AS there is a time for all things, so most of all certainly, for the end and disco­very of wickedness; nor doth divine vengeance sleep when it winks for a while at the secret impieties of Men: Indeed Publike and notorious debaucheries carry with them their own punishment, in that they so boysterously and tempestuously agitate and distract the mind, and disorder and discompose the body, so that the whole Man is like a raging storming Sea, that threatens Heaven with its foaming Floods, but im­mediately with dismal noise descends precipitantly to the bottom of its depth.

The Bluster and stirre that this Man made in the World is hereby more fully represented. A Man that had never the happiness of so much time, nor any such sober deliberate thoughts, as to consider Himself: perpetually hurried from one irregular and unruly de­sign and business to another, as Waves break in a Tempest, and so long tost between the Rocks of Covetousness and Ambition, till the fraught of his projections split and perished, and he imbarqued in them, must needs run the same Resque and For­tune.

In nothing was he so happy as Mad men, whom he nearest resembled, for they dis incumbered of the World, and raving but by fits, are easily satisfied with short the pittances of allowance and necessaries, which simple and plain Nature restored in a manner by the loss of (our too much depraved) reason, judg­eth requisite to sustenance and preservation: whereas the intemperance and wild Luxury of this person was a Hectique and habitual distemper which deprived him of the right use of his reason, and kept it in a con­tinual and constant vassalage to his vitiated sense and appetite, to such excesses of riot, that he rather vomi­ted than spoke or uttered his business, when the world and its concernments (to say to worse) by fault of a right digestion, boyled and froathed out of his mouth.

Yet as Mad and Phrenetick persons in Turkey are held in great veneration, for that they suppose them to be ravished with some Divine and excellent objects, [Page 3] and inspired in their fits from above, so by a kind of antiperristasis, or by contraries, did the vulgat ob­servation regard this man as a person sublimed in this Humour, and Enthusiasted with some pragmatical Spirit and Agent, which in the fumes of his Ebriety did dictate to him some strange and lucky things, by which he ported and braved it in the World.

But for the full discovery of those means and me­thods (if there were any such thing in his actions, or the menage of his life) whereby he carried on and maintained that expence and quality he pretended to, we will in this Narrative deduce him from his Origi­nals, and through the whole course of his life to this fatal period thereof, assuring the Reader that this is a perfect and just account of Him, collected by a per­son that hath long observed his practices, and did conclude that the winding up of his story would one day require such a Publication.

He was born at Hadly near Barnet in the County of Middlesex, His Father Minister of the place, and re­puted a very honest man, but none of the ablest Preachers, who gave this his Son liberal education, and afterwards put him to Prentice to a Lace-man at the Lower end of Cheapside near the Miter Tavern, where he served his time, but with such disturbance to his Master and the Neighbours, by his sturdy and not to be governed behaviour, that the whole time of his Apprentiship was spent (like green wood, smo­thering it self out without Flame or Heat) in a sober and unprofitable service, & so the perpetual vexation of [Page 4] the people, who argued away the most part of it in an­swer to his Wrangles, and cross-grain'd Quarrells, Enmities, and Cavils.

Nor was he less vexatious and litigious, when he set up for himself in the Round Court in St. Martins le Grand, by the Shooe-makers, where he had not been long, before he had raised a Civil War among the Inhabitants; as if Piece-Broaking had been his Trade, and he had dealt in nothing but Rents and Divisions: he himself engaged against all, and every body almost engaged against him, and with one another, by rea­son of his perplexing and busie Interest: nor is there any other memorial of his being, but his In­fection he hath left behind him ever since; the Feuds, Differences, and Quarrells he commenced here (as if his little skill in Law had intayled them upon the place) continuing in some sort to this very day.

But a greater and more lamentable Dissention ari­sing in the Kingdom, and abating those lesser Animo­sities (as a Conflagration dimns lesser Lights and renders them unobserved) this private Boute-feu (whether scorning to be out-done by men of crosser & perverser Principles, and in opposition, and meer thwarting to their Practices: or by some contrary motion of the same Malign Planets, which influenced our unnatural Breaches: or being better informed by the notoriety of that Rebellious Mischief) left his Shop and abode in St. Martins (having publiquely declared himself a Royalist, against the stream of the madd Vulgar, that swarmed to the Defence of the [Page 5] CAUSE) and betook himself to the Kings Armies; where, by reason he was a Londoner, he was the more welcome; but of any Preferment he got thereby, ei­ther present or future, we never could recover any In­formation. But of this something more shall be said presently.

Glad were the People of St. Martins of his depar­ture from them (the greater Nayl driving out the less) as hoping of some respite from their continual Jarrs, which had so incessantly disquieted them; Nor was He less happy in this his Disjunction, in so fair a manner, and upon so good pretences; For, besides that he was lately redeemed out of the Kings-Bench Prison, in which his former Contentions had engaged him; he was ready for the like restraint by his pra­ctices in this place.

So that he made a Vertue of Necessity, and was Loyal, not out of choice and praeference, but as the only way left to his Liberty: For he had been catch'd betwixt the Officers, or the Sergeant at Armes, from the pre­tended Parliament, then sitting at Westminster, if he had not escaped by a Gutter out of his House; and it was a very good Colour (and the best alleviation of that envy and danger he had contracted) to blaunch those Enormities of his particular and personal Evils, with his pretended Vindication and Redress of the Publique.

