The true confession of Margret Clark, who consented to the burning of her masters Mr. Peter Delanoy's house in Southwark delivered in prison to many witnesses a little before her death, and confirmed by her self at the place of execution, by answering all the questions then put to her by the reverend and worthy divine, Dr. Martin ...

The True CONFESSION OF MARGARET CLARK, WHO Consented to the Burning of her Masters House in SOƲTHWARK, &c.

I Margret Clark being shortly to suffer Death for that which I have deserved, and am much humbled for, and desire to lye low before God under the sense of my own Guilt, do give the World an Account of the truth of my Case, for I would not be guilty of a Lye now I am to appear before my Judge within a few minutes. Therefore I do say, aud shall declare the Truth of the matter, as I shall answer it before my Lord and Judge.

Upon the 26th of January, John Satterthwait came to me as I was going out of my Masters Gate, and did desire me to tell him whether my Master and Mistriss were at home? And I answered him, no; and he told me that he hoped he should have an opportunity to speak with me, for he had something to say. And I answered him, if he had

any thing to say, I should be so civil to give him the hear∣ing when I had time (for then I was in haste). Then he came on the next day with the same Request, and I re∣turned the same Answer. Then the Third time, being Wednesday, he came again, and used great Importunity, and expressed some kindnesses, as if he had been a Suitor, and prevailed with me to go into the Burrough with him to an Alehouse, where were two Men more of his com∣pany; and after some little time of discourse, he pro∣pounded to me this wicked and horrid Design which I was to have been ingaged in with them, that is, to let them into my Masters House to set it on Fire; and for a Reward, they promised me Two thousand pounds, which Sum I was to receive at the Fleece-Tavern in Holborn, inquiring for a Room in the said Tavern, called the Figure Nine. Then coming out of the Alehouse, they would fain have had me away with them, saying, Come let us take Coach, and go into Fleetstreet; for, said they, there we have a Priest of ours, who Lodges at a Grocers, that shall Confess you, and give you the Sacrament; I told him I could not possibly go then. So this John Satterthwait went homewards with me almost to my Masters Gate; and as we went along, he charged me that I should not divulge it to any person in the world living; for if I did, I should cer∣tainly dye for it (and that quickly) in this world, and be damn'd in the other.

Then he came on the next day, and gave me the same charge to keep it secret: And then on Saturday he came and inquired of me the best time that he might come to do this most horrid and devilish Action▪ saying, Would not four or five of the Clock be a good time? and I said, Yes: Accordingly he came, and conveyed himself into the Dye∣house, or thereabouts, while Nine or Ten of the Clock that evening; about which time the Fire was discovered;

whereupon with the fear and dread he had put upon me▪ I did deny it to the company that came in to quench it; but after that, he was there, whom I saw amongst the rest of the company; but I had much horrour upon my Conscience; and after some short time I confest the whole Crime for which I now dye: And my Examination before Justice Reading, and Justice Freeman was all true. And this I affirm, and do desire all Protestants to believe, that John Satterth∣wait kindled those three Fires in my Masters House. First in the Dye-house by the Pump; secondly in the Buttery; and thirdly in the Garret, which last Fire he kindled whilest the People were putting out the other; And I do declare in the words of a dying Maid, that I was under great trouble of Conscience, and was many times about discovering it, but could not; Satans Temptations, and the wickedness of my own heart did so much prevail with me; Oh that covetous design of gaining the Moneys, was that which I desire all who read these Lines which I have writ to beware of; I saw him among the People in the House very busie, and I made signs at him, to discover him; but the people being in a great hurry, did not mind the things I then said to them.

I do also think in my conscience, that if my Master had examined me, I should have declared the whole matter, for I gave out often suspicious words of my fear of Fire; and on the Friday before this happened, I went out to a friends house, and there I was so afflicted and troubled in my mind, that they took notice of it; and one that went with me thither was importunate with me to know the reason of my trouble; but the Devil had so subtilly ingag'd my wicked heart, that I could not tell him. But to pass by my Conviction and Imprisonment, which you have all heard of, and to come to this one thing which fell out in the time of my Confinement in Prison (which I bless God for, rather

than that my most Loving and Honoured Master, with I know not how many others, should have suffered by my wicked compliance with that Man) that which I speak of is this: When I had been about three weeks in Prison, I was then walking in the Yard, having that liberty granted me by the Jaylor, there John Satterthwait look'd out of a Window, and said to me, Are you there? I wish I could come to you, I would spoil your telling of Tales; but I gave him no answer; neither do I desire his hurt or death, but beg of God while I am here in this world, Repentance for him; and oh that God would give him a sense of these his great Sins, both in tempting me, and his designing the ruine of many Thousands of Families; I can say before the Lord, I desire not his Death; it would have been but a poor relief for me to have had him dyed with me: But this I must and will declare before I go hence, and am no more seen, That John Satterthwait, though he was clear'd by the Jury, was Guilty, as I said before, that is, of making those three Fires, and I only did consent, and let him in. Now I would not have you to think that I have written this to lessen or excuse my own fault; I deserve Death, nay a worser Death for consenting to so horrid a wicked∣ness, even eternal Death. But now I hope, that through the Merits of Jesus Christ alone, not trusting to my own Works or Pardons from Men (as I fear the Papists do de∣pend upon) to be saved from Eternal Fire; and that I shall be justified freely by his Grace, through the Redemption which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Whereas there is a Report that is gone commonly about▪ that I had stol'n many of my Masters things, as Plate, &c. I think it fit now I am to dye, to give the World an Ac∣count of what I then took; the things which I had then put into my Box, was a little Tape, Lace, and other frivo∣lous things, which now makes me wonder why I then put

them up; for I might have put up Jewels and Plate, which was under my Charge to the value of some Hundreds of pounds; but as to the carrying out of a Box which I was met with, it is a most false report, for I was so full of hor∣ror and trouble of Conscience, that I did not then think of my Box. And now I desire all that read these Lines, would consider, and have a great care how they break the Lords Day; for my neglecting thereof, was the first step to my downfall; and I desire this downfall of mine may be a warning to all young Men and Maids; Oh! let them be content with the places that God by his Providence places them in, and not covet after great things (as I have done) and so err from the Rule; and have a care of Pride and a worldly mind; for this I say, Pride and Sabbath-break∣ing hath been my downfall; and I earnestly beg of you for the Lords sake, and for your Souls sake, to let these Lines, and my bad Example be a warning to you. Alas, I did once enjoy the means of Grace, and have lived in good Families; yea, he against whom I committed this great of∣fence, is a very Worthy good Man; Oh! I did once fre∣quent the Worship of God, and took delight in it, and thought I understood something of the Excellency of Christ, and the worth of my own Soul; but a little be∣fore I fell into this Sin, I neglected the Worship of God; and those precious hours upon the Lords day which for∣merly I had spent well. And thus I have fallen foully, and have offended God and Man; and my horrible Sin hath made me a publick spectacle to the world. I pray all whom I have offended in it, for Gods sake to forgive me; and I forgive all men that have offended me, especially I desire to forgive this John Sattarthwait, that hath brought me to this untimely and shameful Death, which, I hope, is brought upon me for my good; for surely I have obtained Mercy, and am joyful to think of my going hence; I long to be

dissolv'd, and to be with Christ; even so come Lord Jesus, and receive me an unworthy Soul.

MARGRET CLARK.