having past his Laurels he had a minde to reach at the Crown they were somewhat mistaken it had too many thorns in it which of themselves are sharp enough to fetch blood if we should not otherwise accept of the interpretation of the Fifth Monarchy Gentleman who means by them the displeased Souldiery to whom such lustres could never have been acceptable as some other of our late Pamphletters have libell'd him to be another Henry the Fifth that he would have stoln the more then protested against Diadem off from the Pillow if he had a minde to it it is more then they know the worst they could have said of him had been that he entertained somewhat more then self-denying thoughts or rather as the Poet hath it Magnis tamen excedit ausis Indeed outwardly he seemed to have little of vain glory in him or else he turned his dark Lanthorn to himself his closeness being alwayes such that this great Politician walkt invisible others stood in the light to him but he in the dark to all onely for his most grand Transaction there was no vizzard could disguise it that he should after so many selfish refusals a word lately put into the new canting Dictionary of the Enthusiasts that he should after the slighting as it were of so many tendred forfeited and sequestred Estates presented to him by the Parliament for his remarkable services after that in parts and piecemeals he had denied the pomps and vanities of this wicked world he made it his master-design to take in all at once as he knew well enough how to cog a die he had thrown for all won all and swept all at once rendering his Motto Pax quaeritur Bello into that English which pleased him best the Protectorship To reflect briefly on his Domestical Affairs he was not uxorious but respectful to his Wife to his Children he had a paternal affection careful of their educations and of their aspirings to advancement he endeavoured to cast a lustre on them which did not take with the people though as to his Son Richard there was a more then ordinary consent For his pleasures there is no extraordinary news of them some Frolicks I have heard of with those he was most familiar the truth is he had too little leasure for trivial repasts he did with them as great persons do with Banquets come and look upon them and so turn away As he begun from a private fortune as I have already intimated that fortune quickened in him all seeds of observation being alwayes more prosperous in himself then confirmed from the affections of others For the imputations against him of moneys in his Treasury certainly if he had been such a hoarder the urgency of his pressing Affairs would never suffer him to be so poor as to stand still and admire his riches Before I end I cannot chuse but remark his hard dealings with Parliaments which he formerly so vindicated against the late King for his breach of priviledge about the five Members whatsoever fine thred he did twist for himself in all his religious speeches those that are right Englishmen will never clear him from his violations though he mannaged those actings as that they were to him but short tempests or small over-castings as whatsoever injury the Nations endured he had one pretence or other to shift it off from his own shoulders extreamly mistaking himself as the people look less on the failings of those who have been their own choice then on those who have taken on them to be earvers for themselves he thought himself crafty enough for Parliaments and from his death-bed he determined himself cock sure as he was flesht with his former fortunes he could never have imagined his posterity should ever have been lean 'T is true we may be so political as on this earth to endeavour to grasp these humane Affairs to our own Interests but we must lay down our greatest wisedoms when we come to sleep in the silent grave as after death there is no providing against the cross blows of fortune To conclude as far as we can conjecture his Confederates continuing alike victorious and fortunate with him he might if he had lived to it extended his victories to some other parts of the world if he did no more it was either through the disturbances of the times or long of himself for what he minded he compassed Certain it is that he so husbanded his successes that he did not live to see himself unfortunate who having assumed or rather snatcht his honours shewed himself to be one of the strangest sort of wonders that our late times have produced One writ a strange Epitaph on him Here lies Oliver Cromwel who that he might be Protector himself first brought the English Monarchy on its knees FINIS Courteous Reader These Books following are printed for Nathanael Brooke and are to be sold at his Shop at the Angel in Cornhill Excellent Tracts in Divinity Controversie Sermons Devotions THe Catholick History collected and gathered out of Scripture Councils and Ancient Fathers in Answer to Dr. Vane's lost Sheep returned home by Edward Chesensale Esq Octavo 2. Bishop Morton on the Sacrament in Folio 3. The Grand Sacriledge of the Church of