SIR,

April 1762. The martyrdom of M. April 1762. IF miracles have ceafed, the true spirit of Martyrdom has not. However that fublime character may have been proftituted by its application to fanatics, whom impetuous paffions, a difordered imagination, or the virulent spirit of fuperftition or faction, may have rendered infenfible of danger or fuffering; yet, to the honour of true religion be it faid, there are still perfons capable of afcending that glorious, though forbidding, fummit of Christian virtue. The conduct of M. Rochette, and the three noblemen who were executed with him at Thoulouse, on account of their attachment to the Proteftant religion [126.], is a striking proof of the truth of this affertion. As therefore it is but a piece of justice due to virtue to celebrate its triumphs, I beg, Sir, that you will infert the following letter, which will undoubtedly pleafe, affect, and edify a great number of your readers. I am, &c.

A letter from a person who was an eye-witnefs of the MARTYRDOM of the Rev. M. Rochette, and the three noblemen that were executed with him at Thoulouse, Feb. 19. 1762, dated the day after the execu

tion.

DEAR SIR,

THE only refource we have now left is to let our tears flow, and to render our forrow fupportable by giving it a free course. The day before yesterday the prifoners were tried by the two chambers of the parliament of Thoulouse, and yefterday they were executed. The three noblemen were beheaded. All the four martyrs behaved with invincible conftancy and firmness of mind, attended with a certain chearfulness and serenity that was adapted to excite the highest admiration. They finished their days, like true faints and Christian heroes. As foon as they heard their fentence read, they beheld each other stedfastly, and said, "Let us then die, fince things are fo! and let us pray to God to accept the facrifice that we are now to make of our lives to him and to the truth." Upon which M. Rochette prayed aloud in a most moving and pathetic manner. They then embraced two of their companions, who were condemned to the galleys, congratulated tenderly another of them who had been fet at liberty, and in all their conduct they feemed to be full of the Spirit of God. Monfieur Billot, one of the fecretaries, who was prefent at this first scene of their

M. Rochette begged of these ecclesiaftics, that they would put an end to their useless importunities, and not continue to trouble him and his three friends in their laft moments, but fuffer them to die in peace; expreffing at the fame time his grateful fenfe of their well meant zeal. One of the curates threatened him and his companions with damnation: upon which the worthy minifter replied, with his ufual ferenity, "That they were going to appear before a more equitable judge than he was, even before that merciful judge, who had fhed his blood for their falvation." At the fame time he exhorted his fellow-martyrs to fortitude and perfeverance; and when the curates interrupted him with accufations of herefy, and with pompous difcourfes about the power of granting the remiffion of fins, which was lodged in the church, he told them, that the Protestant religion acknowledged no fuch power, nor look. ed for the pardon of fin from any other fource, than the mercy of God in Jefus Chrift.

Being delivered, about two o'clock, from the importunity of thefe priests, the pious martyrs employed thofe precious moments in prayer and praifes to the God who enabled them to behold death without terror or difinay, and encouraged each other to persevere unto the end. So calm and undisturbed was the ftate of their minds, that they did not fhed a fingle tear. But this was not the cafe with the perfons who were the spectators of this moving scene. While thefe good men thanked the centinels and keepers of the pri fon for the kind treatment they had received from them, and asked their pardon if they had given them any offence, the latter burst into tears, and fhed the anguifh of humanity upon the martyrdom of their prifoners. The minifter percei ving one of the foldiers weeping still more Cc 2

bitterly

bitterly than the reft, addreffed himself to him thus: "My good friend, are you not willing and ready to die for your King? Why then do you pity me, who am going to death for the caule of God?" The priests returned to their importunities about one o'clock in the afternoon; and were intreated to retire; but to no purpose. One of them faid, "It is from a concern about your falvation that we come here:" upon which the youngest of the three brothers replied, "If you were at Geneva, at the point of death in confequence of a mortal disease, (for there no body is put to death on account of religion), would you chufe to be teafed and importuned in your last moments by four or five Proteftant minifters under pretence of zeal? Do therefore as you would be done by." This mild remonftrance was infufficient to put an end to the vain and cruel attempts of thele blind zealots, who, furnished each with a crucifix, which they prefented from time to time to the prifoners, continued to perplex them in the moft indifcreet manner. "Speak of him," faid one of the noblemen who was to fuffer, "who died for our fins, and was raifed for our juftification, and then we will liften to you; but do not trouble us with your vain superstitions."

About two o'clock the martyrs were led out of prifon, placed in a waggon, with the four curates, and thus conducted to the gate of the cathedral. Here the minister was defired to step out of the waggon, and to ask pardon, on his knees, of God, the King, and the Law, in that he had wickedly perfevered in performing the functions of his miniftry in oppofition to the royal edicts. This he twice refufed to do. He was told that this was no more than a formality: to which he anfwered, "That he neither would acknowledge nor fubmit to any formality that was contrary to the dictates of his confcience." At length, however, being obliged, by force and violent treatment, to leave the waggon, he fell upon his knees, and exprefled himself thus: "I humbly afk of Almighty God the pardon of all my fins, in the full perfuafion of obtaining the remiflion of them, through the blood of Chrift. With respect to the King, I have no pardon to af: of him, ha ving never offended him. I always honoured him as the Lord's anointed; I always loved him as the father of my country; I have always been to him a good od faithful fubjeft, and of this my judges

