A new martyrology, or, The bloody assizes now exactly methodizing in one volume comprehending a compleat history of the lives, actions, trials, sufferings, dying speeches, letters, and prayers of all those eminent Protestants who fell in the west of England and elsewhere from the year 1678 ... : with an alphabetical table ... / written by Thomas Pitts.

Mr. Christopher Battiscomb.

HE was another Young Gentleman of a good Family, and very great hopes, and of a fair Estate, which lay in Dorsetshire, somewhere between Dorchester and Lyme. He had studied sometime at the Temple, and having Occasions in the Country about the time of my Lord Russel's Business; he was there seiz'd, on suspicion of be∣ing concern'd in't, and clapt into the County Goal at Dorchester, where he behaved himself with that Prudence and winning Sweetness, and shew'd so much Wit, and innocent pleasantry of Temper, as extreamly obliged both all his Keep∣ers and Fellow-Prisoners, and even Persons of the best Quality in that Town. 'Tis indeed a gen∣teel well-bred place, as almost any in England,

at such a Distance from London. The Streets are fair and large, and Buildings pretty regular; two sweet plentiful Rivers running by it. It stands on a Chalky Hill, but wants not store of good Water. The Market-house is a pleasant little Pile, that very much sets off the Town. There are three Churches in't, and one in its adjoyning Parish. 'Tis endowed with several Alms-houses, a good Grammar-School well enough provided, which has had the happiness of ingenious Masters, and by their Care, produced no inconsiderable num∣ber of good Scholars. There are two or three fine old Roman Fortifications near the Town, which Camden and Speed take notice of. The People on't are generally Civil and Gallant e∣nough, if not a little on the extream that way. They knew how to value such a Gentleman as Mr. Battiscomb, and made him such frequent Visits in the Prison, till the place it self was so far from being Scandalous, that there was generally all the Conversation, and where you might be sure to meet the best Company in the Town of both Sexes. Mr. Battiscomb had the happiness not to be dis∣pleasing to the Fair Sex, who had as much Pity and Friendship for him as consisted with the Rules of Decency and Vertue; and perhaps their Re∣spect for him did not always stop at Friendship, tho' it still preserved the other bounds inviola∣ble. Pity is generally but a little way from Love, especially when the Object of it is any thing extra∣ordinary. But after he had been there some time, and nothing could be prov'd against him which could any ways affect him, he was at length, almost unwillingly deliver'd from this sort of hap∣py

slavery. And when the Duke landed, appear'd with him, and serv'd him with equal Faith and Valour, till the Rout at Sedgmoor, when he fled with the rest, and got up as far as Devonshire, where he was seiz'd in a Disguise, and brought to his Old Palace, the Prison at Dorchester.

He behav'd himself there the second time in the same courteous obliging manner as he did at the first, tho' now he seem'd more thoughtful, and in earnest than before, as knowing nothing was to be expected but speedy Death; Tho' his Cou∣rage never droop't, but was still the same, if it did not increase with his Danger. At his Tryal, Jeffe∣ryes rail'd at him with so much eagerness and barbarity, that he was observ'd almost to foam upon the Bench. He was very angry with him, because he was a Lawyer, and could have been contented all such as he should be hang'd up without any Trial; and truly, 'twas no great matter whether he or the rest had had that For∣mality or no. Mr. Battiscomb was as undaunted at the Bar, as in the Field, or at Execution. How he demeaned himself in Prison before his Death, take this following Account verbatim, as 'twas written by his Friends. Tho' that which occur'd most remarkable after his Sentence, must not be omitted. Several Young Ladies in the Town, among whom one, who is particularly mention'd in the Poem, went to Jeffreys to beg his Life, who repulst 'em at such a bruitish rate, as nothing with one Spark of humanity would have been Guilty of, and in a manner even too uncivil to be mentioned. The Particulars may be seen in the Petition of the Widows and Orphans of that Country.

The Account given of him by his Relations.

