State tracts, being a farther collection of several choice treaties relating to the government from the year 1660 to 1689 : now published in a body, to shew the necessity, and clear the legality of the late revolution, and our present happy settlement, under the auspicious reign of their majesties, King William and Queen Mary.

The Speech and Carriage of STEPHEN COLLEDGE, Before the Castle at Oxford, Wednesday, Aug. 31. 1681. Taken exactly from his Mouth at the place of Execution.

Mr. High-Sheriff.

MR. Colledge, It is desired, for satisfaction of the World, because you have profest your self a Protestant, that you would tell what Judgment you are of.

Colledge.

Dear People, dear Protestants, and dear Country-men,

I Have been Accused and Convicted for Treason, the Laws Adjudge me to this Death, and I come hither willingly to submit to it. I pray God forgive all those persons that had any hand in it. I do declare to you, whatever has been said of me, that I was never a Papist, or ever that way inclined; they have done me wrong: I was ever a Protestant, I was born a Protestant, I have lived so, and so by the Grace of God I will die, of the Church of England, according to the best Reformation of the Church from all Idola∣try, from all Superstition, or any thing that is contrary to the Gospel of our blessed Lord and Saviour. I do declare, I was never in any Popish Service, Prayers, or De∣votions, in my life, save one time about seventeen or eighteen years ago, as near as I remember, I was out of a curiosity one afternoon at St. James's Chappel, the Queens Chappel at St. James's; except that one time, I never did hear any Popish Service, any thing of the Church of Rome, Mass or Prayers, or any thing else, private or publick.

I know you expect that I should say something as to what I die for. It has been charged upon me: when I was apprehended and brought before the Council, some of the Council, the Secretary, and my Lord Killingworth, and Mr. Seymour, they told me there was Treason sworn against me; truly they surprized me when they said so: for of all things in the World, I thought my self as free from that as any man. I ask∣ed them if any man living had the confidence to swear Treason against me? They said several, three or four as I remember. Then they told me, it was sworn against me, that I had a design to pull the King out of White-hall, and to serve him as his Fa∣ther was served, or to that purpose, the Loggerhead his Father, or that kind of Lan∣guage. I did deny it then, and do now deny it upon my Death. I never was in any manner of Plot in my days, neither one way nor another, never knew any su•••• per∣sons, nor ever had such Communication with any man hitherto. I know of no Plot in the World but the Popish Plot, and that every man may know as much as I. If I had had such a design as these men have sworn against me, to have seiz'd his Ma∣jesty either at London, or this place at Oxford; I take God to witness, as I'm a dying man, and upon the terms of my Salvation, I know not any one man upon the face of the Earth that would have stood by me; and how likely it was that I should do such a thing my self, let the whole World judge.

Dugdale swears, That I spoke Treason to him, treasonable words in the Coffee-house, and in the Barbers shop by the Angel, even he could not pretend to see me any where else; but it is false, and a very unlikely thing, that I should speak Treason to him. I must confess I was in his company at the Coffee-house and that Barbers shop, before I went out of Town, but there could be no Communication between us; for he was writing at one end of the Room and eating a piece of bread, and I lighted a Pipe of Tobacco at the other end, and took it, till Sir Tho. Player and Sir Rob. Clay∣ton came to me, and we went to my Lord Lovelace's out of Town that night: so when they came we took horse and went out of Town with the rest.

For my part, I can't sum up my Witnesses. I was under most strange Circumstan∣ces as ever any man was; I was kept Prisoner so close in the Tower, that I could have no Conversation with any, though I was certain the Popish Lords had it every day there, but I could have none: I could not tell the Witnesses that were to swear against me; I could not tell what it was they swore against me, for I could have no Copy of the Indictment, nor no way possible to make any preparation to make my De∣fence, as I ought to have done, and might have done by Law, I had no liberty to do any thing, as I am a dying man.

