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A
NARRATIVE
OF THE
Proceedings and Tryal (jf Mr. Francis
Johnfon a Francifcan, at Worcejler, laft
Summer-Affizes, Anno Dom. 1^7^.
Written with hk mn Hand as followeth.
To which is annexed
His S P E E C H at his Execution,
Angnfl 22. I 6" 7
IBetn^ at London on All-Saints-day, when the Prsclamation came forth to
command all Catholiques to depart from thence bj the Friday following^ I
obeyed, and came to a Friends hossfe in Worcellerfhire, not intending to
fiay there j bat the Kin£s fecond Proclamation being prefently publijhedy
That no Catholique fhould watk,above Five miles withoat being Jiopt,and carried
before a fufiice to have the Oaths tendted, I asked Comfel of the wifefi / could,
both of Ptoteflants ( whereof one was a Lawyer ) and another a Conflable, as
alfo of Catholiques, Whether that Proclamation did fo fitongly oblige,that it per-
mitied me no longer to go further't They all concluded it was not fecure to go, fi
J refolvedto obey, and fay where I was,and with good reafon.
Firfi, Becaufe all Catholiques are obliged to obey the Kin£s Commands in all
things that are not againfi our Religion and Conference, and His Commands in this
nature are againft neither.
Secondly, Should 1 have difobeyed, and have been taken, in Penalty IJhould
have fuffered,which would not have been fo direSily for my Confcience and Religion
fake, as for difabeying the King's Command-, betsaufe in cafe J Jhould be taken fy
flaying there in obedience to the Proclamation, and be carried before the fufiibes
to have the Oaths offered, whatever I -aias to fuffer for refufmg them, 1Jhould have
this double comfort before God, and the King; before the King, becaufe I rather
chofe to flay there, than remove agaitff His Command j before God, becaufe I ra-
ther chofe to go to Prifon, than to remove from his Law, by taking the Oaths
againfi my Confcience—-therefore I was taken and put in Prifon*
The manner of my being taken was as followeth.
Tlje Sheriffs Deputy came to the Houfe where I was with fx or eight men, to
airreSi. a Gentleman in the Houfe for Debt: Tne Officers coming into the Houfe
in the mornings and not finding the per [on they came for, broke Uown all the doors
and among the rePl mine, before I was out of Bed, and by a mifiako Arrefied me
A iffiea^
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inflead of the other Gentlemaw, and although the Deputj, coming into my Cham'
' looking on me, told them they were deceived, for I was not the man they came
for 5 yet other Soldiers coming into my Chamber, one of them faid he knew me : It
feems he had been a Servant inthe Houfe [even Tears before, therefore he faid he
•would have me to the 'fufiices, and hid his Companions Jecure me , and fo they
did, and would not let me go out of their pght, until they carried me before the
y jd fufticei u4nd this they did. Without either Confiable , or PVarrant ^ Law or
' ^uftice,
when I came before the fuflice of Peace,! told him the occafion that had brought
"" ' ■ me to him', and if I would have taken the Oaths, I had beenprefently freed :
, Put I told them that perfuadedrne to take the Oaths, That it was againji the
-yv jpaith and Religion I profeffed, and againfi my Confcience, and / would never of-
fend againfi either, by fo complying^ whatever I fuffered for the contrary.
The fuFUce's Wife was compajfionate towards me,and defining to fpeak^ private-
ly with me,Jhe ufed her befi perfuafions to me to comply with what was defired of
me concerning the taking the Oaths, for fear of further trouble or danger, I an-
fwered her with thanks, and told her. That'I was forry Jhe had no better opinion
of me, than to think, d had profefi fuch a Faith and Religion all my life-time, and
mw upon the trial could be moved with any fear or danger {which God forbid.^
J told her it was fuch a Faith, that in 'it I depofed my Soul,my Confidence,Hea'Ven
and Eternal Life, and therefore I neve rdid, nor ( by God's grace ) never would
fear to fujfer for it what pleafed God ; For who could fear even Death it/elf of
the Eody whefe life is momentary, for ProfeJJion of that Faith wherein he^depofeth
the Eternal life of his Soul?
This ^nfn er fatisfPd both her and my felf, for I was refolved to makp a pub-
lick_ProfeJfion of my Faith and Religion; upon which I returned to thefufiice,
who thought fit / Jhould go to another fufiice, who was Sir John Packing-ton,
whither alfo he went with me.
When I came to John^ he asked me who I was ? I anfwered him, I was a
Gentleman jufficiemly known for thefe 2,0 Tears in WofcCfterfliire to all forts of
people. He asked me of what Calling I was ? I anfwered him, of none. He
askpd me what Efiate I had? I anfwered, I was no Landed<man, Then he
asked me. If I would tafe the Oaths ? I anfwered, I underfiood them not. He
replied. Will you take them, or will you not ? I told him if he pleafed to let me fee
them,!jhouldrcturn him my Hnfwer,
JSIow the reafon why ! defired to fee the Oaths, was, becaufe I was refolved to
mako a PublickDeclaration of my Faith,that they were againfi'my Confcience,and
therefore by declaring pubiicklj the Reafons why I could not take them, it Jhould be
publickly kpown,that whatfoever 1 was to fuffer for not taking them, was for no
other caufe but for my Faith and Religion, becaufe I Would not /wear againfi my
Confcience—For, would I have taken them, ! had been there alfo freed,
■ 'When the Oaths were brought to me, they told me ! mufi read them out aloud,
hut I told them that becaufe it was a publick_place,and many there prefent of feve-
ral degrees, as well of the Houjholders, as Strangers, ! feared leafi reading them
aloud, fome t hat heard me might think I Jware what I read, and fo might go and
report they heard me take the Oaths before the fufiicos. But they declared they
Vtould net think fi ^ f" ^ thsm ovtr and ovef, which when 1 had done, I faid
aloud, God jave the King 5 and then declared to both the "fufiices, and all the refi,
in this manner,
'f I am ready to fwear as followeth :
That I ever all my life-time have been, and now am, and ever will be to my labi
breath, as faithful a Subjebt to the King, as any Subyebl whatfoever, and as faith-
Jul as if IJhould takp the Oaths now offered by them to me an hundred times over^
but as for taking thefe,Oaths offered me,! could net take them whatever I fuffer ed,
and the'reafon was, becaufe I underfiood what an Oath was, and the conditions
which God has prefcribed to w, before any could coil him to witnefs lawfully in ta-
"f Oathsi
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The Conditions wh'ch God has prefcribeJ I told them were thefe,
■ Thoii Jhalt fivear the Loyd liveth m truth, and in jadgrnent, and in righteouf-
nefs; Jo that in every Oath, the life of God, the truth of God, the judgment of
God and his righteoufnefs, are included by all vphich we fvoear , and the Oath we
take is to have all thefe Conditions, truth, judgment, and righteoufnejs,]evtxn. 4.--
Therefore if I Jhould take theje Oaths which are conctrning damnable DoBrines
and Herefes, I muB call God to witnefs that I no more believe him to be a living
God and true God, a juB and righteous God, than { believe thefe things contained
in the Oaths to be true,juB and righteous, to fwear to which Oaths I do not nor
cannot in my Confcience believe to be fo. For, before I or any man elfe can under-
ftand the Contents of thefe Oaths to be true, as to call God to witnefs that I be-
lieve them to be a^ true, juB and righteous, / muB be able to dejine what is Faith
or Here fie in theje Contents I fvear to, and I muB know the full extent of all cafes
of this nature that God has left to all Temporal Princes and their Power 5 I muB
alfo underftand the full extent of all cafes of this nature of power fpiritual which
God hath left in his Church in or over Chriflian Kingdoms of Temporal Aionarchs,
which power in thefe Oaths I am to fwear on the one fde , and forfwearing the
other.
I told them I was not of capacity nor knowledge to fet the Confines to each
Power, or to determine or define the extent givsn by God to all in this nature, fo as
to fwear and call God to witnefs I am as Jure of it, as I am fute he is a living
Cod, as I muB do if I take thefe Oaths, the extent of which I did not underfland
in my Confcience to be fo as to believe them ; Therefore I could not nor would mc
. fwear to them. I having fpoken thefe things, no body faid any more to me, but
the fuflices going out of the Hall made my Mittimus and Sentence forWoTceitev
Prifon, becaufe / would not take the Oaths they tendred me.
I have beeii fince called to the Bar at the Sefiions,y^heTC I fpake to the fam^
efFeift before judge Street, the Juftices, as I had fpoken before to S'w fiohn
having firft asked their leave to (peak, which they gave me for a
little time, and then bid me return to the Prifon.—But firft they were urgent
with me to anfwer pofitively,^/ or No,■md.sl a Jefuitical Prielf^or was I not?
To which I anfwered. It was an eafie thing for me to fay No, but by (aying
^ iVfo, I might prejudice others, who hereafter being asked the lame queftion,
if they did not anfwer A's, it might bean Argument that they Were guilty,
if they did not deny it,as others before them had done.—Therefore I defired
that what proof could be brought againft me, might be produced againft me,
and I would anfwer for n^y felf: But I defired I might'pot be urged toanfwer
Hy or No,x.o any thing, before fome Witrtefs or Arguhient came againft me;
for,I told them in fuch Cafes, neither Law of God nor Man obliged any one
( although he was guilty) to bear witnefs againft himfelf without fome proof
were alledged againft him, for, that was no lefs than to be his own Execu-
tioner.
The Judge anfwered there were Witnefles would fwear againft me.
I anfwered, if Witneffes could make out what they fware of me, then my
life was at the King's mercy : But in the mean time I told them I remained
guiltlefs, though I did not anfwer them to their queftions ^y or No, becaufe
I told them that being my (aying No in my own behalf would <iot be fuffi-
cient, teftimony to acquit me, therefore there was no reafon why any man
fhould be urged to fay Hy to accufe ones felf though he was guilty.
Upon this the judge fent me to Prifon again at Worcefien where now I am,
which Imprifonment, in thefe Times efpecially, when none can fend to their
Friends, nor Friends come to them, is the beft means to teach us how to put
our confidence in God alone in all things j and then he will make his promife
good. That all things JhaU be added to us, Luke 12. which Chapter, if every
one would read, and make good ufe of, a, Prifon v/ould be better than a Pa-
lace 5 and a Confinement for Religion^and a good Confcience fake^more plea-
ftnc
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ftntthan all the liberties the World could afford. As for my ov»,'n parr, God
give me his grace, and all faithful Chriftians their prayers,! am happy
enough J And as. for others,! befeech God that the evil example of thofe that
fwear againft their Confcienccs, may not be Guides for the reft to follow, nor
their Deeds a Rule to their Aftions. We all ought to follow the narrow way,
though there be many difficulties in it: It's'an eafie thing- to run the blind
way of liberty,but God deliver us all from broad, fweet ways. We know
whac^o^ laith of Libertines^Thej lead their lives in the goods of this world, and
in a moment they dffcend into Hell. Bur, as our Saviour faith. What doth it profit
a man to gain the n arid, and lofe his foul?
Ood gave fob a goodly increafe for all the riches he took from him, and
bleft his latter end more than his beginning , and gave him an Hundred and
forty years of flouriffiing life for his ffiort affliction, in which, his conftancy
and faith in God was tried} and our Saviour promifeth an Hundred- fold to all
that leave Goods,and every thing willingly for his fake.—- Who well confiders
this, will be content to leave bothffiriends and Fortunes, and Freedom by Im-
prifbnment, for their Faith and Religion-fake, till fuch time as it fhall pleafb
God^and the King ( in obedience to whofe Command they fuffer) to releafe
them. And in the mean time they will have this comfort. That they give a
Teftimony they fear God, and honour the King 5 They fear God,becaure they
choofe rather to fuffer Perfecution,than fwear againft their Confciences} They
honor the King,becaufe they are willing to fuffer the Penalties He commands,
and yet remain faithful Subjedls to Him, whom God long preferve, with His
Parliament and People, in all happinefs.
