servants joyned himself with the Lord Goring Sr. Charles Lucas and others who with a considerable Army were then in Essex and after a long Siege were forced to surrender their Garrison of Colchester In the Articles of that rendition this right noble Lord was included and had quarter given him for life though it was afterwards unhansomly unsaid again by him that gave it who left him after his Parol given to a High Court of Justice upon this surrender he was committed to the Tower where whilst he remained he endeavoured to escape which he well effected but crossing the water through some discourse he let fall Jones the Waterman conceiving what he was upon his landing discovered him had him retaken and committed again in order to his Tryal In the middle of March 1648 he was brought before the said High Court of Justice where he said enough in reason and justice to have cleared himself insisting upon his Priviledge as a Peer and claiming the benefit of the Laws which owned no such arbitrary Power as this against the life of any Subject especially a Noble Man and in sum denied their Jurisdiction and pleaded his quarter given him as abovesaid but nothing would avail they proceeded to Judgment and with Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland Earl of Norwich and Sr. John Owen sentenced him to be beheaded which was executed accordingly on the ninth of March. We will now take a view of him after the tmie of his Condemnation when he was to encounter and look Death in the face He alwaies kept a very chearful and well composed temper of mind which proceeded from true Christian Principles he would often say it was the good God he served and the good cause he had served for that made him not to fear Death adding that he never had the temptation of so much as a thought to check him for his engagement in this quarrel for he took it for his Crown and glory and wished he had a greater ability and better fortune to engage in it The afternoon before his suffering he was a great while in private with a Minister where bewailing with that sense which became a true and not despairing penitent the sins of his life past the greatest he could remember was his voting my Lord of Straffords death which though as he said he did without any malice at all yet he confessed it to be a very great sin and that he had done it out of a base fear his own words of a prevailing party of which he had very often and very heartily repented and was confident of Gods pardon for it Then he desired to receive the Blessed Sacrament before he dyed After this being afraid of some danger to the Minister that attended him for that work of Love and some Conference in order to his preparation both for his provision and his voyage the Sacrament and his death he desired to go to Prayers which being performed he returned to his private devotions The next morning being the day of his death he desired the Minister who was with him before to hear and joyn with him in Prayers which he did for half an hour in an excellent method very apt Expressions and most strong hearty and passionate affections First confessing and bewailing his sins with strong cries and tears then humbly and most earnestly desiring Gods mercy through the Merits of Christ alone Secondly For his dear Lady and Children with some passion but for her especially with most ardent affections recommending them to the Divine Providence with great confidence and affurance and desiring for them rather the blessings of a better life than of this Thirdly For the King Church and Kingdom And Lastly For his Enemies with almost the same ardour and affection After Prayer ended my Lord of Norwich and Sr. John Owen being sent for the Minister read the whole Office of the Church for Good Friday and then after a short Homily for the occasion he received the Sacrament again in which action he behaved himself with great Humility Zeal and Devotion Being demanded after the receiving thereof how he found himself he replyed very much better stronger and cheerfuller for that heavenly repast and that he doubted not to walk like a Christian through the vale of death in the strength of it But he was to have an Agony before his Passion and that was the parting with his Wife eldest Son now Earl of Essex his Son in Law two of his Uncles and Sr. T.C. especially his parting with his dearest Lady which indeed was the saddest spectacle that could be In which occasion as he could not choose but shew and confesse a little of humane frailty yet even then he did not forget both to comfort and counsel her and the rest of his friends particularly in blessing the yuong Lord he commanded him never to revenge his death though it should be in his power the like he said unto his Lady He told his Son he would leave him a Legacy out of David's Psalms and that was this Lord lead me in a plain path For Boy saith he I would have you a plain honest man and hate dissimulation After this was past with much adoe his Wife and the rest of his Friends were perswaded to begone and then being all alone with the Minister he said Doctor the hardest part of my work in this World is now past meaning the parting with his Wife Then he desired the said Minister to pray preparatively for his death that in the last action he might so behave himself as might be most for Gods Glory for the indearing of his dead Masters memory and his present Masters service and that he might avoid the doing or saying of any thing which might savour either of ambition or vanity This being done he was conveyed with the other two Lords who suffered with him to Sr. Robert Cottons where the Minister staid with him till he was called to the Scaffold whither the Guard of Souldiers permitted him not to come so that my Lord took leave of him there The same day he died he wrote this following Letter to his Wife My dearest Life MY Eternal life is in Christ Jesus my wordly considerations in the highest degree thou hast deserved let me live long here in thy dear memory to the comfort of my Family our dear Children whom God out of mercy in Christ hath bestowed upon us I beseech thee take care of thy health sorrow not afflict not thy self too much God will be unto thee better than an Husband and to my Children better than a Father I am sure he is able to be so I am confident he is graciously pleased to be so God be with thee my most vertuous Wife God multiply many Comforts to thee and my Children which is the fervent Prayer of Thy c. He hath also left behind him an excellent Book of Meditations and some other Miscellaneous things especially an Exhertation to stir up the hearts and endeavours of
Country for to clear my self both as an honest man a good King and a good Christian I shall begin first with my Innocency In troth I think it not very needful for me to insist long upon this for all the world knows that I never did begin a war with the two Houses of Parliament and I call God to witness to whom I must shortly make an Account That I never did intend for to incroach upon their Priviledges they began upon me it is the Militia they began upon they confest that the Militia was mine but they thought it fit for to have it from me and to be short if any body will look to the Dates of Commissions of their Commissions and mine and likewise to the Declarations will see clearly that they began these unhappy Troubles not I so that as the guilt of these Enormous crimes that are laid against me I hope in God that God will clear me of I will not I am in Charity God forbid that I should lay it upon the Two Houses of Parliament there is no necessity of either I hope they are free of this guilt for I do believe that ill Instruments between them and me has been the chief Cause of all this bloudshed so that by way of speaking as I find my self clear of this I hope and pray God that they may too yet for all this God forbid that I should be so ill a Christian as not to say that Gods Judgments are just upon me Many times he does pay Justice by unjust Sentence that is ordinary I will only say this that an unjust Sentence * that I sufferred to take effect Strafford is punished now by an unjust Sentence upon me this I have said to shew you that I am an Innocent man Now for to shew you that I am a good Christian I hope there is * Pointing to Dr. Juxon a good man that will bear me witness That I have forgiven all the world and even those in particular that have been the chief causers of my death who they are God knows I do not desire to know I pray God forgive them But this is not all my Charity must go further I wish that they may repent for indeed they have committed a great sin in that particular I pray God with St. Stephen that this be not laid to their Charge nay not only so but that they may take the right way to the peace of the Kingdom for my Charity commands me not only to forgive particular men but my Charity commands me to endeavour to the last gasp the Peace of the Kingdom Turning to some Gentlemen that wrote So Sir I wish with all my soul and I do hope there is some here will carry it further that they may endeavour the Peace of the Kingdom Now Sirs I must shew you both how you are out of the way and will put you in the way first you are out of the way for certainly all the way you ever have had yet as I could find by anything is in the way of Conquest certainly this is an ill way for Conquest Sir in my opinion is never just except there be a good just Cause either for matter of Wrong or just Title and then if you go beyond it the first quarrel that you have to it is it that makes it unjust at the end that was just at first But if it be only matter of Conquest then it is a great Robbery as a Pirat said to Alexander that he was the great Robber he was but a Petty Robber And so Sir I do think the way that you are in is much out of the way Now Sir for to put you in one way believe it you will never do right nor God will never prosper you until you give God his due the King his due that is my Successors and the People their due I am as much for them as any of you You must give God his due by regulating rightly his Church according to his Scriptures which is now out of order For to set you in a way particularly now I cannot but only this A National Synod freely called freely debating among themselves must settle this when that every Opinion is freely and clearly heard For the King indeed I will not then turning to a Gentleman that touched the Ax said Hurt not the Axe that may hurt me * Meaning if he did blunt the edge For the King the Laws of the Land will clearly instruct you for that therefore because it concerns my own particular I only give you a touch of it For the People and truly I desire their Liberty and Freedom as much as any body whosoever but I must tell you that their Liberty and Freedom consists in having of Government those Laws by which their Life and their Goods may be most their own It is not for having share in Government Sir that is nothing pertaining to them A Subject and a Soveraign are clean different things and therefore until they do that I mean That you do put the people in that Liberty as I say certainly they will never enjoy themselves Sir it was for this that now I am come here If I would have given way to an-Arbitrary way for to have all Laws changed according to the power of the Sword I needed not to have come here and therefore I tell you and I pray God it be not laid to your Charge that I am the Martyr of the People Introth Sirs I shall not hold you much longer for I will only say this to you that in truth I could have desired some little time longer because I would have put this that I have said in a little more Order and a little better digested then I have done and therefore I hope you will excuse me I have delivered my Conscience I pray God that you do take those courses that are best for the good of the Kingdom and your own Salvations Dr. Juxon Will Your Majesty though it may be very well known your Majesties Affections to Religion yet it may be expected that you should say somwhat for the worlds satisfaction King I thank you very heartily my Lord for that I had almost forgotten it Introth Sirs My Conscience in Religion I think is very well known to all the world and therefore I declare before you all That I die a Christian according to the Profession of the Church of England as I found it left me by my Father and this honest man * Pointing to Dr. Juxon I think will witness it Then turning to the Officers said Sirs excuse me for this same I have a good Cause and I have a Gracious God I will say no more Then turning to Col. Hacker he said Take care they do not put me to pain and Sir this and it please you But then a Gentleman coming near the Axe the King said Take heed of the Axe pray take heed of the Axe Then the King speaking to
Grace And this is certain the riches of his Grace he throweth amongst men that the Glory of his Grace might be given to himself if we can give him but the Glory of his Grace we shall never doubt to partake of the riches of it and that Fulness My Lord that fulness be your Comfort that fulness of Mercy that fulness of love that fulness of righteousness and power be now your riches and your only stay and the Lord interpose himself between God and you as your Faith hath endeavoured to interpose him between God and your soul so I doubt not there he stands my Lord to plead for you and when you are not able to do any thing your self yet lie down at the feet of him that is a merciful Saviour and knows what you would desire and wait upon him while you live trust in him when you die â—here is riches enough and mercy enough if he open not yet die at his door say there I 'le die there is Mercy enough Holland And here is the place where I lie down before him from whence I hope he will raise me to an eternal glory through my Saviour upon whom I relie from whom only I can expect Mercy into his Arms I commend my Spirit into his bleeding Arms that when I leave this bleeding body that must lie upon this place he will receive that Soul that ariseth out of it and receive it into his eternal mercy through the Merits through the worthiness through the Mediation of Christ that hath purchased it with his own most precious Bloud Bolton My Lord though you conclude here I hope you begin above and though you put an end here I hope there will never be an end of the Mercy and goodness of God and if this be the Morning of Eternity if this be the rise of Glory if God pleaseth to throw you down here to raise you up for ever say Welcome Lord welcome that death that shall make way for life and welcom any condition that shall throw me down here to bring me into the possession of Jesus Christ Hodges My Lord if you have made a Deed of Gift of your self to Jesus Christ to be found only in him I am confident you shall stand at the day of Christ my dear Lord we shall meet in happiness Holland Christ Jesus receive my soul my soul hungers thirsts after him clouds are gathering and I trust in God through all my heaviness and I hope through all impediments he will settle my Interest in him and throw off all the claim that Satan can make unto it and that he will carry my soul in despight of all the calumnies and all that the Devil and Satan can invent will carry it into eternal mercy there to receive the blessedness of his Presence to all Eternity Hodges My Lord it was his own by creation it is his own now by Redemption and purchase and it is likewise his own by resignation O my Lord look therefore up to the lamb of God that sits at the right hand of God to take away the sins of the world O that lamb of God! Holland That Lamb of God into his hands I commit my soul And that Lamb of God that sits upon the Throne to judge those 24 that fall down before him I hope he will be pleased to look downward and judge me with mercy that fall down before him and that adore him that only trusts upon his Mercy for his compassion and that as he hath purchased me he would lay his claim unto me now and receive me Bolton My Lord think of this there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ who is it that can condemn it