And as to what Dugdale, Smith, Turbervile, and Heyns swore against me, they did swear such Treason, that nothing but a mad man would ever have trusted any body

with, and least of all to Papists; every one of them that had been concerned with Plots and Treasons among their own party, and under the greatest Tyes and Obligations of Damnation, and to be Sainted if they kept it secret, and to be damned if they reveal∣ed it. If these men will not keep things secret for their own Party, how could I trust them? I take God to witness, and do freely acknowledge, I have sought my God with Tears several times, to inform me if so be I had with any word transgressed at any time. I knew not of any part of what they swore against me, till such time as I heard it swore against me at the Bar. This is very hard, Gentlemen, but this is the Truth.

And there be a great many other strange Reports that I have heard since I have been a Prisoner, That I should be a means to convert the Countess of Rochester, by bringing one Thompson a Priest to her. Truly all that I was concerned in was, some fifteen or sixteen years ago I lodged at Col. Vernon's that married my Lady Brookes: The Fami∣ly were Papists, the Brookes were Papists, and there was this Thompson; and I did sup∣pose him a Priest in the House, though I never saw him at Popish Service or Worship, though I was there half a year; but coming afterwards to my Lord Rochester's about some business I had to do for him and several other persons of Quality, he sent for me one afternoon from the Parsonage in Adderbury to his House, and his Lady and he stood together: He sent to me and ask'd me if my Horse were at home: said he, I would have you carry this Letter to Mr. Thompson, if you are at leisure this afternoon: My Lord, I am at leisure to serve you. So I took a Letter from his hand, and his La∣dy's too, as I remember (he made an offer that way) sealed with his own Seal, and carried it to Thompson, and delivered it to him; and he told me that he would wait upon my Lord, for it was for some Lands my Lord did offer to raise Money for some occasions. This is the Truth of that Scandal.

It is said, that I had a Priest several years in my House, viz. Serjeant that came over from Holland to discover: About some ten years ago, that very same man came to me, but was a stranger to me, and he came to me by the name of Dr. Smith a Physician: and there was an Apothecary in the Old-baily, and a Linnen-draper within Ludgate, that came with him: they brought him thither and took a Chamber, and lay about half a year or three quarters, at times, by the name of Dr. Smith, and as a Physician. This is the Truth of that, and no otherwise. This is the Entertainment of Serjeant.

So the occasion of my coming to Oxford, I do say, was voluntary. The Parliament-men last Parliament at Westminster, and several Lords, dined together the day before they sate: the last Sessions of Parliament at Wistminster they sent for me to the Sun-Tavern behind the Exchange; and when I came, the Duke of Monmouth and several Lords were together, and I believe above a hundred Parliament-men of the Commons. The Duke of Monmouth called me to him, and told me, he had heard a good Report of me, and that I was an honest man, and one that may be trusted; and they did not know but their Enemies the Papists might have some design to serve them as they did in King James's time, by Gun-powder, or any other ways: And the Duke with several Lords and Com∣mons, did desire me to use my utmost skill in searching all places suspected by them; which I did perform, and from thence I had, as I think, the popular name of the Prote∣stant Joyner, because they had intrusted me before any man in England to do that Office.

The same Haynes, one of them that swore against me, had discovered to me and se∣veral others, as to Macknamar and his Brother, and this Ivy, who are now all of another stamp, That the Parliament was to be destroyed at Oxford; and that there was a de∣sign to murther my Lord Shaftsbury by Fitzgerald and his Party; and that they did en∣deavour to bring Macknamar over to him, and said, Then it would be well with him; and they would not be long before they had Shaftsbury's life. And he made Depositi∣ons of this to Sir Geo. Treby, as I heard afterwards; for I was not with him when it was sworn. I wish the Commons of England as well as I wish my own heart; and I did not understand, but when I serv'd the Parliament, I serv'd his Majesty too; and let them be miserable that make the Difference between them; for my part I never did.

I came to Oxford with my Lord Howard, whom I look upon to be a very honest wor∣thy Gentleman, my Lord Clare, my Lord Paget, and my Lord Huntingdon; and this Capt. Brown and Don Lewis were in my company, and came along with us as they were my Lord Howard's Friends. Brown I have known I believe two or three months, but Lewis I never saw before that day; they said they came with my Lord Howard. I take God to witness, I never had but one sixpence or any thing else, to carry on any design; and if it were to save my life now, I can't charge any man in the world with any design against the Government, as God is my witness, or against his Majesty, or any other person.

