July13. 1716.
William Paul.
REMARKS.
Here he tells us he had taken no manner of Care of his Body, and it is plain, by his Speech, he took as little of his Soul, since he dy’d with Malice in his Heart, and a Lye in his Mouth; as appears plain, if we compare his Speech with the following Letters, which he wrote to the Archbishop ofCanterbury, and the LordTownshend.
The Conclusion of this Paragraph is so very extravagant and hypocritical, considering the Submissions which he made to the present Ministry, that it cannot but strike the Reader with Horror, to think that onewho valu’d himself upon his Sacred Function, should dare thus to prevaricate in sight of God’s Tribunal; before which he was so quickly to appear.
Since Mr.Paulregrets, that he had not Quarters enough for every Parish in the Kingdom, to testify that a Clergyman of the Church ofEngland(he means his Nonjuring Church) was martyr’d for being Loyal to his King; I shall add no more but a hearty Wish, that his Incorrigible Brethren in Rebellion or Perjury, be they Clergy or Laymen, may fall by the hands of Justice to supply that Defect.
The two following Letters were written by Mr.William Paulon the 9th of July, to His Grace the Lord Archbishop ofCanterbury.
May it please your Grace,‘ATT my Tryall I thought I had a very good Plea, but was advis’d by the Lawers, as the suerest way to obtain Mercy, to plead guilty, upon which I threw my self wholly upon the King’s Mercy. What Confession the Court would have from me, I can’t tell; I am sure your Grace would not have me for the World spake more than I know. I declare before Almighty God, upon the Word of a Clergyman, I never brought any Letter out ofPreston, or went to any one Gentleman, or spoke the least thing that tended that Way,viz.to Rebellion, but came into my own Country, as fast as I could, and so toLondon, where I was seizd and sent toNewgate. I humbly desire your Grace once more to believe me, and to use your utmost Endeavours to save a poor Clergyman’s Life: If it will not be granted to spend the Remainder of it inEngland, I beg you’ll be pleesd to send me to the Plantations, or any where rather thenTyburn. I humbly desire your Grace to consideryour poor afflicted Servant, and take him from this nasty Prison.‘My Lord,‘I am your Lordship’s most Humble,‘and most Obedient Servant,William Paul.‘My Lord, I never did, since I was inNewgate, pray for the Pretender by any Name or Title.’
May it please your Grace,
‘ATT my Tryall I thought I had a very good Plea, but was advis’d by the Lawers, as the suerest way to obtain Mercy, to plead guilty, upon which I threw my self wholly upon the King’s Mercy. What Confession the Court would have from me, I can’t tell; I am sure your Grace would not have me for the World spake more than I know. I declare before Almighty God, upon the Word of a Clergyman, I never brought any Letter out ofPreston, or went to any one Gentleman, or spoke the least thing that tended that Way,viz.to Rebellion, but came into my own Country, as fast as I could, and so toLondon, where I was seizd and sent toNewgate. I humbly desire your Grace once more to believe me, and to use your utmost Endeavours to save a poor Clergyman’s Life: If it will not be granted to spend the Remainder of it inEngland, I beg you’ll be pleesd to send me to the Plantations, or any where rather thenTyburn. I humbly desire your Grace to consideryour poor afflicted Servant, and take him from this nasty Prison.
‘My Lord,‘I am your Lordship’s most Humble,‘and most Obedient Servant,William Paul.
‘My Lord, I never did, since I was inNewgate, pray for the Pretender by any Name or Title.’
My Lord,‘IBEG pardon for troubling your Grace, but presuming upon your Goodness once again, humbly desire you to interceed with his Royal Higness for Mercy. The dead Warrant is come down for Exicution Friday next: What ill Steps I have made in my Life past, I hope Almighty God will forgive me; but the things that are laid to my charge,viz.preaching up Rebellion, advising my Parishioners to take up Arms, and that I preachd severall seditious Sermons, all which are faulse upon the Word of a Clergyman, as I have a Cirtificate to prove, for six Years, the time of my being attOrton, handed by most of the Parish. Another thing is objected against me, that I was concern’d in sevral Consultations, but I am inocent and ignorant, I cal God to witness, of any Design that was formd in any Part of the Kingdome against the Government; and if ever I knew of any Meeting, but where I was unfortunatly atPreston, or Consultation, or ever ask’d or advis’d any Body to rise in Rebellion, I am willing to suffer.‘I desire your Grace will endeavour to save me this time from that ignominious Death of the Halter, and despose of me in what Part your Lordship pleaseth. If nothing can be done, I humbly desire your Lordship’s Blessing and Prayers for Patience and Courage in this severe time of Tryall. For God sake, my Lord, do what lyes in your power to save the Life of apoor afflicted Clergyman, the remaining Part of which shall be spent in Prayers for your Grace, and all that endeavour’d to bring me out of these great Troubles.‘My Lord,‘I am your Lordship’s most Humble‘And most Obedient Servant,William Paul.
