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A92155 AngliƦ ruina: or, Englands ruine represented in the barbarous, and sacrilegious outrages of the sectaries of this kingdome, committed upon the lives, consciences and estates of all His Maj: loyal subjects in generall; but more particularly upon the churches, colledges, clergie, and scholars of the same. Containing two briefe catalogues of such heads and fellowes of colledges in the University of Cambridge, and other learned and pious divines, within the city of London, as have been ejected, plundered, imprisoned, or banished, for their constancie in the Protestant religion, and loyalty to their soveraigne. Whereunto is added, a chronologie of the time and place of all the battails, sieges, conflicts, and other remarkable passages which have happened betwixt His Majesty and the Parliament; with a catalogue of such persons of quality, as have been slain on either party, from Novemb. 3. 1640 till the 25. of March, 1647.; Mercurius rusticus Ryves, Bruno, 1596-1677.; Barwick, John, 1612-1664. Querela Cantabrigiensis.; Griffin, Matthew, 1599?-1665. London. A generall bill of mortality, of the clergie of London, which have beene defunct by reason of the contagious breath of the sectaries of that city, from the yeere 1641. to this present yeere 1647. with the several casualties of the same. 1648 (1648) Wing R2447; ESTC R204638 175,259 292

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threaten Rape but with violence to attempt it and to wound and murther those upon whom they could not effect their beastly purpose To satisfie their Covetousnesse they have unmercifully robbed of their fortunes and exposed to the extremest want not only those that were their opposites and able to hurt them but those whose sexe age and condition might have melted stones into pitty women children the sicke the aged women in labour and even those of their owne party Their Cruelty hath not contented it selfe with the murther of those they hated but as if they had beene the professed Schollers of that inhumane monster whose Maxime was Perimat Tyrannus lenis in regno meo mors impetratur they have insulted over the persons and lives of their fellows Subjects with most exquisite Tortures whipt some to Death and starved others they have made it a Crime in some that they were neighbours to those whom they persecuted for Loyalty punished others for shewing them mercy As if they would tell you that they are not inferior to the worst of all the Primitive persecutors Dioclesian by whose command as Eusebius lib. 10. Chap. 8. reporteth all charity was forbidden to those in Prison yea even to those whom they were bound to pittie by the Law of Nature their kindred c. Nay more so farre hath their malice transcended all bounds that they have done mischief where they were not invited by any benefit to themselves or any other only for the delight they tooke in doing it burning houses spoyling goods destroying Books Evidences and Publique Records to the prejudice of Posterity the disturbance of Pessessions the obstruction of Justice and the impairing of Learning only to make themselves Sport They have by breaking Articles of surrender by offering savage force to the persons of messengers for Treaty and to the goods houses of forraine Ambassadors broken the Sacred Lawes and disturbed the Commerce of N●tions In a word these new Physitians of State have proved such Saltimbancoes to the Common wealth by their recipes prescribed such drugs as have purged the Body Politique of all its Treasure and left nothing but Melancholly behind This truth clearly appears in the late London Accompt from which single Citie they have draind 17. Millions and it can be no small Proportion therest of the Kingdome beares to it Consider next how they dispose of the Kingdomes Treasure in voting every Active Member a Benja part no lesse then 89000l in three dayes whilst some of those that hazarded their lives in their Service are forced to starve in the streets and lye three dayes unburied ere their Masters would vote them a Winding sheete But these heavy burthens must dwell upon our shoulders for we cannot but imagine their swelling greatnesse must be maintained If so then which way the supplies must be raised Tacitus will truly tell us AErarium ambitione exhaustum per scelera supplendum erit Treasure spent Ambitiously must be supplyed by wickednesse To the Intelligible Common wealths man Verbum sat nay halfe a word is sufficient 'T was a sad Omen to this Kingdome to have the Sunne Eclipsed that very houre this Parlia began And though it was not visible here yet the effects have not beene clouded from our Eyes But let the afflicted comfort themselves Post nubila Phaebus Eclipses are never perpetuall No age was ever blest with a more pious Prince or brought forth more crooked natures to perplex a righteous soule His easie Inclinations gave their dark practices confidence to appeare in the light and through whose yeelding clemencie thinking like the Sunne by attracting vapours to disperse them they with the help of a Northern Fag condenst into a cloud that first darkned then rain'd blood over all the Land and what number or power was not able to overthrow Treachery or Bribery did on a suddaine ruine And now in the close of all miseries behold an action detestable beyond Expression a misfortune which heightned with accumulated Injuries deserves to be looked upon with a compassionate Eye and a bleeding heart Is it not a most sorrowfull object to see a king set forth to Sale to behold Majesty to become Merchandize and Soveraignty sold for Silver To see a Prince weighed in a Treacherous and persidious Ballance made to turne which way Coyne shall move the Beame to deliver him up for the same cause Aristides was banished Justus quia justus and at length to Crucifie him betweene two Theeves O high Ingratitude to ruine so great a Benefactor when they found his hands bound up from usuall tenders Doubtlesse they are worse enemies that surprize by Ambush then those that fight in open field We read that Wealth may choak as well as a