This is the rather, and more amply instanced, be­cause there seems to lye an Imputation upon his Party by his Miscarriages; (although Persons of ordinary [Page 6] reason cannot but distinguish between the general Cause, and the particular Defence thereof) for that indeed he was of no Constitution, nor was framed to, or could possibly assume the Vizor of the Reformation; and consequently where there was no Zeal, nor austere rigid Aspect, no Preferment was to be expected, And such was his equal fate either way, that he met not with it among those to whose side he repaired; so that if he had not been more notorious for his late Actions, than notable for his former; and more infa­mous for the Civil, than renowned for his Military Employments, the World had been troubled less with him now (while it labours with the noise of his story) than it hath been for the course of these 30 years last past.

But for satisfaction to the World, who will needs believe, that he is an Eminent Cavalier, we will give an account of what has come to hand, or was ever yet made out, concerning any Commission or Command in the Kings service. He hath often pretended that he was under the Right Noble Marquesse of Newcastle, in that Northern Army, and that he was Commissioned as Wagon Master-General first, and afterwards made a Collonel therein, and of this he hath laid several wagers, saying, that he had lost his Commission, but would bring a Certificate to assert it, which at last he never did or could; but hath suffered many twenty shillings to be drunk as forfeited: And I could name a worthy Gentleman, and Officer of the Militia in this Ciity, who hath won some such summs upon this very wager.

He hath likewise been reported for a very stout da­ing person; Particularly, there is a frequent discourse of a brave Exploit of his at Newbery, about whose parts being gathering of Contribution, with a Party of 12 Men, commanded by him; the Parliaments Garrison thereabouts conjoyning, to the number of 60 Horse made towards them, to recover the money; of whose approach Collonel Turner having notice, ordered his men to make fast their baggs, as well as they could to the bows of their Saddles, by placing them as con­veniently as they could before them (which proved a good defence to their belly and groyns) and presently to charge and break through the Enemy, which was gallantly attempted and performed, and the men and money came clear off (as our information is) to Wallingford Castle.

It is credibly reported likewise that in a Conflict and Skirmish between some small parties near Stevenige in Buckinghamshire, he was wounded by a shot in the Neck, and taken Prisoner by a Servant (belonging to a person of quality) from whose mouth we had this story; and a Ring with a stone in it (with some other things, the due spoil of the Victor) taken from him, which he said he valued at 100 l. but when it came to be justly and skilfully prized, it was worth no more than 5 shillings. And this Rhodomontade humour was so congenial with him, and so inseparably fixed in him, that he could not dispence with it in the very peril of his life, as we shall see in the Conclusion of this Narrative.

For certain; there were several Indictments after the War expired, against him in York City at the Assizes held there by the Judges of the Juncto for many such like pranks, of forcing in Contribution from the Country, during the seat of it in that County: so that if he had any Office, there is none so probable as that of Plunder-Master General, then which (or some such new invented Title, as Commissary to the Baggage, or Colonel of a flying Regiment of Straglers and Free-booters, that may be adapted to him, I think none would better become this Military Solicitor, for he had not yet quitted his former practice,

He was by a transmigration, and the alteration of the State, like Copernicus his moing Earth, the same per­son, under various and different Climates, and tem­peratures of Air.

And this is all that is retrieved of him during the War (some such like stories being of purpose omitted) besides some debauch'd and lewd actions of his, as to Women in his quarters, which out of reverence to the Readers modesty, and the civility of this discourse, which would not be too injurious to the memory of any person though never so vile (without it might e­vidently conduce to any vertuous advantage) are likewise to be forborn, considering withall that the Military License, whereby quicquid lubuit licet, all things are allowed to men of that Profession, if they can compass them (as will happen in the best [Page 9] governed and most disciplined Armies) may be pre­tended as an extenuation of that Crime.

Many are upon this account apt to believe, that like Don Quixot in his like adventures, he might dig­nifie himself with the Titulado of a Colonel, but the marring of his honour is, that there is no Squire, nor so much as a Landsprezado to aver it.

Nevertheless, before we dismiss this Subject, we must review the York story, where at the said Assizes he made out to the Jury, or they were so fairly cre­dulous, as to believe his own word, that what he acted against the Country, was by commands upon him as an Officer in his then Majesties Army, and that if he had not obeyed those orders from his superiours, he had been lyable to sentence by a Court Martial, which would have been death inevitable.

Observable also herein was his cunning deport­ment at his arraignment, and Plea to the Indictments being no less than 65 in number (as he himself hath often affirmed.) For whereas divers other persons and Officers, less active than he, being at the same time Indicted with him, upon the same account, pleaded, Not Guilty, and stood to the Defence of their Cause by the disproof of Witnesses; &c. (whereby they tacitely confessed the Trespass if witnessed, and were found Guilty: He by pleading Guilty, and offering his Case as the Case of the Jury, if they had been under the like Command, escaped Sentence, and came off without the least Fine or Damage whatso­ever.

By this it may appear, that he could not but have amassed great store of wealth, by this his spoyl and rapine, so grievous and notorious as above expressed; and it was no wonder the Country should in some pla­ces be more averse to the Kings Party, than in others, if they met with such Locusts and Caterpillers as this man, who made it his business to squeeze and pill them.

As it will also give the best light (& for which pur­pose we have recited and doubled that mention of it) unto his future condition of Life, for that it influen­ced all his future actions and designes, and was the greatest and principal motion of them. For though other Royalists, instead of getting, lost almost all they had, in that unnatural and miserable War, this Prodigy of a Cavalier, had heaped up great sums of money, which he hoarded in several places, and af­terwards brought up to London, where with this stock he vampt his old Trade of managing of Causes, dis­bursing the charge out of his own Pocket, which was very acceptable to injured People, whose de­fence and just rights he undertook, wherein also he was very lucky.

