likewife, who pleaded guilty to their Indictments, receiv'd Sentence of Death; but having mention'd them in the Chronological Extract for laft Year, we shall not repeat their Names here; but will finish this Relation of the Proceedings against the Prifoners taken at Preston, with the following Piece, which Capt. John Bruce deliver'd as his laft Speech at the Place of Execution.”

I

Brethren and Country-men,

Am brought to this Place to difcharge the laft Debt I owe to Nature, and chearfully refign to the bleffed Will of Almighty God, whofe Mercy I adore, in that he hath afforded me his Grace, and Means fincerely to repent me of my paft Sins, and fuch Time to prepare for that bleffed and glorious Change which I hope to meet with in a few Moments.

I am not alham'd of that Caufe for which I die, but rejoyce that I am worthy to be a Sacrifice in the Vindication of the undoubted Rights of my lawful and natural Liege Lord, King James the third, and the expiring Li berty of my dear Country. I always firmly believ'd the hereditary Right of Succeffion to the Imperial Crowns of thefe Realms, to be a fundamental and unalterable Part of the Constitution, and could never think that any Diffe rence in Religion, or any the pretended Laws, which never yet receiv'd the Royal Affent of any lawful King, could in any wife difengage me, or any honeft Man, from that Duty and Allegiance which is due to our lawful Sovereign King James the third, whofe Title by Birth-right is clear and unquestionable; and I was therefore engag'd by the ftrongest Obligations of Duty, Honour, Religion, and Law, to join with his loyal Subjects in their just Endeavours to restore him to his Right, and to break thro' that Ufurpation, and Fence of Rebellion, which hath fo long kept him from them.

God in his infinite Mercy forgive thefe Kingdoms, incline the Hearts of the People to ftand as one Man, to bring in their lawful King, and free themselves from that merciless Tyranny which they now groan under. I am grown in Years, and not much fhort of what the Royal Pfalmift calls the Age of Man, and have known many Struggles in order to preserve the Conftitution and finking Liberties of the People, and feveral Turns and Changes that have enfu'd; in all which, Praife be to God, I pre ferv'd my Integrity, by a strict Adherence to the Interest of my King and Country, and oppofing, as far as in me G

lay,

lay, the Innovations that were daily introduc'd, to the Injury of the one, and the Enslavery of the other.

As one Wickedness is the Parent of another, fo the Revolution begot the Union; and from these Sources flow the Waters of Bitterness, which the good People of these Nations fo plentifully drink of at this Time. May God in his infinite Mercy work their fpeedy Deliverance, and reftore them to their ancient happy Conftitution and Government.

As for my Religion, I was bred up a Proteftant, according to the Doctrine and Difcipline of the Church of England, wherein I have ever liv'd, and in which (by God's Grace and Mercy) I fhall die: It taught me to give both God and my King their Due, to deal justly with all Men, forgive my Enemies, and expect Salvation thro' Jefus Chrift. Her Doctrines and Government I embrace, and pray God to restore her to her former Purity, Peace, and Profperity. I befeech all whom I have any Ways offended, to forgive me, as I from the Bottom of my Heart do all who have any Ways injur'd me, and particularly thofe who were concern'd in my Profecution, or in any wife inftrumental in promoting my Death. I forgive that greatest of Injuries, their furprizing me into a Confeflion of their Indictment, by bringing me to a Tryal two Days before the Time mention'd in their Notice, and without ever giving me any Copy of the Jury. Being a Scotch-man, and a Stranger to the Laws of England, I was the more liable to be impos'd on: God of his infinite Mercy forgive them, as I freely do.

I think it incumbent on me to take this last Opportunity of vindicating my Honour from that Report which traduc'd me as unfaithful to his Grace the late Duke of Hamilton, whilft I had the Honour, which was about twenty four Years, to be with him as a Companion and humble Servant; and hereby declare, upon the Words of a dying Man, and as I fhall answer it before Almighty God, that what hath been said to afperfe me on that Account, was utterly falfe; and any Difpleafure his Grace. conceiv'd againft me concerning it, entirely groundless: I always lov'd him, and dealt faithfully by that noble Duke, as God, the righteous Judge, will witnefs for me.

Thus have I difcharg'd my Confcience; and now, bleffed be Almighty God, that hath brought me to this happy Period of my Pilgrimage. I have finish'd a long Courfe, and adher'd, without wavering, to my King, the

Lord's

Lord's Anointed's Caufe; for, and in which I die, and hope this Day to be with my Saviour tranflated, to rejoyce with other loyal Sufferers, and all the Saints and Angels for evermore. Octob. 2. 1716.

John Bruce.

This Capt. Bruce was taken at Prefon, and one of those that were order'd to be tranfported; but he, together with Mr. John Winkley, Mr. Thomas Shuttleworth, Mr. George Hodgson, and Mr. William Charnley, refufing to accept of it, chofe rather to ftand their Tryals; and being convicted of High Treafon at the laft Affizes at Prefton, were executed at Lancaster on the 2d of October laft.

To thefe Tryals of the Prefton-Prifoners, we will fubjoin that of Mr. William Pitts, Keeper of the Goal of Newgate, who on the 14th of July 1716, was try'd on an Indictment of High Treafon, for permiting, aiding, and abetting Thomas Forfter, Efq; to make his Efcape out of the faid Gaol. He challeng'd twenty three of the Jurors, but at length a Jury being fworn, the Proceedings against him were as follows.