is Christ that justifies and therefore look now upon this My Lord upon this Christ upon this Christ that justifies Hell Death Sin Satan nothing shall be able to condemn it is Christ that justifies you Holland Indeed if Christ justifie no body can condemn and I trust in God in his justification though there is a confusion here without us and though there are wonders and staring that now disquiet yet I trust that I shall be carried into that mercy that God will receive my Soul Bolton I doubt not my Lord but as you are a Spectacle of Pitty here so you are on Object of Gods mercy above Holland Then the Earl of Holland looking over among the People pointing to a Souldier said This honest man took me a Prisoner you little thought I should have been brought to this when I delivered my self to you upon conditions and espying Captain Watson on horse-back putting off his hat said to him God be with you Sir God reward you Sir Bolton My Lord throw your self into the arms of mercy and say there I will Anchor and there I will die he is a Saviour for us in all conditions whither should we go he hath the words of eternal life and upon him do you rest wait while you live and even trust in Death Holland Here must now be my Anchor a great storm makes me find my Anchor and but in storms no body trusts to his Anchor and therefore I must trust upon my Anchor Upon that God said Mr. Bolton Upon whom your Anchor trusts yeâ— God I hope will Anchor my Soul fast upon Christ Jesus and if I die not with that clearnesse and heir inesse that you speak of truly I will trust in God though he kill me I will relie upon him and in the Mercy of my Saviour Bolton There is mercy enough my Lord and to spare you shall not need to doubt they shall never go begging to another door my Lord that come to him Then the Earl of Holland speaking to Mr. Hodges said I pray God reward you for all your kindness and pray as you have done instruct my Family that they may serve God with faithfulness and holiness with more diligence than truly I have been careful to presse them unto you have the charge of the same place you may do much for them and I recommend them to your kindnesse and the goodnesse of your Conscience Dr. Sibbald standing upon the Scaffold in his passage to Col. Beecher expressed himself thus to his Lordship Dr. Sibbald The Lord lift up the light of his Countenance upon you and you shall be safe Holland Then the Earl of Holland embraced Lieutenant Col. Beecher and took his leave of him After which he came to Mr. Bolton and having embraced him and returned him many thanks for his great pains and affections to his Soul desiring God to reward him and return his love into his bosom Mr. Bolton said to him The Lord God support you and be seen in this great extremity the Lord reveal and discover himself to you and make your death the passage unto eternal life Then the Earl of Holland turning to the Executioner said here my friend let my Cloathes and my Body alone there is Ten pounds for thee that is better than
especially that of the King 's they made no bones of him but condemned him to the Gibbet with such fury and hast that they would scarce afford him time to recommend himself from their merciless Bar to the merciful and just Tribunal of Heaven which would ere long judge righteously in his cause between his Enemies and himself He was not long in preparation for his dissolution having as well learned as taught the necessity of Death improved to him into an easie suffering undergoing of it by the glory of his cause so that he quietly submitted to their Sentence and with Christian resolution owning his actions in order to his duty laid down his life the day and year aforesaid and will therefore deservedly among the rest of his glorious Company be had in precious and everlasting remembrance Not long afterwards followed the rendition of Pontefract-Castle surprized as aforesaid by Col. Morris they had stood it out to extremity there being no place in England for the King besides therefore were forced to accept of very hard Conditions which were that six of the garison whom they should chuse should be left at discretion The reason of this calling out this Number was a resolution to Sacrifice them to the ghost of the said Rainsborough being assured that those that performed that exploit were then in the Castle might be discovered upon view Among those or rather for those this Gentleman was taken being the Governor of the place and with Cornet Michael Blackbourn and the others brought to the City of York and committed to that Goal until the Summer-Assizes held there by Baron Thorp for that County when an Indictment of Treason was brought against them for levying War against the Parliament therupon found guilty by a pack'd Jury and after Sentence of being hanged drawn and quartered they were executed the day and year aforesaid the rigour of dismembring them being only abated At their death they spake as followeth The Speech of Col. John Morris Governour of Pontefract Castle at the place of his Execution at York August 23. 1649. WHen he was brought out of prison looking upon the Sledge that was there set for him lifting up his eyes to Heaven knocking upon his breast he said I am as willing to go to my death as to put off my doublet to go to bed I despise the shame as well as the Cross I know I am going to a joyful place with many like expressions When the Post met him about St. James Church that was sent to the Parliament to mediate for a reprieve and told him he could not prevailin it he said Sir I pray God reward you for your pains I hope and am well assured to finde a better pardon then any they can give my hope is not in man but in the living God At the place of Execution he made this profession of his faith his breeding his cause he had fought in Gentlemen First I was bred up in the true Protestant Religion having my education and breeding from that honorable House my dear Lord Master Strafford which place I dare boldly say was as well governed and ruled as ever any yet was before it I much doubt better then any will be after it unless it please God to put a period to these distracted times this Faith and Religion I say I have been bred in and I thank God I have hitherto lived in without the least wavering and now I am resolved by Gods assistance to dy in These pains are nothing if compared to those dolors and pains which Jesus Christ our Saviour hath suffered for us when in a bloody-Sweat he endured the Wrath of God the pain of Hell and the cursed and shameful death which was due to our sins therefore I praise the Lord that I am not plagued with far more grievous punishment that the like hath befallen others who undoubtedly are most glorious and blessed Saints with Christ in Heaven It is the Lords affliction and who will not take any affliction in good part when it comes from the hand of God And what shall we receive good from the hands of God and not receive evil And though I desire as I am carnal that this Cup may depart from me yet not my will but thy will be done Death brings unto the godly an end of sinning and of all miseries due unto sin so that aâ—ter death there shall be no more sorrow nor cry nor pain for God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes by Death our souls shall be delivered from thraldom and this corruptible body shall put on incorruption and this mortal immortality Therefore blessed are they that are delivered out of so vile a world and freed from such a body of bondage and corruption the soul shall enjoy immediate Communion with God in evetlasting bliss and glory it takes us from the miseries of this world and society of sinners to the City of the living God the celestial Jerusalem I bless God I am thought worthy to suffer for his Name and for so good a cause and if I had a thousand lives I would willingly lay them down for the cause of my King the Lords Anointed the Scripture commands us to fear God and honour the King to be subject to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether to the King as supreme or to to those