that horrid Garb of yellow Ruffs and Cuffs and in which Garb she was after hanged she having acquaintance with one James Franklin a man skilled for their purpose agreed with him to provide that which should not kill presently but cause one to languish away by degrees a little and a little Sir Jervas Velvis Lieutenant of the Tower being drawn into the conspiracy admits of one Weston Mrs. Turners man who under pretence of waiting upon Sir Thomas was to act that horrid tragedy The Plot thus contrived Franklin buyes certain poysons viz. Rosater White Arsenick Mercury Sublimate Cantharides red Mercury with three or four more deadly ingredients which he delivered to Weston with instructions how to use them Weston an apt scloller in the Devils school tempers them in his broath and meat increasing or diminishing their strength according as he saw him affected besides these poysoned tarts and jellies are sent him by the Viscount At last his salt his sauce his meat his drink and whatsoever he eats is mingled with poyson till his hair fell from his head and he was strangely forced to part with the excrements of his nails so that had he not been a very strong man he could have never stood it out so long Besides these villanies was added this affliction that none of his friends were permitted to see him or so much as to speak with him but at a window so that all things considered we may conclude him as to his outward condition truly miserable In the mean time the Viscount flourishes the marriage is consumated betwixt him and the Countess and more honours conferred on him being created Earl of Somerset Sir Thomas Overbury hearing of this marriage makes great lamentation foreseeing thereby his own death yet having some weak hopes of the Earl he sends this letter to him to minde him of his former promise Right noble and worthy Sir your former accustomed favours and absolute promise concerning my present deliverance hath caused me at this time to sollicite your Lordship and to put you in remembrance of the same not doubting that your Honour is at all forgetful of me but onely by reason of my imprisonment being possest of divers diseases would for my bodies health and safety taste the felicity of the open Air in which cause if your Lordship please to commiserate my present necessities and procure me my speedy deliverance I shall not onely stand so much the more obliged to you but also acknowledge you to be the preserver of my life The Earl having received the Letter returns him answer that presently he could not accomplish his desires but willed him not to doubt for shortly he should have a deliverance which indeed proved true thought not as Overbury intended for the conspirators now hearing some inkling of Sir Thomas's releasement resolve upon his quick dispatch to this end Weston agrees with an Apothecary for twenty pound to administer an empoysoned glister unto him Sir Thomas perswaded that it would be much for his health takes it by the infusion whereof he falls into a languishing disease with a griping in his guts the next day after which extremity of pain he died and because there was some blisters and ugly botches on his body the conspirators gave it out that he died of the French Pox. This past currant and the mischief lay concealed a long time but God who will never suffer such mischiefs to pass unpunished revealed the same Somersets conscience begins now to accuse him that former love that he bore to him till the eyes of his Lady had enchanted him returned his wonted mirth forsakes him he is cast down he takes not that felicity in company he was wont but still something troubles him And hearing of the peoples mutterings concerning Overburies death finding the King in a good humour he makes his address to this effect That whereas it had pleased his Majesty to commit many things unto his charge and some of them proving something too weighty for him to undergo it was so that ignorantly he had run himself into a Premunire whereby he had forfeited to him both his lands goods and liberty unless it pleased him of his wonted favour to grant him pardon for that and many other offences that he had ignorantly committed The King still bearing a good affection towards him bids him draw his pardon and he would sign it Which accordingly he did but it comming to the Lord Chancellours hands he refused to let it pass the Seal and acquainted the King with the danger that might accrew thereby And now suspicion growing higher of Sir Thomas Overburies death Weston is examined by the Lord Cook who at the first stiffly denied the same but being perswaded by the Bishop of London he tells all How Mistress Turner and the Countess came acquainted what relation she had to Witches Sorcerers and Conjurers that Northampton Somerset Franklin the Monsons and Yelvis had all their hands in it whereupon they were all apprehended some sent to the Tower others to New-gate Having thus confessed being convicted according to course of Law he was hanged at Tyburn after him Mistress Turner after her Franklin then Sir Jervas Yelvis upon their severall Arraignments of the fact were found guilty and executed some of them died very penitent and sorrowful for what they had done against such an incomparable person The Earl and his Countess were both condemned but through the Kings gracious pardon had their lives saved but were never admitted to the favour of the Court. This Ingenuous Knight whose death was so generally lamented was the other Sidney of this Nation One of our Modern Writers observes that he was too honest which with the Machiavelians is interpreted to be too open breasted as they retain this principle that one that waits on great persons ought to keep a secret till his breath stinks Whereas without question he did enlarge himself too much also in his discourse to others which besides his down-right Integrity to the Viscount being as sharp Wits are too much addicted to an unfortunate way of jeering and jeasting must of necessity prove fatal to him the revenge of a woman being alwayes in pursuit His Poem of a Wife is to the life his Characters to this day not outwitted by any To give a taste of the respects those times tendred him I have affixed these following Verses To the Memory of the generally bewailed Gentleman Sir THOMAS OVERBURY BVt that w' are bound in Christian piety To wish Gods will be done and destiny In all that haps to men or good or ill Suffer'd or sent by that implored will Methinks t' observe how Vertue draws faint breath Subject to slanders hate and violent death Wise men kept low others advanc'd to State Right checkt by wrong and ill men fortunate These mov'd Effects from an unmoved Cause Might shake the firmest faith Heavens fixed laws Might casual seem and each irregular sense Spurn at just Order blame Gods Providence But what
his private Devotions Sir Hardress Waller Collonel Harrison Collonel Dean Comissary General Ireton are to consider of the time and place of his Execution and in the Painted Chamber Munday January 29. the President and Judges met and within the Committee resolve that in the open street before White Hall his own House is the fittest place that the King be there executed to morrow Tuesday between ten and two of the Clock upon a Scaffold covered with black next to the Banquetting House where he was wont to ascend his Throne It was supposed the King would not submit his neck to the Enemies Axe and therefore it was so provided with staples and cords that he should not resist January 27. the King lodged at White Hall the next day Sunday the Bishop of London preached before him Afterwards his children had leave to visit him his children being come to him he first gave his blessing to the Lady Elizabeth and bad her to tell her Brother James when soever she should see him that it was his Fathers last command that he should no more look upon Charles as his eldest Brother onely but be obedient to him as his Sovereign that they should love one another and forgive their Fathers Enemies Then said the King to her Sweet Heart you 'l forget this no said she I shall never forget it whilest I live and pouring down abundance of tears promised him to write the Particulars Then the King taking the Duke of Glocester upon his knee said Now they will cut off thy Fathers head upon which the childe lookt very stedfastly on him Mark Childe what I say they will cut off my head and perhaps make thee a King But mark what I say You must not be King so long as your Brother Charles and James do live for they will cut off your Brothers heads when they can catch them and cut off thy head too at last therefore I charge thee do not be made a King by them at which the Childe sighing said I will be torn in pieces first at which the King smiled The fatal day appeared Tuesday 30. January when he prayes and receives the Sacrament just at ten of the Clock in the forenoon he is called to come forth from St. James's Palace then his Prison to go on foot over the Park to White Hall guarded with a Regiment of Foot Souldiers part before and the rest behinde him with Collours flying and Drums beating his private Guard of Partisans about him and Doctor Juxon Bishop of London next to him on one side and Collonel Thomlinson on the other Ascending the stairs up to the Park Gallery into his Cabinet Chamber he continued there at his devotion and refused to dine onely about twelve of the Clock he eat a bit of bread and drank a Glass of Clarret-wine from thence he was conveyed into the Banquetting House and the great Window enlarged out of which he ascends the Scaffold the Rails being hung round and the floor covered with Black the Executioners disguised with vizards encountring him he not affrighted shews more care of the people living then fear of his own dying for looking round about upon the people whom the thick set Guards and Troops of Horse kept a great distance off and seeing he could not be heard by them omitting probably what he purposed to have spoken to them turning to the Officers and Actors but rather to Collonel Thomlinson he said I would now speak nothing unto you in this place were it not that some men would interpret my silence as an argument of guilt and think that I took on me the crimes objected with the same conscience as I submit to the punishment with patience I call God to witness of my innocency before whose Tribunal I must shortly appear it never entred into my thoughts to intrench on the just priviledges of Parliament and that I raised not any Army before such time as they had raised hostile forces against me which from the order of proceedings on both sides and dates of Commissions and Proclamations will be clearly manifested to the inquirer Mean while I acknowledge and submisly own Gods Justice which this day by an unjust sentence of mine he hath inflicted a just judgement on me for as much as heretofore I would not quit an innocent man meaning the Deputy of Ireland when opprest by a most unjust decree With what Charity I embrace my enraged enemies this good man is my witness pointing to the Bishop of London I pardon them all from my very heart and I earnestly beseech the God of all mercies that he would vouchsafe to grant them serious repentance and remit this great sin Yet I cannot to my last gasp but be solicitous of the peace of my kingdom which I am not able at the present better co consult for then by chalking out the way from which you of the souldiery have exceedingly deviated and by which we must return to sobriety and peace Herein I perceive you are most miserably out of the way in that by the rule of the Sword without all even a shadow of right you think good to wrest the government to your selves and endeavour to establish the Kingdom not by the authority of the Laws but upon the score of Conquest which can never have any accruit of right unless adhered in by a just Cause and Triumph of War namely either by the repulsing of wrongs of recovering of rights unjustly detained But if more prosperous success shall advance the victor beyond the modest bounds of just and lawful nought hinders but that the Kingdoms that are erected both be and be accounted great robberies which we read heretofore a Pirat objected to Alexander But being out of the way as you are can you by no other expedient return into the the right wayes of peace by no other counsel believe me can you hope to divert Gods wrath then by restoring to God the King the people respectively such things as are their dues You shall give God his due by restoring his pure worship and Church rightly regulated according to the prescript of his holy word which hath long since been miserably convulst and disjoynted And this a national Synod duly called will best effectuate to the King namely my successour you will render full right if you restore those things which by the clear Letter of the Law stands exprest Lastly you will put the people in their rights and due liberties not by lifting them in the consort of the Throne and sway of the Scepter but by recovering unto the Laws there Authority and the peoples observance to the abrogating of which by the enormious power of the Sword when as by no means I could be induced I was brought hither to undergo Martyrdom for my people So his last breath gently dissolving into a most meek prayer the Bishop of London said to him thus If his most excellent Majesty pleased he would openly profess what he thought touching his Religion not
thy ever active fame Shall build a world unto thy pregnant name And every letter of thy stem shall raise A spacious Kingdom where thy ample praise Shall be recorded every listening ear Shall prove ambitious be intranc't to hear 'T will be a glory when the world shall say 'T was bravely done his Soveraign led the way And he as valiant Souldiers ought to do March't boldly after and was alwayes true To sacred Majesty his Heroe'd breath Disdained the fear of a so courted death Death added life unto his thoughts for he Contemn'd a death he bought with Victory The very Birds shall learn to prate and sing How Capel suffer'd for his Royal King The Life of JAMES Marquess of Montross Earl of Kincardine c. IT may seem strange in such a scarcity of Scotch Worthies there also being already so many of our own that I should go about to borrow one from that Countrey where if Diogenes were alive again the Cinique as I have heard one merrily express with his Lanthorn would make no long inquest after such an impossibility but infallibly conclude that there is not such another to be found in Scotland This renowned Marquess was extracted from the Ancient and famous Family of the Grahams in Scotland whose valiant and loyal Actions have eternized their Names to all posterity His Grandfather and Father were advanced by King James and King Charles unto places of the greatest honour in that Kingdom which they most happily discharged with the love and good affection both of King and People This Honourable Person whose Life we now relate persisting in his Predecessours steps may give us cause to think that Valour and Loyalty were entailed on that Family Yet at first he sided with the Covenanters against the Royal Party they pretending to nothing then less then the preservation of Religion the Honour and Dignity of the King the Laws of the Land and the Freedom of the Nation But having found that those fair tales were onely pretensions and onely coyned of purpose to draw people to their side he like a wise man finding their hearts alienated the King he mediated a disengagement but finding the work difficult he a while dissembled his intent seeming as active as he was before that when time served he might dissert them to better purpose having also many of his friends amongst them whom he hoped to draw off by which means he should be able to gather no small power which would conduce much both to the Kings safety and his own Whilest he was upon these determinations the Covenanters had raised a strong Army and in a solemn convention at Duns they determine to invade England Montross seeing he could not hinder those actions would not seem to disapprove of them and having the command of two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse to seem the more active was the first man that set foot on English ground and had his friends fulfilled their promises he had not onely broken to pieces the Covenanters designs but in all probability had brought the whole Army along with him to the King But the Scots marching over the Tine otherwise then he expected he was much disappointed of that opportunity he so longingly attended yet he kept the same loyal Inclinations towards the King which taking advantage of the Treaty that ensued betwixt them that he found means to acquaint his Majesty by Letters wherein he protested his faith and ready obedience to him but these Letters being stoln out of the Kings pockets by his Bed-chamber men the supposed instruments of Hamilton and by them coppied out were sent to the Covenanters at New Castle which place by the treachery of some English Commanders was yielded unto them who concealing their Information did not withal conceal their malignity against the Earl but laboured all they could to render him odious to the people and thereby unserviceable to his Majesty Nor wanted they fit instruments for this purpose for having obliged to themselves most of the Preachers throughout the Kingdom they made use of their mercenary tongues to rail against the King and his faithful Subjects as the enemies of Christ being themselves the while the very shame and scandal of Christianity Yet still Montross goes on in his Loyal intentions and joyns to his side many of the prime men for Nobility and Power though some of them afterwards for fear betrayed their designs unto the Covenanters so that on a sudden when he suspected nothing he with Napier Lord of Marchiston and Sir Sterling Keer were committed Prisoners to the Castle in Edenburgh But a Pacification being made betwixt both Kingdoms he with his friends were set again at liberty Not long after in England happened those fatal discords betwixt the King and Parliament which growing so high that they came to be determined by the Sword the Covenanters not to be wanting in the aid of their Confederates resolved to raise a puissant Army and to oblige Montross to their side proffered him freely the Office of Lieutenant General of the Army and what ever else he could desire and they bestow But he not more careless of their proffers then careful to inform the King of the danger that hereby hung over his head to which purpose he poasts into England taking onely the Lord Ogleby into his counsel and company At York he informs the Queen of the covenanters intentions and of the danger that would ensue thereof which doubtless had taken good effect at that time had not the coming of Duke Hamilton out of Scotland upon pretence of kissing the Queens hand but with intent to overthrow Montross his councels hindered the same who perswaded the Queen there was no fear of any Army nor that the King should need despair of amity and reconciliation with them protesting he himself would be active for the King with his person and estate But the Covenanters proceeding on in their designs and Montross having better knowledge of their intentions then before he goes to Glocester and delares the same to the King himself but the King was so soothed up with Letters of the contrary from Hamilton and some such other Courtiers also buzzing in his ears Montrosses youth his rashness his ambition the envy and hatred he bare unto the Hamiltons and on the other side the Hamiltons fidelity their honesty their discretion their power so that Montross nothing prevailed In the mean time the Covenanters were not idle but having raised an Army of eighteen thousand Foot and two thousand Horse march for England and now the King when it was too late seeing himself thus grossy abused sends for Montross and asks his advice what was best to be done Montross having declared the desperate estate Scotland was in at that present and how abominably his Majesty had been betrayed by them with whom he had entrusted his secrets resolved nevertheless if the King would lay his Commands upon him nothing distrusting Gods assistance in a righteous cause he would
