Speech of Mr Thomas Syddal
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Speech of Mr Thos Syddal
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The Speech of Mr Thomas Syddal
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Speech of Mr. Thomas Syddal
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| Date | 30 Jul 1746 |
| Person (author) | Thomas Syddall |
| Place | Kennington Common |
remediation
in Forbes
Transcription
The Speech of Mr Tho-
mas Syddal.
Friends, Brethren, &and Countrymen,
Since I am brought here
to be made a Sacrifice for doing the
Duty of a Christian &and an Englishman,
it may be expected, I should give
some Account of my selfmyself, &and yethe Cause
for which I suffer. This Expectation
I will gladly indulge: And I wish,
the whole Kingdom might be in-
form’dformed of all that I now say at
the Hour of Death, when there is
the least Reason to doubt my Sincerity.
to be made a Sacrifice for doing the
Duty of a Christian &and an Englishman,
it may be expected, I should give
some Account of my selfmyself, &and yethe Cause
for which I suffer. This Expectation
I will gladly indulge: And I wish,
the whole Kingdom might be in-
form’dformed of all that I now say at
the Hour of Death, when there is
the least Reason to doubt my Sincerity.
I die a Member, not of yethe Church
of Rome, nor yet of that of England,
but of a pure Episcopal Church, qchwhich
hath reformed all the Errors, Cor-
ruptions &and Defects, that have been
introduced into the modern Church-
es of Christendom: A Church, qchwhich
is in perfect Communion wtwith the
ancient &and universal Church of Christ,
by adhering uniformly to Antiquity,
Universality &and Consent; that glorious
Principle, which if once strictly
&and impartially pursued, would, &and which 46 (46)
which alone can, remove all the
Distractions, &and unite all the divided
Branches of Christendom. This truly
CatholickCatholic Principle is agreed to
by all Churches, Eastern &and Western,
Popish &and Protestant, &and yet unhap-
pily is practised by none but the
Church, in whose Holy Communion
I have the Happiness to die. May
God, in his great Mercy, daily
increase the Members thereof. And
if any would enquire into it's its
Primitive Constitution, I refer ymthem
to our Common Prayer-Book,
which is intitledentitled, A compleatcomplete
Collection of Devotions, both pub-
lickpublic &and private, taken from the
Apostolical Constitutions, yethe an-
cient Liturgies, &and the Common
Prayer-Book of the Church of
England, printed at London in
the Year, 1734.
of Rome, nor yet of that of England,
but of a pure Episcopal Church, qchwhich
hath reformed all the Errors, Cor-
ruptions &and Defects, that have been
introduced into the modern Church-
es of Christendom: A Church, qchwhich
is in perfect Communion wtwith the
ancient &and universal Church of Christ,
by adhering uniformly to Antiquity,
Universality &and Consent; that glorious
Principle, which if once strictly
&and impartially pursued, would, &and which 46 (46)
which alone can, remove all the
Distractions, &and unite all the divided
Branches of Christendom. This truly
CatholickCatholic Principle is agreed to
by all Churches, Eastern &and Western,
Popish &and Protestant, &and yet unhap-
pily is practised by none but the
Church, in whose Holy Communion
I have the Happiness to die. May
God, in his great Mercy, daily
increase the Members thereof. And
if any would enquire into it's its
Primitive Constitution, I refer ymthem
to our Common Prayer-Book,
which is intitledentitled, A compleatcomplete
Collection of Devotions, both pub-
lickpublic &and private, taken from the
Apostolical Constitutions, yethe an-
cient Liturgies, &and the Common
Prayer-Book of the Church of
England, printed at London in
the Year, 1734.
