THE Bristol-Narrative: OR, A JUST ACCOUNT OF THE Imprisonment and Death OF JOHN THOMPSON, A Conventicling-Preacher there.
Given upon Oath by THOMAS HOBSON Gent. Keeper of His Majesties Goal of Newgate, within that City.
Wherein the Phanatick-Relations concerning his Usage and Death, are found false and impudent.
LONDON, Printed by William Godbid. M.DC.LXXV.
Imprimatur.
Ex Aed. Lambethanis, Jun. 1 o. 1675.
THO. TOMKYNS.
IN regard that the turbulent Spirit of Phanaticism cannot promote its Interest, or delude the People, unless they are made to have an ill opinion of their Lawful Governours and Pastours, it hath alway had recourse to Forgery and Lying, as its principal Sanctuary, defending it self, and endeavouring to appear Innocent by other mens reproaches. Which hath ever been the way of upholding Faction; and (although it be most horribly detestable) hath had its dangerous designed Effects in a very great measure, while credulous men too readily receive and countenance the Authors of malicious Relations. One Example whereof we have in this, that is the occasion of this ensuing Narrative, which his Lordship the Right Reverend Father in God, the Bishop of Bristol hath permitted to be Published to undeceive those, who have been abused by the bold and notoriously false Reports concerning Mr. Thompson's Imprisonment and Death. For whereas it hath by these men been commonly discoursed and affirmed, that the said Thompson was by the Bishop's procuring thrown into a filthy Dungeon, where the stench of the place, and of a Jakes near it, together with the want of meat and drink, and other necessaries, had partly poysoned, partly starved him to death; and that his Friends and Acquaintance were forbidden to administer to him such things as he needed: The contrary is most true; he having the command of the fairest Lodgings in the Prison, being never unaccompanied or free from Visitants, and scarcely having intermission [Page 4] from eating and drinking, until he had by a Surfeit (whereof he dyed) made himself uncapable of those pleasures to which he had been accustomed. The baseness of these Arts, so unlikely to proceed from men professing so much zeal to Godliness, the following Declaration, subscribed and sworn before the Right Worshipful Ralph Olliffe Esq, Mayor of the said City, will sufficiently manifest.
IN Obedience to Your Lordships Commands, and for my own Vindication from those causeless Calumnies which the malicious industry of some evil Agents have scattered far and near concerning me, and my Usage of the Non-conformist Preachers committed to my charge and custody, as being Keeper of His Majesty's Goal, I humbly crave leave to give Your Lordship this brief Narrative following, viz.
On the Tenth of February 1674, Mr. John Thompson was committed by Ralph Olliffe Esq our Mayor, Sir John Knight K t, and others His Majesty's Justices of the Peace here, upon the Act of Parliament, made for restraining of Non-conformists from coming into Cities and Corporations; to remain a Prisoner, without Bayl or Mainprise, for Six Months.
The next day after his Commitment I offered Mr. Thompson (being a corpulent man) the liberty and favour to walk upon the Leads, and take the fresh Air, (which is not usually allowed to other Prisoners) which offer was by him willingly embraced. I accompanied him thither, whence we took a prospect of the City, and Countrey adjacent, and Mr. Thompson was pleased to declare the Air there to [Page 6] be very wholesom; and he walked there several other times afterwards (being allowed the Keys for that purpose) as often as he pleased; he having Company with him, and not being denyed the enjoyment of the Society of any that came to visit him.
But within three days after his Commitment he complained to me he was sick in his Stomach, and said he would take a Vomit: I told him, I supposed a Vomit not safe for him by reason of his corpulency, and therefore did, in some measure, disswade him from it. But by advice of Dr. Chancy he took a Vomit, which, as I verily believe, did not work kindly with him: For, the Afternoon of the same day wherein he took it, he complained to me that he was very Sick, and had a great pain in his Head; which Distemper continued, and increased violently on him till his Death, which was the 5 th of March following.
The first four days of his Commitment he had for his Lodging the privarest Chamber in the House, being no part of the Common Prison, but of the Apartments belonging to my self, (as Keeper) and my Family, and the best Room that was then void, and at my command, and had the company of his Wife till the Monday after his Commitment, being the 15 th of February; when Mr. Hardcastle and Mr. Weeks were committed to my custody, for the like offence against the same Act. Whereupon Mr. Thompson, Mr. Hardcastle, and Mr. Weeks, with several Friends of theirs solicited me to spare them the largest, fairest, and most pleasant Chamber in the Prison, which some of Your Lordships Servants well know to be such.
This Room (though taken up by several other Prisoners, who lodged there before Mr. Thompson's Commitment) I was willing on the request of Mr. Thompson, Mr. Hardcastle, and Mr. Weeks, and their Friends, to procure the former Prisoners to quit, and resign to them; which was accordingly done.
In this Chamber (having in it two large Feather-Beds, and furniture answerable) these three Gentlemen were lodged, until that Mr. Thompson's Sickness increasing, and his company proving more troublesom, Mr. Hardcastle and Mr. Weeks desired to have another Chamber, wherein were two other Feather-Beds; which was granted them, and they continued there till Mr. Thompson's Death.
Mr. Thompson being dead, I caused an Inquisition to be taken, (as the manner is) a Copy whereof Signed by one of the Coroners, I lately sent to Your Lordship. During all this time of Mr. Thompson's Imprisonment, he was Accommodated both in his Health and Sickness, with variety of all sorts of the best Provisions and Wines our City affords; and with three Physician,, who attended him in his Sickness, His Distemper whereof he dyed, was, as his Physicians all agreed, a violent and malignant Feaver; being dead, he was decently interr'd in Christian Burial.
I had almost forgotten to acquaint Your Lordship of Andrew Gifford's Commitment, who came in about ten days after Mr. Thompson, for the like Offence as the rest.
And whereas 'tis reported that these Gentlemen were put into a Dungeon, and denyed necessary [Page 8] Provisions, and constrained to suck Liquor through a Tobacco-pipe, and that this and such like Barbarous usage was through Your Lordships order and direction: I utterly deny that any such usage ever was, not was there any direction or order of Your Lordship, or any other for that purpose.
But on the contrary, the Imprisonment of Mr. Thompson was, and that of the other three is managed with so much Christian tenderness towards them, that they were admitted to partake of all the Kindnesses their Friends were pleased to heap on them; which consisted in daily entertaining them with all sorts of the best Provisions and Wines. If I should tell Your Lordship what farther Favours and Kindnesses these Prisoners have been indulged, since their Commitment, I may possibly subject the Sheriffs (my Masters) and my self to just Censure and Penalties; and therefore shall beg Your Lordships pardon, and, in hast, rest
Thomas Hobson, Keeper of His Majesties Goal of Newgate, maketh Oath, that whatsoever is contained in this and the three preceding sides of Paper, is in substance true.
Jurat' primo die Maii, 1675. coram me