Exeter, September 13. 1685
An account of the last words of Sir John Kidd martyred at Lyme and the arrival of Lord Jefferys at Exeter for the next Bloody Assize court
My lord,
Before I give an account of this place, I shall offer you a summary of the events that took place at yesterday at Lyme. For it was here that some of our dearest and closest friends were murdered.
The scaffold had been erect on the west shore near where we landed that June evening. The prisoners arrived from Dorchester in carts and a large crowds waited at the edge of the town, for here a sledge had been made to transport those to die across the beach. Yet, the horses broke the harness, so in the end, the twelve walked, unshackled, to the place of their execution.
So many had gathered that the guards had to force a passage through the spectators, that included a great number of Baptists come to take leave of their pastor, Sampson Larke. Then there were a large group of the same citizens that had gathered to welcome the late Duke ashore only four months hence. Together with over 200 hundred friends of the poor Christopher Battiscombe and young William Hewling. For these two brave soldiers where local men of some renown.
The bloody executions took several hours, as the horrid business of hanging and quartering was slow and sickening to watch. Then as Mr Marders was turned off, the last to die was our close friend, of many years, Sir John Kidd of Longleat. He saw me in the crowd and was pleased that some of his friends had lived to tell this story. So I am pleased to offer you here the last words of this brave and loyal man.
For he called out to his Guards and all those present. “Do you see this?”, he point to the Eleven that were dead before him. “Do you think this is not dreadful to me, that Eleven of Twelve of us, that but a few hours since we came down together, are dead and in Eternity? And I am just going to follow them and shall immediately be in the same Condition.”
So, I called to up to him, “It must be dreadful to be Flesh and Blood?”
He replied, “Well, Gentlemen, I will assure you, so far as I am concerned, me thinks that they should be so long before me in Bliss and Happiness. But I’ll make haste to follow. I am satisfied this is the best Day that ever I saw. The Day of a Man’s Death is said to be better than the Day of his Birth. And truly so I find it as to my Flesh, And I shall be presently free from Sin and Sorrow. I am satisfied God hath done his best for me. I might have lived and have forgotten God, but now I am going where I shall sin no more. ‘Tis a blessed thing to be free from Sin, and to be with Christ. Oh, how great were the Sufferings of Christ for us, beyond all that I can undergo! How great is that Glory to which I am going!”
Then taking his Leave of the People then present, he prayed some small time very devoutly and with seeming great Joy and Comfort allowed the Executioner to do his Office.
It was with a heavy heart that I left that place of death, for the sight of my friends being quartered and boiled was hard to take. For I know that I should have been with them but for the kindness of others. The only light on that dark day was that the young William Hewling was carried off by his poor sister. For she took his body off, before he was quartered, to be buried at the church in Lyme.
This day I have arrived to Exeter, were the Assize court has been sworn in and readies itself for more bloody business. In this place, there are near 500 souls on the lists of suspected rebels, so, it is with some relief that the Lord Chief Justice only finds 39 in the jail. He has said that these poor wretches will have verdicts passed and be sentenced over the next two day.
In my next, I shall give you an account of the Assize court at Exeter.
Your humble and loyal servant in the cause of liberty and freedom,
William Savage
The Bloody Assize Timeline:
An Account of the Western Assize court of Lord Chief Justice Jeffrey at Salisbury.
An Account of the Western Assize court of Lord Chief Justice Jeffrey at Salisbury.
An Account of the Western Assize court of Lord Chief Justice Jeffrey at Salisbury.
The news in London is that Dame Alicia Lisle was beheaded yesterday in Winchester.
The news in London is that Dame Alicia Lisle was beheaded yesterday in Winchester.
The news in London is that Dame Alicia Lisle was beheaded yesterday in Winchester.
This being a brief account of the opening of the Dorchester Assize where 337 souls are to be tried.
This being a brief account of the opening of the Dorchester Assize where 337 souls are to be tried.
This being a brief account of the opening of the Dorchester Assize where 337 souls are to be tried.