I most humbly &and heartily offer up
my Praises &and Thanksgiving to Al-
mighty God, that he hath been pleas-
ed, of his great Goodness, to give
me Grace to follow the pious Ex-
ample of my Father, who endur-ing47(47)
ing Hardships like a good Soldier
of Jesus Christ, was martyred under
the Government of the late Usur-
per, in the Year, 1715. for his loyal
Zeal in the Cause of his lawful King.
my Praises &and Thanksgiving to Al-
mighty God, that he hath been pleas-
ed, of his great Goodness, to give
me Grace to follow the pious Ex-
ample of my Father, who endur-ing47(47)
ing Hardships like a good Soldier
of Jesus Christ, was martyred under
the Government of the late Usur-
per, in the Year, 1715. for his loyal
Zeal in the Cause of his lawful King.
And I solemnly declare, that
no mean wicked Motives of reveng-
ing my Father's Death, (as hath been
uncharitably said) induced me to
join in attempting a Restoration
of the Royal Family. I think, I
had no Occasion to be displeased
with his Murderers, when I reflect
(as I firmly believe) that, instead
of punishing, they sent him to his
everlasting Rest, sooner than he
would have gone according to yethe
Course of Nature: And, so far from
doing an Injury to his Family,
they pointed him out, by his Suffer-
ings, an excellent Example of
Christian Courage, &and contributed
by that Means to the Good of his
innocent Children.
no mean wicked Motives of reveng-
ing my Father's Death, (as hath been
uncharitably said) induced me to
join in attempting a Restoration
of the Royal Family. I think, I
had no Occasion to be displeased
with his Murderers, when I reflect
(as I firmly believe) that, instead
of punishing, they sent him to his
everlasting Rest, sooner than he
would have gone according to yethe
Course of Nature: And, so far from
doing an Injury to his Family,
they pointed him out, by his Suffer-
ings, an excellent Example of
Christian Courage, &and contributed
by that Means to the Good of his
innocent Children.
Neither was I tempted to enter
into the Army commanded by the
Prince of Wales, by any ambitious or 48 (48)
or self-interested Views: I was easy
in my Circumstances, &and wanted no
Addition of Riches to increase my
Happiness. My Desires were limi-
ted within reasonable Bounds, &and
what I thought I had Occasion for
(I bless God) I was able to procure:
And, to make my Joy as full as
in this World ought to be wish’dwished,
I was blessed with an excellent, faith-
ful, religious, loving Wife, &and five
Children, the tender Objects of our
Care &and Affection. In this Situation
I was void of Ambition, &and thank-
ful to God for his gracious
Disposal of me.
into the Army commanded by the
Prince of Wales, by any ambitious or 48 (48)
or self-interested Views: I was easy
in my Circumstances, &and wanted no
Addition of Riches to increase my
Happiness. My Desires were limi-
ted within reasonable Bounds, &and
what I thought I had Occasion for
(I bless God) I was able to procure:
And, to make my Joy as full as
in this World ought to be wish’dwished,
I was blessed with an excellent, faith-
ful, religious, loving Wife, &and five
Children, the tender Objects of our
Care &and Affection. In this Situation
I was void of Ambition, &and thank-
ful to God for his gracious
Disposal of me.
My Motive for serving in the
Prince's Army was the Duty I owe
to God, the King, &and the Country,
in endeavouring the Restoration
of King James the Third, &and yethe
Royal Family; which, I am per-
suaded, is the only human Means,
by which this Nation can ever
become great &and happy. For, altho’although
I have never had the Honour
of seeing his Majesty, yet I am
well assur’dassured by others of his ex-
cellent Wisdom, Justice &and Huma-nity;49(49)
nity; &and that he would think it his
greatest Glory to rule over a free
&and happy People, without yethe least
Innovation of yrtheir Religion or Liberties.
Prince's Army was the Duty I owe
to God, the King, &and the Country,
in endeavouring the Restoration
of King James the Third, &and yethe
Royal Family; which, I am per-
suaded, is the only human Means,
by which this Nation can ever
become great &and happy. For, altho’although
I have never had the Honour
of seeing his Majesty, yet I am
well assur’dassured by others of his ex-
cellent Wisdom, Justice &and Huma-nity;49(49)
nity; &and that he would think it his
greatest Glory to rule over a free
&and happy People, without yethe least
Innovation of yrtheir Religion or Liberties.
