Petitions succeeding for an accommodation a Cessation followed and soon after that a Parliament which was Summoned by the Advise of this Earle and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury where the very first thing of Consequence that was done was a Charge of High Treason Exhibited against this Earle by the House of Commons consisting of Twenty Eight Articles whereupon he was Sequestred from sitting as a Peer and soon after committed to the Usher of the Black Rod and so to the Tower His Tryal quickly after ensued which was done with great Solemnity in Westminster-Hall the Earle of Arundal being Lord High Steward The substance of his Articles were That he had Endeavoured to subvert the Fundamental Lawes and Governments of England and Ireland That he had done ill Offices betwixt the King and the Scots and betwixt the King and his Subjects of this Kingdom That he had Advised the King to bring up the Army out of the North and over-awe the Parliament And that he had informed his Majesty that he had an Army of Ten Thousand Men in Ireland ready to be Transported for the same Service His Accusers were Pym St. Johns Whitlock Sir Walter Earles Serjant Glyn Maynard Stroud Mr. Selden Hambden c. But the Earle defended himself so Bravely and Learnedly that the Lords Conscious of his Innocency would not find the Bill Wherefore the Commons seeing they could not speed that way drew up a Bill of Attainder and presented it to the Lords declaring the matter of Fact to have been sufficiently proved and that as to Law he had incurred the Censure of Treason But the Lords adjudged this a strange way of Proceeding unsutable to their own Safety and against Common Justice Whereupon the Londoners came down in Tumults stopped the Lords Coaches menacing to post up the Names of those who favoured him under the Title of Straffordians and with an impetuous Cry of Justice frighted many of the Peers to assent to the Bill so hard a task had his Blood-thirsty Enemies to bereave him of his Life which yet notwithstanding passed but by the plurality of Seven Voices against him But the hardest matter was to get the Kings assent who very much declined it and in a set Speech cleared the Earle from any design of Treason or consulting to any Arbitrary Government But being over-perswaded by the dangers that were represented as inevitable consequents of his refusal but principally being desired by the Earle himself to satisfie the Parliament though with his own blood His Majesty after Advise with the Bishops signed that Fatal Bill which afterwards proved the Axe against his own Life Thus fell this Noble Earle being one of the Chief Pillars and Basis of this Nation without whose Ruine the Grandees of the Faction knew it a hard matter to Effect or Accomplish any thing such an Absolute Rare Honest and Loyal Master-Piece of Reason and Prudence as this present Age saw not and well will it be for the next if it may compare and parallel him He was Beheaded May 12. 1641. being the Pro-to-Martyr of the Late Times II and III. MAster Robert Yeomans and Master George Bowcher two Worthy Loyal Citizens of Bristol of good Esteem Plentiful Estates and known Integrity Master Yeomans was Sheriff of that City in the Year 1642. being but the year before his Execrable Murther Master George Bowcher was an Able Pious Loyal Gentleman whom his very Enemies confest to be a Religious Man These Two Loyal Persons seeing the miserable condition of those Places where the Rebells Ruled Entered into a Consultation with some others how to deliver the City of Bristol into Prince Ruperts hands and thereupon it was resolved that upon Munday March 7. 1642. Prince Rupert with some Forces should draw down towards the City whilst they within would Seize the Courts of Guard and open the Gates and by Ringing St. Johns and St. Michaels Bells give him notice thereof Accordingly Prince Rupert came by Five of the Clock the same morning expecting the Signal but the Confederacy being discovered those Two Gallant Gentlemen with some others were apprehended and after Eleven Weeks hard Imprisonment brought to their Tryal at a Council of War where by Fiennes the Governour and others of that Gang they were Condemned to Dye and soon after notwithstanding the King and his Generals Mandates and Threats of Retaliation having with great patience endured the Scorns and Barbarous Insultations of the Enemy who continually pursued them with Threats and Revilings they were on May 30. 