On Tuefday, April 15. 1679. I came before fudge Atkins at Worcefter,fo havi
my Cattfe tryed at the 5c(Tions, having been Committed five Months before t»
Worcefter-Caftle by twojafikes of the Peace, Sir John Packiaton, and Mr.
Townfbn, becaufe I refufed the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and there-
fore was fufpeSled to be a fefuitical Priefi.
The manner of myTrjal was as followeth.
Four Witnefles were brought in againft mejThree of them were forced by
Warrant to come in, whether they would or no,frornfeveral Towns, and were
forc'd to fpeak all that they knew,had heard,or feen, concerning me } neither
I, nor any of my Friends knowing, that any would be compelled fo to do, be-
fore the time of my Tryal was come. The fourth Witnefs came of his own
accord for Lucre fake, who, the fame day that I was firft brought to Worcefler
Frifon, offered himfelf to fwear before the Mayor of the Town, that I was a
Prieft, before ever he came to fee who I was.
The Tefiimony which he gave againji me before the fudge, was this.
He fwore he had been'atConfeffion with me,and thathe had received the
Sacrament at my hands about two years before at his Fathers houfe, whil'ft
he was a Catholique 5 and after he became aProteftant,he faid I told him af-
terward he fhould turn back from whence he had fallen, elfe he would be
damned.
The other three Witneffes that were forced to come in againft me, when
they came before the Grand Jury, and were urged to take their Oaths,to tell
that which they never had known nor feen concerning my being a Prieft, they
all unanimoufly declared. That they had nothing to fay againft me, and that
they were by violence forced to appear there, and therefore they faid they
would never fwear nor fay any thing againft me, for they knew nothing to ac-
cufemeof: which when the Jury heard, they called for the Jaylor to take
the Party that fitft denied to fwear to Prifon, thinking by this violent way
of proceeding fo to afright them,that they fhould fay fbmcthing,outof which
advantage fhould be taken againft me } which the better to effed, they made
them
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them fifft lay their hands on the Bible, and then kifs it, which they did. Then
the Jury told them, that now they were to tell all the troth according as they
were ashed.—Firft they asked whether any of them had ever heard me read? ♦
One anfwered, yeSj the Bible, and fometimes any other Book, Then they
askedjWhether they had ever feen me pray? It was anrwered,yes. Then they
asked wbatCloaths I had on whenT prayed ? And whether I ufed to change
my Cloaths when I c^ime to pray ? In thefe and other like queftions they
lifted them,"to get oijc any thing that might do me hurt.
But how Charitablq or Ghri ft ian-1 ike theic Proceedings of the Jury were,
let the World judge A/o.jv, as God will Hereafter ; For, if this be a charitable
way of proceeding among Chriftians,that our Neighbors fliould byfuch tlrange
violence, as by Warrant, and Oath be brought againft their wills from any part
of England, to fwear whatever they have leen, heard, or known of their
Neighbors, what horrid Confufions and Odium's this make among all
.lores of People both Friends, and Foes ? But I do not blame thofe three
Witneires, after they had been inconfiderately induced to lay their hands up-
on the Bible, and klft it; 1 fuppofe they judged chemfelves hound to fay What
they did.
After this, when the Jiiry liad got out of them what they could, the four
Wicneffes and I were called before the Judge. The firft Witnefs that came to
fwear againft me, as the cuftom is, repeated his teftimony over again before
the Judge, and fodid the cither three that Were forced ■, which when I heard
how abfurd and infignificafit'fome of their tdtimonies were, I inconfiderately
Trailed, at which the Judge being ofFendtd, I hdmbly begged his Pardon, and
told him I was forry for ii.-—But forafmuch as laughing or fmiling were paf
Cons of Nature, over which ho man had a free courl'e or power, I hoped and
beleeched him not to impute it to me; he told me he would not be difpleafed
at me for it. Then he Asking me, whether I was guilty , or not guilty of my
Accufations ? and I aniWering, Not glilty, he bad me (hew it, by anfwering
for myfeif; I told him I was ready to do icj bur told him firft,! had an hum-
ble Petition to his Lordlhip, vvhich was, that I defired a full and free liberty
without hindrance to anfwer to every Objeftion, and plead for my felf; I al-
j(b defired he would refledt in my behalf, that as he was to be my Judge, lb
he was to be my Advocate, And forafmuch as all earthly Judges were to
imitate the heavenly Judge, who as Advocate ten thoufand times mitigates
the feverity of a Judge, whil'ft: his hand of mercy is infinitely ftretched
forth beyond the hand of judgment. And therefore I tsegged of his Lord-
Clip, that I might find the favor of an Advocate from him, rather than the ti-
gor of a Judge, efpecially in thofe things vvhich according to Law may be ad-
vantageous or difadvantageous to me,which I underftanding not how to make
the beft ufe of them, defired his Lordlhip would vouchfafe to do it for me ;
which that the better he might be moved to do, I defired he would be plea-
fed to confider that this my Life and Concerns were (in comparifon of others
greater) not fo much conllderable,! being but a private perfon,yet my Little
was to me Much, becaufe m}' Little was my Hll ; and my Lift to me were
much as Cetfars or Solomons were to them , and as great a gift from God
to me, as theirs to them; and therefore God has laid as great an obligation on
me to defend my felf and my life, as he had on them for theirs, and alio had
given to every one a ftrift command not to impair or prejudice me in the
le.aft,no more than the grearelt Potentate. Therelbre being I was now brought
before him in aCale, whepe the World as much as concerns me, lay at ftake,'
and my Life, and my Credit, I did humbly beftech his Lordfiiip to proceed
accordingly with me, as I prelumed according to his prudence and worth he
would. He affented to what I petitioned,and did bid me fpeak for my feJf.
In anfwer therefore to the firft voluntary Witnefs againft me,l told his Lord-
Ihip it was true,I had been at fuch d night at his Fathers hotift, ancfaccording-
]y, as I was defired by him, Iftaid' all night.—But as for this Witnefs, I was a
ftranger to him, and he to me, as he confeft himfclf. Then the Judge asked
him, Whether he Kntvv me before or no ? For he declared pubIickly,That he
B never
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never knew me, nor faw me before or fince, til] lie faw me at Wora'flcr', and
yet he fald the next morning be made his Confeffion to me, and I gave him
the Communion at Mafs as he fuppofed in my Chamber; but he (aid that none
of all the Family was prelent at that time, only he and I alone; whereupon I
defined the Judge to confider what poiTible likelihood could be of the truth in
this his affirmation, that I fhould come to a houfe where I was acquainted
with them all. Father, Mother, and Children, with all but this Witnefs who as
he declared knew me not, nor ever had feen me before, what likelihood is
there I (hould fay Mais before him alone, hear his ConfelTion, and give him the
Sacrament, and fo go away without any one of the Family (with whom 1 was
fo well acquainted ) hearing, feeingjor knowing the leaft of this that paft be-
tween him and me.—-I therefore defired my Lord to ask him,Whether I fpake
of ConfeiTion or Communion.? or what I laid to him when I gave it him? or
whether I told him I would give him the Sacrament ? which when the Judge
had asked him, he anfivered. That indeed I never had fpoken to him either
about Confeffion or Communion to come to either ; neither did he know
what I faid to him, whenlgave himBreaJ like a Wafer; but he of his own
accord did defire me to hear his Confeffion,and give him the Wafer which he
took.—Whereupon the Judge asked how it came to paft that he,never having
known nor ften me before, nor I fpoke with him about Confeffion or Com-
munion, how could he now tell who I was,or how could he defire fuch a thing
of me who was a meet ftranger to him, neither of us knowing any thing of
one anothers condition ; fure, faid the Judge, we do not give theCcmmunion
on fuch terms.-—To which he anfwered, that his Father had told him, that if
he would he might confeft to me,and that I would give him thi. Communion.--
So although he had fworn before, that none in the houfe was witneft, or faw
himconfefs or receive, yet rather than be confounded, he would bring his Fa-
ther into confufion, and accufe him as guilty of being the caufe of what he
did, which might be the ruine of his Family.
But the Judge taking no notice of what he had accufed his Father,fpake to
me, and told me, by this it might appear. That I had taken upon me what be-
longed to the Priefts Office, by hearing his Confeffion, and giving him the
Wafer. To which I.replied, that with his leave, I would make it appear,that
hll which this Witnefs had faid againft me, did not at all prove me to be a
Prieft, or to have taken the office of a Prieft upon me; for all he faid I had
done, I might do it I awfully though no Prieft, fo might other men that never
were nor would be Priefts do the lame, as many rhoulands had done and did
do through the world. He asked me howl could prove that ? I anfwered,
as to his Confeffion he fpoke of, in the nature he declared it, it was only an
adt of charity for me to do as I did, and every Chriltians duty obliges every
man to do the lame that he (aid I had done for him, and the fame wasprafti-
fed by all Sefts whatfoever , that never knew what belonged to Priefthood j
For, if our Neighbor have any thing that perplexed his mind, there is no bet-
ter way to cafe it, than by fpeaking of it to any whom he fuppo(ed might
know how to takeaway or mitigate his Grievances bycounfel or advice ; And
rherefore this Witnefs having underftood fomething from his Father, that
might move him to confide in me, came of his own accord, as he faid he did,
to impart his mind to me, and therefore I fhould not have fulfilled Chriftian
duty, if I fhould have flighted his trouble, and not have given him leave to
eafe his mind to me, and, in the beft way I could, endeavor to affift him, and
divert his trouble, though I was a ftranger, being that he of his own accord,as
he (aid, came to me for that intent,and therefore I defired the Judge to ask
him, if it were otherwife than what I had told his Lordfhip ?
The Judge replied that I went further; for, as he fays, I gave him theWa-
fer or Communion. I anfwered, that fuppole I had given him the Wafer or
Communion (which whether I did or no I was not certain ) yet according to
his own word, this could no way prove that I gave him the Sacrament; for.
let himfpeak if I told him it was (b ; or let him declare if ITaid any thing to
him concerning the Communion, ©r ^hat I faid j he could not fay I did, only I
gave
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gave him fomething ; therefore I rold the Judge, that ifhepleafed to give
ine Jeave, I would tell his Lordfltip what pradice ever had been, and is con-
ftantly ufed in the Catholic'k Church throughout the world, in giving hojlowed
bread or v\rater,which is nothing belonging to the Communion or Sacrament 5
for, I told my Lord, as there was holy water kept in all private houfes, as
well as in the Chapels, and places of Prayer, fb there was alio holy bread, and
fbmetimes of the lame nature as rhe Wafer or the Communion, and of this as
well as of the other fort of bread, was on Sandajs, and other certain daies,
not conftcratcd as the Communion, but only blelied as holy water by the
word and prayer, and fo didributed to men, wornen, and little children, of
two or three years old 5 and fuch like hallowed bread thoufands of men,
women and children, take, and may cjfty about them, and keep in their
houles, and eat it at any time, and give it when, and to whom they would,
to children, or others j and for my parr, I have many times in my life taken
it from others at any time; when I had it, or was in any private houft where
I found it, I have taken it to eat my felf, and given it to any man, woman, or
child, fometime they defiring it, fometime of my own accord I gave it, and
fo pofTibly I have given it to the man that witnefleth here againli; me; and if
he know the contrary, but that it was as 1 laid, I deiire that he would fpeak:
But he had nothkig ta lay of me to the contrary.
lappealed to rny Lorcf to judge whether this teftimony, or any other tefti-
mony this Wilnefs brought againft me, weie of any force or value to make
me guilty in this matter, which no waies could be made out againft me.
