I find a great Reward of it for I have found their Prayers and their kindness now in this distress and in this condition and I think it a great reward and I pray God reward them for it I am a great sinner and I hope God will be pleased to hear my prayers to give me faith to trust in him that as he hath called me to death at this place he will make it but a passage to an eternal Life through Jesus Christ which I trust to which I rely upon and which I expect by the Mercy of God And so I pray God bless you all and send that you may see this to be the last execution and the last bloud that is likely to be spilt among you And then turning to the side-rayl he prayed for a good space of time after which Mr. Bolton said My Lord now look upon him whom you have trusted My Lord I hope that here is your last Prayer there will no more Prayers remain but Praises and I hope that after this day is over there will a day begin that shall never have end and I look upon this my Lord the Morning of it the Morning of that day My Lord You know where your Fulness lies where your riches lie where is your only Rock to anchor on you know there is fulness in Christ If the Lord comes not in with fulness of Comfort to you yet resolve to wait upon him while you live and to trust in him when you die and then say I will die here I will perish at thy feet I will be found dead at the feet of Jesus Christ Certainly he that came to seek and save lost sinners will not reject lost sinners when they come to seek him He that intreateth us to come will not sleight us when we come to intreat him My Lord there is enough there and fix your heart there and fix your eyes there that eye of Faith and that eye of Hope exercise these Grace now there will be no exercise hereafter As your Lordship said here take an end of Faith and take an end of Hope and take a Farewel of Repentance and all these and welcome God and welcome Christ and welcome Glory and welcome Happiness to all Eternity and so it will be an happy passage then if it be a passage here from misery to happiness And though it be but a sad way yet if it will bring you into the presence of Joy although it be a Valley of Tears although it be a shadow of death yet if God will please to bring you and make it a passage to that happiness welcome Lord. And I doubt not but God will give you an heart to tast some sweetness and Love in this bitter Potion and to see somthing of Mercy and Goodness to you and shew you some sign and token of good so that your soul may see that which we have had already experience of blessed be God for it many Experiences many Expressions not only in words nor tears God hath not left us without much Comfort and evidence and I hope my Lord you that have given so many Evidences to us I hope you want none your self but that the Lord will be pleased to support you and bear up your Spirit and if there want Evidence there is Reliance my security lies not in my knowing that I shall come to Heaven and come to Glory but in my resting and relying upon him when the Anchor of Faith is thrown out there may be shakings and tossings but there is Safety nothing shall interrupt Safety although somthing may interrupt Security my safety is sure although I apprehend it not and what if I go to God in the dark What if I come to him as Nicodemus did staggering in the night It is a night of trouble a night of darkness though I come trembling and staggering in this night yet I shall be sure to find comfort and fixedness in him And the Lord of Heaven be the strength stay and support of your soul and the Lord furnish you with all those Graces which may carry you into the besom of the Lord Jesus that when you expire this life you may be able to expire it into him in whom you may begin to live to all Eternity and that is my humble Prayer Holland M. Bolton God hath given me long time in this world he hath carried me through many great accidents of fortune he hath at last brought me down into a condition where I find my self brought to an end for a dis-affection to this State to this Parliament that as I said before I did believe no body in the world more unlikely to have expected to suffer for that cause I look upon it as a great Judgment of God for my sins And truly Sir since that the death is violent I am the less troubled with it because of those violent deaths that I have seen before principally my Saviour that hath shewed us the way how and in what manner he hath done it and for what cause I am the more comforted I am the more rejoyced It is not long since the King my Master passed in the same manâ—er and truly I hope that his purposes and intentions were such as a man may not be ashamed not only to follow him in the way that was taken with him but likewise not ashamed of his putposes if God had given him life I have often disputed with him concerning many things of this kind and I conceive his sufferings and his better knowledge and better understanding if God had spared him life might have made him a Pr. very happy toward himself this Kingdom I have seen and known that those blessed souls in Heaven have passed thither by the gate of sorrow and many by the gate of violence and since it is Gods pleasure to dispose me this way I submit my soul to him with all comfort and with all hope that he hath made this my end and this my conclusion that though I be low in death yet nevertheless this lowness shall raise me to the highest glory for ever Truly I have non said much in publick to the People concerning the particular Actions that I conceive I have done by my Counsels in this Kingdom I conceive they are well known it were somthing of vanity methinks to take notice of them here I 'le rather die with them with the comfort of them in my own bosom that I never intended in this Action or any action that ever I did in my life either malice or bloudshed or prejudice to any creature that lives For that which concerns my Religion I made my Profession before of it how I was bred and in what manner I was bred in a Family that was looked upon to be no little notorious in opposition to some liberties they have conceived then to be taken and truly there was some mark upon me as if I had some taint of it even throughout my whole
God I have been long in my Race and how I have looked to Jesus the Author and Finisher of my Faith he best knowes I am now come to the end of my Race and here I find the Crosse a death of shame but the shame must be despised or no coming to the right hand of God Jesus despised the shame for me and God forbid but I should despise the shame for him I am going apace as you see towards the Red Sea and my feet are now upon the very Brink of it an Argument I hope that God is bringing me into the Land of Promise for that was the way through which he led his People But before they came to it he instituted a Passeover for them a Lamb it was but it must be eaten with sour herbs I shall obey and labour to digest the sour herbs as well as the Lamb. And I shall remember it is the Lords Passeover I shall not think of the herbs nor be angry with the hand which gathereth them but look up only to him who instituted that and governs these For men can have no more power over me then what is given them from above I am not in love with this passage through the Red Sea for I have the weaknesse and infirmities of flesh and bloud plentifully in me and I have prayed with my Saviour ut transiret Calix iste that this Cup of Red Wine might passe from me But if not Gods will not mine be done and I shall most willingly drink of this Cup as deep as he pleases and enter into this Sea yea and passe through it in the way that he shall lead me But I would have it remembred good people that when Gods Servants were in this boysterous Sea and Aaron among them the Egyptians which persecuted them and did in a manner drive them into that Sea were drowned in the same waters while they were in pursuit of them I know my God whom I serve is as able to deliver me from this Sea of Bloud as he was to deliver the Three Children from the Furnace and I most humbly thank my Saviour for it my Resolution is now as theirs was then They would not worship the Image the King had set up nor will I the Imaginations which the people are setting up nor will I forsake the Temple and the Truth of God to follow the bleating of Jeroboams Calf in Dan and Bethel And as for this People they are at this day miserably misled God of his mercy open their eyes that they may see the right way for at this day the Blind lead the Blind and if they go on both will certainly fall into the Ditch For my self I am and I acknowledge it in all humility a most grievous sinner many waies by thought word and deed and I cannot doubt but that God hath Mercy in store for me a poor Penitent as well as for other sinners I have now upon this sad occasion ransacked every Corner of my heart yet I thank God I have not found among the many any one sin which deserves death by any known Law of this Kingdom And yet hereby I charge nothing upon my Judges for if they proceed upon Proof by valuable Witnesses I or any other Innocent may be justly condemned And I thank God though the weight of the Sentence lie heavy upon me I am as quiet within as ever I was in my life And though I am not only the first Archbishop but the first man that ever died by an Ordinance of Parliament yet some of my Predecessors have gone this way though not by this means For Elphegus was hurried away and lost his Head by the Danes and Simon Sudbury in the Fury of Wat Tyler and his Fellows Before these St. John Baptist had his Head danced off by a Lewd Woman and St. Cyprian Archbishop of Carthage submitted his Head to a persecuting Sword Many examples great and good and they teach me Patience For I hope my Cause in Heaven will look of another Dye then the colour that is put upon it here And some comfort it is to me not only that I go the way of these great men in their several generations but also that my Charge as foul as 't is made looks like that of the Jews against St. Paul Acts 25.3 For he was accused for the Law and the Temple i. e. Religion And like that of S. Stephen Acts 6.14 for breaking the Ordinances which Moses gave i. e. Law and Religion the holy place and the Temple v. 13. But you will say do I then compare my self with the Integrity of St. Paul and St. Stephen No far be that from me I only raise a Comfort to my self that these great Saints and Servants of God were laid at in their times as I am now And 't is memorable that S. Paul who helped on this Accusation against S. Stephen did after fall under the very same himself Yea but here is a great Clamour that I would have brought in Popery I shall answer that more fully by and by In the mean time you know what the Pharisees said against Christ himself If we let him alone all men will believe in him venient Romani and the Romans will come and take away both our Place and the Nation Here was a causelesse Cry against Christ that the Romans will come And see how just the Judgment of God was they crucified Christ for fear lest the Romans should come and his death was it which brought in the Romans upon them God punishing them with that which they most feared And I pray God this Clamour of venient Romani of which I have given no cause help not to bring them in for the Pope never had such a Harvest in England since the Reformation as he hath now upon the Sects and Divisions that are amongst us In the mean time by honour and dishonour by good and evil report as a Deceiver and yet true am I passing through this world 2 Cor. 6.8 Some Particulars also I think it not amiss to speak of And first this I shall be bold to speak of the King our Gracious Soveraign He hath been much traduced for bringing in of Popery but on my Conscience of which I shall give God a very present account I know Him to be as free from this Charge as any man living and I hold him to be as sound a Protestant according to the Religion by Law established as any man in this Kingdom and that he will venture his Life as far and as freely for it and I think I do or should know both His affection to Religion and His Grounds for it as fully as any man in England The second Particular is concerning this great and Populous City which God bless Here hath been of late a fashion taken up to gather hands and then to go to the Great Court of this Kingdom the Parliament and clamour for Justice as if that great and wise Court before
there being no danger of Opposition they wade on in Bloud commanding Mr. Bowcher to ascend the Ladder He had written what he had intended to speak being very large exhorting those who had set their hands to this Plow meaning the defence of the Kings cause not to be too hasty as terrified with their Sufferings to take them off and words to such purpose describing the Schismaticks according to the Character of them drawn by the Pensil of the Holy Ghost in Scripture phrase in which he was excellently well read being confest by his very enemies to be a very Religious man instancing in that remarkeable place of S. Jude Proud Boasters Heady Unstable c. But it was not permitted him to speak all out by those men who knew themselves so much concerned at last pressed on to the acceleration of his end by those who were swift to shed bloud he desired to sing Psal 16. which being ended he began to recommend himself to God by pathetical Prayers and Ejaculations wherein he was interrupted by a Factious Levite one Rosewel who called him Hypocrite and Apostate reviling him that after so strict a conversation and so much time spent in the Profession of Religion he should render all suspected for hypocrisie by so obstinate perseverance in Rebellion against the Parliament This shook not the constancy of this Resolved Martyr who held up with St. Bernard Scutum Conscientiae contra Gladium Linguae the Buckler of a good Conscience against the Blowes of a malicious Tongue and so sustaining himself with that comfortable Promise of our Saviour Blessed are you when men shall revile you c. he yielded himself to the will and desire of his Murderers The Factious Priest in his very fall from the Ladder pursuing him with the same odious Names of Hypocrite and Apostate thereby if possible to disturb the Peace of his Soul in the moment of his Death a devilish Practise in extending Malice even to the Endeavours of a second Death These two Glorious Martyrs now lying under the Altar having thus through their Ignominious deaths in a Glorious cause and with a pure Conscience rendred their Souls to God the sad Spectators smite their Brests and return Never was there so general a Face of sorrow such bitter lamentations heard in that City as on that day Their Bodies taken down were both carried to Mr. Yeomans his