1643. barbarously murthered Master Yeomans professing at his death That if he had more lives he would sacrifice them all to his Soveraign in that way And Master Bowcher in his last Speech exhorted all those who had set their hands to the Plow meaning the defence of the Kings Cause not to be terrified by their Sufferings and therefore to withdraw Their bodies were afterwards decently Enterred in the same City whose Names shall be had in everlasting remembrance whilst those who murthered them shall rot and perish in infamy IV and V. MAster Tomkins and Master Chaloner the one Clark of the Queens Council the other a Linnen-Draper in Corn-hill two persons of Eminent Loyalty and Integrity who seeing the whole Kingdom running to ruine by the Seditious practises of the Rebels procured a Commission from the King the design whereof was that they should Seize into their Custody the Kings Children some Members of Parliament the Lord Mayor and Committee of the Militia all the City Out-works and Forts the Tower of London and all the Magazines then to let in the Kings Army to Surpize the City to destroy all Opposers and this grounded upon refusal of paying of Taxes imposed without Authority This Commission was brought to London by the Lady Aubigney Wife to that Gallant Lord who died of his wounds at Edge-Hill and upon receipt thereof several Meetings and Conferences were held in order to the promoting thereof which was chiefly prosecuted by those two Loyal Persons who made such progress therein that the business was brought into some form but so many being concern'd in it through the Treachery of some it came to the Parliaments eares whereupon those two Gentlemen amongst others were Apprehended and Arraigned before a Council of War at Guild-Hall and there Sentenced to be Hanged for this Haynous Crime of Loyalty which accordingly was Executed near their own doors July 5. 1643. VI. MAster Daniel Kniveton formerly a Haberdasher in Fleetstreet afterwards a Messenger to his late Sacred Majesty by whom he was sent to London to signifie the King's Pleasure That the Term of Michaelmas should be prorogued which Message he delivered to the Judges at Westminster-Hall and for performance of his Duty was by those who had quite forgotten all Allegiance and Duty apprehended for a Spy and contrary to the Universal Custom and Honourable Practise of all Nations which gives security and free liberty of passage to all such Persons Tryed before a Council of War held at Essex
to death in Covent Garden XIII CHarles the I. of Blessed Memory the most Glorious Martyr of this late Age the exact pattern of Piety Patience and Prudence who in the manner of his Sufferings came the nearest to our Saviour of any we have read or heard of whose Christian Virtues and Patience in Afflictions will be had in Everlasting Remembrance Whose History being so exactly delivered by several Learned Pens and his Divine Thoughts so Heavenly set forth in His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and other rare Pieces of his own Writing we shall therefore take no further a prospect of Him then from that barbarous and execrable Murther which to the horrour and astonishment of all good Men and to the great shame of the Christian World was most impiously committed on him and that in as brief a method as we can After that it had so pleased God for the sins of the Nation that the Kings Armies were all Overthrown and He Himself a Prisoner under their merciless hands several Endeavours having been used for his Restoration which also proved fruitless Cromwel Ireton and divers others of that Antimonarchial Faction who resolved to Enrich themselves though with the Ruine of the Kingdome and the loss of their own Souls By a Violent and Treasonable Force Seized upon divers Knights and Burgesses of the Parliament such as they thought had any Courage or Honesty to Vote according to their Consciences and neglect their wild Diabolical proposals leaving onely Fifty or Sixty Schismaticks of their own Engaged Party such as had made a prey of the Common-Wealth to Enrich Themselves and their Faction These Offalls of a Parliament quickly Voted down the Kingly Office and House of Peers and that the Supream Authority was in the People and in the House of Commons as their Representative and to bring the King to Capital Punishment before a new invented Illegal mixt Court consisting of Engaged Persons Erected for that purpose having Foundation neither by Prescription nor Law These proceedings though contrary to Law Sense and Religion yet being back'd by an Army they went on in their most wicked Design and to shew that they were as devoy'd of Grace as without shame they kept a Mock-Fast where Hugh Peters that Pulpit-Buffon Acted a Sermon before them the subject whereof was Moses leading the Israelites out of Aegypt which he applyed to the Leaders of the Army covering his eyes with his hands and laying down his head on the Cushion and such other antick gestures as moved