An account of the first day at the Dorchester Assize where 29 men have been sentenced to death
An account of the first day at the Dorchester Assize where 29 men have been sentenced to death
An account of the first day at the Dorchester Assize where 29 men have been sentenced to death
For some sentenced to die tomorrow there is a reprieve as Mr Ketch can only kill and quarter 13 in one day, even with the help of Pascha Rose
For some sentenced to die tomorrow there is a reprieve as Mr Ketch can only kill and quarter 13 in one day, even with the help of Pascha Rose
For some sentenced to die tomorrow there is a reprieve as Mr Ketch can only kill and quarter 13 in one day, even with the help of Pascha Rose
An account of the thirteen Martyrs executed in Dorchester by Lord Jeffreys
An account of the thirteen Martyrs executed in Dorchester by Lord Jeffreys
An account of the thirteen Martyrs executed in Dorchester by Lord Jeffreys
A list of the final sentences from the Dorchester Assize as given by Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys
A list of the final sentences from the Dorchester Assize as given by Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys
A list of the final sentences from the Dorchester Assize as given by Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys
An account of the nine Martyrs executed in Bridport by Lord Jeffreys
An account of the nine Martyrs executed in Bridport by Lord Jeffreys
An account of the nine Martyrs executed in Bridport by Lord Jeffreys
An account of the twelve Martyrs executed in Lyme Regis by Lord Jeffreys
An account of the twelve Martyrs executed in Lyme Regis by Lord Jeffreys
An account of the twelve Martyrs executed in Lyme Regis by Lord Jeffreys
The list of three Martyrs executed in the West after sentencing by Lord Jeffreys
The list of three Martyrs executed in the West after sentencing by Lord Jeffreys
The list of three Martyrs executed in the West after sentencing by Lord Jeffreys
An account of the executions and a list of the martyrs at Sherborne on the orders of Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys
An account of the executions and a list of the martyrs at Sherborne on the orders of Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys
An account of the executions and a list of the martyrs at Sherborne on the orders of Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys
Of the twelve Martyrs executed in Weymouth on orders of Lord Jeffreys
Of the twelve Martyrs executed in Weymouth on orders of Lord Jeffreys
Of the twelve Martyrs executed in Weymouth on orders of Lord Jeffreys
An account of the first day of the Taunton Assize court presided over by Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys
An account of the first day of the Taunton Assize court presided over by Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys
An account of the first day of the Taunton Assize court presided over by Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys
A letter from Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys to King James II detailing the value of each rebel.
A letter from Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys to King James II detailing the value of each rebel.
A letter from Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys to King James II detailing the value of each rebel.
The four martyrs that died at Taunton and the final list of verdicts from the Assize court.
The four martyrs that died at Taunton and the final list of verdicts from the Assize court.
The four martyrs that died at Taunton and the final list of verdicts from the Assize court.
Of the eleven Martyrs executed in Poole on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the eleven Martyrs executed in Poole on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the eleven Martyrs executed in Poole on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the Six Martyrs executed in Wareham and Wells on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the Six Martyrs executed in Wareham and Wells on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the Six Martyrs executed in Wareham and Wells on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the 543 men at Wells awaiting this bloody Assize Court of Judge Jeffreys
Of the 543 men at Wells awaiting this bloody Assize Court of Judge Jeffreys
Of the 543 men at Wells awaiting this bloody Assize Court of Judge Jeffreys
Of the 93 men transported to Barbados on the Happy Return from Weymouth
Of the 93 men transported to Barbados on the Happy Return from Weymouth
Of the 93 men transported to Barbados on the Happy Return from Weymouth
Of the 18 Martyrs executed in Taunton on the orders of King James II
Of the 18 Martyrs executed in Taunton on the orders of King James II
Of the 18 Martyrs executed in Taunton on the orders of King James II
Of the 3 Martyrs executed in Wellington on the orders of King James II
Of the 3 Martyrs executed in Wellington on the orders of King James II
Of the 3 Martyrs executed in Wellington on the orders of King James II
Of the Seven Martyrs executed in the West on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the Seven Martyrs executed in the West on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the Seven Martyrs executed in the West on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the Martyrs executed in Bristol on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the Martyrs executed in Bristol on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the Martyrs executed in Bristol on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
The 93 men transported on the Happy Return from Weymouth to Barbados by Sir William Booth
The 93 men transported on the Happy Return from Weymouth to Barbados by Sir William Booth
The 93 men transported on the Happy Return from Weymouth to Barbados by Sir William Booth
Of those Martyred in Axminster and Ottery St Mary on orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of those Martyred in Axminster and Ottery St Mary on orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of those Martyred in Axminster and Ottery St Mary on orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the seven Martyrs executed in Somerton on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the seven Martyrs executed in Somerton on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the seven Martyrs executed in Somerton on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
A true account of the trails of Mr Ring, Mr Fernley, Mr Cornish and Mrs Gaunt at the Old Bailey
A true account of the trails of Mr Ring, Mr Fernley, Mr Cornish and Mrs Gaunt at the Old Bailey
A true account of the trails of Mr Ring, Mr Fernley, Mr Cornish and Mrs Gaunt at the Old Bailey
97 men are transported on the Indeavour from Bristol to St Kitts & Nevis by Sir William Stapleton
97 men are transported on the Indeavour from Bristol to St Kitts & Nevis by Sir William Stapleton
97 men are transported on the Indeavour from Bristol to St Kitts & Nevis by Sir William Stapleton
The 14 men transported on the Rebecca from Bristol to Barbados by Mr Jerome Nipho.
