Perpetuus magnifice benignus dominus Optimus omnium servus Ille Illeâ— Quem Principes optimi pariter perspicacissimi valde adamarunt Intâ—mum habuerunt Nec ullus unquam odio habuit Honoribus negotiis auctus haud Invidendis Fato succubuit heroico Comite Duce Eboracensi victoria Iunii 2. Anno Aetatis Christi 1665. suae 29. Let this little description of this great Man serve like a Flat Grave-stone or Plain Pavement for the present till a Richer Pen erect him a Statelier Monument Sir EDWARD BERKLEY VVE read Gen. 30. 11. the Leah said A Troop cometh and she called the name of the Child Gad. When I have spied out but a Berkley in the Catalogue either of Loyal Commanders or Compounders I find a great throng following for besides another Sir Henry Berkley as we suppose of whom we have this Note Sir Henry Berkley per William Cradock 0300 00 00 Sir Edward Berkley that honest Gentleman that was neither Sued nor did Sue in his life so willing he was to live in private peace and thence it is easily guessed how unwilling he was to engage in publick quarrels until he saw there was no hope of any tollerable Peace but from the success of a just War A Farmer rented a Grange generally reported to be haunted by Fairies and paid a shrewd Rent for the same at each half years end Now a Gentleman asked him how he durst be so hardy as to live in the house and whether no spirits troubled him Truth said the Farmer there be two Saints in Heaven vex me worse than all the Devils in Hell namely the Virgin Mary and Michael the Arch-angel on which days he paid his Rent This was none of Sir Edwards Tenants who were so kindly treated that he would not receive his Rents until he had seen what his Tenants had got and when he took them he would chuse rather to take them in work which his Tenants could do or in commodities which they had to sell then in monies which he knewthey could not spare and he did not want Now those poor people that he used so tenderly himself he was loath should be oppressed by others and that the estates they had got under him should be a Prey to those who aimed at a Tyranny over the Nation from which he knew no way to secure them but to stand by his Prince in whose just authority was lodged the estates and liberties of all his Subjects and there was not a more effectual way to secure poor people in their enjoyments than to support that Soveraignty that had the care of all their interests and would not permit others to wrong them as he could keep them from usurping upon him He did not fight indeed it could not be expected from his years of which he would say That though he could not lift up a hand against the Rebels in the Field yet he would lift up both for his Majesty in his Closet He would assault Heaven and besiege the Throne of Grace but he Contributed he handled not Steel but he laid out Silver and Gold and what was more gave Intelligence It was Scipio Affricanus his great honor he condescended to serve under his younger Brother it was this Gentlemans remarkable character that what he could not do himself he assisted his meaner Relations to do as long as he lived and bequeathed to them his Loyalty and Estate when he died 165 ... Aetatis 64. After a Composition for 0784 l. 00 00 Leaving behind him the character of a good husband being as he would say never reconciled to his Wife because never at distance with her a good Father intending the education more than the pleasing of his Children by the same token that he was very careful what School-masters settled near him the Jews not more mischievously poisoning Springs in England formerly as they were charged than School-masters mis-principling Youth the Well-head of a Nations hope as they were complained of A good Church-man abhorring the laziness of those that as Cicero said never see the Sun either rising or setting and the Indevotion of those that come neither at the beginning of Prayer nor have the patience to stay till the end himself professing that the most concerning part of Divine Service is the Concession and Absolution that commenceth it and the Blessing that concludes it A good friend choice in his acquaintance firm to his friendship clear and plain in his dealing free in his erogations studious in contriving ways to do good A liberal man that devised liberal things In fine A good man whom Nero hated Sir VVILLIAM BERKLEY PHilip de Commines telleth us of a Noble Family in Flandert that generally they lost their lives in the Service of their Prince And we find in our own Chronicles that Edmund Duke of Somerset lost his life in the first battel of Saint Albans Duke Henry following him taken in the battel of Hexan and so beheaded a second Duke Edmund and the Lord Iohn of Somerset going the same way in the battel of Teuxbury all of them fighing in the behalf of King Henry and the House of Lancaster but then they heaped not Funeral upon Funeral in so short a time as this honorable Family did in which respect as those of the House of Somerset exceeded the House of Flanders so the House of the Berkleys exceeded the House of Somerset the Earl of Falmouth the elder Brother Keeper of his Majesties Privy Purse and Captain of his Highness Regiment of Gaurds fell the first year of our war with the Dutch Sir William Berkley the younger Brother Governor of Portsmouth and Vice Admiral of the White in the last years Expedition in the second one sad messenger following another with disconsolate â—idings that as waves following waves had swallowed up that good Family parallel to that which the Historian calleth the Mourning Family in Italy did not the same consideration buoy up them that supported the other that these hopeful Personages died in that service for which they were born Patriae geniti toti nati mundo the honor of their Soveraign and the good of their Country Nature that made one industry was to make all these Brothers Heirs One of the younger Brothers gives as the Heralds observe a Martlet for the difference of his Armes a Bird observed to build either in Castles Steeples or Ships shewing saith our Author that the Bearer thereof being to cut out his own fortune must seek by War Learning or Merchandise to advance his estate This Gentleman being Bound to a Merchant trade hath raised many families and restored more and Apprentiship doth neither extinguish native Gentility nor disinable to acquisitive is presumed to have behaved himself as a good Servant because that was the way to be a happy Master for we learn to command by obeying and to know what we should exact from others by what we have performed our selves besides a great Fortune like great Buildings
Speaking about going to Law his opinion was that it was better to buy Love than Law for one might have a great deal of Love for a little whereas he could have but a little Law for a great deal He would frequently say that was not well which ended everlastingly ill and that a man was never undone till he was in hell This was a Speech which he often used that if it were lawful to envy any he would envy those that turned to God in youth whereby they escape much sin and sorrow and were like unto Iacob that stole the blessing betimes He died praying heartily for the King and declaiming as heartily against the Rebellion that would make such a breach in this State and be such a scandal to this Church as the Child unborn should rue and bewail Anno Christi 1645. Aetat suae 96. Hic Jacet faceta virtus pietasque pacisica Quae totam duobus verbis absolvit vitam Nempe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sustine abstine THE Life and Death OF BARON TREVOR WE remember when Oratory and Faction had attained here the same heighth that a Learned Man observeth they had attained at Rome together for Speeches and Sedition are inseparable companions It was reckoned a quaint strain upon Mr. Prynne Bastwick and Burtons sufferings to say That it seemed to many Gentlemen a spectacle no less strange than sad to see three of several professions the noblest in the kingdom Divinity Law and Physick exposed at one time to such ignominious punishment forsooth And truly we are at present under a great doubt whether it was a more sad or a more pleasant sight to see so many eminent men of all these and other ingenious professions act so chearfully and suffer so patiently for that Government which those before-mentioned endeavoured first to disgrace and at last to overthrow First debauching men from their love and reverence to Superiors by exposing them to scorn and contempt and next from their duty to them by opposing and fighting them There went immediately before a very Reverend Divine that in the midst of many discouragements zealously discried the resistance of the Supream and Lawful power as against Conscience And now he is followed by a worthy Lawyer that eagerly opposed any thing that tended to it as against Law Sir Thomas Trevor was born Iuly the 6. 1586. a day memorable in that Family for the birth of six successives principal branches of it born upon it with this remarkable occurrence That whereas most other Children are born to this sad world crying he was observed to smile almost as soon as born an argument of the chearful temper he was of until he died His Temper lead him to the active ways of a Souldier or a Courtier but his judgment carried him to the more studious employment of a Lawyer wherein he promised great proficiency from that towardliness at School that never deserved correction and success in the University that never failed of applause in both such strong parts that his Master would say of him This Boy hath not the patience to stay at the words in Authors he is so inquisitive after the thing And his Tutor That he had a strange Natural Logick Saint Rumbald I write what I read not what I believe as soon as he came out of his Mothers womb falling into the Churches bosome cried three times the first minute of his life I am a Christian made a confession of his Faith desired to be Baptized chose his God-fathers his Name and his Font. This the fable the moral shall be the early seriousness of this person seriousness and devotion being of Vives his opinion that a pious Youth resisting its own temptations and allaying its own heat makes a comfortable and a serviceable Age neither sad with a mans own remembrances of younger follies nor useless by the disgrace of others observing of them Many men are lost in their more reduced years by reason of the scandal of their younger ones Though the light when grown pours fuller streams it s yet more precious in its virgin beams and though the third and fourth may do the cure the eldest tear of the Balsome is most pure One of Seneca's few men you have here Qui consilio se suaque disponunt caeteri eorum more qui fluminibus innatant non eunt sed feruntur And the rather was he pious because he would say often that sentence of Cicero Pietas justitia quaedam est adversus