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
respect to my family I am now stripping off my clothes to fight a duel with death I conceive no other duel lawful but my Saviour hath pulled out the sting of this mine enemy by making himself a sacrifice for me And truly I do not think that man deserving one drop of his bloud that will not spend all for him in so good a cause The Truth is Gentlemen in this Age Trea on is an individium vagum like the wind in the Gospel it bloweth wher it listeth So now Treason is what they please lighteth upon whom they will Indeed no man except he will be a Traytor can avoid this Censure of Treason I know not to what end it may come but I pray God my own and my Brothers blood that is now to die with me may be the last upon this score Now Gentlemen you may see what a condition you are in without a King you have no law to protect you no rule to walke by when you perform your duty to God your King and Country you displease the Arbitrary power now set up I cannot call it government I shall leave you to peruse my tryal and there you shall see what a condition this poor Nation is brought into and no question will be utterly destroyed if not restored by loyal Subjects to its old and glorious Government I pray God he lay not his Judgements upon England for their sluggishness in doing their duty and readiness to put their hands in their bosoms or rather taking part with the Enemy of Truth The Lord open their eyes that they may be no longer lead or drawn into such snares else the Child that is unborn will curse the day of their Parents birth God almighty preserve my Lawful K. Charles the second from the hands of his Enemies and break down that wall of Pride and Rebellion which so long hath kept him from his just Rights God preserve his Royal Mother and all his Majestys Royal Brethren and incline their hearts to seek after him God incline the hearts of all true Englisâ—men to stand up as one man to bring in the King and redeem themselves and this poor Kingdom out of its more then Egyptian slavery As I have now put off these garments of cloth so I hope I have put off my garments of sin have put on the Robes of Christs Righteousnesse here which will bring me to the enjoyment of his glorious Robes anon Then he kneeled down and kissed the block and said thus I commit my soul to God my Creator and Redeemer Look upon me O Lord at my last gasping Hear my prayer and the prayers of all good people I thank thee O God for all thy dispensations towards me Then kneeling down he prayed most devoutfuly as followeth O Eternal Almighty and most mercifull God the Righteous Judge of all the world look down in mercy on me a miserable sinner O blessed Jesus Redeemer of Mankind which takest away the sins of the world let thy perfect manner of obedience be presented to thy Heavenly Father for me Let thy precious death and bloud be the ransome and satisfaction of my many and heynous transgressions Thou that sittest at the right hard of God make intercession for me O holy and blessed Spirit which art the Comforter fill my heart with thy consolations O holy blessed and glorious Trinity be mercifull to me confirm my faith in the promises of the Gospel reviveâ— and quicken my hope and expectation of joys prepared for true and faithfull servarâ—ts Let the infinite Love of God my Saviour make 〈◊〉 love to him steafast sincere and constant O Lord consider my condition accept my tears aswage my grief give me comfort and confidence in theâ— impute not unto me my former sins but most mercifull Fathâ—r receive me into thy favour for the merits of Christ Jesus Many and grievous are my sins for I have sinned many times against the light of knowledge against remorse of conscience against the motions opportunities of grace But accept I beseech thee the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart in and for the perfect sacrifice oblation and satisfaction of thy Son Jesus Christ O Lord receive my soul after it is delivered from the burthen of the flesh into perfect joy in the sight and fruition of thee And at the general resurrection grant that my body may be endowed with immortality and received with my soul into glory I praise thee O God I acknowledge thee to be the Lord O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world have mercy on me Thou that sittest at the right hand of God hear my prayer O Lord Jesus Christ God and Man Mediator betwixt God and Man I have sinned as a Man be thou mercifull to me as a God O holy and blessed Spirit help my infirmities with those sighs and groans which I cannot expresse Then he desired to see the Axe and kissed it saying I am like to have a sharp passage of it but my Savior hath sweetned it unto me Then he said If I would have been so unworthy as others have been I suppose I might by a lye have saved my life which I scorn to purchase at such a rate I defie such temptations and them that gave them me Glory be to God on high On Earth peace Good will towards Men. And the Lord have mercy upon my poor soul Amen So laying his Neck upon the Block after some private Ejaculations he gave the Heads-man a sign with his hand who at one blow severed his head from his body The true Speech of that Valiant and piously resolved Hugh Grove of Chisenbury in the Parish of Enford and County of Wilts Esquire beheaded the 16th of May 1655. in the Castle at Exon. Good people I Never was guilty of much Rhetorick nor ever loved long Speeches in all my life and therefore you cannor expect either of them from me now at my death All that I shall desire of you besides your hearty prayers for my soul is That you would bear me witnesse I die a true son of the Church of England as it was established by King Edward the sixth Queen Elizabeth King James and King Charls the first of blessed memmory That I die a Loyall Subject to King Charls the second my undoubted Soveraign and a lover of the good old Laws of the Land the just priviledges of Parliaments and Rights and Liberties of the People for the re-establishing of all which I did undertake this engagement and for which I am ready to lay down my life God forgive the bloody-minded Jury and those that procured them God forgive Captain Crook for denying his Articles so unworthily God forgive Mr. Dove and all other persons swearing so maliciously and falsely against me God forgive all my enemies I heartily forgive them God blesse the KING and all that love him turn the hearts of all that hate him God blesse you all and be merciful to you and to
