The Irish Martyr
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A87210.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
THE IRISH MARTYR. Or, A true Relation of the Lamentable Sufferings of Mr John Trewman, who by the cruelty of that Tyrant, the Earl of Strafford, late Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, was hanged, drawn and quartered in Carick • argus, for his expressions of love and good will to the SCOTS, in these late times of troubles. Expressed In an Information from the Wife of the said Martyr, and by two Speeches of his own; the one in Prison, and the other upon the Scaffold.
LONDON, Printed for F. C. & T. V. 1641.
THE IRISH MARTYR.
THe late Troubles about causes of Religion, are not unknown unto the three Kingdoms, to the great grief of but many, especially of the late death of John Trewman, who by the cruelty of the late Lord Deputy of Jreland Earl of Strafford, was lamentably put to death, for avowing the Scottish Covenant and defending of the truth with the Scottish Nation, for which the said John Trewman was condemned, hanged, Beheaded, and Quartered, his head put on the Castle of Carickfergus, at the place where before he was Prisoner until the Day of his Death, and likewise his Quarters put on the four Ports of the said Town: until for the infection thereof they were taken down and buried, to the great grief of many beholders, in such an Honorable cause to be so lamentably Executed: And not contented with the cruel usage of his person, did moreover take from his poor wife and Children all his Lands and goods, to the value of one Thousand Pound Sterling: Not leaving his Wife 3 pounds, and some Rings of Gold, which were in the purse, but did take the same from her, upon the day of her Husbands Execution, which should have kept alive her Five Fatherless Children, as likewise did not leave her self any furniture for her own body. So that the poor Woman and her Children, are put to misery and want. More particular Information may be gathered out of the two following Speeches, of the said worthy Martyr, which were taken from his own mouth.
JOHN TREWMAN'S First Speech spoken in the PRISON.
TO all Christians who are desirous to know the Cause of my Suffering in this troublesome time of persecution, there was sent into the North part of Ireland as I do conceive, in this furnace of affliction, by the Lord Deputy or some of his Instruments, one who named himself Captain Ieyles, and told when he came home to my house, he knew that I was borne in York-shire, and did in all his whole converse with me much revile the Bishops, and much praise the Scottish Nation: For standing so Valorously to the truth of the Gospel, I not thinking the least evil thought of him but very much did lament his case and my own likewise, that we could not have the liberty of the Gospel in the purity of it, without mixed with Superstition and Idolatry, whereupon said Jeyles, if you will Mr. Trewman, I could do the Scots good service, and desired me that I would write letters in his behalf, to Scotland which simply I did: But so it was that after he had catched me in the Spiders Webb, being as all the Country knows, not sent for me only, but for to Insnare greater men of much more Worth, but especially Sir John Clatworthie sometime my Landlord, whom the Lord did preserve from his wicked enterprises, at length I was sent for, by great Troupes of horses to Dublin after he had received my letters, whether to the Earl of Strafford, or to which of his Instruments I know not: As also which did much vex my Soul, Two of my Christian acquaintance, John Findlay and Alexander Blaye, who I told him, would see him transported to Scotland, notwithstanding we never came near them, were sent for by Troupes also & lay a long time in Dublin with me in Boults in the close layle: All Christian People Judge, whether this fellow was Judas or not, Oh for better times! I trust in the Lord my posterity shall yet see it, albeit they be Young: the Lord will have a care of my poor Wife and them: I remember, A friend said to me by the way as I came from Dublin to this place, oh Sir, I would you had never seen this Fellow: no said I, for I have laid my compt that although this wicked weed, that hath sprung from the Deputy, hath exposed me to die, an Innocent man, as the most perverse in all this Kingdom knows; yet I would not have missed it for ten thousand worlds, if it had not been for my Simplicity, and unwarinesse with him in this: Alas I thought myself as wary and wise as the most men, but let him that thinks he standeth take heed least he fall: yet let them torture me, I hope all will work for the good of my poor Soul. For I have ever found all things work together, for the well of God's people, &c.
JOHN TREWMANS last Speech upon the Scaffold, taken from his own mouth by divers Auditors.
MY Christian Friends, you have long known me in this Country, without spot or blame in the World, for my dealing in any worldly affairs, it is true, Corruption of nature & human frailty none can Iustifie themselves of: This man that is cause of my death knows that from my heart I prayed for our King, that God would enable him to be a true defender of the Faith as he was styled, and here on my death this was ever my chief care in private and public. I have had much to do with God in Dublin, and here in Carickfergut, to carry with me to death the Testimony of a good Conscience: I do here behold yonder poor Land of Scotland; O blessed Land, thou wilt yet through the power of God revenge my Innocent blood, it is forthee O Land I die here this Day: Come, I will sign it with my hand, and ere it be one half hour with my blood: good Friends, Remember me to the two other sufferers in Dublin, for here on my Death, they are Innocent of anything, either concerning me, or this fellow: now do your Office Executioner, to a true faithful Subject to the King, as hereafter doubt you not will be found, for many more Lives will go in this cause besides mine: Farewell my dear Wife and Children, and Christian Friends in my presence, &c.
HOLD, All my good Friends some words more, pray the Lord to strengthen my Faith, that I may arrive in new Jerusalem ere it be long, and desire, and request the Judge Mayarte, if he may without danger of my Lord Deputy, not to mangle my Body as he hath given Judgment, and to take care of my Wife and Children: The Lord be with you all, and send you better times, O LORD my Savior receive my Soul.