Rome in tataking away the sacred Cup from the Laity at the Lords Table by D. Featley D. D. Quarto 4. The Quakers Cause at second hearing being a full Answer to their Tenets 5. Re-assertion of Grace Vindiciae Evangelii or the Vindication of the Gospel a Reply to Mr. Anthony Burghess Vindiciae Legis and to Mr. Ruthford by Robert Town 6. Anabaptists anatomized and silenced or a Dispute with Mr. Tombs by Mr. J. Crag where all may receive clear satisfaction in that Controversie The best extant Octavo 7. A Glimpse of Divine Light being an explication of some passages exhibited to the Commissioners at White Hall for approbation of Publick Preachers against J. Harrison of Land Chappel Lancashire 8. The zealous Magistrate a Sermon by T. Threscos Quarto 9. New Jerusalem in a Sermon for the Society of Astrologers Quarto in the year 1651. 10. Divinity no enemy to Astrology A Sermon for the Society of Astrologers in the Year 1643. by Dr. Thomas Swadling 11. Britannia Rediviva A Sermon before the Judges August 1648. by J. Shaw Minister of Hull 12. The Princess Royal in a Sermon before the Judges March 24. by J. Shaw 13. Judgement set and Books opened Religion tryed whether it be of God or Man in several Sermons by J. Webster Quarto 14. Israels Redemption or the Prophetical History of our Saviours Kingdom on Earth by K. Matton 15. The Cause and Cure of Ignorance Errour and Prophaneness or a more hopeful way to Grace and Salvation by K Young Octavo 16. A Bridle for the Times tending to still the murmuring to settle the wavering to stay the wandring and to strengthen the fainting by J. Brinsley of Yarmouth 17. Comforts against the fear of death wherein are discovered several
served with the same sauce he intended to serve another verifying therein the ancient Proverb He that for others digs a pit Doth oft himself fall into it Having escaped this eminent danger he makes Licinius Governour of Sclavonia Co-partner with him in the Empire and to assure him to his side gives him his sister Constantia to wife and then with an Army of 90000. Foot and 8000 Horse hasteth towards Rome against Maxentius his enemy Constantine at the time of his setting forth of Brittain was as appeareth by Authours unsettled in his Religion for though he observed the adoration of the Gods of the Gentiles to be altogether frivolous and deceitful yet was he not confirmed in the Christian Faith but was then rather of no Religion then truly of any the cause of his conversion Eusebius and other Authours write was that being in his march against Maxentius aforesaid being then piously affected to worship and to invocate the true God he cast his eyes towards the East part of the Heavens and had presented unto him the sign of a Cross wherein were stars as letters so placed that visibly might be read this sentence IN HOC VINCE this sign being seconded by the voice of Angels confirmed him in that whereof before he was doubtful so that changing the Imperial Standard to the form of this vision as one armed from Heaven he marched against his hellish Adversary Who thinking to over-reach Constantine by a stratagem framed a false bridge over the River of Tybur but the trap he set for another he fell into himself for joyning battel with Constantine and being by him overcome either for haste or forgetfulness took over the same himself which falling under him as he passed he with many more were drowned escaping thereby a more cruel and ignominious death Maximinus who then governed the East part of the Empire hearing of the prosperous proceedings of Constantine purposed the destruction of him and all his partakers but man proposeth and God disposeth for he who dreamt of nothing less then a glorious victory was himself overcome by Licinius at Tarsus where he shortly after died being eaten up with lice Licinius hereupon growing insolent his prosperous proceedings making him ambitiously mad was in conceit no less then Emperour of the whole world so that now he began to unvizard himself and to show he was not what he pretended for though before he had outwardly suffered the Christian profession yet now he raised a bloody persecution against them in the East Constantine according to his Fathers commandment which was to wipe away all tears from the Christians eyes prepared his forces against this bloody persecutor with whom he encountred in the Countrey of Hungary his success being answerable to the justness of his cause Licinius and his Army being overthrown but he afterwards recruting in a battel at Byzantium was again overthrown and taken prisoner yet by the mediation of his wife Constantia had his life spared and confined within the City of Nicomedia but he afterwards endeavouring to recover his former dignity was for his treasons afterwards put to death so that then as Mr. Speed writes the peace of Gods Saints manifestly appeared and the progress of the Gospel passed uncontrolled Maxentius Maximinus and Licinius being vanquished Constantine remained sole Emperour under whom the Christians enjoyed Halcyon dayes returning from the