I proceeded therefore to anlV/er his third Accufation againft me, which was,
that Ifhould have told him,rhat if he did not return to the Faith from whence
he had fallen, he would be damned. To this my Anfwer to my T.ord wa.'.,
That I had all ray life time been fu fearful of fuch ralh Judgment, char I do
declare it in the prelencb of God, as I did before him, that I had rather dye,
than prefume to pronounce the lenrence of damnation againft any man; but I
told his Lordlhip, that if he pleafed to give me leave, I would relate what I
had laid to him, and others, upon the like occafion, which the Judge being
willing to hear, 1 told him, that I being at this man's Mother- in-law's houle,
who was of no Religion, no more than this VVitneis, and the Mother defiring
to hear what Catholicks held, and the reafons for which we believe fuch
points of Faith, I told her what we htid, and Ihewed her the proofs for what
we held in her own Bible,and when fhe made any difficulty whether fuch rexes
of Scripture were to be underftood as we underftood them, or in any other
lenfe, I Ihewed her out of the Proteftanc Fraclice of Piety, and out of the
Proteftant Common Prayer-Book, that not only Catholicks but all Proteftants
underftood them in fuch a lenle ; and fhe having thofe Books by her, I turned
thofe places to her to read in her own Books, and lb flie did, and yet neither
the Bible, nor Common Prayer-Books, nor Pratftice of Piety, could latisfie, or
make her believe; whereupon I told her, that iflhe were a Chriftian,lhe mu'ft
believe fomething; for, as Ihe believed, fo Ihe fliould be faved : — I told her
alfo what the Bible declared to her. That without Faith it was impoffible to
pleafc God, and I bad her confider the text that laith, Whatfoever is not of
Faith is fin ; as alio the text that laith. The juft man iiveth by Faith, and de-
fired her to read thofe words of our Saviour, where he laith. He that be-
lievech lhall be laved, but he that beheveth not fhall be damned ; which fhe
did read ; and this Wicnefs being then prefent; and I faying the lame then be-
fore him, I fuppofe, from this text, heaccultd me that I Ihould fay, he would
be damned, becaule 1 repeated, and Ihewed them our Saviour's words, as they
appear in that place of Scripture.
I having thusanfwered all the reftimonies this Witnefs could bring in againft
me, I referred my felf to his Lordlhip, and ail the Bench, to judge whether
any thing this Witnefs had laid againft me, would make me guilty-.The judge
laid but little to it, but called for the next witnels (who was Father to this
firftj who was fo much grieved at the [)roceedings of his ungracious Son,thac
he could not forbear to fhed tears all the time that his Son produced fucft
Acciilafions againft me ; fo that he appeared more witnefs againft his Son's
B 2 ungodlinel^^
fS)
tingodlinefs, than a Witnefs againft me; Ycc the Judge askedhim many, que-
ftions, whether he had ever heard, feen, or known any (uch or fuch things
of or from me : To all which qucftions he anCwered, No, he knew nothing a-
gainft me ; fb thar the Judge (eeing he {l;ewed fb much kindnef?, he a^sked
him what he was ? He anfwertd, a Catholick j whereupon the Judge bade hirii
go away, faying, He was too much my friend, and therefore lie would not ac-
cept of him as a witnefs, but called the third. This witneft was an old man,
and very deaf, who was forced to come againft me by a warrant, (wore a-
gainft his will: The Judge asked him fevcral queftions, whether he heard
me fay any prayers; he anfwered, yes, but he could not well underftand or
hear what they were, becaufe he was (b deaf; he asked them whether they
were EnglKh or Latin ? he anfwered, he could not well tell, he thought it was
both; and, I think, it might be neither, for ought he could hear, he was fo
very deaf: Then he asked him what deaths [ had on ? he anfwered, he could
not well tell; 1 had fomething on that was white, a Surplice he thought; and
the Judge was willing to fuppofe this to be a Priefts habit at MafSjOr when he
gave the Sacrament; but I told his Lordfhif), that this could be no proof of
any fuch matter, becaufe, all over the world, among Catholicks, fuch Gar-
ments were worn by thoufands in time of prayer, who never were, nor will
be Priefts, as is well knovrn to thofe that have been Travellers; And I told
his Lordfhip, that ifhepleafed to call for them, there may be fevcral Tra-
vellers, of feveral Seds and Opinions prefent in the Hall, that would be fuffi-
cient witnelles as well of this, as of the holy bread and water, which the other
witnefs as well as this old man faid I had given them, which they fuppofe to be
the Sacrament; but the Judge would call for none, but called for the fourth
witnefs.--- This witnefs was a young woman, who was alfo by violence forc'd
to come and fwear what flie had heard, feen or known concerning me about
the matter in queftion. The Judge asked her whether I had taught her any
thing, whether fhe had been at ConfefTion or Communion, what I faid to her,
what pennance I gave her ; and he asked alfb the like queftions of t he old man,
the former witnefs, to all which they vvere both very unwilling to anfwer ;
for which fomeof the rude people curft the old man for an old doting fellow,
and were as much vexed at the young woman, becaufe fhe was fo dejefted,
that fhe could not f{)eak, but lookt like one that was half dead, as fomeof
the people faid in anger fhe was fb. The Judge perceiving-in what condition
fhe was, faid aloud, what men are thefe Priefts that have fuch power over
people, that they are not able tofpeak againft them ; he therefore bid them
remember they were in the prefence of God, and were bound in confclence
tofpeak the truth ofwhat they had heard orfetn ; fo at laft they owned that
Ihad read in the Bible, and other Books to them, and that they had confeft
what troubled them, and had received fomething like a Wafer from me, and
that they had believed what I read to them; yet they both declared pub-
lickly, that I did not bid them come to ConrefTion, or take tlie Wafer or Bread;
and when they took it, that I did not tell them it was the Sacrament, neither
did they know whether it was or no: Byfal! which it appeared according to the
letter of the. Law,and in confcience,that none of thefe teftimonies were offuf-
ficlenc force to make me guilty. A mans life is not to be taken away upon fur-
mifes, or pofTibilities, that this might be the Communion,as well as other holy
Bread. For, the Law require?, that It muft be proved that there was an Ad-
miniftration of the Sacrament by one that had taken Orders from a Foreign
Power; of taking Orders there was not the leaft Accul'ation mentioned a-
gainft me by any of the witnefTes, much lefs could it be proved, no not fo
much that I pretended to give the Sacrament any more than it might be holy
water, or holy bread, as 1 defired my Lord to confider; neither was it the
wearing of a Surplice that could prove 1 faid Mafs; for Priefts never wear
Surplices at Mafs : And if a mans wearing a Surplice at prayer, prove him a
Prielf, then all the Singing-Boys in every Proteffant Cathedral Church, and in
all other Churches in Chriftendom,aIl thofe Boys, though but often or twelve
years of age, muft be by confequence all Popifh Priefts; and all Jews who
conftantly in their Synagogues put on a white Garment like a Surplice, as I
and
( 9 )
and all Travellers have feen them do when we have gone to fee them pray ^
At thefe Jews muft be Romifh Prielts: — Oat of al! which it evidently a'p-
pears, chat none of thefe teftimonies the witnefTes brooghr againit me, were
any way concluding according to Juflice to make me guilty of being a Prielt.
As for my reading the Bible to them, or in fatisfying them in what they
doubted, or bidding them fay their prayers, and particularly the Lord's
Prayer, which thelafttwo witnefi'es told the Judge I had done, and ihe like
(he fearing to anfwer to all the queftions he asked them J To thefe I anfwer-
ed, that I own I had done foj whereupon the Judge laid, that out of this it
appeared, that I had taken upon me the Priefts Office. 1 told him, that with
his leave I would fhew how it did no ways follow; for, out of this it only
followed, that 1 had done the duty of a good Chriftian, and every man in the
like circumftances is bound as a Chriftian to do the like that I had done: I told
him, that they, doubting offuch things, and defiring me to fhew them iffuch
places were in the Bible, or nor, and defiring to know what L did believe of
thofe points, and the reafbns why I believed them, I turned to fuch places
in the Bible, and read it to them, and bid them read the fame themfclves,.
which they did, and fo were fatisfied. And I told my Lord, for what I bad*
done, I had the Scripture warrant, and Scriprure command alio to do it, and lb
had every Chriftian command to do the like; for the Scripture commands
all to be redy to give an anfwer to every man concerning the reafon of the
hope which is within us, and this I had done to them, or to any other that
had asked me as they did. But 1 told mv Lord withal, that I knowing the
5tatute of perfwafion, had alwaies fo much regard to that, when any would
difcourfc with me concerning my Faith, or theirs, 1 told them, that (being
there was fuch a Statute as the 5tarute of perfwafion) though I was bound to
givethcm an account of ray Faith and Hope, if for confcience fake they asked
me, yet I told them I would not incur the penalty of that Statute by ufing
any force or perfwafion againft their confciences ; for violent forcing of con-
fciences was againft the Law of God; yet I told them what I did believe, and
fhewed them the phces of Scripture on which my Faith was grounded, ac-
cording as they defined me todo for them, and then I would leave it. to God
and their own confciences; and if they did not believe thofe texts, I had no
more to fay to them; and if they did believe them, they beft knew before
God and their confciences what they had to do ; fo that it was not my per-
fwafion, but God and their fouls falvation that was to determine them in the
belief of what they read in the Bible: And I bade them bear witnefs that I
told them thus, if in cafe we ffiould ever be called in queftion before any
Judge ; and thus I have difcourfed, as feveral would bear witnefs for me. I
told his Lordfhip this was true, and fo did thofe witneflesj for, they declared
publickly what I faid was true, whereupon I did ap[:eal to my Lord, if I was
not innocent in this point; and as for my bidding them fay their prayers, qr
when they defired to eafe their minds by declaring wlxat troubled them, J
defined to clear rny felf by asking my Lord, with his leave, what Nation or
i'ein: in the world ought not, and did not counfel and wifh their Neighbours
in their troubles to eafe themfelves by prayer to God ; and much more every
good Qiriftian ought, when heunderftood that his Brother had adled thePro-
digal Son, offended his Heavenly Father, and therefore was troubled in con-
fcience, ought, I fay, to perfwade him to return by repentance, and beg mer-
cy of ourFather which is in Heaven: I having done no more but this, have
only done a piotis Chriftian duty to my Neighbours, which any man, though
no Prieft, may and ought to do the fame. I having pleaded thefe things for
my felf, the Judge was pleafed to tell me, I bad a nimble tongue, and wit, and
that by thofe difcourfes I Itrove to make the Jury attend more to my plead-
ing for my felf, than to, the witncffes Arguments againft me : To which I re-
plied, I fpoke nothing but truth, which I ought to do to defend my felf a-
gainft my enemies, therefore I hoped his Lordfhip would not b^ offended:
But if I have exceeded (as his Lordfhip fiid I did) becaufe I hindered him
from fpeaking,! humbly craved his pardon,& hoped I ffiould obtain it,being my
C Cbneeri^i
(lo)
Concerns and Reafons to pleadj as I did; were of no !eis conftqucnce than
Life and Death.
