that I heard he died with the same; but whether he is dead, or not, never was such Cruelty in all this World, And now we may see how just the Lord is, he that all that time had no mercy for any, but those that appeared loose Villains, is pitied but by few.