_Carlisle Castle, October 23d, 1746.
To my mother and sisters._
THE LAST AND DYING SPEECH OF ROBERT LYON, A. M. PRESBYTER
AT PERTH.[19]
[19] This speech was printed in _Blackwood's Magazine_ for May 1819
(No. 26, vol. v. p. 164), and in _Stephen's Episcopal Magazine_ for
1836, pp. 10, 111.
[Sidenote: 28 Oct.]
[Sidenote: _fol._ 15.] The death I am now to suffer by the hands of
violence the partial and unthinking world will doubtless be ready to
imagine a sign of guilt and a stain upon the character with which I
am invested.
But would the hardships of a close confinement and the time permit me
to explain and vindicate my principles, I am persuaded I could prove
them just and my conduct guiltless in the things for which I am to
die.
That I may not, however, leave a natural curiosity on such occasions
quite ungratified I shall briefly run over the principal passages of
my past life, and represent my genuine sentiments in some material
points. Which I hope will have the greater weight and efficacy upon
you, my dear fellow-subjects and beloved countrymen, as I am just
about to step into eternity where, at the greatest tribunal, on
the last day I know I must be judged according to the works I have
already done. And
[Sidenote: _fol._ 16.] First. It will be very proper to inform you
that I have the honour to be more immediately descended from one of
those Scottish clergymen,[20] who unhappily surviv'd our flourishing
Church and prosperous nation at the late Revolution; by which means
it was my lot, by the wise providence of God to be early train'd
up in the school of adversity, inasmuch as he underwent the common
fate of our other spiritual pastors and dear fathers in Christ who
were by merely secular, and what is worse, unlawful force thrust
away from their charges and depriv'd of that maintenance to which
they had a general and divine right as well as a legal title by our
Constitution. And this in many instances was executed with the utmost
rigour and severity, attended with every wicked and aggravating
circumstance. For how could it be otherwise when allowed to be done
by an ungovern'd mob, distracted with enthusiasm and misguided zeal,
but whose deed received its sanction by some subsequent pretended
laws.
[20] Thought to be the Rev. James Lyon, a native of Forfarshire,
who was ordained under the patronage of the Earl of Strathmore,
and became incumbent at Kirkwall, whence he was ejected after the
Revolution (_Episcopal History of Perth_, p. 135).
Into this once glorious but now declining part of the Church
Catholick I was thro' the care and piety of my loving parents enter'd
by a holy baptism. For which inestimable benefit, as my judgment
ripen'd and my reason improv'd I ever found [Sidenote: _fol._ 17.]
greater cause to bless the happy instruments, and to thank my God,
as it clearly appeared upon impartial enquiry that this Church for
purity of doctrine, orthodoxy in the faith, perfection of worship and
her apostolical government, equals, if not excels, any other church
on the earth. And therefore I persisted by Divine grace an unworthy
member in her faithful communion till thro' various instances of the
goodness and care of Heaven manifested in the wonderful support and
preservation of our family, I received a pious and liberal education
(tho' my father, wore out with sufferings, lived not to see it half
compleated), and at length arrived at that age when by the canons of
the Church I could be admitted into holy orders; which I received at
a time no earthly motive could influence me, but a sincere intention
to serve God and to my power to do good offices to men.
Both which I, tho' most unworthy of the sacred character, have ever
honestly endeavour'd to the utmost of my weak ability, by enforcing
and practising, as far as circumstances and my station in the Church
would permit, that golden and glorious rule for the conduct of a
Christian, and for every [Sidenote: _fol._ 18.] church whereby to
reform itself, and moreover which alone can unite the differing parts
of Christendom, I mean the Holy Scriptures, with their only genuine
and authentick comment, the universal doctrines and practices of
Christ's Church in her first three centuries. Which that it may again
universally obtain God Almighty grant for his sake who purchas'd the
Church with the effusion of his blood.