As for what Arms I had, and what Arms others had, they were for our own defence, in case the Papists should make any attempt upon us by way of Massacre, or any Invasion or Rebellion, that we should be ready to defend our selves. God is my witness this is all I know: If this be a Plot, this I was in; but in no other. But never knew of any

numbers or times appointed for meeting; but we said one to another, that the Papists had a Design against the Protestants, when we did meet, as I was a man of general Con∣versation; and in case they should rise, we were ready: but then they should begin the Attempt upon us. This was my business, and is the business of every good Subject that loves the Laws of his Country and his King: For England can never hope to be happy under those Blood-thirsty men, whose Religion is Blood and Murther; which I do with all my Soul, and did ever since I knew what Religion was, abhor and detest, viz. the Church of Rome, as pernicious and destructive to humane Societies, and all Government.

I beseech God, that every Man of you may unite together as Protestants against this common Foe. Gentlemen, it is my sence, and I do in that believe I am as certainly murthe∣red by the hands of the Papists as Sir Edmundbury Godfrey himself was, though the thing is not seen. These Witnesses certainly are mercenary men, and I beseech God Almighty to have mercy upon their Souls, and forgive them; and either by his Judgments or mercies reclaim them, that they shed no more innocent blood: There is not a man of them that I know of, that ever heard me say or do any bit of Treason in my life. This is (the first I mayn't say it is) but almost the twentieth Sham-Plot that they have endea∣voured to put upon the Nation, to delude the People, and put off their own damnable Plot. This is not the first, but I think the sixteenth or seventeenth; I pray God that my blood may be the last. I pray God defend every man's blood, and all Protestants in Eng∣land, from the hand of these bloody Papists, by whose means I die this Death; and if they shall go on in this nature, I hope the good God will open every mans eyes to see it before he feels it: And I beseech you, if you have any love for your King, your Country, and the Protestants, unite together, if you are Protestants. I pray God, those that de∣serve the name, let them be called how they will, either Dissenters, or Church of Eng∣land men, that they may unite together like men, like Christians, against the common Foe, who will spare neither the one side nor the other, but beat you one against another like two Pitchers, the last that stands they will certainly destroy if they can. This is my sence, and God is my witness, I speak my Conscience. I do not know, Mr. Sheriff, whether there be any thing else I have to say, or no. We have a good God, and I be∣seech every man that hears me this day (for we live in a sinful Age, good People, and it behoveth every one of you, it cannot be long before all that look upon me in this con∣dition, must lie down in the Dust, and God knows, must come into an eternal estate either for Mercy or Judgment) I beseech you in the name of God, he is a God of Mer∣cy, and a God of Patience, and long suffering, that you would break off your Sins by Repentance, and serve a good God, who must be your Friend at last, or else you are lost to Eternity.

O Lord, how ungrateful wretches are we, that have a God of such infinite Mercy and goodness, that affords us our Life, our Health, and a thousand Mercies every day; and we like ungrateful People, not deserving the name of Men or Christians, live riotous lives, in Debauchery and Swearing, in Malice, and the Lord knows how many Evils. I beseech God that I may be this day a means in the hand of God to bring some of their Souls over to him. I beseech you remember what I say. Indeed I do not know, I have been so strangely used since I have been a Prisoner, what to say, being brought from one Affliction to another, that my Body is worn out, and my Memory and Intellects have failed me much, to what they were; I can't remember what I have to say more, but that the Lord Jesus Christ would bless my Country, and preserve it from Popery; and in mercy bless his Majesty: good God be merciful to him, make him an instrument in thy hands to defend his Protestant Subjects; Lord, in mercy defend him from his E∣nemies; good God bless this People; good Lord continue the Gospel of Jesus Christ, thy Gospel, in its purity, to us and our Posterity, as long as the Sun and Moon endu∣reth. O Lord, save all that call upon thee, be merciful to all thy Servants, all thy Peo∣ple that put their trust in thee, good Lord deliver them from the hands of their Ene∣mies: good Lord, let their Lives, and Bodies, and Souls, be all precious in thy sight. O merciful God, put a stop to these most wicked Conspiracies of thy Enemies, and the Nations Enemies, the Papists; let no more Protestant blood be shed but this of mine, I beseech thee, O my God. O Lord look upon me; O Lord bless me, O good God, re∣ceive me into thy blessed presence by Jesus Christ my alone Saviour and Redeemer, in whom alone I put my trust for Salvation: It is thee, O God, that I trust in, thou righ∣teous Judge of Heaven and Earth. All Popery, all Pardons, all Popes and Priests, all Dispensations I disown, and will not go out of the World with a lye in my mouth. From the sincerity of my heart, I declare again, that what I've said to you, is the ve∣ry Sentiments of my Soul, as God shall have mercy upon me, and to the best of my knowledge.