that are in authority under him I have been always faithful to my Trust and though I have been most basely accused for betraying Leverpool yet I take God to witness it is a most false aspersion for I was then sick in my bed and knew not of the delivering of it till the Officers and Souldiers had done it without my consent and then I was carried prisoner to Sir John Meldrum afterwards I came down into the Country and seeing I could not live quietly at home I was perswaded by Colonel Forbes Colonel Overton Lieut-Colonel Fairfax whom I took for my good friends to march in their Troops which I did but with intention still to do my King the best service when occasion was and so I did and I pray God to turn the hearts of all the Souldiers to their lawful Sovereign that this Land may enjoy Peace which till then it will never do and though thou kill me yet will I put my trust in thee wherefore I trust in God he will not fail me nor forsake me Then he took his Bible and read divers Psalms fit for his own occasion and consolation and then put up divers prayers some publiquely and some privately the publique was this whiâ—h follows His Prayer WElcome blessed hour the period of my Pilgrimage the term of my Bondage the end of my cares the close of my sins the bound of my travels the Goal of my race and the haven of my hopes I have fought a long fight in much weakness I have finished my course though in great faintness and the Crown of my joy is that through the
you possesse here in my conversation in the world I do not know where I have an enemy with cause or that there is such a person whom I have to regret but if there be any whom I cannot recollect under the notion of Christian men I pardon them as freely as if I had named them by name I freely forgive them being in free peace with all the world as I desire God for Christs sake to be at peace with me For the business of death it is a sad sentence in it self if men consult with flesh and blood But truly without boasting I say it or if I do boast I boast in the Lord I have not to this minute had one consultation with the flesh about the blow of the Axe or one thought of the Axe more then as my pass-port to glory I take it for an honour and I owe thankfulness to those under whose power I am that they have sent me hither to a place however of punishment yet of some honour to die a death somewhat worthy of my blood answerable to my birth and qualification and this courtesie of theirs hath much helped towards the pacification of my mind I shall desire God that those Gentlemen in that sad bed-rol to be tried by the High Court of Justice that they may find that really there than is nominal in the Act an High Court of Justice a Court of high Justice high in its righteousness though not in its severity Father forgive them and forgive me as I forgive them I desire you now that you would pray for me and not give over praying till the hour of death not till the moment of death for the hour is come already that as I have a great load of sins so I may have the wings of your prayers to help those Angels that are to convey my soul to Heaven and I doubt not but I shall see my Saviour my gallant Master the King of England and another Master whom I much honoured my Lord Capel hoping this day to see my Christ in the presence of the Father the King in the presence of him my Lord Capel in the presence of them all and my self there to rejoyce with all other Saints and Angels for evermore Doctor Swadling he being upon the Scaffold spake as followeth unto the Colonel You have this morning in the presence of a few given some account of your Religion and under general notions or words have given an account of your faith charity and repentance To those on the Scaffold if you please to hear the same questions asked here you shall that it may be a general testimoney to you all that he died in the favour of God To the Colonel Now Sir I being to deal with you do you acknowledge that this stroke that you are to suffer is a just punishment laid upon you by God for your former sins Col. Andrews I dare not only deny it but dare not but confess it I have no opportunity of glorifying God more then by taking shame to my self and I have a reason of the Justice of God in my own bosom which I have put to your bosom Doctor You acknowledge that you deserve more then this stroak of the Axe and that a far greater misery is due to you even the pains and Torments of Hell that the damned there endure Col. I know it is due in righteous Judgement but I know again I have a satisfaction made by my Elder-brother Christ Jesus and then I say it is not due â—is due from me but quitted by his Righteousness Doct. Do you believe to be saved by that Mediator and none other Col. By that and that only renouncing all secondary causes whatsoever Doct. Are you truly and unfeignedly sorry before God as you appear to us for all those sins that have brought you hither Col. I am sorry and can never be sorrowful enough and am sorry I can be no more sorry Doct. If God should by a Miracle not to put you to a vain hope but if God should as he did to Ezekiah renew your days what life do you resolve to lead hereafter Col. It is a question of great length and requires a great time to answer Men in such straits would promise great things but I would first call some friends to limit how far I should make a Vow that I might 〈◊〉 make a rash one and to offer the Sacrifice of Fools but a Vow I would make and by Gods help endeavour to keep it Doct. Do you wish health and happiness upon all lawful Authorities and Government 〈◊〉 Col. I do prize all obedience to lawful Government and the adventuring against them is sinful and I do not justifie my self whatever my judgement be for my thus adventuring against the present Government I leave it to God to judge whether it be righteous if it be it must stand Doct. Are you now in love and charity with all men Do you freely forgive them Col. With all the World freely and the Lord forgive them and forgive me as I freely forgive them Doct. You have for some late years laid down your Gown and took up the Sword and you were a man of Note in those parts where you had your residence I have nothing to accuse you for want of diligence in hindering the doing of injuries yet possibly there might be some wrong done by your Officers or those under you to some particular men If you had your Estate in your hands would you make restitution Col. The wrongs themselves you bring to my mind are not great nor many some things of no great moment but such as they are my desire is to make restitution but have not wherewithall Doct. If you had ability would you likewise leave a legacy of thankfulness to Almighty God something to his poor Servants to his lame Members to his deaf Members to his dumb Members Col. My will hath always been better then my ability that way Doct. Sir I shall trouble you very little further I thank you for all those heavenly Colloquies I have enjoyed by being in your Company these three days and truly I am very sorry I must part with so heavenly an Associate We have known one another heretofore but never so Christian-like before I have rather been a Scholar to learn from you then an Instructor I wish this Stage wherein you are made a Spactacle to God Angels and the World may be a School to all about you for though I will not diminish your sins nor shall I conceal nor hypocrize my own for they are great ones betwixt God and my self yet I think there is few here have a lighter load upon them then you have if we consider things well and I only wish them your Repentance and that measure of Faith which God hath given you and that measure of Courage you have attained from God and that constant perseverance God hath crowned you with hitherto Col. His Name be praised Here the Doctor