deos pietate sublata fides etiam societas humani generis una excellentissima virtus justitia imo omnis probitas tollitur And because he observed that the difficulties of this study was not to be overcome without the quietness of heart and composedness and calmness of mind that all men aim at and good men only injoy Happy was the mixture of heat and moisture in his head the later serving his memory and judgment and the former his apprehension and fancy that at once pierced into the depth and look round all the little circumstance of Cases to which his wary distrust patient consideration and slow conclusion and determination contributed much being used to say That we could not have too little faith as to any thing proposed to us in this world nor too much for the things offered us in reference to another World Comparing the failures of his memory to the fluxes of his body both arguing the weakness of the retentive faculty there being seldom a discourse wherein with Curio the Orator in Tully he either added not some head he had not thought on or omitted a point he had he finding true that passage of Seneca Res est ex omnibus partibus maxime delicata memoria in quam primum senectus incurrit frigido jam incalescente exarescente cerebro His smooth contexture of Discourse and flowing speech his command of himself and temper seldom either disordering himself or disturbing his Argument with perturbation of mind although disturbance would heat him sometimes to an improvement of his Eloquence insomuch that as it was reported of Severus Cassius that would do best ex tempore his Antagonists were afraid to anger him who had most wit in his anger as much as Aristotle observeth others designed to provoke their Adversaries that they might interrupt them So weighty though not bold his Assertions so choice though not nice his Speech for the niceness of words breaks the weight of Arguments so plain his dealing so becoming and grave his Carriage and Address and so intire his Reputation that besides several reposed in him by several Noblemen he was made Solicitor to King Charles the I. when King by the wise King Iames upon the Earl of Pembroke and Bishop Williams recommendation and in the first year of the said King made Serjeant and preferred Kings Serjeant Sir Iohn Walter then and he giving Rings with this Inscription Regi Legi servire Libertas and the same year one of the
with himself he was translated to the See of Coventry and Litchfield void by the Translation of his old friend Bishop Overal to Norwich And here his trouble was not so great as at Chester though his Diocesse was larger because the common sort of people were better principled by the care and vigilance of his Predecessor But yet he abated nothing of his former pains and industry both in Writing Preaching and Conferring with them that were not wilfully obstinate in his Diocesse besides Visitations and exact Confirmations Among the works of Charity performed by this Bishop while he was at that See memorable is the Education he bestowed upon one George Canner who like another Didimus of Alexandria or Fisher of Westminster was born blindâ— This youth he brought up first at School and afterwards sent him to Cambridge where he maintained him and his Uncle to look to him at St. Iohns Colledge After he had the Degree of Bachelor of Arts he sent for him to his own Family and instructed him in the whole body of Divinity and then admitted him into Sacred Orders placed him in a Cure in Stafford-shire which Cure the blind man discharged diligently and laudably being a very good Preacher and being able also to perform the whole office of the Church as it is appointed in the Book of Common-Prayer only by the strength of his admirable Memory Anno 1632. He was translated to the See of Duresm void by the death of Bishop Howson a place of great Trust and Honor as well as of greater Emolument For besides the Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Affairs as before he had now the care and management of all the Temporal Affairs within the County Palatine of Duresm by virtue of the Palatinate annexed for many hundred years to the Episcopal See in so much that it passed a Maxim there Quicquid potest Rex extra Episcopatum potest Episcopus intra And in the same he carryed himself with so much Iustice and Equity for ten years together before these late Troubles put a disturbance in the exercise of his Government that no complaint was made against him to the Parliament except onely the case of Mr. Smart which yet had no relation to the County Palaâ—ine neither could the Charge be made good against him who was but one of the High-Commission How great his fatherly care was for the Spiritual care of the Bishoprick will appear by his pious endeavors in setling Augmentations upon the smaller Benefices he had given a good example long before while he was Bishop of Lichfield in abating a good part of his Fine to increase the portion of the Vicar of Pichley in Northampton-shire as you may see in Mr. Stephens his Preface to Sir Henry Spelmans Book and now in a Work of so much importance he applyed himself for Counsel to three of the most Learned in the Laws Lord Keeper Coventry Mr. Noy Sir Henry Martin who all concurred that the Bishops Authority over Churches appropriate was neither taken away nor any way infringed but that he may now appoint a competent Augmentation having thus fully informed hâ—mself of his just power in a matter of so high Concernment for the advancement of Christian Religion and the good of Souls he resolved to put it in practice as far as God should enable him and trust God with the event He began at home with the Parish of Bishop-Aukland Here he augmented the stipend of the Mother-Church from 16 l. per annum to fourscore and the Chappels belonging from six pounds per annum to thirty intending to extend the like Episcopal care in some proportion over all the rest of his Diocesse but so Pious Heroical a Work became Abortive by the Scotch Invasion c. We are now come to the precipice of this Reverend Bishops outward splendor though neither his glory nor happiness incurred the least diminution by his future sufferings For he was never more happy in his own thoughts nor more glorious in the eyes of all good men then in being exercised in those troubles whereof the continual series of publick Affairs afforded him a perpetual opportunity from this time till his death In one of the Tumults after the beginning of the Long-Parliament this Reverend Bishop was in hazard of his life by the multitude that were beckened thither by the Contrivers of our late Miseries whereof some cryed Pull him out of his Coach others nay he is a good man others but for all that he is a Bishop And he hath often said he believed he should not have escaped alive if a Leading-man among the Rabble had not cryed out Let him go and hang himself Upon this and the like Violations of the Liberty and Freedom essential to all the Members of Parliament when the twelve â—ishops whereof this was one Remonstrated the just Fears they were in and protested their dissent from all Laws which should be enacted till they might attend the service of the House with Freedom and Safety as any one Peer unjustly detained â—rom Sitting may they were all Charged with High-Treason by the House of Commons and Committed to Prison with the Bishop of Coventry and Leichfield at the Usher of the Black-rods house when the other ten went to the Tower Our Bishop being after four months discharged from this his first Imprisonment returned to his Lodgings in Duresm-house and there attended his Devotions and Studies till such time as his adversaries thought fit to give him another occasion to exercise his patience under a second Captivity upon occasion of Baptizing a Child of the Earl of Rutlands according to the Orders of the Church and in custody he remained six months before he could obtain his inlargement After this he staid in Duresm-house till he was thrown out chence by the Souldiers that came to Garrison it a little before that horrid Fact was committed upon the Person of our late Gracious King and after that being importuned by his honourable friend the Earl and Countess of Rutland he became part of their care and family at Exceter-house for some short time but being loath to live at the charge of others while he was able to subsist of himself and thinking the air of the Country might better suit with his declining years he betook himself to sojourn first with Captain Saunders in Hartfordshire and after with Mr. Thomas Rotheram in Bedfordshire till by the great civility and earnest importunity of that noble young Baronet Sir Henry Yelverton he went with him to his house at East-Manduit in Northamptonshire where he found all the tender respect and care from the whole family which a Father could expect from his Children till after a few months he rendred up his happy soul into the hands of his heavenly Father When the House of Commons had Voted for the Dissolving of Bishopricks some prevailed for a Vote of Yearly Allowance to present Bishops during their lives Our Bishop had 800 l. a
to what their Father Sir Everarâ— Digby engaged in the Powder-plot forfeited to King Iames. A Gentleman of a strong body and brain witness his Book of Bodies and the Immortality of the Soul his soul being one of those few souls that understand themselves together with his suddain Notes on Religio Medici of a great correspondence see Dr. Wallis Commercium Epistoli Of a fluent invention and discourse as appears from his long discourse at Montpelier in France and his entertainments of the Ladies of the several Nations he travelled in of a great faculty in Negatiations both at France Rome Florence and most of the States of Italy of one of the Princes whereof it is reported that having no Children he was very willing his Wife should bring him a Prince by Sir Kenelm whom he imagined the just measure of perfection The rest learn from this Epitaph on his Tomb 1665. when he died and was buried with his incomparable Lady at Christ-Church London to which he had been a great Benefactor Vnder this Tomb the Matchless Digby lyes Digby the Great the Valiant and the Wise This Ages Wonder for his Noble Parts Skilled in six Tongues and learned in all the Arts Born on the day he Died the eleven of June And that day bravely fought at Scanderoon It 's Rare that one and the same day should be His day of Birth of Death of Victory R. F. 3. Colonel Iohn Digby the excellent Archer and Improver of Aschams Toxophelus but many talk of Robin Hood that never shot in his Bow 4. Mr. Kenelm Digby eldest Son of Sir Kelnelm who was then imprisoned at Winchester-house slain at Saint Neots in Huntingtonshire in whose Pocket was found they say a Lock and Key with a Chain of ten Links which a Flea could draw for which certainly he had been with The Little Smith of Nottingham Who doth the work that no man Can. 5. Sir Io. Digby of Mawfield-woodhouse County of Nottingham paid composition 1058 l. and George Digby of London Stafford Esq. 1440 l. Martial men it is observed made for and worn with her began and expired with Queen Elizabeth peaceable and soft spirited men with King Iames and honest publick-spirited Patriots with King Charles I. 6. Sir Herbert and Sir Thomas Lunsford both of Lunsford Sussex the first said by the enemies to be the fairer the â—ther the shrewdest adversary the reason why the ones abilities was drowned by the others activity one grain of the practical man was in all ages too heavy for a pound of the barely knowing both the biggest men though twins you could likely see to wherefore Sir Thomas was feigned by the Brethren a devourer of Children both bred in the Dutch and Germane Wars both in command in the Scotch war Sir Thomas was Lieutenant of the Tower 1639. and displaced to please a jealous multitude a Prisoner there 1641 for attempting as was pretended to draw up a body of Horse and seize the Magazines at Kingston upon Thames His first encounter for his Majesty was at Westminster upon the Rabble that came down to cry no Bishops where he and some other Gentlemen drawing upon them scattered them as he did them often afterward in the course of the Wars when they were modelled into Armies losing his Brother Col. H. Lunsford by a Canon-shot at Bristow Iuly 26. 