the rumours of the people concerning his Fathers death a War is proclaimed against Scotland to revenge those overthrows the English had received from their valiant Chieftain King Robert le Bruce but by the treason of the Lord Mortimer who is said to have received bribes from the Scots the journey proved unsuccessful the young King hardly escaping with life for one Sir James Dowglass a valiant Scot with 200 light horses assailed the Kings own Pavilion where the King was so near death that a Chaplain of his who stoutly behaved himself was slain in his masters defence and Sir James retired from thence with safety These treasons of the Lord Mortimer together with his excessive pride and over much familiarity with the Queen-Mother made him so distasteful unto the Lords that notwithstanding his strong guard consisting of no less then ninescore Knights he was by the young King and the confederate Lords surprized on a sudden at Nottingham Castle from thence removed to the City of London condemned of treason and executed at the common Gallows And here may the King be said to begin his Reign living before at the Queen and the Lord Mortimers allowance which was onely the third part of the Revenews of the Crown which now he assumeth all to himself putting the Queen to a pension of a thousand pounds a year and confining her to a Castle all the dayes of her life such was the miserable condition of this wretched Woman the Daughter Sister Wife and Mother of a King as one of our Moderns hath it So true is that the wise man once did say That none are happy till their dying day King Edward having thus raised himself would next out of Charity help his Neighbour Edward Baliol Son to John Baliol sometimes King of Scotland having remained in France two and thirty years comes over into England whom King Edward aids against his Brother in Law King David who at that time was with the King of France at Hallidown-Hill where he utterly defeats the whole power of Scotland slew of them 7. Earls 90. Knights and Banerets 400. Esquires and 32000. common Souldiers causing Baliol to be Crowned King doing homage to King Edward as his superior Lord for which though he had the Knees he had not the Hearts of his people who would be subject to none that were subject to another But these were but petty actions scarce worth the rehearsal considering what he performed afterwards his endeavours for the French Crown which that I may in order describe I will begin with the original cause of this invasion King Phillip of France dying without issue the right of succession unto that Crown belonged to King Edward as nearest in blood being his Sisters Son but Philip of Valois the Heir to Charles a former King usurps the Crown pretending a Law which they call Salique wherein Females are debarred from inheritance or as they term it the distaff from meddling with the Crown according to that in the 6. of Matthew Consider the Lillies the arms of France how they grow they toil not neither do they spin Philip hereupon summons Edward to do homage for the Lands he held in France which though prejudicial to his after claim yet in regard his Kingdome of England was scarce well settled and himself but young he was contented to do but this his Homage was exacted with such pride on the French Kings part that it left a rancour in his heart for ever after so that returning into England he studies revenge nor long wants he an instrument to spur him on for one Robert of Arthois being banished out of France comes over into England and becomes an incendiary betwixt the two Kings this fugitive King Edward entertains makes him Earl of Richmond and one of his Council then passing over into Flanders by perswasion of the Flemings he takes upon him the Stile Title and Arms of the King of France who hereupon establish a League with him accounting themselves disobliged of the Bond of tweny hundred thousand Crowns which they had entred into never to bear Arms against the King of France confederating himself with them and many other Princes with a well selected army he enters France King Philip on the other side was not idle but draws to his part the King of Bohemia the Bishop of Leige Earl of Luxembourge Henry Count Palatine Aubut Bishop of Metz Otho Duke of Austria Ame Earl of Geneva with many other and with a mighty Army confronting King Edward near to Vermandeis who notwithstanding part without doing any thing worth the relating unless we should relate what to some way seem ridiculous A Hare starting out before the head of the French Army caused a great shout to be made whereupon they who saw not the Hare but onely heard the shout supposing it to be the onset to the Battel disposed themselves to fight and fourteen Gentlemen for encouragements sake as the custom is were Knighted called afterward in merriment Knights of the Hare King Edward returning into England left the Earls of Salisbury and Suffolk in Flanders to oppose the French who having performed many great exploits in an encounter near Lisle were both taken prisoners King Edward to repair this loss prepares again for France to impeach whose landing King Philip had provided a Navy of 200. sail whereof when Edward was advertised he prepares the like number of ships to encounter with them and sets out to Sea upon Midsummer-eve the next day Sir Robert Morley brings an addition to his Fleet which joyned together set upon the French in the Haven of Sluce defeated their whole Navy took and sunk all their Ships and slew thirty thousand of their men as a Poet versifies on those times Thus Salsburies and Suffolks loss which they Receiv'd on Land at Sea was washt away Many of the French to escape killing drowned themselves trusting to the mercy of the Waves rather then to the pitty of the English which made the French Kings Jeaster set on to give him notice of this overthrow to repeat often in the Kings hearing Cowardly English men Dastardly English men Faint-hearted English men and being by the King asked the reason why Because said he they durst not leap out of their Ships into the Sea as our brave French men did by which speech the King came to have knowledge of their overthrow The French lay the blame of this defeat on one Buchet who having a chief command in the Navy armed his ships with men of base condition content with small pay and refused Gentlemen and sufficient Souldiers in regard they required greater wages according to the old Law When covetous Chiefs are sparing of their Crowns Few Souldiers will be prodigal of wounds Edwards Wings thus plumed with Victory he flies amain to the Siege of Tournay with an Army of five and fifty thousand where he is encountred by the Duke of Burgandy and Earl of Armigniack who slew four thousand of his men upon the place
Castle an honourable Mansion of his own where he continued and kept a bounteful house to the time of his death which happened in the fourscore and sixth year of his age He was buried at Thetford Abbey in Norfolk dying after a most generous life worth a large estate so clear from debt that at his death he owed not one groat to any person whatsoever an unusual happiness to attend so great a Souldier and Courtier as he was From this famous Duke is descended the Right Honorable James Earl of Suffolk whose great Grandfather Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk married Margret sole Daughter and Heir to Sir Thomas Audley Lord Chancellour of England by whom he had issue Thomas Lord Howard of Walden and Earl of Suffolk who built that magnificent Structure at Audley-end who left the same to his Son and Heir Theophilus a worthy Gentleman the Father of James Earl of Suffolk now living Anno 1659. To whom with his most vertuous Lady I wish all encrease of true honour and felicity To the greater honour of these Progenies this Heroick Earl died so much a Laureat that his Songs and Sonnets by all those that rightly understand Poetry are looked upon as in those dayes to have been the Muses Parnassus so that for his Epitaph there needed no more to be writ but that here lies interred The greatest Courtier the most valiant Souldier and the most accomplisht Poet of those times The Life of CARDINAL VVOLSEY Fortunae variantis opus Wolsaeus ad alta Scandit iter dubium certa minitante ruina CArdinal VVolsey the Tennis-ball of Fortune was born at Ipswich in Suffolk of so poor and despicable Parents that were his story of an ancient date and not delivered by Authentique Historians it might pass for a fiction his Father being no more but a poor Butcher from so low a beginning did he rise to the highest pitch of honour His Education in youth was at Oxford in Maudlin Colledge from thence he was preferred to be School-master to the Marquess of Dorsets Children where he first learned to be imperious over noble blood the Marquess dying Wolsey went into France to seek his Fortune and coming to Callis became servant to Sir John Naphant then Treasurer of the Town where he behaved himself with so great discretion that his Master shortly preferred him to King Henry the Seventh Having thus cast Anchor at Court the Haven of hope and Port of Promotion he was more then double diligent in the Kings eye and very serviceable to Doctour Fox Bishop of Wincheter Secretary and Lord Privy Seal as also to Sir Thomas Lovel Master of the Wards and Constable of the Tower who perswaded King Henry having urgent business with Maximilian the Emperour to send Wolsey in Embassage unto him being at that present in the Countrey of Flanders who returned again before he was thought to be gone and withal concluded some Points forgot in his directions to the hight contentment of King Henry for the which he bestowed upon him the Deanry of Lincolne and not long after made him his Almoner But King Henries day now drawing towards night he adores the rising Sun Prince Henry and having found the length of his foot fitteth him with an easie shoe well knowing there could be no loss to humour him who was so able to give nor was he deceived in his expectation for Henry afterwards coming to be King and having conquered the City of Tourney in France bestowed the Bishoprick of the same upon VVolsey and not long after made him Bishop of Lincolne and Archbishop of York And now being Primas Anglia carried himself accordingly by erecting his Cross in the Kings Court although within the Jurisdiction of Canterbury which high presumption VVilliam Archbishop of Canterbury greatly checked But VVolsey not abiding any Superious obtained to be made Priest Cardinal and Legatus de Latere unto whom the Pope sent a Cardinals Hat with certain Bulls for his Authority in that behalf And now remembring the taunts he had received from Canterbury found means with the King that he was made Lord Chancellour of England and Canterbury which was Chancellour dismissed who had continued in that place long since before the death of King Henry the Seventh VVolsey now sitting at the Helm of Church and State had two Crosses and two Pillars born ever before him the one of his Archbishoprick the other of his Legacy by two of the tallest Priests that were to be found in the Realm To the better maintenance of which chargeable estate the King bestowed on him the Bishoprick of VVinchester and in Commendam the Abbey of St. Albans and with them he held in Farm the Bishopricks of Bathe VVorcester and Hereford enjoyed by strangers incumbents not residing in the Realm so that now being Bishop of Tourney Lincolne York VVinchester Bathe VVorcester and Hereford he seemed a Monster with seven heads and each of them crowned with the Mitre of a Bishop far different from the state of his Lord and Master Christ who had not a hole wherein to hide his head Yet his ambition resteth not here next he aspires to the Triple Crown he onely wants Holiness and must be Pope to the attaining of which Dignity he makes means to the Romish Cardinals as also to the Emperour Charles the Fifth Gold he gave to the Cardinals and they gave him golden promises although they proved but empty performances nor did the Emperour serve him any better promising much but performing nothing VVolsey hereat enraged studies revenge and by his instruments seeks to make a divorce betwixt Queen Katherine Dowager the Emperours Aunt and King Henry the Eighth his Master thereby to advance a Marriage betwixt him and the King of France's sister But though he effected the one he failed in the other for contrary to his expectation King Henry fell in love with Anna Bullen a Gentlewoman nothing favourable to his Pontificial Pomp nor no great follower of the Rites of those times which moved the Cardinal the Pope having assumed the sentence of Queen Katherines cause unto himself to write unto his Holiness to defer the judgement of Divorce till he had wrought the Kings minde in another mould But though this was done secretly it came to the Kings ear and wrought his minde quite off from the Cardinal which finally was the cause of his confusion for upon the Kings dislike the Counsel articled against him and the Law found him in a Premunire for procuring to be Legatus de latere and advancing the Popes Power against the Laws of the Realm for which resentment the Kings displeasure was so incenst that the Broad Seal was taken from him and most of his other Spiritual Preferments his house and furniture seized on to the Kings use and himself removed to Cawood Castle in Yorkshire Yet was he still left Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of York to which last providing for his installing state equivalent to a Kings Coronation he was arrested of