purpose a scandal which obliquely hit Sir Henry to the taking away his life but was doubly aymed at his Majesty whom they would render to his Subjects as they in their Traiterous Papers had called him an Enemy to the Common-wealth At his going to Constantinople several Messages past betwixt him and Sir Thomas Bendish in order to his audience which usually is prepared by the Resident there which his mistakes and jealousie was a long time delayed and at last frustrated The Vizier being wrought upon to betray him and to send him away for England by the Ships then bound thither from Smyrna in one whereof contrary to his Designation and reinfect with some of Sir Thomas Bendisheâ— men who sided with him in obedience to the Kings Authority he arrived at London and was presently committed to the Tower where he past his Examination I shall omit any further account but refer the Reader to that Apology or Defence which Sir Thomas Bendish lately published in excuse of himself and to free and clear his Reputation charged with the guilt of this Martyrs death and more especially to what Sir Henry himself said a view whereof you have in the subsequent leaves After some while imprisonment he was brought before the High Court of Justice and heard in defence of his life wherein he would have used and desired to speak in the Italian Language being through long disuse of his Mother-tongue not so ready and expressive as that important matter required he should be which request by the folly and madnesse of his Judges was imputed to him as an affected pride and vanity In conclusion by a Power intrusted and lodged in that High Court of Justice by Authority of Parliament he was sentenced to be beheaded and the place and day assigned for the Execution The main incentive to this villany was without doubt the nearnesse of his Honourable Brother to the King at whom this blow glanced if also they did not remember and reckon their two presumptuous Emissaries and Agents Dorislaws and Achtan into the score However it was Sir Henry nothing dismaid at this outrage against his Life and Honour quietly submitted to his doom and at his death though accompanied thereto with many diseases and Infirmities couragiously asserted his Cause owned his Master the King and cleared them both from any Aspersions and so rendered his Soul to God Sir Henry Hide 's speech on the Scaffold near the Exchange immediately before his Execution March 4. 1650. REader Take notice that this Speech following is published in those very words that the Gentleman delivered them and though there be some abrupt breakings off and other expressions not so smooth as might have been yet I could not with henesty alter a word and therefore have I tyed my self to his own expressions that I may neither abuse the world or the dying man or my self THe Gentleman came in a Coach to the Scaffold attended by the Lieutenant of the Tower and the Sheriffs of London and also in his company one of his servants and Dr. Hide I Am come to put in practice the Christian Profession Sir Hen. Hide and as I owe a death to nature and sin now I pay it upon the score of grace Dr. Hide Blessed be God that hath enabled you to it God hath and will enable you Sir H. Hide Looking round on the People he said A populous City God bless it and grant they may live to his Grace Then turning to his Man he said John I pray now though I have not been a good Master to you be you a good Servant and accompany me with your prayers and help me both in body and mind John Have you my things about you John Then staying for his Servants they being not on the Scaffold he said I had rather have my Servants then strangers Then the Lieutenant of the Tower coming to him he said pray Sir rejoyce with me I thank Almighty God I am brought hither to suffer for him Lieut. of the Tower I am glad you are so comforted Gods Will be fulfilled in all things Sir H. Hide If God call me to him and I glorifie him it is well I seek only the company of your Christian Prayers Lieut. of the Tower I shall not be wanting in that God willing Then the Chirurgion coming but not his Kinsman who was called for he said My kinsman is of no use you may be useful about my body I hope Mr. Sheriff that you 'l give order I may have a little more room here Sheriff Yes yes Sir Sir H. Hide And likewise for libertie of speech and that it shall please you for I am not acquainted with the forms here of England that I may speak my own sense I am now going into the presence of Almightie God a very little without any disturbance Sheriff Why Sir you shall Sir H. Hide John where is my Coffin John It is here Sir Sheriff Sir it seems these men cannot be found Sir H. Hide But if Mr. Barret could be found After some stay Mr. Barret being not found the Sheriff spake to him saying Sheriff You have your libertie you know your time Sir H. Hide Where is the place of standing that way or this way pointing towards the Exchange and the Poultery Sheriff Which way you please you may stand which way you will but that way you must lie pointing towards the Exchange Sir H. Hide I am indifferent it is not the way to heaven where a man stands One brought word to him that there was no help to be had Sir H. Hide That is no hinderance to my felicity Dr. Hide God enable you that you may find that joy and comfort which is due to the glory of his holy Name he will not forsake you that have put your trust in him Sir H. Hide I will open my heart and my mouth with thanksgiving if this Gentleman please to give way Then turning towards the Poultery he put off his Hat and said Glory be to God on high on Earth Peace good will to men CHristian People I come hither to die I am brought hither to die and that I may die Christian-like I humbly beseech your Christian Prayers that by the benefit of them my passage may be the more easie Yet because men in that condition which it hath pleased God to reduce me carry more credit to their Speeches In the discharge of my Duty towards God I shall use a few words and so dispatch I pray all of you joyn with me to praise this Almighty God to whom I desire to render all hearty thanks as for all his mercies so in particular for this That he hath brought me hither That whereas I owe a duty to Sin and to Nature I can pay it upon the account of Grace And because it is fit to render an account of the hope that is in me I shall tell you to the praise of Almighty God That I have been born and bred up in the Doctrine of
except they water their beds and couches with tears of Repentence The court gave severe and rash Judgment on my body and sent a pitifull fellow bur a pitiless fellow that gave as rash a Judgment of my soul but that precious Jewel none of them could touch to hurt The souls under the Alter cry loud for vengeance long ago how many more of late years have been added to them to help the cry the cry is loud of those lately whose blood hath been unlawfully spilt but vengeance is Gods and I will leave it to him The Court at my Tryal said I was confident and held it as a fault He also whom they sent to the Tower I know not if to intrap me under pretence to comfort my soul told me also I was confident I say the same and the same confidence I bring with me now and by Gods assistance I hope I shall carry it out of this world with my innocency Gentlemen Souldiers Among the ancient and savage sort of Heathen they had a Law once every three six or twelve moneths to offer up a sacrifice of humane blood to their god and that their god was a Devil Among us whether Heathen or not you best know of late years we have had a fatal custome once in three six or twelve moneths to make not only a sacrifice but many sacrifices of humane Christian blood our Scaffolds have reek'd and smoak'd with the choisest sort of blood But unto what God do you judge What God is he that delights in the blood of man Baal the god of Ekron Bâ—lzebub the god of Flyes Amongst the Primitive Christians that lived nearest the time of our Saviour Christ the greatest Tyrants and persesecutors of the Christians lived the persecution was great and yet the courage of those persecuted Christians was so great that it excelled the fury of the persecutors that they came in faster to be killed then they could kill they offered their bodies and throats so thick unto the slaughter that the