deserts where before they were hidden Churches were reedified Temples founded and Festival Dayes celebrated in every place And that this foundation might have as glorious a building he congregated 318 Christian Bishops in the City of Nice where divers things were decreed for the godly government of the Church in that primitive Age. His next care was to demolish and pull down idolatrous Temples and Images as the Grove and Temple of Venus in Phenicia which was a School of wickedness to those which were addicted to lust where men and women frequently committed adulteries and fornications Constantine thinking it unfit that the sun should behold such villany sent a band of Souldiers to suppress it as also the Temple of Aesculapius with the Image of Venus at Heliopolis and many such like in other places Nor was his zeal more shown in suppressing Pagan Temples then in erecting structures for the advancing of Christianity building a most magnificent Temple in the very place where our Saviours Sepulchre was though some report it to have been built by his Mother Hellena but we will not herein set the Mother and Son at odds it may be she built it at his cost or that it was built by him and dedicated by her as also those other two the one on the Mountain where our Saviour Ascended the other over the Cave where he was Born The Kingdome of Christ beginning to appear thus visibly resplendent the Devil envying the prosperity thereof raised a new sedition in Antioch the whole City being divided into two factions about the choice of a Bishop Constantine well knowing that the War of the Church was the Infidels Peace wrote perswasive letters to them to maintain peace and concord among themselves which like lenitive Physick allay'd and cool'd the hot distempers of their rage who else had certainly killed and masacred one another Hitherto is Constantine's reign commended of most but the latter part of his life applauded of few In the first beginning of his reign saith Stow he was worthy to have been compared with the chiefest Princes of the Romans but for the end thereof to be resembled to such as were of the meaner sort Eutropius and Victor tax him of cruelty for putting to death his wife Fausta and Crispus his son though he be thereof excused by Paulus Orosius and Zosimus who affirme the causes of there deaths were just However he is taxed by other writers to have more prejudiced the Roman Empire then any of his predecessours first in removing the Imperiall seat from Rome to Bizantium adorning the same with magnificent buildings and commanding all the Princes of the Empire to raise therein some memorable edifices Likewise for transporting from Rome more curious statues and other costly monuments then any twenty of his predecessours had brought thither as the Image of the Goddess Pallas supposed to be the same that Aeneas brought from Troy the Image of Apollo of an unmeasurable higness with the statues of Juno Venus and Minerva where he also built a famous Library wherein were an hundred and twenty thousand Books changing the name to Constantinople which it still retaineth unto this day Another errour of this famous Prince was his dividing the Empire between his Children for though saith our learned Dr. Heylin it was quickly again reunited yet by his example others learned the same lesson renting the Empire into many pieces which finally occasioned the loss of the whole Another defect was his translating the Legions from Brittain France and Germany unto the Eastern Countrey for a Bulwark against the Persians thereby opening a gap for the barbarous
England where being instructed in the Christian Religion and baptized in the Church of St. Paul by the Bishop of London with great Solemnity in the presence of six Prelates she was married to the aforesaid Gilbert of whom he had Issue this Thomas whose Life we now relate who as his Legend recites was first brought up in a Religious House of Merton afterwards was instructed in the Liberal Sciences and then sent to study in the University of Paris from whence returning home he was by Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury made his Archdeacon a place in those dayes of high degree in the English Cleargy next unto Lord Abbots and Bishops Much about that time Henry Duke of Aquitain and Normandy succeeded King Stephen in the Crown of England who in the very first year of his Reign advanced Becket to be Lord Chancellour of England in which high honour he carried himself like another King His retinue was great his Followers men of good account his House keeping such as might compare with if not surpass the greatest Earls of the Kingdom his Clothes very costly full of bravery his Furniture mighty rich his very Bridles of beaten silver Yea Fortune did seem to have made him her Darling and all things so flowed according to his desire that one would have judged him to have laid clean aside the very thought of a Clergy-man King Henry having Wars in France he served him with a Band of 700. Souldiers of his own Family besides many others with