From: Edward Burrough, A Declaration of the Sad and Great Persecution and Martyrdom of the People of God, called Quakers, in New-England, for the Worshipping of God (1661)
[MARY’S LAST MONTHS]
Mary Dyar being freed, as aforesaid, returned to Road- Island, and afterwards to Long-Island, and there was most part of the Winter, over the Island, where she had good Service for the Lord; and then came to Shelter-Island, (whence shethought she might pass to Road-Island) and being there, sometime she had Movings from the Lord, to go to Boston, and there she came the 21 of the 3d Month, 1660 and the 30th day was their Governour Chosen, and the 31 of the 3d Month, in the former part of the day, she was sent for to the General Court;
[EXAMINATION BEFORE THE GENERAL COURT BY GOVERNOR ENDECOTT]
The Governour said, Are ye the same Mary Dyar that was here before? (speaking of one in Old-England that Returned, and would have made them believe he was not the same man ; with more words to that purpose, and said, Have not you such Evasions ? )
Mary Dyar, I am the same Mary Dyar that was here the last General Court.
The Governour said, You will own your self a Quaker, will you not ? M. D. I own my self to be so reproachfully called. The bloody-minded Goaler having now opportunity to have his blood-thirsty Will fulfilled, said, She is a Vagabond.
The Governor said, The Sentence was passed upon her the last General Court, and now likewise; You must Return to the Prison from whence you came, and there Remain until to Morrow at Nine of the Clock, then from thence you must go to the Gallows, and there be Hanged till you are Dead.
Mary Dyar said, This is no more than that thou saidst before.
I, I (the Governour said) and now it is to be Executed, therefore prepare your self to Morrow at Nine of the Clock (being the first day of the 4th Month, 1660)
Mary Dyar Answered and said, I came in Obedience to the Will of God the last General Court, desiring you to Repeal your unrighteous Lawes of Banishment upon pain of Death; and that same is my work now, and earnest Request, because ye refused before to grant my Request, although I told you, That if ye refused to Repeal them, the Lord will send others of his Servants to Witness against them.
John Endicot asked her, Whether she was a Prophet? She said, She spake the words that the Lord spake in her ; and now the thing is come to pass : She beginning to speak of her Call,
Endicot said, Away with her, away with her.
[AWAITING EXECUTION]
So she was brought to the Prison-House, where she was before, close shut up, until the next day. About the time perfixt, the Marshal Michaelson came and called hastily for her ; when he came into the Room, she desired him to stay a little; and speaking mildly to him, she said, She should be ready presently; even like a Sheep prepared for the slaughter : But he in the Wolvish Nature, said, He could not wait upon her, but she should now wait upon him. Margaret Smith, her Companion, hearing him speak these words, with others, from the Cain-like Spirit, was moved to Testifie against their unjust Lawes and Proceedings, being grieved to see both him, and many others, in such grosse Darkness and Hard-heartedness : Then he said, You shall have your share of the same, with other violent words.
[EXECUTION: JUNE 1, 1660]
Then they brought her forth, and Drums were beat before and behind her with a Band of Souldiers through the Town, and so to the Place of Execution, which is about a Mile, the Drums beating, that none might hear her speak all the way.
The Words of Mary Dyar upon the Ladder.
Some said unto her, That if she would return, she might come down and save her Life (Bonner and Gardener-like.)
She answered and said, Nay, I cannot, for in obedience to the Will of the Lord God I came; and in his Will I abide faithful to the Death.
Their Captain, John Webb, said, she had been here before, and had the Sentence of Banishment upon pain of Death ; and had broken this Law in coming again now, as well as formerly; and therefore she was guilty of her own Blood.
To which M. Dyar said, Nay, I came to keep Blood-guiltiness from you, desiring you to repeal the unrighteous & unjust Law of Banishment upon pain of Death ; made against the Innocent Servants of the Lord : therefore my Blood will be required at your hands, who wilfully do it : but for those that do it in the simplicity of their hearts, I do desire the Lord to forgive them. I came to do the Will of my Father, and in obedience to his Will, I stand even to the Death.
John Wilson, their Priest of Boston said, M. Dyar, O Repent, O Repent, and be not so deluded and carried away by the deceit of the Devil.
Dyar answered and said, Nay, man, I am not now to Repent.
Some asked her, Whether she would have the Elders to pray for her?
She said, I know never an Elder here.
They asked, Whether she would have any of the People to pray for her?
She said, She desired the Prayers of all the People of God.
Some scoffingly said, It may be she thinks there is none here, this is a mock.
Dyar looked about and said, I know but few here.
Then they spake to her again, That one of the Elders might pray for her.
She replyed, and said, Nay, first a Child, then a young man, then a strong man, before an Elder of Christ Jesus.
Some charged her with something that was not understood what it was.
But her Answer was, It’s false, it’s false, I never spoke the words.
Then one said, she should say, she had been in Paradise.
And she answered, Yea, I have been in Paradise several dayes. And more she spake of her Eternal Happiness, that’s out of mind. And so sweetly and chearfully in the Lord she finished her Testimony, and dyed a faithful Martyr of Jesus Christ.
The Execution of Mary Dyer from the book by Horatio Rogers, Mary Dyer of Rhode Island, The Quaker Martyr Who Was Hanged on Boston Common June 1, 1660
On June 1, 1660, at nine o'clock, Mary Dyer again set out from the jail for the gallows on Boston Common, surrounded by a strong military guard.
As she stood upon the fatal ladder, she was told if she would return home, she might come down and save her life.
'' Nay," she replied, "I cannot; for in obedience to the will of the Lord God I came, and in his will I abide faithful to the death."
Captain John Webb, the commander of the military, said to her that she had been there before, and had the sentence of banishment on pain of death, and had broken the law in coming again now, as well as formerly, and therefore she was guilty of her own blood.
"Nay," she replied, "I came to keep blood-guiltiness from you, desiring you to repeal the unrighteous and unjust law of banishment upon pain of death made against the innocent servants of the Lord, therefore my blood will be required at your hands who wilfully do it; but for those that do it in the simplicity of their hearts, I do desire the Lord to forgive them. I came to do the will of my Father, and in obedience to his will; I stand even to the death."
Then her old Puritan pastor, the Rev. Mr. Wilson, bade her repent, and be not so deluded and carried away by the deceit of the devil. To which she replied, "Nay, man, I am not now to repent." Being asked whether she would have the Elders pray for her, she replied, "I know never an Elder here."
They asked whether she would have any of the people pray for her. She responded, "I desire the prayers of all the people of God." Some scoffingly said, " It may be she thinks there are none here."
Looking about, she said, "I know but few here." Then they spoke to her again, that one of the Elders might pray for her.
She replied, "Nay, first a child, then a young man, then a strong man, before an Elder of Christ Jesus." And more she spake of the eternal happiness into which she was about to enter; and then, without tremor or trepidation, she was swung off, and the crown of martyrdom descended upon her head.
Thus died brave Mary Dyer." Her remains were buried on Boston Common, and there they now rest in an unknown grave.