and so they are of more value The message sent you from Rochell of some dangerous intent upon Ireland from Spain hath more appearance for that we also hear it from Spain confirmed and it is the same that before I advertsed you concerning Stukelie I also smell some purpose of the Count Lodowicks coming with Ships towards the Low Countries to accompany the design for his brother the Prince of Orange whereof I would look for some better success if I had not understanding thereof so many wayes for the force of that enterprise should consist in suddenness and secresie which are not like to take place Thus much for your first Letter Now to the second brought by Wigmore The Queens Majesty liketh well of your proceedings with the Spanish Ambassador there and marvelleth that he should be so coy with you considering the reports of his former courtesies but by likelihood some other accident moved it which by your next speech will be better discovered The cause why that Ambassadour could not be answered sooner of the matter whereof he advertised her Majesty from the Duke of Alva was for that her Majesty could not sooner hear thereof from the Duke If you shall finde it convenient to impart matters to the said Ambassador you may let him know of these things following one Monsieur Senegew a Low Countreyman is coming to end the treaty for restitution on both sides of the Merchants goods There are lately come into the Ports of the West certain Hulks laden from Spain and Portugal driven by tempest and because they should be well used the Ambassador here for the King though in other things he be not used hath been dealt withall to name certain strangers Merchants to resort to the Ports and they have special Authority from us to put the same in all good safety and that no dealing shall be by any to the impairing of the said goods and this special favour is shewed because the time of restitution is at hand And therefore we mean not to give any cause of quarreling There were also certain other Ships of War that came from Spain being of the company which conducted the Queen of Spain into Spain which being furnished with Souldiers were favourably entertained and permitted to depart at their pleasure of these things you may give him knowledge to make him have a better taste in his mouth he may perchance contrariwise complain of spoil of his Masters Subjects by pyrats haunting the Narrow Seas and especially about the Isle of Weight and I cannot deny the spoils but surely they are committed by one Lubrest and others belonging to the Prince of Orange which we cannot remedy and yet Mr. Horsey is presently dispatched with Authority to set forth certain Ships either to take them or drive them from our Coast I confess to you privately they are too much favoured Lucri Causa but you may know truly that the Queens Majesty doth in no wise favour them Thus much to the second Letter Now to some credit given by Mr. Beal concerning a few words shall suffice it I cannot judge any thing in a 2 3 4 6 8. the matter is much liked and all furtherers thereof allowed and all disswaders not liked I am commanded thus to write that if any mention should be made to you thereof you should show your self willing to advertise and so you shall do well The retardation used herein by H. is not liked by A. and the good will of L. in the furtherance is allowed by this you may perceive how to order your self and surely this principle I hold that no one thing shall warrant more surety and quietness to the Queens Majesty the 3 5 7 in but the manner and circumstance are of the substance of my principals and not accidents herein I deal boldly with you I finde nothing in your writing or doing but allowable if otherwise I did I would advertise you for friendship to your self and for good will to the Office you bear Although I cannot advertise you certainly as I would of the Grant of your Leases yet I am in the forwardness as I trust by next writing to send you knowledge thereof You must hereby be acquainted with the delayes of the Court. From Greenwich the third of May 1570 Sir Thomas Smith I trust shall be admitted to the Councel to morrow and shortly after to be Secretary I pray you Sir commend me to Mr. Cavalcant Yours assuredly William Burleigh I have the rather word for word inserted the familiar passages of these two Letters that the vigilancy of this great Statesman might be the more clearly and plainly discovered To proceed he had not to do with the Sword more then as the great Pay-master and Contriver of War which shortly followed wherein he acomplished much thorow his theoricall knowledge at home and intelligence abroad by unlocking the Counsels of the Queens enemies he being withall so careful a Steward of her Treasure that her Exchequer had money or credit when the King of Spain wanted both In that great Faction betwixt Leicester and Sussex he meddled not openly with though it is easie to tell whom he wished best too the Earl of Leicester gave him several rubs and he some neat State trips but still in the dark they would not take notice of what one acted against another We must now take and that of truth into observation that until the tenth year of her Reigh her times were calm and serene though sometimes a little overcast as the most glorious sun-risings are subject to shaddowings and droppings for the clouds of Spain and vapors of the Holy League began then to disperse and threaten her Serenity moreover she was then to provide against some intestine storms which began to gather in the very heart of her Kingdom all which had a relation and correspondency each with other to dethrone her and disturb the publique tranquility and therewithal as a principal work the established Religion for the name of Recusant began then and first to be known to the world and till then the Catholiques were no more then Church Papists but were commanded by the Popes expresse Letters to appear and forbear Church-going as they tender their Holy Father and the Holy Catholique Church their Mother So that it seems the Pope had then his aim to take a true muster of his Children but the Queen had the greater advantage for she likewise took tale of her Apostate Subjects their strength and how many they were that had given up their names He then by the hands of some of his Proselytes fixed his Bulls on the gates of Pauls which discharged her Subjects of all fidelity and laid siege to the received Faith and so under the vail of the next Successour to replant the Catholique Religion so that then the Queen had a new task and work in hand that might well awake her best providence and required a Muster of Men and Arms as well as Courtships and Councels for
disposition as she knew right well that if she did deal any thing hardly with the Queen of Scots it rather proceeded from some of her Ministers then from her Majesties self I replyed that I was glad to understand that she conceived so well of the Queen my Mistris's good disposition so was I sorry that she should think she would be by any of her Ministers or Councellors drawn to any thing either towards her or any other that might not stand with her honour for that her skill and years was now to direct and not to be directed I desired her therefore in her Majesties name that she would evermore reserve an ear for her A thing that would not in equity be denied to the meanest person in France who in all her actions hitherto towards the Queen of Scots had dealt with that regard to her honour as she was right able to justifie her self both towards the King her good brother as also towards all other Princes Then she made great protestations of her indifferency and that she is no lesse affected in good will towards her Majesty whom it pleaseth saith she to do me the honour as to call me by the name of a Mother then to the Queen of Scots her daughter-in-law and therefore in wishing her liberty I do it saith she as much as for the Queen your Mistriss quietness sake as for any other respect which without her liberty can hardly grow unto her This Sir in effect was the whole course of the Speech that passed from her in that behalf which she had then with me apart The King being then in talk with my Lord Ambassadour then she caused the King to deal with me in that behalf to whom I shewed the state of her cause according to the contents of my instructions wherewith he seemed to be satisfied He told me that he wished that the Queen his good Sister according to the inclination would have some compassion of her cause and grow to some speedy conclusion in that behalf I told him that I doubted not but that her Majesty would for his sake do that which should be to his contentation so far forth as might stand with her honour and safety Then he professed that otherwise he would not desire it Thus having imparted to your honour the effect of my negotiation to the end you may advertise her Majesty I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 29. of August 1570. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham To conclude he was sent twice Ambassadour into France once into Scotland once into the Low Countreys so that he was most intimately acquainted with the deepest counsels and secrets of Princes that he rightly understood how to preserve his Countrey and how to mannage affairs either for Peace or War He died the sixth day of April in the year of our Lord 1590. He lies entombed in St. Pauls being in respect of the debts he had contracted for his faithful service to the Crown forced to be buried privately in that Cathedral One bestowed this Latine Epitaph on his Memory Sic reticenda domi fido secreta recondis Pectore sic discis discutienda foris Vt tua sitnè fides dubitem an prudentia major Virtute indubio hac magnus utraque vir es The Life of Sir NICHOLAS BACON Ingenio Bacon magnus custosque sigilli firmavit justas posteritis opes SIR Nicholas Bacon a person inferiour to none of his predecessours as arch a piece of wit and wisdom as any of them all He was a Gentleman and a man of Law of great knowledge therein whereby together with his other parts of Learning and dexterity he was promoted to be Keeper of the great Seal and being of kin to the Treasurer Burleigh had also the help of his hand to bring him into the Queens favour for he was abundantly factious which took much with Queen Elizabeth when it was suited with the season as he was well able to judge of his times He had a very quaint saying and he used it often to good purpose that he loved the jeast well but not the loss of his friend He would say that though he knew unusquisque suae fortunae faber was a true and good principle yet the most in number were those that marred themselves But I will never forgive that man that loseth himself to be rid of his jeast He was Father to that refined Wit which afterwards acted a disasterous part on the publique Stage and afterwards sate in his Fathers room as Lord Chancellour Those that lived in his age and from whence I have taken this little Modle of him give him a lively Character and they decypher him for another Solon and the Synon of those times such a one as Oedipus was in dissolving of Riddles Doubtless he was as able an instrument and it was his commendation that his head was the mawl for it was a great one and therein he kept the wedge that entred the knotty pieces that came to his table He was of the prudent Family of the Bacons of Norfolk and Suffolk he died in the year of our Lord 1578. the threescore and seventh year of his age and lieth entombed in the Cathedral Church of St. Pauls with this Latine Epitaph inscribed on him Hic Nicclaum ne Baconem conditum Existima illum tam diu Britannici Regni secundum Columen exitium Malis Bonis asylum caeca quem non extulit Ad hunc honorem sors sed Aequitas Fides Doctrina Pietas unica Prudentia Neu morte raptum crede qui unica brevi Vita perennes emerit duas agit Vitam secundam coelites inter animus Fama implet orbem vita quae illi tertia est Hac positum in Arâ est corpus olim animi domus Ara dicata sempiternae memoriae His Motto was Mediocria firma He left behinde him as a Monument of his incomparable worth in continuance of his Name Sir Francis Bacon our English Plato the inimitable Writer of this Age. The Life of ROBERT DEVEREUX Earl of ESSEX Infelix virtus ventis vela secundis Extrema Comitem tandem oppressere ruina RObert Devereux Earl of Essex was born Anno 1566. He had scarcely attained to ten years of age when his Father Walter Devereux Earl of Essex and Earl Marshal of Ireland deceased at Dublin premonishing his Son to have alwayes before his eyes the six and thirtieth year of his age as the utmost term of his life which neither himself nor his Father before him out-lived and the son did not attain to it At his Fathers death he was by the Lord Burleigh his Guardian sent to the University of Cambridge under the tuition of Doctour Whitguift then Master of Trinity-Hall a man of the primitive temper when the Church by lowliness of spirit did flourish in highest examples of Piety and Learning At sixteen years of age he took the formality of Master of Arts and kept his publick Acts yet notwithstanding his good erudition it
of speaking were a thing planted in him by nature not unlike what Ovid in the business of composing Verse sung of himself What ere I try'd to write became a Verse As aften as he was constrain'd by his Office to condemn any guilty person which duty was incumbent upon him as being learned Councel to the Kings majesty whether in criminal matters of a lesser nature or in capital offences he never carried himself proud or lofty towards the delinquent but always milde and of a moderate temper and though he knew that it was his duty in behalf of the King to urge and aggravate the crime as much as in him lay against the guilty person yet he so carried himself that at the same time he lookt upon the fact with an eye of severity upon the person with an eye of mercy In matters of State when he was called into the Kings Privy Council he ever observ'd the best manner of counselling not ingaging his master in any rash counsels or such as were grievous to the people but rather temporate and equal insomuch as King James honoured him with this testimony That he knew the method of handling matters after a milde and gentle manner and particularly exprest himself that it was a thing highly pleasing to his Majesty Nor was he when occasion serv'd less gracious with the Subjects of the Kingdom then with the King himself he was ever very acceptable to the Parliamentary Committees while he sate there of the Lower House in which he often made Speeches with great applause After he was advanc't to the office of Atturney General and elected to sit in Parliament liberty was granted to him by common suffrage of sitting in consultation among them a thing not known to have been granted to any other Atturney General And as he had the praise of a good Servant towards his Master for as much as in nineteen years administration as he himself affirm'd he never incurr'd the Kings displeasure for any offence immediately committed against the Kings Majesty so he obtained the name of a good Master towards his own Servants and freely rewarded their diligent services with eminent Offices as often as they came into his power to bestow which was a main cause why he was almost wearied with prayers to receive into the number of his Pages so many young men of the better sort and sprung from noble families and if any of them abus'd his grace and favour that was onely to be attributed to the errour of his native goodness though it redounds to their perpetual infamy and intemperance This our worthy was a strict worshiper of the Divine Majesty for although it hath been a custom among the vulgar to brand political persons and men of eminent wits with the note of Atheism yet that he both acknowledg'd and worshipt God appears most evidently by various testimonies dispersed through the whole course of his Works for otherwise he had destroyed and overthrown his own principles which were That Philosphy onely sipt and slightly tasted of draws us from God as that which magnifies second causes beyond their due but that Philosophy taken in a full draught brings us at length back unto God Now that he himself was a very profound Philosopher there is no man I suppose that can deny nor is this all but he was likewise both able and ready to render an account of that hope which was in him to any one that desired it and of this that Confession of Faith set forth at the end of his Volumne hath left a sufficient proof He very frequently us'd when he was in perfect health to be present at Divine service whether privately or publickly celebrated at the hearing of Sermons at the Participation of the holy Eucharist and at length he quietly slept in the true Faith establisht in the Church of England This is to be affirm'd for a certain that he was utterly void of all malice which as he said himself he never brought forth nor nourisht of the revenging of injuries he never so much as thought since to the performance thereof had he been so disposed he was sufficiently armed both with opportunity and power A remover of Officers from their places he was not in the least manner although he might have inricht himself by the destruction and ruine of others nor did he ever bear the name of a calumniator of any man to his Prince On a certain day when one of the chief Ministers of State who had borne him no good will being lately dead the King askt him what he thought of that Lord who was dead he answered That he was such a one as never had promoted his Majesties Affairs or made them better but that doubtless he had done his best to keep them from sinking or declining This was the hardest Sentence he would utter concerning him which indeed I reckon not among his Morall but his Christian vertues His name was more celebrated shin'd brighter abroad amongst forreigners then at home among his own Countreymen as it is mentioned in holy Writ A Prophet is not without honour except in his own Country and in his own House To make this good I shall produce a little passage out of an Epistle sent from Italy the shop of polite Wits to the late Earl of Devonshire at that time Baron Candish which was thus The new Essays of the Lord Chancellor Bacon as also his History and whatsoever besides he is now about I shall expect with infinite thirst of mind but especially in his History I promise to my self a perfect and well polisht work and chiefly in the Affairs of Henry the Seventh in the relating of which he will have liberty to exercise the gift of his accute wit That Lord daily increaseth in fame and his Works are more and more in chocie request among us and those who in humane Affairs are wise above the vulgar repute him among the greatest and most sublime wits of the age and so in truth he is Many of his Books were taught other languages as well the ancient and modern both heretofore and of late by those of forreign Nations Divers eminent men while he was living came over into England for no other cause but onely to see him and to have an opportunity of discoursing with him upon one of whom he bestowed his Picture drawn whole at length from head to foot to carry back with him into France which he thankfully receiv'd as a thing that would be very grateful and acceptable to his Countreymen that so they might enjoy the Image of his Person as well as the Images of his Brain viz. his Book Among others the Marquess of Fiat a Nobleman in France who came Ambassadour into England in the first year of Queen Mary's comming over the Wife of King Charles was affected with a very earnest desire of seeing him whereunto having gain'd an opportunity and coming into his Bed-chamber where he lay sick of of the Gout he addrest
