THE EXECUTION OF TWO PERSONS AT TYBURN For the murdering of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, late of St. Martin's in the Fields.  
VIZ, Robert Green and Laurence Hill, Who were executed on Friday the 21th of this Instant Frebruary, 1678/9. with an Account of their Deportment at the place of Execution, and several other remarkable Circumstances.  With Allowance. 
LONDON: Printed for D.M. 1679.   

The Execution of the Prisoners who suffered at Tyburn on Friday the 21th day of February.  
WITH what horror and Amazement, must a serious thought be Startled; when it reflects upon the heinous Crimes Committed, by the Villains of our Age: whose Cruelties are as Boundless as the Infernal Mansions from whence they first assumed their Being's: no modern Times have known such gross Impieties as these, which have so lately been transacted in our Land, all died in Crimson Shapes, who gaped with thirst of slaughter to destroy the innocent, and with dire Massacres unhinge the settled State, depose if possible the long continued peace our quiet Realm enjoys, lay Crowns and Sceptres in the dust, and trample upon Majesty. Monsters in the shapes of men, who dare to arrogate such thoughts as these, or ponder with themselves upon the fatal Ills; but just is the righteous God in all his works and wonders, and in the midst of darkness can reveal what secret Plots are lodged: no cunning contrivances, nor crafty Snares, escape his narrow searching Eyes: but Murder is a Crime whose rending voice doth usher vengeance down, and lets in horror to the guilty soul; all hopes of quiet vanish from the loaded thoughts that toil beneath the mighty weight of that oppressing sin, they lose themselves as in a pathless maze, and know not where to turn, on one hand fear, on th'other danger lies in ambuscade to trap their silent steps, who trace like wondering Ghosts the unfrequented ways, and dread the shadows of approoching harm; then sure it must be miserable to those wretched Miscreants who were themselves the Authors of such attending woes, and heaped upon their Heads the dreadful storms of an offended power, the just desert of what themselves have done. But among all the Cruelties that wicked men could put in Execution, or all the Sycophants of Hell could plung their thoughts in, or cruel Papists, and most bloody men, could invent, this, the Narration of which I am purposed to relate (for which two of the barbarous Actors most deservedly have suffered) may equal sure, if not exceed.— And thus I shall explain it. The parties that suffered were Hill and Green, who upon his Majesty's Proclamation were discovered, and apprehended, and Committed to Newgate, as Persons accessary to the inhuman Murder of that truly Loyal and worthy Gentleman Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, for the County of Middlesex, late of St. Martin's in the Fields; a man so generally beloved, and of so sound a Judgement in State Affairs, and for the promoting the good of all Civil people, and depressing those by his Authority who sought to disturb the public quiet, and raise Commotions in the Land: but for this he was looked upon with envious eyes, and fell a Sacrifice to Popish rage, for which the Parties aforesaid were Arraigned at the Kings-Bench-Bar, in Westminster-Hall, on Monday the 10th of this instant February, where about nine or ten of the Clock the Jury being pannelled, the Prisoners were brought, where it was proved against them by very credible Witnesses, that they were actually concerned in Strangling the said Sir Edmund with a Handkerchief, and dragging him into a secret place to conceal the barbarous Crime, with many other Circumstances too tedious here to recite, for which they were found guilty, and the next day being Tuesday, the 11th of the same instant, Received sentence to return to the place from whence they were brought, and from thence to the common place of Execution; and there to be strangled till their bodies were dead: the which on this 21th of February was put in Execution. In the Morning they were brought down Stairs, where the Cart and Sheriff's men waiting for them: and an innumerable Crowd of Spectators, who lined the ways, and thronged from every quarter filled the Lanes and Streets, to see those miscreants of whom they heard so much, the Windows likewise twinkled with eyes of gazing mortals, who sent forth shouts, as pleased with what repaying Justice had so justly doomed, whilst the dejected pecants passed by, perhaps more concious of their Crimes than heretofore, for death that ghastly King of terrors, when as he makes his near approach looks dreadful, and amazes those who bold in Sin ne'er feared his distant frowns: but did suppose them only sounds to rouse the drowsy Soul from its securer slumbers. And so indeed it is, to make men serious, and incite them to beware of ills that taint the faculties, and poison the depraved soul with base-bred inclinations, especially that of murder, cruel murder; that bloody Crime, so hereditary to all the Popish Faction, whose eyes delight in blood and humane Sacrifice: nay the very foundation of their pretended faith, by Cruel Jesuits compiled, is in obedience to perform the most desperate Villainies (if so commanded) for the propagation of the Romish Cause; that the baleful accidents of time from their most sullen natures can give scope unto, or witty horror dares invent, as may be evident in this, when they had barbarously misused and murdered this worthy Gentleman, to hid the Gild and avoid the Suspicion, they carried the murdered Corpse by Night unto a remote and pathless way, not taking any thing from him, (but thrusting a Sword through as it is conjectured before murdered Corpse) his Gloves and Cane were decently in order laid. But to the purpose from which I too long have swerved: they came thus guarded and attended to the place of Execution: to receive the reward of those black Crimes their fatal hands had done; for which their forfeited Lives must make an expiation to offended Justice, who is not satisfied till Blood for Blood be paid, especially that Blood that has most wrongfully been shed.  
They were drawn in a Cart with dark coloured Horses, and guarded by a number of Constables and Watchmen. Green was very much in years, supposed to be sixty or upwards, and Hill not supposed to be above forty: They were attired in Campain Coats, with black Hats and coloured Hatbands, and white Gloves. Hill having a large Book in his hand: They seemed to be very penitent, often lifting up their hands and Eyes, with often repeated Ejaculations, the which drew charitable thoughts from the beholders. Thus they continued, till they came to the appointed place of Execution, where they said little or nothing to the purpose; but much bewailed their unfortunate ends, and that they hoped to find mercy at the Tribunal Seat of their great Creator, before whom but a few moments divided their appearances; ask pardon of all men for the injuries by them committed against them: And then the Executioner did his Office. They were afterwards brought back, and buried.  
And now one would think the miserable End of those wretched men, so deservedly suffering for their notorious Facts, should remain as the Trophies of offended Justice; and be as a warning to all those Bloody minded men, whose stifled Malice swelled with tides of mischief, struggles to get vent: but the Almighty, whose Omnipotence can pound them into dust, and tumble down their lofty thoughts, that Wove among the Clouds: he only 'tis that can preserve us from their cruel rage, and turn their Fury back, destroy their secret Plots, and save his people from the mouth of slaughter, whose providence is all-sufficient, and whose goodness never fails those who for their safety trust in him.  
FINIS.