The last words of Coll. Richard Rumbold, Mad. Alicia Lisle, Alderman Henry Cornish, and Mr.Richard Nelthrop who were executed in England and Scotland for high treason in the year 1685.

THE LAST WORDS OF

• Coll. RICHARD RƲMBOLD,
• Mad. ALICIA LISLE,
• Alderman HENRY CORNISH,
• AND Mr. RICHARD NELTHROP:

Who were EXECUTED in England and Scotland for High Treason in the Year 1685.

The Last Speech of Coll. Richard Rumbold, with several Things that passed at his Tryal, 26 June, 1685.

ABout 11 of the Clock he was brought from the Castle of Edenburgh, to the Justices Court, in a Great Chair, on Men's Sholders; where at first he was asked some Questions, most of which he answered with Silence; at last said,

He humbly conceived, it was not necessary for him to add to his own Accusation, since he was not ignorant they had enough al∣ready to do his Business; and therefore he did not design to fret his Conscience at that time with Answering Questions.

After which, his Libel being read, the Court pro∣ceeded in usual manner; first asking him, If he had any thing to say for himself before the Jury closed? His answer was,

He owned it all, saving that part, of having Designed the King's Death; and desired all present, to believe the words of a Dying Man; he never directly nor indirectly intended such a Villany; that he abhorred the very thoughts of it; and that he blessed God, he had that Reputation in the World, that he knew none that had the Impudence to ask him the Question; and he detested the thoughts of such an Action; and he hoped all good People would believe him, which was the only way he had to clear himself; and he was sure, that this Truth should be one day made manifest to all men.

He was again asked, If he had any Ex∣ceptions

against the Jury? He answered,

No; but wished them to do as God and the•…•… Consciences directed them.

Then they withdrew, and returned their Verdict in half an hour, and brought him in Guilty. The Sentence followed, For him to be taken from that Place to the next Room, and from thence to be Drawn on a Hurdle, betwixt Two and Four of the Clock, to the Cross of Edenburgh, the Place of Execution, and there to be Hang'd, Drawn and Quartered. He received his Sentence with an Undaunted Courage and Chearfulness. Afterwards he was delivered into the Town-Magistrates Hands; they brought to him two of their Divines, and offered him their Assistance upon the Scaf∣fold; which he altogether refused, telling them:

That if they had any good Wishes for him, he desired they would spend them in their own Closets, and leave him now to seek God in his own Way.

He had several Offers of the same kind by others, which he put off in like manner. He was most serious and fervent in Prayer the few hours he lived (as the Senturies observed, who were present all the while.) The Hour being come, he was brought to the Place of Execution, where he Saluted the People on all sides of the Scaffold, and after having refreshed himself with a Cordial out of his Pocket, he was supported by two men while he spoke to the People in these words:

Gentlemen and Brethren, It is for all men that come into the World once to Dye, and after Death to Judgment; and since Death is a Debt that all of us must pay, it is but a matter of small moment, what way it be done; and seeing the Lord is pleased in this manner to take me to himself, I confess, something hard to Flesh and Blood, yet, blessed be his Name, who hath made me not only Willing, but Thankful for his Honouring me to lay down the Life he gave, for his Name; in which, were every Hair in this Head and Beard of mine a Life, I should joyfully sacrifice them for it, as I do this: And Providence having brought me hither, I think it most necessary to clear my self of some Aspersions laid on my Name; and first, That I should have had so Horrid an Intention of Destroying the King and his Brother.

[Here he repeated what he had said before to the Justices on this Subject.]

'It was also laid to my Charge, That I was Antimonarchial.

