The second part of the Display of tyranny; or Remarks upon the illegal and arbitrary proceedings in the Courts of Westminster, and Guild-Hall London. From the year, 1678. to the abdication of the late King James, in the year 1688. In which time, the rule was, quod principi placuis, lex esto.

Remarks upon the Tryal of Mrs Elizabeth Gaunt at the Old-Bayly, London, upon the 19th day of October, 1685.

WEre my Pen qualified to repre∣sent the due Character of this Excellent Woman, it would be readily granted, that she stood most deserved∣ly

entitled to an eternal Monument of honour, in the hearts of all sincere Lo∣vers of the Reformed Religion: All true Christians (tho' in some things differing in perswasion with her) found in her a universal Charity and sincore Friend∣ship, as is well known to many here, and also to a Multitude of the Scotch Nation, Ministers and others; who, for Conscience sake, were thrust into Exile by Prelatick Rage; These found her a most refreshing Refuge; She dedicated her self with unwearied industry to pro∣vide for their supply and support; and therein (I do incline to think) she out∣stripped every individual Person (if not the whole Body of Protestants) in this great City? Hereby she became ex∣posed to the implacable fury of the bloody Papists, and those blind Tools, who co-operated to promote their accursed designs; and so there appeared little difficulty to procure a Jury (as there were well prepared Judges) to make her a Sacrifice (as a Traytor) to Holy Church.

Upon Monday the 19th day of Octo∣ber 1685, Mrs Gaunt was arraigned, up∣on an Indictment, to this effect, (viz.)

That she intending to disturb the Peace and Tranquility of the Kingdom, and to stir up Rebellion against the King, and to subvert his Government, and depose and put him to death; for bringing her Traytorous purposes to pass, she, well knowing James Burton to be a Traytor, did secretly and Trayterously entertain and conceal him, and did give him Meat, Drink, and 5 l. in Money, for his Maintenance and Sustenance.

She having pleaded Not guilty, the following Jury was sworn.

• ...Tho. Rawlinson,
• ...Tho. Langham,
• ...Ambrose Isted,
• ...Tho. Pendleton,
• ...John Grice,
• ...Tho. Oneby,
• ...William Cloudesley,
• ...Richard Holford,
• ...William Longboate,
• ...Steven Colman,
• Robert Clavel and
• ...William Long.

Then Mr Attorney General said, The Prisoner is indicted for harbouring Bur∣ton, a great Traytor, and procuring a way for his escape beyond Sea, and gi∣ving him 5 l. to bear his Charges; She and her Husband were the great Brokers for carrying over such Traytors, as my Lord Shaftesbury and others; He then called James Burton, and demanded an account of him, whether he were engaged in

the matter of the Rye-House; and how Mrs Gaunt harboured him?

Burton testified, that Keeling brought him and Barber, and Thompson into the company of Rumbold; That upon Keeling's discovery, he was put into the Procla∣mation for being at that Meeting, and absconded about two Moneths, and then Mrs Gaunt came to enquire of his Wife for him, who brought her to him; and she told him, that there were some Persons about to make an escape, and she would have him go along with them; and sent him (with Rumbold) to Roch∣ford-Hundred in Essex, to take Ship, but not liking the Vessel, and the Weather being bad, they returned to London.

That many Moneths afterwards, Mrs Gaunt came and gave him 5 l. and sent him in a Boat to Gravesend; from whence he went in a Vessel to Amster∣dam.

Mary Gilbert (Burton's Daughter) was sworn, and said, that she met Mrs Gaunt with her Father in Houndsditch, and

they went to a House without Bishopsgate, and that she there saw him with a Man that had but one Eye, and was full of Pock-holes.

Burton's Wife then testified, that Mrs Gaunt came to enquire where here Hus∣band was, and she told her he was at her Daughter's; and Mrs Gaunt told her, That if she were willing her Hus∣band should go away, she would take care therein; and Mrs Gaunt appoint∣ed them to meet without Bishopsgate.