I desire the Prayers of you, good People, while I am here: and once more I beseech you to think upon Eternity, every one of you that hear me this day; the Lord turn

your Hearts and Souls, if you have been wicked livers, if you do live wicked lives, the Lord in mercy convert you: and shew you your danger: for I as little thought to come to this, as any man that hears me this day, and I bless God, I have no more de∣served it from the hands of men, than the Child that sucks at his Mothers breast, I bless my God for it. I do say, I have been a sinner against my God, and he hath learned me Grace ever since I have been a Prisoner. I bless my God for a Prison; I bless my God for Afflictions: I bless my God that ever I was restrain'd: for I never knew my self till he had taken me out of the World. Therefore you that have your liberties, time, and precious opportunities, be up, and be doing for God and for your Souls, every one of you.

To his Son. Where is my dear Child?

Mr. Sheriff. I made one request to you, you gave me an imperfect Answer; you said you were of the best Reformed Church in the world, the Church of England, according to the best Reformation in the world. I desire you for the satisfaction of the world, to declare what Church that is, whether Presbyterian, or Independant, or the Church of England, or what.

Colledge. Good Mr. Sheriff, for your satisfaction, for 20 years and above I was under the Presbyterian Ministry, till his Majesties Restauration; then I was conformable to the Church of England, when that was restored, and so continued till such time as I saw Persecution upon the Dissenting People, and undue things done in their Meeting-places; then I went among them to know what kind of people those were, and I take God to witness, since that time I have used their Meetings, viz. the presbyterians, o∣thers very seldom, and the Church of England. I did hear Dr. Tillotson not above three weeks before I was taken. I heard the Church of England as frequently as I heard the Dissenters, and never had any prejudice, God is my witness, against either, but always heartily desired that they might unite, and be Lovers and Friends, and I had no preju∣dice against any man; and truly I am afraid that it is not for the Nations good, that there should be such Heart-burnings between them: That some of the Church of England will preach, that the Presbyterians are worse than the Papists. God doth know that what I say, I speak freely from my heart, I have found many among them truly ser∣ving God, and so I have of all the rest that have come into my company; Men without any manner of Design but to serve God, serve his Majesty, and keep their Liberties and Properties; men that I am certain are not of vicious lives: I found no Dammers or those kind of People amongst them, or at least few of them.

To his Son, Kissing him several times with great passion. Dear Child Farewell, the Lord have mercy upon thee. Good people, let me have your Prayers to God Almighty to receive my Soul.

And then he Prayed, and as soon as he had done, spake as followeth.

The Lord have mercy upon my Enemies, and I beseech you, good People, who∣ever you are, and the whole World that I have offended to forgive me; whomever I have offended in word or deed, I ask every man's pardon, and I forgive the World with all my soul, all the Injuries I have received; and I beseech God Almighty forgive those poor Wretches who have cast away their souls, or at least endangered them, to ruine this body of mine: I beseech God that they may have a sight of their Sins, and that they may find mercy at his hands: Let my blood speak the justice of my Cause.

I have done: And God have mercy upon you all.

To Mr. Crosthwait. Pray, Sir, my Service to Dr. Hall, and Dr. Reynall, and thank them for all their kindnesses to me; I thank you, Sir, for your kindness: The Lord bless you all. Mr. Sheriff, God be with you: God be with you all, good People.

The Executioner Ketch desired his pardon; and he said, I do forgive you. The Lord have mercy on my Soul.