It was ever my Thoughts, That Kingly Government was the best of all, Justly Executed: I mean, such as by our Ancient Laws▪ that is, a King and a Legal Free-chosen Parliament. The King having, as I conceive, Power enough to make him Great, the People also as much Property at to make them Happy; they being as it were contracted to one another: And who will deny me, that this was not the Just Constituted Government of our Nations? How absurd is it then for Men of Sence to maintain, That tho' the one Party of this Contract breaketh all Conditions, the other should be obliged to perform their Part? No; this Error is contrary to the Law of God, the Law of Nations, and the Law of Reason. But as Pride hath been the Bait the Devil hath catched most by, ever since the Creation, so it continues to this day with us. Pride caused our first Parents to fall from the Blessed Estate wherein they were created; they aiming to be Higher and Wiser than God allowed, which brought an Everlasting Curse on them and their Posterity. It was Pride caused God to Drown the Old World. And it was Nimrod's Pride in Building Babel, that caused that heavy Curse of Division of Tongues to be spread amongst us, as it is at this day. One of the greatest Afflictions the Church of God groaneth under, That there should be so many Divisions during their Pilgrimage here; but this is their Comfort, that the day draweth near, whereas there is but One Shepherd, there shall be but One Sheepsold. It was therefore in the Defence of this Party, in their Just Rights and Liberties,

against Popery and Slavery—

[At which words they Beat the Drums; to which he said:]

They need not Trouble themselves; for he should say no more of his Mind on that

Subject, since they were so disingenious, as to Interrupt a Dying Man, only to assure the People, He adhered to the True Protestant Religion, detesting the Erroneous Opi∣nions of many that called themselves so; and I Dye this day in the Defence of the Ancient Laws and Liberties of these Nations: And though God, for Reasons best known to himself, hath not seen it fit to Honour Us, as to make Us the Instruments for the Deliverance of his people; yet as I have Lived, so I Dye in the Faith, that He will speedily Arise for the Deliverance of his Church and People. And I desire all of you to prepare for this with speed. I may say, This is a Deluded Generati∣on, vail'd with Ignorance, that though Popery and Slavery be riding in upon them, do not perceive it; tho' I am sure there was no man born marked of God above another; for none comes into the World with a Saddle on his Back, neither any Booted and Spurred to Ride him; not but that I am well satisfied, that God hath wisely ordered different stations for men in the World, as I have already said; Kings having as much Power as to make them Great, and the People as much Property as to make them Happy. And to Conclude; I shall only add my Wishes for the Salvation of all men, who were created for that end.

After ending these words, he prayed most fervently near three quarters of an hour, freely forgiving all men, even his greatest Enemies, begging most earnestly for the De∣liverance of Sion from all her Persecutors, p••rticularly praying for London, Edenburgh and Dublin, from which the Streams run that Rule God's People in these three Nations.

Being asked some hours before his Execution, If he thought not his Sentence Dreadful? He answered, He wished he had a Limb for every Town in Christendom.

Madam Lisle's Last Speech.

Gentlemen, Friends & Neighbours;

IT may be expected, that I should say something at my Death, my Birth and Educa∣tion being near this place. My Parents instructed me in the Fear of God; and I now Dye of the Reformed Religion; alwayes being instructed in that Belief, that if Popery should return into this Nation, it would be a Great Judgment. I Dye in expectation of Pardon of my Sins, and Acceptation with the Father, by the Imputed Righteousness of Jesus Christ; He being the End of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth. I thank God through Christ Jesus, I depart under the Blood of Sprink∣ling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel; God having made this Chastizement an Ordinance to my Soul. I did as little expect to come to this place upon this Occasi∣on, as any person in this Nation; therefore let all learn not to be High minded, but Fear. The Lord is a Sovereign, and will take what way he seeth best to Glorifie him∣self by his poor Creatures; therefore I humbly desire to submit to his Will; praying of him, That in Patience I may possess my Soul-

The Crime was, my Entertaining a Non-Conformist Minister, which is since sworn to have been in the Duke of Monmouth's Army. I am told, if I had not Denyed them, it would not have affected me: I have no Excuse, but Surprize and Fear; which I believe my Jury must make use of to Excuse their Verdict to the World. I have been told, That the Court ought to be Council for the Prisoner: Instead of Advice, there was E∣vidence given from thence, which (though it was but Hear-say) might possibly affect my Jury. My Defence was such, as might be expected from a Weak Woman; but such as it was, I never heard it repeated again to the Jury.

But I forgive all persons that have Wronged me; and I desire that God will do so likewise. I for give Coll. Penraddock, although he told me, He could have taken those Men before they came to my House.

As to what may be expected for my Conviction, That I gave it under my hand, that I discourst with Nelibrop; that could be no Evidence to the Court or Jury, it being af∣ter my Conviction and Sentence.

