tendown Bridge, about nine Days after, fhe faw the Apparition of a Man boltupright in the River, ftanding breaft-high, with his Hands lifted up to Heaven; and continued in that Pefture from December to the end of Lent, at which time Some of the English Army paffing that way, faw it also; after which it vanished

away.

Elizabeth Price, teftified upon Oath, That she and other Women, whofe Husband's Children were drowned in that Place, bearing of thofe Apparitions, went thither one Evening, at which time they faw one like a Woman rife out of the River breast-high, her Hair banging down, which, with her Skin, was as white as Snow, often crying out, Revenge, Revenge, Revenge, which fo affrighted them that they went away.

Diverfe Proteftants were thrown into the River of Belterbert, and when any of them offered to fwim to the Land, they were knocked on the Head with Poles, after which their Bodies were not feen of fix Weeks, but after the end hereof, the Murderers coming again that way, the Bodies came floating up to the very Bridge where they were.

Sir Con Mac Gennis, with his Company, flew Mr. Turge, Minister of the Newry, with diverfe other Proteftants, after which the faid Mac Gennis was fo affrighted with the Apparition of the faid Mr. Turge, his being continually in his Prefence, that he commanded his Soldiers not to flay any more of them but fuch as fhould be flain in Battle.

A young Woman being ftript almoft naked, there came a Rogue to her, bidding her, Give him her Money, or he would run her through with his Sword. Her Answer was, You cannot kill me, except God give you leave; whereupon he ran three times at her naked Body with his drawn Sword, and yet never pierced her Skin; whereat he being confounded went his way and left her. This was attested by diverfe Women that were prefent and faw it.

As for the Proteftant Ministers, whom they furprized, their manner was first to strip them, and after bind them to a Tree or Poft, where they pleased, and then to ravifh their Wives and Daughters before their Faces (in Sight of their merciless Rabble) with the basest Villains they could pick out; after they hangcd up their Hufbands and Parents before their Faces, and then cut them down before they were half dead, then quartered them, after difmembered them, and ftopped their Mouths therewith.

They bafely abused one Mr. Trafford a Minifter in the North of Ireland, who being affaulted by thefe bloody Wolves of Rome's Brood, that knew not God, nor any Bowels of Mercy. This diftreffed Minifter defired but fo much time as to call upon God, before he went out of the World; but these merciless Wretches would admit no time, but inftantly fell upon him, hackt and hewed him to Pieces.

Sir Patrick Dunstan's Wife they ravifhed before him, flew his Servants, fpurned his Children till they died, bound him with Match to a Board that his Eyes burst out, cut off his Ears and Nose, teared off both his Cheeks, after cut off his Arms and Legs, cut out his Tongue, and after run a red-hot Iron into him. Thefe Particulars, with many more, were attefted before the Commiffioners appointed for that Purpose.

See more of fuch Cruelties in Clark's Martyrology.
O 2

An

An ACCOUNT of the Proceedings at the Seffions for the City of Westminster, against Thomas Whitfield, Scrivener; John Smallbones, Woodmonger; and William Laud, Painter; for tearing a PETITION prepared to be presented to the King's Majesty, for the Sitting of the Parliament. With an Account of the faid PETITION prefented on the 13th Inftant ; and his Majesty's Gracious Answer.

IT

T being the undoubted Right of the Subjects of England, and warranted by the Law of the Land *, and the general Practice of all former Times, in an humble manner to apply themselves to his Majefty, in the Abfence of Parliaments, by Petition; for the Redress of their Grievances, and for the obtaining fuch things as they apprehend neceffary or beneficial, to the Safety and Well-being of the Nation. And it being their Duty to which they are bound, by the exprefs Words of the Oath of Allegiance, † to reprefent to him any Danger which they apprehend threatening his Royal Perfon or his Government; diverfe Perfons in about the City of Westminster, confidering the too apparent and unspeakable Danger his Majefty and his Kingdoms are in, from the hellish Plots and villanious Confpiracies of the Bloody Papifts and their Adherents, and conceiving no fufficient (or at least so fit) Remedy could be provided against it, but by the Parliament, by whom alone feveral Perfons accused of thefe accurfed Defigns can be brought to Trial, did prepare and fign a Petition, humbly reprefenting to his Majefty the eminent Danger his Royal Perfon, the Proteftant Religion, and the Government of this Nation were in, from that moft damnable and hellifh Popifh Plot, branched forth into feveral the most horrid Villanies: For which feveral of the principal Confpirators ftand impeached by Parliament, and thereby humbly praying, that the Parliament might fit upon the 26th of January, to try the Offenders, and to redrefs the important Grievances no other ways to be redreffed; of which Thomas Whitfield, John Smallbones, and William Laud, Inhabitants in Westminster, taking Notice; upon the 20th Day of December last, they fent to Mr. William Horley, who had figned and promoted the Petition, and in whofe Cuftody it was, to bring or fend it to them, for that they defired to sign it: And thereupon Mr. Horley attended them, and