House Father in Law to the Martyr In the Evening M. Bowchers Body was conveyed to his own House a sad Spectacle to his poor Widow and seven Orphans and at night both were interred Mr. Yeomans at Christ-Church Mr. Bowchers at St. Warburghs their Funerals being attended by those Orthodox Ministers the Persecution had left and by most of the honest well-affected Citizens though they knew that they could not express this Piety to the dead but to the hazard of losing their Liberties and plundering their Estates This most horrid Fact no History no not that of the Anabaptists in Germany comes near so that it is miserably and cruelly beholding to a Parallel in the same Kingdom the deplorable Butchery of Mr. Tompkins and Mr. Challoner in London which soon after followed as it doth here in order of time Mr. Tompkins and Mr. Challoner Condemned by a sentence of a Court Martial and executed in London July 5 1643. THe rebellious faction having sacrificed those Gentlemen to the Moloch of their disloyal cruelty under the vizor of a blessed Reformation in one of the chiefest Cities in the West thereby to strike terror in the minds of all men who should dare to be honest and be according to their duty faithful to their Soveraign to which in spight of all their specious pretences they saw the wisest and sobrest part of the Nation very much inclined and to give more flagitious authority to their illegal and salvage proceedings by perpetrating the same violences in the Metropolis of the Kingdom before the faces of al the English Courts of Judicature thereby to amuse the weaker and unintelligent sort of people upon whom their main design was bottomed as if they had the Law clearly on their side in that horrid rebellion proceeded further in the same manner against these two Martyrs the cause of whose Deaths take as followeth being upon the same account with their preceding fellow sufferers After that the Faction had waded so far in their disloyalty against the King as to levy a War against him had seized most of his Magazines Cities and places of Defence had possest themselves of all his Ships and therewith infested those places which stood for him had defied and bid him battle wherein his Sacred Person was alike endangered with the meanest of his Rebels in which it pleased God so to assist the King that those at Westminster found themselves deceived in the Kings strength he suddenly after Edg-hill fight marching up to Branford near London and putting the Members and the tumultuous Cititzens into a deserved consternation and confusion and yet amidst all these terrors of War had offered them terms of Peace laying aside the great advantages his Majesty might promise himself from the state of affairs in which his successes had placed him yet notwithstanding all his repeated proposals for an accommodation nothing could be effected with those men whose ears were deaf to the charms of Peace though never so prudent and rational as being widely distant from those ends and designs which they had laid in the War being the spoil of three Kingdoms When I say these Gentlemen perceived into what a miserable condition the whole Nation reflecting tenderly also upon bleeding Ireland was like speedily to be reduced by the dissembled covetousnesse rebellious obstinacy implacable malice and devilish cunning and subtilty of their popular cheats upon the multitude then did several worthy Citizens endeavour to interpose and obviate those growing mischiefs which they did foresee would inevitably fall upon this Church and State First of all therefore they addrest themselves by way of Petition earnestly sueing to the two Houses that they would vouchsafe to hear their Soveraign and not preclude or prejudice the way to an agreement by a resolute fixednesse in those courses which they humbly shewed could not but be dreadful and destructive to the Publick A Petition to this effect with many thousand hands and hearts was accordingly tendred whereunto they received a slight answer that the Houses would do what in their wisdom they thought fit and that the Petitioners were as their duty was to acquiesse and rest in their Counsels and determinations which should provide without their direction for the safety of the Kingdom From this Answer to this purport and effect they soon wel perceived what the temper of those men was and that their first whimsie that dark cloud of jealousies and fears was big with a tempestuous storm impending over the lives and estates of the King and his good Subjects They saw a seditious and pragmatical person continued Lord Mayor
of which place we shall confine and circumscribe all his Glories After that the Parliament by the success of their unlawful Arms had reduced the King his Friends Armies Towns and Forts into their power it was hoped by all men that now they would appear what they had so long fallaciously pretended themselves the Assertors of the publick Peâ—ce and Liberty in order whereunto no other Expedient was visible then by complying with their reiterated Protestations of Loyal Obedience to the King in a present and speedy Resumption of him to the Exercise of his Royal Authority his Majesty having and being willing to grant all that in Honour Justice and Conscience could be expected from him But contrary thereunto they Voted to settle the Kingdom without him as impossible as to have day without the Light of the Sun and so experimented in the dark Confusions that followed those Trayterous Resolves which so much discontented the Generality of the People who were now for the most part undeceived of those principles which had been cunningly spread amongst them of the Kings Averseness to hearken to his Parliaments that after several fruitless Petitions for a Composure and Treaty with the King from several Counties in the delivery whereof to the Houses some of the Petitioners as of Surry were killed and wounded and sent home otherwise unanswered they resolved to try another way and have Recourse to Arms. Col. Langhorn Powel and Poyer rise in Wales the Scots enter England but that which most alarm'd the two Houses was the Kentish Business which lookt full of Terrour the whole County unanimously declaring for a speedy Closure with the King and had formed to that purpose a very considerable Army made up with a numerous Company of Volunteers from London under the command of the Earl of Norwich against these therefore General Fairfax himself was sent with 6000 men as requiring his Presence who was valiantly opposed at Maidstone by part of the Kentish Army but they being not relieved by their Body at Rochester were for the most part cut off and the Town gained whereupon the Earl of Norwich with 3000 men marched hastily to Black heath and from thence ferryed and swam over the greatest part of his Army into Essex side and quartered at Bow and Stratford Being there he met with this Noble Heroe Sr. Charles Lucas and other eminent Persons of Honour and Quality as the Lord Capel Lord Loughborough with a compleat Body of resolved men with whom after they had skirmished with some Parliament Horse at Mile-end they marched to Chelmsford where they seized the Committee and thence to Colchester a Town defenceless and inconsiderable as was generally supposed both by the Enemy and the Adjacent Parts of the Countrey either to receive by a provisional way of Relief any great Force into it or by reason of the untenable Condition of it to hold out any time if they should venture to take up or stay there Yet so constantly couragious vigilant and incredibly industrious were these Loyally disposed Gentlemen as this Town which by reason of the inpreparation of Necessaries could not probably hold out against so potent and terrible an Enemy the space of one week continued 3 Moneths in a most resolute Defiance and resistance of a Victorious Army glutted with such variety of Conquests and supplied with such fresh and continual Recruits to accomplish those unjust Triumphs and Trophies which they had begun to rear upon the Ruines of the whole Kingdom But at length after many stout Endeavours in Sallies Eruptions and perpetual Firings gallantly performed the Loyal Garrison having eaten up all their Horses the Dogs and Cats and whatsoever though most reluctant to Nature being sweetned with Prunes and some other Fruit and Spice whereof some store was found in the Town at their Coming could afford them nourishment was compelled to come to a Capitulation though it was bravely resolved the night before to attempt breaking through which was not unfeasable by which it was concluded the Town should be surrendred upon these hard conditions the Officers at Mercy and the Souldiery upon Quarter for Life The Reason of these hard Conditions and their standing out so long which occasioned them was threefold The first was That not only the County wherein they were besieged but most of the Counties in England had engaged themselves that they would joyn with and Assist them in the business but all those Mountains of Promise came to nothing an inconsiderable Party appearing about Saffron Walden being routed by Major Sparrow The Second and which seemed more probable was the hopes they had from London a great many Persons of Quality and known Royalists therein having listed themselves under the Earl of Holland who had with him in that Action the Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Peterborough the Lord Francis Villers and others these appeared at Kingston in a formidable manner but were presently supprest by Sr. Michael Livesey and the aforesaid Lord Francis bringing up the Rear was there killed refusing the Quarter offered from Rebels the Earl of Holland fled to St. Neats in Bedfordshire where his Quarters were beaten up by Col. Scroops Regiment of Horse where Col. Dalbeir was slain and himself taken Prisoner and carried to Warwick Castle The third and chiefest Reason which induced them to the continuance of the Siege was their daily Expectation of the Advance of the Scotch Army then entred England and to whom were joyned a number of Gallant Persons who had appeared for the King throughout the War Commanded by Sr. Marmaduke now Lord Langdale Over this Kirk-Army Duke Hamilton was made General a Person suspected of all hands and of whom and his success his Majesty it is said very much desponded when first he had notice of his Commanding in Chief And so it fell out for at Preston in Lancashire Lieut. Gen. Cromwel met with this Army and with 1â—000 men totally defeated them so that Hamilton was forced to fly and was taken by the Lord Grey of Grooby at Uttoxeter in Staffordshire and brought Prisoner to London where as Earl of Cambridge he was afterwards for this business beheaded But I venture not to Canonize him a Martyr Colchester being thus defeated of all hopes of Relief rendred it self to the Victors and 5 hours after the Surrender according to a Decree of a Council of War ensued the death of these two Noble Persons being destined by them to be shot 〈◊〉 a military Execution The only Reason why they were picked out from among the rest was nothing else but their superlative Courage and their fixedness of Duty towards the King in whose Cause and Defence they assured themselves they would never be wanting as long as their Breath would last were the Difficulties and Dangers of doing it never so greats and so many An Honourable Enemy would have scorned so unwarrantable and impotent revenge and for which the Names of some Persons will stink for ever But never was the Message of
Death entertained by any with more Magnanimity and undaunted Resolution and Bravery of mind both the Roman and Christian confidence striving to Excellency in this harsh Encounter with an unexpected Death Sr. Charles was the first by designation to be sacrificed to their Cruelty who having retired himself a while to offer up his last Prayers to God commending his Soul into his hands presented himself to his Executioners and tearing open his Doublet exposed his naked Breast saying aloud Now Rebels do your worst and so by their murdering Bullets was dispatched in the place Sr. George Lisle was appointed to be next in this Tragedy of whom take this brief Account He was extracted from a Gentile Family in Surrey and from the beginning of the Troubles had strenuously and couragiously assisted the King The most remarkable place saving this of his Death where his great Spirit and military experience most manifested it self was at the second Newberry Battel where he made good his ground being Col. of a Regiment of Foot against several Charges both of Horse and Foot of the Enemy who did all they could to drive him from some Advantages which could they have obtained by subduing that handful of men might have facilitated their way to Victory This he sustained with an Invincible Resolution animating his Souldiers and leading them on without any Supplies or Reserves several times and for the more Encouragement took off his own Doubler and charged in his Shirt bidding them come on once more for the King then for the Prince then for the Duke till such time as night came and quitted him from his hot Service and Enemies together This noble Action was taken notice of by the K. acknowledged so at Court which rendred him deservedly famous among the Sword-men of his own Party and as dreadful to the other so that having him in their hands by this Surrender they resolved to be thus cowardly and basely rid of him It being as was said before his turn to die seeing and beholding that sad Spectacle the dead Body of his dearest Friend he fell upon it and kissed it as if he meant to breath into it another Soul and with a free and full yet true Relation of his Vertues and Endowments he did often repeat these words In how short a moment has a brave Spirit expired well this Priority was due to thee but I shall not be long behind thee my Death which is now at hand shall restore thee to me After this standing up and taking five Pieces of Gold out of his Pocket he gave one to his Executioners and the other four he sent to four Friends in London and then addressing himself to the standers by he said Oh how many do I see here about me whose Lives I have saved in hot bloud and now must mine be taken away most barbarously in cold bloud Sure the like was never heard of among the Goths and Vandals or the very Barbarians in any Age. After which words some short Ejaculations and some few Invocations upon the name of Jesus as he stood in an unconquerable Resolution of mind and in an Heroick Posture he was also dispatched by the same hands Thus these 2 stars of the first Magnitude for valourous Loyalty were put out and extinguished by the malice of their Enemies but though they shine not here in that splendor which their desired Lives would have appeared in yet they shine in a full Lustre in that Region of Glory whither the Violence of their Enemies transplanted them Most certain it is that upon the Ground where Sr. Charles Lucas fell when he was shor there hath grown no grass where the Print of his Body was it remaining still bare though it be green round about an indignation of the unreasonable unjust and cruel usage of so brave a person and if the Earth be punished that groan'd at their untimely end how much more heavy will their punishment be that contrived and rejoyced at it Since the Restitution of his Majesty the corps of these Worthies have been taken up and with all due Magnificence attended by the Gentry thereabouts and the Mayor and other principal persons of Colchester interred in the Repositories of the Right Honourable Family of the Lucas's with a Funeral Oration and other requisite Solemnities the deserved Honour to their precious memory Major Pitcher shot to death in St. Paul's Church-yard London December 29. 