Halter and Judas his Bribe was the cause he became his owne Executioner Time may manifest to the world some noted issue for sure both parties cannot but become Bankrupts as well those which buy deare as those that sell cheape But this being an action beyond president the rehearsall whereof is enough to make the most innocent and patient pen criminall I le forbeare to trace it any further but leave it to a vindictive Iustice stigmatiz'd with that brand Cicero stamps upon such another Perditissimi est hominis fallere cum qui laesus non effet nifi credidisset None but the most villanous of Mankind will deceive him that had beene safe but for trusting But though I decline them yet may I not leave my injured Soveraigne in His Sufferings without letting the world know how sad and weighty they are his Infelicities sinking a deeper Impression because throwne from so high a Spire heretofore enjoying what Majesty could present and now doom'd to imbrace what the worst of miseries will impose And surely the Consideration hereof cannot but presse them the closer together This conditions strips him of those ordinary Consolations every Peasant may enjoy robs him of all those Comforts that are deare unto his Soule His Royall Consort Children and Friends The last of which the Devills charity extended to allow Job and which if they shall deny him from whom their former Comforts flow'd they deserve to be branded with the Character of unpresidented Impiety And that nothing might be wanting to fill up the measure of their Iniquity behold another of their unparallel'd impieties whereat Posterity will stand agast such an one as will justifie all the barbarous acts that the most savage Persecutors of the Church were ever guilty of Yea such a one as the Lords of the Inquisition yea the Turk himselfe would not have denied an ordinary Christian nor our Lawes the worst of Malefactors That a King of his Greatnesse and piety should be denyed a Spirituall Minister to assist him in his Devotions and to direct him in point of Conscience If ever there was such a thing as Implicite Faith they are the greatest Assertors of it that would enforce not only their owne fellow Subjects but even their Soveraigne King
these Plunderers whose name was Bawyer was apprehended in London selling some of these goods in the very act and for this committed to Newgate as a Felon two of the Countesse's servants entring into Recognizance to give in evidence against him for the King but upon his Petition to the House of Commons it was ordered he should be discharged without paying any fees which was done accordingly and 't was but an oversight that his prosecutors had not been laid in his place and publique thanks decreed him for his zeale to the Cause M. Stevens Parson of South-Hamfield in Essex hearing that the Plunderers of that County were comming on him tooke horse and fled and so saved both himselfe and his horse for he knew that both were sought after The father being fled the children left to their owne providence bethink how to secure those little peeces of Plate which each had received from the bounty of their Godfathers and Godmothers neither time nor acquaintance could give them latitude of much choice where to hide it and thinking any place safer then their owne house they run to a poote woman their neighbour and there with her they deposite their whole Treasure When the Plunderers came and sound that the birds were flowne having intelligence or as some say but suspecting that the poor womans house might hide M. Stevens his goods they go to her house and demand them The woman denyes that she hath any of M. Stevens his goods hereupon one of the Plunderers strikes her on the head with a Club with such violence that her brains came out at her nostrils The poore woman being thus murthered the bloudy Murtherers insult over her and say that the just hand of God was upon her for lying against her knowledge and denying those parcels of M. Stevens his goods that were in her possession so usuall a thing it is with these men to blaspheme God and intitle him to all those wickednesses which they commit on others M. Edward Symmons Parson of Rayne in Essex in the Months of June and July 1642. Preached against the sin of Rebellion and Disobedience and against traducing the King slandering the footsteps of Gods Anoyn●ed and refused to promote the Civill Warre then begun by stirring up the people to contribute Money Plate and Horses the maintenance of so unnaturall so destructive a division as most of the Ministers of those parts did This as it was more remarkable in him so it was more hainously taken from him in regard of his former intimate acquaintance with M. Stephen Marshall Parson of Pinching field in Essex the great incendiary of this unhappy war and had given him the right hand of Fellowship Hereupon he was sent for to the House of Commons by a Pursevant and was told That he being an honest man but of a different judgement from the Sence and Vote of the House did more prejudice to the good Cause in hand then a hundred Knaves and therefore would suffer accordingly which saying since that time hath beene plentifully made good and verified in many particular oppressions sufferings unjustly inflicted on him and his whole family First he was imprisoned and most illegally deprived of his libertie for no other cause but because he would not contrary to the dictate of Religion and his owne conscience countenance and promote an accursed Rebellion against his gracious Soveraigne Secondly he was referi'd after to the Committee for scandalous Ministers thereby to blast his Credit and Reputation in his Ministery a most diabolicall and divelish Course and a work of him who is the accuser of the Brethr●n to defame honest Orthodox Ministers with the odious name of Scandalous and Malignants though made so neither by error in doctrine wickednesse of life or debauchnes of conversation but by the malignity of a Vote knowing that by this means such Ministers doctrines and Testimonies will be of little or no credit afterward with the vulgar for had it been Scandal in a true and proper