Read Online The Last Queen of England by Steve Robinson - Free Book Online

he underlined an entry with his forefinger, drawing Jean’s attention to it.   It read, ‘REV. CHARLES NAISMITH of St Mary’s Whitechapel.   Executed at Tyburn, 23rd of April, 1708 for High Treason.’   He found the indicated page: a body of text split into two tall columns, above which was the heading, ‘The Ordinary of Newgate his Account of the Behaviour, Confessions, and Dying Speeches of the Malefactors that were Executed at Tyburn, on Monday the 23rd of April, 1708.’
    “High treason,” Tayte whispered, glancing at Jean.
    “We must be on the right track,” she whispered back.
    Tayte began to read the text, noting how the author used capital letters seemingly at random, perhaps for emphasis: a practice that was common in the early eighteenth century.
    ‘AT the Sessions held at Justice-Hall in the Old-Bailey, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the 4th, 5th, and 6th instant, several Persons (viz. 5 Men and 3 Women) who were Try'd for, and found Guilty of several Capital Crimes, receiv'd Sentence of Death accordingly, and Two others were call'd to their former Judgment.   Of all these Ten Malefactors, Five being Repriev'd, viz, the Three Women for their Pregnancy, and Two of the Men by the QUEEN’S most gracious reprieve (which I hope they will take care to improve); 5 are now order'd for Execution.’
    Tayte’s interest in Naismith extended to the other four men who were hanged with him and he wondered if there was a connection.   He continued to read, catching the opening paragraphs and skipping ahead to find the relevant material.
    ‘While they lay under this Condemnation, I constantly visited them, and had them brought up twice every day, to the Chapel of Newgate, where I pray'd with them, and read and expounded the Word of GOD to them ... On the Lord's Day the 8th instant, I preach'd to them, both in the Morning and Afternoon, upon part of the Gospel for the Day, viz. Luke 21. 27. the Words being these; And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a Cloud with Power and great Glory...’
    Tayte sighed.   The Ordinary of Newgate seemed nothing if not thorough in his piety.   He reached the bottom of the page and began again at the top of the next column.   Other than to provide spiritual care to the condemned it was the Ordinary’s role to solicit a confession from the accused wherever possible, such that their souls may enter Heaven.   As Tayte reached the end of the second column, the text still knotted in God’s holy word, he thought he would have confessed to just about anything if he had to listen to this all day.   He turned the page and slowed when he was half way down the first column, seeing that the subject matter had returned more directly to the accused.
    ‘I have here dwelt the longer upon these respective Heads or chief Points of my Sermons to the Condemn'd Persons, because I may have but little else to fill this Paper with; which (as I take it) should be excus'd from the Tax, being a Paper that (for the most part) contains Matter of Divinity and Devotion, and is chiefly intended for the Instruction and Reformation of Sinners.   These who are the Subject of it, and are now order'd for Execution, gave me small account of their past Lives, and present Dispositions, as follows.’
    Tayte read five names and five brief accounts, which amounted to little more than statements of innocence against the charges of supporting the Old Pretender and the Jacobite cause.   They stated their loyalty to Queen Anne and to the Church of England and upheld that no evidence to support the accusations of high treason had been proved.   The Ordinary noted with disdain that these five men protested their innocence all the way to the Tyburn Tree and during their pithy dying speeches.
    Tayte wished they had given the Ordinary a better account of themselves.   He wrote the names in his notebook below the entry that was already there for the Reverend Charles Naismith, adding Dr Bartholomew Hutton,