The Lord Chief Justice Jones and Judge Wythens, and also the King's Counsel (viz.) the Attorney, the Solicitor General, Mr North, and Crispe the Common Serjeant, rack'd their Inventions to draw Burton and his Wife, to charge Mrs Gaunt with the knowledge of his being in a Plot, or in the Proclamation; but nothing of that could be made out; Nor is here any sort of proof, that Mrs Gaunt har∣boured this ungrateful Wretch; or that she gave him either Meat or Drink, as the Indictment charges her; And it must be further noted, that here is only the single Testimony of Burton; of her gi∣ving him Money, and sending him away; The Evidence being short in this,

The Chief Justice fell upon the Pri∣soner with ensnaring Questions; demand∣ing of her, What was the reason she would send Burton away? whether she gave him Money? Whether she heard that his Name was in the Proclamation, &c?

Here Captain Richardson officiously in∣terposed, saying, She says she is not come here, to tell your Lordships what she did.

The Chief Justice then sum'd up the Evidence thus, Burton sayes this Woman was very solicitous to send him beyond Sea; That her Husband being concern∣ed in the Plot, and she (as Burton be∣lieves) knowing that he could make some discovery concerning her Husband, en∣deavoured to convey him away; It is true, there is not direct proof, that there was any particular mention that Burton was in the Proclamation; but he and his Wife say, that they verily be∣lieve the Prisoner knew that he was in the Proclamation; and she her self being examined, says, that she might hear that he was in the Proclamation, and that his House was searched, and he could not be found, and yet she conceals him;

what could be the meaning of this, but that she was very zealous to maintain the Conspiracy, and was a great Assistant to all concerned in it? She will not tell you any other cause, why she should be con∣cerned to convey this Man beyond Sea; and therefore, in all reason, you ought to conceive it was for this.

The Jury being thus sent out, and re∣turning, Mrs Gaunt desired to be heard, declaring, that she hoped they would not take any advantage against her, and that she had some Witnesses to call; But,

Wythens said, It ought not to be done, you ought to take the Verdict; and so the Jury pronounced her Guilty, and Jenner the Recorder passed this Sentence,

You are to be carried back to the place from whence you came, from thence you are to be drawn upon a Hurdle to the place of Ex∣ecution, and there you are to be burnt to Death. Mrs Gaunt only said, I say, this Woman did tell several Untruths of me; I don't understand the Law.

The Sentence was executed upon this Excellent Woman, upon Friday then fol∣lowing, being the 23d of October 1685. When she left her Murderers the follow∣ing Memorial.

Newgate, 22d of October, 1685.

NOt knowing whether I should be suffered or able, because of Weaknesses that are upon me, through my hard and close Im∣prisonment, to speak at the place of Execu∣tion, I write these few Lines, to signifie I am well reconciled to the way of my God to∣wards me, tho' it be in ways I looked not for, and by terrible things, yet in Righteousness; for having given me Life, he ought to have the disposing of it, when and how he pleaseth to call for it; and I desire to offer up my all to him, it being but my reasonable service; and also the first terms that Christ offers, that he that will be his Disciple must forsake all and follow him; and therefore, let none think it hard, or be discouraged, at what hath hap∣pened unto me; for he doth nothing without cause; in all that he hath done unto us; he being Holy in all his Ways, and Righteous in all his Works; and it is but my lot in com∣mon with poor desolate Sion at this day; neither do I find in my heart, the least re∣gret of any thing that I have done, in the service of my Lord and Master Jesus Christ, in favouring and succouring any of his poor Sufferers, that have shewed favour to his righteous Cause; which Cause, tho' it be

now fallen and trampled on, as if it had not been anointed; yet it shall revive, and God will plead it at another rate, then yet he hath done, with all its Opposers, and malitious Haters; and therefore let all that love and fear him, not omit the least duty that comes to hand, or lieth before them, knowing that Christ hath need of them, and expects that they should serve him; and I desire to bless him that he hath made me useful in my Ge∣neration, to the comfort and relief of many distressed Ones, that the Blessing of those that have been ready to perish hath come upon me, and I have been helped to make the Heart of the VVidow to sing; and I bless his holy Name, that in all this, together with what I was changed with, I can approve my Heart to him, that I have done his Will, tho' I have crossed man's Will; and the Scripture that satisfied me in it, is the 16th of Isa. 3, 4. Hide the Out-casts, betray not him that wandreth; let my Out-casts dwell with thee. Obadiah 12.13, 14. Thou shouldst not have given up him that escaped, in the day of distress. But Man saith, You shall give them up, or you shall dye for it. Now whom to obey, judge ye. So that I have cause to rejoyce & be exceeding glad, in that I suffer for Righteousness sake, and that I am