He hath been heard to say, that he was not such a Fool, as to let the Rebells run away with all the mo­ney and wealth of the Kingdom: nor so nice and con­scientious, as to leave a good booty to the Enemy, if force or finery would help him to it: Nor so unwise when he had gotten it, to trust it in one place, nor in London in one mons hands, if any search or inquisition [Page 11] should happen to be upon him; For if one or two Rogues should chance to break or bankrupt, I will have money, said he, in twenty mens hands, and the De­vil is in it, if they all fail.

And who now doth not see, & cannot but admire the Justice of Heaven in the Catastrophe and end of this Man, that at such time as the truly loyal and indigent Officers are a paying those Dividents, which by Act of Parliament, and their Committees, are apportion­ed to them, (the incompetence whereof is to be be­wailed) this Person should be called to this severe account and reckoning for his before-hand unreason­able pay, and now expiate those outrages, and satis­fie in some part for those many scandalls, which have brought those undeserved necessities upon the Gentle­men of the Royal Party. But to proceed.

He appeared first at his return to London in the Committees of Goldsmith and Haberdashers Hall, sitting upon Compositions for Delinquents Estates, but those places being too hot for him, and an old grudge hanging on the file, as being formerly suspe­cted of a hand in Mr. Challoners business (which he hath vapoured on since, and indeed was a real Truth) he was forced to abandon the employment, by which there are too many in Town have gotten fair Estates, and doe yet (worshipped be their good fortune) en­joy them.

But money being his certain Friend, and having scrued himself therewith into the acquaintance of men of fashion, and pretending to skill in all affairs; [Page 12] what betwixt Broaking and Solliciting, he was grown famous in the Town, and withall got money apace, so that it was not long ere he bought himself a Horse, on which he ambled up and down the City, which rendred him more notable to the observance of all men, and gave reputation to him as a man of very great sufficiencies and abilities in his way. And here­upon it was that one Mr. Okeham an experienced know­ing Solliciter would needs buy a Horse in imitation of that pomp, which he did in a Humour; but the Cost being greater than the Worship, soon sold him again, while Mr. Turner was grown into a Proverb, or By­word, Turner and his Horse, the World wondring which part of the Centaur was the better Beast.

This busie negotiation he continued a good while without any blemish or taint, (being most expert and frequent in the Sale of Lands decreed in Chance­ry, for which bargains he would get a 100 pound in a morning, betwixt seller and buyer; as also in the loan of moneys upon good security, to which pur­pose he acquainted himself with all the monied men in London; and the recovery of Right and Title to Lands unjustly with-held from the true Heirs) till his dealing with one Mr. Galilee a Broaker in Finch-Lane, who pretending that he had right to an Estate of an 100 pound per annum, in Norfolk, bargained with Collonel Turner for the summ of 50 pound down, to prosecute his Title, and and did afterwards pay him several incident Law charges.

In order to this recovery, the suit being commenced [Page 13] in the Exchequer (by the customary proceeding of which Court, the Plaintiff is bound to name a Lessee, who shall satisfie the Damage and Costs to the De­fendant if he fail in his Suit, which by consent and appointment of Galily, as Turner affirmed, was one Sampson) it came to a Tryal, wherein Sampson was overthrown, (Galily having sold his right some time before) and an Execution for Costs was taken out a­gainst Sampson, and He by the diligent search of the Defendants found out and served with it (being a Neighbour over against Colonel Turner) who expe­cting to be freed by Galily, now disowning the mat­ter to Turner, and that he never named any such person, a difference arose between the Colonel and the Broak­er, who brought an Indictment against Turner for Barratry, which he swore to himself, and although several Witnesses were produced for him, who testified how much he had been their friend, in com­pounding, and paying some of their debts out of his own Pocket, with other commendatory language; yet the Jury found him guilty; but the Court not be­ing fully satisfied, referred the difference to Sir Willi­am Wild and Mr. Allen; but at last Turner was forced to refer it to Sir William (for that he would be re­corded next Term) who awarded that he should lose all his Costs and charges, and pay to Galily either 40 or 50 pounds, the whole businesse standing him in no lesse than 300 pound,

There is another story of him at the prosecution of one Batchelour, living near Fanchurch Street, which [Page 14] doth him more faigned reputation than the other real discredit; these 2 fell out upon such broaking accounts, and in such a virulent manner, that Batchelour procu­red a Friend of his to write a Book or Pamphlet a­gainst him, wherein there was this notable passage, (Batchelour intending to render him obnoxious to the Usurper) viz. This same Turner was Knighted in the Field by the late King, for slaying, and killing, and undo­ing the good and well-affected people of this Nation; A most dangerous and active Fellow, and for his services so reward­ed, &c. Which story he took not a little delight in, nor would ever contradict it; but being asked by some Friends, why he did not assume the style of a Knight, would answer, My condition as a Broaker and Solicitor, will not comport with a Knighthood, but had I an Estate and Lands of value, I would be as good, and as soon Sir James, as the best Sir James in England.

Such a multitude of business was now upon him, that he kept two Clerks constantly a writing, or run­ning about, whom he used with great affability and courtesie; He also kept a good hospitable Table; where, to give him his due, he did liberally entertain such poor distressed Cavaliers as would resort to it: Nor would he refuse their company at Taverns with his Clients, where he would pay their share out of his own pocket, and lend them money besides.