homes and let me be never so unhappy as that the last drop of my Bloud should rise up in Judgment against any one of you but I fear you are in a wrong way My Lords I have but one word mâ—re and with that I shall end I prosesse that I die a true and obedient Son to the Church of England wherein I was born and in which I was bred Peace and Prosperity be ever to it It hath been objected if it were an Objection worth the answering that I have been enclined to Popery but I say truly from my heart that from the time that I was one and twenty years of age to this present going now upon forty nine I never had in my heart to doubt of this Religion of the Church of England Nor ever had any man the boldnesse to suggest any such thing to me to the best of my Remembrance and so being reconciled by the Merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour into whose bosom I hope I shall shortly be gathered to those Eternal happinesses which shall never have end I desire heartily the forgivenesse of every man for any rash or unadvised words or anything done amisse And so my Lords and Gentlemen Farewel Farewel all the things of this world I desire that you would be silent and joyn with me in Prayer and I trust in God we shall all meet and live eternally in heaven there to receive the Accomplishment of all happinesse where every Tear shall be wiped away from our eyes and every sad thought from our hearts and so God blesse this Kingdom and Jesus have mercy on my Soul Then turning himself about he saluted all the Noble-men and took a solemn leave of all considerable Persons upon the Scaffold giving them his Hand After that he said Gentlemen I would say my Prayers and entreat you all to pray with me and for me then his Chaplain laid the Book of Common-prayer upon the Chair before him as he kneeled down on which he prayd almost a quarter of an hour and then as long or longer without the Book concluded with the Lords Prayer Standing up he espies his Brother Sir George Wentworth and cals him to him saying Brother we must part remember me to my Sister and to my Wife and carry my Blessing to my Son and charge him that he fear God and continue an obedient Son to the Church of England and warn him that he bears no private grudg or revenge toward any man concerning me bid him beware that he meddle not with Church-Livings for that will prove a Moth canker to him in his Estate and wish him to content himself to be a Servant to his Country not aiming at higher preferments Aliter To his Son Mr. Wentworth he commends himself and gives him charge to serve his God to submit to his King with all Faith and Allegiance in things temporal to the Church in things Spiritual chargeth him again and again as he will answer it to him in Heaven never to meddle with the Patrimony of the Church for if he did it would be a Canker to eat up the rest of his Estate Carry my blessing also to my Daughter Anne and Arabella charge them to serve and fear God and he will blesse them not forgetting my little Infant who yet knows neither good nor evil and cannot speak for it self God speak for it and blesse it now said he I have nigh done one stroke will make my Wife husbandlesse my dear children fatherlesse and my poor Servants masterlesse and will separate me from my dear Brother and all my Friends But let God be to you and them all in all After this going to take off his Doubler and to make himself unready he said I thank God I am not afraid of death nor daunted with any discouragement rising from any fears but do as chearfully put off my Doublet at this time as ever I did when I went to bed then he put off the Doublet wound up his hair with his hands and put on a white Cap. Then he called where is the man that is to do this last Office meaning the Executioner call him to me when he came and asked him forgivenesse he told him he forgave him and all the world then kneeling down by the Block he went to Prayer again himself the Primate of Ireland kneeling on the one side and the Minister on the other To the which Minister after Prayer he turned himself having done Prayer and spoke some few words softly having his hands lifted up and closed with the Ministers hands Then bowing himself to lay his Head upon the Block he told the Executioner that he would first lay down his Head to try the fitnesse of the Block and take it up again before he would lay it down for good and all And so he did and before he laid it down again he told the Executioner that he would give him warning when to strike by stretching forth his hands And presently laying down his Neck upon the Block and stretching forth his Hands the Executioner struck off his Head at one blow and taking it up in his hand shewed it to all the People and said God save the King His Body was afterwards embalmed and appointed to be carried into Yorkshire there to be buried among his Ancestors He lift these three Instructions for his Son in Writing First That he should continue still to be brought up under those governors to whom he had committed him as being the best he could pick out of all those within his knowledge and that he should not change them unlesse