puissant a Prince as his Majesty so openly eluded but a through feeling equal and proportionable to the injuries received But his patience hath gone beyond policy and as long as he had hopes that he could benefit the Churches by any other means he had no recourse by way of Arms so far that having been made an instrument and worker of the last Peace upon conditions disadvantageous enough and which would not have been accepted without his Majesties intervention who interposed his credit and interest in the Churches to receive them even with threatnings to the end to shelter the honour of the most Christian King under assurance of his part not onely for the accomplishment but also for the bettering of the said condition for which he stands caution to the Churches But what hath been the issue of all this but onely an abuse of his goodness And that which his Majesty thought a sovereign remedy for all their sores hath it not brought almost the last blow to the ruine of the Churches It wanted but a little by continuing the Fort before Rochel the demolishment whereof was promised by the violence of the Souldiers and Garrisons of the said Forts and Isles as well upon the inhabitants of the said Town as upon strangers in lieu whereas they should have retired they have been daily augmented and other Forts built as also by the stay of the Commissioners in the said Town beyond the time agreed on to the end to make broils and by means of the division which they made to slide amongst the Inhabitants to open the gates to the neighbouring Troops and by other withstandings and instructions of peace I say a little failed that the said Town and in it all the Churches had not drawn their last breath And in the mean time while his Majesty hath yet continued and not opposed so many injuries so many faith-breakings but by complaint of Treaty until he had received certain advice confirmed by intercepted Letters of the great preparation the most Christian King made to pour upon Rochel and then what could his Majesty of Great Brittain do but to vindicate his honour by a quick arming against those who had made him a complice of their deceits And to give testimony of his integrity and zeal which he hath alwayes had for the reestablishing of the Churches an establishment which shall be dear and precious to him above any other thing This is the sole end of his arming at this time and not any particular interest yet whosoever would doubt thereof let him consider the circumstance of times and disposition of affairs as they stand now with his Majesty For who will believe that he can have any design upon France or to have projected conquests here in a time so disadvantageous having now for his enemy one of the most puissant Kings of the world and if he had such a design surely he would have sent greater Forces than those now sent upon this action whereof if the number were known they would be Judged but Auxiliaries onely and that their aim is no other but for the good of the Churches which for many important reasons and considerations he findes himself obliged before God and man to protect and succour But if it be alleged that his Majesty hath been moved to take up Arms for other respects as the detention and seisure of the Ships and Goods of his Subjects at Burdeaux and other places of this Kingdom to the breach and manifest contravention of the peace betwixt the two Crowns which in this point tend expresly to the irreparable prejudice yea to the total ruine of Commerce in the rupture whereof the poor people of this Realm being not able to vent their Merchandizes groans not onely under the burthen of so many Taxes and Impositions but for the very necessity of life it self that the apprehensions his Majesty hath of the powerful encrease of the most Christian King by Sea hath moved him to arm for preventing the growth thereof And lastly that being hopeless of any accomodation of things he hath been constrained to put himself in arms The answer to all this is that whosoever shall search the Arrests Prizes and Seisures which have been made on both sides he shall finde his Majesty and his Subjects have hitherto profited by this breach and that it turned to their advantage In the second place he is so far off from being jealous of the pretended power of the French by Sea and that he should have reason to hinder it that there needs no more than for him to grant when he thinks it fit Letters of Mart to his Subjects and so these vain and feeble Forces at Sea might be dissipated without the employent of any Fleet Royal. Finally that there hath been a necessity to arm thus because there is no hope of accomodation otherwise the contrary will be most manifest to him who will consider the researches which have been made at several times as well by their own Ministers as by the Ministers of other Princes to his Majesty to treat of accommodating things at their instigation It appears by all this that his Majesty hath not been forced to arm for any particular interest but onely for defence of the Churches for the security and freedom whereof he stood responsible yet there are some that dare amuse the world that his Majesty hath a particular design in it and that he useth Religion for a pretext to gain a party by means whereof and by which conjunction he hopes to push on his purposes to the end at which they aym'd No no our Religion teacheth us otherwise his Majesties piety wherein he gives place to no man living will never permit him His design is the establishment of the Churches his interest is their good and his aim their contentment that being done these Drums beating those Ensigns displayed shall be folded up again And all this noise of War shall be buried in night and silence which would never have been but for their cause The King having raised good sums of money by loan and otherwise setteth forth a Fleet under the Dukes command for the relief of Rochel but the Duke returning home with ill success being discomfitted at the Isle of Rhe the King of France reinforceth his Siege whereupon the Rochellers sue once again to King Charles for supplyes who being necessitated for money assembleth a Parliament March 17. 1627. who readily and chearfully gave him five Subsidies whereupon the King granted them the Petition of Right That gallant Standard of Common Liberty deserving to be recorded to all posterity the substance whereof reduced to four heads take as followeth 1. They do pray your most excellent Majesty that no man hereafter be compelled to make or yield any Gift Loan Benevolence Tax or such like charge without common consent by Act of Parliament and that none be called to make answer or to take such oath or to give attendance or be confin'd or otherwise
that sufficient and real security be given for performance of what shall be agreed upon I permit either by leaving strong Towns or other Military force into the Rebels possession until Articles be performed to give such assurance for performance of Conditions as you shall think necessary for to conclude a Peace provided alwayes that you take at least as great care by sufficient security that Conditions be performed to me And to make sure that he Peace once set all things shall return into their ancient chanels Thirdly for Ireland I confess they have very specious and proper Arguments to propose this point the gaining of no Article more conducing to their ends then this and I have as great reason in honour to take care how to answer this Accompt all the world knows the eminent inevitable necessity which caused me to make the Irish Cessation and there remain yet as strong reasons for the concluding of the Peace wherefore ye must consent to nothing to hinder me therein until a clear way be shown me how my Protestant Subjects may probably at least defend themselves and that I shall have no more need to defend my Conscience and Crown from the injuries of this Rebellion His Majesties Letter to the Duke of Richmond in pursuance of the said Instructions Richmond I thank you for the account you sent me by this Bearer and have nothing of new to direct you in but onely to remember you that my going to Westminster is not to be mentioned but upon probable hopes of procuring a Treaty with the Commons there or thereabouts and that you mention the security I ask with my coming to West And I hope I need not remember you to cajole well the Independents and Scots this Bearer will tell you how well our Western and Northern association go on to whom I refer you for other things I rest Directions for Secretary Nicolas to the same effect First for Religion and Church Goverment I will not go one step further than what is offered by you already 2. And so for the Militia more than what ye have already allowed me but even that you must observe that I must have a nomination of the full half as if the total number Scots and all be thirty I will name fifteen yet if they I mean the English Rebels will be so base as to admit of ten Scots to twenty English I am contented to name five Scots and ten English and so proportionably to any number that shall be agreed upon 3. And for gaining of particular persons besides security I give you power to promise them rewards for performed services not sparing to ingage for places so they be not of great trust but as much profit as you will with this last you are onely to acquaint Richmond Southampton Culpeper and Hide His Majesties Letter to his Commissioners at Uxbridge for procuring longer time to conclude the Treaty Right trusty c. Having received from you a particular account of your proceedings in the Treaty and observing thereby how impossible it is within the dayes limited to give such full answer to the three Propositions you are now upon as you might if upon consideration had of the rest of the Propositions you could clearly see what fruit such answers will produce in order to a blessed peace for the present and the future good and happiness of this Kingdom we have thought it fit to advise you that you propose and desire of the Commissioners with whom you treat that they will procure such further time to be allowed after the expiration of the twenty dayes as may be sufficient for you upon a full understanding one of another upon the whole to make such a conclusion that all our Subjects may reap the benefit good men pray for deliverance from these bloody distractions and be united in peace and charity and if you think fit you may communicate this our Letter to them So we bid you heartily farewel Given at our Court at Oxon. Feb. 13. 1644. Thus by these former passages all wise men may perceive how far the King declared the truth of his intentions which finding frustrate he speedily sent this Letter to the Queen His Majesties Letter to the Queen March 5th 1644. Dear Heart Now is come to pass what I foresaw the fruitless end as to a present peace of this Treaty but I am still confident that I shall finde very good effects of it for besides that my Commissioners have offered to say no more full measured reason and the Rebels have stucken rigidly to their Demands which I dare say had been too much though they had taken me Prisoner so that assuredly the breach will light fouly upon them We have likewise at this time discovered and shall likewise make it evidently appear to the world that the English Rebels whether basely or ignorantly will be no great difference have as much as in them lyes transmitted the command of Ireland from the Crown of England to the Scots which besides the reflection it will have upon these Rebels will clearly shew that reformation of the Church is not the chief much less the onely end of the Scotch Rebellion but it being presumption and not piety so to trust a good cause as not to use all lawful means to maintain it I have thought of one means more to furnish thee with for my assistance than hitherto thou hast had it is that I give thee power to promise in my name to whom thou thinkest most fit that I will take away all the Penal Laws against the Roman Catholicks in England as soon as God shall enable me to do it so as by their means or by their favours I may have so powerful assistance as may deserve so great a favour and inable me to do it But if thou ask what I call that assistance I answer that when thou knowest what may be done for it it will be easily seen if it deserve to be so esteemed I need not tell thee what secresie this business requires yet this I will say that this is the greatest part of confidence I can express to thee for it is no thank to trust thee in any thing else but in this which is the onely thing of difference in opinion betwixt us and yet I know thou wilt make make as good a bargain for me even in this I trusting thee though it concern Religion as if thou wert a Protestant the visible good of my Affairs so much depending on it I have so full entrusted this Bearer Pooly that I will not say more to thee now but that herewith I send thee a new Cypher assuring thee that none hath or shall have any Copy of it but my self to the end thou mayest use it when thou shalt find fit to write any thing which thou wilt judge worthy of thy pains to put in Cypher and to be deciphered by none but me and so likewise from him to thee who is eternally thine The Spring
and successful an enemy as followed them at the heels June 12 1648. they settled themselves a Garrison the Parliament Horse coming up and quartering within Canon shot of the Town Touching these proceedings I have further inlarged my self in the Life of Sir Charles Lucas But the greatest of all dangers which threatned the Parliament was from the North from the Kingdom of Scotland Duke Hamilton with an Army of five and twenty thousand entered England for the King with whom joyned Sir Marmaduke Langdale divers of the chief Ships of the Royal Fleet likewise much about the same time revolted from the Parliament and set their Vice-Admiral Rainsborow ashore affirming they were for the King and would serve Prince Charles sailing towards Holland where the Prince the was and with him his Brother the Duke of York who not long before fled privately out of London The Earl of Holland also with they young Duke of Buckingham having five hundred Horse appeared in Arms for the King by Kingston so that all things considered we may conclude that the Kings party since the beginning of the Wars was not in a likelier condition at least more formidible then at this present but God had otherwise decreed and all these fair hopes in a few dayes vanished into nothing as the following ill successes will declare The Earl of Holland soon after his rising was put to flight by Sir Michael Levesey and others The Lord Francis Villers Brother to the Duke of Bucking ham was slain and Sir Kenelm Digby's eldest Son who as he was fighting with four at once was cowardly thrust through his Back Holland flying with the remainder of his Horse was within few dayes after at the Town of Saint Needs by Collonel Scroop whom the General Fairfax had sent from Colchester for that purpose altogether subdued Holland himself taken and by the Parliament committed prisoner to Warwick Castle Langhorn and Powel were totally routed between the two Towns of Fagans and Peterstone and having lost all their Army escaped by flight to Colonel Poyer into Pembroke Castle which after a strait Siege was surrendred to Cromwell the three Collonels rendring themselves Prisoners at mercy Poyer onely suffered death who in hopes of a Reprieve dissembled a reluctancy when he was ready to dye Cromwel from thence marched against the Scots who were now come as far as Preston in Lancashire and with the addition of Lamberts strength gave Battel to Hamilton pursuing them as far as Warington about twenty miles and killing many in the Chase took Lieutenant General Bailey Prisoner with a great part of the Scottish Army granting them onely quarter for their lives In this Battle were slain three thousand Scots and taken Prisoners about nine thousand Duke Hamilton himself within few dayes after having fled with a good party of Horse to Vttoxeter was there taken prisoner by the Lord Gray and Collonel Wait. With Hamilton were taken about three thousand Horse Langdale also not long after was taken prisoner in a little Village by Widmerpole a Parliament Captain this was the success of Hamiltons invading England The Trophies of this Victory were placed in Westminster Hall Soon after was the strong Town of Colchester surrendred to General Fairfax which for three moneths together with much Resolution and Gallantry was defended by Sir Charles Lucas Norwich Capel c. until all hopes they had of relief were utterly blasted and all their provisions quite spent not so much as a Dog or a Cat left them to satisfie the necessity of Nature Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisel were shot to death the same day the Town was surrendred the Earl of Norwich Lord Capel and Master Hasting Brother to the Earl of Huntington were sent Prisoners to London The Lord Capel some few weeks after together with Duke Hamilton and the Earl of Holland were all three beheaded The Parliament during these Broils to give some seeming satisfaction to the Kingdom annulled their former votes of making no further addresses to the King and restored again to their seats eleven of their Members who had formerly been impeached by the Army a Treaty was voted to be with the King in the Isle of Wight the Earl of Middlesex with two of the House of Commons were sent to the King who made answer that he was very ready to treat of peace and named Newport in that Island to be the place Five of the House of Peers and ten of the House of Commons were appointed Commissioners and the Treaty went on with a great deal of seeming satisfaction on both sides But whiles they were intent upon the business a Petition was exhibited to the Parliament wherein they desired that the King might be tried by the Laws and brought to justice and all further Treaties with him to be laid aside which when the Parliament denied the Army not being satisfied they march some of them towards Newport others to the King who was now a Prisoner as large In the mean time the General sends his Letters to Collonel Hammond to render up his Command to Collonel Ewers who is to take the charge of the King but the Parliament vote him hereupon to stay there of which the General having notice 27. November The Army fast and pray and receive according to the still continued fashion Petitions from several Counties in order to what they intend to resolve and therefore Hammond submits and delivers up the King to Ewers and comes towards the Army The Parliament are angry and vote a Letter to the General that his orders and instructions for securing of the Kings person are contrary to their resolutions and instructions to Collonel Hammond and that it is the pleasure of the House that his Excellency recal his orders and that Colonel Hammond be free to take his charge to the Isle of Wight the Treaty being ended but instead of obedience hereto he salutes them with a sharp Letter for money to pay Arrears for the Army hereupon the Army marches to London and the King had his removes by Ewers till he came to the Block After that the House had past their Vote for no address to the King he being in a sad condition by his stricter condition in Hurst Castle hearing of these Votes prepares his soliloquies for his assured comfort in death as we finde his meditations in those golden Leaves of his Book As I have leasure sayes he so I have cause more then enough to meditate on and prepare for my death for I know that there are but a few steps betwixt the Prisons and the Graves of Princes Now the Ax was laid to the root of the Tree the House of Commons vote that by the Fundamental Laws of the Realm it is Treason for the time to come to Levy War against the Parliament and Kingdom the Ordinance for the Kings Trial was refused by the Lords January 2. After this a Proclamation was from the House of Commons for any one to accuse the King the Ordinance of