hands of Tyrants were weary with killing and yet Sanguis Martirum was Semâ—n Ecclesiâ—e and many Heathens came in with the Christians seeing their chearfull constancy turned Christians and dyed Christians and dyed with them the Christians still encreased the more Of late years here hath been a great persecution in this Nation and yet the sufferers have been so many and present themselves so thick in the vindication of their King Country and Laws that they startled the very enemy himself their constancy so great that the eyes of their Judges dropped tears whether reall or true let the Judge of Judges judge They still stand amazed at their constancy though they exceed the old Heathens are not weary of killing Oh Souldiers How many of you have been brought up and led on by blind principles wronged in your education or seduced by your indiscreet heedless and heady Teachers How many of you young men have for some small discontent departed from your loving Masters dear Friends or tender Parents and fled into the Army how many of you driven by Tyranous oppression poverty or cruelty have left your dear wives and children And some for novelty or wantonness adhere to this employment not considering the great danger of spilling innocent blood How many of you have drawn your Swords you do not know for what How many of you keep drawn your Swords you do not know for what You have put to death a pious and just King and in his stead have reared up even another Jeroboam that makes Israel to sin What his goodnesse is you best know You have put down a good old Law and reared up another of your own to judge the people by my calling for the benefit of the former and for the equity even of your own Law I am in part condemned here to die Be you Judge of the proceedings How many of you have had a hand in putting down the ancient true Church and raised up in your own imaginations a new one But alas You know not what you do if you did you would grieve to see what a glorious Church you have ruind You would never have pulled down the hedges and broken down the fences that the wild beasts of the Forrest should come in that the little foxes should devour and the wild Boar should root out so stately a Vine When the Jewes were led into captivity their goodly and magnificent Temple was burnt but in process of time they obtained favour amongst the Heathen KINGS they dwelt amongst and had liberty therewith to re-build re-build they did and finished a second Temple at which fight all the young men rejoyced to see so gallant a Temple but the old men wept to see how far different and short the second Temple was from the glory of the first So you young men rejoyce at your imaginary Church but the old men methinks I see some weep Oh weep not so me weep for your Country weep to see Religion Liberty and Laws taken from you weep to see so many good men snatcht a way but indeed from the miseries to come and weep for what your unhappy selves will suffer Souldiers however you flourish for atime and perhaps many of you may rejoyce at our deaths but believe it as Sampson pull'd the house of the Philistims down when he fell so shall we give you and your Cause a greater blow by our deaths than living we possibly could have done You may for a time flourish but remember what our Saviour said All you that make use of the sword shall perish by the sword you shall be cut down like the grass and whither away like the green herbs But do you behold yonder glorious place Do you behold the spangled Heavens where the holy Angels dwell where God himselfe is rounded with Thrones Principalities Powers and the Celestial Spirits of just men when the Trump shall blow when the dead shall rise at the dreadful day of Judgment How will you answer all your Rapes and Murthers Do you think your hands that have been bathed in the blood of your King the blood of so many of your eminent Country-men so unjustly that have been bathed in the blood of many of your friends your kindred perhaps your Parents can ever reach yonder glorious place without repentance Oh no! Repent now therefore it is not too late shake off your bloody Protector rescue your ancient Laws and call in your Royal young Prince whom you have long enough wronged Make your Add esses to the great Protector of Heaven and Earth as I now do my self for a Pardon for all your former and present transgressions I dye an obedient Son of the Church of England and with a dutifull heart to the KING and desire that none present that love him will he disheartned by my death but continue faithfull to the end And so farewell I forgive all the world c. Colonel Penrudock Colonel Groves and others are taken at Southmolton in
us that right which a Gentleman and a Souldier ought to have done I had not now been here The man I forgive with all my heart but truly Gentlemen his protesting against those Articles he himself with so many protestations and importunities put upon us hath drawn so much dishonour and blood upon his head that I fear some heavy judgement will pursue him Though he hath been false to us I pray God I do not prove a true prophet to him Nay I must say more that coming on the road to Exon he the said Captaine Crook told me Sir Joseph Wagstaff was a gallant Gentleman and that he was sorry he was not taken with us that then he might have had the benefit of our ARTICLES but now said he I have beset all the Country for him so that he cannot escape but must be hanged He also questioned me as I passed through Salisbury from London whether he had given me conditions Which I endeavouring to make appear to Major Butler he interrupted me and unwillingly confest saying I profered him four hundred pounds to perform his Articles which had been a strange proffer of mine had I not really conditioned with him And I told him then having found him unworthy I would have given him five hundred pounds believing him to be mercenary To make it yet farther appear I injure him not by stiling him unworthy after these Articles were given he proffered to Pistol me if I did not perswade another house to yeeld which then were boldly resisting To which my servanr John Biby now a prisoner replyed I hope you will not be so unworthy as to break the Law of Arms. Thus much I am obliged to say to the honour of the souldiery that they have been so far from breaking any Articles given to others that they have rather bettered them then otherwise It is now our misfortune to be made presidents and examples together But I will not do the Protector so much injury as to load him with dishonour since I have been informed that he would have made our conditions good if Crook that gave them had not abjur'd them This is not a time for me to enlarge upon any subject since I am now become the Subject of death But since the Articles were drawn by my hand I thought my self obliged to a particular Justification of them I could tell you of some souldiers which are turned out of his Troop for defending those conditions of ours but let that pass and henceforward instead of life liberty and estate which were the Articles agreed upon let drawing hanging and quartering bear the Denomination of Cap. Crooks Articles However I thank the Protector for granting me this honourable death I should now give you an account of my Faith But truly Gentlemen this poor Nation is rent into so many several opinions that it is impossible for me to give you mine without displeasing some of you However if a man be so critical as to enquire of what faith I die I shall refer him to the Apostles Athanasius the Nicene Creed and to the testimony of this Reverend Gentleman Dr. Short to whom I have unbosomed my self and if this do not satisfie look in the thirty nine Articles of the Catholick Church of England to them I have subscribed and do own them as authentick Having now given you an account concerning my self I hold my self obliged in duty to some of my friends to take off a suspition which lies upon them I mean as to some persons of Honour which upon my examination I was charged to have held correspondency with The