Vide, the Refolution of the Law, Cok. Jurifdict. of Courts, 79. Hobart 220 Vol. Magna Chart. Ex. 1. Spencer 51. Vide the Proclamation of King Charles the First.

+ I do fwear from my Heart, that I will bear Faith and true Allegiance, to his Majefty, his Heirs, and Succeffors, and him and them will defend to the uttermoft of my Power againft all Confpiracies and At

pro

temps whatfoever, which fhall be made against his or their Perfons, their Crown and Dignity. And will do my best Endeavours to difclofe and make known unto his Majefty, his Heirs and Succeffors, all Treafons and Traiterous Confpiracies, which I fhall know or hear of to be against him or any of them.

producing the Petition in which many Perfons had joined, he delivered it at their Request to be by them read and figned, but Mr. Whitfield immediately tore it in Pieces, and threw it towards the Fire, and Smallbones catching it up, faid, that he would not take ten Shillings for the Names, and then they declared, that they fent for it for that very purpose, and owned themselves all concerned in the Defign.

Upon Mr. HorЛley's Complaint hereof to a Justice of the Peace, a Warrant was granted against them, and they being taken thereupon, after Examination of the Matter, were bound to appear and anfwer it at the next Quarter Seffions of the Peace for the City of Westminster; and upon Friday the 9th of January Inftant, the Seffions being holden, and there being prefent feveral Justices of the Peace that are eminent Lawyers, the Matter was brought before them, and the Grand Jury indicted the said Whitfield, Smallbones and Laud, as followeth, viz.

The City, Borough and Town of Westminster in the County of Middlefex.

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TH

"THE Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King upon their Oath do prefent, that whereas the Subjects and Liege People of the Kings and Queens of this Realm of England, by the Laws and Customs of the Realm, have used "and been accustomed to reprefent their publick Grievances by Petition, or by any other fubmiffive way; and that the 20th Day of December, in the One "and Thirtieth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland King, De"fender of the Faith, &c. at the Parish of St. Martins in the Fields, within "the Liberty of the Dean and Chapter of the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, of "the City, Borough and Town of Westminster in the County of Middlesex ; a "Petition written in Paper, was prepared and fubfcribed with the Hands of "diverse the said King's Subjects and Liege People, (to the Jury unknown) and "to our faid Sovereign Lord King Charles the Second directed, and to our faid "Sovereign Lord the King to be prefented and delivered; by which Petition "it was fhewn, that whereas there had been, and was a most damnable Plot against the Royal Perfon of our faid Sovereign Lord the King, the Proteftant Religion, and well established Government of this Realm, for which Plot feve "ral of the principal Confpirators were impeached by Parliament, and whereby "it was humbly prayed, that the Parliament, which was prorogued to the 26th

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of January next enfuing the faid Year, might then fit to try the Offenders, and "to redress the preffing Grievances not otherwife to be redreffed. And that "Thomas Whitfield late of the faid Parish of St. Martins in the Fields in the Liberty aforefaid in the County aforefaid, Yeoman, John Smallbones late of "the said Parish, within the Liberty aforefaid in the County aforefaid, Woodmonger, and William Laud, late of the Parish aforefaid in the County afore"faid, Yeoman; being Perfons ill-affected and contriving, devifing and intending as much as in them lay, to binder the futing of the faid Parliament as was prayed by the faid Pelition, and alfo to binder the Trial of the faid Offenders, "and redreffing the faid Grievances, the faid 20th Day of December in the faid "One and Thirtieth Year of the Reign of our faid Sovereign Lord the King, as "Rioters and Disturbers of the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King, for the

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་་

difturbing

86

"disturbing of the Peace of our faid Sovereign Lord the King, with Force and "Arms at the faid Parish within the Liberty aforefaid in the County aforefaid, unlawfully and riotoufly did affemble themselves, and being fo then and there affembled, with Force and Arms then and there Unlawfully, Riotously, and Injuriously, the faid Petition being delivered by one William Horsley to them "the faid Thomas Whitfield, John Smallbones and William Laud at their Request, and for the fubfcribing their Names thereunto if they should think fit, "did tear in Pieces in Contempt of our faid Sovereign Lord the King, and of his "Laws, to the evil Example of all others in the like Cafes offending, and against the Peace of our faid Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown, and Dignity.