they were weary of him that he should rather want himself then they should want any thing they could desire Secondly He chargeth him as he would answer it at the last day not to put himself upon any publick Employments till he was Thirty years of age at least And then if his Prince should call him to Publick Service he should carefully undertake it to restifie his Obedience and withal to be faithful and sincere to his Master though he should come to the same end that himself did Thirdly That he should never lay any hand upon any thing that belonged to the Church He foresaw that Ruine was like to come upon the Revenues of the Church and that perhaps they might be shared amongst the Nobility and Gentry But if his Son medled with any of it he wished the Curse of God might follow him and all them to the destruction of the most Apostolical Church upon Earth Epitaph on the Earl of Strafford HEre lies Wise and Valiant Dust Huddled up 'twixt Fit and Just STRAFFORD who was hurried hence 'Twixt Treason and Convenience He spent his time here in a Mist A Papist yet a Calvinist His Princes nearest Joy and Grief He had yet wanted all Relief The Prop and Ruine of the State The Peoples violent Love and Hate One in Extreams lov'd and abhorr'd Riddles lie here or in a word Here lies Bloud
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
what he did neither directly deny nor was troubled that he did aver And then declared to Bradshaw that he looked upon Sir John Gell as upon himself a betrayed man and so was dismist that time The noble Colonel understanding those Gentlemen taken with him were in restraint writ to Sir Henry Mildmay concerning them in these words Honour'd Sir The past Noblenesse I am sensible at your hands as civilly treating me when before the State though a great Delinquent gave me this encouragement and you the trouble of this Address It is no small encrease of my proper misfortune that I see such who were taken with me as Companions to my Person to share so deep in the punishment as do those Gentlemen Mr. Edwards and Mr. Clark persons so free from the guilt of my evil that I am confident they cannot give account for what cause I am deservedly a prisoner though it were made the price of their liberty I am an humble Suitor to you that you would take them into your favourable consideration and mediate their enlargement and that you would not let them have a worse place in your thoughts for that they are recommended to your Favour by c. The Colonel several times took upon him to aver to the Council of State that they had Spies upon him for some years and particularly that infamous fellow Barnard which Bradshaw denyed not but justified the State by the practice of all Governments to set Watches upon persons of ill affection to them Being in this condition he was advised to Petition the Tyrannical Council which according to some of their own Directions was this To the Right Honourable the Lord President and Council of State The Humble Petition c. Shews THat your Petitioner is deeply sensible and humbly acknowledgeth that for his high Delinquency against the State he is become forfeited to their Justice That he hath not in the least prevaricated with your Lordships in the confession of his proper faults and follies nor hath kept ought reserved concerning himself or any person or they which may satisfie your Lordships and more secure the State and is not hopeless to be look'd upon as capable of your present favour and future mercy which he now and shall always implore That his present deserved Condition is made more uncomfortable by his wants and the exclusion of his Friends and Relations without a supply in which life it self becomes a punishment Your Petitioner casting himself at your Lordships feet humbly prays That his being prosecuted before the High Court of Justice may be suspended that by your order his past and future charges of necessaries may be discharged while he remains your prisoner That his Friends and Kinrea may have recourse to him and that he may have the freedom of his Pen. And in case your Petitioner shall be found in the lâ—ast to misapply these favours he shall adjudge himself worthy of a total deprivation of them and your future goodness towards him And Your c. These were seconded with several other Petitions especially one to the Parliament and back'd with Letters to the Speaker and the Lieutenant of the Tower in referrence to maintenance and freedom of persons coming to him which with great difficulty and by express order too of the Council was hardly obtain'd by a Gentlewoman of quality his friend Having endured a tedious imprisonment of sixteen weeks having nothing altered from those cruel Statesmen he was at last in the Month of August brought to his tryal before a High Court of Justice against whose Jurisdiction and Authority he learnedly and bravely spoke and a large denyed their power of trying and condemning any Freeman of England their Erection being contrary to all the Laws of the Kingdom the beginning of his first argument from not pleading to his Charge was this My Lords and you Gentlemen Members of this Honourable Court. I Have as becomes me been attentive to the Charge which hath been read against me It appears in that dress that it is put alreadly though I presume it shall be clad in other Apparrel by Mr. Attourny so specious and great as that my friends if I have any here begin to fear the indifferent to doubt and the partial to defire and joyn in my condemnation my self I hope I am not partial to my self believe that it will be no more then the Mountains labour and when it shall come to be opened will prove inane aliquod like the Apples of Sodom that however they take the first sense the eye as this the ear do rather foul the fingers that touch them then satisfie the appetite in