sense which they indeavoured to take away out of the Church they would never have brought over his head so scandalous so infamous a man to be Lecturer in his Cure as they did for to the wounding of M. Simmons his soule and the indangering the soules of his Parishioners one Lemuel Tuke is appointed Lecturer in Master Simmons his Church a man by education a Weaver and that had not so much as saluted either University yet while men slept he intruded into a Cure of Soules in Nottinghamshire from which ever since the Parliament began he hath been a Non-resident for not long after the sitting of this Parliament his Parishioners framed a Bill against him to the Lower House Articling against him not onely as negligent but insufficient in his calling Nay they accuse him of no lesse then Barrettry and Battery Drunkennesse and whoredome and some such other sinnes which in the judgement of all honest men make a man truly and properly scandalous yet this man thus Articled against to the House of Commons as Scandalous is thought worthy to be substituted as a Coadjutor in M. Simmons his Cure who onely was voted Scandalous because not Rebellious so that all the world may judge what it is to be Scandalous in this new sense To honour the King and to live in obedience to the established orders of the Church Thirdly having preached that it was unlawfull to take up Armes against the King and contrary to the doctrine of the Scriptures to contribute to a Warre against Him in opposition to Lemuel Tuke who laboured to payson his People with Sedition and Rebellion affirming openly that in some Cases it was lawfull not onely to Resist but which I tremble to relate to kill the king instancing in the example of Athaliah 2 King II. yet the said Tuke is countenanced and encouraged whereas Master Simmons for asserting the Truth was summoned before the Committee there to answer as a Delinquent who was so f●rre from a Retractation that he justified the doctrine which he did so fully that one of the Committee was convicted of it yet as he himselfe did so he would have Master Simmons to withhold that Truth in unrighteousnesse for Sir Thomas Barrington who was the man confessed that it was a Truth and a Divine Truth yet not fit to be preached at all times no not by those that were intrusted with it by God himselfe no though it might be in some danger of Impeachment At last being charged to preach no more such doctrine and putting in bayle by the Committee he is permitted to returne to his charge But behold what it is to be voted a delinquent or a Scandalous Minister by the Committee it is to be put out of the protection of the Law and exposed to the fury of the people for on his returne Oath is made before a Justice of Peace that at Halstead in Essex it was concluded that an hundred men from Cogshall and Colchester side some of that
being apprehended though for Felonie put in Bayle to answer the next Sessions When the time came Master Cornelius indicts these Plunderers the Bill was found by the Grand Jury upon the evidence of three or foure witnesses who were Spectators and saw them carry away the goods nay the Prisoners at the Barre not onely confessed the fact in their examination before the Justice when they were first apprehended but in the face of the Court and presence of the Jurors yet the Petty-Jury contrary to reason and their owne consciences found the Indictment against the King The Court wondring at so wilfull blindnesse cause the Statute to be read lay open the evidence and remand them back not doubting but comparing the fact with the Law the Result would be a verdict for the King they persist in their obstinacy and returne Ignoramus Being asked by the Bench how they could goe against so cleare evidence They answered in generall Because they did not thinke PLUNDERING a new name for an old Theft to be Felony by the Law but being beaten out of this starting hole though tenne are convicted yet two stand out and give this reason that they were a Malignants goods and the Parliament had given power to plunder such but when it was replyed that no such Order was produced nor was it pleaded by the Prisoners at the Barre they then professed openly that these men arraigned at the Barre were honest men that they had an In●ent to doe them favour and they would doe it Hereupon the Bench justly incensed against so willfull p●rjury binds over the Iurors to answer it the next Assiz●s and withall order M. Cornelius to indict these plunderers againe upon an other Felony he obeyes their command and the Grand Iury find it to be Billa vera but when the underSheriffe went out to impanell a Jury to try the Prisoners he could find none but Separatists who attended there that day purposely to be of the Jury and professed openly that they stayed there to save the Prisoners Happy men these that may commit Murthers robberies and thefts and yet seare no Condemnation neither at the Tribunall of God or Man It is an usuall doctrine of this Sect That God sees no sinne in his children for that name they will ingrosse to themselves though no men lesse deserve it and it seemes they are resolved to see no sinne one in another It was a wild saying of a gre●t Patriarke of theirs That the Children of God were Heteroclites because God did often save them even contrary to his owne Rules I know not how true they will find this assertion at the great day when Murther shall be Murther and Theft Theft and God that righteous Judge who without respect of persons shall render to every man according to his d●eds yet here on earth if these men may judge one another they may commit what wickednesse they list and let the raines loose to all kinds of villany and yet be saved contrary to all the rules of Law and Justice M. Archer Lecturer at the same place in his Sermon encouraged the people to take up Armes against the King but it may be objected sayes he that the Gentry gainsay this Doctrine and the Learned utterly disclaime it as erroneous and damnable but what though the Gentry and Learned as you call them dissent yet let it not Stagger your beliefe of this undouted Truth for I tell you