My Lord,
‘IBEG pardon for troubling your Grace, but presuming upon your Goodness once again, humbly desire you to interceed with his Royal Higness for Mercy. The dead Warrant is come down for Exicution Friday next: What ill Steps I have made in my Life past, I hope Almighty God will forgive me; but the things that are laid to my charge,viz.preaching up Rebellion, advising my Parishioners to take up Arms, and that I preachd severall seditious Sermons, all which are faulse upon the Word of a Clergyman, as I have a Cirtificate to prove, for six Years, the time of my being attOrton, handed by most of the Parish. Another thing is objected against me, that I was concern’d in sevral Consultations, but I am inocent and ignorant, I cal God to witness, of any Design that was formd in any Part of the Kingdome against the Government; and if ever I knew of any Meeting, but where I was unfortunatly atPreston, or Consultation, or ever ask’d or advis’d any Body to rise in Rebellion, I am willing to suffer.
‘I desire your Grace will endeavour to save me this time from that ignominious Death of the Halter, and despose of me in what Part your Lordship pleaseth. If nothing can be done, I humbly desire your Lordship’s Blessing and Prayers for Patience and Courage in this severe time of Tryall. For God sake, my Lord, do what lyes in your power to save the Life of apoor afflicted Clergyman, the remaining Part of which shall be spent in Prayers for your Grace, and all that endeavour’d to bring me out of these great Troubles.
‘My Lord,‘I am your Lordship’s most Humble‘And most Obedient Servant,William Paul.
Newgate,
9thJuly.
The following Letter was written byWilliam Paul, the Night before his Execution, to the Right Honourable the Lord ViscountTownshend.’
My Lord,‘MR.Pattenwas so kind to pay me a Visit in my Affliction, and desired me if I knew any thing relating to the Government, I would declare it. My Lord, I solemnly declare, I call Almighty God to witness, I carried no Letter of fromPreston, tho I told Mr.Pattenso, which was only a Faint that I might go of; and if Mr.Pattenwill do me justice, he can tell your Lordship how uneasy I was when I discoverd my Rashness. My Lord, I depend soely upon your Lordship’s Goodness in this my miserable Condition. I wish my Lord, I could have my Life saved, that I might shew to the World how heartily I am sorry for all my past Errours; and no Man shall demonstrate it more, then‘My Lord,‘Your Lordship’s most Humble,‘And most Obedient Servant,William Paul.‘My Lord, Mr.Pattensayth it is an Aggravation to my Crime, that I pray’d in expres Terms inNewgatefor the Pretender by the Name of K.James, I declare I never did. I once more crave your Lordship’s kind Assistance to procure me my Life.’
My Lord,
‘MR.Pattenwas so kind to pay me a Visit in my Affliction, and desired me if I knew any thing relating to the Government, I would declare it. My Lord, I solemnly declare, I call Almighty God to witness, I carried no Letter of fromPreston, tho I told Mr.Pattenso, which was only a Faint that I might go of; and if Mr.Pattenwill do me justice, he can tell your Lordship how uneasy I was when I discoverd my Rashness. My Lord, I depend soely upon your Lordship’s Goodness in this my miserable Condition. I wish my Lord, I could have my Life saved, that I might shew to the World how heartily I am sorry for all my past Errours; and no Man shall demonstrate it more, then
‘My Lord,‘Your Lordship’s most Humble,‘And most Obedient Servant,William Paul.
‘My Lord, Mr.Pattensayth it is an Aggravation to my Crime, that I pray’d in expres Terms inNewgatefor the Pretender by the Name of K.James, I declare I never did. I once more crave your Lordship’s kind Assistance to procure me my Life.’