expectation upon them My Lord I am at an unusual Bar engaged in a great Cause of a far and extendible Concernment my fee is life and my dutie is self-preservation which in it self were less considerable if by a president of my suffering the Consequence would not prove mischievously Epidemical I do not refuse to plead to the Charge but humbly crave leave to offer my Reasons for the suspending of my Plea And if I be importunate yet within the bounds of civility I beg Your pardon that I may have a free full and uninterrupted hearing He proceeded with admirable Elegance and strength of Argument and Reason throughout his Tryal But that bloody Court and cruel Attourney Gen. Prideaux over-ruled them all telling him that the Court was not at leisure to take notice of those Law-Cases but of his Confession that he had an affection to it though nothing acted and that was sufficient Treason and for that affection he deserved Death and thereupon the Court pronounced sentence against him that he should be beheaded Thus was the Birth-right of a Freeman of England denyed by wicked Murtherers whose will was their only Law Between Sentence and Execution he received a preparatory Letter to Death from a Dear friend to which he returned this answer Friend Your words sent to me were such and so seasonable that I have given them the same entertainment as becomes me to afford to Apples of Gold and Pictures of silver and if I be after my decollation dissected you may finde them in my heart where you always have had a Mansion If fear were absolutely a necessary passion by which to denote a man I must as yet be accounted among some other Species of Animality The fear of Isaac hath banish'd all other dreadings I look upon Death as upon that Rod in the hand of God with which he would not have corrected me if less correction would have serv'd turn and which he doth now exercise upon me because he is resolved not to let me be less then a Son beloved and I am content to bear the stripes and kiss the Instrument I am sorry that my Rod is bound together with the sin of my Betrayer and wish him Repentance that when the Rod comes to be burned he suffer not in the flame I am proud and covetous to be released from
prayed with him almost a quarter of an hour after which the Col. turning himself again to the people spake as followeth One thing more I desire to be clear in There lieth a common imputation upon the Cavaliers that they are Papists and under that Name we are made odious to those of the contrary opinion I am not a Papist but renounce the Pope with all his dependencies when the distractions in RELIGION first sprang up I might have been thought apt to turn from this Church to the Roman but was utterly unsatisfied in their Doctrine in point of Faith and very much as to their Discipline The Religion which I profess is that which passeth under the name of Protestant though that be rather a name of distinction then properly essential to Religion But the Religion which was found out in the Reformation purged from all the errours of Rome in the Reign of Edward the sixth practised in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth King James and King Charles that blessed Prince deceased that Religion before it was defaced I am of which I take to be Christs Catholique though not the Roman Catholique Religion in the profession and practice whereof I will live and die that for my Religion Then he turnd himself unto the Executioner I have no reason to quarrel with thee thou art not the hand that throws the stone I am not of such an Estate to be liberal but there is three pound for thee which is all I have Now tell me what I lack Execut. Your hair 's to be turned up Col. Shew me how to fit my self upon the block After which his doublet being off and hair turned up he turned again to the people and prayed a good while Before he laid down upon the Block he spake again to the people viz. There is not one face that looks upon me though many faces and perhaps different from me in opinion and practice but methinks hath something of pity in it and may that mercy which is in your hearts fall into your own bosomes when you have need of it and may you never find such blocks of sin to stand in the way of your mercy as I have met with I beseech you joyn with me in prayer Then he prayed leaning on the Scaffold with an audible Voyce for about a quarter of an hour having done he had some private conference with Doctor Swadling Then taking his leave of his Friends Sheriffs and Acquaintance saluting them all with a courteous valediction he prepared himself for the Block kneeling down said let me try the Block which he did after casting his eyes up and fixed them very intentively upon Heaven he said when I say Lord Jesus receive me Executioner do thine Office then kissing the Ax he laid down and with as much undaunted yet Christian courage as possible as could be in man did he expose his throat to the fatal Ax. his life to the Executioner and commended his Soul into the Hands of a faithful and merciful Creator through the meritorious passion of a gracious Redeemer saying the forementioned words his head was smitten off at one blow Sir Henry Hide beheaded over against the Exchance March 4. 