For this we have not only the
Royal Promise of the King him-
self, (than which a reasonable
People cannot desire a greater
Security) but we have also the
Word of a Young Prince, who is
too great &and good to stoop to a
Falsity, or to impose upon any
People: A Prince, blessed wtwith all
the Qualities, which can adorn
a Throne, &and who may challenge
his keenest Enemies to impute
to him any Vice, which can black-
en his character, whom to serve
is a Duty &and a Pleasure, &and to die
for, an Honour.
Royal Promise of the King him-
self, (than which a reasonable
People cannot desire a greater
Security) but we have also the
Word of a Young Prince, who is
too great &and good to stoop to a
Falsity, or to impose upon any
People: A Prince, blessed wtwith all
the Qualities, which can adorn
a Throne, &and who may challenge
his keenest Enemies to impute
to him any Vice, which can black-
en his character, whom to serve
is a Duty &and a Pleasure, &and to die
for, an Honour.
And here, I cannot but take Notice,
that, if his Royal Highness had
any of that Cruelty in his Temper
which hath so abundantly dis-
played it selfitself in his Enemy,
the pretended Duke of Cumber-land50(50)
land, he would have shewnshown it u-
pon Mr John Weir, when he had
him in his Power, &and knew, that
he had been a Spy upon yethe Royal
Family abroad, &and upon the Prince
at Home, almost from the time
of his first Landing: But the
brave unfortunate young Heroe
with noble Compassion, spared ytthat
Life, which hath since been em-
ployed in our Destruction. If I
might presume to say, That the
gallant good Prince hath any
Fault, it would be that of an
ill-tim’dtimed Humanity: For, if he had
^been so just to himself &and the righteous
Cause, wherein he was engag’dengaged,
as to have made Examples of
some of those, who betrayed him,
in all human Probability he had
succeeded in his glorious Under-
taking &and been reserved for a Fate
to which his unequall’dunequalled Virtues
justly intitleentitle him.
that, if his Royal Highness had
any of that Cruelty in his Temper
which hath so abundantly dis-
played it selfitself in his Enemy,
the pretended Duke of Cumber-land50(50)
land, he would have shewnshown it u-
pon Mr John Weir, when he had
him in his Power, &and knew, that
he had been a Spy upon yethe Royal
Family abroad, &and upon the Prince
at Home, almost from the time
of his first Landing: But the
brave unfortunate young Heroe
with noble Compassion, spared ytthat
Life, which hath since been em-
ployed in our Destruction. If I
might presume to say, That the
gallant good Prince hath any
Fault, it would be that of an
ill-tim’dtimed Humanity: For, if he had
^been so just to himself &and the righteous
Cause, wherein he was engag’dengaged,
as to have made Examples of
some of those, who betrayed him,
in all human Probability he had
succeeded in his glorious Under-
taking &and been reserved for a Fate
to which his unequall’dunequalled Virtues
justly intitleentitle him.
There is one thing I am bound, in
Justice to others, to take Notice
of in Respect to Mr Samuel Maddox, 51 (51)
Maddox, who, for prudential Rea-
sons, was not produced upon my Trial,
to imbrue his Hands in my Blood,
as well as in that of my Fellow-
Sufferers; yet I solemnly declare,
in the Presence of Heaven, (where
I hope shortly to be) that, in the
Trial of Mr Thomas Deacon
&and Mr John Berwick, I heard him
perjure himself, as I verily be-
lieve he did in every Trial, u-
pon which he was produced as
an Evidence. To this Sin of Per-
jury he hath also added the odious
Crime of Ingratitude, for, to my
own Knowledge, he was under
great Obligations to the very Peo-
ple, against whom he has falslyfalsely
sworn, &and was supported &and kept from
starving by them &and me for a con-
siderable While in Prison, when
no Bodynobody else would assist him.
