The Trial and Execution of John Hewet (1614–1658)
The manner of the Execution of John Hewet, D. D. on the same Scaffold, on Tuesday the same 8. of June 1658. with the substance of his speech before his Death.
AS soon as Sir Henry Slingsby's body was removed as is aforesaid, Dr. Hewet was brought upon the Scaffold, whither being come (together with Dr. Wild, Dr. Warmstry, and another Divine) he fell upon his knees, and prayed privately for the space of a quarter of an hour; After that he prayed audibly for a good space.
After which prayer he addressed himself to the people in a speech which continued above the space of an hour; the substance of which speech was as followeth.
That he was become a publick Spectacle to Men and Angels, and that he hoped the Omniscient God was then beholding him with much pity and compassion, the rather because he came hither to bear witness to the truth, for which end he came into the world, both as a common Christian and as a Minister, for wich dignity he blessed the name of God.
That it seemed strange to him that he pleading for the lawes and customes of the Land, should dye by those that should also stand for them.
That he had rather dye many Deaths then betray his fellow Freemen to the inconveniences of a subjection to their wills that had condemned him to Death.
That although he had no knowledge of the Lawes, yet he had instruction from the learned in that faculty, and had accordingly urged severall Cases, and that he had made his appeal to the learned in the Law, to the Judges, and to his Highnesse own Councell.
That through his ignorance in the customes and formalities of Courts, he was taken in 3. defaults, but that when he would have pleaded, and resolved so to do, he was taken from the Barr.
That he did the next day petition the Court twice, subscribing his name thereunto, to be admitted to plead; but the Title of the Court being mis-taken in the one, and a word left out in the other, it was taken for an Affront or Contempt to the Court, and that his answer was his sentence.
He prayed God to forgive those that adjudged him to dye, taking advantage of his ignorance.
That at the beginning of his Tryall there was a seeming consent that nothing should be taken to his prejudice through his ignorance in the nicety of the Law; but heartily prayed God to forgive and desired that even those that shed his blood might have the blood of Chri shed for them.
He acknowledged himself to be a of the Holy [...] Church, which he said was the Church of England, which Church he averred was for Doctrine and Discipline, (till the l d rion) more divine and Apostolicall then any other doctrine or Church in the world.
He made confession of his faith negatively, and affirmatively; negtively that he did abhor all Sects, Schismes, &c. in Religion: affirmtively, that as he did hold communion with, so he did love and honor all Christians, that lov'd the same Lord Jesus in sincerity.
That he did hope for salvation through the merits of Christ Jesus onely, although unto faith good works are necessary, not meritorious.
Touching, the treasonable design wherewith he was charged, he said that he hoped that his Conversation had been such that none would imagine he should intermeddle in such an Action, and hoped that none were so uncharitable as to believe he had knowledg of that design.
He declared a particar abhorrency unto the firing of the City, professing that if he had known of such a design he should have been the fist discoverer.
That he never saw the Marquesse of Ormond in his life. And touching the report of his being at Bruges, &c. He averred that he had not been 60 miles out of London these 3. yeares last past. That he knew the Names, but never saw the faces of Barrow nor Bishop, persons with whom he was charged to hold corespondency.
He remembred that his Highnesse told him he was like a flaming Torch in the midst of a sheaf of Corn: but said it was very uncharitably done of them that so irritated his Highnesse against him; but prayed the God of mercy to pardon and forgive them all.
Thus (but more largely) having spoken to the people, he told them he would after the manner of our Saviour, (who when he was to be taken from his Disciples, blessed them) pray for them, which he did accordingly for a good space with much earnenesse and piety.
After this, he joyned in publick prayer with Dr. Wild, and Dr. Warmestry, he all the while lying flat upon his breast.
Then he addressed himself to private prayer, wherein he continued a certain time.
After this he prepared himself for the Block, and with a black Ribbon bound over his eyes, lying with his breast o're the Block. He prayed again for a short while. Then laid his neck upon the Block, and after some short and private Ejaculations, the Executioner (having notice that he was ready) at one blow severed his head from his body; which was also put into a Coffin, and conveyed away by his friends.
The confluence of people of all sorts to behold these Executions was very vast, the like to which hath not been observed.
FINIS.
Source:Author: Slingsby, Henry, Sir, 1602-1658
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