Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-06-07
The SeaffoId and the Stake.

Among the persons concerned in the
Rye House Plot was man named James
Burton. BY his own confession, he had
been present when the design of assas-
sination was discussed by his accompli-
ces. When the conspiracy was detected
a reward was offered for his apprehen-
sion. He was saved from death by an
ancient matron of the anabaptist persua-
sion, named Elizabeth Garnt. This wo-
man, with the peculiar mannersa and phra-
seology which then distinguished her
sect, had large charity Her life
was passed in relieving the unhappy of
all religious denominations, and she was
well known as constant visitor of jails.
Her political and theological opinions, as
well as her compassionate disposition,
led her to do everything in her power for
Burton. She procured a boat which
board of a snip bodnd rBhth a4HEai ,ll.as taotan
At the moment of parting she put into his
hands sum Of money which, for her
means, was very large. Burton, after
living some time in exile, returned to
England with Monmouth, fought at
Sedgmoor, fled to London. and took re-
fuge id the bouse of Ohm Fernely, bar
Der in White-c chapel. Fernely was very
poor. He was beseiged by creditors.
He knew that reward of an hundred
pounds had been offered by the govern
ment for the apprehension of Burton
But the honest man was incapable of be-
traying one who, in extreme peril, had
come beneath the shadow of his roof.
Unhappily, it was soon noised abroad that
the anger of James was more strongly
excited against those who harbored reb-
els than against the rebels themselves
He had publicly declared that Of all forms
of treason, the hiding of traitors from his
vengeance was the most objectionable
Burton knew this. He delivered him
self up to the government--and gave in
formation against John Fernely and E.
lzabeth Gaunt. They were brought to
trial. The villain whose life they had
preserved, had the heart and face to
appear as the principal witness against
them. They were convicted. Fernely
was sentenced to the gallows, Elizabeth
Gaunt TO the stake. ........ ....
Even after all the horrors of the year,
many thought it impossible that these
judgments should be carried into execu-
ton. But the king was without pity
Fernely was hanged Elizabeth was burnt
alive at Tyburn on the same day on which
the Cornish suffered death at Cheapside'
She left paper written, inleed, in nc
graceful style, yet such as was read by
many thousands with compassion and
horror. "My fault" she said. "was one
which prince might well have forgiven
did but relieve poor family, and 10 |
must die for it." She complained of the
incidence Of the Judge, of the ferocity o.
the jailor, and the tyranny of him, the
great one, all TO whose pleasure she and
so many other victims had been sacrifi
ced. In as far as they have injured her
she forgave them; but in that they were
implacable enemies of that good cause
which would yet revive and flourish, she
left them to the judgment of the King Of
kings. To the last She preserved tran.
quill courage, which reminded the spec
tators of the most heroic deaths of which
they had read in Fox. William Penn
whom exhibitions which humane men
generally avoid seemed to have had a
strong attraction, fastened from Cheap
side, where he had seen Cornish hung,
| to Tyburn, in order see Elizabeth Gaunt
burned. He afterwards related that
when she calmly arranged the straw
about her in such manner as to shorter
her sufFerings, all the by-standers BUS
into tears. 1t was much noticed tina
while the fouIest judicial murder which
had disgraced even those times was per