He was likewise very charitable to the poor, and a favourer of the oppressed, nor would stick for any pains or cost to do them Justice. 'Tis true, his Vices infinitely far exceeded his Vertues, which were [Page 15] but glimmering and faint appearances, while his Enor­mities were most evident and conspicuous: but how­ever, that little good that was in him, ought not to be suppressed, but to be put in the ballance against them, to let the world see, he had some humanity in him, and not such a Monster as the Phanatique Party would by all means make him. And this good quality I am apt to believe he owed to his Loyalty, in which he had confirmed himself by a long adhaerence, the inseparable companions of which are all the neces­sary requisits to a good Nature, which is generally wanting throughout the Faction, a most supercilious, morose, and peevish sort of people.

But this Humanity had its Excesses, and could not be contained within any means or bounds, for he was full of extravagancies and high flights therein; But of many such wild stories, we will only mention one. He had occasion about the Arrest of a certain person to goe to Colchester, in which business he used the aid of some Officers of the Counter, as especial Bayliffs, as he did frequently in the like Cases, and having ef­fected his Errand, bought a Pipe of Canary of the Man of the House, and set it abroach for all Commers, with other liberal entertainment; and from thence carried his Company to Bishops-Storsord, where ha­ving spent all his money, he took his Mare which cost him fourscore pound, and rid presently to London, and brought Forty pounds more to discharge the House.

Besides this Mare he was never without 3 or 4 hun­dred [Page 16] pounds of Horse-flesh, which hath since given suspicion that he used the High-way, and a rumour is now spread, since his discovery of this late Robbery, that he was the Head of all the High-way men in En­gland, how untruly, time will best discover; but it is hardly believable, for that his practice could not bring him in less than 500 pound a year; however his exceeding prodigality had run him out of money of late, and put him to his shifts, when he chose rather (as it is the fate of great and ungoverned spirits, who have ruined themselves) to piece his ruines by base attempts, then to sink obscurely into a Goal, and fall into poverty by leisurable degrees.

Of late years he hath dealt also another way by trading in Jewells, without great choice and variety of which in his pocket he hath not been seen, (upon which account it was that he put his Son Ely Appren­tice to a Lapidary and Jeweller in Moor-Fields) and hath sold and bartred some quantities thereof to per­sons of quality, by which he cannot be supposed but to have gained considerably; And therefore it must be some strange occasion, which the world cannot guess, that hath put him upon this foul and base action.

It is true, he hath been noted for a most unjust and foul business, in the Case of one Mr. Clench of Cam­bridge, who had occasion to borrow 400 pound upon a Farm called Bendish, by Boston in the Beacon, in that County, to whom Mr. Turner pretended, that because his Lands lay so far distant, he must give [Page 17] Bond also with personal Security for the payment of the money at the day: which being done, at the day of payment Mr. Clench taking up his Morgage, forgot his Bond, which was afterwards sued and recovered against him, but what reason there might be for this as is accidental to cases of this nature I will not determine.

And there are stories of his familiarity with Gowry Granger, and that he did forge Bonds of 800 l. and sued them afterwards; But all the enquiry that could yet be made, would not arrive to any such particu­lars. To the same tenour is that report of his having deseated a young Gentleman of 60 pound, by a pro­mise of procuring him a Fellowship in Cambridge by a Mandamus from the King: to all which the Reader must suspend his belief, till there be a due conviction thereof in some furthrr account, and the rather ought we to be thus civil to him, because the story of the Lady Hewy [...]s 200 l. is a meer fiction, and devised scan­dal.

For it appears so by a Letter under her own hand, wherein she certifies, that a one Colonel Whitton whom she nameth, did receive of her the sum of 235 pound for his procuring the preservation of her Husbands life; but she utterly denies that it was this Collonel Turner, whom she never saw in all her life time, and the said Collonel confirms as much, and acknow­ledgeth the receipt of the said money.

There is another tumour, which might seem least of all credible, and that is hi [...] supplying Oliver (when [Page 18] in a streight for mony, & his Red-coats in a mutiny or combination by Lambert against him, with the summ of twenty thousand pounds by his procurement, from his acquaintance in London: but it holds so little ana­logy with his constant and publique profession of his detestation of the person, besides that Oliver had Bea­gles of his own for that game, that it is more than dubious whether that be not an artifice to slurr his Name.

As to any treacherous correspondencies charged in general upon him, certainly he could no way be guil­ty: for he was no way capacitated to the manage of a design, as most palpably appeared in this last: nor was he a man of any judgement or solid reason, but flash and vapour, and of such like sudden and violent Effects. Besides he was all talk and prattle of what ever came uppermost, nor would give way or Ear to to another mans discourse, as too headstrong & passio­nate, though never so erronious and mistaken.

So that it was concluded, the approach of the late happy Restitution, found him in a very fair posture in all respects; Money, Friends, and Credit, and the reputation of a considerable Royalist, until his prag­matical and ambitious intrusion of himself into the Troop of my Lord of Cleveland, in Lincolns-Inn-Fields, in order to attend the King at his Landing; where at their Rendezvouz in the same Fields, he was with some disgrace shouted out of the Troop, my Lord ha­ving told him, that he had heard an ill report of him, and would not therefore suffer him to ride under his [Page 19] Command; whereupon under the colour of fetching a graceful compass with his Horse, & to shew his cur­vets & agility, he galloped full speed out of the Field. He did acquaint my Lord there, that he was falsely & maliciously abused & traduced, but my Lord would ac­cept of no such defences,

In the same bold manner (notwithstanding his late repulse) he put himself into the most noble Triumph and Cavalcade of the Coronation, where he had so made his way, that he did ride through the City in a most gallant and costly Equipage, as to himself and his Horse. And here was the top and height of his Grandeur, and the limits of his Vain-glory, as it pro­ved the neer term and end of his happiness; This fa­tal business eveening as the most memorable thing and passage of his life since that time, of which we will give a short account.