Justice to others, to take Notice
of in Respect to Mr Samuel Maddox, 51 (51)
Maddox, who, for prudential Rea-
sons, was not produced upon my Trial,
to imbrue his Hands in my Blood,
as well as in that of my Fellow-
Sufferers; yet I solemnly declare,
in the Presence of Heaven, (where
I hope shortly to be) that, in the
Trial of Mr Thomas Deacon
&and Mr John Berwick, I heard him
perjure himself, as I verily be-
lieve he did in every Trial, u-
pon which he was produced as
an Evidence. To this Sin of Per-
jury he hath also added the odious
Crime of Ingratitude, for, to my
own Knowledge, he was under
great Obligations to the very Peo-
ple, against whom he has falslyfalsely
sworn, &and was supported &and kept from
starving by them &and me for a con-
siderable While in Prison, when
no Bodynobody else would assist him.
I heartily forgive all, who had
any Hand in the scandalous Sur-
render of Carlisle; for, as it was
the Opinion of every one of the Garrison, 52 (52)
Garrison, who had been in foreign
Service, that the Place was tenable
many Days; &and as the Elector's Troops,
then lying before the Town, were in
a bad Condition, it is highly pro-
bable that a gallant Defence
(which I strenuously insisted u-
pon) would have procured us
such Terms, as to have prevent-
ed the Fate, to which we are
now consign’dconsigned: I also forgive the
pretended Duke of Cumberland,
for his dishonourable &and unsoldierly
Proceeding, in putting us to Death, in
Violation of the Laws of Nations,
after a written Capitulation to the
contrary, &and after the Garrison, upon
the Faith of that Capitulation, had
surrendredsurrendered the Place, &and faithfully
performed all the Conditions re-
quired of them.
any Hand in the scandalous Sur-
render of Carlisle; for, as it was
the Opinion of every one of the Garrison, 52 (52)
Garrison, who had been in foreign
Service, that the Place was tenable
many Days; &and as the Elector's Troops,
then lying before the Town, were in
a bad Condition, it is highly pro-
bable that a gallant Defence
(which I strenuously insisted u-
pon) would have procured us
such Terms, as to have prevent-
ed the Fate, to which we are
now consign’dconsigned: I also forgive the
pretended Duke of Cumberland,
for his dishonourable &and unsoldierly
Proceeding, in putting us to Death, in
Violation of the Laws of Nations,
after a written Capitulation to the
contrary, &and after the Garrison, upon
the Faith of that Capitulation, had
surrendredsurrendered the Place, &and faithfully
performed all the Conditions re-
quired of them.
I pray God to forgive &and turn the
Hearts of the Bishops &and yrtheir Clergy,
who, prostituting the Duty of their
holy Profession, have departed
from their Function as Messen-
gers of Peace, &and scandalously em-
ployed themselves in their Pulpits,
to abuse the best Prince, engaged in 53 (53)
in the most righteous Cause, in the
World; and, against their own Con-
sciences &and Opinions, represented
Him &and his Army in a disadvan-
tageous &and false Light, in order
to get the Mob on their Side, &and
spirit up an unthinking People
to ^a blood-thirsty, cruel &and unchristi-
an Disposition. I could heartily
wish, these Men would prefer
Suffering to Sinning, &and consider
how contrary it is to the Character
of a truly Christian Pastor, to re-
ceive Instructions about what Do-
ctrine to preach from the baneful
Court of an impious Usurper. The
Credulous, deluded Mob, who have
been thus set on by their Teachers,
I also pray God to forgive for the
barbarous Insults I received fmfrom
them, when in Chains: Father, for-
give them; for they know not what
they do!
1
Hearts of the Bishops &and yrtheir Clergy,
who, prostituting the Duty of their
holy Profession, have departed
from their Function as Messen-
gers of Peace, &and scandalously em-
ployed themselves in their Pulpits,
to abuse the best Prince, engaged in 53 (53)
in the most righteous Cause, in the
World; and, against their own Con-
sciences &and Opinions, represented
Him &and his Army in a disadvan-
tageous &and false Light, in order
to get the Mob on their Side, &and
spirit up an unthinking People
to ^a blood-thirsty, cruel &and unchristi-
an Disposition. I could heartily
wish, these Men would prefer
Suffering to Sinning, &and consider
how contrary it is to the Character
of a truly Christian Pastor, to re-
ceive Instructions about what Do-
ctrine to preach from the baneful
Court of an impious Usurper. The
Credulous, deluded Mob, who have
been thus set on by their Teachers,
I also pray God to forgive for the
barbarous Insults I received fmfrom
them, when in Chains: Father, for-
give them; for they know not what
they do!