that in my Conscience you may do it and in doing it you are so far from sinning that you will do that which is acceptable to Go● Be liberall ther●fore in contributing to this holy warre and sending forth men to fight this Battle of the Lord. This man in his Prayers and Sermons constantly cals the Parliament The Lords Annoynted but with what Oyle it is not yet determined I am sure by experience we find that it is not Oyle of Gladnesse Mercurius Rusticus c. IV. Sir Rich Mynshull's house in Buckinghamshire plundered by the Lord Brooks command The Kings picture abused A house burnt neare Hounslow by the Lord Wharto●s Souldiers M Wiborow and M. Thorne the one a Minister in Essex the other in Bedfordshire the first ill-intreated on the Lords day by the Lo S. Johns Troopers the other unjustly committed to Prison for a private revenge ON Munday the 15. of August 1642. Sir Richard Mynshull of Bourton in the County of Buckingham Knight furnished with tenne Horse and Armes began his journey into the North to wait upon the King as in the duty of a servant and subject he was bound This being discovered for they have spyes in every corner to the Lord Brooke Sir Peter Temple Sir Rich Ingoldesby Master Goodwine and others then at Aylesbury leaders of an Army raised against His Majesty It fell under consideration to make Sir Richard Mynshul a precedent to deter others from serving the King since it was not to be done but by exposing their persons to Imprisonment and their estates to plundering for the Result of that deliberation was that since they could not secure his person they would seise on his estate Nor doe they stay long before they put the sentence in execution for on Thursday the 18. of August the Lord Brooke commanding a great part of the Army came to Sir Richards house and in case he should find Resistance they bring diverse peece of Ordnance to batter the House but being come they find no opposition The first company that enters the house were under the command of one Cap Iones who either detesting the oppression or yet not fleshed in the sin which but then found footing in this Kingdom for this was the first of this kind committed in Buckinghamshire and the second in England moderated the eagernesse of the Souldiers sharpe set on the prey so that they gleaned but a little here and there this moderation renders Captaine Iones suspected for a Papist both to the Lord Brooke and the rest of the Commanders nay he is not onely voiced for a Papist but a Rumor is raised that he was bribed into this Moderation and had taken a reward to spare Sir Richards goods the Captain blasted with these reports the jealousie of him grew so high that they threaten to kill him to avoyd the sury of the Souldiers he is faine to withdraw himselfe nor d●rst he appear before a Servant of Sir Richards had made oath that he was Innocent of any such Contract And now the Lord Brooke and his Company being masters of the House the first thing on which they expresse their rage is the Kings picture which with their swords they most traiterously pierce through in divers places and not content to wound him in that representation whose person God miraculously hath and we hope will preserve from them They whet their tongues against their Soveraigne using Traiterous and scornfull language against Him by all which it is more then manifest to all the world what they would doe to the Substance if
they had executed the commands and when some of these assistants startled at this J●suiticall implicite Obedience to know to what in particular their Oath should bind them Wenb●m a Factious Jurat replyed that they must sweare in generall and afterwards they should know the particular Thomas Staple one of the Assistants being pressed to take this Oath rejoyned That you may make us sweare and the businesse we sweare to may be to knock our Fathers in the head or betray them W●nham most convincingly replyed That if they would not sweare they had authority for their reful all to imprison them for a year The rest adding That they need not be so scrupulous though they did not know what they sw●●● unto it was no harme for they had taken the same Oath themselves to d●e that which they were to assi●t them 〈◊〉 And so partly by feare and partly by the ind●cement of the Jurats example they took an oath upon the holy Evangelists to assist the Jurats in what they were to doe not knowing what and to be secret untill it was done Sure the Oath of Canonicall Obidience and the so much decryed ●aetera must now for ever rest in peace and never more be m●liciously and ignorantly traduced after this most Papistuall Iesuiticad Puritanicall Practice Having thus ingaged these men by an Oath to doe any thing which they shall command them they then thinke them sufficiently prepared to receive the Mysteries of the Warrant which now they reveal unto them and tel them that they must apprehend Master Hinson and ●ome others nominated in the Warrant In obedience therefore to the command they presently goe to Master Hinson and seize on him in his lodging and being brought before the Major and his Brethren the Jurats he never questioned by what authoritie he was apprehended but only told them that he had not done any thing that deseved this usage presently Weaham replyed that be had highly deserved it because he read the Kings Declarations After this all the Jurats went out one by one and left Master Hinson locked up with one Master Parker whom they had a little before committed because he would not pay for the carriage of some Ordnance to Rye a most Factious Towne not farre off Master Parker was that night removed from the Towne Hall but Master Hirson was left there all night strongly guarded by eight Bill-men having no other bed but a bench next day Master Parker who had the favour to be lodged that night in a Serjeant house desirous to see his fellow Prisoner prevailed with his Landlord to goe along with him to visite Master Hinson of which when Wenham had notice he told Biddenham for so was the Serjeants name that he deserved for this to be laid by the heeles himselfe which check so awed many of