which and some additional Forces after the Kings departure he obtained a great victory At another time he himself in person unhorssed a Frenchman called Enguerranus de Creya a most hardy Souldier renowned for deeds of Arms and Chevalry for these valiant acts in reward and in further hope of his faithful service upon the death of Theobald the King made him Archbishop of Canterbury though the Monks objected against him that neither a Courtier nor a Soundier as he was both were fit to succeed in so high and sacred a Function But Thomas having obtained this dignity forgot the King who had raised him to the same For as the Poet hath it A swelling spirit hates him by whom he climes As Ivy kills the tree whereon it twines So rising men when they are mounted high Spurn at the means that first they mounted by For not long after began that great controversie between Regnum Sacerdotium the Crown and the Mytre the occasion whereof was the King being credibly informed that some Clergy-men had committed above an hundred murthers under his Reign would have them tried and adjudged in his Temporal Courts as Lay-men were but this as being contrary to the priviledges of the Church the Archbishop withstood This affront of a subject the King could not endure finding himself hereby to be but a demy-King Wherefore having drawn to his side most of the Bishops in an Assembly at VVestminster he propoundeth these Articles peremptorily urging Becket to assent to them 1. That none should appeal to the See of Rome for any cause whatsoever without the Kings licence 2. That it should not be lawful for any Archbishop or Bishop to depart the Realm and repair to the Pope upon his summons without licence from the King 3. That it should not be lawfull for any Bishop to excommunite any person that holdeth in Capite of the King without licence of the King nor grant any interdict against his Lands nor the Lands of any his officers 4. That it should not be lawfull for any Bishop to punish perjured nor false witnesses 5. That Clarks crimonous should be tried before secular Judges 6. That the King and his secular Justices should be Judges in matters of Tythes and other like causes Ecclesiastical There points so nearly touched the Papal Sovereignty that Becket resolutely denied to signe them but by the importunity of many Lords and Prelates at last he yields subscribes the Ordinance and sets his hand unto it The King hereupon supposing all contradiction ended and that Thomas would not waver in his faith called an assembly of the States at Clarendon in VViltshire to collect and enact these Laws where John of Oxenford sitting President Becket relapsed saying He had grievously sinned in that he had done and that he would not sin therein any more The King herewith vehemently incensed threatens banishment and destruction to him and his whereupon Becket once again perswaded swears in verbo Sacerdotali in the word of a Priest sincerely that he would observe the Laws which the King entituled Avitae and all the Bishops Abbots Priors and whole Clergy with all the Earls Barons and Nobility did promise and swear the same faithfully and truly to observe and performe to the King and to his Heirs for ever But the King desiring him to affix his seal to an Instrument wherein those Laws being sixteen were contained he refused saying He did promise it onely to do the King some honour verbo tenus in word onely Nor could the example of his fellow Bishops nor the perswasions of Rotrod the Popes messenger move him at all to compose these differences It may be thought a fable yet is related by divers superstitious Authors that one time during this contention certain fellows cut off the Archbishops horses tail after which fact all their children were born with Tails like Horses and that this continued long in their Posterity For may own part though I confess God is able to do this and much more yet I reckon this amongst other ridiculous miracles mentioned of him by those writers as that of Ailwardus who for stealing a great whetstone which the Author that writes it best deserved being deprived of his eyes and virilities by sentence of Law upon prayer to Saint Thomas he had all restored again Yea even a Bird having been taught to speak flying out of her cage and ready to be seized on by a Sparrow Hawk said onely St. Thomas help me and her enemy fell presently dead and she escaped But slighting these follies to return to our History the King summoning a Parliament at Northhampton Becket was cited to appear before his Majesty which he refusing upon his contempt the Peers and Prelates judged his goods confiscated to the Kings mercy He making his appearance the Parliament demanded of him an account of 30000 pounds which he received when he was Lord Chancellour to which he answered that when he was chosen to be Archbishop he was by the Kings authority freed and acquitted of all Debts and Obligations of Court and Exchequer and so delivered over to the Church of England and that therefore at that time he would not answer as a Lay-man having before had a sufficient discharge This answer of the Archbishop was like Oyl cast on fire which instead of quenching increast the Kings anger and the Prelates perceiving the Kings displeasure to tend yet to some further severity premonished him to submit himself for that otherwise the Kings Court