1650. AFter this Rebellion had assumed its various shapes put all by and made up with its several interests till it had quite outed the manner of true Religion when there was no Law left but the arbitrary Will and Powers of the Grandees at Westminster no man can wonder at this Turkish Example in the sad fate of this Honourable Person The truth is he was the noble Brother to that excellently prudent States-man the Right Honourable Earl of Clarendel Lord Chancellor of England But we must detract from this Martyrs merit if we involve it in his Brothers whose capacious influence upon the Councels and affairs of this Nation hath rescued all honest and loyal men from the brinks of misery and ruin ten thousand times worse then Death It is a sad Subject to Comment on especially because we may repeat nothing here but what has been most favourably and that at his honourable Relations importunity quite forgiven though I hope that pardon extends not beyond the Memory of the sufferer whatever it reaches to in the Oblivion of the Actor He was sent as he avowedly declared at his death as a Messenger only from our Sovereign King Charles the second soon after the murther of his Royal Father to the Grand Seignior that Office he aptly himself termed an Internuncio which to his and the Kindomes Enemies sounded worse then the jealousie of Popery I make use of that term to discover the occasion of this his fate since it hath its diversity of Names according to the customes and Languages of Nations as Envoy c. in the French but throughout the World barbarous or civil unlesse by sinister and bribed Artifices the very name of such persons were feared and had in publique Veneration He was bred a Merchant who traded to the Levant and who by experience had gained not only a considerable Estate therewith but also a Repute and Estimation amongst the Turkish Company who considering him as an intelligent Person in the businesse and management of that Traffique and entercourse made and constituted him their Consul at the Morea which place with what integrity he discharged and how discreetly and advantagiously for the benefit of the said Company he went through and performed we need not offer to the Test since so universally approved For the convenience therefore of that concerning which the King had them at the Port this Gentleman was pitch upon and sent thither but what he would have transacted there if not opposed is not to be ascertained only thus far we may be assured that there was little of publique matter therein especially of prejudice to this Nation or that Commerce in particular as was most falsly and scandalously noised by his Enemies as may appear by a little instance For near the same time the Right Honourable the Lord Wentworth being sent Ambassadour from the King to the Emperour of Russia to acquaint him with the horrid murther of our Sovereign his Royal Father and to desire some assistance from him in order to the reducing of his Revolted Kingdomes whereunto the Emperour frankly offered besides what he would disburse of his own the whole Estates Goods Merchandizes of the English residing in his Dominions my Lord utterly refused the motion acquainting the Emperour that the King never had harboured any displeasure against his Merchant Subjects of whose loyaltie and affection to him he was very well satisfied though it was out of their power and ability to serve him So that it was a groundless and unreasonable calumny framed on purpose to render him odious to the people that his design and errand to Constantinople was upon the Merchants there in relation to their Estates and that he was sent in the room of Sir Thomas Bendish to be his Majesties Leiger there for that
bitter Cup which by the triumphant malice and revenge of his enemies was given him bâ—im full to drink But that which chiefly conduced to the quiet and composure of his spirit was the lense and acknowledgement of Gods determination and good pleasure in the disposing of him and bringing into that sad condition which he meekly and humbly underwent submitting to that hand which so afflicted him And questionless great was that heavenly support which God ministred unto him many the alterations of those contumelies intended against him as we may see in the time and in his way to his Execution of which I shall say no more but onely insert an omission in the black cribunal and which I had from unquestionable credit that the souldiers themselves who were upon the Scaffold could not refrain from weeping but shed rears abundantly and that this other passage also that having laid down his head and given the sign the Executioner being not ready he lift up his head again and with a soul-piercing accent said to the Headsman Thou hast done me a great deal of wrong thus to disturb and delay my bliss and then submitted it to the fatal stroke and was received into glory A true Copy of the Speech of the Right Honourable James Earl of Derby upon the Scaffold at Bolton in Lancashire together with his Deportment and Prayer before his death on Wednesday the 15. day of October 1651. THe Earl of Derby according to the order of the Court-Marshal held at Chester by which he was sentenced to die at Bolton in Lancashire was brought to that Town with a Guard of Horse Foot of Col. Jones's commanded by one Southley who received his Order from Col. Robert Duckeâ—field betwixt 12 and 1 of the clock on Wednesday the 15 of October the people weeping praying and bewailing him all the way from the Prison at Chester to the place of his death He was brought to a House in the Town near the Crosse where the Scaffold was raised and as he passed by said VENIO DOMINE I am prepared to fulfil thy will O my God this Scaffold must be my Cross Blessed Saviour I take it up willingly and follow thee From thence going into a Chamber with some Friends and servants he was advertised by the Commander in Chief that he had till three a clock allowed him to prepare for death for indeed the Scaffold was not ready the people of the Town Country generally refusing to carry so much as a plank or strike a nail or to lend any assistance to that work their cry being generally in the streets O sad day O woful day shall the good Earl of Derby die here Many sad losses have we had in this War but none like unto this for now the Ancient Honour of our Country must suffer here And to add to his trouble most of the Timber that built the Scaffold was