By his way of dealing he was grown very familiar with one Mr. Tryan, an ancient wealthy Merchant, (who had lent him several considerable summs of mo­ney, and of whom he might have had any thing upon his own word) and by the liberty and freedom he used in his House, and frequent resort to the place where the old man laid his Money and Jewells, which were pledged with him, through some covetous instiga­tion or necessity, he concluded (it being a sacil attempt) to robb him; the which how he effected, we will re­late from his own mouth; as after conviction by a Jury, he confessed before the Lord Mayor, Sir Richard B [...]wn, Sir Thomas Allen, Sir Thomas Bludworth, Sir William Wade, [Page 20] and others, to the purport of these words, viz. That he had designed this business to have been acted some time before by the same persons that now were in it? to which end Iames White, William Turner and a third person not yet discovered met at the Red Bull in Bishops gate street, where Collonel Turner came to them at the time appointed, and ask'd them whether they were fixt, ford at the way was now made for them: Whereunto Iames white made this answer, that the third party then in company was in drink, and so not fit to be made a companion at that time in such an affair, and that He would not goe, if the said per­son went. Whereupon the execution of the business was from that time su'pended to a second opportunity, which Collonel Turner undertook to watch for, and acquaint them with.

On Wednesday, January 6. Collonel Turner met Wil­liam Turner at the Cock behind the Exchange, and there agreed upon a meeting of all the parties the next night at the Red Bull in Bishops-gate-street aforesaid: where accordingly they met, and after some stay Collonel Turner came to them, and told them, the business was now ripe, the Old man was fast, and his Man and Maid were gone forth; whereupon they imme­diately set forward to the work. Collonel Turner had formerly found his opportunity to take the print of the Street-door Key in soft wax, and by that pattern had gotten a new Key made, wherewith he readily, and without noise opened the door, and first entred himself, his Complices following him: when they [Page 21] were within they consulted how they should secure the Old Gentleman; and presently resolved that he should be bound and gagged; and to this part of the work William Turner and James White were assigned: where­upon William Turner askt the Collonel how he should bind him, to which the Collonel replyed, that he should tye him hands and feet together, but allow him scope, (so as not too much) but not hurt him: Willi­am Turner askt again, what if the Old man should cry out? to which the Collonel replyed, No matter if the Old Rogue doe cry out, he lies backward, no body can hear him. In prosecution of these Instru­ctions, they (conducted by Turner) enter the old Gentlemans Bed-chamber, White goes to one side of the bed, William Turner to the other, they awake him, tell him their business, and presently fall to binding and gagging him; which having done, they yet kept their station on each side of the bed, partly by fear to awe the old Gentleman from crying out, but chiefly (by the Collonel's instructions) to obscure him from the sight of the old Gentleman (to whom he was so well known) in his passage for the Keyes of the Clo­set, where the prize lay; which Key having present­ly found, he himself alone enters the said Closer, takes the Jewells, and pockets them privately, not ac­quainting his Companions therewith; who percei­ving their business done, as they were directed, said, come, it is 12 a Clook, it is late, let us be going, there­come, by to amaze the old man, as to the time and to defeat his witness, if he should suspect Turner, who was got [Page 22] to bed by 10 that night, for he did not imagine his man would come home sooner, or the old man get loose before the morning. Collonel Turner then shews them the money, bids them goe and secure the lower door, and he would bring it down to them; which accordingly he did. The Sum 1023 pounds in Silver, and about 20 pounds in Gold. Both the Mo­ney, and the Jewells, as they are charged in the In­dictment it self, with their prizes, it will not be amiss here to insert, VIZ.

Having brought down the money to his Follows, they put it into Wallets (brought with them for the purpose) and away they went into Dukes-Place, to a House, where Collonel Turner had before hired a Room for himself, and Partners, under the names of a Captain of a Ship, his Master, and Boatswain. Knocking at the door, the Maid-servant of the house came, with a Candle in her hand, which Collonel Turner snatch'd out of her hand, and turning his Com­panions, laden with their booty, up stairs before him, [Page 24] went just behind them with the Candle. The money thus lodged, Collonel Turner (leaving James White, and the other person, not yet discovered, to stay all night in the Lodging, which they accordingly did) repaired to his own house, and ordered William Tur­ner to go also to his home in Old-Street, giving him for his present supply only 5 shillings, but promising at the next meeting, that he should have 100 pound more; but this meeting was by full agreement of them all concluded to be not on the next day, for that it would cause suspition and danger, but on the Sa­turday, being the next day after; the place of meeting to be the corner Tavern, by the French Church, in Thread-needle-Street. William Turner came to the house at the time appointed, and there staid in expectation of the Collonels coming with the 100 pound, accor­ding to his promise, an hour or two, but then went a­way, not without some wondring at this disappoint­ment.

