1660 Trial and Execution of the Regicides

Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason Volume 5. Some Particulars of the Behaviour, and of the Execution of Col. John Jones (age 63), the 17th of October, 1660, at the same place.

The Copy of a Letter sent from Col. John Jones, when prisoner in the Tower of London, to a Relation.

I am very much grieved, to find (by the note I received from you) such dark and sad apprehensions upon your spirits concerning me: We are in the hands of the Lord, and what he hath appointed for us, will be our portion, and no man can frustrate his holy purpose concerning us; which I question not will be found to be in love, whatever appearance it may have to men. My advice is to you and all that love me, That (in case I be removed from you) you do not, neither in reality, nor outward garb, mourn for me; but rather rejoice, that my portion is in heaven; and that my dissolution or removal out of this earthly Tabernacle, is but in order to my cloathing with immortality, and possess ing my eternal mansion; and to my being for ever with Christ, to behold his glory; and therefore that you do not.behave yourself, as those that have no hopes but of this life.

Secondly, That you take off your mind from have no resting-place to delight in, or to promise them safety; until we return to the ark of his testimony, the bosom of his love manifested and exhibited for us in our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. I write in haste, therefore excuse my abruptness. Thine in sincere love, Tower, Sept. 19, 1660. JOHN JONES.

Let the first and last verses of Psalm 27, be constantly fixed upon thy mind.

Ver. 1. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

Ver. 14. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart? wait I say on the Lord.

Some few living Sentences, that fell from a dying man, Col. John Jones, when he was in his chains in Newgate. Observing one of col. Scroop's children weeping, he takes her by the hand, saying to her, You are weeping for your father, but suppose your father were to morrow to be king of would you weep so? Why he is going to reign France, and you were to tarry a little behind, with the King of kings, in everlasting glory.

Speaking to a friend, that was to have açcompanied him into Ireland, Ah! dear heart (says he) thee and I were in that storm toether, going to Ireland, and if we had gone this journey then, we had been in heaven to have welcomed honest Harrison and Carew; but we will be content to go after them, we will go after.

Speaking of those that were gone beyond the seas, (O dear hearts, says he) in what a sad condition are our dear friends beyond sea, where they may be hunted from place to place, and never be in safety, nor hear the voice of the turtle; how much have we gotten the start of them, for we are at a point, and are now going to heaven?

Speaking of the sledge in which he was to be carried to execution; it is (said he) like Elijah's fiery chariot, only it goes through Fleetstreet.

The time of his departure being come, this aged gentleman was drawn in one sledge, with his aged companion colonel Scroop, whose grave and graceful countenances, accompanied with courage and chearfulness, caused great admiration and compassion in the spectators, as they passed along the streets to Charingcross, the place of their execution: And after the executioner had done his part upon three others that day, he was so drunk with blood, that like one surfeited, he grew sick at stomach; and not being able himself, he set his boy to finish the tragedy upon colonel Jones; who coming up the ladder with the like chearfulness as his brethren did before him, and being placed fit for execution, he proceeded to speak as followeth:

Colonel John Jones's Speech upon the Ladder.

There are two things that are necessary now I am going through this narrow gate or passage to the eternal majesty; I say, two things are necessary as to the occasion of my coming hither to receive my Father's good pleasure.

1st, Peace with God. 2ndly, peace with man.

I shall speak something to each of these; and, in the first place, speak something of the Court wherein I received the sentence: it hath been reported, as I was told, that I confessed this fact, and confessed that I was guilty of murder, as under those several expressions that are in the Indictment, viz.

I desire to clear myself before the Lord, and before the world, in that particular; for should I grant that I was guilty in reality and truth of murder and malice, I should belye my own conscience, and draw upon me a greater weight than I could bear. But thus far I do confess, I was willing to make the work as short as I could; and because I would not stand so long, I told them I would take the first jury that came; and when a jury was called, then I did confess so much as I was convinced of, as to the matter of fact; I desire you will judge cha- ritably of this that I speak at this time, as in the presence of the Lord, that it is not so really (viz. that I acknowledged myself guilty of murder), I had no such thing in my heart.

I must confess I very freely quit his majesty, considering what he doth in this case is the part of a loving son to a father, especially the judges telling him that it is the law; and I conceive that the Court did nothing but what they, to their best understandings, judged right as to law; therefore I freely acquit the Court, though there was not enough said to satisfy such a poor creature as I am, in so great and deep a point as that was: as for all others, I do not know any man on the earth, to whom I do bear any malice, but I am in perfect cha- rity with all men, and I hope the Lord is in charity with me: and therefore, as I desire to have forgiveness myself from all those I have offended, even so I do freely forgive all those that have in any measure offended me.

The next thing is towards God, and it is that which should be last upon my heart it is not expected that I should give an account here of my state and condition, for that is betwixt God and my own soul; and I do, through the grace and goodness of God, firmly believe that my redemption is wrought, and my pardon is sealed, and that I shall be immediately in my father's arms, and that I shall be translated and brought to behold the Lord Jesus Christ in glory, with comfort and fulness of joy.

Then he betook himself to his prayers.

Col. Jones's Prayer.

"Blessed Lord God, thou art the great opener, open unto my soul the Lord Jesus' Christ, who will lead me into the ways of truth and life; O God save me, make good all the pledges of thy love unto my soul; oh make all the promises which I have believed all the days of my life, make them now good unto my soul, giving me the full enjoyment of thyself: I desire to bless and praise thy name for this hour that thou hast brought me to, oh, what am I poor worm, that thou shouldest give me this opportunity to suffer for thy name, and to acknowledge thy mercies before so great a congregation at this place. Holy Father, Holy Father, oh that thou wouldest now rain down blessings from heaven upon thy poor creatures, that do hear and behold this action, this day; oh that thou wouldest sanctify this thing to them, and let poor England be a land of truth and happiness, O Lord let England flourish: and oh that thou wouldest make thy angel of light to go before thy people: good God we pray thee keep off those great judgments that hang over the heads of these nations, because they have sinned against thee: through thy name sanctify us, let not thy name be reproached. Dear Father, receive my soul, I am ready to come unto thee: blessed Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, blessed be thy name, in that thou hast opened the treasures of thy love unto my poor soul. Thou hast given me this hope, whereof I need not be ashamed. Blessed be thy name, my spirit is full of joy. Oh Holy Father, holy Father, I pray thee let thy blessing come down upon thy poor people. Look upon me, Holy Father: stretch out thine arms to carry me over this brook. I pray thee stand by me, dear Father, I cast myself into thy hand, I commit my soul unto thee."

His prayers being ended, he said, Mr. Sheriff, I must needs return you many thanks for your civility.

Sher. Repl.I am glad to hear such an ingenuous confession, and that you make such an end, and that you have not gone into any reviling language, as some others have done before.

Some more Passages of Colonel John Jones in Prison.

Col. Jones, the night before he suffered, told a friend he had no other temptation upon him but this, lest he should be too much transported, and carried out to neglect and slight his life, so greatly was he satisfied to die in that cause.

The day he suffered, he grasped a friend in his arms, and said to him with some expressions of endearedness, Farewell: I could wish thee in the same condition with myself, that thou mightest share with me in my joys.

After this he committed his soul to God, and was turned off.