of the ruines of Latham-House but nothing could alter his Lordships resolution and courage for with a stedfast composed countenancy and a chearful he called the company which were present to prayers with him wherein he shewed admirable servence and a kind of humble importunity with Almighty God that he would pardon his sins be merciful to his Soul and be gracious to this Land in restoring the King Laws and Liberty and that he would be a Husband to his Wife a Father to his Children and a Friend to all those that suffered by his Losse or that had been Friends to him Rising from prayer he sat down with a very pleasant countenance and assured the standers by that God had heard his prayers which the blessed Spirit of God witnessed unto him in the present Comforts he now felt in his Soul Then he entered into a discourse of his life and beseecht God to forgive him the dayes and time he had mis-pent and said it was his Comfort that although he had not walked so circumspectly as he ought to have done yet he ever had a sense of his sins and a tender respect to all the Services Servants and Ordinances of his God and that he knew God had mercy for him that he had strengthened and comforred him against all the terrours of death After these and some other words to this purpose he desired his Friends and the people by to pray with him again which when he had ended rising from his knees he appeared fully satisfied of a gracious return to his prayers and never after shewed any sadness in his countenance His next business was with his Son the Lord Strange whom he publiquely charged to be dutiful to his sad Mother affectionate to his distressed Brothers and Sisters and studious of the Peace of his Country But especially said he Son I charge you upon my blessing and upon the Blessings you expect from God to be ever dutiful to your distressed Mother ever obedient to her Commands and ever tender how you in any thing grieve or offend her She is a Person well known to the most eminent Personages of England France Germany and Holland noted for Piety Prudence and all Honourable Vertues and certainly the more you are obedient to here the more you will encrease in favour with God and Man Then desired to be private in the room himself where he was observed to be about half an hour upon his knees with frequent interjections of groans and sighs before his God Then when he called the company in again his eyes witnessed to us that he had abundantly mixed Tears with his Prayers he told us that he was very willing to leave the World bering assured by the Testimony of Gods Spiit that he should be carried from Troube to Rest and Peace from Sorrow to Joy from Life to Death and that Death had no other bitterness in it to him but that it took him from his dear Wife and Children whom he humbly commended to the Protection and Providence of a better Husband and a better Father and that he did not doubt but that the General and they who sat in the Seat of Authority would make provision for them hoping that his death might satisfie all those who sought his life whom he freely forgave and desired God to do the like Then calling for his Son he took his leave of him and blessed him which indeed would have grieved any ones heart though never so hardened to see the parting of him now with his Son and with his two Daughters the Lady Katherine and the Lady Amely Stanley upon the Road betwixt Chester and Bolton the day before This ended he called the Officer and told him he was ready In his way to the Scaffold the people prayed and wept and cryed aloud to whom his Lordship with a chearful countenance and courteous humbleness said Good people I thank you and I beseech you still pray for me and our blessed God return your prayers back into your own bosomes The God of Mercies blesse you the Son of God establish you in
them To this purpose His Engines were emptied at once upon all sorts of men though finding it impossible to engage or set any of the Nobility who had a small tast of what usage they might expect by the Death of 4 eminent Lords they at Last confined themselves to the middle rank of the people Gentry and Citizens and of those not the puny and weak but the resolute learned and couragious whose blood being of price and value might be of some religsh to them howsoever bitter and abominable soever to all the World besides being the thing they intended A High Court of Justice is therefore erected by the novel Authority of a Prorector and to keep even pace with the setting of it up divers persons are apprehonded and Committed amongst others this Noble Gentleman Colonel John Gerhard his Brother Mr. Charles Gerhard Brothers to the Honourable Sir Gilbert Gerhard Mr. Vowel a Schoolmaster of the Free-School at Islington Mr. Somerset Fox and others these were brought before that Bar of the High Court where bloody Lisle was then President Their Crime was an offence counted in one of those forty two Articles of the Instrument of Government which Oliver swore to at Westminster-Hall at his first seizure of the Government being a design against the Life of that Usurper This was feizible to the belief of all men for few there were that owed him not that kindnesse and therefore the colour of Truth was enough and onely requisite to blanch out the deformities and odiousnesse of the illegall proceedings and other barbarous dresse of mischief and villany But these Gentlemen were no way concerned in any such design save only as they were prompted and had some transient suggestions which they never entertained by some trapanning words to that purpose which had their danger not recalled to their memory had been utterly forgot by them though made records against them by those who were hired deeply to swear against them what they had by the by but whispered to them See more in Mr. Gerhards