the People unto laughter so audaciously impudent were they as to delight in their abominable wickednes Soon after was that accursed High Court of Justice Erected before which Audacious Traytors his Majesty was often brought who refused to hear the King speak of Reason but contrary to all Law Reason Religion Honesty Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy several Votes Declarations Remonstrances Protestations and Covenants He was by the mouth of that Grand Murthering Rebel Bradshaw Sentenced to be Beheaded the rest of those Miscreant Traytors by standing up assenting to the same and so not being admitted to reply he was by their Guards hurried away the Souldiers as he passed along in imitation or being set on by their Rebellious Masters that they might not be much behind them in Villany scoffing and reviling Him casting the smoak of their Tobacco a thing odious to Him in his face and strewing the Pipes in his way one more insolent then the rest spitting in his face the Souldiers all along as he passed Crying out Justice Justice Execution Execution to whom his Majesty onely said Alas poor Souls for a piece of Money they would do so for their Commanders From the time of that bloodly Sentence to the time of his execrable Murther how barbarously the Souldiers continued their insolencies to him and how base and bruitish they were in their carriage would almost exceed belief of a rational man not suffering him to rest in his Chamber but thrusting in smoaking their Tobacco and disturbing him in his Privacy abusing those that seemed to shew any respect or even compasion to him But through all those Tryalls and Barbarous Affronts he passed with such a calm and even temper that he let nothing fall unbeseeming his former Majesty and Magnanimity but despight of their malice proved himself a Glorious Conquerour When that fatal day was come which they had appointed for his Glorious Martyrdome he was brought from his Palace of St. James's to White-Hall marching on foot through the Park being Guarded by a Regiment of Foot Souldiers with their Colours flying and Drums beating the Guards marching a slow pace he bid them go faster saying That he now went before them to strive for a Heavenly Crown with less solitude then he had often Encouraged his Souldiers to fight for an Earthly Diadem After he had come to the Chamber appointed for him in White Hall he spent that little remnant of time he had to live in Devotion and received the blessed Sacrament from the hands of the Bishop of London who was Licensed to attend on him from which he received great Spiritual comfort continuing at his Devotions till about Twelve a Clock when he eat a bit of Bread and drank a glass of Clarret returning to his Devotions again when about an hour after he was brought on the Scaffold attended by the foresaid Bishop where with a Christian Courage and Resolution He finished his Glorious Martyrdome which at the falling of his Body mounted his Soul to Heaven in whose bliss-full Mansions he now sings Hallelujahs for ever Thus this Noble Prince sanctified by many Afflictions after he had escaped Pistol Poyson and Pestilent Air which means the Regicides had design'd to take him away by during his restraint could not escape the more venomous tongues of Lawyers and Petty-Foggers Bradshaw Cook Dorislau c. We shall conclude our Discourse of Him with this Epitaph made by a Loyal Person Within this Sacred Vault doth lye The Quintessence of Majesty Which being set more Glorious Shines The best of Kings best of Divines Brittains shame and Brittains glory Mirrour of Princes compleat Story Of Royalty One so exact That th' Elixars of praise detract These are fair shaddows but t' endure He 's drawn to th' life in 's Pourtracture If such another Piece you 'ld see Angels must Limn it out or He. XIV NOw next in order should we proceed to Duke Hamilton Earle of Cambridge who though of another Nation yet being a Peer of this and dying by Sentence of their Illegall High Court of Injustice we cannot without injustice leave him out of this Catalogue It is indeed confest by most that the Kings Interest was but Collateral and though his Actions and Promises at his Tryal in hopes of life may seem evidently to confirm the same yet in his last words and words of dying men do carry great force with them he did Evidence a real Love and Affection to that Cause This Duke was General