1643. with Col. Trivanian and Col. Bucke who make me unwilling to believe the common Proverb That he was Cursed in his Mothers belly that was killed with a Canon though it is sad to see Valour subjected to chance and the bravest man fall sometimes by the most inconsiderable hand It was their Fathers observation in Queen Elizabeths time that God so equally divided the advantage of weapons between Spain and us that as their Bilboa Steel makes the best Swords so our Sussex Iron makes the best Guns THE Life and Death OF EDWARD Lord LITLETON Lord Keepter of the Great Seal of England ELdest Son to Sir Edward Littleton of Mounslow in Shrop-shire one of the Justices of the Marches and chief Justice of Northwales himself bred in Christ-Church Oxford and at the Temple in London one of the Justices in North-wales Recorder of London Sollicitor to King Charles the I. Term Mich. Anno 15. Car. 1. Serjeant at Law and chief Justice of the Common-Fleas 1639 40 Privy-Counsellor and Lord-Keeper and Baron of Mouâ—slow 1640 41. Honors he gained by his discreet management of the Duke of Buckinghams Charge and other Affairs in Parliaments 1625. 1626. 1627. 1628. between the jealousie of the people and the Honor of the Court that Sir I. Finch would say of him He was the only man for taking things by the Right handle and Sir Edward Cook that he was a well-poized and weighed man and deserved by sending the Seal first and then going himself after it to the King at York whence his presence did but countenance the Rebellion in London for the Lord Willoughby of Parham pleaded in answer to a summons sent him by his Majesty that he was about setling the Militia according to the Votes of Parliament passed as legal by Sir Edward Litleton Lord Keeper and Sir Iohn Banks as Lord chief Justice An action of important service to his Majesty not only confirming all his proceedings with the right Seal but likewise occasioning the Adjournment of the Term the suing of all Original Writs from Oxford the invalidity of unsealed Parliament Proclamations the impossibility of issuing out new Writs of Election for Members of Parliament and thereupon the danger of the dissolution of that Parliament especially since the making of the new Seal was a matter of so dangerous a consequence that a Member of their own desired the Serjeant that drew up the Orâ—â—nance for the new Seal not to be made too hasty in that business before he consulted the Statute 25 Edw. 3. Where counterfeiting of the Great Seal is declared High Treason To which the Serjeant replyed That he purposed not to counterfeit the old Seal but to make a new His very name carryed an hereditary Credit with it which plaineth out the way to all great actions his Vertue being Authorized by his Nobility and his Undertakings enobled by his Birth gained that esteem which meaner men attain not without a large compass of time and Experience Worthless Nobility and ignoble worth lie under equal disadvantage neither was his Extraction greater than his Parts his Judgment being clear and piercing his Learning various and useful his Skill in the Maxims of our Government the Fundamental Laws of this Monarchy with its Statutes and Customs singular his Experience long and observing his Presence and Eloquence Powerful and Majestick and all beâ—itting a Statesman and a Lord Keeper who was besides a Souldier For I think these Verses were made upon him In D. E. L. Iudicem Chiliarcham Truncatus manibus ne serret munera Iudex Olim oculis captus ne caperetur erat Vteris ambobus
Dr. Cox a grave Divine sent by Sir 〈◊〉 with Overtures of Peace after his Victory at Sirâ—â—â—on to the defeated at Exeter almost killed there by a Potion given him to make him Vomit up a Paper of Intelligence which they pretended he had swallowed down Imprisoned in a sinking Ship for some weeks and at my Lord Peters House for more Moneths 3. Mr. Symmonds of whom before for preaching against slandering the foot steps of Gods annointed and undeceiving the Country with such good principles as are to be seen in his excellent book called a Loyal Subjects belief supplanted by a Weaver imposed upon him as Lecturer Sequestred of his Living for the supply of an able and godly man as if he had not been such suffering in his Wife and Children and aged Father 4. Dr. Michelson of Chelmesford used in the like manner so that escaping narrowly being buried alive himself once for burying the dead according to the Common-Prayer he was forced being plundred of all he had to fly for his life and leave his Wife and Children to the mercy of cruel men 5. Sir William Boteler of Barrhams place in Teston Kent for joyning with the Neighbor Gentry in their honest and famous Petition for Peace to the House of Commons April 1642. after his return from Celebrating St. George his Feast with his Majesty being then his Gentleman Pensioner Imprisoned closely in the Fleet seven weeks when his House was ransacked his Servants tormented and his Maids ravished and he himself removed to the Gatehouse for six moneths whence he narrowly escaped to Oxford with his life 6. The like usage had Sir Henry Audley of Beer-Church and Mr. Honifold of Colchester And 7. The Right Honorable Eliz. the Countess of Rivers at her Houses in St. Osyth and Long Melford where she lost 100000 l. hardly escaping with her life to London 8. Sir Richard Minsâ—ul for attending on his Master the King to whom he was Clerk of the Hanaper at York plundered at his house of Bourton in Buckinghamshire Aug. 18. 1642. to the value of 20000 l. in Goods Bonds and Cattel 9. The Right Honorable the Lord Arundel of Warder against the Articles which his Heroick Lady procured before she would surrender his Castle of Warder suffered 25000 l. loss besides the grievous affliction by Imprisonment and otherwise of the whole Family especially the Children 10. The Honorable Mr. Noel my Lord Cambdens Brother of Rutlandshire plundered and Imprisoned against the express conditions upon which he delivered his house to the loss of 2000 l. 11. The most Illustrious Prince the Duke of Vendosme plundred at Vxbridge no Nation or Quality escaping the barbarousness of those times when the Villages of England were grown as dangerous as the Woods of Ardenna to the value of 9000 l. 12. Reverend Mr. Swift of Goodwich Heref. plundred for sending Arms to Monmouth and preaching at Ross upon that Text Râ—â—der to Caesar the things that are Caesars 300 l. deep a true Exposition of Essex his Motto Cave adsum 13. Mr. Iones the grave and Learned Vicar of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire sterved to death in Prison at Northampton at 70. years of Age. 14. Will. Chaldwell Esq and Justice of Peace of Thorgonby in Lincolnshire for providing his Majesty four Horses and being skilful in the Survey of those parts and Souldiers must act as wide as Bowlers bowl when they know not the Ground Plundred and Imprisoned in Lincoln Goal among Thieves and Felons in which hole and the Dungeon though an aged and infirm man 〈…〉 hazzard of his life 15. As barbarously was Mr. Losse Minister used Iuly 2. 1643. at Wedon Pinkney in Northamptonshire And 16. Mr. Tho. Iones Rector of Off well Devon at Liskard 17. Mr. Wright the Hospitable Minister of Wemslow in Cheshire 18. Mr. Anthony Tyringham of Tyringham in Buckinghamshire 19. Mr. Wiborow of Pebmarch Essex who as the River Iordan made many turnings and windings desirous to defer what he could not avoid before he fell into the dead Sea 20. Mr. Dalton of Dalham in Sussex Prodigal of his Estate but careful of his Reputation not so concerned for his losses as for the Instruments as Abimelech who being angry with his killer because a Woman would needs be killed again by his Armor-bearer 21. Sir George Bunkley an Ingenious Gentleman and a good Commander sometime Deputy-Governor of Oxon. died in Prison with hard usage at Lambeth 22. Dr. Oldish of N.C. Oxon. murdered on his way and journey between Adderbury and Oxford as was 23. The Honorable Mr. Edward Sackvile the Earl of Dorsets son a Person of great hopes that having overcome those rosie nets the flattering vanities of youth and greatness strewed in his way distinguished himself not by Birth his Mothers labor not his from the common throng but worth a Jewel come into the world with its own light and glory and studies which cutting the untrod Alpes of Knowledge with the Vinegar only of an eager and smart spirit to all that he was born to know most barbarously between Oxford and Abington aiming not at the Conquest of any Faction but all Errors as Aristotle went over the world while Alexander did so but over a part of it 24. Sir R. Canterell narrowly escaping himself from London had his Servants put to more than Amboyna Cruelties in Chancery-lane to discover his Person and Estate being used as Step-mothers do their Children who whip them till they cry and then whip them for crying 25. Mr. Hinson a Sussex Minister in humanely tormented 26. Mr. Fowler barbarously used at Minching-Hampton Gloc. for saying with reference to the Factions extraordinary pretensions that God withdrew Miracles where he afforded means and that they might as well expect to be Fellow Commoners with the Angels for Manna as Fellow-ministers with the Apostles for Gifts otherwise as innocent as his Surplice was white in his Children whose not speaking spake for them and Wife whose Sexes weakness is an impregnable strength against a Valiant man 27. Charitable and Hospitable Mr. Rowland Berkleys house at Castle-morton Gloc. five times plundred plundred upon plunder is false Heraldry to the value of 15000 l. every time plundring so much that they thought they had left nothing and leaveing so much as if they had plundred nothing till as they boasted upon their return they had made the Gentleman a Beggar and left him not worth a Groat 28. Dr. Featly of whom before had his Barns burned Chancel defaced and his Rails torn at Actâ—on Nov. 1642. some of his Congregation killed and all frighted out of the Church at Lambeth Feb. 19. 1642. threatning to cut the Doctor for keeping to his Porridge for so they called the Common-Prayer as small as herbs to the pot who escaping them then with their 7 Articles like the whip with 7 cords in Henry 8. time was committed Prisoner with Sir George Sonds Sir Io. Butler and Mr. Nevile to Peterhouse Sept. 30. 1643. and