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The Names of the Grand Jury that found the Bill, are these

Upon Wednesday the 7th of this Inftant January, many Gentlemen and eminent Citizens, who had been concerned for managing the Petition for the Sitting of the Parliament, upon the 26th Inftant met together, and agreed upon the Method of finishing the fame, and of nominating fit Perfons for the prefenting it to his Majefty, which being accordingly done; thefe Gentlemen following, vix.

Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Baronet, Son-in-Law to the late Bishop of Durham. Francis Charlton Efq; John Smith. Efq; Ellis Crifpe Efq; Henry Afburst Efq; John Ellis Efq; Johnson of Stepney Efq; Anthony Selby Efq; Tho. Smith Efq;

Gentlemen of good Worth and Estates, and several of whom have been eminent Sufferers for his Majefty, did this 13th of January attend his Majefty with it at Whitehall, when being introduced to his Royal Prefence, Sir Gilbert Gerrard kneeling, prefented this Petition;

To the King's moft excellent Majefty, the humble Petition of your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal Subjects, Inhabitants in and about the City of London, whofe Names are here under fubfcribed,

"Sheweth,

"That whereas there has been and ftill is a moft damnable and hellish Popifh Plot branched forth into the moft horrid Villanies against your Majefty's "most facred Perfon, the Proteftant Religion, and the well established Govern"ment of this your Realm, for which feveral of the principal Confpirators stand now impeached by Parliament.

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"Therefore in fuch a time when your Majefty's Royal Perfon, as alfo the "Proteftant Religion and the Government of this Nation are thus in moft emi"nent Danger."

We

We your Majesty's most dutiful and obedient Subjects, in the deepest Senfe of our Duty and Allegiance to your Majesty, do most humbly and earnestly pray, that the Parliament which is prorogued until the 26th Day of January, may then fit to try the Offenders, and to redress all our most important Grievances no otherwife to be redreДed.

And your Petitioners fhall ever pray for your
Majefty's long and profperous Reign.

And expreffed himself to this Effect; Sir, I have a Petition from many thoufands of your Majesty's dutiful and loyal Subjects, in and about the City of London, which I humbly prefent in their Names, and defire your Majesty would be pleased to read it.

To which his Majefty gave this gracious Answer, I know the Subftance of it already, I am Head of the Government, and will take Care of it; and then received the Petition, it being a great Roll of above an hundred Yards in length, and carried it away in his Hand.

The JUDGES Opinions concerning PETITIONS to the

KING in PUBLICK MATTERS.

See Moore's Reports, p. 755. Crook's Reports, p. 37. 2 Jacobi. With a Clause of a late Act of PARLIAMENT concerning the fame Subject.

FE

EB. 13. 2 Jac. In the Star-Chamber all the Juftices of England were affembled with many of the Nobility, viz. the Lord Ellefmore, Lord Chancellor; the Earl of Dorfet, Lord Treasurer; the Lord Vifcount Cranborn, Principal Secretary; the Earl of Nottingham, Lord Admiral; the Earls of Northumberland, Worcester, Devon, and Northampton; the Lords Zouck, Burleigh, and Knolls; the Chancellor of the Dutchy. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, Popham, Chief Justice, Bruce, Mafter of the Rolls, Anderfon, Gawdy, Walmefly, Fenner, Kingfmil, Warberton, Savile, Daniel, Felverton, and Snig. And there the Chancellor of England, by the King's Command, after he had made a long Speech concerning the Juftices of Peace, and an Exhortation to the Juftices of Affize, and a Difcourfe of Papifts and Puritans, declaring that they were both the Disturbers of the State, and that the King intended to fupprefs them, and to have the Laws put in Execution against them, demanded of the Judges their Refolution of three Things.

Whereof one was,

If it were an Offence punifliable, and what Punishment is due by the Law, to those who frame Petitions and collect Multitudes of Hands thereto to prefer to the King in publick Caufes, as the Puritans have done, with intimation to

the