1648. THis Gentleman nor his Ancestry being known unto me I will not presume to trace him but as the fruitfulnesse of Nile answers for its original Springs so the Loyalty and gallantry of this person may satisfie our inquisition after his birth and descent till his relations will do him the honour and us the happiness and pleasure of a full account His Death was too lamentably publick but the cause for which he died was not generally known wherefore we will pay these justs and dues to his memory in a brief narative of the latter part of his honourable life In the year 1648 when Major General Langhorne Collonel Poyer and Powel took up Arms in Wales for the King this Gentleman out of his Sense of the Kings and Kingdoms misery the ruine and sacriledge daily committed on the Church freely engaged with the said persons for the restoration of the Laws and his Soveraign But it pleased God not to succeed that enterprise so that at St. Fagon's that Loyal Army of Welch men was defeated by the Parliament Forces under Collonel Horton from whence the remaines of that field betook themselves to Pembroke Town which being well fortified and provided held the Army now recruited with Forces under Cromwell a three-months Siege but seeing no hopes of relief after a hard defence made the Garrison render'd themselves upon Articles the main whereof and to our purpose were that the three Collonels above named should be at mercy all other Officers to depart the Kingdom for three years not to return before upon pain of death and the private Souldiers to go home engaging not to bear Arms against the Parliament In the Article of departing the Kingdom this valarous Gentleman was concernd who seeing the distracted estate of the Kingdom and how odious the Faction at Westminster were to the generality of the people concluded that there might be some occasion of further service and that it was base and ungenerous to desert his Prince at those times of exigence which called for and required every mans helping and assisting hand Being therefore in London upon the same design in defiance of those forced Articles which contrary to all Law banisht a Subject from his Country for doing his duty and would expose him to the mercy of other Climates for his affection to his own he was betrayed and apprehended and presently after condemned by a Council of War for contrarying the said Capitulation and as a preparatory Offering to that great Sacrifice of the King which followed in the next moneth he was shot to death
servants joyned himself with the Lord Goring Sr. Charles Lucas and others who with a considerable Army were then in Essex and after a long Siege were forced to surrender their Garrison of Colchester In the Articles of that rendition this right noble Lord was included and had quarter given him for life though it was afterwards unhansomly unsaid again by him that gave it who left him after his Parol given to a High Court of Justice upon this surrender he was committed to the Tower where whilst he remained he endeavoured to escape which he well effected but crossing the water through some discourse he let fall Jones the Waterman conceiving what he was upon his landing discovered him had him retaken and committed again in order to his Tryal In the middle of March 1648 he was brought before the said High Court of Justice where he said enough in reason and justice to have cleared himself insisting upon his Priviledge as a Peer and claiming the benefit of the Laws which owned no such arbitrary Power as this against the life of any Subject especially a Noble Man and in sum denied their Jurisdiction and pleaded his quarter given him as abovesaid but nothing would avail they proceeded to Judgment and with Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland Earl of Norwich and Sr. John Owen sentenced him to be beheaded which was executed accordingly on the ninth of March. We will now take a view of him after the tmie of his Condemnation when he was to encounter and look Death in the face He alwaies kept a very chearful and well composed temper of mind which proceeded from true Christian Principles he would often say it was the good God he served and the good cause he had served for that made him not to fear Death adding that he never had the temptation of so much as a thought to check him for his engagement in this quarrel for he took it for his Crown and glory and wished he had a greater ability and better fortune to engage in it The afternoon before his suffering he was a great while in private with a Minister where bewailing with that sense which became a true and not despairing penitent the sins of his life past the greatest he could remember was his voting my Lord of Straffords death which though as he said he did without any malice at all yet he confessed it to be a very great sin and that he had done it out of a base fear his own words of a prevailing party of which he had very often and very heartily repented and was confident of Gods pardon for it Then he desired to receive the Blessed Sacrament before he dyed After this being afraid of some danger to the Minister that attended him for that work of Love and some Conference in order to his preparation both for his provision and his voyage the Sacrament and his death he desired to go to Prayers which being performed he returned to his private devotions The next morning being the day of his death he desired the Minister who was with him before to hear and joyn with him in Prayers which he did for half an hour in an excellent method very apt Expressions and most strong hearty and passionate affections First confessing and bewailing his sins with strong cries and tears then humbly and most earnestly desiring Gods mercy through the Merits of Christ alone Secondly For his dear Lady and Children with some passion but for her especially with most ardent affections recommending them to the Divine Providence with great confidence and affurance and desiring for them rather the blessings of a better life than of this Thirdly For the King Church and Kingdom And Lastly For his Enemies with almost the same ardour and affection After Prayer ended my Lord of Norwich and Sr. John Owen being sent for the Minister read the whole Office of the Church for Good Friday and then after a short Homily for the occasion he received the Sacrament again in which action he behaved himself with great Humility Zeal and Devotion Being demanded after the receiving thereof how he found himself he replyed very much better stronger and cheerfuller for that heavenly repast and that he doubted not to walk like a Christian through the vale of death in the strength of it But he was to have an Agony before his Passion and that was the parting with his Wife eldest Son now Earl of Essex his Son in Law two of his Uncles and Sr. T.C. especially his parting with his dearest Lady which indeed was the saddest spectacle that could be In which occasion as he could not choose but shew and confesse a little of humane frailty yet even then he did not forget both to comfort and counsel her and the rest of his friends particularly in blessing the yuong Lord he commanded him never to revenge his death though it should be in his power the like he said unto his Lady He told his Son he would leave him a Legacy out of David's Psalms and that was this Lord lead me in a plain path For Boy saith he I would have you a plain honest man and hate dissimulation After this was past with much adoe his Wife and the rest of his Friends were perswaded to begone and then being all alone with the Minister he said Doctor the hardest part of my work in this World is now past meaning the parting with his Wife Then he desired the said Minister to pray preparatively for his death that in the last action he might so behave himself as might be most for Gods Glory for the indearing of his dead Masters memory and his present Masters service and that he might avoid the doing or saying of any thing which might savour either of ambition or vanity This being done he was conveyed with the other two Lords who suffered with him to Sr. Robert Cottons where the Minister staid with him till he was called to the Scaffold whither the Guard of Souldiers permitted him not to come so that my Lord took leave of him there The same day he died he wrote this following Letter to his Wife My dearest Life MY Eternal life is in Christ Jesus my wordly considerations in the highest degree thou hast deserved let me live long here in thy dear memory to the comfort of my Family our dear Children whom God out of mercy in Christ hath bestowed upon us I beseech thee take care of thy health sorrow not afflict not thy self too much God will be unto thee better than an Husband and to my Children better than a Father I am sure he is able to be so I am confident he is graciously pleased to be so God be with thee my most vertuous Wife God multiply many Comforts to thee and my Children which is the fervent Prayer of Thy c. He hath also left behind him an excellent Book of Meditations and some other Miscellaneous things especially an Exhertation to stir up the hearts and endeavours of
men to have saved the precious life of the King c. which being to be had will need no other Commendation When the other two Lords were beheaded he was brought last to the Scaffold where he spake as followeth His Lordship in the way to the Scaffold put of his hat to the People on both sides looking very austerely about him And being come upon the Scaffold Lieut. Collonel Beecher said to him Sir Is your Chaplain here CAPEL No I have taken my leave of him and perceiving some of his Servants to weep he said Gentlemen refrain your salves refrain your selves and turning to Lieut. Col. Beecher he said what did the Lords speak with their hats off or no Col. Beech. With their Hats off And then coming to the front of the Scaffold he said I shall hardly be understood here I think and then began his Speech as followeth Capel The conclusion that I made with those that sent me hither and are the cause of this violent death of mine shall be the beginning of what I shall say to you When I made an address to them which was the last I told them with much sincerity that I would pray to the God of all mercies that they might be partakers of his inestimable and boundless mercies in Jesus Christ and truly I still pray that Prayer and I beseech the God of Heaven forgive any injury they have done to me from my Soul I wish it And truly this I tell you as a Christian to let you see I am a Christian But it is necessary I should tell you somewhat more that I am a Protestant And truly I am a Protestant and very much in love with the profession of it after the manner as it was established in England by the Thirty nine Articles a blessed way of profession and such an one as truly I never knew none so good I am so far from being a Papist which some body have truly very unworthily at some time charged me withall that truly I profess to you that though I love Good Works and commend Good Works yet I hold they have nothing at all to do in the matter of Salvation my Anchor-hold is this That Christ loved me and gave himself for me that is that that I rest upon And truly something I shall say to you as a Citizen of the whole World and in that consideration I am here condemned to die truly contrary to the Law that governs all the World that is the Law of the Sword I had the protection of that for my life and the honour of it but truly I will not trouble you much with that because in another place I have spoken very largely and liberally about it I believe you will hear by other means what Arguments I used in that case But truly that that is stranger you that are English-men behold here an English-man here before you and acknowledged a Peer not condemned to die by any Law of England not by any Law of England nay shall I tell you more which is strangest of all contrary to all the Laws of England that I know of And truly I will tell you in the matter of the civil part of my death and the Cause that I have maintained I die I take it for maintaining the fifth Commandment injoyned by God himself which enjoyns reverence and obedience to Parents All Divines on all hands though they contradict one another in many several opinions yet all Divines on all hands do acknowledge that here is intended Magistracy and Order and certainly I have obeyed that Magistracy and that Order underwhich I have lived which I was bound to obey and truly I do say very confidently that I do die here for keeping for obeying that fifth Commandment given by God himself and written with his own finger And now Gentlemen I will take this opportunity to tell you that I cannot imitate a better nor a greater ingenuity than his that said of himself For suffering an unjust judgment upon another himself was brought to suffer by an unjust judgment Truly Gentlemen that God may be glorified that all men that are concerned in it may take the occasion of it of humble repentance to God Almighty for it I do here profess to you that I did give my Vote to that Bill against the Earl of Strafford I doubt not but God Almighty hath washed that away with a more precious blood the Blood of his own Son and my dear Saviour Jesus Christ and I hope he will wash it away from all those that are guilty of it truly this I may say I had not the least part nor degree of malice in doing of it but I must confess again to Gods glory and the accusation of mine own frailty and the frailty of my Nature that truly it was unworthy Cowardize not to resist so great a torrent as carried that business at that time And truly this I think I am most guilty of of not courage enough in it but malice I had none but whatsoever it was GOD I am sure hath pardoned it hath given me the assurance of it that Christ Iesus his Blood hath washed it away and truly I do from my Soul wish that all men that have any stain by it may seriously repent and receive a remission and pardon from God for it And now Gentlemen we have had an occasion by this intimation to remember his Majesty our KING that last was and I cannot speak of him nor think of it but truly I must needs say that in my opinion that have had time to consider all the images of all the greatest and vertuousest Princes in the World and truly in my opinion there was not a more vertuous and more sufficient Prince known in the World than our gracious King CHARLES that died last God Almighty preserve our King that now is his Son God send him more fortunate and longer dayes God Almighty so assist him that he may exceed both the vertues and sufficiencies of his Father For certainly I that have been a Councellour to him and have lived long with him and in a time when discovery is easily enough made for he was young he was about thirteen fourteen fifteen or sixteen years of age those years I was with him truly I never saw greater hopes of vertue in any young person than in him great judgment great understanding great apprehension much honour in his nature and truly a very perfect Englishman in his inclination and I pray God restore him to this Kingdom and unite the Kingdoms one unto another and send a great happinesse both to you and to him that he may long live and Reign among you and that that Family may Reign till thy Kingdom come that is while all temporal power is consummated I beseech God of his mercy give much happinesse to this your King and to you that in it shall be his Subjects by the Grace of Iesus Christ Truly I like my beginning so well that I