the Arch-bishop and Windebanke Sir Henry Vane affirmeth the words I deny them then there remain four for further Evidence viz. The Marquess Hamilton the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Cottington who have all declared upon their honour that they never heard me speak those words nay nor the like Lastly suppose though I granted it not that I spake those words yet cannot the word this rationally imply England because the Debate was concerning Scotland as is yielded on all hands because England was not out of the way of obedience as the Earl of Clare observed well and because there was never the least intention of Landing the Irish Army in England as the foresaid Lords of the Privy Council are able to attest Concluding his defence with a sinewy summary and a close recapitulation of what he had said and a gallant Speech to this purpose My Lords THere yet remains another Treason that I should be guilty of The endeavouring to subvert the Fundamental Laws of the Land That they should now be Treason together that is not Treason in any one part of Treason Accumulative that so when all will not do it is woven up with others it should seem very strange Vnder favour my Lords I do not conceive that there is either Statute-law or Common-law that doth declare the endeavouring to subvert the Fundamental Laws to be High-treason For neither Statute-law nor Common-law written that ever I could hear off declareth it so And yet I have been diligent to enquire as I believe you think it doth concern me to do It is hard to be questioned for Life and Honour upon a Law that cannot be shewn There is a Rule I have learned from Sir Edward Cooke De non apparentibus non existentibus eadem ratio Jesuâ— Where hath this fire lain all this while so many hundreds of years without any smoak to discover it till it thus burnt out to consume me and my Children extreame hard in my opinion that punishment should proceed promulgation of Laws punishment by a Law subsequent to the acts done Take it into your consideration For certainly it is now better to be under no Law at all but the will of men than to conform our selves under the protection of a Law as we think and then be punished for a Crime that doth proceed the Law What man can be safe if that be once admitted My Lords It is hard in another respect that there should be no Token set upon this Offence by which we should know it no Admonition by which we should be aware of it If a man pass down the Thames in a Boat and it be Split upon an Anchor and no Buoy be set as a token that there is an Anchor there that party that owes the Anchor by the Maritine Laws shall give satisfaction for the damage done but if it were markâ— out I must come upon my own peril Now where is a mark upon this crime where is the token this is High-treason If it be under water and not above water no humane providence can avail nor prevent my destruction Lay aside all humane wisdome and let us rest upon Divine Revelation if you will condemn me before you forewarn the danger Oh my Lords May your Lordships be pleased to give regard unto the presage of England as never to suffer our selves to be put on those nice points upon such contractive interpretations and these are where Laws are not clear or known If there must be trials of Wits I do humbly beseech you the subject and matter may be somewhat else than the lives and honours of Peers My Lords We find that the Primitive times in the progression of the plain Doctrine of the Apostles they brought the Books of Curious Arts and burned them And so likewise as I conceive it will be wisdome and providence in your Lordships for your posterity and the whole Kingdomes to cast from you into the fire those bloudy and most misterious Volumes of constructive and arbitrary Treasons and to betake your selves to the plain letters of the Law and Statute that telleth us where the crime is and by telling what is and what is not shews us how to avoid it And let us not be ambitious to be more wise and learned in the killing arts than our forefathers were It is now full two hundred and forty years since ever any man was touched for this alledged crime to this height before my self we have lived happily to our selves at home and we have lived gloriously to the world abroad Let us rest contented with that our fathers have left us and not awaken thâ—se sleepy Lions to our own destructions by taking up a few musty Records that have lain so many Ages by the Walls quite forgotten and neglected May your Lordships be nobly pleased to add this to those other misfortunes befallen me for my Sins not for my Treasons that a President should be derived from me of that disadvantage as this will be in the consequent to the whole Kingdome I beseech you seriously to consider it and let not my particular cause be looked upon as you do though you wound me in my interest in the Commonwealth and therefore those Gentlemen say that they speak for the Commonwealth yet in this particular I indeed speak for it and the inconveniencies and mischiefs that will heavily fall upon us For as it is in the first of King Henry the fourth no man will after know what to do or say for fear Do not put My Lords so great difficulties upon the Ministers of State that men of wisdome honour and virtue may not with chearfulness and safety be imployed for the publick If you weigh and measure them by Grains and Scruples the publick affairs of the Kingdom will be laid waste and no man will meddle with them that hath honours issues or any fortunes to loose MY Lords I have now troubled you longer than I should have done were it not for the interest of those dear pledges a Saint in Heaven left me I should be loath my Lords there he stopped What I forfeit for my self it is nothing but that my Indiscretion should forfeit for my Child it even woundeth me to the very soul. You will pardon my infirmity something I should have said but I am not able and sighed therefore let it pass And now my Lords I have been by the blessing of Almighty God taught that the affâ—iction of this life present are not to be compared to the eternal weight of that glory that shall be revealed to us hereafter And so my Lords even so with tranquillity of mind I do submit my self freely and clearly to your Lordships judgements and whether that righteous Iudgement shall be to life or death Te Deum Laudamus A defence every way so compleat That he whom English Scots and Irish combined against in their Testimonies such English as cavied his virtues and power such Scots as feared his wisdom
the affections of the Irish Subjects from the subjection of England Sixthly That they had agreed together to draw away the Subjects of Scotland from the King Seventhly That to preserve himself and the said Earl he had laboured to subvert the Liberties and Priviledges of Parliament in Ireland An Impeachment they drew that they might confine him but prosecuted not lest they should shame themselves but permitting him to go whither he would they waited the event of things and when that fell out much beyond their expectation they adventured to condemn him unheard In all their Treaties with his Majesty inserting Sir George Ratcliffe that Mr. Hampden said was one of the most dangerous men that adhered to the King for one that they would have utterly excluded Pardon The main instance whereby they intended to render him odious was doubtless his severity to the Children and Relations of those that came under the lash as disaffected to the Government but since Proles est pars parentis and one part of the body suffereth for the offences of the other the hand steals the feet are stocked the tongue forswears the ears are cut off it is thought conâ—istent with Divine Justice and necessary for humane prudence to correct the Children with the Parents that those people that are so hardy as to adventure their own Concerns for the disturbance of the Publick may yet be fearful of troublesome practises with regard to the Interest of their Innocent Children those Pledges Common-wealths have that men will be quiet When he had privately detected the Conspiracious laid open the Plots and taken off many Instruments of the Faction he died Anno 165. ... Leaving these remarques behinde him 1. That with Tamerlain he never bestowed place on a man that was over-ambitious for it 2. That he feared more the committing than the discovery of an Irregularity That he gave away to Charitable Uses a tenth of what he got that he loved a Grave rather than a gawdy Religion often using Tully's saying of the Roman Lady in reference some practices of the Roman Church that she danced better than became a modest Woman Being dead in the lower part of his body of a Palsie as we are informed his Soul retired to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Upper-room of his Clay Cottage as much employed in Contemplation the latter end of his Life as he had been in action in the beginning Ne Ingentes Augustissimi viri ruinae etiam Perirent Memoriae G. Ratcliffe Equitis Aurati D. D. C. Q. L. M. E. M. Monumentum saltem chartaceum ne desideret vir ultra Marmora perrenandus THE Life and Death OF DOCTOR POTTER Lord Bishop of Carlisle IN a time when this Kingdom flourished with Magnificent Edifices the Trade of the Nation had brought the Wealth of the Indies to our doors Learning and all good Sciences were so cherished that they grew to Admiration and many Arts of the Ancients buried and forgotten by time were revived again no Subjects happier though none less sensible of their Happiness Security increasing the Husband mans stock and Justice preserved his Life the poor might Reverence but needed not fear the Great and the Great though he might despise yet could not injure his more obscure Neighbor and all things were so administred that they seemed to conspire to the Publick good except that they made our Happiness too much the cause of our Civil Commotions and brought our Felicity to that height that by the necessity of humane Affairs that hath placed all