Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/29

Rh to suffer the pain of death for his execrable treason. He shewed much contrition of spirit, and, taking notice that Hugh Peters was there and to be executed next after, he heartily wished that he might be reprieved, being, so he conceived, not prepared to dye."

So little was said about Clement that the test here is a very short one. All that the 'Speeches and Prayers' say about him is as follows:—

"Perhaps some may think it strange that there is so little said as to Mr. Gregory Clement, who suffered with the rest. Therefore this only is to be said more (which is known to many) that Mr. Clement was very silent both at the time of his imprisonment at Newgate and at the time and place of his execution at Charing Cross. Only this is said, that he exprest' his trouble to some friends in the prison, for yielding so far to the importunity of his Relations as to plead guilty to the indictment. And although he spoke little at the place of execution, yet as far as could be judged by some discerning persons who were near him, he departed this life in peace."

But Mercurius Publicus (11-18 Oct.) states:—

"Gregory Clement, at his death, express'd a great deal of sorrow and penitence, confessing that he most justly suffered both from God and man and that his judges had done nothing but according to law, begging the prayers of all spectators."

William Smith once more adds further details (Hist. MSS. Commission's Fifth Report, Appendix, p. 174):—

"On Wednesday Thomas Scot, railing" [Mer- curius Publicus confirms this], " and Gregory Clement, howling, because, he said, his sin could not be forgiven, died as and where the rest."

VIII. THE EVIDENCE ABOUT HACKER AND AXTELL.

The ' Speeches and Prayers ' assert that none of 'the regicides wrote their * Speeches,' and also that Hacker and Axtell died as impenitent for their crime of regicide as the book asserts the rest did. But Hacker wrote his speech ; and Axtell, like Cooke, Clement, and John Jones, died penitent. The Parliamentary Intelligencer for 1522 Oct., 1660, states :

" Tyburn. October 19. This morning Mr. Francis Hacker and Mr. Daniel Axtell, heretofore called colonels, were drawn upon an hurdle from the gaol of Newgate to Tyburn. Mr. Hacker before his execution spake but little. He had a paper in his hand containing what he meant to deliver, which was very short and to this purpose. That he was an officer employed in the service and endeavoured to discharge his trust. Which might have been spar'd by a dying man

who had sign'd a warrant to the Executioner for the murther of his own king.

" Mr. Axtell said that he was cal'd out at the beginning of the war and went not out into arms without advice, for he had conference with a minister in Laurence Lane (we give you his very words) who told him it was the cause of God.. That after he had engag'd in England he was cal'd into Ireland where he endeavoured to do his work. We will not mention what that work was, . for he is now dead [see a tract entitled ' A Collec- tion of some of the Murthers and Massacres committed on the Irish in Ireland since the 23rd of October, 1641 ' press-mark 601. f. 14 (7)], but for that minister and all his bretheren who so - notoriously inflam'd all our distractions, they may now see to what they have brought their proselytes. After this Mr. Axtell went to prayers, . wherein Mr. Hacker joyn'd, which ended, the executioner did his office."

Finally, William Smith (as before) wrote : " On Friday Francis Hacker, without remorse, . and Daniel Axtell, who dissolved himself into tears and prayers for the King and his own soul, were executed at Tyburn."

The remaining cases are all equally un- favourable to the ' Speeches and Prayers,' and I do not think it necessary to add any more evidence in support of the contemporary statement that they were a " meer forgery and imposture " a conclusion, I may add, which was endorsed by Dr. Philip Bliss, the learned bibliophile and editor of Anthony a Wood's ' Athenae Oxonienses,' in a letter which the reader will find pasted in the Grenville copy of the ' Speeches and Prayers ' in the British Museum.

J. B. WILLIAMS.

(To be continued.)

ST. MARY'S, AMERSHAM, BUCKS: CHURCHYARD INSCRIPTIONS.

(See 11 S. vii. 464.)

THE next lot are those between the path leading from the gate at the north-east end of the churchyard, which terminates at the south-east corner by the swing-gate leading into Church Alley, and the path from the north-east gate leading to the south porch, whence another starts and meets the first- mentioned at the swing-gate, the piece of ground being almost triangular in shape.

23. James son of James | and Mary Ann Avern
 * of Bovingdon Hertfordshire | who died Sep. 11

1810 aged [29 years ?].

The Register states he was buried on 13 Sept. of that year.

24. William Baldwin | who died Deer. 4th 1814 | aged 55 years.

25. Joseph Baldwin | died February 4th 1839
 * aged 47 years.