my Cloathes I am sure of it Executioner Will your Lordship please to give me a Sign when I shall strike And then his Lordship said you have room enough here have you not and the Executioner said Yes Bolton The Lord be your strength there is riches in him The Lord of Heaven impart himself to you he is able to save to the utter most We cannot fall so low as to fall below the everlasting Arms of God and therefore the Lord be a support and stay to you in your low condition that he will be pleased to make this an advantage to that life and glory that will make amends for all Holland Then the Earl of Holland turning to the Executioner said Friend do you hear me if you take up my head do not take off my Cap. Then turning to his Servants he said to one Fare you well thou art an honest fellow and to another God be with thee thou art an honest man and then said Stay I will kneel down and ask God forgiveness and then prayed for a pretty space with seeming earnestnesse Bolton The Lord grant you may find life in death Holland Which is the way of lying which they shewed him and then going to the front of the Scaffold he said to the People God blesse you all and God deliver you from any such accident as may bring you to any such death as is violent either by War or by these accidents but that there may be Peace among you and you may find that these accidents that have happened to us may be the last that may happen in this Kingdom it is that I desire it is that I beg of God next the saving of my Soul I pray God give all happiness to this Kingdom to this People and this Nation and then turning to the Executioner said How must I lie I know not Executioner Lie down flat upon your belly and then having laid himself down he said must I lye closer Execut. Yes and backwarder Holland I will tell you when you shall strike and then as he lay seemed to pray with much affection for a short space and then lifting up his head said where is the man and seeing the executioner by him he said stay while I give the sign and presently after stretching out his hand and the executioner being not fully ready he said now now and just as the words were coming out of his mouth the executioner at one blow severed his head from his body The Execution of Mr. Beaumont a Minister at Pontfract 15 Feb. 1648. and the like done afterwards to Major Morris and Coronet Michael Blackburn at York 23. August 1649. FOR the everlasting memory and the obliging Ruines of this Town and Castle together with the memory of these Persons we must repeat from the beginning and tell the world how far and how much beyond all other Fortresses and places this Garrison continued for the King and was valiantly defended prudently maintained couragiously and bravely rescued and freed and in conclusion made its own glorious Sepulcher and Monument This place infamous formerly for the death of King Richard the second for the Execution of Richard Woodvile Earl of Rivers and the rest of those unhappy relations to the Wife of Edward the 4th hath now redeemed it self by the price current of Loyal Blood and is consecrated in its demolitions and ruines to the veneration of an Altar whereon so many acceptable sacrifices to Heaven have been laid and offered Not to summon the Genius of that place to an account we will derive the cruelty of those sanguinary perpetrations upon the lives of these men from asstrange and hidden Notions Nothing but most unexpiable malice contracted from the hardned guilt of rebellion could have violenced the insolent Victor into so much inhumanity and baseness nay barbarous and detestable cruelty but some fierce and most compulsive Engines of merciless Tyranny and Ambition who in this noble and most loyal Garison reared and displayed their compleat Conquest In the defence hereof many noble persons were concerned at several times as the advantages and difficulties of that place successively required many brave exploits and attempts were often performed to the honour of themselves and the terrouâ— of their Enemies partic ularly in that memorable business of Col. Rainsborough who quartering ten miles from the Leager Pontefract being then besieged by Sir Edward Rhodes and other County Forces and being ordered to command in chief and finish that piece of service was by a resolute small party of Horse who sallied from thence in spight of the Besiegers killed in his Inne having first refused quarter and fell as an expiatory victime to the slaughter and murder of Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle shot to death a little while before at Colchester Among the rest of such gallant Spirits related to that Garison this Mr. Beaumont a Minister of the Orthodox Protestant Religion was much noted for his loyal resolute and constant adherence and maintenance of the Royal Cause This his loyaltie was employed as well without as within that Garison being by the venerable respect to this Order not so rudely profaned then in those parts of the Nation more freely permitted and unsuspectedly suffered to entertain and harbour and transact with all manner of men according to the unbounded and unlimited use of his Function but neither his heart nor his house were open to any but faithfull Subjects with such of whom upon the surprizal of Pontefract the third of July 1648. by Major Morris others this Gentleman held correspondency All this time every good man put to his helping hand to the restoring of the King and this being an Important Service making the Royal Interest considerable in the North much care was taken by the well-affected people adjacent thereto for a supply of that place with all manner of provision of Arms and sustenance The care whereof Mr. Beaumont resointely took upon himself and before any formal siege the Parliament-Forces being otherwise employed had several recourses thereto maintained a strict intelligence was often out upon Parties with them and had regulated and stated the Contribution from the places thereabouts which was either freely paid or as couragiously forced till after the defeat of Duke Hamilton at Preston in Lancashire they were wholly surrounded and block'd up This distress of his Friends further obliged him to their assistance so far was the danger from detering of him therefore he adventured in his own person to go and see in what condition they were and to take a view of the likeliest means of relief and give an account of the Enemies strength and advantages or weakness and most attemptible place of their Lines and entrenchment But in this design he was surprized and taken and immediately brought before a Council of War who enraged at the death of Rainsborough and insolenced by their late many Victories Flesh'd with the carnage and blood of so many preceding Sacrifices
especially that of the King 's they made no bones of him but condemned him to the Gibbet with such fury and hast that they would scarce afford him time to recommend himself from their merciless Bar to the merciful and just Tribunal of Heaven which would ere long judge righteously in his cause between his Enemies and himself He was not long in preparation for his dissolution having as well learned as taught the necessity of Death improved to him into an easie suffering undergoing of it by the glory of his cause so that he quietly submitted to their Sentence and with Christian resolution owning his actions in order to his duty laid down his life the day and year aforesaid and will therefore deservedly among the rest of his glorious Company be had in precious and everlasting remembrance Not long afterwards followed the rendition of Pontefract-Castle surprized as aforesaid by Col. Morris they had stood it out to extremity there being no place in England for the King besides therefore were forced to accept of very hard Conditions which were that six of the garison whom they should chuse should be left at discretion The reason of this calling out this Number was a resolution to Sacrifice them to the ghost of the said Rainsborough being assured that those that performed that exploit were then in the Castle might be discovered upon view Among those or rather for those this Gentleman was taken being the Governor of the place and with Cornet Michael Blackbourn and the others brought to the City of York and committed to that Goal until the Summer-Assizes held there by Baron Thorp for that County when an Indictment of Treason was brought against them for levying War against the Parliament therupon found guilty by a pack'd Jury and after Sentence of being hanged drawn and quartered they were executed the day and year aforesaid the rigour of dismembring them being only abated At their death they spake as followeth The Speech of Col. John Morris Governour of Pontefract Castle at the place of his Execution at York August 23. 1649. WHen he was brought out of prison looking upon the Sledge that was there set for him lifting up his eyes to Heaven knocking upon his breast he said I am as willing to go to my death as to put off my doublet to go to bed I despise the shame as well as the Cross I know I am going to a joyful place with many like expressions When the Post met him about St. James Church that was sent to the Parliament to mediate for a reprieve and told him he could not prevailin it he said Sir I pray God reward you for your pains I hope and am well assured to finde a better pardon then any they can give my hope is not in man but in the living God At the place of Execution he made this profession of his faith his breeding his cause he had fought in Gentlemen First I was bred up in the true Protestant Religion having my education and breeding from that honorable House my dear Lord Master Strafford which place I dare boldly say was as well governed and ruled as ever any yet was before it I much doubt better then any will be after it unless it please God to put a period to these distracted times this Faith and Religion I say I have been bred in and I thank God I have hitherto lived in without the least wavering and now I am resolved by Gods assistance to dy in These pains are nothing if compared to those dolors and pains which Jesus Christ our Saviour hath suffered for us when in a bloody-Sweat he endured the Wrath of God the pain of Hell and the cursed and shameful death which was due to our sins therefore I praise the Lord that I am not plagued with far more grievous punishment that the like hath befallen others who undoubtedly are most glorious and blessed Saints with Christ in Heaven It is the Lords affliction and who will not take any affliction in good part when it comes from the hand of God And what shall we receive good from the hands of God and not receive evil And though I desire as I am carnal that this Cup may depart from me yet not my will but thy will be done Death brings unto the godly an end of sinning and of all miseries due unto sin so that aâ—ter death there shall be no more sorrow nor cry nor pain for God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes by Death our souls shall be delivered from thraldom and this corruptible body shall put on incorruption and this mortal immortality Therefore blessed are they that are delivered out of so vile a world and freed from such a body of bondage and corruption the soul shall enjoy immediate Communion with God in evetlasting bliss and glory it takes us from the miseries of this world and society of sinners to the City of the living God the celestial Jerusalem I bless God I am thought worthy to suffer for his Name and for so good a cause and if I had a thousand lives I would willingly lay them down for the cause of my King the Lords Anointed the Scripture commands us to fear God and honour the King to be subject to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether to the King as supreme or to to those that are in authority under him I have been always faithful to my Trust and though I have been most basely accused for betraying Leverpool yet I take God to witness it is a most false aspersion for I was then sick in my bed and knew not of the delivering of it till the Officers and Souldiers had done it without my consent and then I was carried prisoner to Sir John Meldrum afterwards I came down into the Country and seeing I could not live quietly at home I was perswaded by Colonel Forbes Colonel Overton Lieut-Colonel Fairfax whom I took for my good friends to march in their Troops which I did but with intention still to do my King the best service when occasion was and so I did and I pray God to turn the hearts of all the Souldiers to their lawful Sovereign that this Land may enjoy Peace which till then it will never do and though thou kill me yet will I put my trust in thee wherefore I trust in God he will not fail me nor forsake me Then he took his Bible and read divers Psalms fit for his own occasion and consolation and then put up divers prayers some publiquely and some privately the publique was this whiâ—h follows His Prayer WElcome blessed hour the period of my Pilgrimage the term of my Bondage the end of my cares the close of my sins the bound of my travels the Goal of my race and the haven of my hopes I have fought a long fight in much weakness I have finished my course though in great faintness and the Crown of my joy is that through the