Marquess of Hartford the Marquess of Winchester and my Lord of Pembrook were the persons nominated to me I did then acquit them and do now second it with this protestation That I never held any correspondency with either or any of them in relation to this particular businesse or indeed to any thing which concern'd the Protector or his Government As for the Marquess of Winchester I saw him some twelve years since and not later and if I should see him here present I believe I should not know him And for the Earle of Pembrook he was not a man likely to whom I should discover my thoughts because he is a man of a contrary Judgment I was examined likewise concerning my Brother Freke my Cousin Hastings Mr. Dorrington and others It is probable their estates may make them liable to this condition but I do here so far acquit them as to give the World this farther protestation that I am confident they are as innocent in this business as the youngest child here I have no more to say to you now but to let you know that I am in charity with all men I thank God I both can and do forgive my greatest persecutors and all that ever had any hand in my death I have offered the Protector as good security for my future demeanor as I suppose he could have expected if he had thought fit to have given me my life certainly I should not have been so ungrateful as to have imployed it against him I do humbly submit to Gods pleasure knowing that the issues of life and death are in his hand My blood is but a small sacrifice if it had been saved I am so much a Gent. as to have given thanks to him that preserved it and so much a Christian as to forgive them which take it But seeing God by his providence hath called me to lay it down I willingly submit to it though terrible to nature but blessed be my Saviour who hath taken out the sting so that I look upon it with terrour Death is a debt and a due debt and it hath pleased God to make me so good a husband that I am come to pay it before it is due I am not ashamed of the Cause for which I die but rather rejoyce that I am thought worthy to suffer in the defence and cause of Gods true Church my lawfull King the liberty of the Subject and Priviledge of Parliaments Therefore I hope none of my Aliance and Friends will be ashamed of it it is so far from pulling down my Family that I look upon it as the raising of it one story hi heâ— Neither was I so prodigal of nature as to throw away my life but have used though none but honourable and honest means to preserve it These unhappy times indeed have been very fatall to my family two of my Brothers already slain and my self going to the slaughter it is Gods will and I humbly submit to that providence I must render an acknowledgement of the great civilities that I have received from this City of Exon and some persons of quality and for their plentiful provision made for the prisoners I thank Mr. Sheriff for his favour towards us in particular to my self and I desire him to present my due respects to the Protector and though he had no mercy for my self yet that he would have
reason to have expected the Council would have justified my Plea which hath been Ancient Honourable Sacred and Vnviolable until this time that I am made the first suffering Precedent for 1 dare affirm it that never Gentleman before in any Christian Nation was adjudged to death by a Council of War after quarter given I am the first and I pray God I may be the last Precedent in this caâ—e I must die and I thank God I am ready for it Death would now be my choice had I the whole world in competition with it I leave nothing behind me which I much care for but my King my Wife my Children my Friends whom I trust the never-failing mercies of my God will provide for I beseech God shew mercy to those who neither had mercy nor justice for me My blessed Saviour taught him by his example and command both to pray for my enemies and to forgive my enemies I forgive them freely even those that contrived my ruine and pursued to death I thank God never persinally offended them to my knowledge in my life and let me not offend against them at my death I forgive them freely and pray God for Christs sake to forgive them also Of my Faith and Religion I shall not hope need to say much herein I hope my enemies if now I have any will speak for me I profess my faith to be in God onely from whom I look for my salvation through the precious merits and sufferings of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ which merits and sufferings are applied to my soul by the blesâ—ed spirit of comfort the Spirit of God by whom I am assured in my own Soul that my God is reconciled unto me in Jesus Christ my blessed Redeemer I die a dutiful son the Church of England as it was established in that blessed Prince my late Masters Reign which all my of learning and temperance will acknowledge to be the most pure and agreable to the Word of God and primitive Government of any Church within 12. or 1300. years since Christ and which to my great comfort I left established in the Isle of Man God preserve it there and restore it to this Nation And O blessed God I magnifie thy Name that thou gavest me the happinesse and mercy to be born in a Christian Nation and in a Nation where thy truth was professed in purity With honour to thy Name and comfort to thy people I ascribe the comforts of the Holy Spirit which I feel in my bosome to the Ministry of thy Word and Sacraments conveyed unto me in thy Church and made effectual by the operation of the same blessed Spirit In this faith good people I have lived and in this I die pray for me I beseech you and the God of mercies hear your prayers and my prayers for mine and your salvation Presently after the tumult was over Here his Lordship began to speak again his Lordship called for the Headsman and asked to see the Axe and taking it in his hand said Friend I will not hurt it and I am sure it cannot hurt me and then kissing it said Methinks this is as a Wedding Ring which is as a sign I am to leave all the VVorld and eternally to be married to my Saviour Then putting his hand in his pocket said to the Headsman Here Friend take these two pieces all that I have thou must be my Priest I pray thee do thy work well and effectually Then handling the rough furr'd coat the Headsman had on This says he will be troublesome to thee I pray thee put it off and do it as willingly as I put off this garment of my flesh that is now so heavy for my soul then some of the standers by bid the Heads-man kneel and ask his Lordship pardon but he did not but was surly and crabbed but his Lordship said Friend I give thee the pardon thou wilt not ask and God forgive thee also Then turning up his eyes to heaven said aloud How long Lord how long then gently passing over the Scaffold and seeing one of his Chaplains on horseback among the people Good Sir said he pray for me and the Lord return your prayers into your own bosome and I pray remember me kindly to your Brother and God remember him for his love to me and mine Then turning towards his Coffin Thou art said he my bridal Chamber in thee I shall rest without a guard and sleep without souldiers Then looking towards the block he asked if all were ready That said he methinks is very low and yet there is but one step betwixt that and heaven then turning his eyes to the people he saluted them and desired again their prayers then said I see your tears and hear your sighs and groans and prayers the God of heaven hear and grant your supplications for me and mine for you and the Mediation of Christ Jesus for us all Here his Lordship caused the block to be turned that he might look upon the Church saying Whilst I am here I will look towards thy holy Sanctuary and I know that within a few minutes I shall behold thee my God and King in thy Sanctuary above under the shadow of thy wings shall be my rest till this calamity be overpast then he pulled off his blew garter and sent it to his Son and pulling off his doublet with a very religious chearfulness he said I come Lord Jesus and O