THe Murther of that Noble true Eng­lish Protestant Patriot, Sir Edmund­bury Godfrey, is now so notoriously known, not only throughout Eng­land, but I hope our Neighbour Na­tions too, (especially of the Reformed Religion) that it will be wholly unnecessary with any Ar­tifice of Rhetorick, to draw forth the Readers Compassionate Tears for that worthy Gentlemans Martyrdom, or raise up his just indignation against the base and barbarous Assassinates that were the Authors of it. It was on Saturday the 12th day of October, this Bloody Fact was Com­mitted, which long lay concealed in darkness, black as that which had over-spread their Souls who were concerned in it. But at length, that infinite ado­rable Power, the Avenger of Innocent Blood, who hears the cries of his Slaughtered Saints from under the Altar, and brings Light out of Darkness, was graciously pleased to make some discovery of this Hellish Crime; upon which, several persons were [Page 4]committed to custody. And of them, three on the 10th of this instant February, were brought to their Tryal at the Kings-Bench Bar at Westminster, where after a fair hearing, and full Evidence, by a Jury consisting of persons of Worth and Quality, they were found guilty, and next Morning received Sen­tence of Death. The particulars of the Proof and Tryal, we shall not intermeddle with, but rather refer the Reader for his full satisfaction therein, to that intire and perfect Narrative, which the World may shortly receive from the indubitable approba­tion of Authority.

Of these three persons Attainted of the Felony and Murther, one (on some important considera­tions) is (at least for some time) thought fit to be graciously Reprieved. An acount of the other two, viz. Robert Green and Laurence Hill, as to their Behaviour, &c. after Sentence till Execution, we shall briefly, but most truly and impartially give you.

Robert Green was an Irish-man born, his Father a Protestant, as himself acknowledged, but his Mo­ther (whose weaker Sex rendred her more lyable to such absurd delusions) a Papist, who bred him up with an Uncle of his, in the Popish Heresie, though his Education was so mean, that he could neither Write nor Read. But where Ignorance is celebrated as the Mother of Devotion, he was so much the apter Instrument for Jesuitical Engines of subtilty to make use of. His aforesaid Uncle instructed him in the common Notions and Prayers [Page 5]of the Romish Superstition; and he had his abode in Ireland, till he was 16 or 18 years old, being now 54 years of Age.

They being all after Condemnation kept sepa­rately in Newgate, Mr. Ordinary according to his place, and ready inclinations to Christian Charity, offering him his Assistance, Advice, Exhortations, and Prayers, he very modestly accepted of his vi­sits; who frequently exhorted him (as the first step to a sincere and hearty Repentance) to unburthen his Conscience, by a free, full, and ingenuous Con­fession of the horrid Murther for which he stood Condemned, and justly was to suffer, using all the perswasive Arguments he could to that purpose. But though he seemed to hearken to his Admoniti­ons, yet could he not be prevailed upon therein, but rather appeared to stand it out in self-justifica­tion of his Innocence as to that particular. Which (as Mr. Ordinary very well observed unto, and pressed upon him) could not be (considering the plainness of the Evidence, and apparentness of the Crime and his Guilt) but upon one, or all of these three Reasons, viz.

1. That either they were under an Oath of Se­crecy, which (as he truly told him) was a wicked Oath, and in that case not at all obligatory.

2. Or that betwixt the time of the Murther com­mitted, and that of their Apprehension, some Priest had given them a pretended Absolution, and so they conceited themselves now Innocent: which Mr. Ordinary had the more reason to urge, because [Page 6]of some former experiences he had had of common Felons, who in such case had resolutely denyed even at place of Execution, with their last breath, those very Crimes, which but some days before they had freely Confessed to himself; and that meerly on the reason aforesaid. Which there is good rea­son to believe, not only from his irreprochable Testimony, but even from that Popish Doctrine which some of them have not blusht to assert, ☞ Quod non peccat mortalitèr, qui negat se admi­sisse peccatum Mortale, alias legitime Confessum, Navar. in Man. Cap. 21. Num. 38. That Man sin­neth not mortally, who having shriven himself of some Mortal sin, denies afterwards that he was ever guilty of that sin.

3. Or lastly, That they believed it to be a me­ritorious act to kill an Heretick, as they call every Protestant; for so too runs their Hellish Doctrine▪ That any private man may lawfully Take, Spoil, and Kill such Hereticks as are so denounced to be, and burn their Houses over their Heads—Symancha Inst. Cathol. Cap. 45. Numb. 13.

To all which he declined to answer much in par­ticular, but onely gave a general denial, though he did confess that in other matters he had been a a great sinner against God, &c. And upon some occasional discourse, justifying himself from some particular sins, did declare that he accounted For­nication (and much more Adultery) not to be Venial, but mortal sins; nor did believe any sin to be Venial in its own nature. He also affirmed, that [Page 7]he did not believe some of the grossest points of Popery; yet said, he was resolved to live and die in the Roman Catholick Religion, (as he called it) because he was born and bred in it. To which Mr. Ordinary most appositely answered, and told him, that was no argument; for then he might like­wise resolve to live and die in sin, because born in, and too much accustomed to that also. He re­plied onely, That he would venture his Eternal State in cleaving to the Religion he had been bred in, and would hear no Arguments to the contra­ry.

Mr. Ordinary yet failed not daily to visit him, instructing and exhorting him to Repentance, and Faith in the alone all-sufficient merits of Christ. To which he was very attentive, as also to the Exhortations of another Reverend and Worthy Di­vine sent to assist in that work of Charity, and joyned with much seeming affection in Prayer with them. And so thanking the Ordinary on the Thursday for his great pains, and saying he would excuse him from attending him at the place of Ex­ecution, yet in the mean time desired his Prayers, took his leave of him.

Laurence Hill, the other unhappy Criminal, was born and bred up in the Popish way, and resolved likewise to live and die therein. He declared that he was not a Shoomaker, as hath been reported, but put forth to be a Servant about 13 years of age, and successively continued in that condition, (at least till very lately) being 34 years old at the [Page 8]time of his death. He would not (though much pains and many such Arguments as to the other, too tedious here to be related, were used to him) confess the Crime for which he suffered; but in general, that he had been a great sinner; and par­ticularly said, that he never wrong'd any person, but one of a very inconsiderable sum, (which he specified) and of which (he said) he had lately made restitution.

He would not admit any Protestant Divine to pray with, yet desired their Prayers at home for him; and so thanking Mr. Ordinary for his pains, and praying God to reward him, took his leave of him, excusing him likewise from further atten­dance.

On Friday the 21th of February they were both pretty early in the morning convey'd in a Cart to Tyburn, where, after very few words, and some short private Prayers, they were Executed.