the double imprisonment I lie under of the flesh and bones and am ready for the opportunity to make an escape though in a fiery Chariot All things betwixt God and me are removed from my sight and I see him clearly without reflexion on my Judges and Accusers and submit chearfully to His fatherly Dispensation and Judgement My Judges have done me no wrong they have a Law for their Warrant and my confession for their Evidence neither have capacity to be Chancellors in matters of life Let them go free and the Law-makers and inforcers of it for their errours in constituting them before the padling in blood grow too customary to be thought a sin worthy their confession or sorrow which I desire for the fakes of their souls and the lives of the oppressed and in indeed prescribed Free Christians of the Nation The God of all goodness hath in mercy â—hoked upon me directed counsel'd me comforted and sanctified my afflictito me and I am ready to fall into his merciful Hands as soon as the heavy hand of the Executioner shall have given a Nune Dimitis to Yours c. E. A. ABout the same time he made his Will a taste whereof take in these few following lines If it be the unalterable and uncontrolable Will of God that I Eusebius Andrews Esq shall for my manifold and high Provocations of his Divine Majesty be shipwrackt by that storme which impendeth over my head I most humbly and chearfully submit unto such his good will and pleasure and forgive c. and desire that my body may be privately interred in the Parish Church of Alhallows Bark in London as near as may be to the Reverend Arch-Bishop of Canterbury there with him to expect a joyful resurrection I beseech God to bless my daughter Mavilda Andrews and to supply to her what by my improvidence and the accidents of the late tempestuous times as in my being taken away became deficient and that he would preserve her from want and dishonour and from being by any evil Counsel or example led aside into the foul errors of this Nation in matters concerning her souls health c. Here he gave her and the whole world an account of his faith which was equally distant from Popery Presbytery and Independency all which he charactered professing himself a true son of this Church as governed by Episcopacy and conluded thus I desire such who approve my profession to cover my faults in their charity and to let me be sweet in their memory As for the rest I wish them a seasonable repentance but set no price either upon their opinion or report Vivat Rex currat Lex floreat Grex fiat voluntas Des modo in mina mea He was shortly after beheaded and enrolled into the noble army of Martyrs in Heaven the day and year abovesaid Barnard his accuser and betrayer was hanged four years after at Tyburn for robbing Colonel Winthorps house at Westminster so did God avenge the blood of this Royal and pious person by signal testimony of his unjust and mercilesse prosecution The Speech of Col. Eusebius Andrews immediately before his Execution on the Scaffold on Tower-hill on Thursday August 22. 1650. being attended on by Dr. Swadling AS soon as he came upon the Scaffold kissing the block he said I hope there is no more but this block between me and heaven and to the Lieutenant of the Tower he said I hope I shall neither tire in my way nor go out of it After he had been a good while upon the Scaffold turning to the rail he speaks to the people as followeth Christian Gentlemen and people Your business hither to day is to see a sad spectacle a man to be in a moment unman'd and cut off in the prime of his years taken from further opportunities of doing good either to himself his friends the Common-wealth or especially to God it seldom happens but upon very good cause And though truly if my general known course of life were but inquired into I may modestly say there is such a moral of honesty upon it as some may be so sawcy as to expostulate why this great judgment is fallen upon me but know I am able to give them and my self an answer and out of this breast am able to give a better account of my Judgment and Execution then my Judges themselves or you are able to give It is Gods wrath upon me for sins long unrepented of many Judgements withstood and mercies slighted therefore God hath whipped me by his severe rod of correction that he might not lose me I pray joyn with me in prayer that it may not be a fruitless rod that when by this rod I have laid down my life by this staffe I may be comforted and received into glory I am very confident by what I have heard since my sentence there is more exception made against proceedings against me then I even made My tryers had a Law and the value of that Law is indisputable and for me to make a question of it I should shame my self and my discretion In the strictness of that Law something is done by me that is applicable to some clause therein by which I stand condemnable the means whereby I was brought under that interpretation of that which was in my self intended maliciously being testimony given by persons whom I pity so false yet so positive that I cannot condemn my Judges for passing sentence against me according to legal Justice for equity lieth in higher breasts As for my Accusers or rather betrayers I pity and am sorry for them they have committed Judas his crime but I wish and pray for them Peters tears that by Peters repentance they may escape Judas his punishment and I wish other people so happy they may be taken up betimes before they have drunk up more blood of Christian men possibly less deserving then my self It is true there have been several addresses made for mercy and I will put the obstruction of it upon nothing more then upon my own sin and seeing God sees it fit having not glorified him in my life I might do it in my death which I am contented to do I profess in the face of God particular malice to any one of State or Parliament to do them a bodily in jury I had none For the Cause in which I had long waded I must needs say my engagement or continuance in it hath laid no scruple upon my Conscience it was in principles of Law the knowledge whereof I profess and on principles of Religion my Judgement satisfied and Conscience rectified that I have pursued those ways which I bless God I find no blackness upon my Conscience nor have I put it into the bed-roll of my sins I will not presume to decide controversies I desire God to honour himself in prospering that side that hath right with it and that you may enjoy peace and plenty when I shall enjoy peace and plenty beyond all
you possesse here in my conversation in the world I do not know where I have an enemy with cause or that there is such a person whom I have to regret but if there be any whom I cannot recollect under the notion of Christian men I pardon them as freely as if I had named them by name I freely forgive them being in free peace with all the world as I desire God for Christs sake to be at peace with me For the business of death it is a sad sentence in it self if men consult with flesh and blood But truly without boasting I say it or if I do boast I boast in the Lord I have not to this minute had one consultation with the flesh about the blow of the Axe or one thought of the Axe more then as my pass-port to glory I take it for an honour and I owe thankfulness to those under whose power I am that they have sent me hither to a place however of punishment yet of some honour to die a death somewhat worthy of my blood answerable to my birth and qualification and this courtesie of theirs hath much helped towards the pacification of my mind I shall desire God that those Gentlemen in that sad bed-rol to be tried by the High Court of Justice that they may find that really there than is nominal in the Act an High Court of Justice a Court of high Justice high in its righteousness though not in its severity Father forgive them and forgive me as I forgive them I desire you now that you would pray for me and not give over praying till the hour of death not till the moment of death for the hour is come already that as I have a great load of sins so I may have the wings of your prayers to help those Angels that are to convey my soul to Heaven and I doubt not but I shall see my Saviour my gallant Master the King of England and another Master whom I much honoured my Lord Capel hoping this day to see my Christ in the presence of the Father the King in the presence of him my Lord Capel in the presence of them all and my self there to rejoyce with all other Saints and Angels for evermore Doctor Swadling he being upon the Scaffold spake as followeth unto the Colonel You have this morning in the presence of a few given some account of your Religion and under general notions or words have given an account of your faith charity and repentance To those on the Scaffold if you please to hear the same questions asked here you shall that it may be a general testimoney to you all that he died in the favour of God To the Colonel Now Sir I being to deal with you do you acknowledge that this stroke that you are to suffer is a just punishment laid upon you by God for your former sins Col. Andrews I dare not only deny it but dare not but confess it I have no opportunity of glorifying God more then by taking shame to my self and I have a reason of the Justice of God in my own bosom which I have put to your bosom Doctor You acknowledge that you deserve more then this stroak of the Axe and that a far greater misery is due to you even the pains and Torments of Hell that the damned there endure Col. I know it is due in righteous Judgement but I know again I have a satisfaction made by my Elder-brother Christ Jesus and then I say it is not due â—is due from me but quitted by his Righteousness Doct. Do you believe to be saved by that Mediator and none other Col. By that and that only renouncing all secondary causes whatsoever Doct. Are you truly and unfeignedly sorry before God as you appear to us for all those sins that have brought you hither Col. I am sorry and can never be sorrowful enough and am sorry I can be no more sorry Doct. If God should by a Miracle not to put you to a vain hope but if God should as he did to Ezekiah renew your days what life do you resolve to lead hereafter Col. It is a question of great length and requires a great time to answer Men in such straits would promise great things but I would first call some friends to limit how far I should make a Vow that I might 〈◊〉 make a rash one and to offer the Sacrifice of Fools but a Vow I would make and by Gods help endeavour to keep it Doct. Do you wish health and happiness upon all lawful Authorities and Government 〈◊〉 Col. I do prize all obedience to lawful Government and the adventuring against them is sinful and I do not justifie my self whatever my judgement be for my thus adventuring against the present Government I leave it to God to judge whether it be righteous if it be it must stand Doct. Are you now in love and charity with all men Do you freely forgive them Col. With all the World freely and the Lord forgive them and forgive me as I freely forgive them Doct. You have for some late years laid down your Gown and took up the Sword and you were a man of Note in those parts where you had your residence I have nothing to accuse you for want of diligence in hindering the doing of injuries yet possibly there might be some wrong done by your Officers or those under you to some particular men If you had your Estate in your hands would you make restitution Col. The wrongs themselves you bring to my mind are not great nor many some things of no great moment but such as they are my desire is to make restitution but have not wherewithall Doct. If you had ability would you likewise leave a legacy of thankfulness to Almighty God something to his poor Servants to his lame Members to his deaf Members to his dumb Members Col. My will hath always been better then my ability that way Doct. Sir I shall trouble you very little further I thank you for all those heavenly Colloquies I have enjoyed by being in your Company these three days and truly I am very sorry I must part with so heavenly an Associate We have known one another heretofore but never so Christian-like before I have rather been a Scholar to learn from you then an Instructor I wish this Stage wherein you are made a Spactacle to God Angels and the World may be a School to all about you for though I will not diminish your sins nor shall I conceal nor hypocrize my own for they are great ones betwixt God and my self yet I think there is few here have a lighter load upon them then you have if we consider things well and I only wish them your Repentance and that measure of Faith which God hath given you and that measure of Courage you have attained from God and that constant perseverance God hath crowned you with hitherto Col. His Name be praised Here the Doctor