not to take him off which those that contrived it were certain could not but take as they knew that he was of so tender a conscience as that they could not fail of their project he was cited to appear at Lambeth before the Bishop of Canterbury the Lord Chancellour and Secretary Cromwell to take the oath of Supremacy and Succession which he refusing he was committed to the custody of the Abbot of Westminster for four dayes and afterwards by the importunity of Queen Anne to the Tower Whereat his landing Mr. Lieutenant was ready to receive him the Porter of the Tower demanded of him his upper Garment Mr. Porter said he here it is and took off his Cap and gave it him saying I am sorry it is no better for thee no Sir said the Porter I must have your Gown which he gave him This his pleasantness certainly argued a confidence he had in the justness of his cause After many endeavours during his abode in the Tower to get his consent to the taking of the Oath all which proving fruitless after a years imprisonment he was called to his arraignment at the Kings Bench Bar where his Indictment being read he pleaded not guilty and to the admiration of the hearers so quitted himself that he put the Bench to a stand untill at the last one Mr. Rich the Kings Solliciter deposited against him that he should say The Parliament could make the King no more Supreme Head of Church then they could make a Law that God should not be God To which Sir Thomas answered If I were a man my Lords that did not regard an oath I need not at this time in this place as it is well known to you all stand as an accused person And if this oath Mr. Rich which you have taken be true then I pray that I may never see God in the Face which I would not say were it otherwise to gain the whole world Yet notwithstanding his oath and the exceptions he took against the witness the Lord Chancellour proceeded to sentence That he should be brought back to the Tower of London by the help of William Bringston Sheriff and from thence drawn on a Hurdle through the City of London to Tyburne there to be hanged till he be half dead after that cut down yet alive his Privy Parts cut off his Belly ripped his Bowels burnt and his four quarters set up over four Gates of the City and his head upon London Bridge This Sentence was by the Kings pardon changed afterwards into onely beheading because he had borne the highest Office in the Kingdom Of which mercy of the Kings word being brought to Sir Thomas he answered merrily God forbid the King should use any more such mercies to any of my posterity or friends During the time he remained in the Tower after Sentence passed on him one of the Court came to visit him whose whole discourse was nothing else but urging Sir Thomas to change his minde who at last being wearied with his importunity answered him That he had changed it Whreupon presently he went and told the King and being by him commanded to know wherein his minde was changed Sir Thomas rebuked him for his inconsiderate rashness that he should tell the King those words that he spoke in jeast onely to be rid of his impertinency meaning a while after this merry expression came from him that whereas he intended to be shaved for which he was said so much to resembled Erasmus that he might appear to the people as before he now resolved that his beard should undergo the same tribulation he did which made the Courtier blank and the King very angry The day appointed for his execution being come about nine of the Clock he was brought out of the Tower ascending the Scaffold it seemed so weak that it was ready to fall whereupon he said merrily to the Lieutenant I pray you Mr. Lieutenant see me safe up and for my coming down let me shift for my self Then desired he all the people to pray for him and to bear witness with him that he should then suffer death in and for the Faith of the Holy Catholique Church a faithfull servant both of God and the King Which done he kneeled down and after his prayers ended he turned to the Executioner and with a chearful countenance said Pluck up thy spirits man and be not afraid to do thine Office my neck is very short take heed therefore thou strike not awry for saving thine honesty then laying his head upon the Block he bad the Executioner stay untill he had removed aside his Beard saying That that had never committed any Treason So with much chearfulness he received the Fatall blow of the Ax which at once severed his head from his body This jeast at his death the Catholiques so much distasted that at so serious a time he should be so airy and light that he had almost been scratched out of their Canonization for a Saint He was executed the sixth day of July following the decollation of Bishop Fisher who was for