In perfect consistency with this Catholick and noble rule I declare
upon this aweful occasion, and on the word of a dying man, that I
ever abhor'd and detested and _do_ now _solemnly_ disclaim the many
errors and corruptions of the Church of Rome; as I do with equal zeal
the distinguishing principles of Presbyterians and other dissenting
sectaries amongst us who are void of every support in our country
but ignorance and usurping force, and whom I always considered as
the shame and reproach of the happy Reformation, and both alike
uncatholick and dangerous to the soul of a Christian.
I must further declare that by the same method I found out [Sidenote:
_fol._ 19.] the absurdities of these two differing parties, I was
soon determin'd from rational and solid arguments to embrace the
doctrines of passive obedience, the divine right of kings, and in
particular the indefeasible and hereditary title of our own gracious
sovereign, James the Eighth and Third, and of his royal heirs, whom
God preserve and restore.
For these I am thoroughly convinc'd are doctrines founded upon the
best maxims of civil government and on the Word of God; and besides
the very essence of our own Constitution and municipal laws. And
therefore I could never view that Convention which pretended to
depose King James the Seventh, our King's royal father, and dispose
of his crown; I could never, I say, view that unlawful and pack'd
Assembly in any other light but as traitors to their country and
rebels to their King.
And as our then injured King and his undoubted heirs have from time
to time uninterruptedly claim'd their right and asserted their
dominion, I am so far from thinking that the [Sidenote: _fol._ 20.]
royal misfortunes loose the subjects from their obedience, that I
rather apprehend they loudly call for a steadier allegiance and more
faithful duty.
In which sentiments I have been still more and more confirm'd by the
lamentable consequences of the opposite opinion, and by that sad
affliction and load of misery, which a long usurpation has brought
upon my country and which it is needless for me here to insist upon,
as our numerous grievances, too heavy to be born, have been strongly,
but alas! in vain, represented and loudly proclaimed even in some
late pretended parliaments.
But what more naturally falls to my share to consider, and what I
fear has been still less regarded in the long persecuted state of my
dear mother, the Church of Scotland, that Church of which it is my
greatest honour to be a member and a priest, tho' very undeserving
of either; a Church, national and independent of any other and of
every power upon earth, happily govern'd by her own truly primitive
bishops, as so many spiritual princes, presiding in their different
districts, and in them, accountable to none but God for the
administration of her [Sidenote: _fol._ 21.] discipline; a church,
whose creeds demonstrate her soundness in the faith, and who is blest
with a liturgy (I mean the Scots Liturgy,[21] compil'd by her own
bishops) nigher to the primitive model than any other church this day
can boast of (excepting, perhaps, a small but I believe a very pure
church in England[22] who, I am told, has lately reformed herself
in concert with the forementioned and infallible rule)--in one word
a church very nearly resembling the purest ages, and who (after
more than half a century groaning under persecutions and mourning
in her own ashes, but all the while distinguishing herself no less
by forbearance and charity to her bitterest enemies than by her
steadiness to principle and Catholick unity) is now at last, alas!
devoted, in the intention of her adversaries to utter destruction;
which I fervently pray God to prevent.
[21] A copy of part of this 'Liturgy' in print is inserted here in
the manuscript. It is entitled 'The Communion Office for the use of
the Church of Scotland, as far as concerneth the ministration of that
Holy Sacrament. Authorised by King Charles I. Anno 1636, Edinburgh,
printed by Mr. Thomas Ruddiman, MDCCXXIV.' The signature of 'Robert
Lyon' is on the title-page, and the following note by Mr. Forbes on
the back of the title-page, 'This is the identical copy which the
Rev. Mr. Robert Lyon made use of in consecrating the Holy Eucharist
in Carlisle Castle.' It consists of 24 pp. 12mo. The Liturgy referred
to is better known as Laud's Liturgy, the enforcing of which gave
rise to the Second Reformation in Scotland.