purpose a scandal which obliquely hit Sir Henry to the taking away his life but was doubly aymed at his Majesty whom they would render to his Subjects as they in their Traiterous Papers had called him an Enemy to the Common-wealth At his going to Constantinople several Messages past betwixt him and Sir Thomas Bendish in order to his audience which usually is prepared by the Resident there which his mistakes and jealousie was a long time delayed and at last frustrated The Vizier being wrought upon to betray him and to send him away for England by the Ships then bound thither from Smyrna in one whereof contrary to his Designation and reinfect with some of Sir Thomas Bendisheâ— men who sided with him in obedience to the Kings Authority he arrived at London and was presently committed to the Tower where he past his Examination I shall omit any further account but refer the Reader to that Apology or Defence which Sir Thomas Bendish lately published in excuse of himself and to free and clear his Reputation charged with the guilt of this Martyrs death and more especially to what Sir Henry himself said a view whereof you have in the subsequent leaves After some while imprisonment he was brought before the High Court of Justice and heard in defence of his life wherein he would have used and desired to speak in the Italian Language being through long disuse of his Mother-tongue not so ready and expressive as that important matter required he should be which request by the folly and madnesse of his Judges was imputed to him as an affected pride and vanity In conclusion by a Power intrusted and lodged in that High Court of Justice by Authority of Parliament he was sentenced to be beheaded and the place and day assigned for the Execution The main incentive to this villany was without doubt the nearnesse of his Honourable Brother to the King at whom this blow glanced if also they did not remember and reckon their two presumptuous Emissaries and Agents Dorislaws and Achtan into the score However it was Sir Henry nothing dismaid at this outrage against his Life and Honour quietly submitted to his doom and at his death though accompanied thereto with many diseases and Infirmities couragiously asserted his Cause owned his Master the King and cleared them both from any Aspersions and so rendered his Soul to God Sir Henry Hide 's speech on the Scaffold near the Exchange immediately before his Execution March 4. 1650. REader Take notice that this Speech following is published in those very words that the Gentleman delivered them and though there be some abrupt breakings off and other expressions not so smooth as might have been yet I could not with henesty alter a word and therefore have I tyed my self to his own expressions that I may neither abuse the world or the dying man or my self THe Gentleman came in a Coach to the Scaffold attended by the Lieutenant of the Tower and the Sheriffs of London and also in his company one of his servants and Dr. Hide I Am come to put in practice the Christian Profession Sir Hen. Hide and as I owe a death to nature and sin now I pay it upon the score of grace Dr. Hide Blessed be God that hath enabled you to it God hath and will enable you Sir H. Hide Looking round on the People he said A populous City God bless it and grant they may live to his Grace Then turning to his Man he said John I pray now though I have not been a good Master to you be you a good Servant and accompany me with your prayers and help me both in body and mind John Have you my things about you John Then staying for his Servants they being not on the Scaffold he said I had rather have my Servants then strangers Then the Lieutenant of the Tower coming to him he said pray Sir rejoyce with me I thank Almighty God I am brought hither to suffer for him Lieut. of the Tower I am glad you are so comforted Gods Will be fulfilled in all things Sir H. Hide If God call me to him and I glorifie him it is well I seek only the company of your Christian Prayers Lieut. of the Tower I shall not be wanting in that God willing Then the Chirurgion coming but not his Kinsman who was called for he said My kinsman is of no use you may be useful about my body I hope Mr. Sheriff that you 'l give order I may have a little more room here Sheriff Yes yes Sir Sir H. Hide And likewise for libertie of speech and that it shall please you for I am not acquainted with the forms here of England that I may speak my own sense I am now going into the presence of Almightie God a very little without any disturbance Sheriff Why Sir you shall Sir H. Hide John where is my Coffin John It is here Sir Sheriff Sir it seems these men cannot be found Sir H. Hide But if Mr. Barret could be found After some stay Mr. Barret being not found the Sheriff spake to him saying Sheriff You have your libertie you know your time Sir H. Hide Where is the place of standing that way or this way pointing towards the Exchange and the Poultery Sheriff Which way you please you may stand which way you will but that way you must lie pointing towards the Exchange Sir H. Hide I am indifferent it is not the way to heaven where a man stands One brought word to him that there was no help to be had Sir H. Hide That is no hinderance to my felicity Dr. Hide God enable you that you may find that joy and comfort which is due to the glory of his holy Name he will not forsake you that have put your trust in him Sir H. Hide I will open my heart and my mouth with thanksgiving if this Gentleman please to give way Then turning towards the Poultery he put off his Hat and said Glory be to God on high on Earth Peace good will to men CHristian People I come hither to die I am brought hither to die and that I may die Christian-like I humbly beseech your Christian Prayers that by the benefit of them my passage may be the more easie Yet because men in that condition which it hath pleased God to reduce me carry more credit to their Speeches In the discharge of my Duty towards God I shall use a few words and so dispatch I pray all of you joyn with me to praise this Almighty God to whom I desire to render all hearty thanks as for all his mercies so in particular for this That he hath brought me hither That whereas I owe a duty to Sin and to Nature I can pay it upon the account of Grace And because it is fit to render an account of the hope that is in me I shall tell you to the praise of Almighty God That I have been born and bred up in the Doctrine of
except they water their beds and couches with tears of Repentence The court gave severe and rash Judgment on my body and sent a pitifull fellow bur a pitiless fellow that gave as rash a Judgment of my soul but that precious Jewel none of them could touch to hurt The souls under the Alter cry loud for vengeance long ago how many more of late years have been added to them to help the cry the cry is loud of those lately whose blood hath been unlawfully spilt but vengeance is Gods and I will leave it to him The Court at my Tryal said I was confident and held it as a fault He also whom they sent to the Tower I know not if to intrap me under pretence to comfort my soul told me also I was confident I say the same and the same confidence I bring with me now and by Gods assistance I hope I shall carry it out of this world with my innocency Gentlemen Souldiers Among the ancient and savage sort of Heathen they had a Law once every three six or twelve moneths to offer up a sacrifice of humane blood to their god and that their god was a Devil Among us whether Heathen or not you best know of late years we have had a fatal custome once in three six or twelve moneths to make not only a sacrifice but many sacrifices of humane Christian blood our Scaffolds have reek'd and smoak'd with the choisest sort of blood But unto what God do you judge What God is he that delights in the blood of man Baal the god of Ekron Bâ—lzebub the god of Flyes Amongst the Primitive Christians that lived nearest the time of our Saviour Christ the greatest Tyrants and persesecutors of the Christians lived the persecution was great and yet the courage of those persecuted Christians was so great that it excelled the fury of the persecutors that they came in faster to be killed then they could kill they offered their bodies and throats so thick unto the slaughter that the hands of Tyrants were weary with killing and yet Sanguis Martirum was Semâ—n Ecclesiâ—e and many Heathens came in with the Christians seeing their chearfull constancy turned Christians and dyed Christians and dyed with them the Christians still encreased the more Of late years here hath been a great persecution in this Nation and yet the sufferers have been so many and present themselves so thick in the vindication of their King Country and Laws that they startled the very enemy himself their constancy so great that the eyes of their Judges dropped tears whether reall or true let the Judge of Judges judge They still stand amazed at their constancy though they exceed the old Heathens are not weary of killing Oh Souldiers How many of you have been brought up and led on by blind principles wronged in your education or seduced by your indiscreet heedless and heady Teachers How many of you young men have for some small discontent departed from your loving Masters dear Friends or tender Parents and fled into the Army how many of you driven by Tyranous oppression poverty or cruelty have left your dear wives and children And some for novelty or wantonness adhere to this employment not considering the great danger of spilling innocent blood How many of you have drawn your Swords you do not know for what How many of you keep drawn your Swords you do not know for what You have put to death a pious and just King and in his stead have reared up even another Jeroboam that makes Israel to sin What his goodnesse is you best know You have put down a good old Law and reared up another of your own to judge the people by my calling for the benefit of the former and for the equity even of your own Law I am in part condemned here to die Be you Judge of the proceedings How many of you have had a hand in putting down the ancient true Church and raised up in your own imaginations a new one But alas You know not what you do if you did you would grieve to see what a glorious Church you have ruind You would never have pulled down the hedges and broken down the fences that the wild beasts of the Forrest should come in that the little foxes should devour and the wild Boar should root out so stately a Vine When the Jewes were led into captivity their goodly and magnificent Temple was burnt but in process of time they obtained favour amongst the Heathen KINGS they dwelt amongst and had liberty therewith to re-build re-build they did and finished a second Temple at which fight all the young men rejoyced to see so gallant a Temple but the old men wept to see how far different and short the second Temple was from the glory of the first So you young men rejoyce at your imaginary Church but the old men methinks I see some weep Oh weep not so me weep for your Country weep to see Religion Liberty and Laws taken from you weep to see so many good men snatcht a way but indeed from the miseries to come and weep for what your unhappy selves will suffer Souldiers however you flourish for atime and perhaps many of you may rejoyce at our deaths but believe it as Sampson pull'd the house of the Philistims down when he fell so shall we give you and your Cause a greater blow by our deaths than living we possibly could have done You may for a time flourish but remember what our Saviour said All you that make use of the sword shall perish by the sword you shall be cut down like the grass and whither away like the green herbs But do you behold yonder glorious place Do you behold the spangled Heavens where the holy Angels dwell where God himselfe is rounded with Thrones Principalities Powers and the Celestial Spirits of just men when the Trump shall blow when the dead shall rise at the dreadful day of Judgment How will you answer all your Rapes and Murthers Do you think your hands that have been bathed in the blood of your King the blood of so many of your eminent Country-men so unjustly that have been bathed in the blood of many of your friends your kindred perhaps your Parents can ever reach yonder glorious place without repentance Oh no! Repent now therefore it is not too late shake off your bloody Protector rescue your ancient Laws and call in your Royal young Prince whom you have long enough wronged Make your Add esses to the great Protector of Heaven and Earth as I now do my self for a Pardon for all your former and present transgressions I dye an obedient Son of the Church of England and with a dutifull heart to the KING and desire that none present that love him will he disheartned by my death but continue faithfull to the end And so farewell I forgive all the world c. Colonel Penrudock Colonel Groves and others are taken at Southmolton in
us that right which a Gentleman and a Souldier ought to have done I had not now been here The man I forgive with all my heart but truly Gentlemen his protesting against those Articles he himself with so many protestations and importunities put upon us hath drawn so much dishonour and blood upon his head that I fear some heavy judgement will pursue him Though he hath been false to us I pray God I do not prove a true prophet to him Nay I must say more that coming on the road to Exon he the said Captaine Crook told me Sir Joseph Wagstaff was a gallant Gentleman and that he was sorry he was not taken with us that then he might have had the benefit of our ARTICLES but now said he I have beset all the Country for him so that he cannot escape but must be hanged He also questioned me as I passed through Salisbury from London whether he had given me conditions Which I endeavouring to make appear to Major Butler he interrupted me and unwillingly confest saying I profered him four hundred pounds to perform his Articles which had been a strange proffer of mine had I not really conditioned with him And I told him then having found him unworthy I would have given him five hundred pounds believing him to be mercenary To make it yet farther appear I injure him not by stiling him unworthy after these Articles were given he proffered to Pistol me if I did not perswade another house to yeeld which then were boldly resisting To which my servanr John Biby now a prisoner replyed I hope you will not be so unworthy as to break the Law of Arms. Thus much I am obliged to say to the honour of the souldiery that they have been so far from breaking any Articles given to others that they have rather bettered them then otherwise It is now our misfortune to be made presidents and examples together But I will not do the Protector so much injury as to load him with dishonour since I have been informed that he would have made our conditions good if Crook that gave them had not abjur'd them This is not a time for me to enlarge upon any subject since I am now become the Subject of death But since the Articles were drawn by my hand I thought my self obliged to a particular Justification of them I could tell you of some souldiers which are turned out of his Troop for defending those conditions of ours but let that pass and henceforward instead of life liberty and estate which were the Articles agreed upon let drawing hanging and quartering bear the Denomination of Cap. Crooks Articles However I thank the Protector for granting me this honourable death I should now give you an account of my Faith But truly Gentlemen this poor Nation is rent into so many several opinions that it is impossible for me to give you mine without displeasing some of you However if a man be so critical as to enquire of what faith I die I shall refer him to the Apostles Athanasius the Nicene Creed and to the testimony of this Reverend Gentleman Dr. Short to whom I have unbosomed my self and if this do not satisfie look in the thirty nine Articles of the Catholick Church of England to them I have subscribed and do own them as authentick Having now given you an account concerning my self I hold my self obliged in duty to some of my friends to take off a suspition which lies upon them I mean as to some persons of Honour which upon my