I acknowledge his Majesty's Favour in Revoking my Sentence; and I pray God he may long Reign in Mercy as well as Justice, and that he may Reign in Peace, and that the True Religion may Flourish under him.

Two things I have omitted to say, which is, That I forgive him that desired to be taken from the Grand Iury, and put upon the Petty Iury, that he might be the more∣nearly Concerned in my Death. And return Humble Thanks to God, and the Reve∣rend Clergy, that Affisted me in my Imprisonment.

Alicia Lisle.

Sept. 85.

Alderman Cornish's Expressions in the Press Yard, just before he went out of Newgate, 23 Octob. 1685.

HE seeing the Halter in the Officers hand, said, 'Is this for me? The Officer replyed, Yes. He said, Blessed be God, and Kissed it. And afterwards he said,

Blessed be God for Newgate; I have enjoyed God ever since I came within these Walls; and blessed be God that hath made me fit to Dye. I am now going to that God which will not be mockt, to that God that cannot be imposed upon, to that God that knows the Innocency of his poor Creature.

A little after he said,

Never did any poor Creature come to God with greater Con∣sidence in his Mercy, and Assurance of Acceptance with Him, through Jesus Christ, than I do; but it is through Jesus Christ; for there is no other Way of coming to God, and finding Acceptance with him, but through Christ: There is no other▪ Name under Heaven, whereby we can be saved, but by the Name of Iesus.

Then speaking to the Officers, he said;

Labour to be fit to Dye; for I tell you, you are not fit to Dye: I was not fit to Dye my self, till I came in hither; but, O! blessed be God, he hath made me fit to Dye, and made me willing to Dye in a few Moments: I shall have the Fruition of Jesus, and that not for a Day, but Forever; I am going to the Kingdom of God, where I shall enjoy the Presence of God the Father, of God the Son, and of God the Holy Spirit, and of all the Holy Angels; I am going to the General Assembly of the First Born, and the Spirits of Just Men made perfect: O! that ever God should do so much for me.

Then the Officer going to Tye his Hands, he said,

What! must I be Tyed then Well a Brown Thread will serve the turn; you need not Tye me at all; for I shall not stir from you; for, I thank God, I am not afraid to Dye.

As he was going out, he said,

Farewel Newgate; Farewel all my Fellow-Priso∣ners here; the Lord Comsorr you, and be with you all,

Mr. Nelthrop's Letter to his Relations from the Palace of NEWGATE, 30 Octob. 1685. the Dawning of the Morning.

Dearest Parents, and Ever-loving Brothers, and Tender-hearted and Beloved Sisters:

THrough the infinite Goodness of God, the nearer I approach my End, the more Joy and Comfort I find in my Suffering Estate (if I may so call it) I can through Mercy say, That I have found more true Delight and Comfort this Night, than in all the Dayes and Nights of my whole Life? and I hope the Lord will continue it, that his Name may be Glorified by me the meanest and poorest of all his Servants; and I hope (through Free Grace) he will keep me Faithful to the end. My Soul is so ravished that I can hardly write; and my Joyes are more unspeakable, than ever my Fears were.

I did this Night see my dearest Brother and Companion Capt. Alovff, and his Face to me was as the Face of an Angel; and he gave me that Comfort, that I cannot but say, that my Love to him is beyond what-ever I had to the dearest Relation.

When God blows, every thing hath a Beauty and Lustre upon it; here is an Answer of Prayer, and such an Answer as (dearest Relations) must ingage you all to be con∣stant in the performance of that Duty, which, like Iacob's Ladder, though it flands upon the Earth, yet reacheth up to Heaven. Here is the Love of God made manifest to a poor Sinner at the Last Hour, like the Thief upon the Cross, he that never knew before what the Love of God was to his Soul, I find it now filled with it, and running over. Now bless the Lord, O my Soul! yea, all that is within me bless his Holy Name for this Dispensation. Now Light appears out of Darkness in the Face of Jesus Christ; and all Worldly Joy and Comforts seem to be as they are, not hard to be parted with; Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers, Wife, Children, Houses and Lands, are (as my dearest Saviour saith) to be parted with for him, or we are not worthy of him: I bless his Name, I find no Reluctancy to do it, he having brought me to his Footstool; and I can heartily say, The Will of the Lord be done in this matter. I ever before now saw a Beauty in Worldly Comforts, but now they seem so small, by rhe great Beauty and Lustre I see in God in Christ Jesus, that I am Astonish∣ed to think how I have been wandering all my dayes, and spending my Time and my Money for that which is not Bread.