Master Hinsons friends that they durst not visite him for feare of imprisonment The Major and Wenham command the Maid-servant that attended him not to carry any Letters from him and being examined by them whether she had conveyed any from him already upon the denyall Barlow a Factious Schismatick who because heretofore his neighbours of Hasting refused to concurre with him in Petitioning against Episcopacy joyned and subscribed with those of Rye told her that she deserved to be put into the Ducking-house a Prison for women for denying it That night Biddenham the Serjeant was commanded to carry Master Hinson out of the Town Hall and put him into the Common Gaole which the Serjeant refusing that busie fellow Wenham told him that he deserved to be committed himself for refusing to performe his Office hereupon by vertue of this Oath they command foure of the men whom they had sworne to apprehend Master Hinso● to tell him that he must exchange his Prison the Towne Hall for the Common Gaole whither they presently led him there they lock him fast up in a loathsome place where there was but one short bench and no company but a Tinker and he none of the jovialists neither for the stubborne sullen Tinker pleading senioritie in the place took possession of the bench and most unsociably kept in all night not interchanging with Master 〈◊〉 his repose for a walk ●●varietie take but left him one while to walk and 〈◊〉 while to sleep on that sloore in which he was forced to doe the necessary acts of Nature while he lay in this loathsome condition foure of the Jurats Jurats I meane foure that had taken the Oath to doe what ever was commanded them came to die Gaole and prosessed to Master Hinson their heartie sorrow that they ever had a hand in his Attachment intreated him that he would not thinke evill of them for they were compelled to doe that for which they were now sorry And Thomas Staple that as before you heard expostulated so freely and pleaded against the taking the Oath before he was awed to take it shewing the monstrous evill in which it might ingage them openly exclaimed against the Major and his Brethren wishing that the plague from God might light upon them for insnaring their consciences with such an Oath when not onely Religion but right reason might have told him and the rest That their sinne was to take an unlawfull Oath it had beene no sinne to beak it while Master Hinson lay thus in the Goale one Master Besanno a Councellour at Law interceded for him and earnestly intreated that he might be removed from the Common Goal comitted to sate custody in some Chamber in the Towne but could not prevaile at last after three weeks imprisonment upon Master Besanno's request seconded by Master Brian heretofore a Jurat of Hasting but now removed to Battell as too honest for such a Fraternitie as he left behind him Master Hinson was sent with a strong Guard to Colonel Morley by whom he was transmitted to London to Learned Miles Co●be● who committed him to the Custody of a Messenger and having no particular Acculation but a generall charge and finding no hopes to be brought to a hearing but perceiving himselfe designed as others before him had been too long attendance and vexatious delayes he withdrew himselfe from his Tyranny and Oppression and escaping to Oxford put himselfe under the Kings Protection As the Rebels in their march towards Gloucester passed through Chipping-Norton in the Countie of Oxford a woman of that Town whose zeale to the King and the Justice of his cause could not containe it selfe though in the mid'st of his mortall Enemies said in the hearing of some of the Rebells God ●lesse the Cavaliers ●o are all good and faithfull Subjects called by the Rebels this expression of the poore womans affection to the King and his loyall Subjects in so innocent a Prayer so highly incensed the Rebells that to punish so hainous a Crime presently they tyed her to the taile of one of their Carts and stripping her to the middle for two miles march whipped her in so cruell a manner with
His Crowne and Dignitie against c. The Pro●… which you heard before 2. Secondly That he had raysed Men and provided Armes and Ammunition of all forts Crowe● of 〈◊〉 Pickaxes Axes and ●●on wedges with Torches and Linkes to further the Designe of suppressing the court of Guard at Froome-gate 3. Thirdly That he conspired with others to let in Prince Ruperr a forraigne Prince as they stiled him who being entred the Citie should put to death and plunder all the Inhabitants of that Citie that came not out to assist and joyne with them 4. Fourthly That be did undertake to give Prince Rupert a signall when he should make his approaches to the Citie by Ringing Saint Johns and Saint Michaels Bells 5. Fifthly That he certified Prince Rupe●t that the Designe of giving him entrance into the Towne was discovered and advised him to retreat 6. Sixtly That he forced a open the croud doore being a buriall place under the Quire under Saint John Baptist Church with an intention to use it for a Prison to secure such as sould make resistance whether they were of the Guard or others while they were in pursuance of their Designe Lastly That he had Looks and other Provisions to cleanup the passages at Saint Johns-gate in case any of the Parliament Horse should rush in upon them while the worke was in doing These Articles though maliciously expressed and a● gravated yet for the matter of them were drawne either from his owne Confessions or Depositions of others and upon these at the Lady Rogers her house he received the like Sentence of death as Master Yeomans had done before When the report of so illegall proceedings arrived 〈◊〉 Court though at first few men did thinke that their bold insoleney would goe on to put the Sentence in execution yet at last considering that they were in the hands not of honourable enemies but of Rebells and of Rebells that were Sectaries and which was more then both Rebellious Sectaries at the devotion of Master Fints who did command in chiefe and had strong influence on the rest The Earle of Forth Lord Lieutenant of all His Majesties Forces