themfelves have appeared to be fully convinced; I always recommended to my flock patience, obedience, and submission, and my fermons have always been confined to the two great objects contained in thefe words of holy writ, Fear God, and honour the King. If I have acted in oppofition to the laws that prohibited our religious affemblies, I did this in obedience to the laws of him who is the King of kings. With respect to public juftice, I have nothing to say but this, that I never offended it; and I moft earnestly pray, that God will vouchfafe to pardon my judges." This was the only confef fion that the officers of justice, after much importunity and conteftation, could obtain from Monfieur Rochette; and though it did not answer their purpofe, yet they were obliged to be fatisfied with it, perceiving the invincible refolution with which this noble martyr protested against going any farther. No fuch acknowledg ment was required of the three noblemen who fuffered with him, as by the laws of France it is never demanded of such as are beheaded. They were, however, conducted with M. Rochette to the place of execution. The ordinary place appointed for the execution of criminals was not chofen upon this occafion, but one much lefs fpacious, that this glorious inftance of martyrdom might have the fewer spectators. All the streets which led to it were lined with foldiers, and that on ac◄ count of the pretended apprehension of a rescue. But this they could only fear from the Roman Catholics, (on whom indeed the fhedding thus deliberately the blood of the innocent feemed to make a lively impreflion); for the small number of Proteftant families that live in this city, filled with confternation at this unrighteous fentence, had fhut themselves up in their houfes, where they were wholly employed in fending up their prayers and lamentations to Heaven, while this terrible fcene was tranfacting. In the ftreets which led to the place of execution, the windows were hired at very high prices: where-ever the martyrs pafled, they were accompanied with the tears and lamentations of the fpectators. One would have thought by the expref fions of forrow that appeared every where, that Thouloufe was, all of a fudden, be come a Proteftant city. The curate of Faur could not bear this affecting spectacle. Yielding to the power of sympathy, (and perhaps of confcience), be fainted

Payfie oweth me a thousand pound, and Aryan fix hundred; in Jernsey also I have much owing me. Dear wife, I befeech you, for my foul's fake, pay all poor men. When I am dead, no doubt, you fhall be much fought unto; for the world thinks I was very rich: have a care to the fair pretences of men; for no greater mifery can befal you in this life, than to become a prey unto the world, and after to be defpifed. I fpeak (God knows) not to difluade you from marriage, for it will be beft for you, both in respect to God and the world. As for me, I am no more yours, nor you mine; death hath cut us afunder, and God hath divided me from the world, and you from me. Remember your poor child for his father's fake, who loved you in his happiest estate. I fued for my life, but (God knows) it was for you and yours that I defired it; for know it, my dear wife, your child is the child of a true man, who, in his own refpect, defpifeth death, and his mishapen and ugly forms. I cannot write much, God knows how hardly I fteal this time when all fleep; and it is alfo time for me to feparate my thoughts from the world. Beg my dead body, which living was denied you, and either lay it in Sherburn, or in Exeter church by my father and mother. Time and death calleth me away. The everlafting God, powerful, infinite, and infcrutable God Almighty, who is goodness itself, the true light and life, keep you and yours, and have mercy upon me, and forgive my perfecutors and falfe accufers, and fend us to meet in his glorious kingdom. My dear wife, farewell. Blefs my boy, pray for me, and let my true God hold you both in his arms.

Yours that was, but now not my own.
WALTER RALEIGH.

SIR, Shropshire, April 1762. THE public are much obliged to MEAN

WELL [20.], for the account he hath communicated of the falutary effects of bathing in falt water. I hope it will be of great benefit to feveral who labour under paralytic diforders, who either cannot bear the fatigue of a long journey to the fea, or whole circumstances will not allow of the expence attending fo diflant a remedy.

A near neighbour of mine, a man, aged feventy-eight years, hath had feveral attacks of the pally; and of late very much afflicted by it; having his mouth

diftorted, his fpeech affected, and one fide rendered almost useless; at the same time he was fo much emaciated, that little hope appeared of his being in any degree restored. But fince I perused this gentleman's account of the benefit received by the perfon in Leicestershire, I was defirous of having my neighbour try the experiment; which, on propofing it to him, he was very willing to do.

Accordingly, I ordered a large mafhing tub to be filled with water; putting into it half a pound (Avoirdupois) of falt to each gallon of water: and fent two of my men, who put him in naked, and dipped him entirely under water. This we continued every other morning for near a fortnight. He found himself better after the first time, and is fo furprifingly mended, that, to ufe his own words, "though he could not crawl over the room before, he can now walk out of doors;" and two days ago was digging in his garden: His mouth is reftored to its natural form, and he can speak very intelligibly. The first time, he went into the water cold; but as the weather was very fevere, I was afraid it would be too hard for the old man, and * therefore indulged him by having it a little warm.

I fhall be obliged to the gentleman to inform me, whether the person mentioned went into the water cold; how often he repeated the immerfion; and if he went from bed into the water, and returned immediately till dry and warm. I was rather at a lofs in these particulars. I know cold water must be preferable if the party can bear it. I ordered my neighbour, who went from bed into the water, to be wrapped in a blanket in bed, and to be rubbed with a cloth till dry: he also had a little warm wine and = toaft given him.

I thought this account would be accept able to the gentleman, as it must be fatisfactory to every perfon endued with a hunane difpofition, who can communi- : cate expedients for the relief of his fellow-mortals, to hear of the good confequences arising from them.

I alfo beg leave to add here, the experiment I have made, of an artificial hot bath, which can be procured by every poor family, and may prove ferviceable