come thou quickly that I may be with thee for ever upon this he said Pray tell me how must I lie I have been called a bloody man yet truly I never yet had that severe curiositie to see any put to death in peace then laying himself down on the block after a few minutes he rose again and caused the block to be a little removed then said to the Headsman Friend remember what I said to thee and be no more afraid to strike then I to die and when I put up my hand do thy work so looking round about his friends and the people he said The Lord blesse you all and once more pray for me and with me at which words he kneeled down and prayed privately within himself with great sighings about half a quarter of an hour concluding with the Lords Prayer then rising up again he said smilingly My soul is now at rest and so shall my body be immediately The Lord bless my King and restore him to his right in this Kingdom and the Lord bless this Kingdom and restore them to their rights in their King that he and they may joyn hand in hand to settle truth and peace and the Lord bless this County and this Town and this People The Lord comfort my sad wife and children and reward all my friends with peace and happinesse both here and hereafter and the Lord forgive them who were the cause and authors of this my sad end and unjust death for so it is as to mankind though before God I deserve
much worse but I hope my sins are all bathed in the blood of Jesus Christ So laying his neck upon the block and his armes stretcht out he said these words Blessed be Gods glorious Name for ever and ever Let the whole Earth be filled with his glory Amen Amen At which words he gave the Headsman the sign but he either not observing it or not being ready stayed too long so that his Lordship rose up again saying Why do you keep me from my Saviour what have I done that I die not and that I may live with him Once more I will â—ay my self down in peace and so take my everlasting rest Then saying Come Lord Jesus come quickly he stretched out his arms and gave the sign repeating the same words Blessed be Gods glorious Name for ever and ever Let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen Amen Then lifting up his hand the Executioner did his work at one blow all the people weeping and crying and giving all expressions of grief and lamentation When the corps were carried off the Scaffold they carried them to a house in the Town where was thrown into his Coffin in a piece of paper these two lines Upon James Earl of Derby Bounty Wit Courage all here in one lie dead A Stanleys hand Veres heart and Cecil's head The sentence of the Council of VVar. Resolved by the Court upon the Question That James Earl of Derby is guilty of the breach of the Act of the 12. of August 1651. last past entituled An Act prohibiting correspondence with Charles Stuart or his party and so of High-Treason against the Common-wealth of England and is therefore worthy of death Resolved by the Court. That the said James Earl of Derby is a traytor to the Common-wealth of Eagland and an abettor encourager and assister of the declared Traytors and enemies thereof and shall be put to death by severing his head from his body at the Market place in the Town of Bolton in Lancashire upon VVednesday the 15. day of this instant October about the houre of one of the Clock the same day Sir Timothy Feverston Haugh beheaded at Chester Octob. 22. 1651. HAving nothing but the History of the War for my direction to this Gentlemans memory I will confine my self within the compass of that discovery and venture not to derive him any further hoping his honourable Relations will for their own as well as his sake be pleased to vouchsafe a full and perfect account of him hereafter to the embalming his fame to Posterity He was engaged in the unhappy Defeat at Wiggan with theafore said noble Earl to whose assistance whether he came with the King and was left by him there with those small Forces could be spared or that he voluntarily joyned or came from the Isle of Man with that Party I cannot determine this is for certain he was taken prisoner at that unlucky overthrow in Lancashire and secured afterwards till the Grand Business was over at Worcester Upon the coming back of the Forces assigned to Cheshire for their stationary Quarters and the bringing of the Earl of Derby thither they were both imprisoned at Chester and after the Trial and Condemnation of the Earl of Derby was likewise brought before the said Court-Martial and as no better was or could be expected by him or any other person had likewise the said Sentence only differing in time and place He behaved himself at his Death couragiously and Christianly telling those Monsters of men the foulness of their faults and confidently averring that the Justice of God would at last overtake them if they timely returned not to their duty and after some few prayers and among them one for the Kings preservation which yet was in doubt he resigned his Soul to God and hath added one to the glorious Company of Martyrs Colonel Benbow shot no death at Shrewsbury Octob. 1651. I Must confess my self at a losse here but though I could receive nothing else but his Name yet to that there is so much due on this account of Martyrdome that I durst not omit him putting hereby an occasion into the hands of this Gentlemans Relations to rescue his and perpetuate their Name to after Ages I conceive him to be one of those loyal Gentlemen who came in with the Earl of Shrewsbury then Lord Talbot or Colonel Howard my Lord Howard of Esericks Son to the King at Worcester and who for his former Services done the King in the War before was obnoxious to their malice Most certain it was he was taken notice of and observed to be very active in that Engagement at Worcester in the flight from whence he was taken though most of the other English escaped by the favour and concealment of the Country nor did ever the Scots finde civiller usage after a Defeat save those who through their glorious valour fell and escaped the better way to Heaven After he was taken he was conveighto Shrewsbury a place which the King from Worcester had summoned by a Letter to Colonel Mackworth the Governour which Royal Command they thought fit to question with loyal Blood as they pretended to expiate the storming of Bolton by Prince Rupert with the murder of the Earl of Derby Whatever the reasons of their proceedings there against him might be I cannot ascertain thus much from all hands we have that he went not lesse in his death then in his life maintaining his Religion to God his Duty to the King and his Innocency to the World to the last minute of his breath which found several wayes to expire by their Bullets and to ascend with his Soul to Heaven with a Quinque Domine c. Colonel John Gerhard and Mr. Vowel the one beheaded at Tower-hill and the other hanged at Charing-Crosse July 10. 1654. OLiver Cromwel that Monster of English production had but newly invaded the Magistracy over these Nations when as the Hydra before him had done he commenced his Tyrannical Regiment with a Sacrifice of Loyal blood which all along cemented the frame of his five yeares Usurpation as the Walls of Babylon were said to be mortar'd A cursed Rule it was among those State-Innovators that there was no surer way of establishing their Tyrannie and bring their Models to any sound constituon but by profusely letting blood especially in the Plurisie of so many dangers which their evil and abominable actions did daily threaten them This they termed Preventional Cure for suspecting all hands to be about their eares they resolved to be before hand with some that the terror of the Example being contrary to all reason Justice and Law and a perfect avowing of their Tyranny might reach to every man that who with the sense of so apparent danger and destruction out of which once engaged there was no rescue or deliverance but by death might be stupified into a degenerous fear and abject servility of mind to endure whatever their insupportable Domination should load upon