The Prifoner having pleaded not guilty, the Counfel for the King open'd the Indictment, and the Nature and Manner of the Offence; then the Lord Townshend's Warrant for the Commitment was prov'd, which occafion'd fome Debate between the Counfel on both Sides; but the Objections on the Part of the Prifoner being overrul'd, Mr. Rewfe, one of the Turkeys, was fworn, who depos'd, That on the Day mention'd in the Indictment, Mr. Forfter was committed to Newgate into the Prifoner his Mafter's Cuftody, and remain'd fo 'till he made his Efcape: That it was the Cuftom in the faid Prifon, both before and after, fometimes at eleven, and fometimes at twelve a Clock at Night, to put the Guard into the Prefsyard, which was the Bufinefs of Mr. Ballard, his FellowServant; and when had he done, and every Thing was made fecure, his Mafter, the Prifoner, receiv'd the Keys, and took particular Care of Mr. Forfter himself: That his Master was always very diligent in his Duty: That he went to the Secretary's Office to acquaint them of the Neceflity of having a Guard, which was accordingly order'd; befides which, he was at the Charge of two Watch-men, who took their Turns every Night, to infpect the Soldiers, and prevent their being brib'd: That the Night Forfter efcap'd, he being afleep in the Lodge, his Mafter came to him very much furpriz d, and told him, that what had been his greatest Care,

.

would now be his Ruin, and fhew'd him a falfe Key; upon which he told him, there was a Man in the Prifon who had been a Servant to the City-Smith; that the Prifoner examin'd this Man, but he deny'd his being any ways acquainted with the making of that Key; however, his Mafter order'd him immediately to be confin'd. Then be and Mr. Ballard hafted away to Billingsgate, and enquir'd at the Dark-honfes, if any Perfon had juft gone off, or had befpoke a Pallage to Gravefend, or waited for the Tide, which he faw coming in; and at laft was inform'd, that at the Gun Tavern there were a couple of Gentlemen, who waited for a third, to go to Gravesend upon which he went to them, but found them Dutch Gentlemen; from thence he went to Queenhithe, enquiring all the Way, without acquainting any Perfon of the Occafion of his Errand; and thence to Black Fryers, where he was inform'd a fingle Gentleman had just cross'd the Water with a Sculler; upon which he took Boat, and enquir'd at the Watch-houses on the other Side, and became inform'd that the Perfon who crofs'd, was a Neighbour, very much in Drink; but could learn nothing of Mr. Forfter; and then, not knowing what to do farther, came Home. He also depos'd, That Mr. Forfer's Room was very strong, and more fecure than any Room in the Prifon; and that he could make no Noife nor Disturbance without waking his Mafter, who lay upon the fame Floor, a Partition being only between them. That the Prifon was full, ten or twelve being confiu'd in one Room; and that none of them were in Irons, not fo much as Mr. Forster's Man. He farther depos'd, That he believ'd his Mafter was not at all confenting to Forfier's Escape; and thought, if it was his Cafe, and he would have taken Bribes, he should rather have chofen to have gone along with him, than to have staid to bear the heavy Load that fuch a Crime would certainly have put upon him. That Count Guifcard was, also confin'd in the Prifoner's Houfe by Order, it being thought, by the then Ministry, to be the fafeft Place; and so too was Mr. Harvey, for High Treason.

Then Mr. Ballard was fworn, who depos'd, He went to lock up Forfier, and faw him come out of the Prefs-yard, appearing melancholly, and complaining he was tir'd of Reading; and that he gave his Mafter the Keys, as he us'd to do, after he had put the Guards into the Press-yard. That he obferv'd his Mafter to be extraordinary careful of Mr. Forfter, that he fhould not efcape: That his Mafster had given all his Servants Charge to take no Bribes, which

the

the Rebels were very free to offer; and that he himself might have taken 5000 l. in his Time, if he would have been falfe to his Truft. That when Forster was gone, his Master came to him like a Mán distracted, knocking his Head against the Wainscot, crying out, he was ruin'd, undone, &c. and he verily believ'd he was not concern'a in his Efcape. Being afk'd by the King's Counsel, if it was usual for the Prifoner to vifit the Rebels after they were lock'd up? he reply'd, No: And again, if Mr. Anderton and Mr. Förfter had taken his Mafter by the Throat, could he ring his Bell, or give any Notice? he reply'd, He might make his Black hear, who had Arms. That his Mafter might let in the Soldiers upon any Disturbance; or the Soldiers in the Lodge might hear upon firing a Gun, and come to their Affiftance. That his Mafter attended all laft Winter in the fevereft Seafon, and was indefatigable in his Diligence and Care in fecuring the Prifoners.

Then Mr. Revel was fworn, who depos'd, He went to lock up about eleven a Clock at Night, and his Mafter, bid him make Hafte; and when he had done, he gave him the Key. That Mr. Anderton, Mr. Forfter, and his Master, were above Stairs in Forter's Room, over a Flask of Wine, his Master with his Back to the Door, the other two facing it. That his Master afk'd him, if all was fafe? and he told him, Yes; and then he went out, and the Black fhut the Door after him. That his Mafter was a very careful Man, and never fatisfy'd, but when up and down to fee that all was fafe; and that he had turn'd away one Mills for being drunk once on his Duty, and never would be perfwaded to take him again. He confirm'd alfo what was faid of his Diligence in the frosty Weather.

Then Caliband, Mr.Pitts's Black, (having been chriften'd) was fworn, and depos'd, That on the Night when Mr. Forfer efcap'd, he went to the Prefs-gard, and there faw Mr. Anderton and his Mafter together. That when the

Guards were thut in, and Mr. Revel gone, he made all fast after him, and carry'd the Keys to his Mistress, who bid him carry them to his Master; and coming down Stairs, he met Forfter's Man, who told him he was a-dry; upon which he bid him go with him into the Cellar, and he would draw him fome Beer, but the other refus'd it, and ftood on the Stairs ; and while he was in the Kitchin look ing for a Pot, his Mafter call'd him, but he could not get out; at last, his Mafter faw a Peg ftuck in, which he

pull'd