resolved to write unto Fines and that by way of Threat Pari p●ná exactá at hostes à superb● insolenti supplicio temperarent as Diodorus Siculus reports of Phi●ometus in the like case that by the menace of the like punishment on the Prisoners here he might stave them off from their intended crueltie on the Kings good Subjects there for thus he writes Patrick Earl of Forth Lord Etterick and Lord Lieutenant of all His Majesties Forces I Having beene informed that lately at a court of warre you have condemned to death Robert Yeomans late Sheriffs of the Citie of Bristol who hath His Majesties Commission for raysing a Regiment for his service William Yeomans his Brother George Bowcher and Edward Dacres all for expressing their Loyaltie to His Majestie and endeavouring his service according to their Allegiance and that you intend to proceed speedily against divers others in the like manner Doe thereso e signifie unto you That I intend speedily to put Master George Master Stevens Captaine Huntly and others taken in Rebellion against His Majestie at Cyrencester into the somecondition Do further advertise you That if you offer by that unjust judgement to Execute any of them you have so condemned that those now in custody here especially Master George Master Stevens and Captaine Huntly must expect no favour or mercy Given under my hand at Oxford this 16 of May 1643 To the Commander in Chiefe and the Councell of Warre in the Citie of Bristol FORTH Having received this Letter by a Drum and knowing the the great advantage they had by the meannesse and basenesse of the Prisoners in the Kings hands put in the ballance with those of the Kings in their hands while Earles Barons and the flower of the Nobilitie and Gentry were exposed to blew Aprons and Broome-men Fines knowing this advantage returnes this insolent Answer Nathaniel Fiennes Governour and the Councell of Warre in the City of Bristol HAving received a writing from your Lordship wherein it is declared That upon information of our late proceedings against Robert Yeomans William Yeomans others you intend speed'y to put Master George Master Stevens Captaine Huntly and others into the same condition We are well assured That neither your Lordship nor any mortall man can put them into the same condition for whether they live or dye they will alwayes be accounted true and honest men faithfull to their King and Country and as in a faire and open way have alwayes prosecuted that Cause which in their judgement guided by the judgement of the Highest Court they held the Justest Whereas the Conspirators of this Citie must both in life and death carry perpetually with them the brand of Treachery and Conspiracy And if Robert Yeomans had made use of his Commission in an open way be should be put into no worse condition then others in the like kind bad beene But the Law of Nature amongst all men and the Law of Armes amongst all Souldiers maketh a difference betweene open Enemies and secrei Spyes and Conspirators And if you shall not make the like distinction we doe sgnifie unto you That we shall not onely proceed to the execution of the persons already condemned but also of divers others of the Conspirators unto whom we had some thoughts of extending mercy And doe advertise you That if by any inhumane and unsouldier-like sentence you shall proceed to the execution of the persons by you named or any other of our friends in your custody that have beene taken in faire and open way of warre then Sir Walter Pye Sir William Crofts colonel Connesby and divers others taken in open Rebellion and actuall Warre against the king and kingdome whom we have here in custody must expect no favour or mercy And by Gods blessing upon our just Cause we have pawnes enough for our friends securitie without taking in any that have gotten out of our reach and power although divers of yours of no mean qualitie and condition have beene freely released by us Given under our hands this 18 day of May 1643 Nath. Fiennes President Clement Walker c. To Patrick Earl of Forth Lord Lieut. General When this tooke no effect the King gracious as he is and full of goodnesse His bowels yearning over the destruction of His worst Subjects takes the condition of these that suffer for him into his pious consideration and since Fines swaying the rest remained obstinare the King by a Trumpeter sends His Letter to the Major Aldermen and Sheriffs of Bristol commanding them to rayse the power of the Citie and imploy it to the resecue of these men designed for slaughter Thus He writes CHARLES R. TRustie and Welbeloved We greet you well Whereas We are informed That by the power and Authority of certain Factions and Rebellious Persons in that Our Citie of
which that inhumane villaine Cliston seeing strook him with his Cane with that violence that he had almost stroken him to the ground good God! which shall we most wonder at either the barbarous inhumanitie of this Murtherer or the degenerous Ignoble patience of the Citizens of Bristol that could stand by and see all this and not choose either to live freely or dye couragiously together Having had sufficient experience of the Tamenesse of the citizens and that there was no danger of opposition to be feared from them the Rebels wade on in blood And having murthered Master Yeomans they command Master Bowcher so ascend the Ladder It seemes by what he left written by his own hand and written to that purpose to communicate it to the world that he intended to be large Exhorting those to use his own words who had set their hands to the Plow meaning the maintenance of the Kings cause not to be too hastie as terisied with their sufferings to take them off nor to regard those beggarly and Schismaticall rudiments which craftie and malicious men had inverted and introduced into the Church of God in these last and worst times of the world denying the Truth bringing in damnable positions of their own devising c. And likewise giving an exact Character of the Schismaticks that domineere at this time in the draught borrowing the pencil of the Holy Ghost I mean describing them in the Phrase of the Scriptures