But for all this the Judge told the Jury,that they were to conlider the Ac-
cufations of the Witnelles againft me,as having done fuch and (bch things
which Prieits ufe to do; neither was it neceffary that the Witnefles. lliould
prove me to have taken Orders from Foreign Power, and fo to prove me
pofitively to be a Prieft 5 For, that (they not having feen me fake Orders)
they could not'do,but it was fufficient they had fecn me do fuch things , by
which it might be prefumed it was fo. Whereupon I anrwered. That there
was never aProofyet alledged: that did or could make that appear,or befuf-
ficient to conclude me to be fo, and therefore I was no more guilty than ma-
ny thoufands, of whom all theft things alledged againft me might be verili'd,
who never were nor would be Priefts, as lhad fufficiently fhewed,why there-
fore fhould they be thought fufficient to conclude againft me. I therefore de~
fired the Judge, before he ftnt out the Jury, he would give me leave to (peak
a word or two to them. Heanfwered iVo, be would not. I then defired his
Lordfhip would give me leave to fpeak again to him before thcih , ere they
went outj to which he aflented : I therefore defired his Lordfhip to give mC
leave to ask this queftion of him,which the Jury might hear.-—Supp»Je all the
Proofs which had been by all the Witnejfes brought againfi me^ were to be alledged
againfi thefury.^ or fame of them,fo that if the A-'guments were judged by them
to be of force or concluding, fame of thofe of the jary JkoyJd lo/e part of their
Pfiates and Credit, and being in fimeJanger of their lives, who of all the jury on
whom this peril were like to fall, would judge thofe Arguments alledged againsb
me, fufficient to condemn them to the lofs of part of their Ejlates,or part of their
Credit with fame danger of their Lives ? 1 therefore dejired it might be confidered,
that my All lay at jlakf, all my Concerns in the World ; Credit and Life not only
in feme danger, but certainly to be Condemned, if thcje Arguments brought in by
them againfi me Jhould he judged to he of force. Therefore I defired they would
deal by me as if it were their own cafe, according as I hadpropcjed it to them^and
fo I jhould give no further trouble in Jpeakjng, being it was not judged fit I Jhould
fay any more (^as I had defired ) to the fury.
I had only one Favor more to beg of the Judge before they went outjWhichr
was, that his Lordfhip would read a Paper before them which I had ready,
whereby I could prove, that the firftand chiefeft VVitnefs againft me, which
was Rogers,o\x^t not in juftice to be admitted as a competent VVitned againft
me, as the Writing I offered the Judge would (hew ; which Writing I gave
to the Judge, and he read it over privately to himftlf, and feeing the hand of
him that wrote it at the bottom, who offered to fvvear for me againft Rogers^
the Judge asked where thisWitnefs for me was,and why I had him not ready.?
I anfwered he was hard by in the Prifbn for Debt, if he pleaftd to ftnd for
him J but the Judge would not ftnd for him. I then defired the Judge that
atleaft I,or any elfe here preftnt, might read my Paper publickly, that al.!
might know it was true, that I had fuch a fufficient Witnefs for me againft
Rogers-, but the Judge neither would let me, nor any elfe read it openly, but
however I-made bold to tell publickly all the Contents of the Paper, which
were word for word as the VVitnefs wrote it with his own hand and uarae at
the bottom 5 thus—
Memorandum,7^^ir upon the \xth of December lafipafi,or fhereabouts,came
three men to the Cafile efNVQXCtiitv,and as they came up the fiairslfiji^exs defires
one of them to call for one Mr. Johnfon, and fee if he would anfwer to that name or
notj and entringinto the Room, he asked where was Mr, johnfon, and which was
he, though he was at that time prefent in the Room, and none elfe but one man and
my felf drinking at the door, and in my Confcience knew him not.
In witnefs to this /'// lay down my Oath, Henry Holland,
By
(^O
fey this it may appear, that if the Judge would let my Witriefs appear td
have fworn, I might have the chief Witneft againft me; and why
it was not granted, let all that hear it judge. However, I ftill continued to
plead,that all Proofs alledged againft me were infufficienr, which I can make
appear even in the Judge's own opinion, though I did not tell him fo ; For you
muft know,that before in his Circuir,though Wirncffes fwore againft a Gentle-^
man (whom they would have proved aPrieft) that they law him marry
People and Baptize, which are the Aftions of a Prieft,yet the Judge declared,
that becaufe thefc Actions might be done by fuch as were no Prieft?,"as well as
by Pfiefts, as it appeared, becaufe Juflices of the Peace married People in
Cromwel's time , and any Man or Woman might at flame times Chriften Chil-
dren; therefore fuch common Atftions, as be declared, could not prove the
accufed Gentleman to be a Prieft for doing them, and thereupon the Judge
Freed hiiii.
Whereupon I infer, That all the Adtions the Witneffes fware they faW me
do, as wearing a Surplice,giving the Wafer, exhorting to Prayer, fhewing
Points out of the Bible, hearing others Grievances,which they of themfelves
declared to me, and the like, being thefe arc things done as well by thofe that
were no Pricfts, as by Pfiefts ; according to the Judge's own opinion, thefe
Adtions ought not to have been judged fufficientProots againft rne, no more
than fuch Adlions Were judged fufhcient againft other Gentlemen ; although I
did not alledge this to the Judge, yet it was fufficient he knew it, and might, if
he had pleafed, done with me accordingly, though he did not, but fending the
Jury out, fent me from the Bar.
I being afterward called again to the Bar, and it being declared unto me;
that the Jury had found me guilty, the Bill was read againft me ; and then I
was asked what I had to fay for myfelf, why I fhould not dye, that I might
fpeak before the Sentence of Death paft againft me. To which I anfwered, I
onlydefired to know for what I was to dye; for I have (hewed that all things
alledged againft me heretofore, were infufficient to prove me a Prieft, or rake
away my Life.
The Judge anfweredjThat the Jury had found me guilty,and that now there
was no more to be faid concerning the Proof, but that I was to be Condemned
as a Prieft.
To which I replied. That though the Jury had found me Guilty, yet I was
ftill Innocent from any guilt of Death,and with his Lordfhips permifTion I
would prove it. He asked me bow ? .J anfwered, thus; I had not been out
of EngUnd, to take any Orders from Foreign Power fince the King's Reftau-
Cation to His Crown, neither had I any opportunity to. take any Orders in
England-, therefore if I were a Prieft, I was fo before His Majefty came into
England : But whatever! had done before the King came into England-, can-
not make me now Guilty,ftppolingI had tranfgrefled the Law before becaufe
His Majefty before His Return, put out feveral Proclamations.that none (hould
ever be troubled for their Religion, or Confeience-fake; and fince His coming
into England,]At had done the fame by feveral Proclamations ; and what was
yet ftiore, not long fince, had (et forth His Declaration, that every one fhould
freely praftife his own Religion of what Sedt or Perfuafion foever, which De-
claration, if I were a Prieft, I might fafely relie on, as well as all others. To
which the Judge replied, Where had I the Seal to that Declaration ? lanfwer-
ed, I never queftioned but that a Subjed m-ight take his King's Word declared
in His Publick Proclatnation without His Seal. The Judge anfwered,However
if 1 were a Prieft,now in England, I was guilty. I replied,That fuppofing I had
formerly taken Orders before the King came to England, I could not alto-
gethef degrade ray felf, or b,e otherwife nbw, than what I was ordained therij
therefore if I were a Prieft, I cannot now be guilty for itjbecaofe all that ever
was done before the King's Reftauration, in what refpedt foever,' was all for-
given and blotted out by the King's General Pardon to all Subjedls, even to
thofe who had a hand in the death of His Royal Father, and fo the Catholicks
for their Religion were not excluded out of the General Pardon j wherefore
I told his Lordfhip I was not guilty. Where-' •
( '2)
Whereupon he told me I was guilty, and prefumed far to plead fo refolute-
ly, and with fucli confidence before him and all the Bench,
I craved his pardon for my Fault, but defircd his Lordfhip to confider, that
I was bid fpeak if I had any thing to lay for my felf, before the Serntnce of
Death paft againft me,and therefore I had reafon to plead home,iince this was
the laft time I was like to fpeak for my life in this woild , which 1 hope his
Lordlhip and the Bench would confider 5 but if notwithftandingfo many Pro-
clamations. Grants for Liberty of Confcience, and His Majefty's General Par-
don to all who had relyM on them, if all this would not fecure me,but ray be-
lieving thofe things had caufed me to err, and my Error mult caule me tolole
my Life, I had no more to fay.
So the Judge fate down, and pronounced againft me the fentence of Death,
That I Ihould be Drawn, Hanged, and Quartered, Disbowellcd, my Intrals
burnt, my Head cut off my Body to be cut in four quarters, and my quarters
to be at the King's difpofal.
Which Sentence being pronounced, I bowed, and faid aloud , Thanks be to
Gsd, God fave the King j and I befeechGod to blefs jour Lordjhip, and all this
HonoHrable Bench.
The Judge replied. You have f[)oken very w.ell, I do not intend you fliall
dye,at leaft not for the prefenr, until I know the King's further pleafure.
I was not, I thank God for it, troubled with any dilturbing' thouglits either
againft the Judge for his Sentence, nor the Jury chat gave in fuch a Verdiif,
nor againft any of the Witnefles ; For I was then pf the fame mind,as by God's
grace lever fhall be, eftecming them all the beft Friends to me in all they did
or faid that ever I had in my life, or ever ftiall have,except upon the like oc-
cafion. And I was, I thank Godjfo prelent with my felf, whil'ft the Judge pro-
flounced the Sentence to deliver me to Death, tliat without any concern for
any thing in this world, I did aftually at the fame time otFer my felf and the
world to God.
After the Judge was gone from the Bench to the other end of the Hall, I
ftayed with the Keeper in the Hall, where feveral Proteftant Gentlemen , and
others, who had heard my Trj'al, came to me, though Strangers, and told me
how forry they were for me. To whom, with thanks, I replied, that I was
troubled they fliould grieve for me, or my condition, who was joyful for it
my felf; for I told them I had profelled this Faith and Religion all my life-
time, which I was as fure to be true, as I was fure of the truth of God's
Word on which it was grounded, and therefore in it I depofed my Soul, and
Eternal Life and Happinefs j and therefore Ihould I fear to lofe my temporal
life for this Faith, whereon my Eternal life depends, I were worfe than an In-
fide!; and whofoever fhould prefer the life of their Bodies before their Faith,
their Religion, or Confcience, they were worfe than Heathens. For my own
part I told them, I was as ready" by God's grace to dye to morrow, as I had
been to receive the Sentence of Death to day, and as willingly as If I had a
Grant of the greateft Dukedom : So we fate talking half an hour, and I re-
turned to the Prifon, there to remain,as long as it pleafed God and the Kingj
whom God long preferve in alt happineft.
There was another Objedion whichT forgot to put in, until I had flnifhed
the former Writing, and it was an Objeftion which the Judge was pleafed to
put againft me himfelf, and it was that I had changed my name, and went in
ftvcral places by feveral names.