As I have before given Thanks to
Almighty God for the Example
of my honest Father; so I be-
seech him, that the same Christi-
an suffering Spirit may ever be in 54 (54)
in all my dear Children; praying,
that they may have the Grace to
tread the same dangerous Steps,
which have led me to this Place;
&and may also have the Courage &and
Constancy to endure to the End,
&and despise human Power, when it
stands oppos’dopposed to Duty.
Almighty God for the Example
of my honest Father; so I be-
seech him, that the same Christi-
an suffering Spirit may ever be in 54 (54)
in all my dear Children; praying,
that they may have the Grace to
tread the same dangerous Steps,
which have led me to this Place;
&and may also have the Courage &and
Constancy to endure to the End,
&and despise human Power, when it
stands oppos’dopposed to Duty.
I pray God, of his great Mercy &and
Goodness, that He would be pleas’dpleased
to pour down the choicest of his
Blessings upon the Sacred Head of
his Majesty King James the Third,
&and his Royal Sons, the Prince of
Wales, &and the Duke of York; and
(although England be not in a
Disposition to deserve so great
a Blessing, yet, for the Sake of
Justice, &and the Love which Nature
&and Duty prompt me to bear my Na-
tive Country) to restore them soon
to their lawful, natural &and undoubt-
ed Rights: And, in the mean whilemeanwhile,
to inspire them with Christian Pati-
ence &and Firmness of Heart to bear
their undeserved Misfortunes.
Goodness, that He would be pleas’dpleased
to pour down the choicest of his
Blessings upon the Sacred Head of
his Majesty King James the Third,
&and his Royal Sons, the Prince of
Wales, &and the Duke of York; and
(although England be not in a
Disposition to deserve so great
a Blessing, yet, for the Sake of
Justice, &and the Love which Nature
&and Duty prompt me to bear my Na-
tive Country) to restore them soon
to their lawful, natural &and undoubt-
ed Rights: And, in the mean whilemeanwhile,
to inspire them with Christian Pati-
ence &and Firmness of Heart to bear
their undeserved Misfortunes.
It would be an unspeakable
Satisfaction to me, if my Manner of 55 (55)
of Dying, or any Thing I now say, would
contribute to the removing those un-
happy &and unreasonable Prejudices,
with which too many of my Country-
men are misled. Danger of Popery,
&and Fear of French Power, are the
idle Pretences, that wicked &and ill-de-
signing Men make Use of to misguide
&and stir up the Passions of unwary
(tho’though perhaps honest) People. But,
if Englishmen would seriously con-
sider, that those, who make the
most Noise about Popery, are re-
markably void of any Religion
at all, &and dissolute in their Morals;
that Atheism, IfidelityInfidelity, Profaneness
&and Debauchery, are openly avowed
&and practised, even within the Walls
of that very Court, whence they
derive all their fancied religi-
ous &and civil Liberties; if they wou’dwould
reflect (when they talk of French
Influence) that they seek Protection
from a German Usurper, who is
hourly aggrandizing himself, &and
raising his foreign Dominions upon
the Ruines of the deluded People
of England; if they would reflect, that 56 (56)
that I &and my Fellow-Sufferers are
now murdered, in order to weaken
the Cause of loyal Virtue, &and to strike
a Terror into the Minds of all such,
as have the honest Inclinations to
do their King, their Country, &and them
selves Justice; if they would re-
flect upon the Calamities, the
Massacres, the Desolation of Scot-
land, which presage the Destruc-
tion of this already more than
half-ruin’druined Country—surely,
they would find but little Cause
to be pleased with their Situation:
A Situation so extremely distant
from Honour &and Happiness, that it
would be uncharitable, &and misbecom-
ing a dying Man, to wish even his
most inveterate Enemies to continue
in it; &and which I therefore pray
God, of his infinite Mercy, to de-
liver all Englishmen from.