a man very well able to doe it bing versed in the Scriptures a frequent hearer of Sermons and by the testimony of his very enemies confessed to be a Religious man Proud sayes he They are Boasters Heady Unstable who censure as unjust the actions of others before they receive resolution from God or rightly understand his will touching their owne having hearts fraught with malice incessantly labouring to bring to passe their d●vilish designes by pestilent Plots daw●ing and painting them over with false glosses against the light of their ow●e conscience and against that knowledge which they have in the Lawes both of God and Man justifying the wicked and condemning the innocent c. This was too much truth to be spoken to them whom it did so much concerne and therefore was not permitted to speake so largely to the Assembly at last presled on to hasten his death by those that are swift to shed blood he desired to sing Psal 16. which being ended he began to recommend his Soule to God in most pious patheticall Prayers and ejaculations but they are not content that he should speake either to the People or to his God For Rosewell a Levi●e of their owne and a cract-braind Separatist interrupts him in the midst of his Devotions reviles him and cals him Hypocrite and Apostate That after so strict a conversation so much time spent in the profession of Religion he should render all suspected for hypocrisie by so obstinate perseverance in his Rebellion against the Parliament he meant for dying for his Loyaltie to his Soveraigne all this moved not the constancy of this resolved Martyr but according to the advise of Saint Bernard he held up s●utum consciexti● con●●a Gladium Lingue the buckler of a good conscience to ward the blowes of a malicious Tongue Serm. 4● De mode bene vivendi Knowing that as the flattering Tongue is no c●re for a bad so the rayling Tongue is no wound to the good conseience possessing his Soule therefore in patience he lets this snarling Dogge bark on resolving with holy Job Ecce in c●lo Test is me●● Behold my witnesse● is in Heaven and my Record is on high Job 16.19 And so sustaining his Soule under the burden of that reproach with that comfortable promise of our Saviour Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evill against you falsly for my sake Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven Mat. 5. 11 12. He yeelded himselfe to the will and desire of his Murtherers This Rosewel in his very fall from the Lader persuing him with the odious names of Hypocrite and Apostate thereby if it had-beene possible to disturbe the peace of his Soule and indanger his Charitie in that very instant when he was going out or the World and ready to be presented at the dreadfull ●ribunall of that most Righteous Judge who putteth no 〈◊〉 in his Saints yea the Heavens are not c●eare in his sight Job 15. 15. a practice so voyd of Christanitie nay so perfectly devilish to extend malice even to the endeavours of a second death That had a black Angell beene dispatched from Hell an agent for that kingdome of darknesse he could not have done more to advance damnation or approve himselfe a malicious emis●ary of that bottomelesse pit then this Schisnatique did These two now glorious Martyrs having thus through their ignominious death 's rendered their Soules to God the spectators smite their breasts and returne Never was there so generall a face of sorrow such bitter lamentation heard in that Citie as on this day Their bodies taken downe were both carried to Master Ye●mans his house Father in-law to Master Yeomans In the evening Master Bowchers body was conveyed to his owne house a sad spectacle to his poore Widdow and seven Orphans and that night they were both interr'd Master Yeomans at Christ Church and Master Bowcher at Saint Warburgh's their Funeralls being attended by those Orthodox Ministers that the persecution had left and by most of the honest well-affected Citizens though they knew that they could not expresse this piety to the dead but to the hazard of losing their liberties and plundering their estates Thus have you seene the Martyrdome of these Loyall Citizens suffering for their Religion by Sectaries and Atheists for their Loyaltie by Traytors and Rebells and for their Lawes and Liberties by Libertines and sonnes of Belial a Fact so horrid and in which so many Acts of Crueltie and Injustice did meet and concentre that as no History not that of the Anabaptists of Germany can give us a Paralell of this Rebellio● so this Rebellion cannot give us a Paralell of this Murther except that of Master Tompkins and Master Chaloner at London in the same manner FINIS Mercurius Rusticus OR The Countries Complaint OF The Sacriledges Prophanations and Plundrings Committed by the Schismatiques on the Cathedrall Churches of this KINGDOME MATTH 21.13 My house shall be called the house of Prayer but ye have made it a den of Theeves OXFORD Printed in the Yeare 1646. The Prefece THe Author of the French History relating that horrid Rebellion of the holy League in Franch the Prototype of the present Rebillion in England gives this definition or Character of one of those Zealots The Essentiall forme said he of a Zealous Catholike in the Holy League was to Rob and Prophane Churches to Ravish Wives and Virgins to murther Men against the Altars to spoyle the Clergy not to