To which r anfwered, the reafon was, Becaufe in Cromveeh time,in the great
Troubles, our Family fuffered much, my Father was imprifoned,and a Fellow-
Frifoner with Sir Thomas Ajhton, both confined together, which Sir Thomas is
now one of His Majefties Admirals of the Fleet. And for my own part, I
going Beyond Sea to Travel, I changed my name; and then coming into£»^-
land again, before the King's Reftauration, I was glad to conceal my felf, and
go by feveral names,as many others of the King's Loyal Subjects did,the bet-
ter
< '3 )
ter to be able to do His Majefty the bell fervice I couldj whichj according to
ray fmall ability, I did endeavor both before and fince the King came into
EfigUnd, like a dutiful Subjed, and like the reft of our Family, who all endea-
vored to fcrve His Majefty : For I have two Brothers ferved Him, the one a
Voluntier at Sea in Sir William R6eve''s Ship, which Sir WjlUam was killed in
the laft Engagement with the Dutch ; and the other Brother had a Command
under his RoyalHighnel's the Duke of at Land: therefore I hope- the
.changing of my name on fuch an occafion asldid, could not be imputed as a
guilt upon me, nor fpeak me other than a dutiful Subjed; which I could have
made ftirther appear before the Bench, but I did not judge it convenient to
fay any more to the Judge there in public k. But before his Lordfhip went
out of FTorcefier, I prelented him with a Petition, to acquaint his Lordfhip,
that I having had the honour to kifs HisMajefties Hand,before His Reftaura-
tion, in the Lovf-Countries; as alfo I have had the honour to be one of thofe
whom His Majefty was pleafed to grace with being entertained by us,His then
belt Subjeds $ His Majefty was pleafed to make us a Gracious Promife, that
when it fhould pleafe God to reftore Him to His Crown, we fhould not live
fO'in Banifhment as then we did. Of this in my Petition I did acquaint the
Judge, and befeechedhim that he would be pleafed, by declaring this to the
King, to endeavor to obtain fome gracious Favor from His Majefty for me,my
condition now being fuch,that 1 could never have greater need to be Partaker
of His gracious Promife and Clemency.
The Judge promifed me he would make an Addrefs to His Majefty for me
in this behalf, which whether he hath done or no,I wifh fome body may put
him in mind to do it for me. I do not here mention the place where in par-
ticular, nor the other perfons to whom His Majefty made that Promife, but if
you remember, you know I did tell you, with feveral other particular cir-
cumftances, which I need not here make any further mention of.
D
I H S
(H)
THE
Laft SPEEC
O F
Mr. Francis Johnfon Pried, of the Order of St. Francis, who
was Executed (asaPRIEST onely ) at Worcejier , upon the
rzdof Jugu/i, Anno Dom-, 1679. Which he fpake, for the moft
part, upon the Ladder, immediately before his Execution,(but being
interrupted ) and that which he did fpeak, being taken by an um
skilful Scribe, was Printed by the halves, and fo imperfeff, that it
was in (ome places Nonfenfe. To corred that Abufe, this which
\\o\ddt--^;writiFrfwn%'-hh-&von Mand^ is publilli'd by a Friend.
ALmighty God, out of his infinite Goodnefs to this World, through the merits
of his Son Chrifl fefus, ordained or made choice of three Virtues voherebj
voe mufi voalk^, which are thefe, viz. Faith, Hope, and Charity. Firfir, by virtue
of Faith,xve are to believe all things that are done in this World-, Secondly,by virtue
of Hope, vee are to believe and hope for all things in another World. And the
reafon why Chrifiians do believe this Hope, is to bring and conduit them to falva-
tion in the other World. And if we hope in God, we cannot but believe God j for
with the mouth Confeffion is made, but with the heart ( and through Faith ) we
mufi believe unto falvation-, fib that Faith is not to be trodden under foot, or to be
hidunder a bujhel,but to be fet upon a candlefiicf, Luke 12. Wholbevcr doth
confefs me before men, him will I confefs before the Angels of God j And
therefore all are bound to believe that there is but one Faith-,and if but one Faith,
then but one Chrifiian Faith. There is but one Faith, one Lord, one Baptifm j if
it be fo, how can this fiand with fo many Sellaries as there arc't If there be but
one Faith, how can this be ?
I believe the Creed of St. Athanafius, ( which is in your Common-Prayer
Botk.^^ there it isfaid,Thd.f<NhQ£oe'vcr will be faved,'tis neceflary before alL
things that he hold the Gatholick Faith ; and that if he keep not that Faith
whole and undefiled, he ihall perifh everlaftingly. And as St. James faith,
fam. 2.10. He that keepeth the whole Law, and yet ofFendeth in one point,
is guilty of all; fo they that believe, mufi be all of the fame Faith. And that
this ought to be done, J appeal to all the Saints that are gone before, of whom it
is faid. That their Faith was fuch, as by It they ftopt the mouths of Lyons,
they turned the edge of the Sword , and caufed the Fire to ceafe that it
(hould not burn j fo they were op}>reffed, they wandered about in Sheeps-
'jrleathing and Goats-cloathing, Fleb. 11. Therefore I fay then mufi be an unity
of Faith.
I defire allCatholiques to confider this,That it is better to be reviled by man
now in this World, than be reviled by God in the World to come. Mat. 16. it is
The Catholique Church is built upon a Rock. And Mat. i8. He who
will not believe the Church, let him b^as a Heathen and Publican.
This Faith mufi be efiablifht fo tn every one, becaufe Chrifi faid. He WOuld
fend the Holy Ghoft, and he will ihew us ( or them ) what to do. This is the
Rule of Faith; This Faith was publijht at Rome. /And St. Paul writing to the
Chrifiians there, refoyceth that their Faith was renowt^ in the whole World. Go
ye
()
ye therefore. Baptizing all Nations in the Name of the Father, this is
the Faith I confefs and he Li eve in, and vthich I dye for.
I ceme «cu' to fpeak^^of the fecond Virtue, which ts Hope, J hope I Jloall have
fuch Reward, that neither eye hath feen, nor ear heard, nor can it enter into
the heart ot man to conceive. Toofe that have Hope, Jhall be as Aiopsnt Sion,
that Jhall not be removed ; Thofe that have firm.Hope, there''s nothing can dijlarV
them-, as Davidpit^, God is round about thofe that do hope in him, as the
Mountains are round about Hiernfalem.
I come to the third Virtpie, and that is Charity. iFs true, now this Body of
mine in this pipwrack, is fall of fin, bat when thatpipwracfi is over,!pall come
to inherit th^t Racfi that pall never jail. Now welcome pipwrac^ that makes
the Body faffer, bat brings the Soul to that Haven which is jojfal.
Now many there be that tapmach of Charity, few underjl and it, and fewer
that prabtife it. This is thegreatefi Virtue, i Cor. i J. Though ye ipeak with
tongues of Men and Angels, and have not Charity, it availeth nothing. Bo
then we ought to have Love and Charity, or elfe it prevaileth nothing.
^Tis expebled Ipould fay fomethingof the Blot, As to this, ! pail declare
two Faints of my Faith.
Firjl, I believe that all are bound to obey the Kin£s Laws.
Secondly, I do declare, Ttoat thoje that do breakjhe Law in word, or any aSt'ion,
or that do act any thing againfl His Majefities Life, that i's -a Sin unto damna-
tion, as much as h was a Sin in Judas to betray Chrifi,
An Oath is a taking God to witnefs, and is as much as if he took, his Life and
^ufiice to [lake. So that he who takes a falfe Oath, is guilty of deflroying the Life
of God and his fujiice, and of his own Da'nnation. And ij 1 were but guilty of
this, 1 do declare, Hh.tt allthe Sin of Damnation would fall upon me, btcauje /
denied the Truth, and fo Jlruck^at God by my Sin, in denying the Truth-, that's
one Damnation.
A fecond Damnation is. That if any man know of an Evil againfi His Ma-
j'ejly. His Kingdom and Nation, and to hide and not difcover it, he pall anfwer
for thofe mifchiefs that come thereby 5 fo that a man would have made and com-
mitted as many Sins, as there be men in England that had fuffered.
A third Damnation, is to dye in this Lye and with this Ferjury in his mouthy
whereby he lofes Heaven, and all its enjoyments, and dies in greater Sins than the
Devils themfelves.
Fourthly, Ipould have been guilty of my own Death -, For that Judge Atkins
offered me my Life if I would confefs what I knew of the Flat, which had J known,
and not dijcovtred, would have made me the caufe of my own Death, which would
have been a fourth Damnation.
I would have faid more, but that I cave my Speech to a Friend to be Printed.
Mr.Sberiff. I pray 5ir fpcak on vThat you have to fay, and'none fliall inter-
rupt you.
Mr. Johnfbf7» Now I have no more to do but to make my Addrefs to Almighty
God, With all the powers of my Soul, that I may have his mercy and pardon of my
'Stnsj And therefore I begthat all Catkoliques who join m union of this pme
Faith, would make an addrefs unto God for me, that we may receive pardon for
our Sins.-1 have nothing now bht wipes left.-I wip I may imitate David in his
Repentance, and that my eyes may run down with tears, becaufe I have not
kept God's Law. I wip with the Prophet Jeremiah, l hat Rivers of waters
may fall from my eyes, by reafon of fin. Lam. 3. 4^.
But Tears will not be proper for me at this time-,I nave kypt my felf from them,
iefi by pedding Tears, fame might fay I was unwilling to dye, or feared Death :
But tnjiead of Tears, I offer all the Blood in my veins,and I wip every drop were
an Ocean, and I would offer it up to God, I wip I miglot become a man tike Da-
vid. I wip I had Mary Magdalens penitential Tears j 1 wip I had her arms
to embrace the feet of mercy. I wip I had all the graces of Saints and Angels,
I would offer them ail to God for the remiffien of my fin. This is my defire, and
this I wip for as much as^ in me,
J offer
('■i)
I offer firj}- my Ljje, and I bsfeech and defire of God to turn- Lis ¥ ace from my
Sins, btit not from me. I ojfer up my Lije in fatisfatlion for my Sins, and jor the
Catholick^Catsfe. ^nd I beg for thofe that be mine Enermes in this my Death,
and I defire to have them forgiven, becanfe I go to that world of happim-js yooric-r
than IJhoald have gone. And I humbly beg Pardon from God and the itorld :
And this I beg for the merits and mercy oj feftts Chrift.
I befeech God to blefs His Adajefiy, to give Him a long Life,a nd a happy Reign
in this world, and in the world to come.
I befeech God to blejs all my Benefactors,and all my Friends,and thofe that have •
been any way under my charge.
I befeech God to blefs ail Catholicky, and this Nation, and His Afajefiies Privy
Council, and grant that they may ACl no otherwtfe than what may be far the glory
of God, who will bring to light and to judgment all both good ana evil, Luke 12.
So I befeech God that he will give thtm grace to jerve him.
I befeech God to blefs the Parliament that is now in EleCtion, that theymay de~
termine nothing, but what they themfelves do hope to be judged by at the lajl;
day.
I befeech God to blefs all that fuffer under this Ferfecution, and to turn this our
Captivity into ^oy ; that they who now fowe in tears, may reap in joy.
J bffeech God to accept the death of my Body, and to receive my Soul.
I have no more to fay.
Mr. Sheriff. I give you no interruption ; but only whereas you faid, that
you dyed for the Faith, that is notfo, you do not dye for that, but becaufe
you, being His Majefties Subjeft, received Orders from the Church of Rome
Beyond the Seas, and came again into England, contrary to the Law.
Mr. Johnfbn. That was pardoned by the Kings ACt of Grace.
Mr. Sheriff. That A€t pardoned onely Crimes committed before the ma-
king of it, but not thofe done fince, as your continuance in England was.
Mr. Johnfbn. / am forty if / have given offence tn any thing I have faid j my
reafen for it was, becaufe when I was fent for to the fudges upon Sunday night,
fudge Atkins told me, I dyed not for being concerned in the Plot, but far being a
Priefi.
Mr Sheriff. No, but for your continuance in England againft the Law (be-
ing a Prieft.)