examination I was charged to have held correspondency with The Marquess of Hartford the Marquess of Winchester and my Lord of Pembrook were the persons nominated to me I did then acquit them and do now second it with this protestation That I never held any correspondency with either or any of them in relation to this particular businesse or indeed to any thing which concern'd the Protector or his Government As for the Marquess of Winchester I saw him some twelve years since and not later and if I should see him here present I believe I should not know him And for the Earle of Pembrook he was not a man likely to whom I should discover my thoughts because he is a man of a contrary Judgment I was examined likewise concerning my Brother Freke my Cousin Hastings Mr. Dorrington and others It is probable their estates may make them liable to this condition but I do here so far acquit them as to give the World this farther protestation that I am confident they are as innocent in this business as the youngest child here I have no more to say to you now but to let you know that I am in charity with all men I thank God I both can and do forgive my greatest persecutors and all that ever had any hand in my death I have offered the Protector as good security for my future demeanor as I suppose he could have expected if he had thought fit to have given me my life certainly I should not have been so ungrateful as to have imployed it against him I do humbly submit to Gods pleasure knowing that the issues of life and death are in his hand My blood is but a small sacrifice if it had been saved I am so much a Gent. as to have given thanks to him that preserved it and so much a Christian as to forgive them which take it But seeing God by his providence hath called me to lay it down I willingly submit to it though terrible to nature but blessed be my Saviour who hath taken out the sting so that I look upon it with terrour Death is a debt and a due debt and it hath pleased God to make me so good a husband that I am come to pay it before it is due I am not ashamed of the Cause for which I die but rather rejoyce that I am thought worthy to suffer in the defence and cause of Gods true Church my lawfull King the liberty of the Subject and Priviledge of Parliaments Therefore I hope none of my Aliance and Friends will be ashamed of it it is so far from pulling down my Family that I look upon it as the raising of it one story hi heâ— Neither was I so prodigal of nature as to throw away my life but have used though none but honourable and honest means to preserve it These unhappy times indeed have been very fatall to my family two of my Brothers already slain and my self going to the slaughter it is Gods will and I humbly submit to that providence I must render an acknowledgement of the great civilities that I have received from this City of Exon and some persons of quality and for their plentiful provision made for the prisoners I thank Mr. Sheriff for his favour towards us in particular to my self and I desire him to present my due respects to the Protector and though he had no mercy for my self yet that he would have
respect to my family I am now stripping off my clothes to fight a duel with death I conceive no other duel lawful but my Saviour hath pulled out the sting of this mine enemy by making himself a sacrifice for me And truly I do not think that man deserving one drop of his bloud that will not spend all for him in so good a cause The Truth is Gentlemen in this Age Trea on is an individium vagum like the wind in the Gospel it bloweth wher it listeth So now Treason is what they please lighteth upon whom they will Indeed no man except he will be a Traytor can avoid this Censure of Treason I know not to what end it may come but I pray God my own and my Brothers blood that is now to die with me may be the last upon this score Now Gentlemen you may see what a condition you are in without a King you have no law to protect you no rule to walke by when you perform your duty to God your King and Country you displease the Arbitrary power now set up I cannot call it government I shall leave you to peruse my tryal and there you shall see what a condition this poor Nation is brought into and no question will be utterly destroyed if not restored by loyal Subjects to its old and glorious Government I pray God he lay not his Judgements upon England for their sluggishness in doing their duty and readiness to put their hands in their bosoms or rather taking part with the Enemy of Truth The Lord open their eyes that they may be no longer lead or drawn into such snares else the Child that is unborn will curse the day of their Parents birth God almighty preserve my Lawful K. Charles the second from the hands of his Enemies and break down that wall of Pride and Rebellion which so long hath kept him from his just Rights God preserve his Royal Mother and all his Majestys Royal Brethren and incline their hearts to seek after him God incline the hearts of all true Englisâ—men to stand up as one man to bring in the King and redeem themselves and this poor Kingdom out of its more then Egyptian slavery As I have now put off these garments of cloth so I hope I have put off my garments of sin have put on the Robes of Christs Righteousnesse here which will bring me to the enjoyment of his glorious Robes anon Then he kneeled down and kissed the block and said thus I commit my soul to God my Creator and Redeemer Look upon me O Lord at my last gasping Hear my prayer and the prayers of all good people I thank thee O God for all thy dispensations towards me Then kneeling down he prayed most devoutfuly as followeth O Eternal Almighty and most mercifull God the Righteous Judge of all the world look down in mercy on me a miserable sinner O blessed Jesus Redeemer of Mankind which takest away the sins of the world let thy perfect manner of obedience be presented to thy Heavenly Father for me Let thy precious death and bloud be the ransome and satisfaction of my many and heynous transgressions Thou that sittest at the right hard of God make intercession for me O holy and blessed Spirit which art the Comforter fill my heart with thy consolations O holy blessed and glorious Trinity be mercifull to me confirm my faith in the promises of the Gospel reviveâ— and quicken my hope and expectation of joys prepared for true and faithfull servarâ—ts Let the infinite Love of God my Saviour make 〈◊〉 love to him steafast sincere and constant O Lord consider my condition accept my tears aswage my grief give me comfort and confidence in theâ— impute not unto me my former sins but most mercifull Fathâ—r receive me into thy favour for the merits of Christ Jesus Many and grievous are my sins for I have sinned many times against the light of knowledge against remorse of conscience against the motions opportunities of grace But accept I beseech thee the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart in and for the perfect sacrifice oblation and satisfaction of thy Son Jesus Christ O Lord receive my soul after it is delivered from the burthen of the flesh into perfect joy in the sight and fruition of thee And at the general resurrection grant that my body may be endowed with immortality and received with my soul into glory I praise thee O God I acknowledge thee to be the Lord O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world have mercy on me Thou that sittest at the right hand of God hear my prayer O Lord Jesus Christ God and Man Mediator betwixt God and Man I have sinned as a Man be thou mercifull to me as a God O holy and blessed Spirit help my infirmities with those sighs and groans which I cannot expresse Then he desired to see the Axe and kissed it saying I am like to have a sharp passage of it but my Savior hath sweetned it unto me Then he said If I would have been so unworthy as others have been I suppose I might by a lye have saved my life which I scorn to purchase at such a rate I defie such temptations and them that gave them me Glory be to God on high On Earth peace Good will towards Men. And the Lord have mercy upon my poor soul Amen So laying his Neck upon the Block after some private Ejaculations he gave the Heads-man a sign with his hand who at one blow severed his head from his body The true Speech of that Valiant and piously resolved Hugh Grove of Chisenbury in the Parish of Enford and County of Wilts Esquire beheaded the 16th of May 1655. in the Castle at Exon. Good people I Never was guilty of much Rhetorick nor ever loved long Speeches in all my life and therefore you cannor expect either of them from me now at my death All that I shall desire of you besides your hearty prayers for my soul is That you would bear me witnesse I die a true son of the Church of England as it was established by King Edward the sixth Queen Elizabeth King James and King Charls the first of blessed memmory That I die a Loyall Subject to King Charls the second my undoubted Soveraign and a lover of the good old Laws of the Land the just priviledges of Parliaments and Rights and Liberties of the People for the re-establishing of all which I did undertake this engagement and for which I am ready to lay down my life God forgive the bloody-minded Jury and those that procured them God forgive Captain Crook for denying his Articles so unworthily God forgive Mr. Dove and all other persons swearing so maliciously and falsely against me God forgive all my enemies I heartily forgive them God blesse the KING and all that love him turn the hearts of all that hate him God blesse you all and be merciful to you and to
Abr. Reynoldson Sr. John Gaire Ald. Adams Ald. Bunch and Major Gen. Brown who suffered a sharp and tedious Imprisonment The Right Honourable John now Lord Viscount Mordant Brother to the Earl of Peterborough who indefatigably laboured in the Kings Business being really engaged in the matters wherewith he was accused and came off but by one saving voyce at his Trial before the said Court when others not concerned at all were there condemned no sooner got his Liberty by the death of Oliver but he was as earnestly busie as before against the Rump and by Proclamation commanded to render himself by such a time or else be reputed a Traytor He now lives and hath seen some of them suffer the Reward of such and is Governour of Windsor Castle Mr. now Sr. Thomas Woodcocke a Confederate in the same Design with my Lord Mordant so wisely managed his Defence at the aforesaid Bar the same time that he was fairly acquitted by those bloudy Justices and soon after set at Liberty which by his Majesties Gracious Favours is improved into Honour Mr. Christopher Pits Brother to M. Pits of Hampshire who married the Lady Chandois I the rather mention his Noble Family because of the Nobleness of this subsequent Action He was apprehended with Mr. Garrent and other Citizens for the same business of the Lord Mordant and committed to New-gate after his Examination taken they would have made use of him having not enough against his Life as a witness against his Associates and in order thereunto brought him down to the High Court where he refused and resolutely denied to give any Evidence concerning or against the Prisoners whereupon after many vain Threats and Menaces he was by the Court sent back to Newgate there condemned to perpetual Imprisonment and fined 1000 l. which he willingly submitted to rather then be guilty of the Bloud of his Friends though a kind of forcible necessity would have seemed to warrant such an Action He continued a Prisoner but at large after Olivers death till the Coming of the General when he forsook that Station and recommenced his Freedom with the Kingdoms Mr. William Garrent who was tried before the same Court for the same business escaped as is generally believed through the want of that Evidence they relied upon from Mr Pits with much ado he was quitted and soon after set at Liberty Henry Friar who was one of those also was condemned at the said Court and was brought afterwards to West-Smithfield where in the Rounds a Gibbet was erected upon the Ladder and ready to die the Reprieve was produced and he carried back again to the Tower whence not long after he was dismist John Sumner and Oliver Allen the like the one drawn on a Hurdle to Bishopsgate and the other to Grace-Church street the places of their appointed Execution but were both there reprieved and afterwards freed Sr. George Booth now Lord Delameres who in 1659. rose against the Rump and was proclaimed Traytor with Major Gen. Egerton Col. Worden and Sr. Thomas Middleton being defeated near Northwich in Cheshire fled in disguise to Newport Pagnel and was there taken and sent Prisoner to the Tower of London and soon after his Estate was Ordered to be sequestred and sold and Preparations to be made for his Trial but upon the division of his and their fore-gotten Spoyles betwixt that Remnant at Westminster and their Commander Lambert which brought about through the Prudence and Loyalty of our Noble General the Re-admission of the Secluded Members he was set at Liberty and his Estate freed likewise which is now mounted to the Honourable Revenue of a Barony Sr. Thomas Middleton ingaged in the same Quarrel after this Defeat was forced to flee leaving his Sons to defend Chirke Castle which rendred soon after to Col. Zanchy but the happy Revolution aforesaid restored him and his Estate together I do here also leave out all Persons who condemned by Courts Martial with others that suffered or alone were afterward reprieved because it is an undertaking of so wide a circumference that is impossible without much Errour and Uncertainty particularly I passe by the Names of those who were kept so long in Durance at Exeter and were afterwards sent away to the Barbadoes for the Rising with Col. Penruddock because of the Prosixity of that Roll and I would not be partial Lastly It were an infinite Task to particularize the several Sequestrations Plunderings and Rapines committed on the Kings good Subjects the Product of which Spoyles amounted to a vast sum of Treasure and might be sister to the Publick Faith-Money as Violence and Fraud are seldom asunder But what is herein defective would indeed be redundant and therefore I refer every Particular of those sufferers to the General Day of Account when they shall receive full Recompence FINIS Courteous Reader THere is now Published the Reconciler of the Bible Inlarged wherein above three thousand seeming Contradictions throughout the Old and New Testament are fully and plainly Reconciled being a very useful Work for all such as desire to understand the Sacred Scriptures aright unto Salvation And sold by Simon Miller at the star in S. Pauls Church Yard Courteous Reader These Books following are Printed for Simon Miller or Sold by him at the Star in St. Pauls Church Yard Small Folio THe Reconciler of the Bible Enlarged wherein above Three Thousand seeming Contradictions throughout the Old and New Testament are fully and plainly reconciled A like work never yet extant and may serve for the Explanation of the most difficult Places of the Bible being useful for all such as desire to understand the Sacred Scriptures aright unto Salvation Humbly presented to the Censure of the Sons of the Prophets By J. T. and T. M. Ministers of Gods Holy Word and Sacraments Astrology restored or an Introduction to the Language of the Stars in four Books by William Ramsey Gent. The Civil Wars of Spain in the Reign of Charles the Fifth Emperor of Germany and King of that Nation wherein our Late unhappy Differences are paralell'd in many Particulars A General History of Scotland from the Year 767. to the death of King James c. by David Hume of Godscroft The History of this Iron Age wherein is set down the true state of Europe as it was in the Year 1500. also the Causes of all the wars and Commotions that have happened to this present time with the memorable Sieges and Battels together with the lively Effigies of the most Renowned Persons Mr. Paul Baine his Practical Commentary on the whole Epistle of S. Paul to the Ephesians The most pleasant and profitable History of Francion wherein all the Vices that usually attend youth are plainly laid open that the Misfortunes of some may teach others to abandon Vice done into English by a Person of Honour Eighteen Books of the Secrets of Art Nature being the sum and substance of Natural Philosophy first designed by Doctor John Weeker and now