be taken pro Confesso and the Court ot proceed to Justice The President repeats in brief the passages of the last day and commands the King to answer to the Articles of the Charge unless he had rather hear the Capital Sentence against him The king persists to interrogate concerning the Cause and sayes That he less regards his life then his Honour his Conscience the Laws the Liberties of the people all which that they should not perish together there were weighty reasons why he should not prosecute his defence before the Judges and acknowledge a new form of Judicature for what power had ever Judges to erect a Judicature against the King or by what Law was it granted sure not by Gods Law which on the contrary commands obedience to Princes nor by Mans Laws the Laws of our Land sith the Laws of England enjoyn all Accusations to be read in the Kings Name nor do they indulge any power of judging the most abject Subject to the Lower or Commons House neither lastly their Power flow from any Authority which might be pretended extraordinary delegated from the people seeing ye have not askt so much as every tenth man in this matter The President interrupting his Speech rebukes the Kings and bids him be mindeful of his doom affirming once more that the Court was abundantly satisfied of their Authority nor was the Court to hear any reasons that should detract from their power But what sayes the King or where in all the world is that Court in which no place is left for reason Yes answered the President you shall finde Sir that this very Court is such a one But the King presses that they would at least permit him to exhibit his reasons in writing which if they could satisfactorily answer he would yield himself to their Jurisdiction Here the President not content to deny grew into anger demanding the Prisoner to be taken away The King replied no more to these things then Remember sayes he this is your King from whom you turn away your ear in vain certainly will my Subjects expect Justice from you who stop your ears to your King who is ready to plead his Cause The Saturday after the 27. of January before they assembled sixty eight of the Tryers answered to their names The President in a Scarlet Robe and as the King Came the Souldiers cryed out for Execution of Justice The King speaks first and desires to be heard a word or two but short and yet wherein he hopes not to give just occasion wherein to be interrupted and goes on A sudden Judgement sayes the King is not so soon recall'd But he is sharply reproved of contumacy The President profusely praises the patience of the Court and commands him now at length to submit otherwise he shall hear the sentence of of death resolved upon by the Court against him The King still refuses to plead his Cause before them but that he had some things conducible to the good of his people and the peace of the Kingdom which he desires liberty to deliver before the Members of both Houses But the President would not vouchsafe him so much as this favour least it should tend he said to the delay and retardation of Justice To which the King replies It were better to sustain a little delay of a day or two then to precipitate a Sentence which will bring perpetual Tragedies upon the Kingdom and miseries to Children unborn If sayes he I sought occasion of delay I would have made a more elabourate contestation of the Cause which might have served to protract the time and evade at least the while a most ugly sentence but I will shew my self a defender of the Laws and of the Right of my Country as to chuse rather to dye for them the Martyr of my People then by prostituting of them to an arbitrary power go about to acquire any manner of liberty for my self but I therefore request this short liberty of speaking before a cruel Sentence be given for that I well know 't is harder to be recall'd then prevented and therefore I desire that I may withdraw and you consider They all withdraw the King into Cottons House and the Tryers into the Court of Wards and in half an hour return The President as he had begun so he proceeds into a premeditated Speech to hasten Sentence which the King offers reason to forbear whilest he might be heard before his Parliament and this he requires as they will answer it at the dreadful day of Judgement and to consider it once again But not prevailing the President goes on wherein he aggravates the Contumacy of the King and the hatefulness of the cimes he asserts Parliamentary Authority producing Examples both Domestick and Forreign c. his Treasons he stiles a breach of Trust to the Kingdom as his Superiour and is therefore called to an account minimus majorum in Judicium vocat his murthers are many all those that have been committed in all the War betwixt him and his people are laid to his charge all the innocent blood which cannot be cleansed but by the blood of him that shed the blood So then for Tyranny Treason Murther and many other crimes he wishes the King to have God before his eyes and that the Court calls God to witness that mearly their Conscience of Duty brings them to that place of this employment and calls for Gods assistance in his Execution The King offered to speak to these great Imputations in the Charge but he was told that his time was past the Sentence was coming on which the President commanded to be read under this form Whereas the Commons of England have appointed them an High Court of Justice for the Trial of Charles Stuart King of England before whom he hath been three times convented and at the first time a Charge of High Treason and other Crimes and Misdemeanours were read in the behalf of the Kingdom of England c. To which Charge he the said Charles Stuart was required to give his answer and so exprest several passages at his Tryal in refusing to answer for all which Treasons and Crimes the Court doth adjudge that the said Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and Publique Enemy shall be put to death by the severing his Head from his Body This Sentence sayes the President now read and publisht is the Act Sentence Judgement and Resolution of the whole Court to which the Members of the Court stood up and assented to what he said by holding up their hands The King offered to speak but he was instantly commanded to be taken away and the Court brake up After the Sentence the King was hurried away mockt and reviled by the Souldiers they puft their Tobacco in his face no smell being more offensive to his father and him such as saluted him they bastinadoed one that did but sigh God have mercy they cane'd they intrude almost into his Closet hardly permitting him
that any one alive could suspect it of which himself at all times throughont the whole space of his life had given manifest testimonies Whereupon sayes the King that he deposited the testimony of his faith which this holy man meaning the Bishop or else expected defence in this behalf of all men who well knew his life and profession namely that I dye said he in the Christion Faith according to the profession of the Church of England as the same was left me by my Father of blessed memory Then looking about upon the Officers having sayes he a most gracious God and a most just cause that I shall by and by change this corruptible Crown for an immortal one I both trust and rejoyce that I shall depart hence into another Kingdom altogether exempt from all manner of disturbance Then preparing towards the Circumstances the Bishop putting on his Night cap and uncloathed him to his Sky-colour Sattin Wastecoat he said I have a good cause and a gracious God and gave his George Order to the Bishop bidding him to give it to the Prince There is but one stage more sayes the Bishop this is turbulent and troublesome and but a short one but it will soon dismiss into a way further even from Earth to Heaven there you are assured of joy and comfort I go sayes the King from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown where no disturbance can be but peace and joy for evermore Then lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven mildly praying to himself he stoopt down to the Block as to a prayer-desk and most humbly bowed down his generous Neck to God to be cut off by the vizarded Executioner which was suddenly done at one blow Thus fell Charles and thus all Regal Power with him His Body was buried at Windsor for to render him the more odious in the Vault with Henry the Eighth His Effigies at the Old Exchange being pulled down with this Inscription placed there Sic exit ultimus Tyrannus His own and his Fathers Statue being not long before thrown down from the West end of Pauls A late worthy Historian writes that though there were many excellent ones written on him yet the King himself was his own best Epitaph as his Reign and death makes as full and as perfect a story of goodness and glory as earth could suffer so his Christian vertues deserve as faithful a Register as earth can keep I shall conclude with one of our Modern Poets Crowns have their compass length of dayes their dates But time puts periods both to Crowns and States This Epitaph came to my hands which I have here inserted Within this sacred Vault doth lie The Quintessence of Majesty Which being set more glorious shines The best of Kings best of Divines Britains shame and Britains Glory Mirrour of Princes compleat Story Of Royalty one so exact That th' Elixirs of praise detract These are fair shadows but t' endure He 's drawn to th' life in 's Portraiture If such another Piece you 'ld see Angels must limn it out or he Master Lilly in his Monarchy or no Monarchy sayes that some affirm that severall Prodigies appeared before his death all he observed for a long time before was that there appeared almost every year several Mock-suns sometimes two sometimes three so also Mock-moons or Paracelenes which were the greatest he ever observed or feared The Life of the Lord CAPEL THis honourable Person though he was not like some of our other Worthies crowned with the Successes and Laurels of War yet is he no less to be eternized for his endeavours his animosity constancy and perseverance to the parting first with his vaste Estate sequestred for his Loyalty and aterwards with his Life so that he might rightly be termed The Flower of English Fidelity his name ever to be honourably mentioned according to that of the Psalmist Psal 112.6 The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance He was Son and Heir to Sir Arthur Capel of Hadham-hall in Hertfordshire a Gentleman of a great estate one who followed the old Mode of our Nation kept a bountiful house and shewed forth his faith by his works extending his Charity in such abundant manner to the poor that he was bread to the hungry drink to the thirsty eyes to the blinde and legs to the lame and might justly be stiled Great Almoner to the King of Kings Concerning the Humility of this worthy Knight though it be too sudden a diversion I shall presume to insert a story which I have heard delivered by some well acquainted with his worship That be being set at his gate all alone in a plain but decent habit a Serving-man who had plumed himself with his Masters cast feathers came riding to him and asked him if Sir Arthur Capel were within Sir replied the Knight he was there not long ago and if you please to walk in you may hear further of his servants Old Father said the Serving-man here take my Horse and first money he ever received in that kinde Sir Arthur agreed to the motion and with a smile received from him a single penny took his Horse and walkt him whilest the finical spruce Serving-man strutted with convenient boldness into the house but being informed by the Servants that their Master was at the Gate he replying to the contrary one of them to justifie their words went with him to the Gate to see where they found Sir Arthur very industrious in his employment the Serving-man very much ashamed of his mistake craved pardon and with humble obeisance with his Hat in his hand with many cringes would have received the Horse from the Knight Nay stay sayes Sir Arthur you paid me my hire get up as soon as you will I am resolved to see you on Horseback The old Knight putting his hand into his purse gave him half a peece which he said was for his taking so much care of his Masters Horse being purposely thus liberal to encourage his own Servants to imitate his careful example But to return to his Son he was very well educated attained to some perfection in learning he had a good expression and elegant stile as his own Letters hest delineate His Father dying as he inherited his Estate so did he his vertues his pious bounty appearing so conspicuous that some envious persons who hate good works in others because they will do none themselves have maliciously aspersed him for an inclination to Popery But as such aspersions amongst persons of understanding speak nothing but the speakers malice so wrought it in others a deserved commendation of this of our late Noble inimitable Lord more especially that in these last times when Charity lies bed-rid and faith onely so much talkt on whereas he made his Faith publickly known by his Works From the degree of Knight he was by King Charls advanced to be Baron of Hadham As it may be computed about that time the Earl of Strafford received his Tryal this unfortunate