Mr. Johnfbn. God receive my Soul.
Mr.Sheriff. Sir,You may take your own time,and you fliall have no inter-
ruptioJi; Sir, will you be pleafed to have your own time ?
faylor. Sir, pray give the Sign when you pleafe to be turned off.
Mr. Johnfbn, / will give you no Sign, do it when you will.
And fo he was Executed,
Mr. fohnfon was of an Honourable Family ( in Norfolk,) born to an Eflate of
yoo /. per Annum, ( All which he left for the fake of Religion ) his third
Brother now enjoys the Eftate.
F I N I
CO
)
Which he deliver d to his Friend to be
Printed (as he mentioa 'd ac the place of Execution.)
advertisement.
Mf- JohnfonsV Tryal.and what he (poke at his Executlon^heing fnijfjt^there
came to the Printers hands his Speech at large Qof which his joregoin^
words are only the heads) as the Reader willfee, and as Mr. Johnfon alfo
mentions, vi7» (1 wonld have [aid more, but that 1 gave my Speech to a
Friend to be Fruited^ therefore his Friend has mw faithftdly fublijhtit
accordingly, being written by Mr. Johnfon himfelf, as followeth.
O D Almighty (honoured Friends) having been pleafed of his infinite mer-
cy through th-e merits of our Saviour Jefus Chrift, to beftow on all Chri-
ftians the Theological vertues of Faith, Hope and Charity, by vertue of
Faith all are to believe whatever God hath revealed to us in this world, &
by hope all are to expeft what he hath promifed wei fhall receive in the world to come.
And becaufe, where God beftows fuch a Faith and Hope, it is in order to bring all
to a true charity and love of him ; for who can have Faith to believe an Infinite Good-
nefs, in which he hopes, but he muft love that Infinite Goodneis in whom he hopes,
which beftows on him fuch gifts ? therefore all ought to honour God, and fliew their
love to him by a due profeffion, and a due praifice of this Faith, this Hope, and this
Charity, otherwile they cannot be faved, becaufe, as Sr. faith, fVat) the heart it is ^°*
believed to rightecufnefs, but with the mouth confejfwn is made to Jalvation, Rom. lo. lo.
For thofc that will not (hew their Falth,which is a light not to be hid under a bulhel,
but to be fei in a Candleftick, to give light to all, fijch can never have neither true
Hope for themfelves, nor true Charity towards God, or their Neighbour, nor God to
them, becaufe our Saviour faith, 12. He that Confejfeth me before men, him will
the Son of man confefs before the Angels of Gcd; but he that denieth me before men (as thofe
do that aft of fwear againft their Confcicnce) him will the Son of Man deng before the
Hngels of God.
And as all are bound to confefs him,and his Faith; fo likewife all are obliged to own
and protefs that this Faith can be but one only Faith, as we are taught, Ephefi^. where ^fhtf. 4.
St. declares, "There is one Lord, one Faith, one Baptifm, one God, even as you are^T
called, faith he, in one hope of your calling. This being moft true, let every rational Chri-
ftiao, in his moft retired thoughts, confider how this Unity of Faith, and this Hope of
our Calling can ftand with fuch multiplicity ofSedlsand Opinions, all fo divers one a-
gainft the other, with which the Nation now fo abounds: For according to the Text, a
man may as well fay, there are diverfities of Gods, or diverfities of Cbrifts, as that
there are diverfities ofFaiths, becaufe Faith is nothing but the truth of oneGod,which
Truth or Faith he hath revealed, which none can »lter.
We aieall therefore bound to believe alike, in one Faith/and in one holy Cafholick
Church, as cur Creed teachethus; we are all obliged to believe in one Cathhlick •
Faith, as the Creed of St. .^thanajius in the ProtcftantCommpn-Praycr-BooJt declares,
faying, Whofoever will be faved, it is neceffarj before all things, that fe-b~etteve in the Ca~
tholick^ Faith, which Faith, unlefs every one keep whole andundefiled, he Jhitll without doubt
perijheverla[lingly: All and every one are to keep this Faithwho!e,be€aufe as it is writ,
St. jam.i.v. I o. Whofoever keeps the whole Law, and yet offends in one point, is guilty of all. fant 2
All are to keep the whole Faith, becaufe our Saviour faith, Matth. i6. ly. Go ye in-
tp the world, and preachthe Gofpel to every creature x All are to believe alike the whole
Faiih of the Gofpel, elfe they fhall perifh everlaftingly; becaufe our Saviour faith in
the ^me place, v, i6. He that believes jhall be faved^ but he that believeth not /hall be
(O
damned. We all muft keep the Unity of Faith whole and undefiled, becaufe our Sa-
r ij'iaf.5.16. faith, St. Matih. 5. 16. Heaven Mid Earth Jhall pafs^hm me jot^ or one tittU
; j' of the Law fkall tn no wife pafs, till all be fulfilled ; as Well the Law of Faith, as the Law
;■ of Works.
if' In confirmation of this, I appeal to the Faith, and Works, and Sufferings of all the
jf; Saints from the beginning, who to keep theirFaith whole and entire, have made fuch
profefTion and pradice of it, and confir'm'd it by fuch works as are recorded in St.Paul,
fifieb. I r. Hcb. ir. where lirft he regifters the Faith and Deeds of the Believers in particular, and
: then in general, of what they did and fuffered by vcrtue of their Faith, as there you
, read ; By faith they flcpt the mouths of Liens,extinguifhed the force of the fire, repelled the
f edge of the fword-, they were racked, they were tryedhy mockjngs and firipes-, they were, in
j| chains and prifions,they were fioned, they were hewed, they were tempted, they died in
the flaughter of the fword, they were fo perfecmed and impoverifhed, that they were fain
I f:: to go about in Sheep-skins, and Goat-skrns, needy, in difhrefs, affHEled, wandring in defarts,
t jj in mountains, in dens, and caves of the Earth.
fi j Dear Gatholicksnowin your prefent perfeciition, think of this, and be willing to
Iji follow thefe examples, that you, as in the fame place it followeth, being appointed,as
;j they were, by the teltimony of your Faith, may receive, ere long, thofe better things
tf which God, as Vis there writ, provides for you : Happy thole that have this Faith, but
/| thrice more happy thole that luffcr thefe perfecutions for Faiths fake, becaufe by this
jl Grf/. 3. 11. Faith, as St. EaulSzwh, Gal. 3. 11. the juft man lives, and thole that have not this
l\Heb.ii.6. faith, are dead to God, becaufe,as 'tis written,Heb. 11. 6. Without faith'tis impoffible
fj, to pleafe God-, and yet though we have this Faith, except we joyn,when God requires,
[ji our works of fufferings to this Faith, both we and our Faith are dead to God, becaufe,
i Sx..^amts Piith,chap.y.ver.iy. Faith is to be (hewed by W'orks, becaufe Faith
I Jam.i.zy .without works is dead. And he further ftiews us in his firlt chap, v. 25, 'tis the works
make a man happy, although there can be no g'ood work without a firm Faith in no-
thing dotibting, as he faith, wr. 6.
Chriftian Faith is a.firm, eftablilhed, and an infallible Faith, becaufe it is grounded
upon a Rock, againft which the gates ofHell (hall not prevail, Matth. 16. v. 18. This
Faith is firmly eftablilhed by fuch Authority of God and his Church, that he that will
not own the Authority, is as a Heathen and a Publican ; God hath declared him fo i
and what the Church binds on Earth, God binds in Heaven. This Church and Faith
Mat. 18. is firmly eftabliflit, becaufe our Saviour hath promifed. That the Holy Ghoft, the
Spirit of Truth fhould teach the Believers all Truth, remain with them for ever, (hew
Jdm 14. them things to come to be believed, and (hould caufe the Believers to remember
all things which Chrift had already taught, which you read in fohn 14. and 16. chap.
This Faith is firmly eftablilhed, becaufe it was believed and publifhed from the
beginning, throughout the \vhole wmrld, as St. Paul proclaims, Romans the firft,
where he fpeaks thus to all' that be in Rome 5 Beloved of God, called to be Saints; firfi I
tharfmy God through fiefus Chrift for you all,,that your Faith is publifhed throughout the
whole world. Finali}', this Faith is eftablilhed and infallibly confirmed, that it can
never decay till the worlds end, becaufe our Saviour hath promifed to be with the
Mat .'iS'. Believers unto the worlds end, Matth.2^. 19,20. Go ye therefore and teach all Na-
19, 20. tions, baptiz.iKg them tn the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Floly Ghoft,
teaching them to obfirve all things whatfvever L have commanded you, and behold I am
With )ou alwaies even to the end of the world. Thus much briefly concerning my Chrl-_^
llfan Faith in which I truly believe in all points infallible, and in confirmation of
which one only Faith and Catholick Church, I will and do lay down my life ; and who-
foeverwil! as he ought confider the Text that proves this Faith and Church of the
Living God, to be the pillar and ground of Truth, as 'tis evident it is, i T'im. 3. ly.
1 queftion not but who 1 fay confiders this, will believe the fame, our Faith being af^
(ifted by our fecond Divine Vertue, which is ourChriftian Hope.
This Hope is that Vertue which aflures us, that for the reward of our Faith, and
the profcflion and due praffice ofit, as we ought, there are thole heavenly gifts laid
up for the Chriftian Believers, which neither eye hath fccn, nor car hath heard, nor
t he heart of man can conceive or comprehend, as St. P.huI declares; This Hope gives
luch coniidence, that death cannot overcome ir, becaufe, as the Prophet faith, At-
though he pall kill me, yet 1 Will hope in him. Why then fliall any fear to die for his
V Faith, having this Hope? 'Tis for want ol making due reflfftion and ulc of this Hope
that caiilcs lo many to be fearful to fuffer, and makes them fly the field of pe^fecution,
anu Tcrlakc the banners cf their Chriftian Faith, that all ought to fight undeijj and
. Would
C?)
I would {llll fight under, would they make ufc of the divine hope of Gods promifes;
j which are fuch, that as^)i?wW faith, P/i/. 1^5. That he that hopes or \rufls in pur Lord,
1 foa'd he as Aiotint Sion, which cjtmot he removed, but r email} for ever, yls t,he Aioun-
tains, faith God by the mouth of David, are about Jeru!alem,,/a the Lord is round about ,
I • his people i that is,fuch as wili-place their hope in him,as the Prophet did, and exhorts
' us to do the fame, faying, Tfal. 130. 5,6. A4j Joul hath hoped in our Lord-, from the
y morning watch, even until night, let lHvic] hope in our Lord that is, from the beginning
of the day of our life, till the night of death ; as well in the morning of profperity,
as in the evening of adverfity : becaufe 'tis alfb writ, God is mj Hope for ever ; and
' whofoever can truly fay with iDaifzW, Pfal. 31. i. In thee, O Lord, have I plac'd tny
Hope, fhall be aflured of what there follows. Not to be confounded for ever, becaufe, as
|| St. Paul faith, Hope confoundeth not.
L There is a contrary Vice to this Virtue, a worldly Fear that brings all things to con-
ij fufion ; it makes Worldlings fwear, and forfwear, and perjure ; For which Perjuries,
j| and Falfe Oaths, as the Prophet ri\th,fudgment Jpriugs up asHemlock^in the Furrows of
I the Field. And therefore Dr. in his Book of just Nelghts and Adeafures,
I faith. That CoaBion of Oaths is the crying Sin of this Nation, to call down the wrath of
God upon the Kingdom.