to the providence of him who can and will bring good out of evill which is the earnest prayer of Christ-Church Cant Aug. 30.1648 Your Lorships most obliged Servant Thomas Paske What effect this just complaint wrought how it prevailed either with that Lord to whom it was addressed or with the pretended Houses of Parliament whose authority and assistance was implored to prevent further our-rage either here or elsewhere wee have too cleare testimony not only in the like sacrileges and prophanations every day acted without any the least check or restraint from the heads of this Rebellion but more especially from their Votes and Ordinances for the abolishing all remainders of Popery and Supe●stition as they call it in all which Intelligi malunt quain Audiri they would have their creatures understand more then they speake being certaine politique Litotes in which Minus dicisur plus inselligitur signifying more then the Grammaticall construction will permit and carry in them a hidden secret sense and meaning which their owne Emissaries know how to interpret and inlarge according to the full intention of the Authors But before we passe from the relation of this horr'd Sacrilege committed on the Church of canterbury I could not free my selfe from being guiltie of that great sinne of obscuring the great manifestation of Gods Justice it I should in silence passe over that most exemplary vengeance which persued to death that unfortunate Gentleman Colonel Sandys the ring-leader to that Rebellious rout which were Actors in that more then Barbarous out-rage Whether the cunning perswasions of others or his own ambition first imbarked him in this fatall undertaking is uncertaine but as himselfe confessed on his death bed to a friend kinsman of his who asked him what he meant being a Gentleman of so faire an estate to ingage himselfe in this Treason He answered That he was so farre drawn in before he was awar● that he knew not how to come ●ff without the danger of his head So usuall it is for one sinne to ingage the finner for a second having therefore once lifted up his hand against his Soveraigne the Lords Anoynted he thought the way to be secure from the pun shment of Rebellion was to persevere in his Crime and go on in Rebellion In pursuance therefore of so black designes being Colonel of a Regiment of Horse in Sept. 1642. with the rest of the Rebells Army under the Conduct of the Earle of Effex he advanced towards Worcester and making some excursions with tenne Troopes of Horse from the body of their Army at wickefield neare Worcester accidentally were met by Prince Rupert accompanied by Prince Maurice and some others Lords and Gentlemen of his Majesties Cavallry being thus by chance met the Prince glad of any opportunitie to expresse the brayenes of his resolution charged the Rebels with incomparable valour In this short but fierce Conflict Colonel Sandys was wounded and being dismounted his Horse became prisoner to the Kings Partee Being thus wounded and as then was conceived mortally he began to reflect upon himselfe and finding so little warrant in his now unblass'd conscience for his undertaking which had brought him into this condition his perplexed soule brake out into many sad expressions of remorse crying out Woe Woe to evill Counsell and happy are they that doe not take it And being put in mind by a Reverend Doctor in Divinity and Chaplaine to Prince Rupert of the haynousnesse of the sin of Rebellion he acknowledged himselfe to have fallen into that sinne and that God was just in his judgements for finding him out in his iniquitie prosessing withall his heartie sorrow and repentance for it whereupon the Doctor replyed that if he recovered perhaps the same perswasions from others or inconside●atencsse in himselfe might again ingage him in this Rebellion at which words a little lifting up his hand he prosessed He would rather have it cut off then ever again life it up against the King he freely acknowledged the justice of the Kings cause and that he had observed the blessings of God to accomany it and when the Doctor desired leave to restihe his repentance to the world he freely gave him leave asking God and the King forgivenesse praying for a blessing upon him and his proceedings In this mind he continued while Prince Rupert and the Kings Forces with him stayd in Warcester and whether after the Earles possessing himselfe of Worcester by the impetuous sollicitations of those Murtherers of Soules those Factors for hell their Schismatical Lecturers who make men twosold more the children of the devill then themselves he fell off and turned Apostate from his newly resolved Loyalty as repenting of his repentance in uncertain Those that were about him saw his weaknesse ever declining from the first houre he received his wounds must testify to the World that he had neither strength of hand to write nor so much composednesse of spirit to be the Author of that Spurious Supposititious Vindication Published in his name Oct. 11. 1642. he being whatsoever that sorgery pretends as unable to vindicate himself with his pen as his sword but if they had his heart as well as hand subscribing to that Atheisticall resolution where they thus bring him in foaming out his own thame The App●chension of death never hitherto so neerly touched me but if God shall once restore me to my former strength I shall by his helpe with as much alacritie and I hope courage endeavour to defend and maintaine with my dearest blood this so good a cause meaning this present Rebellion as ever I was at first ingaged in it If I say they had his heart as well as his hand to that Resolution I am afraid it was too evident a Symptome of a wicked man given up to a Reprobate sense which of all spirituall judgments questionlesse is the greatest and might justly call for those Torments of body which afterward as a Gangreen devoured and eate up his flesh and those pangs of Conscieace which I am afraid were but the earnest of a worse condition to insue for as the Psalmist sayes As for such as turne back unto their owne wickednesse the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquitie Psal 125.5 but I remember that of Saint Paul Judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come I Cor. 4.5 And therefore while on Supposition I write my feares positively I determine nothing not knowing whether God might not give him the grace of repentance at the last which if he did he onely I d●re say that gave the Grace knew of it concerning his eternall condition therefore I shall leave him to the judgement of that Righteous God that judgeth Righteous judgement and gives to every man according to his workes and onely informe the World in what condition the Colonel lay untill the time of his dissolution and putting off his earthly bat loathsome Tabernacle As the Colonel was amongst the Rebells a very considerable man both