Having thus laid down the Fact, we shall next give the Reader in brief the manner of the discovery there­of. As soon as the Thieves were gone, Mr. Tryan ha­ving got the gag out of his mouth by its [...] in his under-jaw, attempted to rise, and in doing so, fell with his side upon an Earthen Chamber Pot, and hurt himself; but getting to the window, cryed Thieves, I am rebb'd; whereupon one Mr. Vanden Ankor, a Merchant, living hard by, burst open the door with a Crow, and entred, but found no body. The Man and Maid being missing, it was first suppo­sed [Page 25] they had done the fact, but the man being found at a Dancing-school, and telling his master, who demanded where he had been, that he supt that night with Col. Tur­ner; the Constable and one Capt. Bedford were sent thi­ther, who found him abed, and his Sons fast asleep, which was their private order) and then de [...]ired him to come to Mr. Tryans, for he would speak with him VVhen he came he denyed his mans being at his House at all, and kept a huge bustle about who were the Thieves, which render'd him suspect; and pretended to spend the next day in search of them; (All which passages will be made out in the en­suing pages.)

On Friday he gave intimation to Mr. Tryan, that he had found the Thieves, but required the same security of a dreadfull Oath that he had passed to them, that neither he nor they should be molested nor prosecuted; and on Sa­turday Sir Thomas Aleyn found the money and him toge­ther, and brought him to Mr. Tryans, when engaging for the money and jewels to be delivered that day, he was dis­mist home; whence Mr. Stubbs an Officer telling him the suspition that was on him for the robbery, he went to the Exchange as he usually did, and there vapoured and boast­ed how he had got the goods again, while in the interim a private resolution was taken up, to seise him by warrant from Sir Thomas Aleyn and carry him to Newgate.

Turner returning home, and going out again to receive the money and jewels as he pretended, was arrested in the streets by the two Coles, at the suite of 4. Officers of the Poultry Counter, who had bailed him, and were now af­fraid of paying the debt, to a writ of one Mr. Van de Burgh a Dutch Merchant, whom he had defeated of 400 l. in this manner, which concerning his life we will summarily re­late: He pretended to redeem a Mortgage of 700 l. and bringing 300 l. with him catcheth up the writings; telling him that the other 400 l. being a paying, he would carry [Page 26] the writings thither for the Gentleman, but neither retur­ned with money nor Deeds; for this the Merchant brought his writ, and had judgement signed last Term for 805 pounds.

Turner being thus in their Custody, would by any means have got free of them; pretending they would deprive Mr. Tryan of his jewels, &c. for that he had appointed 3. a clock that afternoon to meet and receive them; but no way do­ing, he proffered Mr. Tryans bond, which being not judg­ed sufficient warrant in that Case, they held him untill the warrant was brought from Sir Thomas Aleyn to carry him to Newgate, and not long after his wife brought the jew­els, which she said she received of a man in Whitechappel, in the street, &c. but that would not avayle, for about one and two in the morning he was carried in a Coach to the Press-yard by Newgate, and thence January the 15 and 16. to the Sessions House, where he was Arraigned, Tryed and Convicted by the proof following.

Sir Thomas Aleyn hearing of the mischief befallen Mr. Tryan his friend, went to him to consult and advise with him about the recovery thereof, and the discovery of the Thieves on Friday, and being much troubled at the busi­ness, the same night late Mr. Love, sometime Alderman of the City, came to him, and premising some words to him, That he hoped he would be a friend to Iustice, decla­red to him, that a woman formerly a maid-servant of his, had acquainted him that there was a summe of 500 l. left in the hand of a friend of hers in the Minories; and that she conceived it was not well come by, or words to that pur­pose; and that this Robbery of Mr. Tryant being so lately perpetrated, he did conceive it might be some of that mo­ney. That the womans name where it was lodged was Mrs. Fry, a Sempster, at the lower end of the Minories, who having revealed to her kinswoman how the money came thither, she had advised her for fear of danger, to [Page 27] make a timely discovery thereof, which she agreed to, and that in pursuance thereof she had acquainted him the said Alderman Love with the matter.

Sir Thomas Aleyn then demanded who should be his guide to the said house? To which Mr. Love replyed, My maid (above-mentioned) that knowes you Sir Thomas, al­though you do not know her, will meet and wait for you in the Minories early in the morning, accompanyed with a­nother woman; whereupon Sir Thomas resolved the next morning to go thither by 6. a clock; and accordingly in his way thither met with Major Tasker, Major in the Green Regiment of the Trayned Bands, and after asking him whi­ther he was going in such haste, enjoyned him to bear him company to such a place upon such a businesse, to be assi­stant to him in the prosecution thereof, whereunto Major Tasker agreed.

In the Minories the said two women met with Sir Tho­mas and the Major as it was concluded, and brought them to the House, where as soon as they entred, they found Col. Turner with his hand on the Chest wherein most of the money was laid, to whom (being something surpris'd with the sight of Sir Thomas) he said, meddle not with the money, for that and you must go along with me, and pre­sently a Constable was called by Sir Thomas his order to keep the Peace; for of a sudden about 6 or 700 persons were gathered about the door.

In the Interim Sir Thomas demands of Turner whose money it was, (finding it sealed with the Lord Bishop of Chichesters seal, whose money indeed it was, and as his Lordships acquaintance left in Mr. Tryans hands till he should have use of it) who answered it was his own, and that he received it of a Goldsmith; but being farther questioned of what Goldsmith, he was at a stand, and could not tell.

In the mean while John Turner the son, who was also present, got out by a back door, and leaping over the pales in a yard behind the house, escaped; and Sir Thomas ha­ving called a Coach, with Major Tasker and Mr. Turner, attended by the Constable, came to Lime-street to Mr. Tryans, Sir Thomas having understood from the woman of the house, that the money was left there by Mris. Turner, for the use of a decayed Merchants family, Collonel Tur­ner having sworn that he would keep no money in his house.