the same Cause beheaded on Tower-Hill The Life of this Bishop is extant incomparable well done by Doctor Bailie Thus died Sir Thomas Moor a man admirable in all kinde of learning Latine Greek Prophane Divine his Vtopia is admired over the world his Richard the Third till of late years of so much credit with Historians that they have placed it in their Works without the alteration of a word He was of such excellency of Wit and Wisdom that he was able to make his fortune good in what place soever he lived who wanted no skill either for the mannaging of private or publick businesses being experienced both in Countrey and City Affairs in giving solid and sound counsel in doubtful cases none more prudent to tell the truth without fear none more free as from all flatteries he was open and pleasant full of grace in delivering his judgement And to conclude one whose integrity made him a miracle of nature whist he was living and whose Books have made him an everlasting Monument now he is dead He was behead in the year 1535. his Monument is in Chelsey Church where it is reported Bishop Fisher lies buried with him in the same Grave that as they suffered for one Opinion it was thought fit they should not be parted Epitaphium Thomae Mori quod paulo post abdicatum munus Cancellarii ipse sibi composuit Sepulchro suo affixit Thomas Morus Vrbe Londinensi familia non celebri sed honesta natus in literis utcunque versatus quum ut causas aliquot juvenis egisset in foro in urbe suo pro Shyrevo jus dixisset ab invictissimo Rege Henrico Octavo cui uni regum omnium gloria prius inaudita contigit fidei defensor qualem gladio se calamo verè praestitit merito vocaretur aà scitus in aulam est delectusque in concilium creatus eques
that any one alive could suspect it of which himself at all times throughont the whole space of his life had given manifest testimonies Whereupon sayes the King that he deposited the testimony of his faith which this holy man meaning the Bishop or else expected defence in this behalf of all men who well knew his life and profession namely that I dye said he in the Christion Faith according to the profession of the Church of England as the same was left me by my Father of blessed memory Then looking about upon the Officers having sayes he a most gracious God and a most just cause that I shall by and by change this corruptible Crown for an immortal one I both trust and rejoyce that I shall depart hence into another Kingdom altogether exempt from all manner of disturbance Then preparing towards the Circumstances the Bishop putting on his Night cap and uncloathed him to his Sky-colour Sattin Wastecoat he said I have a good cause and a gracious God and gave his George Order to the Bishop bidding him to give it to the Prince There is but one stage more sayes the Bishop this is turbulent and troublesome and but a short one but it will soon dismiss into a way further even from Earth to Heaven there you are assured of joy and comfort I go sayes the King from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown where no disturbance can be but peace and joy for evermore Then lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven mildly praying to himself he stoopt down to the Block as to a prayer-desk and most humbly bowed down his generous Neck to God to be cut off by the vizarded Executioner which was suddenly done at one blow Thus fell Charles and thus all Regal Power with him His Body was buried at Windsor for to render him the more odious in the Vault with Henry the Eighth His Effigies at the Old Exchange being pulled down with this Inscription placed there Sic exit ultimus Tyrannus His own and his Fathers Statue being not long before thrown down from the West end of Pauls A late worthy Historian writes that though there were many excellent ones written on him yet the King himself was his own best Epitaph as his Reign and death makes as full and as perfect a story of goodness and glory as earth could suffer so his Christian vertues deserve as faithful a Register as earth can keep I shall conclude with one of our Modern Poets Crowns have their compass length of dayes their dates But time puts periods both to Crowns and States This Epitaph came to my hands which I have here inserted Within this sacred Vault doth lie The Quintessence of Majesty Which being set more glorious shines The best of Kings best of Divines Britains shame and Britains Glory Mirrour of Princes compleat Story Of Royalty one so exact That th' Elixirs of praise detract These are fair shadows but t' endure He 's drawn to th' life in 's Portraiture If such another Piece you 'ld see Angels must limn it out or he Master Lilly in his Monarchy or no Monarchy sayes that some affirm that severall Prodigies appeared before his death all he observed for a long time before was that there appeared almost every year several Mock-suns sometimes two sometimes three so also Mock-moons or Paracelenes which were the greatest he ever observed or feared The Life of the Lord CAPEL THis honourable Person though he was