Lord amongst others being one that gave his fatal Vote for the passing that Bill In those great differences betwixt the King and Parliament he constantly and faithfully adhered to his Majesty contributing very much to his aid both in purse and person and at such time as the King was secured in the Isle of Wight some hopes being given of his restauration to his former dignity by the coming in of Duke Hamilton with a potent Army as also of Langhorns Powels and Poyers declaring themselves for his Majesty together with the rising of the Countries in several places to the same unhappy purpose he with a selected number of his friends associates and servants joyned himself with the Lord Goring Sir Charles Lucas and others who with a great Party were up in Arms in Essex and having valiantly defended Colchester for the space of three moneths against a potent enemy sated with success were at length as I have already discoursed in the Life of Sir Charles Lucas for want of provision forced to yield both it and themselves the superior Officers to mercy the common Souldiers with the loss of their flying Garments the Townsmen to pay the mulct of fourteen thousand pounds which was above a thousand pounds a moneth for the time that they held out the Siege And for the Articles of agreement which the Cavaliers had made with General Fairfax they could not but imagine that they had ascertained their lives yet notwithstanding upon their surrender as hath been mentioned Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle were shot to death which to all discerning men must needs seem strange and unusual though the General in his Letter to the Parliament calls it Military Execution upon which the House debated and sent to the General to explain his Letter of the 29. of September His head Quarters were then at Saint Albanes from whence they had this answer That the General doth not take upon him to conclude but waving the business leaves them to the Civil Power and so in effect to Tryal for life The Lord Capel and divers others were committed to the Tower where whilest he remained he endeavoured an escape and had effected it had he not been betrayed by a second Banister a Water-man whom the Noble Lord intrusted himself with who ignominiously for the lucre of a little money discovered him not long after this his misfortune this honourable Lord together with the Earl of Holland Duke Hamilton the Earl of Norwich and Sir John Owen was brought to a Tryal before a High Court of Justice in Westminster Hall where for the brevity to omit the particulars after a formal Tryal they were all condemned the Earl of Norwich and the undaunted Welchman Sir John Owen whom they made march on Foot to his Tryal were reprieved It hath been reported that the Earl of Norwich who was ever pleasantly conceited was sent to by a dear friend of his the day after his Reprieve to know what he conceived as concerning the danger of his condition who returned this answer That he thought in all haste to have put off his Doublet but now he had leisure to unhook his Breeches But to return to our enterprise to furnish this Landskip rather then History of this honourable person concerning his deportment before and after the time of his condemnation when he was to encounter and look grim death in the face by way of introduction to a larger discovery of his Christian fortitude I shall set down the Copy of a Letter written by a reverend Doctor who knew the passages thereof as may be clearly perceived by the tenour of it SIR I hope this paper will finde you upon recovery you have my daily and hearty prayers for it not so much for your own sake for I doubt not but it would be much better for you in regard of your self to be dissolved and to be with Christ but in the behalf of the Church your Friends and poor Family to which notwithstanding be assured God will be merciful howsoever he disposeth of you either for this life or for a better But if you live as I pray and hope you will you shall do very well to write the Life and Death of that noble Lord and blessed Martyr who professed at his death That he dyed for the fifth Commandment and to dye in the defence and for the Testimony of any Divine truth is truly and properly to be a Martyr That which I can contribute towards this work is to communicate some few observations I made of him and from him before and after his condemnation I was several times with him and alwayes found him in a very chearful and well composed temper of minde proceeding from true Christiun grounds and not from a Roman resolution onely as his enemies are pleased to speak of him he told me often it was the good God he served and the good Cause he had served for that made him not to fear heath adding he had 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 After his condemnation and the afternoon before his suffering we were a great while in private together when 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 they were his own words of a prevailing party adding that he had very often and very heartily repented of it and was confident of Gods pardon for it Then he told me he had a great desire to receive the Blessed Sacrament so he called it before he dyed the next morning asking what Divine of the Kings party I would recommend to him I replyed that though many were more worthy yet none would be more willing to do that service then my self which he accepting very kindly told me he durst not desire it for fear it might be some danger to me After this and some conference in order to his preparation both for his viaticum and his voyage the Sacrament and his death he desired me to pray with him which after I had performed and promised to be with him by seven the next morning I left him for that time to his own devotions The next day I was there at the time assigned and after some short conference in order to the present occasion he desired me to hear him pray 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 onely
undertake his cause and use his best endeavours The King applauding his magnanimous resolution giving him thanks encouraged him to fit himself chearfully for so great a work and the better to carry on the design the King sent the Earl of Antrim into Ireland who engaged himself to be with Montross in Argile a part of Scotland bordering upon Ireland with ten thousand men by the first of April 1644. this promise being past to him in December 1643. for a sTock of men to set up withal the King wrote to the Marquess of New Castle to furnish him with aid and sent Sir John Cockeram his Ambassadour with a Commission and Instruction for forreign Aids and Arms. This being done he sets forward in his journey from Oxford towards Scotland having in his company about two hundred Horse most of them Noblemen and Gentlemen who had formerly been Commanders in Forreign Countreys Being come to Durham he sends the Kings Instructions to the Marquess of Newcastle and the next day they met and conferred but Newcastles wants were so great that he could spare him at present onely an hundred Horse and two Brasse Field Peeces but sent his Orders to his Officers and Commanders in Cumberland and Westmerland to afford him all the assistance they could who accordingly met him near to Carlile with eight hundred Foot and three Troops of Horse With these small Forces he enters Scotland but having come to the River Anan upon occasion of a Mutiny among the English most of them fly their Colours and run back to England Notwithstanding he with his own men came to Dumfrise and took the Town into protection upon surrender where he stayed a while that he might be ready to entertain Antrim and his Irish but the time appointed being past and no news stirring of them the Covenanters gathering themselves together on every side to secure himself from being surprized he returns to Carlile And not loving to lie idle joyns with the Kings Forces in Northumberland takes the Town and Castle of Morpet as also an hundred Foot at the mouth of the River of Tine and afterwards victuals New Castle then intending to joyn his Forces with Prince Rupert who was coming to raise the Siege at York he made all the haste he could but met him not till he was upon his retreat the day after that unfortunate Battle All things thus failing him he returns to Carlile and sends the Lord Ogleby and Sir William Rolluck disguised into Scotland to discover the state of the Countrey who returning back brought him word that all things were in a desperate condition and therefore counselled him to bend his course some other way But Montross thinking it unworthiness in him to despair of so good a cause resolves upon a strange adventure for delivering those few Gentlemen that had been constant unto him to the Lord Ogleby to be conducted to the King he with Sir William Rolluck and one Sibbald being disguized entred Scotland Montross passing as Sibbalds man Thus making all the haste they could they came at last to the house of his Couzen Patrick Graham of Innisbrake not far from the River of Tay in the Sherifdom of Perth not long had he been there but he receives news of eleven hundred of Irish sent over by Antrim who were then upon the Mountains who being made to understand of his being there they came marching unto him and submitted to his command The next day the men of Athol to the number of eight hundred put themselves in Arms and joyned with Montross so that now having gotten this handful of men he desires to be in action impatient therefore of further delay he marches from thence with a resolution to set upon his enemies and having marched as far as Bucknith five hundred more under the command of the Lord Kilpont Son to the Earl of Taith joyned with him by whom he understood that the Covenanters were thick in Arms at a Rendezvouz at Perth whereupon with all the haste he could he speedeth thither these were commanded by the Lord Elcho who upon Montrosses approach provided to fight they were in number six thousand Foot and seven hundred Horse so that contemning the paucity of their enemies they grew to a foolish confidence of Victory but Montross so well ordered his Army that their confidence failed them for joyning Battel they were overthrown two thousand being slain and more taken prisoners The City of Perth upon this overthrow submitted her self to the Conquerour to whom he did not the least harm where having staid three dayes many of his Athol men returning home he marches with the rest of his Forces to Aberdeen but the Town having a strong Garrison therein refused to submit and he thinking it no wisdom to hazard the honour he had gotten by his late Victory upon the doubtful success of a Siege turns away towards Esk whither came to him the Lord Ogleby with his two Sons Sir Thomas and Sir David who with admirable constancy continued with him to the very end of the War And now receiving intelligence that an Army of the Covenanters under the command of the Lord Burleigh lay at Aberdeen with long marches he hies thither sets upon them and after a long fight puts them to the rout with the loss of almost all their Foot who flying for refuge unto the City Montrosses men came in thronging amongst them through the Gates and Posterns and laid them on heaps all over the Streets This Battel was fought September the 12. 1644. After this defeat Montross calling his Souldiers back to their Colours entred the City and allowed them two dayes rest In the mean time news was brought that Argile was hard by with far greater Forces then those they had dealt with last whereupon he removes to Kintor a Village ten miles off from Aberdeen expecting some of the Gordons would have joyned with him but none appearing he resolved to withdraw his Forces into the Mountains and Fastnesses for though he had fought twice indeed very prosperously it could not be expected that seeing he was so beset on all sides with great and numerous Armies he should be able to hold out alwayes without relief whereupon hiding his Ordnance in a Bog he marches to an old Castle called Rothmurk intending to pass over the River of Spey but on the other side were the number of five thousand up in Arms to hinder his passage wherefore to save his Army from being oppressed with the enemies Horse he turned into Badenoth a Rocky and Mountainous Countrey here he fell very dangerously sick but recovering again he sends Mac-donel who commanded the Irish with a Party into the Highlands to invite them to take up Arms with him and if they would not be invited to force them he himself passes into the North of Scotland and having staid a while for recruit at Strathbogy he removed to Faivy Castle and possest it Secure now as he thought from Argile his confidence had well near
command to desist from his purpose because the Treaty betwixt the Prince and the Scottish Commissioners was now very near a conclusion made him precipitate himself and those that were with him into most inevitable ruine for considering his small preparation it was a desperate action to attempt so mighty a business but the matter being fatal he must needs contribute his own endeavours towards that destruction which his cruel fortune had provided for him Nor could the loss of two Ships with all the men and arms therein whom he had sent before to prepare his way alter his resolution but with the rest of his company passes over to Orkney and having raised what force he could there embarcks himself and in a short space lands upon the point of Cathnes which is the farthest land to the Northwest of Scotland as knowing the world was much astonisht at this invasion now whilest the King was upon a Treaty he published a Declaration wherein he laboured to clear himself of any aspersion of sinister ends that his intention was onely against some particular persons who had against the Laws of the Kingdom raised and maintained a War against the Kings Father and did now by their subtil practices endeavour to destroy the Son also but the Countrey for several causes did not come to second him as he expected so that being encountred by the Earl of Sunderland and Collonel Staughorn his Army was overthrown two hundred killed and twelve hundred taken In this skirmish was taken the Standard which he had caused to be made of purpose to move the affections of the people with this Motto Judge and revenge my cause O Lord and the Portraict of the late King beheaded exactly well done The Standard-bearer a very gallant young Gentleman was killed after he had several times refused quarter there was Collonel Hurry taken the Lord Frenderick Sir Francis Hay of Dalgety Collonel Hay of Naughton Colonel Grya and most of the Officers and two Ministers Montross himself after he saw the day was absolutely lost having with his Sword hewn out his way through the midst of his enemies hoping fortune might afterward be more favourable to him he endeavours by policy to save his life and forsaking his Horse throws away his Cloak and Sword then exchanging apparrel with a Highlander in that habit keeps himself undiscovered in the Fields for three or four dayes together but such narrow search being made for him that he could not long escape he freely discovers himself to the Lord of Astron who had been one of his followers before thinking to finde friendship at his hands but he greedy of the reward which was promised to his apprehender by the Council of State money having a deeper impression in his heart then amity seized on him and with a strong guard conveyed him to David Lesley He being now in the custody of his mortal enemies from whom he could not expect the least favour he yet exprest a singular constancy and in a manner a carelesness of his own condition And now joyful of their prey they conduct him to Edenburgh where by the way lodging one night at the Town of Dundee notwithstanding they had suffered more by his Army then any Town else within that Kingdom yet were they so far from insulting over him that they testified a great deal of sorrow for his woful condition and furnished him with cloathes suitable to his birth and person The Parliament of Scotland being otherwise affected who was then informed of his taking thought fit to give out this Sentence against him before he came to Edenburgh That so soon as he should come to Town he should be met at the Gate by the Magistrates and Hangman that he should be tyed with cords upon a Cart bare-headed and the Hangman to ride upon the Horse that drew the Cart covered before him amd so to be brought though the Town that he should be hanged on a Gibbet at the Cross of Edenburgh until he dyed his History and Declaration hanging about his neck and so hang three hours in publick view of all the people after wich he should be beheaded and quartered His head to be fixt upon the prison-house of Edenburgh and his Legs and Arms over the Gates of the Cities of Sterling Glascow St. Johns Town and Aberdeen All which was executed upon him with a great deal of insultation especially of the Ministery who having him now at their mercy could never be satisfied with his calamities they reviled him with all possible spite objected frequently to him his former condition and his present misery and pronounced heavy judgements against him and being asked why they could not otherwise be satisfied but by so ignominious handling of him they replyed They knew no other way to humble him and bring him home to God The fatal day being come design'd to put a period to all his troubles there was erected in the middle of the market-place a large Scaffold brest high in the midst of which was planted a Gibbet of extraordinary height to this place was he conducted by the Baliffs he was cloathed in a Scarlet Cloak richly laced with Gold lace as he came along the Streets in great State there appeared in his countenance so much Beauty Majesty and Gravity as amazed the beholders John Taylors honest Verses will serve for this dishonourable Scotch expedtion In a good cause to dye it is no shame Although a Halter do procure the same Being come thither he was much detained with a great many frivolous questions of which partly the Ministers partly those whom the States suffered to be about him desired to be satisfied He made a short Speech in which he was often interrupted the tenour of which was That be was satisfied in his conscience for what he had done for his Royal Master the King as in relation to War That for his own particular sins which were infinite he bad beg'd pardon earnestly of God and had an inward hope to obtain it he freely forgave all those who had sought his overthrow and intreated the charity of all the people to pray both for him and themselves The Ministers because he was under the Sentence of excommunication refused to pray for him and even on the very Scaffold were very bitter against him After he had about a quarter of an hour prayed with his Hat before his eyes he was ready to go to his suffering when his Book and Declaration and all other printed Papers which he had published in his life being tyed in a string together were hanged a bout his neck he was very earnest that he might have the liberty to keep on his hat it was denyed he requested he might have the priviledge to keep his Cloak about him neither would that be granted in despite of all their affronts uncivil and barbarous usage with a most undaunted courage he went up to the top of that prodigious Gibbet where having freely pardoned the Execuoner he gave him three