things in motion it must necessarily decline At this happy time thus happily expressed by Dr. Perrinchiefe and Dr. Bates it was that I will not say the City of London for the better part of it abhorred it but to phrase the Men the Lord Digby's way I know not what 15000 Londoners all that could be got to subscribe complained in a Petition that Trade was obstructed Grievances increased Patents and Monopolies multiplied meerly because of the Bishops who were looked upon as the Great Grievance of the Kingdom in somuch that this Doctor who was born in a Puritane place at Westmester within the Barony of Kendal in Westmerland in Puritane times when that party guided Affairs 1578. Bred under a Puritane School-Master one Mr. Maxwell at School in the place where he was born and under a Puritane Tutor in Queens Colledge in Oxford and looked upon as so great a Puritane in King Iames his time that they would say in jest that the noise of an Organ would blow him out the Church and therefore he was called tho Puritanical Bishop though his love to Musick no doubt was as great as his Skill and his Skill so good that he could bear a part in it yet because he was a Bishop he was slighted when he came to London as Iuke warm and forsaken as Popish that had been so followed formerly as the most godly and powerful Preacher He had been a great Tutor at Queens where he had learned to train others by the Discipline he had undergone himself insomuch that when Bishop 33 Eminent Divines Lawyers Physicians and Statesmen formerly his Pupils waited on him together for his blessing He managed prudently as he was chosen into it unexpectedly and unanimously when an hundred miles off the Government and Provostship of that Colledge Vbi se ferebat Patrem-familia providum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nec Collegio gravis fuit aut onerosus He resigned it self-denyingly judging that his Northern charge had more need of him as an able and skilful Minister than Queens Colledge as a Provost The meek and humble man looked not for Preferment yea avoided it with an hearty nolo Episcopari And his gracious Master King Charles unexpectedly when he was buried in his Living and resolvedly when there was a considerable Competition and not an inconsiderable opposition saying He would consider his old Servant and the good man whom he liked the better for being a man of few words but a sweet Preacher called at Court The Ponetential Preacher for being peaceable in his practice though singular in his Opinion and being not humorsome though precise having the severe strictness though not the sower leaven of the Pharisees His gracious Master not so much honoring him as he did the Function and that age in the freedom of his Noble and unsought for choice The man being so exemplary in his carriage that several Recusants that could not go with him to Church yet conversed much with him Because said they they would go with him to Heaven So good a Master of his Family that his House was a Church where Family-duties constant Prayers Catechizing reading Scriptures Expounding godly Conference speaking to one another in Psalms and Spiritual Hymns were performed so regularly and so constantly that hundreds left their distant Habitations to be near him though all accommodations about him were so much the dearer as his Neighborhood was the more precious It was as great a happiness
Crimes you see answered when named made up into a Charge that was its own Reply and therefore barely set down by me without any reflection save their own nature and self-confutation What is ridiculous need only be shewed But hear the good man himself that had so often interceded for others to God pleading for himself before men I. To his Charge in General My Lords MY being in this place in this condition recalls to my memory that which I long since read in Seneca Tormentum est etiamsi absolutus quis fuerit causam dixisse 6. de Benef. c. 28. 'T is not a grief only no 't is no less than a torment for an ingenuous man to plead Capitally or Criminally though it should so fall out that he be absolved The great truth of this I finde at present in my self and so much the more because I am a Christian and not that only but in Holy-orders and not so only but by Gods grace and goodness preferred to the greatest place this Church affords and yet brought Causam dicere to plead for my self at this Bar. And whatsoever the world think of me and they have been taught to think much more ill of me then I humbly thank Christ for it I was ever acquainted with yet My Lords this I finde Tormentum est 't is no less than a torment to me to appear in this place Nay my Lords give me leave to speak plain truth No sentence that can justly pass upon me and other I will never fear from your Lordships can go so near me as Causam dicere to plead for my self upon this occasion and in this place For as for the Sentence be it what it shall I thank God for it I am for it at Saint Pauls ward Acts 25. 11. If I have committed any thing worthy of death I refuse not do dye For I thank God I have so lived as that I am neither afraid to dye nor ashamed to live But seeing the Malignity which hath been raised against me by some men I have carried my very life in my hands these divers years past But yet my Lords if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me though I may not in this Case and from this Bar appeal unto Caesar yet to your Lordships Iustice and Integrity I both may and do not doubting but that God of his goodness will preserve my innocency And as Iob in the midst of his affliction said to his mistaken Friends so shall I to my Accusâ—râ— God forbid I should justifie you till I dye I will not remove my Integrity from me I will hold it fast and not let it go my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live Job 22. 5. My Lords the Charge against me is brought up in ten Articles but the main heads are two An endeavor to subveâ—t the Laws of the Land and the Religion established Six Articles the fift first and the last concern the Laws and the other four Religion For the Laws first I think I may safely say I have been to my understanding as strict an observer of them all the days of my life so far as they concern me as any man hath and since I came into place I have followed them and been as much gâ—ided by them as any man that sat where I had the honor to sit And of this I am sorry I have lost the testimony of the Lord Keeper Coventry and other persons of Honor since dead And the Council which attended at the Council-board can witness some of them here present that in all references to the Board or debates arising at the Board I was for that part of the cause where I found Law to be and if the Council desired to have the cause left to the Law well I might move in some cases Charity or Conscience to them but I left them to the Law if thither they would go And how such a carriage as this through the whole course of my life in private and publick can stand with an intention to overthrow the Laws I cannot yet see Nay more I have ever been of opinion That Laws binde the Conscience and have accordingly made Conscience of observing them and this doctrine I have constantly preached as occasion hath been offered me and how is it possible I should seek to overthrow those Laws which I held my self bound in Conscience to keep and observe As for Religion I was born and bred up in and under the Church of England as it stands established by Law I have by Gods blessingâ— grown up in it to the years which are now upon me and to the place of Preferment which I now bear I have ever since I have understood ought in my profession kept one constant tenor in this my profession without variation or shifting from one opinion to another for any worldly ends And if my conscience would have suffered me to do so I could easily have slid through all the difficulties which I have prest upon me in this kinde But of all diseases I have held a Palsey in Religion most dangerous well knowing and remembring that disease often ends in a dead Palsie Ever since I came in place I have laboured nothing more than that the external publick worship of God so much slighted in divers parts of this Kingdom might be preserved and that with as much decency and uniformity as might be for I evidently saw that the publick neglect of Gods service in the outward face of it and the nasty lying of many places dedicated to that Service had almost cast a damp upon the true and inward worship of God which while we live in the body needs exterial helps and all little enough to keep it in any vigor And thus I did to the uttermost of my knowledge according both to Law and Canon and with the consent and liking of the people nor did any Command issue out from me against the one or without the other Further my Lords give me leave I beseech you to acquaint you with this also that I have as little acquaintance with Recusants as I believe any man of my place of England hath or ever had sithence the Reformation and for my kindred no one of them was ever a Recusant but Sir William Web Grandchild to my Unkle Sir William Web sometimes Lord Mayor of London and since which some of his Children I reduced back again to the Church of England On this one thing more I humbly desire may be thought on That I am fallen into a great deal of obloquie in matter of Râ—ligion and that so far as appears by the Articles against me that I have indeavoured to advance and bring in Popery Perhaps my Lords I am not ignorant what party of men have raised these scandals upon me nor for what end nor perhaps by whom set on but howsoever I would fain have a good reason given me if my conscience stood that way and that with my