O! strive to get a Taste of this Love of God in Christ Jesus, and it will perfectly wean you from this Deceitful and Foolish World. What are Worldly Honours and Riches? O! set not your Hearts upon them, but get a Treasure in Heaven, that your Hearts may be there also. O! lose no time; for if once you knew the Sweetness of it you would never be at rest till you found him whom yout Soul loveth: It will be more, yea, infinitely more than all Worldly Enjoyments can afford you, though in their greatest, perfection: It will make your Life Sweet, and your Death most Comfortable. It is that Bread which the World knoweth nothing of, and therefore makes little or no in∣quiry after it.

Dearest Relations, whilst you and my other dear Friends, are like Aaron and Hur, holding up the Hands of Moses, I am (through Grace) getting Victory over the Ama, lakites. I can imbrace my dear Companion with more Joy in this Field of Sufferings, than ever I could have done, had I met him Crowned with the Lawrels of Victory. O! the Mercy to Dye with such a Friend, and such a Valient Soldier of Jesus Christ, who hath kept his Garments clean. And I now begin to pity them that must stay be∣hind, who have many Temptations to encounter with. It is but a little, yea, a very ljttle while, and my Warfare will be accomplished; and if God continue his Love and Influence upon my Soul, it will be both short and sweet.

I have little of this World about me; I leave you all the Legacy of what was ever dear to me, the Best of Wives, and Five Poor Children, who must pass through an Evil and Sinful World, but I have committed them to God, who hath commanded as, To cast our Widows and Fatherless Children upon him.

Dearest Parents, dear Brothers and Sisters, All Adieu; my Time draws on; my Paper is finished; and your Dying Child and Brother recommends you all to Him who is All-sufficient, to that God of Peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Ie••••s Christ, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the Blood of the Everlasting 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make you Perfect in every Good Work, to do his Will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his Sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be Glory forever and ever, Amen.

R. N.

Mr. Richard Nelthrop's Last Speech.

THe Great and Unexpressible Trouble and Distraction I have lain under, since I came into my Troubles, especially since my last Confinement in Newgate, have so broken my Reason, that for many Weeks last past, till the Day in which my Sentence was passed, I have not had any Composure of Mind; and have been under the greatest Trouble imaginable, since my dearest Wife had the Favour granted her of coming to me; but I am at present under great Composedness of Mind, through the infinite Goodness of the Lord.

As to that I stand Out-lawed for, and now Sentenced to Dye; I can with Comfort appeal to the Great God, before whose Tribunal I am to appear, That what I did was in Sincerity of my Heart, without seeking any private Advantage for my self; but thinking it my Duty to hazard my self for the Preservation of the Protestant. Religion and English Liberties, which I thought highly invaded, and both in great Danger of be∣ing Lost.

As to the Design of Assassinating the late King, or Murdering of him, or his pre∣sent Majesty, 'twas alwayes a Thing highly Against my Judgment, and which I always detested, and was never in the least concerned with it, neither in Purse nor Person, nor never knew of any Arms bought for that intent, nor did I believe there was such a Design, nor never heard any Disappointment of such an Affair, or Arms, or Time, or Place, save what after the Discovery of the general Design Mr. West spoke of, as

to Arms bought by him; 'twas at Newmarket, and the first News I heard of the Fire, was at Beverly in Yorkshire.

As to my coming over with the late Duke of Monmouth, it was in prosecution of the same Ends; but the Lord, in his Holy and Wise Providence, hath been pleased to blast all our Undertakings, though there seemed to be a very Unanimous & Zealous Spirit in all those that came from beyond the Seas.