1 What better remedy than to fecure our felves againft all worldly Fears , and thefe
j enfuingDangers, but by relying on the hope of future blefiings,which God,if we fight
j and fuffer for his fake, hath promifed. God is tht God of Hofts, and we fight under
I Iiim,and ifVe truft in him we are happy, as David faith, Pfal.8^:.^. O Lord of Hofis,
hlejfed is the man that trufts in thee, in whom to hope is to be fecured-,- and therefore Da-
vid alfb faith, Ffal. 91. Hejhall cover thee with his feathersi and ptnder his wing Jhalt
thou hope, efjaecially if we fight for our Faith j and therefore he adds in the fame
- pxrUe, His truth Jhallbe thyJhieldand buckler, iT we will hope in him and his reward;
For if we hope for our great w^ages,we fhall eafily undergo bur little work ; As for
example, if we hope to drink of the torrent of pleafure, as God hath promifed we
fhall in his Kingdom, who will fear to tafte now of the Chalice of fome. fmall Perfe-
cucion ( If we hope hereafter to be numbered amofigft the Sons of God, as he hath
promifed we fltall,and have our lot among the Saints, why fhould we now fear to be
reviled of men, or be reputed ignominious, as our Saviour and his Apoftles were ? If
they have,fo will they do you alfo ; the Scholar is not above the Mafter,nor the Ser-
vant abov-C bis Lord. If they cali'd the Mailer of the Ynrnxly BeeNebubjio will they
do his Servants ; therefore we rauft with the Apoftles rejoice, as you read in the HBs
they did, becaufe they were accounted worthy to fuffer contumely and reproaches. If con-
tumely and reproach feem fb hard for us to undergo now for a good Caufe, as is our
Confcience before a few Enemies, what contumely muft thofe undergo who for now:
afting againft theirConfcience, fhall undergo at the great judgment before God, An-
gels. Saints, Devils, and all the Damn'd in Hell? if for our reproach now we hope that
after a fhort forrow, God will honour us fo, as to wipe away with his owrv hand evyry
tear from our eyes, as he promifeth in the Revelations he wfill ; and that henceforth
there fhall be neither grief, nor labour,nor pain, or theWke-, why fhould any now grieve
either to fee himfelf or others fuTer ? It will not laft,thisTempeft will foon be^'over,
and if now in this Storm the frn all vcflel of my Body fuffer fhipwrack,or fome others
the like veffels, if our Souls can but carry off our goods of Faith, Plope and Charity,
all is very well; For as foon as the veffels of our Bodies fink, our Souls will come to
. fhore at the Laind of Promife, and we fhall be fecured in the Rock which is Chrift,3nd
ever remain fafe in the eternal Hills, where neither winds nor waves of Ferfecution
can ever reach to affauic us: then welcome fhipwrack, that finks the veffel of the
Eodv, to bring the Paffengers and their Goods fo happily to the Haven, the Heaven of
Blifs'.
Let us therefore weigh thefe things in a prudential Balance, andff^e which Scale is
the heavieft,of prefent Fears, or future Hopes ; of prefent Suffering^r fiiture GIo-
ries. Let us remember our Saviours words to bis Apoftles, You are fwfe that remain-
ed with me in my temptations or tryals ; for which, faid he, their reward was, he di-fpO-
fed the |fingdom of Heaven to them; Partners in Sufferings, Partners in Glories:
wjiich it well confidered, we fhall fay with St.. of this prefent time
are not condign^ or of equality to the future glory which foall be revealed in tu ; and we
fhall vvith his jayfui Spirit fay, 2 Car. 4 17. Our light affilBion, which is but for a mo-
ment, worketh in m a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 'Tis a happy weight
that lifts both Sufferings and Sufferers up as high as Heaven,to eternal Crowns,of which
we
|! we are all affured of as a reward for our Faith, if we will make good ufe of ourChri-
'[ ■ ftianhope; which that we may the better dojet us endeavor to help our felves by the
I' j third and greateft Virtue that follows our Faith and Hope, which is Charity,
i This is that greateft Virtue of which all forts of Chriftians fpeak much, underftand
h ^ little,and pradtifr lefs; though without the pradtice of it, 'tis in vain for any to pre-
' |1 tend to have a faving Faith, or Hope; For as St. Paul faith, i Cor. 13. Though he
With the tongues of APen and uPngels, and have net Charity, he ts but as founding brafs^
and although he ihould know all Myfteries, and have Faith to re.move Mountains ; and
though he fhouid havefuch hope, underftand for reward, he fcouldgive all to the
Poor, and deliver his body to burn, and yet not have charity, it projiteth nothing. Charity,
as he faith, ver. 7. fuffereth all things, believeth all things, hopcth 'all things, beareth all
things.
Do all that pretend to Charity do thus? If to fpeak with the tongues of Angels
without Charity be nothing but vanity, what Charity is there in thofe that fpeak with
the tongues of Detraction, Scandal, Slander, Falfe-wirnefs and Perjuries againft their
Neighbors ? If thofe that give all to the Poor may want Charity, fo that '.ill which
they give profits them nothing, what Charity is there in thofe that take all from their
Neighbors, to force them to forfake their Faith ? If Alms profit nothing without Cha-
rity,can fuch Injuries profit Perfecutors, that take all away, againft Charity ? If a man
may give his own Body to burn, and yet be cold in Charity, what Charity is there to
kill others Bodies, take away their Lives with ignominy and violence, becaufe they
will not kill their own Souls, by adiing againft God and their Conlcience? If Charity
confilts only in thofe that fufFer all things, believe all things, hope all things,what Cha-
rity is there in thofe who will make their Neighbor fuffer all things of Perfecution,be-,
caufe they believe and hope according to their Confcience, and profefs their Faith and
Hope as they are bound before God upon their falvation fo to do?
'Tis certain, that though men may pretend perfecution of others for Gods fake, to
reduce others to him, yet 'tis evident that for any Kingdom to perfecute any, meetly
for Confcience-fake, is againft the Law of God 3 a-nd therefore whil'ft they would fecm
fb zcaloufly to keep the firft Command, 0/" loving God above all, and force others to
conform to their opinions, they break the fecond Command, becaufe they do not love
their Neighbor as themjelves,htcmk they perfecute them, and fo they dafh one Com-
mandment againft the other, and fo crack both Commandments together : For where-
foevcr the fecond Command is broke,by not loving our Neighbor as one felvcs,thc firft
is broke with it, becaufe did they love God above all, they would do better by their
Neighbor.
But I do not come here to beat down others pretence to Charity, but endeavour to
advance Charity in my felf and others ; and the way to do this, is not to reckon what
others have npt done according to Charity, but to call to mind what others have done
to raile Charity towards God and their Neighbors.
We read in Holy Writ, that Mofes love was fo to God and his Neighbor that to
repurchale a Peace and Charity'twixt God aad the People after they ha!d offended,
he defired that his own name fhouid rather be blotted out of the Book of life , than
that the Peoples names fliould not be put in, by obtaining Forgivenefs ; and therefore
he faith to God, Either fpare the People, or blot tne out of the Boolgvehich thou hali
writ.
How fuperlative a Motive is this, to move Chriftians to a perfedl Charity towards
their Neighbors ; well may aChriftian be willing to lay down his temporal life for
good example fake,rather than offend Cod, and fcandalize others by deferting hisFaitbi
fince others fould be willing to hazard their eternal lives, to reduce their Neighbors
to Cod by Charity.
The like examples of love to God and his Neighbors, we have in St. Paul, in his ma-
nifold exprefliions both towards God and men; firlt to God, as Pom. 8. where he
makes this Proclamation, Jhall,fd'nb he,feparate us from theCharity of chrifl ? Shall
Tribulation, or Diflrefs,or Perfecution,or Famine,or Nakednefs, or Piril,or Sword? As
it is written, for thy faks we are kfU'd all the day long, we are accounted as fheep to the
faughter. He adds, / am certain that neither Death nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principali-
ties, nor Powers, nor things prefent nor things to come, nor heigth, nor depth, nor any other
creature Jhall be able to feparate m from the love of God which is in Chrifi '^efm our
Lord.
And for this Charity in order to bis Neighbor, let what he fuffered to ferve them
tcftifie, as he relates, 2 Cor, 11, by being in Labors and Stripes, in Prifon, in Death, in
Scourg-
1 Cor.
ly-
ScourginEfs, in Shipwracks, being day and night in the bottom of the Sea, in Perils, in 2 Cor.
Wearinefs, in Painfulneft, in Hunger, in Thirft, in Fafting, in Gold and Wearineft, be-
fides what he fuffered through his care of all Churches, ver. 28, 29. where he faith.
Who is weak^, and I am noif weak^? underftand by compaffion, as Fellow-fufferer; Who
is fcandaUz^ed, and I burn not? underftand by zeal. Let thofe now confider this, who
never more rejoyce than now, when they fee their paflive Neighbors fcandalized, and'
were never better content in their own apprehcnfions than now, when they behold us
fuffering, though before God we are innocent. Were St.P.««/on earth again,he woulcf
rather give himfelf for others, to eafc them of their fufferings, according to his wont-
ed charity expreft, a Cor. 12. ly. faying, I mil very gladly fpend and be [pent for,yon.
and he would rejoyce to fuffer in charity for his Neighbor, as he abundantly declarfes,
Colof -jL. 4. faying, I rejoyce in my fufferings for you, and fill up that which is wanting
of the paifionsor affliiflions of Chrift in my flefh for his bodies fake, which is the
Church, and this example is given for us to do the like ^ and therefore he faith, iCor.
4. 9. We are made a fpeilacle to the World, to Angels, and to men ; and^ therefore God ^
forbid but fome of us, if we be Chriftian men, mould endeavor to imitate feme of his
examples, though we cannot all j For he afcended to fb fuperlative a^degree of Cha-
rity towards his Neighbor, that he declares to the World, that he Cpuld'be a Caft-
away himfelf to fave others ; for thus he faith, Rom, 9. 3- ^ <:euld ypifd myfelf mre'
accurfed from Christ for my Brethren, - • ' f , ■°*
Chriftians do not then henceforth fo eafily ruine your Neighbors, neither in ^eir
Lives, nor Eftates,orCreditSj by Perfecutions and Scandals, the Scripture holds fdttft
no fuch Dodrine, nor gives any fuch examples, but,as you fee, the contrary
our Perfecutors will not imitate thefe examplesylet iis that are perfecuted ahd fufftr' "'
endeavor to imitate them, by choofing rather to lofe all we can call our ovvn in
World, and Life alfo, rather than to break Charity to God ahd our Neighbor'] -efthe^'
by denying or diflembling our Faith,and fcandhlizing the Church,-ot bearing falfe Wif-
nefs againlt our felves, or our Neighbors, to fave our Liv^s or Fortunes, or'^ ebrich ouf
felves by falleWitneh. ^ \ , ' ' V ^
And if we will put in pradice the Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity I have (poke
of,we ought to do it thusV what we profefs bywords, we muft confirm by deeds and
adions. Our profeflion of Catholick Faith is,this, I believe all' DivrTnie ; ReWlatibns
delivered to the Prophets and Apoftles,propiofed by the Cathpfj^' Church
General Councils, or by Her Univerfal Pradice to be believed as an Article of Catfio-
lick Faith, knowing this to be our Faith, the confirmation Of th*js knowledge, 'pr thd
pradice of this by our deeds, is, as St. teacheth, Ephtf 3, 8. To ejleem all
7y things as dirt, in refpeil of this eminent knowledge of Chrift and his Faith ; and'' there-
fore for my own part, I now being ready to leave all in the World,ind my Life in tefti-
mony of my Catholick Faith, which I profefs I defire jitid hope to manif^eft toall , I
value myftpovvledge of Ghrifts Faith, more thairi I value the univerfal World.-
And as fotmy Chriftian Hope"! profefs'to have, the confirmatioli of it, or the pra-
dical partis to be fulfilled thus, being that, we muft, as St. Peter i
Be always ready to give an acdiunti to everjtjone Msoncerning the'h'a'pt''vehich is in MS, 'IV have
already by words expreflfed it, arid by deed I ^exprefs it thbs ;- Tfaat whereas I db be-
lieve that Cod, as the Scripture faith, kills,'and brings to life again j carrieth d-own to
the depth, and bringeth back again j fp npw I do by this my prefent Execut?o!f]Whieh
iam now to undergp, willingly give my fiody to be mortified hi death forwFakb,
hoping in Cods infinite mercy he will reftoremy Body and Soul to eternar ftfej'ahd I
do willingly refign my felf to be ckrried down to my Grave, hbping by my Saviours.