Testament but by allowing the New and friendly Communications an instance whereof we have in the honorable mention the Learned Morinus in animad in censuram exercit eccles in Pentat Samarit p. 419. makes of this worthy Doctor haec verba Alius praeterea Codex Samaritanus celebratur dicitur esse Archiepiscopi Armachani ab eo e Palestina in Hiberniam exportatus qui Leidensibus Academicis nonnullo tempore fuit commodatus Istum Codicem vir Clarissimus Thomas Comberus Anglus quem honoris officii reddendi causa nomino cum textu Iudaico verbum e verbo imo literam cum litera maxima diligentia et indefesso Labore comparavit differentiasque omnes juxta capitum versuum ordinem digestas ad me misii humanissime officiocissime Being exquisitely accomplished by these methods he was preferred by the Archbishop of Canterbury Chaplain to his Majesty and by his Majesty Master of the Colledge whereof he had been so worthy a Fellow where he wrapped up in his studies took only these cares upon himself 1. That a good understanding shoulâ— be kept among the Fellows preventing by his lenity and moderation justice and prudence all Divisions and suppressing by his Aâ—â—rity all Parties and Factions 2. That Elections should be sincere respecting worth in the meanest person and not gratifying unâ— worthiness in the richest usually answering powerful intercessor and importunate friends thus Sirs perswade your Gardiner upon your importunity to plant a withered and hopeless Herb or Tree if I should commit an error in the first Election the error will continue in the whole Foundation I had rather maintain â— Child of weak parts anywhere else than admit him to Trinity the example will do much more harm to the Colledge than the Preferment can do to the Child 3. That young mens studies should be methodical and useful examining privately their Proficiencies and looking publickly to their Exercises taking care to dispose of them all according to their respective capacities Anno 1631 2. He was Vice-chancellor of the University where he was very strict in observing the Statutes very watchful over the publick performances the jocose that they should not be too loose or abusive the serious that they should not be too perfunctory and the Religious whether Sermons Prayers or Disputations that they should not be what they were but too apt to be too Factious witness the dangerous Position of Mr. Bernard Lecturer of St. Sepulchres at St. Maries which he speedily reported to Archbishop Laud and vigorously prosecuted in the High-commission The Articles were these for otherwise he often absented himself from the Consistory when they made a man an offendor for a word 1. That Gods Ordinances blended with the Innovations of men cease to be Gods Ordinances 2. That it is impossible to be saved in the Church of Rome without repentance for being of it 3. That reason is not limited to the Royal bloud and that he is a Traytor against a Nation that depriveth it of its Ordinances c. 4. That those who shamefully symbolize with the Church of Rome as some among us do in Pelagian Errors and Superstitious Ceremonies are to be prayed either to their Conversion or to their Confusion But a while after these and other Principles which he thought fit to punish others thought fit to practice whereupon having in vain strived against the stream of a popular inundation now overflowing its banks by Letters to his friends by publick Petitions and by supplies to his Majesty the honorable Sir Charles Wheeler then Fellow of his house managing the design for carrying the Plate of the University to the King at York conceiving it unfitting that they should have superfluities to spare while his Majesty wanted necessaries to spend and not knowing indeed in those times when the Countess of Rivers house at Long-Melford was plundered to the value of 20000 l. where to deposite their Plate better than in his Majesties hand Heir to his Ancestors the Founders Paramount of all houses this worthy Doctor was the better fitted to suffer comfortably because he had acted in all his capacities as Master of the Colledge Dean of Carlisle and Rector of Worpesden in Surrey so conscientiously as he did when for refusing the Covenant and contributing to the Rebellion he was imprisoned plundered and deprived of all his Preferments 1642. Possessing his meek and calm soul in patience humility and faith which were a part of his Grace before and after his Meals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 submitting to Providence and kissing the Rod without any other reflexion on the instruments of his sufferings than God forgive them weeping indeed sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so melting is the good mans disposition for the horror of the sins they went on in but taking the spoiling of his goods joyfully Oh his frequent Ejaculations in English Greek and Latine his clear Prospect into the late Revolutions and Restaurations his extraordinary Comforts in the worst time his constant Almes-giving and Charity his Fast and Letanies the tenderness of his heart melting at several passages of Scripture his dear Consort read to him often saying Happy are they that believe and not see oh his constancy to friends and love even to enemies preferring many of his Predecessors Servants meerly because of the pick between them two being kind to them only because their Master was unkind to him The calmness of his spirit under the rack of his torment answering those that asked him how he did constantly Very well I thank God so great the peace of a good man that melted his own will into the will of God O with what flaming Devotion and holy Reverence he received his Viaticum the Seal of his Pardon that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sacrament of the Lords Supper a little before his death when in a cold frosty morning he took off all his Caps and sate upon his Bed bare-headed in honor of the Lord Jesus there Crucified before him immediately after crying Nunc Dimittis and desiring to be dissolved and to be with Christ only he sent just as he was a dying to his dear Consorts ancient Parents and an aged friend in the Town to prepare for death telling them and his loving Wife that he should be loath to be happy without them suggesting to her likewise that when she saw him close his eyes she should not be troubled but conceive that he was fallen asleep He was buryed I think in Trinity Colledge Chappel March 29. 1653. the Revered Dr. Boreman Rector of St. Giles in the Fields Preaching his Funeral Sermon to whom I owe this faithful account of this blessed man as I do the following Epitaph to the Reverend Dr. Duport Dean of Peterburgh Epitaphium Reverendissimi Doctissimique Domini Doctoris Combar c. qui devotam Deo animam reddidit Feb. 28. 1653. Postquam annos 78. plus minus cum celebritate nominus compleverat COs priscae pietatis tque
is slack And Rots to nothing at the next great thawâ—k Dr. Richard Zouch not beholden to his Noble Extraction for his Reputation founded on his own great worth and Books Reprinted beyond Sea Fellow of New-colledge Principal of Albanehall Regius Professor of Law in Oxford for almost forty years and Judge of the Admiralty an exact Artist especially Logician reducing all his Reading especially in History wherein he excelled to the Civil Law as appears by the method of his Writings both of the Law and some other inferior Sciences He was as useful in the world as his profession and that time that foolishly thought it could have carried on things without the Civil Law could not without Dr. Zouch the Living Pandect of that Law when the Usurper in the Case of the Portugez Ambassador must needs have his advice in London who had grudged him his place in Oxford Dr. Owen in the same discourse I mean his Preface to Dr. Zouch his Book de legatis wherein he commendeth Grotius with qualification extolleth Dr. Zouch without who was the ornament of this Nation as Grotius was of Christendom He had a great hand in the Oxford Articles being one of the Treaters upon the Surrendry and after composition he had a great benefit by them he died 1660. To whom I might adde his very good friend Degory Whear Principal of Glocester-hall and History Professor in Oxford well known by his excellent Methodus Leg. hist. Cro. and his Epistolae Eucharisticae and Dr. Thomas Claiton the first Master of Pembroke-colledge in Oxford and the Kings Professor of Physick Father of Sir Thomas Claiton now Warden of Merton-colledge Dr. Thomas Soames born in Yarmouth an holy Fisher of Men Son of a Fisher-man bred in Peter-house Cambridge where his Uncle was Master Minister of Staines in Middlesex and Prebend of Windsor having sent all he had to the King he had nothing left to be taken by the Rebels but himself who was Imprisoned in Ely-house New-gate and the Fleet because he had so much of the primitive Religion in his excellent Sermons and so much of the primitive practice in his looks and life reckoned a blessing wherever he came these sad times by his Fatherly Aspect his Zealous Prayers and his Divine and in many respects Prophetical discourses He died not long before his Majesties Restauration of whom his modest relation have been as deserving as any persons of their quality in England Stephen Soanes of Throwlow in Suffolk Esq paying 0700l 00 00. THE Life and Death OF WILLIAM St. MAUR Duke of Somerset WILLIAM St. Maur Marquiss of Herford Duke of Somerset and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter noble in his extraction being restored to use his Majesties words because he had merited as much of his Majesties Father and Himself as a Subject could do and he hoped none would envy the Duke because he had done what a good Master should to a good Servant created Duke of Somerset 1660. 12. Car. 2. an Honor his good Grand-father in Edw. 6. time had from whom Somerset-house which he built hath that name Edward Duke of Somerset injoy and descending from the ancient Lords Beauchamp illustrious in his alliance his Aunt Iane Seymour being Wife to one King Henry 8. and Mother to another Edward 6. Was none of those male-contents who by the sins of their riper years make good the follies of their youth and maintain oversights with Treason As he was patient under his Imprisonment for the one so he was active in his Services against the other not more dutifully submitting to the severity of King Iames for a marriage without his Majesties privity or consent with the Lady Arabella Stuart nearly related as himself to the Crown than Loyally assisting by several Declarations for the King and Bishops in the Long-parliament by his attendance on his Majesty at York to be a witness to the world of his Majesties proceedings and subscribe with other Lords his own Allegiance and a resolution to oppose others Treasons by his raising the Western Country by his interest and yielding the Command of the Army he had raised as the Kings first General against the Earl of Essex to more experienced Commanders though he had been a Souldier abroad out of prudence governing his Majesty then Prince under his Tuition with discretion and moderation by bringing his Majesty 60000 l. of his own and others to set him by securing for him forty five Inland Garrisons and six Sea-towns by waiting on his Majesty in his Privy Counsel and Parliament at Oxford and in all his treaties and negotiations and offering himself when there was no other remedy to dye for him by supplying his present Majesty and his Friends with near 5000l yearly one year with another during the Usurpation for which services he paid at Goldsmith-hall 1467 l. the necessities of King Charles in his war It s true he was drawn in by a pretending moderate party to subscribe the untoward Propositions for an accommodation with the Scots 1640. at York but it is as true that when he discovered the bottome of the design he did of his own accord disown the unnatural Plot in London 1641 2. where the King advanced him to the tuition of the Prince and he went himself to the defence of the King at what time such his popularity that he raised an Army himself such his humility that he yielded the Command of it to another as if he knew nothing but others merits and his own wants being own of those men that admire every thing in others and see nothing in themselves His face his carriage his habit favoured of lowliness without affectation and yet he was under what he seemed His words were few and soft never either peremptory or censorious because he thought both each man more wise and none more obnoxious than himself being yet neither ignorant nor careless but naturally meek lying ever close within himself armed with those two master-pieces Resolution and Duty wherewith he mated the blackest events that did rather exercise than dismay that spirit that was above them and that minde chat looked beyond them the easiest enemy and the truest friend whom extremities obliged while he as a well-wrought Vault lay at home the stronger by how much the more weight he did bear He died 1660. full of honor and days the exact pourtract of the ancient English Nobility As was his Brother Sir Francis Seymor a wise and religious person a great Patriot in the beginning of King Charles his reign for three Parliaments together in the first year of whose reign he was High-sheriff as long as the people desired reason and as great a Courtier towards the latter end of his reign when he saw some projectors under colour of the peoples good plotting Treason He was indeed one of the Lords being Created Baron of Trowbridge in Wilt-shire Tebig 1640. 16. Car. I. that Petitioned his Majesty against several grievances