not like some of our other Worthies crowned with the Successes and Laurels of War yet is he no less to be eternized for his endeavours his animosity constancy and perseverance to the parting first with his vaste Estate sequestred for his Loyalty and aterwards with his Life so that he might rightly be termed The Flower of English Fidelity his name ever to be honourably mentioned according to that of the Psalmist Psal 112.6 The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance He was Son and Heir to Sir Arthur Capel of Hadham-hall in Hertfordshire a Gentleman of a great estate one who followed the old Mode of our Nation kept a bountiful house and shewed forth his faith by his works extending his Charity in such abundant manner to the poor that he was bread to the hungry drink to the thirsty eyes to the blinde and legs to the lame and might justly be stiled Great Almoner to the King of Kings Concerning the Humility of this worthy Knight though it be too sudden a diversion I shall presume to insert a story which I have heard delivered by some well acquainted with his worship That be being set at his gate all alone in a plain but decent habit a Serving-man who had plumed himself with his Masters cast feathers came riding to him and asked him if Sir Arthur Capel were within Sir replied the Knight he was there not long ago and if you please to walk in you may hear further of his servants Old Father said the Serving-man here take my Horse and first money he ever received in that kinde Sir Arthur agreed to the motion and with a smile received from him a single penny took his Horse and walkt him whilest the finical spruce Serving-man strutted with convenient boldness into the house but being informed by the Servants that their Master was at the Gate he replying to the contrary one of them to justifie their words went with him to the Gate to see where they found Sir Arthur very industrious in his employment the Serving-man very much ashamed of his mistake craved pardon and with humble obeisance with his Hat in his hand with many cringes would have received the Horse from the Knight Nay stay sayes Sir Arthur you paid me my hire get up as soon as you will I am resolved to see you on Horseback The old Knight putting his hand into his purse gave him half a peece which he said was for his taking so much care of his Masters Horse being purposely thus liberal to encourage his own Servants to imitate his careful example But to return to his Son he was very well educated attained to some perfection in learning he had a good expression and elegant stile as his own Letters hest delineate His Father dying as he inherited his Estate so did he his vertues his pious bounty appearing so conspicuous that some envious persons who hate good works in others because they will do none themselves have maliciously aspersed him for an inclination to Popery But as such aspersions amongst persons of understanding speak nothing but the speakers malice so wrought it in others a deserved commendation of this of our late Noble inimitable Lord more especially that in these last times when Charity lies bed-rid and faith onely so much talkt on whereas he made his Faith publickly known by his Works From the degree of Knight he was by King Charls advanced to be Baron of Hadham As it may be computed about that time the Earl of Strafford received his Tryal this unfortunate
safety of the King and Kingdom and gave him so full satisfaction in all things that as being at last overcome he seemed to give him his hand and promised that not onely all his men but he himself would come in person in the head of them and be with him with all possible speed And for the better mannaging of the War they agreed that Huntley wafting over the Spey should make his way on the right hand by the Sea Coast of Murrey and Montross was to go round about on the left hand thorow Strath-Spey and so to besiege Innernes a strong Garrison of the Covenanters on both sides In the mean time a convention of the Estates was held at Saint Andrews wherein were condemned and executed Colonel Nathanel Gordon Sir Robert Spotswood Andrew Gutherey Son to the Bishop of Murray and William Murray Brother to the Earl of Tullibardin The crimes objected against them was no less then High Treason the facts they were guilty of Loyalty to the King for the same cause was beheaded not long before Sir William Rollock Alexander Ogleby of an ancient and honourable Family and Sir Philip Nesbit The death of his Friends troubled Montross exceedingly yet abhorring their cruelty by inflicting the like on those Prisoners he had of theirs he resolved to revenge their deaths in a more nobler way and with his Army marched to besiege Innerness the most considerable Garrison of all the North and the Haven there most commodious for entertaining Forreign Forces Now had Huntley with his Army come up to have blocked up that side of the Town he undertook to do the Garrison for want of provision had been forced to yield but he trifling away his time in Murray a good way off