HE was observed to be always serious and chearful, ready to entertain Spiritual Dis∣course, manifesting Affection to God's People and his Ordinances; he seem'd to be in a very calm indifference to Life or Death, referring himself to God to determin it, expressing his great satis∣faction as to some Opportunities of Escape that were slipt, saying, That truly he sometimes thought the Cause was too good to flee from suffering in it, tho' he would use all lawful means for his Life; but the Pro••idence of God having prevented this, he was sure it was best for him, for he said, be blest God he could look into Eternity with Comfort. He said, with re∣spect to his Relations and Friends, to whom his Death would be afflictive, that he was willing to live, if God saw good; but for his own part, he thought Death much more desirable. He said, I have enjoyed enough of this World, but I never found any thing but Vanity in it, no rest or satisfaction. God, who is an Infinite Spiritual Being, is the only suitable Object for the Soul of Man, which is spiritual in its Nature, and too large to be made happy by all that this world can afford, which is all but sensual. Therefore methinks, I see no reason why I should be unwilling to leave it by Death, since our Happiness can never be perfected till then, till we leave this Body, where we are so continu∣ally clogg'd with Sin and Vanity, frivolous and foolish Trifles. Death in it self is indeed terrible, and Na∣tural Courage is too low to encounter it; nothing but an interest in Christ can be our comfort in it, he said, which Comfort I hope I have; intimating much advantage

to his Soul by his former Imprisonment.

The day he went from Dorchester to Lyme, after he had received the News of his Death the next day, he was in the same serious cheerfulness, declaring still the same Apprehension of the desirableness of Death, and the great supports of his Mind under the Thoughts of so sudden passing through it alone from the hope of the Security of his Interest in Christ; taking leave of his Friends with this Farewel, Tho' we part here we shall meet in Heaven. Passing by his Estate go∣ing to Lyme, he said Farewel Temporal Inheritance, I am now going to my heavenly, eternal one. At Lyme, the Morning that he died, it appeared that he had the same supports from God, meeting De••th with the same cheerfulness; and after he had prayed a while to himself, without any appearance of Re∣luctancy, yielded up his Spirit, Sept. 2. 1865.

A Poem on a Lady that came to my Lord Chief Justice, to beg Mr. Battiscomb's Life, Sister to one of the Sheriffs in the West, which he denied.

HArder than thine own Native Rocks! To let the Charming Silvia kneel, And not one spark of Pity feel: Harder than sensless Stones and Stocks! Ye Gods! what showers of Pearls she gave? VVhat precious Tears? enough to save A Bleeding Monarch from the Grave.

By every hapless Virgin Curst: VVinter Blasts not more unkind; Deaf as the rugged Northern VVind; By some Welsh Wolf in Murders nurst. Hast thou Eyes? or hast thou none? Or are they worse than Marble grown? Since Marbles weep at Silvia's moan.

Rebels stiff, and supple Slaves, All the frantick VVorld divide, One must stoop, and to'ther ride; Cringing Fools and Factious Knaves; Tho' falling on the losers part, Gently Death arrests my Heart, And has in Hony dipt his Dart.

Life farewel, thou gaudy Dream, Painted o're with Griefs and Joys, VVhich the next short hour destroys; And drowns them all in Lethe's Stream: VVhat blest Mortal would not die, Might he with me Embalmed lye, In pre••ious Tears from Silvia's Eye?

His Character.

ALL that knew or saw him, must own, Mr. Battiscomb was very much a Gentleman. Not that thin sort of Animal that flutters from Tavern to Play-house and back again, all his Life made up of Wig and Crevat, without one dram of Thought in his composition; but one who had solid worth, well drest and set out to the World.

His Body made a very handsom and creditable Tenement for his Mind; and 't had been pity it shou'd have liv'd in any other. He was pretty tall, well made, I think inclining to Black; not altogether unlike Mr. Benjamin Hewling, as He has bin thought to resemble the Duke of Mon∣mouth. He was Witty, Brave, exactly Honou∣rable, Pious, and Virtuous: and if ever that Cha∣racter belong'd to any Man, it did eminently to Mr. Battiscomb, That he liv'd universally belov'd, and dy'd as generally lamented.