[22] This church, which he called 'The True British Catholic Church,'
was founded by Dr. Deacon, concerning whom see footnotes at fols. 37
and 40.
Her oratories have been profan'd and burnt, her holy altars
desecrated, her priests outragiously plundered and driven from
their flocks, some of them imprison'd and treated with uncommon
cruelty, her faithful members almost depriv'd of the [Sidenote:
_fol._ 22.] ordinary means of their salvation, and this mostly done
without so much as a form of law, by a hostile force specially
appointed by him who calls himself the Duke of Cumberland, and who
(God grant him a timely repentance and forgive him) has occasion'd
the painful and untimely death of many innocent and inoffensive
persons; and by wilful fire and sword, by every means of torment and
distress--barbarity exceeding Glencoe massacre itself--has brought a
dreadful desolation upon my dear country.
All which evidently shews that there is nothing, however necessary
and dear to mankind, however sacred and near allied to Heaven; that
must not give way to their resentment and to the better establishing
their ill-got power, and that no lasting security even to the present
established Church of England can reasonably be expected from this
ruinous and usurped government. And indeed the reigning impiety and
that flood [Sidenote: _fol._ 23.] of wickedness which the kindly
influence and encouragement of a corrupted court has drawn upon us
must speedily deface the very form of religion and give the finishing
stroke to virtue, tho' no harsher methods were us'd by them.
But may the gracious hand of Heaven interpose and stop the wide
destruction! May our Church once more resume her antient lustre, her
priests be cloathed with righteousness and her saints yet sing with
joyfulness! May her members yet be multiplied, blessed with peace and
felicity in this world, and crown'd with immortality in that which is
to come!
And now, my dear fellow-subjects, you cannot be at a loss to
apprehend the reason of my appearance on this occasion, and of the
death I am to suffer. For when our brave and natural-born Prince
(a Prince endued with every virtue proper to grace a throne, and a
stranger to every vice that high life is most subject to, in a word a
Prince adorn'd with every quality that could attract the hearts of a
wise people or make a nation [Sidenote: _fol._ 24.] happy) generously
hazarded his own valuable person to relieve us from slavery and to
retrieve his father's crown; and every steady patriot who had courage
to resolve to conquer or suffer in the way of duty, according to the
will of God, join'd his royal standard; thither many, to whom I was
attach'd by relation, friendship and several other ties, dutyfully
resorted, and kindly invited and earnestly importun'd me to attend
them as their priest, while they were laudably engaged in their king
and country's cause; which agreeably to my now profess'd principles I
readily consented to, as I plainly foresaw that I could not discharge
my function with more safety in that congregation to which I have a
spiritual and peculiar relation where part of the Prince's forces
always lay, than in going along with my worthy friends in their
glorious expedition.
And here I must declare that while I accompanied my brave [Sidenote:
_fol._ 25.] countrymen in their noble enterprise I saw a decency and
order maintained amongst them, equal if not superiour to any regular
disciplin'd force. And if any hardship or severity was committed I am
fully persuaded it was unknown to, and very cross to the inclination
of their merciful and royal leader.
And in particular I do believe that the destruction of St.
Ninian's[23] was merely by accident and without any order from his
royal highness. And this is the more evident since the person who
had the fatal occasion of it lost his own life in the conflagration.
But it was maliciously represented and put in the worst light to
vindicate the malicious procedure of the Usurper's forces; whose
conduct let it be compar'd with that of our King's army and then
you may form as ready and just a judgment of the true and pretended
father of the country, as Solomon by a like experiment did of the
true and pretended mother of the child.
[23] See fuller references to this incident of the war at f. 155.
According, however, to detailed accounts from the other side, it was
deliberately done, and caused the death of several of the poorer
townspeople, who were allured into the church in the hope of getting
stores the rebels could not carry away.--_Scots' Magazine_, 1746, p.
221.