And as to the Duke of Monmouth's being declared King, I was wholely passive in it, I never being present at any publick Debate of that Affair, and should never have ad∣vised it, but Complained of it to Collonel Homes and Captain Patchell; I believe the Lord Gray and Mr. Ferguson the chief Promoters of that.

As to the Temptation of being an Evidence, and bringing others into Trouble or Danger, tho' the meanest person, I alwayes abhorred, and detested the Thoughts of it both when I was in and out of Danger of Life, and advised some very strongly against it, except when under my Distraction in Prison, that amongst other Tempta∣tions did then violently assault me; but through the Goodness of my dearest God and Father, I was preserved from it, and indeed, was wholely incable of doing it for want of True Reason; and could never receive the least shadow of Comfort from it, but thought Death more elegible; I was sometimes, during my Distracted and Disquieted Condition, free from it, though notwithout other Temptations far more Criminal in the sight of men: And I bless the Father of all Mercies, and God of all Consolati∣ons, that I find a great Resignedness of my Will to his, finding infinite more Com∣fort in Death, than ever I could place in Life, tho' on Conditions that might seem ho∣nourable, every hour seeing the Will of God, in his ordering this Affair, more and more cleared up to me; God hath given, and God hath taken; blessed be his Holy Name, that hath enabled me to be willing to suffer, rather than to put forth my hand unto Iniquity, or to say of Confederacy with them that do so. I am heartily and sincere∣ly troubled for what hath happened, many mens Lives being lost, and many Poor Distressed Families Ruin'd; the Lord pardon the Sin he hath seen in it; and he in his wonderful Providence hath made me and others concerned Instruments, not only of what is already fallen out, but (I believe) in hastening some other Great Works he hath to do in these Kingdoms, whereby he will try & purge his People, and winnow the Chaff from the Wheat; the Lord keep those that are his Faithful to the End.

As to my Faith, I neither hope nor look for any Mercy, but only by the Free Grace of God, by the Application of the Blood of Jesus, my dearest and only Saviour to my poor sinful Soul.

My Distresses have been exceeding great, as to my Eternal Estate; but through the infinite Goodness of God, tho' I have many heinous Sins to answer for, yet I hope and trust, as to my perticuler, that Christ came for this very end and purpose, to Re∣lieve the Oppressed, and to be a Physician to the Sick.

I come unto thee O blessed Jesus, refuse me not, but wash in thine own Blood, and then present me to thy Father as Righteous: What though my Sins be Crim∣son, and of a Scarlet Die, yet thou canst make them as White as Snow. I see nothing in my self, but what must utterly Ruin and Condemn me; I cannot Answer for one Action of my whole Life, but I cast my self wholely upon thee, who art the Fountain of Mercies, in whom God is Reconciling him∣self unto the World; the greatest of Sins and Sinners may find an All suf∣ficiency in thy Blood to cleanse them from all Sin. Dearest Father of Mercy

look upon me as Righteous; and thorow the Imputed Righteousness of thy Son, he has paid the Debt, by his own offering himself up for Sin, and in that thy Ju∣stice is satisfied, and thy Mercy is magnified.

I Dye in Charity with all the World, and can readily and heartily forgive all my E∣nemies, even those who have been Evidences against me: And I most humbly beg the Pardon of all I have any wise in the least injured; and in an especial manner, I most humbly ask the Pardon of the Lady Lisle's Family and Relations, for that my being succoured there one Night with Mr. Hicks, brought that worthy Lady to suffer Death; I was wholely a Stranger to her Ladyship; I came with Mr. Hicks; neither did she (as I verily believe) ever know who I was, or my Name, till I was taken▪ And if any other have come to any Loss or Trouble upon my Account, I humbly beg their Pardon, and were I in a Condition, would as far as I was able, make them requited.

Grant me thy Love, O Dearest Father! Assist me, and stand by me in the Needful Hour of Death; give thy Angels Charge over me, poor Soul, that the Devil may not touch nor hurt it; defend me from his power, and deliver me from his Rage, and receive me into thy Eternal Kingdom, in and through the Attonement of my Dearest Redeemer, for whom I praise thee, and unto whom, with thy self and Holy Spirit, be ascribed all Glory, Power, Might, and Do∣minion forever and ever, Amen.

Lord Jesus Receive My Spirit.