Innerness without either honour or profit gave Major General Middleton time to raise six hundred Horse and eight hundred Foot to raise the Siege and notwithstanding Huntley had notice thereof by Montross yet could he receive no answer from him but what relisht of scornfulness nay so far off were they from affording him assistance that Montross having sent three Troops of Horse to lie at the Fords of the Spey to observe the motion of the enemy and if they came to send him often and certain intelligence Lewes Gordon Huntleys Son who then commanded the Castle of Rothes invited the Captains to a banquet in his Castle perswading them to leave off their needless guards and that the enemy lay very far off where with dainty chear and store of wine he detained them so long till Middleton with a great Army of Horse and Foot had got over the Spey and set footing in Murrey so that had not Montross had notice of their approach another way he had had a sharper bout now then he had at Selkirk but Montross knowing them too strong for him in Horse avoyding the plain he retreated with his men beyond the Ness and notwithstanding their often falling upon his rear yet he so well managed his retreat that with little loss he advanced unto the Bank of the Spey safe from his enemies Horse And now he resolved without further delay to make his progress over all the North Countrey and Highlands with a considerable party to list Souldiers to encourage the well disposed to reduce those that were refractory by the severity of the Laws and condigne punishment and to deal with them as men use to do with sick children make them to take Physick whether they will or no but whilest he was busie about his design there came a Herald unto him from the King who by I know not what misfortune had cast himself upon the Scotch Covenanters at Newcastle whereby he was required forthwith to lay down his Arms and disband and to depart into France and there to wait his Majesties further pleasure he being astonished with this unexpected message bitterly bewailed the sad condition of the King that had forced him to cast himself upon the mercy of his deadly enemies yet not to be guilty of that crime and especially lest the Covenanters should put his actions upon the Kings account and use him the worse for them seeing they had him in their power he according to the Kings command disbanded his Army Now it was articled betwixt the King and the Covenanters that Montross should depart Scotland within a moneth and that they should finde him Shiping with provision and all things necessary when he went but they seeking to circumvent him sent him no Ship for his transportation until the last day allowed for his stay the Ship it self ill victualled and worse rig'd so that when Montross shewed himself ready to depart the Master of the Ship told him that he must have some dayes allowed him to pitch and righ is Ship before he durst adventure himself to the winde and waves moreover there lay great English Ships and Men of War every day in sight about the mouth of the River of Esk by which he was to pass attending there in favour of the Covenanters for their much desired booty that by no means he might escape their hands But Montross smelling out their designs had sent some before hand to search diligently the Havens in the North who by good fortune in the Haven of Stanhyve found a small bark of Bargen in Norway the master whereof was soon agreed with thither Montross sent several of his friends whom he knew could not be safe for never so little a while in that Countrey and they on the third of September 1646. having a good winde put forth to Sea for Norway and the same evening Montross himself accompanied onely with one James Wood a worthy Preacher by a small Cock-boat got into a Bark which lay at Anchor without the Haven of Montross and being clad in a course suit the Lord and Patron passed for his Chaplains servant Montross having thus cleared himself out of his enemies hands went into France where by the general consent of the Princes of the Blood and the rest of the Nobility he was design'd Captain General of all the strangers in that Kingdom a place of great honour and trust but Cardinal Mazarine thwarting his designs being a professed foe to Scots in that Kingdom he took his journey into Holland where the Prince then was in pursuit of his former intentitions But Duke Hamilton a name fatal to the House of the Stewards who formerly was his irreconcilable enemy was now his competitor so that Montross seeing no good there to be done travel'd up into Germany and so to Austria where by the Emperour he was curteously entertained and amongst many other honours conferred on him he freely proffered him the command of ten thousand men for a standing Army against the Swede but peace being concluded betwixt these two Potentates intending a journey for Scotland being honourably dismissed he addresses himself to the Dukes of Brandeburgh and Holsteyn and having gathered together about six or seven hundred men fearing he should have an express