And for my own particular, I do solemnly affirm that during
[Sidenote: _fol._ 26.] this expedition I never bore arms, for this
I thought inconsistent with my sacred character. I never prayed in
express terms for any king (because for many years it has not been
the practice of our Church, and to make such a change in her offices
I thought incompetent for me without the appointment, or at least the
permission of my superiours) and preach'd the plain truths of the
Gospel without touching on political subjects. This confession, by
surprize, and the advice of my council I was forced to make at the
Bar, upon which my pretended judges declar'd, and the jury found me
guilty of high treason and levying war, for my barely accompanying
the royal army as before mentioned. And this their rigorous procedure
they founded upon a pretended new Act of Parliament made since I was
personally engaged in the royal cause, [Sidenote: _fol._ 27.] and
for what I know since I was a prisoner: which plainly shews that
whatever my private sentiments have been my life has been greedily
sought and unjustly taken away, in as much as they pass'd their
sentence without any other overt act of high treason (even in their
own sense) being prov'd against me.
But in obedience to the precept, and after the divine example of
my blessed Master, Jesus Christ, I heartily and cheerfully forgive
them, as I do all my adversaries of whatever kind, particularly
George Millar, Clerk of Perth, who, I have reason to believe, has
prosecute me to death, and whom to my knowledge I never injur'd in
thought, word, or deed. Lord, grant him repentance that he may find
forgiveness of God.
And more especially I forgive the Elector of Hanover by virtue of
whose unlawful commission I am brought to this violent and publick
death, and whom I consider as my greatest enemy, because he is the
enemy of my holy mother, the Church, of my King and of my Country.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 28.] I do here acknowledge publickly with a strong
and inward sense of guilt that thro' fear, human frailty, the
persuasion of lawyers and the promise and assurance of life, I was
prevail'd upon, contrary to the sentiments of my conscience and my
openly profess'd principles, to address the Elector of Hanover for
mercy and my life. Which address or petition or anything of that
kind I have sign'd, derogatory to the royal cause, or our undoubted
lawful sovereign's right and title, I hereby retract, and wish from
the bottom of my heart I had never done any such thing; and with
the sorrow and contrition of a dying penitent, most humbly beg
forgiveness of my heavenly Father for this my great offence. God be
merciful to me a sinner. I likewise beg forgiveness of all those
good, religious and loyal persons to whom my inconsistent conduct
in this particular has given just [Sidenote: _fol._ 29.] occasion
of scandal and offence. And I humbly confess the justice of God
for bringing to nought the devices of men when aim'd at or sought
after by undue means and unlawful methods. But hereby the unmerciful
disposition of the Hanoverian family appears the more evident, and
the injustice and cruelty of the Elector's Council at law in this,
that they indicted, arraign'd, tried and condemn'd a person[24]
whom I had forc'd by a subpœna to attend my trial at Carlisle as an
exculpatory evidence, notwithstanding he had long before delivered
himself up in consequence of the pretended Duke of Cumberland's
proclamation, had obtain'd a protection and got a pass. This the more
deeply concerns me in case any of his friends should imagine I had
any design against him by forcing him to run such a hazard. But I
here call God to witness, I esteemed the man, and as I thought him
perfectly safe, I had no other view in bringing him this length than
to do myself justice.
[24] William Baird in Perth. See f. 464 for the history of this case.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 30.] I farther acknowledge and humbly adore the
justice of God's holy providence, the sovereign disposer of all
things, in permitting the execution of the sentence of death against
me, confiding that He of his mercy and goodness, through the blood
and mediation of his dear and only Son, will accept of this my
suffering in the cause of truth and righteousness, and reward it
with the joys of his eternal kingdom. I heartily give thanks to Him
for vouchsafing me the honour and felicity of dying for the sake of
conscience, and of sealing with my blood those heavenly truths I have
maintain'd, particularly that of loyalty to my king and prince.