Satisfaction to me, if my Manner of 55 (55)
of Dying, or any Thing I now say, would
contribute to the removing those un-
happy &and unreasonable Prejudices,
with which too many of my Country-
men are misled. Danger of Popery,
&and Fear of French Power, are the
idle Pretences, that wicked &and ill-de-
signing Men make Use of to misguide
&and stir up the Passions of unwary
(tho’though perhaps honest) People. But,
if Englishmen would seriously con-
sider, that those, who make the
most Noise about Popery, are re-
markably void of any Religion
at all, &and dissolute in their Morals;
that Atheism, IfidelityInfidelity, Profaneness
&and Debauchery, are openly avowed
&and practised, even within the Walls
of that very Court, whence they
derive all their fancied religi-
ous &and civil Liberties; if they wou’dwould
reflect (when they talk of French
Influence) that they seek Protection
from a German Usurper, who is
hourly aggrandizing himself, &and
raising his foreign Dominions upon
the Ruines of the deluded People
of England; if they would reflect, that 56 (56)
that I &and my Fellow-Sufferers are
now murdered, in order to weaken
the Cause of loyal Virtue, &and to strike
a Terror into the Minds of all such,
as have the honest Inclinations to
do their King, their Country, &and them
selves Justice; if they would re-
flect upon the Calamities, the
Massacres, the Desolation of Scot-
land, which presage the Destruc-
tion of this already more than
half-ruin’druined Country—surely,
they would find but little Cause
to be pleased with their Situation:
A Situation so extremely distant
from Honour &and Happiness, that it
would be uncharitable, &and misbecom-
ing a dying Man, to wish even his
most inveterate Enemies to continue
in it; &and which I therefore pray
God, of his infinite Mercy, to de-
liver all Englishmen from.
If, my dear Countrymen, you have
any Regard to your own Happiness,
which, in Charity, I have endea-
voured to point out in my dying
Moments, let me beseech You,
in the Name of God, to restore your 57 (57)
your Liege Sovereign, &and with Him yethe
glorious Advantages of an excellent
Constitution under a lawful Go-
vernment. This is every Man's
Duty to aim at: And, if your honest
Attempts should fail, remember,
it is a great Blessing to die for
the Cause of Virtue, &and that an Al-
mighty Power, can, &and will, reward
such as suffer for Righteousness
Sake.
any Regard to your own Happiness,
which, in Charity, I have endea-
voured to point out in my dying
Moments, let me beseech You,
in the Name of God, to restore your 57 (57)
your Liege Sovereign, &and with Him yethe
glorious Advantages of an excellent
Constitution under a lawful Go-
vernment. This is every Man's
Duty to aim at: And, if your honest
Attempts should fail, remember,
it is a great Blessing to die for
the Cause of Virtue, &and that an Al-
mighty Power, can, &and will, reward
such as suffer for Righteousness
Sake.
To that God, infinite in his Good-
ness, &and eternal in his Providence,
I commend my Soul, imploring
his Forgiveness of all my Sins,
&and hoping for a speedy Translation
to eternal Joy, through the Merits
&and Sufferings of Jesus Christ.
ness, &and eternal in his Providence,
I commend my Soul, imploring
his Forgiveness of all my Sins,
&and hoping for a speedy Translation
to eternal Joy, through the Merits
&and Sufferings of Jesus Christ.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Tho:Thomas Syddal
Tho:Thomas Syddal
Upon Kenning-
on Common,
Wednesday,
July 30. 1746
on Common,
Wednesday,
July 30. 1746
Citation
Forbes, Robert. “The Speech of Mr Thomas Syddal.” The Lyon in Mourning,
vol. 1,
Adv.MS.32.6.16, fol. 35r–41r. The Lyon in Mourning Project,
edited by Leith Davis, https://lyoninmourning.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/
Appendix
Quoting Luke 23:34.