The Behaviour OF Mr. Will. Staley IN NEWGATE After CONDEMNATION.
COncerning the Tryal of this Person, Care hath already been taken by Authority, to have a full and satisfactory Account made publique; whereby it will appear, for what Horrid and Treasonable words against the Sacred Life and Person of the Best of Kings, his Maiesty, our most Gracious Sovereign; and upon what [Page 4] full and clear Evidence, and fair Hearing, the Prisoner was Convicted, and Condemned to be Drawn, Hanged, and Quartered. After which dreadful Sentence he was carried back from Westminster-Hall to Newgate, from whence he came, having time allowed him from that Thursday to the Tuesday following, to fit and prepare himself for that great and terrible Change. As his Education had been in the Popish Profession, and (as 'tis said) amongst the most dangerous of that Party, I mean the Jesuites beyond the Seas; so he did not stick to own himself a Roman Catholick: However, Mr. Ordinary, according both to his Office and Christian inclinations to take all opportunities for the good of Souls, went several times to visit him, and offer his Ministerial Assistances; whom he received with much respect, desiring him to come as often as he could; who failed not therein, but used the most pressing Arguments, as well to bring him to a sense of the detestable heinousness of the Crime for which he was to suffer, and other his Sins; as also to take him off from the Errors and Superstitions of the [Page 5] Popish Church; not to flatter himself with any previous Dispensations, or subsequent Pardon from the See of Rome, or any of its Priests, or of any Prayers or Offices that might be said for him after Death, for that all those things would prove wholly vain and useless to his Soul, when it should approach the Divine Tribunal, where nothing would stand him in stead, but only the Merits of our Lord Jesus, and to be cloathed with his Righteousness: that he having but a few Minutes left to secure his Eternal Condition, it therefore behoved him with all his might, to lay hold on that Rock of Ages, by casting away all superstitious Conceits, and getting a true and lively Faith, so as not to put any confidence in Men or Angels, but in Christ alone. To come out from a people of Blood, and not suffer them to destroy his Soul too by the in delusions, who had been the occasion of bringing his Body to an ignominious destruction. To consider the excellency of true Protestant Principles, as founded on the un-erring Word of God, and not on the uncertain Traditions [Page 6] of Men, and incomparably beyond any others, most advancing the grand designes of Christianity, viz. Glory to God, Peace on Earth, and Good will towards Men. Whereas the Tenets which the Church of Rome hath added, are derogatory to Gods honor, Christs merits, full of Superstition and Idolatry, destructive to Government and Society, invented only to serve Ambition or Covetousness, without any footsteps in Holy Scripture, and never owned in the Primitive Church for several hundred years, &c. Such and the like pious Exhortations (but much more at large and pathetically delivered) the Minister urged to him: which he heard with a becoming attention; But returned not much in answer, save only frequent Sighs, and sometimes short private ejaculations.
Indeed after his Condemnation, he was all along very reserv'd in words, and abstemious as to Drink or Victuals, eating very little, and spent the last night almost wholly at his Devotions.
On Tuesday the 26th instant, between Ten and Eleven of the Clock, he was brought out and put upon the Sledge, drawn with four Horses, in which being tyed, he lay leaning on the straw with his back, and sometimes raised himself and sat up. He had on a very good Black Suit, a becoming Perriwig, and Silk Stockings; but his Hat he put not on. His Countenance was grave and composed, expressing by the elevation of his Hands and Eyes, and motion of his Lips, very frequent marks of Devotion. Through all the way he was attended with a very extraordinary Guard; so many Constables, Watchmen, &c. as the like has not for many years bin seen.
Being come to Tyburn the common place of Execution, he did not stand to make any formal Speech; but in several discourses, though he did not absolutely deny the words, seemed willing to have extenuated his Guilt, by alleadging that he had no Traiterous Intention, &c. However, he pray'd very fervently, and appeared to be attentive to the discourses of the Minister; and so begging very heartily all good people to pray for him, he submitted to his Sentence, and was H [...]ng'd and Quarter'd, many people pittying his person, but all acknowledging the Justice of his punishment, and detesting his Traiterous Crime.