And I do declare upon this aweful and solemn occasion I feel no sting
of conscience for the part I have acted in our civil discords; and
do sincerely profess before God and the whole world that had He of
his infinite wisdom thought proper to prolong my life, I should have
ever, by His all-powerful [Sidenote: _fol._ 31.] aid and grace,
steadily persisted in the same faith and principles, in the hearty
and zealous belief and open profession of which I now die, and with
fervent charity to all men; imploring the pardon and forgiveness
of all my sins thro' the merits and mediation of my crucified
Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ; earnestly exhorting you, my dearest
fellow-subjects, and most beloved countrymen, speedily to repent
and to turn to your duty in every point, and, in particular, to
that fidelity and allegiance which you owe to your native and only
rightful sovereign.
Consider, I beseech you, consider the evils already felt, the
impending ruin of your country. Consider the crying injustice and
indignity offered to the best of princes. Above all, consider the
guilt and high demerit of violating God's laws and resisting His
ordinance. And let these powerful and prevailing motives excite you
quickly to amend your ways, to make a thorough change in your life
and conversation, and to [Sidenote: _fol._ 32.] continue for ever
firm and unshaken in your duty and subjection to the power ordain'd
of God, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. So shall
ye arrest the vengeance and just wrath of Heaven which has gone out
against us. Ye shall be the happy instruments yet to preserve your
wishing country from entire destruction, and save your souls in the
day of the Lord.
For which glorious and noble ends, Do Thou, O God Almighty! by Thy
Holy Spirit, turn the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the
just, the hearts of parents to their children, of children to their
parents, the hearts of priests and kings to their people, of people
to their kings and priests, the hearts of all to one another and all
together unto Thee, their God, thro' Jesus Christ!
I conclude in the words of our holy mother, the Church, as she
piously appoints in the office for this day,[25] and in that of the
protomartyr, St. Stephen:--
[25] St. Simon and St. Jude's Day.--F.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 33.] 'O Almighty God, who has built thy church upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the head corner stone, grant us so to be joined together in
unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple
acceptable unto Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
'Grant, O Lord, that in all our sufferings here upon earth for the
testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to Heaven, and
by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and being fill'd
with the Holy Ghost may learn to love and bless our persecutors by
the example of the first martyr, St. Stephen, who prayed for his
murderers, to Thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand
of God, to succour all those that suffer for Thee, our only Mediator
and Advocate, Amen.'
Good Lord, lay not innocent blood to the charge of this people and
nation.
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!
[Sidenote: _fol._ 34.] Such are the genuine dying sentiments and
fervent humble prayers of
ROBERT LYON, A.M.,
_priest of the persecuted and afflicted
Church of Scotland_.
_Penrith, 28 October 1746._
On the 18th of October Mr. Francis Buchanan of Arnprior, after he was
taken from prison return'd again and spoke to me the following words
or to the same purpose:
As I have obtain'd a few minutes longer to stay here I desire to
spend them with you in prayer and conversation. After prayers he
proceeded and said: I am much oblig'd to Mr. Wilson[26] (one of the
clergymen belonging to the Cathedral) for suggesting one thing which
I forgot to speak of, being conscious of my own innocence. He says
my being slander'd with the murder of Mr. Stewart of Glenbuckie[27]
did me harm on my [Sidenote: _fol._ 35.] trial. Now I take this
opportunity to declare publickly to you and my fellow prisoners that
Glenbuckie and I liv'd many years in close friendship together, and
altho' he was found dead in my house, yet, upon the word of a dying
man, I declare I myself had no hand in his death, nor do I know any
other person that had. And I am persuaded I can likewise answer for
every one of my servants, since all of them were acquainted with and
had a particular love to that gentleman. So that I declare it to be
my opinion that he was the occasion of his own death.
[26] Probably Mr. Thomas Wilson, then prebendary, afterwards dean in
1764.
[27] See a narrative of Mr. Buchanan's case at f. 100, and about the
death of Mr. Stewart, f. 107.