The substance of this he deposed at the Tryal, where al­so Mr. Hanson a Goldsmith deposed the Seal on one of the Baggs, to be the same with the Seal of the said Lord Bishop of Chichester, on a Letter of his to Mr. Tryan, as he had compared them.

Sir Thomas Chamberlain attested his observation of the busie and troublesome intermedling of the Collonel amongst the neighbours and friends, when they were con­sulting the means of discovery, and the Authors and set­ters of the Robbery, whereby he administred visible cause of suspition. This Sir Thomas Chamberlain was instantly requested by Mr. Turner, for the dear sake of his Wife and Children, to be present at his Tryal, and he proved the most convincing evidence against him.

His defence hereto being prolix and very impertinent, and of no weight with the Jury, besides that it hath been in part publique, and is refuted by his own confession as a made story, and so incongruous that no Art can make it hang together, we purposely omit, and shall pleasure the Reader with some Novels (which have been brought to our hand) during his restraint in Newgate.

The place no way dismay'd him, nor did he alter or vary in the least from his former course of life, never a day passing over his head wherein there were not 40. bottles of wine drank up in his Lodging.

The Sunday after his conviction (which was on Saturday night) his maid attended him to dress his victuals, and a leg of Mutton being roasted for him, which she had spitted with the pizzle on, he fell into a wild humour and some unlucky words concerning the subject, and with the firefork struck through the meat and spoyled it. The same day being advised to send to Sr. Thomas Allyn that he would deliver his Petition to the King: He protested he would hang first, and such was the humour of Honour and ambiti­ous pride in him, that at his Tryall he frequently made asseverations by the no other invocation than by my Honour. On Munday being sent for down to the Ses­sions when the Court had got an intimation of the story, he refused to confesse, as he was desired to do, to a Committe of Aldermen, till my Lord Mayor came off the Bench to be there present, and when he had made that confession, he was so bold and familiar with some of those worshipful persons as to tax them of be­ing too liberal in their testimony against him.

He likewise frankly told them, that as to the Rob­bery, it was no such hainous matter, for that the old Rogue, meaning Mr. Tryan, was a miserable fellow, and that there was no more, or worse thing in doing of it, then for a Man to go to a Drapers shop, and buy with his ready money as much Cloth as would make him a Suit and Cloak, and then send for it home: The old fellow will boyl Marrow-bones one day, and the next day put in some Cocks or Capons Heads, and make strong Broth of them.

After judgement, he was put in the dungeon with the rest that were condemned, though much against his will, bidding the Officers go forward to his former lodging in the presse yard but it could not be allowed him for that night: soon after Mr. Stubs the officer came to see him. whom he found with a quart pot in his hand, and this language from his mouth, Stubs, I know you loue burnt wine, here's to you and drank to him, and gave him the pot into his hand, which proving to be nothing but fair water he added, this is all the liquor that Ile drink while I am in this world.

Notwithstanding he endeavoured to prolong his life by alwayes possible, sending that night to Captain Tytus Gentleman of his Majesties bed-chamber, with whom he had some former acquaintance, to entreat his intercession to the King for a reprive; the messen­ger found the Capt. in bed, and received this answer from him, that for any addresse to the King he knew 'twas in vain, by what he had already perceived, but he would rise and come to him, which visit as a noble friend he performed,

Next morning by the civility of Mr. Iackson Master of Newgate, he was removed to his former Lodging in the Presse-yard, on this condition, that he should be at the charge of two Waiters to guard him in his Chamber, which he gladly embraced; and thereby importunate messages got speech with Mr. Tryan; to whom he said: Lord! Mr. Tryan, what is the rea­son you would not come near me all this while, know­ing how much my life concerns you, for if I die you [Page 31] will lose 1800 l. which you know I owe you, and what good will my blood doe you? to which Mr. Try­an made answer, that he was willing to doe any thing that lay in his power (being here remembred of that dreadful Oath he had taken, &c. he replied, he was no way unmindful of it, but had not the Law in his hands.) And thereupon he consented and promised to go to the King with a Petition, accompanied with Mrs. Turner; and accordingly did deliver on his Knees the said Petition to his Majesty in the long Gallery, and continued in that posture of kneeling, plucking the King once or twice by the Cloak as he was going from him, urging his loss of the 1800 l, and his Oath aforesaid, till the King told him he could not doe it, for that he had received such an account of him from his Judges and the Magistrates of the City; and as to his Oath, told him, 'twas not his doing, but the Law, which absolved him from the obligation of it. He then humbly requested Reprieve for some few weekes but the King would not consent to dayes

The same time he laboured by the Ordinary of the prison with the Lord Cheif Iustice Hide, for a respite of three or four dayes for better preparation, but nei­ther could that be obtained.

All that VVednesday afternoon, although the Mini­sters were with him in discourse, yet upon the com­ming in of any of his friends or acquaintance, he would abruptly break off, and ask what newes? no hope? nor resume the conference with the Divines, but with some indisposition, such a trouble or fear lay upon [Page 32] his spirit; notwithstanding upon some occasions (as his temper was) he could not refrain from his usuall freaks.