with him while he lived and offering himself upon a tryal by a noble Counsel of War by whom after an affixer set and a Proclamation for any person to come in and prosecute him none appearing he was quitted Oct. the second 1643. His pious Relations at London something misled I think by some modern Preachers more taken with the seriousness of their preaching and praying than the irregularity of their proceedings befriended him with the Parliament during the Usurpation as he did them with his Majesty after the Restauration having been thousands out of purse to his Majesties Father before the Wars in Custom-house he had a considerable interest in the farming of it since having a peculiar faculty of advancing Trade and consequently Tallage till he dyed 1666. his body being buryed in Mildred Breadstreet with his Ancestors and his heart at a Chappel in Hammersmith built at his Charge He was well known by his large heart in inventing some new kind of Benefaction there as he was by his large head in finding out new Inventions having done many good works in and about the City while he lived and left considerable Legacies there when he dyed Deserving a Marble Monument for his new way of making Brick and an Epitaph as clear as he could speak for the obscure way safe to himself and friends though dark to his foes he had to write expressing himself in these sad times as O. P. whose abilities were not to be gathered from his words any more than his meaning save that the more intangled they were they were the more judicious his Interest obliging him to a Reserve for he durst neither clearly own his thoughts nor totally disclaim them but opening them with such advantages that he was neither mistaken by his friends nor understood by his enemies We must not separate Sir Nicholas Crisp from the Worshipful Sir Iohn Iacob his partner both in the Farming of the Custom-house and his sufferings about them a man ever forward to assist his Majesty saying What! shall I keep my Estate and see the King want where withall to protect it if it please God to bless the King though I give him all I have I can be no looser if not though I keep all I can be no saver and to relieve the Clergy valuing more their Prayers and Gods blessing than his own Estate employing under him only those honest Cavaliers that suffered with him On whose Grave and Sir Abraham Dawes whose misfortues for his Integrity and Loyalty are recompensed in the blessing of his Posterity both his Children and Grand-children flourishing in an Honorable and Worshipful Estate in Surrey indued with excellent Parts good and obliging Tempers a great Reputation and considerable Estates whereby they are as able to serve their present Soveraign as their Ancestor was the Father who when discouraged to advance his share of the 100000 l. with Sir N. C. Sir I. I. Sir I. W. the King had need of with threatnings that he should re-imburse it or as much to the Parliament answered no more But that is the worse that can happen God be thanked I love my Allegiance so well that I cannot only pay it but pay for it And the Worshipful Sir Iohn Wolsten-holm still by the blessing of God upon his chearful spirit which is the result of a good nature and a good Conscience surviving all his sufferings and doing his Majesty and the Kingdom eminent service in the great Trust committed to him though almost eighty years of Age with incredible activity and dispatch eminent for his exemplary Hospitality and Charity his great care to keep a good understanding in the City and his readiness to encourage any publick good work tenderly asking for Sion Colledge and other ruined places as my good friend Mr. Whitle Secretary of the Custom-house who is never wanting to speak a good word for a good work hath often told me to which he hath been formerly a good Benefactor I may say of him as Mr. Crashaw doth of Mr. Aston THe modest front of this small floor Believe me Reader can say more Than many a braver Marble can Here lies a truly honest man One whose Conscience was a thing That troubled neither Church nor King One of those few that in this Town Honour'd all Preachers heard their own Sermons he heard yet not so many As left no time to practice any He heard them Reverendly and then His practice preach'd them o're agen His Parlor-Sermons rather were Those to the Eye than to the Ear. His prayers took their price and strength Not from the loudness nor the length He lov'd his Father yet his Zeal Tore not off his Mothers Veil To th' Church he did allow her Dress True Beauty to true Holiness Peace which he lov'd in Life did lend Her hand to bring him to his End Sir Martin Noel Farmer of part of the Customs born at Stafford in Stafford-shire and dying in Bishops-gate London was very like Sir Nicholas Crisp in the activity of a designing spirit being in all forty several Inventions for Trade and the Charity of a publick one having built and indowed a fair Hospital in the Town of his Nativity one of the first in that kind in that Country and he drew the first Letter with a flourish being bred a Scrivener while he lived besides what he left when he dyed 1665. and was buryed by his own order at old Iury Church with only the Office in the Common-prayer said at his Funeral and the Book put into his Grave Sir Edmund Wright Lord Mayor 1640. Memorable for his Justice to one Clergy-man in his Office Mr. Chestlen of Sr. Matthews Fryday-street molested by a combination in the Parish to pay him no Tythe to weary him out and bring Burton now brought home in a bold affront to publick justice in who appealing to him according to the Statute 37 Hen. 8. found him so resolvedly honest that when Pennigton threatned him to stave him off from doing justice he replyed What shall I be afraid to do justice and ordered him his Tithes pursuing his order so far as to commit them to the Goal without Bail or main-prize that refused to submit to that order till two of the then House of Commons took the Prisoners out of Newgate by force whither they were sent by Law and his Charity to all Clergy-men deprived of their places out of it Sir Abraham Reynardson Lord Mayor 1648. and Imprisoned in the Tower two moneths for not consenting to his Majesties murther and the alteration of the Government which proved the end of that War which Sir Richard Gurney so seasonably would have prevented in the beginning of it and not discharged till he had paid 2000 l. fine and as far as lay in his enemies who had destroyed the foundation of honor lost his honor in a way that increased it In reference to whom be it remembred that his Lady would not suffer the messenger that brought the Proclamation for
and council such Irish as could not endure the strictness and civility of his government In fine such whose frauds and force were met with by his prudence and prowess He whom three Kingdomes agreed against in their Faction indeed so excellent a Personage was not to be ruined but by the pretended hatred of the whole Empire He whom the Mercenary Lawyers and Orators represented so monstrously appeared so innocent that some of his very Enemies said in much anger you may be sure that their Charge of Misdemeanors proved no other than a Libel of Slanders and the disingaged and honest part of the Nation with as much pleasure to find so great faults reflected on the unhappiness of great Ministers whose parts and trust must be their crimes whose happy councils are envied and unsuccesseful though prudent ones severely accused When they err every one condemneth them and their wise advices few praise For those that are benefited envy and such as are disappointed hate those that gave them The Faction thus baffled by his Abilities and Innocence and run down by Master Lane the Princes Atturneys Argument for with much ado they allowed him Master Lane Recorder Gardiner Master Loe and Master Lightfoot for Council though in point of Law in such matters as they would allow them to plead in viz. That these words in the Statute of 25. Edw. 3. Because particular Treasons could not be then defined therefore what the Parliament shall declare to be Treason in time to come should be punished as Treason being the words of a declarative and penal Statute ought to be understood literally and that this Salvo was Repealed 6. Hen. 4. when it was Enacted that nothing shall be esteemed Treason but what is literally contained in the Statute 25. Edw. 3. drew up the Bill of Attainder a Law after the Fact with a shameful Caution that the unparallel'd thing should not be drawn into a Precedent so securing themselves who really designed that alteration of Government they falsly charged him with from the return of the same Injustice on themselves which they Acted on him A Bill that they Passed in two days so eager were they of bloud and so fearful of delays and sober consideration notwithstanding the generous dissent of a fifth part of the Commons men of honest hopes who disdained to administer to the lusts of the Faction in the bloud of so much innocent Gallantry though with the hazard of their lives being Posted and Marked out to the fury of the Rabble And by the Midwifery of a Tumult of 5 or 6000. people instigated and directed by unquiet Members of the House of Commons that were seen amongst them to the great dishonour of their persons and places forced upon