Arbitrary wayes but we will try you by the rules of the good old Laws of England and whatsoever priviledge in your Tryal the Laws of England will afford you claim it as your Birth-right and Inheritance and you shall enjoy it with as much freedom and willingness as if you were in Westminster Hall to be tryed amongst your own Party and this we will do for that end that so at London your friends shall not have any just cause to say we murthered you with cruelty or denied you the benefit of the Law in taking away your life by the rules of our own wills Nay further said he Captain Lilburne it is true I am a Judge made by my Sovereign Lord the King according to his right by Law and so in a special manner am his Servant and Councellour and am to act for his good benefit and advantage And yet notwithstanding it is by the known Laws of this Land my duty to be indifferent and free from partiallity betwixt my Master and you the Prisoner and I am specially bound unto it also by my Oath and therefore you shall have the utmost priviledges of the Law of England which is a Law of Mercy and not of Rigour and hath the life of a man in tenderest and highest estimation and therefore it is the duty of a Judge by Law to be of counsel with the Prisoner in things wherein by his ignorance he falls short of making use of the benefit of the Law especially when he is upon the Tryal of his life Yea and to exhort him to answer without fear if he perceive him daunted or amazed at the presence of the Court Yea it is my duty to carry my self with all fairness and evenness of hand towards you and wherein that there shall seem any mistakes to appear in circumstances of Formalities to rectifie you For 't is my duty to help you and not to use any boisterous or rough language to you in the least to put you in fear or any wayes prevent the freedom of you defence and according to the Laws of England this is my duty and this is the Law And accordingly he gave me liberty to plead to the errors of my Indictment before ever I pleaded not guilty yea and also became willing to assign me what Councel I pleased to nominate freely to come to prison to me and to consult and advise with me and help me in point of Law This last he did immediately upon my pleading to the Indictment before any Fact was proved all which is consonant to the declared Judgement of Sir Edward Cook that great Oracle of the Laws of England whose Books are published by speciall Orders and Authority of Parliament for good Law who in his 3. part Institutes Chapt. Of High Treason fol. 29.34 compared with fol. 137.230 asserts the same Truly Sir I being now come before you to answer for my life and being no professed Lawyer may through my own ignorance of the practick part of the Law especially in the Formalities Nisities and Puntillio's thereof run my self with over-much hastiness in snares and dangers that I shall not easily get out of And therefore being all of a sudden bid to hold up my hand at the Bar I cannot chuse but a little demur upon it and yet with all respect to you to declare my desirableness to keep within the bounds of Reason Moderation and Discretion and so to carry my self as it doth become a man that knows what it is to answer for his life And therefore in the first place I have something to say to the Court about the first Fundamental liberty of an English man in order to his Tryal which is that by the Laws of this Land all Courts of Justice alwayes ought to be free and open for all sorts of peaceable people to see behold and hear and have free access unto and no man whatsoever ought to be tryed in holes or corners or in any place where the Gates are shut and bar'd and guarded with armed men and yet Sir as I came in I found the Gates shut and guarded which is contrary both to Law and Justice Sir the Laws of England and the Priviledges thereof are my Inheritance and Birth-right And Sir I must acquaint you that I was sometimes summoned before a Committee of Parliament where Mr. Corbet and several others have had the Chair and there I stood upon my right by the Laws of England and refused to proceed with the said Committee till by special order they caused their Doors to be wide thrown open that the people might have free and uninterrupted access to hear see and consider of what they said to me although I think the pretence that I am now brought before you for be the very same in substance that I was convened before Mr. Corbet for which was about Books and I am sure there I did argue the case with him and the rest of the Committee soundly out in Law proving that they were bound in Law and Justice freely to open their Doors for the free access of all sorts and kindes of Auditors And I did refuse as of right to proceed with them till by special order they did open their Doors For no tryal in such cases ought to be in any place unless it be publick open and free and therefore if you please that I may enjoy that Legal Right and Priviledge which was granted unto me by Mr. Miles Corbet and the rest of that Committee when I was brought before them in the like case that now I am brought before you which priviledge I know to be my right by the Law of England I shall as it becomes an understanding Englishman who in his actions hates deeds of darkness holes or corners go on to a tryal But if I be denyed this undoubted priviledge I shall rather dye here then proceed any further And therefore foreseeing this beforehand and being willing to provide against all jealousies of my escape the fear of which I supposed might be objected against me as a ground to deny me this my legal right and therefore beforehand I have given my engagement to the Lieutenant of the Tower that I will be a faithful and true prisoner to him He enlarged himself as to other particulars but these being the most material as to the relation of some passages of his Life I thought it necessary to insert them He having these requested freedoms granted him from Judge Keble his tryal went on which because of it self it is a large printed volume I shall onely hint at some things not to be omitted in it After he had ended his Speech Judge Keble told him that his requests were granted bid him look behinde him the Doors were open Mr. Prideaux the Atturney General excepted against the favour done him of the liberty of his Speech as at the beginning of his arraignment he had denyed to hold up his hand he further expressed that the Commission for the Tryal
for the fafety of my life I am forced to print an Apology and because you are named in it I judge it but man-like to send you a Copy of it And if I had not been travelling last post-day I had sent to you then And I have also by this post sent to a friend three sheets of paper in writing to communicate to your Lordship The which if you please to read them you will finde that you are deeply concerned in them I have no more to say to your Honour but to desire God for you if it be his pleasure to make you speedily as righteous in actions as you were some years ago in declarations and to take leave to say I am yet as much honest John Lilburne as ever I was in my life that neither loves flattery nor fears greatness or threatnings His Wife also sollicites the General for a pass which though not granted yet over he comes so confident he was that at Canterbury in his way to London he presently begins to boast of his own interest in England saying He had no need of a pass being as good a man as Cromwel and that he did not fear what he could do unto him Yet notwithstanding his monstrous confidence he was committed to prison and by order of Parliament tryed for his life at the Sessions House in the Old-Bailey August the 20. 1653. where he pleaded that the Act whereupon he was Indicted was a lie a falshood that it had no Law nor Reason in it That the Parliament could not make any Act of Parliament since the Kings head was cut off that by the same Law they voted him to death they might vote his honest twelve Jury men calling Jehovah to witness and protesting before God Angels and Men that he was not the John Lilburne intended in the Act whereupon this Jury following the example of the former satisfied with his answers and not questioning the validity of the Act found him not guilty Thus you see what endeavours were used to rid the Nation of him by tryals banishment and what not though in vain when as many a more heroick spirit and gallant heart far transcending him in birth and parts have fallen by the Sword of Justice in the twinkling of an eye truth it is he was a man of a restless and invincible spirit that could never be deterred with threats nor won with favours though as it is reported 3000. pounds was given out of the sale of Theobalds as a sop to stop his mouth he was questionless of a most implacable spirit working and restless as the Sea not to be appeased but with the blood of his adversaries nor can I deny but some of those things he aimed at were honest and useful for the people but he steered not the right course to attain those ends It may be admired at by some how such an illiterate person as Lilburne one whose breeding promised him more skill in his last trade of Sope then in Cook or to have had better judgement in rusticity in a Plow then in Plowden who from this low rise mounted no higher then to inferiour employments until in the late Wars he somewhat advantaged and preferred himself by his Sword I say it may seem strange to some how this person thus qualified should come to have so much knowledge and understanding in the Law for answer to which it is to be understood that Mr. Lilburne had formerly turned over some Statute Books in which he had made a small progress and that afterwards at such time as he was committed in the Tower there remained a prisoner there though for a different Cause that heart of Oak and a pillar of the Law Judge Jenkins who finding Lilburne of an accute Wit and one who dared to speak what some pusilanimous spirits were afraid to entrust their thoughts with he selected him as fit person to bandy against the present Government and by weakening their power to advance his Masters interest hereupon he helps him with tools wherewith to let up his trade so that in short space Magna Charta and Cooks Institutions were made his familiars by which means he quickly grew so cunning a gamester that like unto a cat throw him never so high he would be sure to pitch upon his feet Thus the old Judge and another reverend Divine in his learned volume of prophecying publisht to hook in the Independant party so strangely mistook themselves as that they could not have done their own cause a greater mischief But the Squib is now almost run to the end of the Rope we shall in the last place present our Proteus in the shape of a Quaker the person that converted him was a single-hearted Shoe-maker as he terms him in his Letter to his Wife which he writ to her from Dover Castle whither he was committed by the Parliament part whereof for your further satisfaction I have transcribed though curtail'd you have Mr. Johns own words to his Wife It is not much material what part of it I begin with such Quaking Cantings being to be read backwards like the Hebrew The contents follow And so in much mercy and endeared loving kindness as God did in my great straits in the Bishops time provide and send unto me a poor despised yet understanding Priscilla to instruct me in or expound unto me his wayes more fully and perfectly whom I am compelled now to tell thee I shall love and respect therefore the longest day I live upon the earth let her continue by whomsoever to be judged never so rigid or contemptible so here at this place he hath also provided for me an Aquila being a contemptible yet understanding spiritually knowing and single-hearted Shoe-maker to do the same now to my spiritual and no small advantage refreshment and benefit by means of all which I am at present become dead to my former bustling actings in the world and now stand ready with the devout Centurion spoken of Acts 10. To hear and obey all things that the lively voice of God speaking in my soul shall require of me upon the further manifestation of whose glorious presence my heart with a watching fear and care desires to wait and to walk faithfully and tenderly and humbly in that measure of light already received c. In another place he thus insinuates with his Wife to gain her to his opinion And now my dear love for whom my soul travels with God for thy eternal good with the same sincere heartedness as for my own hoping that thy late out-fall and mine was but for a set season that so as Divine Paul in another sense speaks Philem. 15. thy reconciliation and mine again might now remain firme in love for ever And a little after I therefore earnestly entreat thee not to cumber thy self in thy many turmoylings and journeyings for my outward liberty but sit down a little and behold the great salvation of the Lord. Subscribing his Letter thus Thine in the strength of
of his years taken from further opportunities of doing good either to himself his friends the Common-wealth or more especially as to my continued services to my Creatour Truly if my general known course of life were but enquired into I may modestly say there is such a moral honesty upon it as some may be so sawcy as to expostulate why this great judgement 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 accompt of my Judgement and Execution then my Judgers 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 fruicless Rod that when by this Rod I have laid down my life by his staff I may be comforted and received into Glory I am very confident by what I have heard since my sentence there is more exceptions made against proceedings against me then I ever made My Triers 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 not in my self intended malitiously there being testimony given by persons whom I pitty so false yet so positive that I cannot condemn my Judges for passing sentence against me according to Legal Justice though Equity lieth in the higher breasts As for my Accusers or rather Betrayers I pitty and am sorry for them they have committed Judas crime but I wish and pray for them with 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 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 fear of God particular malice to any one of State or Parliament to do them a bodily injury 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 on Principles of Law the knowledge whereof I profess and on principles of Religion my Judgement satisfied and Conscience rectified that I have pursued those wayes which I bless God I finde no blackness upon my conscience nor have I put it into the Bead-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 beyond all you possess 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 boosting 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 passport to Glory I take it for an honour and I owe thankfulness to those under whose power I am that they sent me hither to a place however of punishment yet of some honor to dye 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 minde I shall desire God that those Gentlemen in that sad Bead-roll to be tryed by the High Court of Justice that they may find that really there that 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 my death not till the moment of my death for the hour is come already the instant of time approaches 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 and 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 After the uttering of these and many the like words declaring his faith and confidence in God with as much undaunted yet Christian courage as possibly could be in man he exposed his neck to the fatal Axe commending his soul into the hands of a faithful and merciful Creatour through the meritorious Passion of a gracious Redeemer and having said Lord Jesus receive me the Executioner with one blow severed his head from his body For such a collateral design not long after one Master Benson was executed at Tyburne one that had some relations to Sir John Gell who was tried for the same Conspiracy with his man Sir Johns former services to the Parliament being his best and most assured intercessours for his life and at that time were more then ordinary advantages to him And now being entered into this Tragical Scene of blood I shall in the next place give you an account of the beheading of Sir Henry Hide He was by the Scots King commissionated as Ambassadour to the Grand Signior at Constantinople and stood in competition with Sir Thomas Bendish then Ambassadour for the English for his place whereupon they had a hearing before the Vizier Bassa the result whereof was that Sir Thomas Bendish should dispose of the said Sir Henry Hide as he thought good who was to the same purpose sent to Smyrna thence into England and there condemned and executed before the Royal Exchange in London March 4. 1650. I have inserted his Speech which reflects on his Transactions this unfortunate Gentlemans end
