A true copy of part of that paper which Mr. Ashton left in a friend's hands together with the letter in which he sent it enclosed. Ashton, John, d. 1691. 1691 Approx. 8 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 2 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A26029 Wing A3992 ESTC R30710 11413800 ocm 11413800 47738 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A26029) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 47738) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1453:51) A true copy of part of that paper which Mr. Ashton left in a friend's hands together with the letter in which he sent it enclosed. Ashton, John, d. 1691. [2] p. s.n., [London : 1691] Caption title. Imperfect: pages creased, stained, and torn with loss of print. Letter in which the "paper" came enclosed reads: "Newgate, January 27, 1690/91". Reproduction of original in the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign Campus). Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Last letters before death. Great Britain -- History -- William and Mary, 1689-1702. 2007-06 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-06 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-09 Elspeth Healey Sampled and proofread 2007-09 Elspeth Healey Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion True Copy Of Part of that PAPER , WHICH Mr. Ashton left in a Friend's Hands : Together with the LETTER in which he sent it enclosed . [ The Paper begins with the Speech already published , immediately after which he adds . ] THus much is contained in the Paper that I design to leave with the Sheriff . But being suddenly to give up my Accounts to the Searcher of all Hearts , I think it a duty incumbent upon me to impart some things farther , which neither the Interest nor Iniquity of these Times will , I conclude , willingly bear the publication of , and therefore not fit to be inserted in the Sheriffs Paper . Some time after the Prince of Orange's Arrival here , when it was expected , that , pursuant to his own Declaration , and the King's Letter to the Convention , an exact Search and Enquiry would have been made into the Birth of the Prince of Wales , there was a Scheme drawn up of that whole Matter , and of the Proofs that were then ( and are still ) ready to be produced , to prove his Royal Highness's Legitimacy ; but no publick Examination being ever had , and the Violence of the Times , as well as Interest of the present Goverment , not permitting any private Person to move in it , those Papers have ever since lain by : But it being now thought advisable by some , to have them printed and published , and ( as at first they were designed ) addressed , at their next Meeting , to the Lords and Commons , entreating them to enquire into that weighty Affair , and to call forth , examine , and protect ( for who else dares to appear ) the many Witnesses to the several Particulars therein offered to be legally proved , &c. I was ordered to carry those Papers to the King my Master , for his view , that his Leave and Aprpobation might go along with the Desires of his good Subjects here ; and they being taken with me , with some other Papers of Accounts , &c. in a small Trunck , amongst my Linen , and other private things of my own , and not in the Packet , ( my Ld. Preston being altogether a stranger to the whole proceeding , ) by this means fell into the hands of our present Governours ; who , tho●gh they wisely waved the producing them as Evidence at my Tryal , yet have I just Reason to believe my greatest Crimes were contained in them ; and I do therefore conclude and hope , that I onely am designed to be sacrificed , who onely knew of them : Nor am I surprised at it , since nothing , I think , can be more prejudicial to some Persons present Interest , than the exposing of those Papers to the Publick , which will set that pretended Mystery of Darkness in so clear a Light , that all Mankind must be convinced of his Highness's being born of the Queen , and of their Wickedness , who have malitiously and designedly asserted that innocent Prince to be an Impostor . The Love and Compassion that I have for my native Countrey , as well as Charity , obliges me humbly to implore Almighty God to be mercifull to it , and not to charge this great Sin to the publick Account , and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 further provoke his Justice by our wilfully continuing in Errou●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ake , I beseech him to put it into the Hearts of the Lords , &c. at their next Meeting , to examine into that whole Matter , and ( if before that time this be published ) to enquire after , call for , and , if possible , retrieve those Papers that were taken with me ; whereby the Obstinate will most certainly be convinced , the Ignorant informed , the Doubtfull confirmed , the Eyes of all opened , and a sacred most important Truth made apparent to the whole World. What I have next to impart is not less material , &c. [ But I do not think it a proper time to publish what follows next ; and therefore , according to the Will and Desire of my dead Friend , expressed in his following Letter , 't is reserved to a fitter Opportunity ; and shall now only insert what he wrote to me relating to Mr. Ellyot . ] But I must not end this Paper till I have done one Act more of Justice , as well as Charity , in behalf of my Fellow-Sufferer , Mr. Elliot , who was , as I do most sincerely believe , altogether ignorant , not onely of the contents of the Papers , but even of the Papers themselves , and no way concerned but as a Passenger ; and yet if Providence had not prevented our being all tried together , as was intended , that innocent Gentleman had most certainly shared in our Fates ; for the Proofs , even at my Tryal , lay stronger against him than my self ; for Captain Billop did then upon Oath , ( unnecessarily , I think , ) declare him to be much more concerned and importunate than I was , to have the Pacquet thrown over Board ; and yet singly from my being concerned , and speaking to him on that Subject , a presumptive Evidence ( sufficient , as it proved , with that Jury to find me guilty upon , ) was drawn , that I knew what was contained therein . But I do most heartily forgive them , and pray to God , that this poor Gentleman , by gaining of Time , may escape better , and that his innocent Blood may not be shed : And I hope these words of a dying Man ( though no legal Proof ) may have some weight with an impartial , conscientious Jury , ( if such a Jury he can get , ) whenever he is brought to his Trial. John Ashton . [ This Paper , &c. came enclosed to me from Mr. Ashton , before his Execution , in the following Letter . ] Sir , KNowing your Friendship and Fidelity to your , and your onely , as unto safe and secure ( though distant ) Hands , I recommend the enclosed Papers , what chiefly relates to my self , being the first part , I design to leave with the Sheriff ; nor shall I be anxious about his Disposal of it : But the following Paragraphs , that concern the Prince of Wales , and — I beg you to preserve as Jewels , and publish them , either part , or all , ( chiefly that about the Prince , ) whenever time or occasion seems to permit or require . And as to the fitness of either , you may be pleased to consult A. B.'s Advice ; I doubt not but sooner or later they will all be useful : And that you may the more value them , I do most solemnly protest , I have been as careful in what I have asserted for Truth , as if I were now at God's dreadful Tribunal , where I expect suddenly to appear , and by his Mercy hope to hear that ravishing Sound , Come , ye blessed , &c. What relates to Mr. Elliot , though I design to declare as much to some , who at his Trial may give it in Evidence , yet I thought it just to leave a Record of his Innocency under my Hand . I have nothing to add , but to request your Prayers , That God , of his infinite Mercy , would support and strengthen me in my last Moments , and take to himself , Sir , Yours , Newgate , January 27. 1690 . -91 . John Ashton .