reason to have expected the Council would have justified my Plea which hath been Ancient Honourable Sacred and Vnviolable until this time that I am made the first suffering Precedent for 1 dare affirm it that never Gentleman before in any Christian Nation was adjudged to death by a Council of War after quarter given I am the first and I pray God I may be the last Precedent in this caâ—e I must die and I thank God I am ready for it Death would now be my choice had I the whole world in competition with it I leave nothing behind me which I much care for but my King my Wife my Children my Friends whom I trust the never-failing mercies of my God will provide for I beseech God shew mercy to those who neither had mercy nor justice for me My blessed Saviour taught him by his example and command both to pray for my enemies and to forgive my enemies I forgive them freely even those that contrived my ruine and pursued to death I thank God never persinally offended them to my knowledge in my life and let me not offend against them at my death I forgive them freely and pray God for Christs sake to forgive them also Of my Faith and Religion I shall not hope need to say much herein I hope my enemies if now I have any will speak for me I profess my faith to be in God onely from whom I look for my salvation through the precious merits and sufferings of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ which merits and sufferings are applied to my soul by the blesâ—ed spirit of comfort the Spirit of God by whom I am assured in my own Soul that my God is reconciled unto me in Jesus Christ my blessed Redeemer I die a dutiful son the Church of England as it was established in that blessed Prince my late Masters Reign which all my of learning and temperance will acknowledge to be the most pure and agreable to the Word of God and primitive Government of any Church within 12. or 1300. years since Christ and which to my great comfort I left established in the Isle of Man God preserve it there and restore it to this Nation And O blessed God I magnifie thy Name that thou gavest me the happinesse and mercy to be born in a Christian Nation and in a Nation where thy truth was professed in purity With honour to thy Name and comfort to thy people I ascribe the comforts of the Holy Spirit which I feel in my bosome to the Ministry of thy Word and Sacraments conveyed unto me in thy Church and made effectual by the operation of the same blessed Spirit In this faith good people I have lived and in this I die pray for me I beseech you and the God of mercies hear your prayers and my prayers for mine and your salvation Presently after the tumult was over Here his Lordship began to speak again his Lordship called for the Headsman and asked to see the Axe and taking it in his hand said Friend I will not hurt it and I am sure it cannot hurt me and then kissing it said Methinks this is as a Wedding Ring which is as a sign I am to leave all the VVorld and eternally to be married to my Saviour Then putting his hand in his pocket said to the Headsman Here Friend take these two pieces all that I have thou must be my Priest I pray thee do thy work well and effectually Then handling the rough furr'd coat the Headsman had on This says he will be troublesome to thee I pray thee put it off and do it as willingly as I put off this garment of my flesh that is now so heavy for my soul then some of the standers by bid the Heads-man kneel and ask his Lordship pardon but he did not but was surly and crabbed but his Lordship said Friend I give thee the pardon thou wilt not ask and God forgive thee also Then turning up his eyes to heaven said aloud How long Lord how long then gently passing over the Scaffold and seeing one of his Chaplains on horseback among the people Good Sir said he pray for me and the Lord return your prayers into your own bosome and I pray remember me kindly to your Brother and God remember him for his love to me and mine Then turning towards his Coffin Thou art said he my bridal Chamber in thee I shall rest without a guard and sleep without souldiers Then looking towards the block he asked if all were ready That said he methinks is very low and yet there is but one step betwixt that and heaven then turning his eyes to the people he saluted them and desired again their prayers then said I see your tears and hear your sighs and groans and prayers the God of heaven hear and grant your supplications for me and mine for you and the Mediation of Christ Jesus for us all Here his Lordship caused the block to be turned that he might look upon the Church saying Whilst I am here I will look towards thy holy Sanctuary and I know that within a few minutes I shall behold thee my God and King in thy Sanctuary above under the shadow of thy wings shall be my rest till this calamity be overpast then he pulled off his blew garter and sent it to his Son and pulling off his doublet with a very religious chearfulness he said I come Lord Jesus and O come thou quickly that I may be with thee for ever upon this he said Pray tell me how must I lie I have been called a bloody man yet truly I never yet had that severe curiositie to see any put to death in peace then laying himself down on the block after a few minutes he rose again and caused the block to be a little removed then said to the Headsman Friend remember what I said to thee and be no more afraid to strike then I to die and when I put up my hand do thy work so looking round about his friends and the people he said The Lord blesse you all and once more pray for me and with me at which words he kneeled down and prayed privately within himself with great sighings about half a quarter of an hour concluding with the Lords Prayer then rising up again he said smilingly My soul is now at rest and so shall my body be immediately The Lord bless my King and restore him to his right in this Kingdom and the Lord bless this Kingdom and restore them to their rights in their King that he and they may joyn hand in hand to settle truth and peace and the Lord bless this County and this Town and this People The Lord comfort my sad wife and children and reward all my friends with peace and happinesse both here and hereafter and the Lord forgive them who were the cause and authors of this my sad end and unjust death for so it is as to mankind though before God I deserve
much worse but I hope my sins are all bathed in the blood of Jesus Christ So laying his neck upon the block and his armes stretcht out he said these words Blessed be Gods glorious Name for ever and ever Let the whole Earth be filled with his glory Amen Amen At which words he gave the Headsman the sign but he either not observing it or not being ready stayed too long so that his Lordship rose up again saying Why do you keep me from my Saviour what have I done that I die not and that I may live with him Once more I will â—ay my self down in peace and so take my everlasting rest Then saying Come Lord Jesus come quickly he stretched out his arms and gave the sign repeating the same words Blessed be Gods glorious Name for ever and ever Let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen Amen Then lifting up his hand the Executioner did his work at one blow all the people weeping and crying and giving all expressions of grief and lamentation When the corps were carried off the Scaffold they carried them to a house in the Town where was thrown into his Coffin in a piece of paper these two lines Upon James Earl of Derby Bounty Wit Courage all here in one lie dead A Stanleys hand Veres heart and Cecil's head The sentence of the Council of VVar. Resolved by the Court upon the Question That James Earl of Derby is guilty of the breach of the Act of the 12. of August 1651. last past entituled An Act prohibiting correspondence with Charles Stuart or his party and so of High-Treason against the Common-wealth of England and is therefore worthy of death Resolved by the Court. That the said James Earl of Derby is a traytor to the Common-wealth of Eagland and an abettor encourager and assister of the declared Traytors and enemies thereof and shall be put to death by severing his head from his body at the Market place in the Town of Bolton in Lancashire upon VVednesday the 15. day of this instant October about the houre of one of the Clock the same day Sir Timothy Feverston Haugh beheaded at Chester Octob. 22. 1651. HAving nothing but the History of the War for my direction to this Gentlemans memory I will confine my self within the compass of that discovery and venture not to derive him any further hoping his honourable Relations will for their own as well as his sake be pleased to vouchsafe a full and perfect account of him hereafter to the embalming his fame to Posterity He was engaged in the unhappy Defeat at Wiggan with theafore said noble Earl to whose assistance whether he came with the King and was left by him there with those small Forces could be spared or that he voluntarily joyned or came from the Isle of Man with that Party I cannot determine this is for certain he was taken prisoner at that unlucky overthrow in Lancashire and secured afterwards till the Grand Business was over at Worcester Upon the coming back of the Forces assigned to Cheshire for their stationary Quarters and the bringing of the Earl of Derby thither they were both imprisoned at Chester and after the Trial and Condemnation of the Earl of Derby was likewise brought before the said Court-Martial and as no better was or could be expected by him or any other person had likewise the said Sentence only differing in time and place He behaved himself at his Death couragiously and Christianly telling those Monsters of men the foulness of their faults and confidently averring that the Justice of God would at last overtake them if they timely returned not to their duty and after some few prayers and among them one for the Kings preservation which yet was in doubt he resigned his Soul to God and hath added one to the glorious Company of Martyrs Colonel Benbow shot no death at Shrewsbury Octob. 1651. I Must confess my self at a losse here but though I could receive nothing else but his Name yet to that there is so much due on this account of Martyrdome that I durst not omit him putting hereby an occasion into the hands of this Gentlemans Relations to rescue his and perpetuate their Name to after Ages I conceive him to be one of those loyal Gentlemen who came in with the Earl of Shrewsbury then Lord Talbot or Colonel Howard my Lord Howard of Esericks Son to the King at Worcester and who for his former Services done the King in the War before was obnoxious to their malice Most certain it was he was taken notice of and observed to be very active in that Engagement at Worcester in the flight from whence he was taken though most of the other English escaped by the favour and concealment of the Country nor did ever the Scots finde civiller usage after a Defeat save those who through their glorious valour fell and escaped the better way to Heaven After he was taken he was conveighto Shrewsbury a place which the King from Worcester had summoned by a Letter to Colonel Mackworth the Governour which Royal Command they thought fit to question with loyal Blood as they pretended to expiate the storming of Bolton by Prince Rupert with the murder of the Earl of Derby Whatever the reasons of their proceedings there against him might be I cannot ascertain thus much from all hands we have that he went not lesse in his death then in his life maintaining his Religion to God his Duty to the King and his Innocency to the World to the last minute of his breath which found several wayes to expire by their Bullets and to ascend with his Soul to Heaven with a Quinque Domine c. Colonel John Gerhard and Mr. Vowel the one beheaded at Tower-hill and the other hanged at Charing-Crosse July 10. 1654. OLiver Cromwel that Monster of English production had but newly invaded the Magistracy over these Nations when as the Hydra before him had done he commenced his Tyrannical Regiment with a Sacrifice of Loyal blood which all along cemented the frame of his five yeares Usurpation as the Walls of Babylon were said to be mortar'd A cursed Rule it was among those State-Innovators that there was no surer way of establishing their Tyrannie and bring their Models to any sound constituon but by profusely letting blood especially in the Plurisie of so many dangers which their evil and abominable actions did daily threaten them This they termed Preventional Cure for suspecting all hands to be about their eares they resolved to be before hand with some that the terror of the Example being contrary to all reason Justice and Law and a perfect avowing of their Tyranny might reach to every man that who with the sense of so apparent danger and destruction out of which once engaged there was no rescue or deliverance but by death might be stupified into a degenerous fear and abject servility of mind to endure whatever their insupportable Domination should load upon