Speech But to strengthen and second this Device and to six their plot upon them they do not onely relye on their Witnesses for evidence but with promise of life and pardon to one of the pretended Complices in the businesse they undermine his integrity and blow up the lives of the other They tell him they can sufficiently prove it and that the onely way to save himself is by a free Confession and desiring the clemency of the Court thereupon Mr. Somerset Fox acknowledgeth the pretended Crime and referred himself to them for mercy and Mr. Gerhard the younger being not above the age of nineteen yeares gives some such like Testimony against his own Brother being not of that mature resolution to withstand the fear of Death which menaced himself whereupon this Noble Colonel was condemned by the said pretended Court for Treason in conspiring the death of Cromwel which he undauntedly having made a very excellent Defence against the supposed Fact and at last denyed their Authority and very chearfully received Mr. Vowel was the next against whom they had suborned a blind Minister one that had been fed and sustained by the charity of this Martyr The frequent converse this man used with him gave Cromwel's Spies a fit opportunitie of effecting their projected Design upon him for seeing the indigence and necessity of that blind wretched man they forthwith closed with him and with great promises of Pensions and such like proditory Reward drew the unwary man into the guilt of a most shamefull Treachery For having sounded the mind of his Benefactor and good Friend in reference to the Fines and particularly about the Protectors Usurpation by which the Commonwealth being now reduced to a kind of Monarchical Government and the people discerning thereby the Cheats put upon them by the Reformation it was not to be doubted but if the Tyrant were removed or otherwayes laid aside the Royal interest would be gladly embraced and without any difficulty reassumed to its Authority he caught hold of some words by way of discourse which as the judgement and inclination of Mr. Vowel led him were something to the purpose of their Design These words were presently taken hold of and upon this blind mans Examinations more enlarged with several Circumstances inserted which their Instruments had furnished them with out of their strict watch and observation of all his Company Wayes and Actions which at his Trial were instanced and the Examinations produced to prove them At the recitals whereof the blind man whether prickt in conscience for his detestible ingratitude or some present courage infused into him for to evidence the oppressed innocence of the prisoner at Bar who had a sad and numerous Family at home denyed and disowned the sad Examination and the words or Narrative therein set down to be his but that he was abused thereby and so persisted to the great confusion and puzzle of the Court till such time as Frontlesse Lisle averred it was his voluntary Act and that it appeared he had been since tampered withal and that the Court would take no notice of such prevarication So this proceeded to Sentence against him which was that for his Treason c. he should be hanged and so was removed to prison again On the 10th day of July 1654. Colonel Gerhard was brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill where immediately after Don Pantaleon Sa the Pörtugal Embassadours Brother for a Riot committed at the new Exchange in London where this unfortunate Gentleman valiantly opposed him and his assistance to the hazard of his life was executed They both agreed in this fatal determination of their lives though not in the manner of parting with them the Portugal with some kind of reluctancy this with the bravest and most Christian willingnesse imaginable which he manifested in his dying gesture and words subjoyned hereunto Mr. Vowel on the 10th day of July was likewise brought to Charing-Crosse where he was readier for his death then that for him the Gibbet being not fixed he was conveighed to the Charing-Cross Tavern where he like a true Christian Souldier behaved himself having before prepared himself for his departure freely discoursing of the Kings indubitable and unconquerable Right to his Crownes and that though for a time it might be suppressed yet most certainly God in his righteous Judgement would not long delay his vindication to the Mind and confusion of his rebellious Enemies and that they could take no speedier course to bring it down upon their heads then by murthering his Subjects and that though it were a sad infliction on him in regard of his distressed Family yet he doubted not but it would prove to his everlasting glory and a better support of his Relations then he could provide for them And I hope his words with the latter part thereof be as happily verified as in the former Being called again to his Execution he took leave of a number of people who pressed
in to comfort him and to pray God to strengthen him whom with like gracious and Christian expressions he chearfully thanked At the Gibbet there was no Ladder set not any for that purpose brought so retrograde and averse had Providence disposed of things to the most abominable murther as if it had indignitated its detestation thereof nor could any be procured from the Neighbours thereabouts or any other place all men denying to be the least accessary to that infamous business thereupon a Joyn-stoo was fought from the Mews and upon that he was put that by how many degrees he was nearer the Earth at his fall by so many degres he might be higher in glory in Heâ—ven at his ascending by an equal parallel Having devoutly prayed for himself the King Church and Kingdom and for the consummation of this life into bliss he addrest some few words to the people which were too harsh for the eares of the Souldiers