as many of the Peers as would or durst Sit and that was scarce a third part in whose thin house after the King had so frankly declared three things May. 1. in the Earles behalf before both House viz. 1. That he was never advised to bring the Irish Army into England 2. That no man ever durst create in him the least jealousie of his English Subjects Loyalty 3. That no man ever dared to move him to alter the least much less all the Laws of England It scarcely Passed after so many hideous Riots raised by the Pulpit Demagogues Sunday May 2. by seven Voices And when brought to his Majesty who had earnestly intreated them by all the Franke Concessions he had made to them that Parliament not to press him in so tender a point and though the Tumults without and the Sollicitations within several Courtiers looking on the Earl as the Herd doth on an hurt Deer hoping his blood would be the lustration of the Court ran high the Gracious King being loath to leave so faithful and brave a man a Sacrifice to popular rage there stuck until 1. The Judges upon whose judgment the Bishops when sent for advised his Majesty to rely in matter of Law they being sworn to declare the Law equally between the King and his People pronounced him guilty of Treason in the general though they confessed he was not so in any particulars the point his Majesty pressed much upon them 2. The Parliament City and Country importuned him his very followers tyring him with that Maxime the weaknesse whereofâ— many of them lived to see and suffer Some talk of a Paper-promise the King gave him wherein was write upon Better one man perish though unjustly than the people be displeased or destroyed And the Parliament wearying him with that clamor rather than reason that their Vote though against his Judgement should satisfie his Conscience 3. The Earl offered himself a Victime like Hurtius for the Kingdomes Peace and the Kings Safety in this Letter to his Majesty The Earl of Strafford's Letter to the King May it please your Majesty IT hath been my greatest grief in all these troubles to be taken as a person who should indeavour to represent and set things amisse between your Majesty and your People and to give council tending to the disquiet of the three Kingdomes Most true it is that mine own private condition considered it had been a great madnesse since through your gracious favour I was so provided as not to expect in any kind to mend my fortune or please my mind more than by resting where your bounteous hand had placed me Nay it is most mightily mistaken for unto your Majesty is well known my poor and humble advises concluded still in this that your Majesty and your people could never be happy till there were a Right Understanding betwixt you and them no other means to effect and settle this happinesse but by the counsel and assent of the Parliament or to prevent the growing evils upon this State but by intirely putting your self in your last resort upon the Loyalty and good Affection of your English Subjects Yet such is my misfortune this truth findeth little credit the contrary seemeth generally believed and my self reputed as something of separation between you and your people under a heavier censure than which I am perswaded no Gentleman can suffer Now I understand the minds of men are more incensed against me notwithstanding your Majesty hath declared that in your Princely Opinion I am not guilty of Treason nor are you satisfied in your Conscience to Passe the Bill This bringeth me into a very great streight there is before me the ruin of my Children and Family hitherto untouched in all the branches of it with any foul Crimes Here is before me the many Ills which may befal your Sacred Person and the whole Kingdom should your self and the Parliament part lesse satisfied one with another than is necessary for the preservation of King and People Here are before me the things most valued most feared by mortal man Life or Death To say Sir that there hath been no strife in me were to make me lesse than God knoweth I am and mine infirmities give
me And to call a destruction upon my self and young Children where the intentions of my heart have been innocent at least of this great offence may be believed will find no easie content to flesh and bloud But with much sadnesse I am come to a resolution of that which I think best becomes me to look upon that which is most principal in its self which doubtless is the prosperity of your Sacred Person and the Commonwealth infinitely beyond any private mans interest And therefore in few words as I put my self wholly upon the honor and justice of my Peers so clearly as to beseech your Majesty might be pleased to have spared that Declaration of yours on Saturday last and intirely to have left me to their Lordships So now to set your Conscience at liberty I do most humbly beseech you for the preventing of such mischief as may happen by your refusal to Pass the Bill by this means remove I cannot say praised be God this Accursed but I confesse this Unfortunate thing out of the way towards that blessed Agreement which God I trust will establish for ever between you and your Subjects Sir my Consent herein shall more acquit you to God than all the world can do besides To a willing man there is no injury done And as by God's grace I forgive all the world with all chearfulnesse imaginable in the just acknowledgement of your exceeding Favours And onely Beg that in your goodnesse you would be pleased to cast your Gracious regard upon my poor Son and his Sisters lesse or more and no otherwise than their unfortunate Father shall appear more or lesse guilty of his death God long preserve your Majesty Tower May 4. 1640. Your Majesties most humble and faithful subject and servant STRAFFORD And then with much reluctancy the King being overcome rather than perswaded Passed by Proxies In hane formam The Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford extorted by a prevailing Faction by force from the Parliament 16 and 17. CAR. 1. Repealed by a Free and Full-Parliament 13 and 14. CAR. 11. WHereas the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons in this present Parlament Assembled have in the names of themselves and all the Commons of England Impeached Thomas Earl of Strafford of High-treason for indeavouring to subvert the Ancient and Fundamental Laws and Government of his Majesties Realms of England and Ireland And to Introduce a Tyrannical and Arbitrary Government against Law into those Kingdoms and for exercising a Tyrannous and Exorbitant Power over and against the Laws of the said Kingdoms over the Liberties Estates and Lives of his Majesties Subjects and likewise for having by his own Authority commanded the Laying and Assessing of Souldiers upon his Majesties Subjects in Ireland against their Consent to Compel them to obey his unlawful Commands and Orders made upon Paper-Petitions in Causes between Party and Party which accordingly was executed upon divers of his Majesties Subjects in a warlike manner within the said Realm of Ireland and in so doing did Levy War against the Kings Majesty and his Leige People in that Kingdom And also for that he after the unhappy Dissolution of the last Parliament did slander the House of Commons to his Majesty and did Counsel and Advise his Majesty That he was loose and absolved from Rules of Government and that he had an Army in Ireland c. For which he deserves to undergo pains and forfeiture of High-Treason And the said Earl hath been an Incendiary between Scotland and England All which Offences have been sufficiently proved against the said Earl upon his Impeachment Be it therefore Enacted c. that the said Earl of Strafford for the heinous Crimes and Offences aforesaid Stand and be Adjudged and Attainted of High-treason And shall suffer such Pain of Death and Incurr the forfeitures of his Goods Chattels Lands Tenements and Hereditaments of any Estate of Freehold or Inheritance in the said Kingdomes of England and Ireland which the said Earl or any other to his use or in trust for him have or had the day of the first Sitting of this present Parliament or at any time since Provided that nothing be Declared Treason hereafter but what might have been Declared for had this Act never been Passing Saving to all Persons and Bodies Corporate excepting the Earl and all Rights Titles Interests they did injoy the first day of this Parliament Any thing herein Contained to the contrary notwithstanding Provided That the Passing of this present Act determine not this Session of Parliament c. A Bill 1. So false in the matter of it grounded on the Evidence of Papists sworn enemies to the English Name and State that wanted only the death of this great Instrument of Government to commit those mischiefs they accused him of the Faction Carressing those very Rebels to assist them in shedding my Lord of Strafford's bloud that afterwards imbrued their hands in the bloud of so many innocent Protestants in Ireland 2. So shameful in the manner of it that as the Devil upbraids unhappy souls with those very crimes they tempted and betrayed them to so those very men made use of it to pollute the King's honour that had even forced him to it though the heaviest Censure was himself Who never left bewailing his Compliance or Connivance with this Murder till the issue of his bloud dried up those of his tears A Bill which might well accompany the other Bill about the Parliaments Sitting during pleasure this passing away the King's Honour and the other his Prerogative Neither was the Bill sooner Passed than his Execution was Ordered The King's intercession in a Letter sent by his own Son the Prince for so much intermixture of mercy with the publick Justice as to permit the Earl either to live out his sad life in a close Imprisonment or at least that his soul that found so much Injustice on earth might have a Week to prepare it's self for the mercy of Heaven Rather quickening the bloudy mens Counsels who thought not themselves safe as long as he was so and whose fears and jealousies created or entertained stories every minute of his escape or rescue than mitigating them And therefore the second day after a great man must be surprized secured as soon as accused tried as soon as secured condemned as soon as tried and executed as soon as condemned the very day Sir Henry Vane the Younger that contributed so much to this Murder was Executed afterwards After six months Imprisonment and twenty one whole days Trial wherein he answered the whole House of Commons for six or seven hours each day to the infinite satisfaction of all impartial Persons He was brought with a strong and solemn Guard to the Scaffold on Tower-hill In his passage thither he had a sight of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury whose prayers and blessings he with low obeysance begged and the pious Prelate bestowed them