Crofs andPaffion, Death and Burial, he will raife me Upagain to'a gidrioas Rfeiuf-
retftion. ■ ^ d\vr;
And as for the confirmation of my Charity, to fliew by deeds, the fove I oweto-God
and my Neighbor,it hath pleafcd my Saviour by his own w'pfds to declare which is the
beft proof or praftice of Charity, where he faith, JSTo man hath a greater (pharity^.than
he that lays down his life for his Friend. I therefore dd willingly undergo- this death
Jamtofuffernow, totettifiellove my Friend, my Neighbor as niy felf • whil'ft I un-
dergo this death for my felf and them, that feeing it is for the profefFion of my Faith
I dye, they, whil'ft they live,mdy the more happily ferve God in the fame belief; and
I teffifie J love Cod above all, becaufe Ifbrfake the World aridmy felf in deatb,ratber
than olFend him by doing any thing againft my Confcience;
And torafmuch as for theib many years I have had occafion by difcourfing and read-
ing the Holy Scriptures with others who defircd to find out the true Faith^ I have by
2 words
iPe^.3.11
words declared what Faith I did belieire'j and what Faith they ought to believej I now
declare that for every Point of Faith that ever I believ'd my felf, or read toothers, or
told them that they might believe as a Point of Faith ; for all and every fuch Points
of Faith, in confirmation of them, as well to my felf as others, I here lay down my
Life J and omitting all other particular Points, ! believe Obedience to our King to be
a Divine Law, and that we are bound to obey His Commands in Temporal Laws j and
I believe it too a fin of Damnation, for any Subjeft of His to Rebel againft Him,or His
Kingdom ; and I believe it as certain a fin to Damnation, for any Subjeft to endeavor;
either by thoughts, words or deeds, to take away His Life^ or aft any thing of that
nature, either by himlelf, or any others, or other againft His Sacred Majefty, as Ibe-
lieve it was a fin in ludas to Damnation to betray Chrift. And I dp declare upon my
lalvation that I never did, nor do know any Catholick, that ever was of is the leaft
guilty, either by thought, word or deed, by any Plot or othcrwire,to h^ve any defign
or concurrence to kill His Sacred Majefty, or rebel againft His Kingdom, whom God
long preferve with his Subjefts in all happinefs in this World, and crown Him in the
World to come with eternal glory.
, A ■ . . }
And now it remains, that with all the powers and forces of my Soul, I make my ad-'
dreft to God for mercy ere I appear before him for Judgment; and you, dear Friends,
here prefent, who believe in one Holy Catholick Church, and Communion of Saints,
be pleafed in charity to make the fame addrefs to God with me, and for me, that we
may obtain true forrow and repentance for all our fins, aijd a merciful forgivenefs ; and
firft let us wlfli fron^ the bottom of our hearts, that we could exprefl and make good
' our forrow, as David did, Tfal. 119. WhiPfi rivers ef waters run down our eyes like his,
hcattfe we have not kfpt according to our faith Gods commands; for which had we that
Fountain of tears which the Prophet wifhed for, we ought fpend it all ; we ought
with peraw/, Lam. 3.48,49. to weep till our eyes, as his, failed, and as his eye with
tears afilifted,as he faith his heart, fo ought ours to do, becaufe we have made fo ill
ufe of that Faith, Hope and Charity, which God hath beftowed upon us.
1 But forafmuch as Tears riovVat this prtfent, and in tbefe circumftances of raflfceri-
faring times. Tears; I fay^ from me, might feem t-bfome, either the ofF-fpring of Fear
to dye, which God forbid I fhould have in fo good a Caufe^is my Religion ; or left
others might judge my Tears might fall by teafon of feme other guilt, of which I am
free and innocent, I have endeavoured to ftop the courfe of Tears,and inftead of drops,
of waters from myeyw, Tit fpend the drops of blood from every forrowful vein of
jny heart, and my whole body, that God may pleafe to wafh away the fins of all my
life paft, and I wifh each drop an Ocean for my fdf land all the World, becaufe I have
nothing now left more than wifties, which I befeech thee,0 gracious God, of thy mer-
cy to accept of; and if you will vouchfafe to accept of wifties to fu'pply the deeds,
by wifhes I offer up all that's good to you, that ever you gave to any fince the Worlds
Creation j I offer up David's broken heart, together with my own, that fo like him,
after my repentance, I may become a man according to your own heart. I offet up
the fighs of Magdalen, and wifh I could make fuch ufe of them as fhe did, *0 fob out
my fins, I wifh her repentant Arms, that I may lay &ft hold at the Feet of thee my
gracious God.
I wUh 1 had the longanimity of all the Holy ConfefforS.
LwiihT had the fufferings of all thy conftant Martyrs.' ,
1 wifh I had the lamps of all thy facred Virgins, that I might offer all to thee that
in them was pleafant in thy fight. ,
I wifh I could offer up to thee, O God, the Sacrifices of juft Akel, Lot, lob, and alk
other Sacrifices that ever did gratefully afcend up in thy fight; that thou being pleafed
by the fight of them, thou mightft look no more upon my fins: For if thou wilt ob'^
ferve iniquities,* who fhall| endure? let therefore thy mercy hide thy face from
my fins, but let not the rigor of thy juftice caft me away from thy prefence; caftme
not away from thy Face, and thy holy Spirit take not from me, but turn away thy ,
Face from fin, and blot out all my iniquities, and I will offer my Body as a Sacrifice tb
thee by death to appeafe thy juft anger.
I own my fins, and I own your mercies. You gave me Faith to know and believe
what was the Will of you my heavenly Maftcr, but I acknowledge my fault, that ab
though I knew your Will, I did not fulfill it, and therefore I ought to be beaten with
many ftripes, becaufe you foretold me, that many are the ftripes of a finner 5 but be
pleafed,'
.7
p^eafed, dear Lord, alfo to temember, that in the fame place yon promifed, that not-
\ withftanding this, yet mercy fhould encompafs him that hopes j you have given your
Divine Hope, vouchfafe to let this Hope defend me; and although I know I have not
wiade good ufe of Hope, and Hope not well us'd, of which 1 am gui]tv,makes a Sinner
defer Repentance, and fo puts in danger to fall into Prefumption by long negleft, yet
the laft hour of calling being not yet paft, and your mercy being above all your
works, I hope and humbly beg to be Partaker with thofc who were accepted at the
laft hour.
I humbly acknowledge with thanks, O gracioofe God, that yo^i gave the Charity as
your Livery, in which I always ought to have appeared ihybiir -fight,and tiever to have
been diverted of it; but how oft have I been lulled, thrOiigh my own i&Wr, of this
garment ? how oft have I, by defcending to fericho, inftead of going up tiV ^erufnlem^?
how oft, I fay, have I been rob'd of this garment of Charity.? even as often as I have
preferred any fiiblunary objeft, and the love of that before the love of you, and be-
fore your goodnefs, which is above all goodnefs, and the objcdl of all Beatitude.
Vouchfafe again, O gracious Lord, toreftorein mercy to me this Nuptial Veftmenr,
ere I dare appear at the Supper of the Lamb. Mike me, O heavenly Father,a peni-
tential Prodigal, and then 1 fhall have put on me again this beft Robe of Charity.
This I beg from the bottom of my Soul for his dear fake, who was devefted of his
garments out of Charity, that 1 might be inverted in his Charity, who alfo fuffered his
garments to be divided, that he might purchafe grace, that we might never be divided
from the unity of his Faith and Church, but rather willingly lulfer for his fake the
feparation of our lives from our bodies, the feparation of our bodies from our fouls,
and the feparation of our bodies into its quarters, that we may the more perfedly by
thefc fufferings and feparations from our felvcs be united to him.
Therefore in the faithful connlmuhion and perfefl: union of the fufferings of all Saints
that wer have been, or now are, or ever will be,in the union of the moft facred meri ts
of the life, paffions and death of God and man,my dear Redeemer and Saviour Chrift,
I offer fny felf willingly to what I am now to fuffer, begging by all that's good in Hea-
irenand in Earth,remifTions of fins for my felf and alj the wprld,particular!y for ajl
may appear to have been my Enemies in the concern of my Life, as Witnefs, Jury',
Judge, and others, whom I do not efteem as.Enemies, but as the beft of Friends ; I
heartily forgive them, and beg the beft of Bleffings for them all, as being the caufe of
fending m'e fooner than otherwife I might have gone, to the happy Itate of Hope for
the other World. Whither, before I go. T humbly beg pardon of all in this World,
for whatever in thoughts, words or deeds I have committed to offend thena,or omitted
to do for them, by which any thing might have been mended in them, or my felf, I
befeech God to blefs them aill.
I befeech God to blefs alfo all Fflends^TpIfitaaV and temporal; all Benefadtors i
and all by whom I have receivefPgood of dvil;'by Words, deeds or defires.
I befeech God to blefs all thofe of whom I ever had care or charge fpiritually or
temporally.
I befeech God blefs his Holy CatJioIick Church, and our chief Bifhop thereof, with
all other Bifhops, Priefts and Clergy.
I befeech God blefs this Nation,and unite all amongft themfelves and to God,in true
Ealth^ Hopc,and .Charity, '
I befeech God to blefs HisMajefties Privy Council,and make all the feerets of their
hearts and their defires fuch, as that both Charles orr King on earth,and God our great
King in Heaven and Earth, maybe ferv'd, pleas'd and honour'd by them, that men and
Angels may rejoyce at it now, and be publick witnefs of it at the laft great day, at
the great and laft Council Table, where every fecret Jhall be laid o;?e»,Luke 12. as Solo-
inon IkithyEcdef, tilt, Vfhen God will bring into judgment every fecret thing, whether it be
geodore'Jil,
I befeech
I befeech God to blefs the Parliament now Eleft, and be fo prcfent with them whitfn
they fit to judge and difcufstheCauftsof this Nation.they may imitate theAffembly
of thofe that are to fit upon the Twelve Thrones at the laft great Afiembly, that they
may now judge or determinate of things no otherwife than they hope or fear then to
be judged themfclves, and determined of to all eternity.
I beftech God to bleft all that fufFer in this Perftcution, and let thebleffing expreft
in the 126th'light upon them Ipeedily, that God turning their Captivity, all
mouths may be filled with joys,and tongues with fingings. Convert, O Lord,our Cap-
tivity,as ftreams in the South, that thofe who now fowe in tears, may reap in joy i
andibr this temporal death, O bleffed Trinity, give me eternal life; let my Body dye
to the World for the love of thee, that my Soul may live for ever, ajnd love in thee
my God and deaf Redeemer Sweet Jefus ^men.
r . , .
# -M
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