to whom they were principally directed but was soon silenced and not suffered to speak out the remainder Then after a short permission of some few Ejaculations wherewith he recommended his departing Soul to God the stool was drawn from under him and so he quietly past hence to a glorious state of Immortality Major Henshaw now Major of the City Regiment of Horse was said to be concerned in this business Much discourse there was then about him but he timely withdrew himself beyond the Sea and escaped that storm that would have overwhelmed him and now honourably survives to reap the fruit and reconpence of those Services he hath done his King and Country Nothing can better express the noble gallantry and Christian bravery of these two men then what is left behinde of their own recorded by some of their worthy and intimate Friends to whom I should have rendred the obligation if I could have had a perfect account from them which so nearly concerns my design as it doth their deceased Friends Memory and Honour I do therefore willingly refer the Reader to what followes extracted from such Copies as are true and Authentique where he may be more fully satisfied The Speech and manner of putting to death Col. John Gerhard who was beheadon Tower-hil July 10. 1654. IT was thought needle sse by the friends of Col. Gerhard to declare any thing concerning his sufferings unto the World more then in their sight had not the sacrilegious malice of the last weekly Pamphlet thrown some stains upon his name and so incensed them to a vindication as pious as his death was 'T is most certain that there can no blots stick upon true honour which such weak fellows endeavour against it These are cursed beasts but their horns are short sepulchral dogs that scrape up graves and violate the dead and are fierce and ravenous but yet dogs still And all worthy people will call their railing praise and what they intend a barking infamy the greatest merit Yet because every understanding is not of the same brightness and those putrid libels may by ill chance fall into some innocent hand hereafter and yet sure such vermine should not be endured long therefore let wise and good men pardon him that hath undertaken this justice for that Gentleman and be pleased to read this sad story not for their satisfaction sake but their sorrows It may dry up a friendly tear perhaps and still a murmuring groan to see the comely posture of his passion how well all was carried by him and how honourably and the honest circumstances may not improbably take off from the sadnesse Why should I grieve that death which had such a living glory in it Or dishonour that blood with feeble tears which was shed so like the holy Martyrs All that knew this person cannot but witnesse his generous resolution and whether his great courage fell lesse then it self as that viper hisseth or did not rather rise greater now when the Christian was twisted with the Gentlemen let this faithful relation witness In which though all terms and syllables may not be exactly the same yet if there be a material falshood or a wilfull flattery may his neck that wrote it feel a viler destiny then axes or halters Amicus Gerardus sed magis amica veritas From the first day of his imprisonment he foresaw the heavy sentence hovering upon him and therefore gave all diligence to secure himself against it that however he underwent a temporal condemnation he might escape an eternal But after that sad doom was pronounced then he bestirred himself amain and made double hast for heaven it was for his life and therefore he would loose no minute but the same night gave directions to a dear friend for a Minister whom he knew to have long honoured his family to be brought unto him early next morning and it pleased Authority to gratifie him in this great desire so that an order was sent freely for the quiet admission of any such person to him With this spiritual friend he spent some hours every day in prayer and other ghostly refreshments which God be praised were not without sweet effect and impressions upon his soul There were some other Ministers of great observation for gravity and godlinesse who visited him and who I am confident will put their seal to this truth with me that they found him meek humble modest penitent comforted not far from the Kingdom of God if not already in it but I have good hope he was in possession and so had he through grace Upon the morning which was the last he must see till that of the Resurrection he submitted to some wholsome orders of the Church and received her comforts by them That done he proceeded to the highest enjoyment of grace that can be administred upon earth the holy Communion whereof with his brother Sir Gilbert Gâ—rhard he was a partaker with as much reverence zeal thankfulnesse holy sorrows and holy joys as a devout soul could evidence He wept as if he would have washed his Saviours wounds which his faith presented in his tears and yet he said he was admirably ravished with all inward peace and comfort in his own conscience This passed he had now noâ—ing to do but to die which he expected that morning very speedily But by the pleasure of Authority both the time and the place of his execution was altered so that he was to wait a little longer untill evening for his release Many friends and persons of Honour came to take their last leave of him who can gladly witness his undisturbednesse and civill chearfulnesse to every one of them His brother tarryed continually with himâ— and though some eruptions of passion could not be restrain dâ—now and then where nature was so much concerned yet they were generally pleasant and at last parted about half an hour before he was led forth to death with as much calmnesse and placednesse as if they had been to meet again anon sase and unhurt as they had