Thursday morning being come (which he spent wholly with the Ministers, and in taking leave of his Wife and Children, both the Sheriff, in person were ready to conduct him between the houres of ten and eleven to the place of Execution. When, he came out of the Presse-yard, but seeing a Cart there prepared, and the Officer bidding him go up, he replied, no, I'le speak with the Sheriff first, and thereupon (without moving his Hat) he said to Sir Richard Ford, May not I have a Coach? to which Sir Richard did answer, no, the King hath ordered otherwaies. Turner replied, Common Thieves, Felons, and Highway men have had the priviledge to go in a Coach to Tyburn, and may not I have the same favour? but being again de­nied, he insisted that then he might walk it on foot, which being also refused he went up into the Cart: then being led by the Officer to sit down in the Body of the Cart in the usuall manner, he urged very much that he might be permitted to ride on the Coppes, but it would not be granted, and so he was tied accor­ding to the custome of other Malefactors: At the set­ting forward of the Cart he pulled off his Hat, and said, God be with you Gentlemen, with a cheerful voyce and countenance, which he also kept up till the very last, when he was perceived a little to change and to tremble. He was accompanied in the Cart by two Ministers.

Being come the place of execution he made a long speech full of tedious tautologies, intending thereby (as is conceived) to spin out time in hope of a reprieve. He insisted chiefly upon his commission, as an Officer under the Marquess of New castle, for whose service he had raised a troop consisting of 97 men, for whom he said he never received above one monthes pay, and a weeks pay for his officers. He prayed thrice, confessed to God and the people his having been a blasphemer, drinker and debaucher, and asked Gods pardon for the same, acknowledging his justice in bringing upon him this as a due reward of his wicked life. He purged himself from the imputation of having any hand in the fire at Loathbury. As also from the report that was very rise about the town, of his having cheated the Lady Hewet of 235 l. under pretence of saving her husbands life; but it appeared to have been done by one Col. Witton. After many other un-necessary discourses (in so much that Mr. Sheriff told him 'twas in vain to lin­ger) he went out of the Cart and ascended the ladder, and had the rope put about his neck: he sumbled with his cap a long while, and with his teeth untyed the Ribbon wherewith his hands were tyed, and then de­sired to have them tyed again, which being done, a friend telling him that the rope was on the wrong side of his neck, he smartly (according to his old humour) said to the executioner, how long hast thou been a Hangman that thou knowest not how to place a halter? which being then placed right, he after a smal pause gathered his cloak about him and gently turned him­self [Page 34] off the ladder, having before given order to the Ex­ecutioner not to touch him, to whom he gave Forty shillings.

This was the end of this unhappy person, who had lived to an old age in all outward appearance of felici­ty, and affluence of all worldly pleasures, which too eagetly and violently pursuing, he ran himself out of his life and fortune, having left a numerous and cala­mitous family behind him, a Wife and six Children: Iohn and Ely (in prison upon account of the same fact) and Ienkin his youngest Son, with Mary, Elisabeth, and Anne, the onely remains of 27. Children by this Wife▪ as they have been both heard to affirm.

I could wish he had not been guilty of some late barbarous and inhumane actions towards the Corps of some late executed persons, whatever they were, and though never so justly punished; for it is seldome seen, that those who have no reverence to humane blood, doe ever find respect or favour to their own, but come to some untimely and disastrous end: besides that 'tis a most insolent and unmanly thing to triumph in the calamity of another.

And here the lustice of the King is highly to be magnified, who out of constancy to his Royal word and Proclamation against Loose, Debauch'd and Vi­cious persons hath in all such cases abated not the least of his severity, but hath given way to the full course of the Law, and encouraged his Ministers to be punctu­all therein: and may this demonstration thereof in the example of this Man be a terrour and timely warning [Page 35] to all persons who shall presume upon his innate good­nesse and clemency as a sanctuary for their offences.

It is not much more then half a Century since Mrs. Turner made the like noyse in the Town, and as if Fate were concerned to keep that flagitious fact in fresh memory, it hath revived it in a masculine dress and more man-like offenses, by a confidence starcht stiffer then were any of her fopperies by her yellow Inventi­on.

We should now give the Render some divertise­ment after this sad story, by a Collection of his Pranks and Exploits, but being loth to exceed this bulk, which is more then enough, we shall instance onely two, which may serve for the rest.

At York Assises, formerly mentioned, the day of his Tryall, he had as many Dishes of meat as there were Indictments against him, all carried up in sight of the Court by Gentlemen, as he affirmed; at which time he laid a wager of 5 l. he should be hang'd that Assises, which comming to the Sheriff's ear, he acquainted the Court what a mad fellow this Turner was; being thereupon called, and demanded his reason for so do­ing he answered, If he liv'd he did not value the 5 l. and if he died it would serve to buy Gloves and Rib­bands for his friends. He escaped upon this account, but severall other Gentlemen lost their lives.

His other was at Colchester aforesaid, where he hired a wagon (upon his coming to town upon the arrest of M. Harvey's Father in law) to carry away all the dead he [Page 36] should kill, to the affrightment of the fellow, comman­ding the Ostler to stop up the well in the yard with hay, for not a person of them should be put in there, to raise such a conceit in the minds of the towns people, he caused all the companies drawn swords to be hung out of the window.

He made the Bell likewise to be tolled for own of his company whom he had made dead drunk, and sent for the chimny sweeper to be his Doctor, and the searchers to view the corps, who said it was a sweet Corse, and had shillings a peice for their paynes.

These and the like Comical Frolicks have ended ve­ry tragically like a pleasant way leading to destruction. But 'tis to be conceived those whimseyes were meer­ly to allay and pacify some troubles within, for that they were rather like fits of a possessed person, then the results of innocent mirth, but let judgement be left to God.