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accounted worthy to suffer for well-doing, and that God hath accepted any Service from me, that hath been done in Sincerity, tho' mixed with manifold Weaknesses and Infirmities, which he hath been pleased for Christ's sake to cover and forgive. And now as concern∣ing my Fact, as its called, alas it is but a little one, and might well become a Prince to forgive, but, He that sheweth no Mercy, shall find none; and I may say of it, in the Language of Jonathan, I did but taste a little Honey, and lo, I must dye for it; I did but relieve a poor, unworthy and distressed Family, and lo, I must dye for it. I de∣sire in the Lamb-like Will, to forgive all that are concerned; and to say, Lord lay it not to their Charge; but I fear and believe, that when he comes to make Inquisition for Blood, Mine will be found at the Door of the furious Judge, who, because I could not remember things, through my dauntedness, at Burton's Wife & Daughter's witness, and my Ignorance; took advantage thereat, and would not hear me, when I had called to mind, that which I am sure would have invalidated their Evi∣dence; and tho' he granted some things of the same nature to another, yet he granted it not to me; my Blood will be also found at

the Door of the Ʋnrighteous Jury, who found me Guilty upon the single Oath of an Outlawed man; for there was none but his Oath about the Money, who is no legal Witness, tho' he be pardoned, his out∣lawry not being recalled; and also the Law requires two Witnesses in point of Life; and then about my going with him to the place mentioned, it was, by his own Words, before he could be Outlawed, for it was two Months after his absconding, and tho' in a Proclamation, yet not high Treason, as I have heard; so that I am clearly murdered by you; and also bloody Mr Atterbury, who so insatiately hunted after my Life; and tho' it is no profit to him, yet through the ill-will he bore me, left no Stone unturned, as I have ground to believe, until he brought me to this; and shewed favour to Burton, who ought to have dyed for his own Fault, and not to have bought his Life with mine: And lastly, Richardson, who is cruel and severe to all, under my Circumstances, and did at that time, without all Mercy or Pity, hasten my Sentence, and held up my Hand that it might be pronounced; all which, to∣gether with the great one of all, by whose Power all these, and multitudes of more

Cruelties are done, I do heartily and freely forgive, as done against me: But as its done in an implacable mind against the Lord Christ, his Righteous Cause, and Followers, I leave it to him who is the Avenger of all such Wrongs, and hath said, I have raised up one from the North, and he shall come upon Princes as upon Morter, and as the Potter treadeth Clay, Isa. 41.25. He shall cut off the Spirit of Princes, and be terrible to the Kings of the Earth, Psal. 76.12. And know this also, that though you are seemingly fixed, and because of the Power in your Hands, and a weighing out your Violence, and dealing with despight∣ful Hand, because of the old and new hatred, by impoverishing, and by every way distressing those you have got under you; yet unless you secure Jesus Christ, and his holy Augels, you shall never do your business, nor your Hands accomplish your Enterprizes; for he will come upon you er'e you are aware; and therefore, O that you will be wise, instructed and learn, is the desire of her that finds no Mercy from you,

Elizabeth Gaunt.

Postscript.

SƲch as it is, you have it from her, who hath done as she could, O is sorry she can do not better; hopes you will pitty and cover weakness, shortnese, and any thing that is wanting; and begs that none may be weak∣ned or humbled, at the lowness of my Spirit; for God's design is to humble and ••baseus, that he alo•••• may be exalted in this day; and I hope he will appear in the needful time, and it may be reserved the best Wine tall last, as he hath done for some before me; none go•••••• to Warfare at his own charge, and the Spirit bloweth, not only where, but when it listeth; and it becomes me, who have so often grieved, quenched and resisted it, to wait for and upon the motions of the Spirit, and not to murmur; but I may mourn, be∣cause through want of it, I honour not my God, nor his blessed Cause, which I have so long loved and delighted to love; and repent of nothing about it, but that I served him and it no better.

Notes

• It looks as tho Keel∣ing had been employ∣ed at White-hall to make, as well as to discover this Plot, for of the very small num∣ber accused of it, We have him here, draw∣ing in three at once.
• Wythens.
• King James the second.