being by the divine disposal from the foregoing part of his life as strange as ever I have read in History His last words were to this effect Christian People I come hither to dye I am brought hither to dye and that I may dye Christian like I humbly beseech the assistance of 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 to give the more credit to Speech in the discharge of my duty towards God I shall use a few words and so conclude 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 debt to sin and to nature that now I can pay the debt to nature I can pay it upon the account of Grace And because it is fit to render the blessed account of that 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 the Church of England I have no negative Religion believing to be saved by the onely merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ and whatsoever else is profest in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England authorized by Law humbly beseeching Almighty God to restore unto this Church her peace prosperity and patrimony whereof I have been an obedient and a loving however an unworthy Son and now both my hope being confident and my faith perfected there remains onely Christian Charity Charity we carry into heaven Charity on earth that I leave beseeching all whomsoever I have offended to forgive me as I from the bottom of my heart do all whomsoever blessing Almighty God for the happy advantage he takes to bring me the sooner to heaven I bless Almighty God that he hath given me this advantage as he hath been merciful to me before the foundation of the world in my Saviour so that now he hath in mercy honoured me with a suffering for his name in obedience to his Commandment On this day sevennight I was summoned before that Justice which condemned me on Friday last praised be Almighty God that by this way he hath brought me nearer to himself My charge I presume is publick as my punishment is visible if there have been any thing in the management of my part being unskilful having discontinued my own countrey many years I shall beseech the Christian Charity of all you my beloved Countrey-men to impute it rightly to the ignorance of my unskilful wayes of managing of affairs it was objected unto me there that I had a vanity of delighting in strange tongues I do acknowledge that I was best skilled in the Italian but free from that vanity I thank Almighty God and therefore I would in defence of my life if it had been the custom here or the Judges favour have used that language which was almost as natural to me as my mother tongue It was objected that I did not so freely as a thorow-paced Cavalier own my Master I was told since I came into England this skill I have in our Laws that a legal denyal in Law might be tollerable I hope I did not exceed the bounds of that in any thing for God forbid that I should be ashamed of serving so good so pious so just a Master putting off his hat for this I rejoyce and I humbly beseech Almighty God to fill my heart and my tongue and all that hear me this day with thankfulness for it As to the business that another construction had been made and believed here then what was there the righteous God knoweth it if any weakness were in the management that was mine I was sent to serve and protect not to injure any as God acquits me of the intention of matter of fact as having not done any manner of evil that way however here understood blessed be his holy name again putting off his hat so those Gentlemen of the Turky Company if they would might acknowledge for they know it very well the impossibility of my doing them any manner of harm Whereas that of the Embassy objected against me that my Master honoured me with it though I was never worthy of it I was his messenger and Internuntio for the conservation onely of his good Subjects of all the Merchants untill such time as he could confirme that Gentlemen now Resident or to send any other and they themselves know that there was an unpossibility as I bless God there was an innocency in me unto any such intention to do them harm for my Masters commands were point blank the contrary I was onely sent for their good as I never owned the title so the very letters themselves speaking no other I never did so much as think of any manner of address to the Grand Signior but gave him the letter from my Master the rest of the English Nation that were there present may when they please assert so much This I would insert that those Gentlemen as they have been losers by the miscarriages of others may now have a breach of their charity with me but if it be as it seems it is now in this Countrey a sin to be loyal I hope my God hath forgiven that when it is upon harmless employment not invading any according to my just Masters order for indeed I have been alwayes bred up in the Religion of Loyalty my Allegiance hath been incorporated into my Religion and I have thought it a great part of the service due from me to Almighty God to serve the King again putting off his hat He said I need not make any apology for any thing in relation to the present Affairs in England for were I as I spake beformy Judges were I as evil as my sentence here hath made me black it were impossible for me to have prejudiced any body in England or to England belonging in that employment but I bless God for his infinite mercy in Jesus Christ who hath taken me to himself by this manner of way it was the best Physick for the curing of my soul and those that have done it have no more Power then that of my body I leave nothing behinde me but that I am willing to part withal all that I am going to is desirable and that you may all know that Almighty God hath wrought in me a total denyal of my self and that there is that perfect reformation of me within of my own corruptions by the blessed assistance of his holy spirit I desire Almighty God in the abundance of the bowels of his mercy in Jesus Christ not onely to forgive every enemy if any such be in the world here or wheresoever but to bring him into his bosom so much good and particular comfort as he may at any time whether the cause
Edward notwithstanding continues his Siege to the relief whereof King Philip sends all the Forces he could make But by the mediation of the Lady Jane of Valois who was Sister to King Philip and Mother of King Edwards Wife a truce was concluded from Michaelmas till Midsummer and both their Armies again dissolved Edward hereupon puts out of pay his forreign aids and returning into England had notice that the Scots besieged the Castle of Striveling for relief whereof he makes all the haste he can but being disappointed of his provision that was to come by Sea he makes a Truce with the Scots for four moneths and returns home during this truce the Scots send to King David who upon their message leaves France and returns into Scotland and as soon as the truce was ended with a strong Army enters Northumberland besiegeth New Castle upon Tyne but is valiantly resisted by John Nevile the Governour who took the Earl of Murray prisoner and slew divers of his men from thence he passeth into the Bishoprick of Durham where he useth all kinde of cruelty killing men women and children burning and destroying Houses and Churches untill he came to the Castle of Salisbury but hearing of King Edwards approach who certified of these things made all the haste he could he returns homewards King Edward pursues for three dayes together at length a truce was concluded for two years and William Earl of Salisbury prisoner with the King of France was set at liberty in exchange for the Earl of Murray Whilst Edward was thus busied about the Scots a new difference arose in France John Earl of Monfort claims the Dutchy of Brittain and in pursuance of his title is taken prisoner by the French King his Wife solicites King Edward for succour who sends her aid under the conduct of Robert of Arthois and not long after follows himself Philip sends aid to Monforts Competitor and both Armies encamp near to the City of Vannes where was like to have been a cruel Battel had not Pope Clement the sixth interposed two Cardinals from him conclude a peace Vannes is delivered up to the French King and the Earl of Montfort is set at liberty The murmuring Drum now silenced and stern Mars for a while confined to prison least rusty idleness should entomb their worth and want of exercise make them forget their Arms King Edward erects a round Table at Windsor in imitation of the Renowned Arthur and to invite great men from forreign parts rich Salaries are the reward of high designs King Philip fearing this association would be to him of ill consequence writes after Edwards coppy and erects a round Table in his own Countrey to allure the men of War of Germany and Italy and so to keep them from coming into England King Edward thus prevented in his design by the French King institutes the most honourable order of the Garter the Original case whereof is dubious some conjecture that it arose for that in a Battel wherein he was victorious he gave the word Garter for the word or sign Cambden saith King Edward the Third founded this order to adorn Martial vertue with honours rewards and splendour The Original Book of the Institution deduces the invention from King Richard the First and that King Edward adorned it and brought it into splendour but the common received opinion is that a Garter of his own Queen or as some say of Joan Countess of Salisbury slipping off in a Dance King Edward stooped and took it up where at some of the Nobles that were present smiling as an amorous action he seriously said It should not be long ere Sovereign Honour were done to that Garter whereupon he afterwards added the French Motto Honi soit qui maly pense therein checking his Lords sinister suspicion Nor need we with Polydor Virgil trouble our selves to make an Apology for the courseness of this Original since according to the Poet They swell with love that are with valour fill'd And Venus Doves may in a Head-piece build The number of Knights in this order is six and twenty whereof the King is alwayes president so much accounted of in other Countries that there have been nigh twenty and six forreign Emperours and Kings of the same the glory whereof by a learned Poet is celebrated for to be such That now Burgundians scorn their fleece of Gold The French the Escalopt Collar set with grace Their Crossed weeds Rhodes Elba Alcala hold As worthless all matcht with thy George are base King Edward whose Eye was fixt upon France as the mark of his Conquest having notice that King Philip had put many of his friends to death in Normandy namely Clisson and Bacon Knights of the best note glad that the truce was broken on King Philips part prepares again for the invasion of France and taking along with him the young Prince of Wales with an Army of 2500. Horse and 30000. Foot arives in Normandy where he took and and sackd many Towns of Importance Clissons hands being nailed on the Gates of Carenton he turns it into Cinders making a Funeral-pile thereof for his slain friend He takes also the populous and rich City of Caen marching with his Army to the very Walls of Paris Philip awakened with Edwards Victories raises one of the greatest Armies that ever were seen in France Edward laden with spoil is not unwilling to retire which Philip interpreteth a kinde of flight the River of Some he passeth with much danger and defeats Gundentor du Foy who was placed there to hinder his passage King Philip set on fire with his disaster resolveth to give King Edward Battel who was incamped nigh to a Vilage called Crescy his Army consisting of 30000. he divided into three Battalions the first whereof was led by Edward the Black Prince of Wales having in his company Beuchamp Earl of Warwick Godfrey of Harecourt the Lords Stafford Laware Bourchier Clifford Cobham Holland c. together with the number of 800. men at Arms 2000. Archers and 1000. Welch In the second Battel were the Earls of Northampton and Arundel the Lords Ross Willoughby Basset Saint Albane Malton c. with 800. men at Arms and 1200. Archers The third and last Battel was commanded by the King himself having in it 700. men at Arms and 3000. Archers The French Army was far greater consisting of sixscore thousand men having in it the two Kings of Bohemia and Majorica and of Princes Dukes Earls Barrons and Gentlemen bearing Arms about 3000. The vantguard was led by the King of Bohemia and the Earl of Allanson The main Battel King Philip commanded himself and the Earl of Savoy the Reer But since in this Battel the Prince of Wales was the chief General I shall refer the further prosecution thereof to the description of his following life and proceed in our History of King Edward who after the good success of this Battel marched directly to Calice resolving not to stir untill he
had won it for which cause he fortifies his Camp on all sides stopping all relief that might come to them by Sea with his Navy The French King not able to raise the Siege seeks to divert him by an invasion in England David the second King of Scots a sure friend to the French though allied to the English with an Army of threescore and two thousand enters England supposing considering what great numbers were abroad there were none left at home but Priests and Shepherds but he was utterly deceived of his expectation for at Nevils Cross in the Bishoprick of Durham he was encountred by the Archbishop of York with some Lords of the North who animated by the Queen who was there in person defeated this great Army slew the Earls of Murray and Strathern the Constable Marshall Chamberlain and Chancellour of Scotland with many other Nobles and fifteen thousand common Souldiers took King David himself prisoner together with the Earls of Douglass Fife Southerland Wigton and Menteith Thus France was not alone the stage of King Edwards Victories nor the French alone the Nation over whom he triumphed This loss of the Scots lost the French King the Town of Callis which after eleven moneths Siege was delivered up to King Edward who made Governour of the same one Aymery of Pavia and then with his Queen returned into England But good fortune attended not Edwards person alone it was likewise available in his Lievetenants Sir Thomas Dagworth in Little Brittain overthrew and took prisoner Charles de Bloys Monforts Competitor and besides many Knights and Esquires slew 700. common Souldiers Henry of Lancaster drave John Duke of Normandy King Philips eldest son from the Siege of Aquillon takes and sacks the Towns of Xaintoigne Poictou and Poityers and returns to Burdeaux with more pillage then his Army could well tell what to do withall Sir Walter Bentley puts the Marshall of France to flight with the slaughter of 13. Lords 140. Knights 100. Esquires and store of common Souldiers thus the English prosper every where and the French suffer King Edward was at that time elected King of the Romans but refused the tender as out of his way considering his French and other importunate affairs King Philip dying John his eldest son succeeds him who creates his son Charles Duke of Aquitain Edward herewith incenst bestows the same on the Prince of Wales commanding him to defend that right with his Sword against his adversaries hereupon an Army is raised for the Prince consisting of 1000. men at Arms 2000. Archers and a number of Welshmen with which he arives in Aquaitain and in emulation of his Fathers glory worketh wonders recovering multitudes of Towns and prisoners and loaden with booties returns to Burdeaux Winter being spent he again sets forth sacks spoils and destroyes where ever he goes whom to oppose King John with an Army of threescore thousand follows to Poicters and enforces him to fight the Princes army so small in comparison of his that he might say as Tygranes did of the paucity of the Romans if they come as Embassadours they are too many if to fight too few the French exceeding him six to one but what was wanting in number was made up in valor for after a long conflict they discomfitted their whole Army took King John and his Son Philip prisoners with many other Lords and about 2000. Knights and Gentlemen bearing armories slew 1700. Gentlemen whereof 52 were Bannerets and about 6000. common Souldiers of which victory a modern Poet sings Such bloody lines the English here did write Might teach posterity how they should fight The Prince with his prisoners marcheth in triumph to Burdeaux where resting a while he sets sail for England With what joy he was welcomed home may be easier immagined then expressed his acts exceeding all expection his performances afterwards as I referr to the description of his life and return again to his Father King Edward Who upon receit of the French King releases King David of his long imprisonment thinking it honour enough to have one King prisoner at once he had been here in durance the space of eleven years and was at the incessant suit of his Wife Queen Joan set at liberty yet not without a ransom of a hundred thousand markes with condition to demolish and raze down several of his Castles And now the third time on the behalf of the French two Cardinals solicite Edward for peace to which he yields but on such conditions that the Council of France will not condescend unto whereupon in great displeasure with a mighty Army he again enters France destroying all wheresoever he came and notwithstanding great offers were made him by the French yet would he not desist but concontinued inexarable God saith mine Author displeased thereat sent such a terrible storm of Hail with Thunder and Lightning upon his Hoast that it killed many of his men and horses whereupon wounded and struck with a remorse he vowed to make peace on reasonable conditions and not long after at a treaty at Bretagni concluded the same The chief Articles whereof were 1. That King Edward should have to his possession the Countries of Gascoigne Guyen Poytiers Limosin Balevile Exantes Caleis Guisness with divers other Lordships Castles and Towns without any dependancy but of God 2. That the two Edwards Father and Son should renounce all their right to the Crown of France the Dutchy of Normandy the Countries of Tourain Anjou and Maine as also to the homages of Brittain Armoricke and the Earldome of Flanders 3. That the King of France should pay for his ransom there millions of Crowns of Gold six hundred thousand in hand four hundred thousand the year following and the rest in two years after for assurance whereof a certain number of Hostages should remain in England 4. That the French should not aid nor assist the Scots against the English nor the English the Flemings against the French c. These Articles confirmed on both sides by seals and oaths King John is delivered from his imprisonment and King Edward with his Hostages returneth into England But notwithstanding seals and oaths it was not long ere these Articles were broken yet good correspondence was held during the life of King John who coming over into England to visit King Edward died of grief as one writes that the Duke of Anjou one of his pledges came not into England according as he had sworn after whom his son Charles sirnamed the Wise succeeded who with loving letters and presents works himself into the good opinion of King Edward whilest covertly he defrauds him of his interests in France it fortuned whilst his Ambassadours were in the Kngs presence news was brought him of the forcible invasion of the French in Poictow which when the King heard he commanded the Ambassadours to get them home with their deceitful presents to their treacherous Lord whose mocks he would not long leave unrevenged but King Edwards fortunes