The 14 men transported on the Rebecca from Bristol to Barbados by Mr Jerome Nipho.
The 14 men transported on the Rebecca from Bristol to Barbados by Mr Jerome Nipho.
The Martyrdoms of Mrs Elisabeth Gaunt at Tyburn and Mr Henry Cornish at Cheapside
The Martyrdoms of Mrs Elisabeth Gaunt at Tyburn and Mr Henry Cornish at Cheapside
The Martyrdoms of Mrs Elisabeth Gaunt at Tyburn and Mr Henry Cornish at Cheapside
The 90 men transported on the John Friggat from Bristol to Barbados by Sir William Booth.
The 90 men transported on the John Friggat from Bristol to Barbados by Sir William Booth.
The 90 men transported on the John Friggat from Bristol to Barbados by Sir William Booth.
The 172 men transported on the Port Royal Merchant from Weymouth to Jamaica and 26 that escaped.
The 172 men transported on the Port Royal Merchant from Weymouth to Jamaica and 26 that escaped.
The 172 men transported on the Port Royal Merchant from Weymouth to Jamaica and 26 that escaped.
A brief account of the trial of Captain Richard Nelthorp and Colonel John Ayloff for High Treason
A brief account of the trial of Captain Richard Nelthorp and Colonel John Ayloff for High Treason
A brief account of the trial of Captain Richard Nelthorp and Colonel John Ayloff for High Treason
This day Captain Richard Nelthorp is martyred before Grays Inns and Colonel John Ayloff martyred at Temple Gate
This day Captain Richard Nelthorp is martyred before Grays Inns and Colonel John Ayloff martyred at Temple Gate
This day Captain Richard Nelthorp is martyred before Grays Inns and Colonel John Ayloff martyred at Temple Gate
84 men are transported on the Constant Richard to Jamaica by White & Heywood
84 men are transported on the Constant Richard to Jamaica by White & Heywood
84 men are transported on the Constant Richard to Jamaica by White & Heywood
Of the three Martyrs executed in Nether Stowey & Stogursey on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the three Martyrs executed in Nether Stowey & Stogursey on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the three Martyrs executed in Nether Stowey & Stogursey on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the eight Martyrs executed in Bath & Chewton Mendip on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the eight Martyrs executed in Bath & Chewton Mendip on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the eight Martyrs executed in Bath & Chewton Mendip on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
The 80 men transported on the Betty from Weymouth to Barbados
The 80 men transported on the Betty from Weymouth to Barbados
The 80 men transported on the Betty from Weymouth to Barbados
Of the five Martyrs executed in Stogumber & Dulverton on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the five Martyrs executed in Stogumber & Dulverton on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the five Martyrs executed in Stogumber & Dulverton on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the five Martyrs executed in Porlock & Dunster on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the five Martyrs executed in Porlock & Dunster on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the five Martyrs executed in Porlock & Dunster on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the three Martyrs executed in Minehead on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the three Martyrs executed in Minehead on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
Of the three Martyrs executed in Minehead on the orders of Judge Jeffreys
The 182 transported on the Jamaica Merchant from Weymouth to Barbados
The 182 transported on the Jamaica Merchant from Weymouth to Barbados
The 182 transported on the Jamaica Merchant from Weymouth to Barbados