over the Scotch Forces that came into England when the King was a Prisoner in the Isle of Wight the cause of their coming being contained in a Declaration which they brought along with them consisting of five heads 1. That the King be forthwith brought to London to Treat in Person with the Two Houses of Parliament 2. That all those who had a hand in or contrived the carrying of the King away from Holmby be condignly punished 3. That the Army be Disbanded 4. That Presbitery be setled 5. That the Members of Parliament who were forcibly secluded from the Houses may be restored But these Demands were answered with Fire and Bullet the Duke and his great Army totally defeated by Cromwel and Himself taken Prisoner by Colonel Wayte and being now in their hands they thought to make good use of him to cajole and fish out what great Ones Members of both Houses the City and Clergy had a hand in his Undertaking It being more then suspected that he had such Invitation to which purpose he was exceedingly importuned by Cromwell the Lord Grey of Grooby Colonel Wayte and Hugh Peters who promised him they would not much obstruct his pretended Plea of Quarter from Lambert upon Articles Nay Peters avouched Quarter so given for which Hamilton gave him Thanks and Mony and Peters in consideration thereof prayed for him openly as his Lord and Patron still feeding him with hopes If he would impeach their Opposites but when they could not extort it from him the Scene was soon altered they which smiled on him before then frowned and being at his Tryal asked what he could say for himself he pleaded Quarter and vouch'd Peters Testimony but that wretched Priest with a brazen face renounced the same saying He now remembred no such matter but that the Army scorned to give Quarter to Him or any of his Nation whereupon he was Condemned to the Block which Sentence was Executed upon him March 9. 1648. XV. HEnry Earle of Holland a special Favourite of King Charles the I. in the beginning of his Reign though afterwards when the long Parliament began to sit that Religion became the Bone of Contention he sided with them But afterwards perceiving that they made Religion only a cloak to cover their Rebellion he deserted them and took up Armes for the Royal Interest together with the Duke of Buckingham the Lord Francis Villers's Brother the Earle of Peterburgh and some others But they no sooner Rose but were Encountered by the Parliaments more Numerous Forces by whom they were Defeated and the Earle the next day taken Prisoner being afterwards brought to his Tryal before those Lawless Regicides he was by them Condemned together with my Lord Capel and Duke Hamilton and suffered on the same Scaffold the aforesaid 9. of March 1648. XVI ARthur Lord Capel Baron of Hadham a most Noble Heroick Gallant Peer Eminently Famous for his Charity and other Rare Endowments whose Noble Virtues fill the Trumpet of Fame to all Posterity This Noble Lord was Son and Heir to Sir Henry Capel of Hadham-Hall in Hartford-shire well known for his Bountiful House and diffusive Charity to the Poor which some Eminous of good works in others because they will practise none themselves have bespattered with the Name of Popery which as they set forth onely the speakers malice so were they no hinderance to this Noble Lord when as he came to possess that Vast Estate to tread in the same steps his Father and Honourable Predecessors had done His great Parts and Deserts Advanced him from the Degree of Knight-hood the antient Dignity of his Family to Baron Capel of Hadham his Son being since by our Gracious Soveragn Created Earle of Essex a little before the time the Earle of Strafford received his Tryal whose giving his Vote to that Bill was in his conscientious Judgment of himself his Original Condemnation in foro Caeli During the time of Rebellion and those unhappy Differences betwixt the King and Parliament none more Constant and Loyal to his Majesty then He Assisting him in all that he could both in Head Hand and Purse and was by Him for his singular Wisdome and Prudence appointed Councellour unto the Prince whom he left not till the Disbanding the Lord Hoptons Army in Cornwall being then dismist with an Honourable Character from that discerning Prince But long had he not continued here at home when some fresh hopes appearing of his Majesties Restauration to his former Authority by the Rising of several Parties for the King he resolved to set his helping hand thereto and joyning with those Valiant Sons of Mars Sir Charles Lucas c. was together with them Besieged in Colchester which for Thirteen Weeks they Valiantly Defended Enduring and Suffering almost all Extremities imaginable at last they were forced to yield upon Articles of Quarter for Life in which this Noble Lord was included yet notwithstanding all Articles he was sent up Prisoner to London and committed to the Tower from whence he endeavoured an Escape and had effected it had he not been betray'd by one Jones a Waterman a second Banister soon after he was brought to their bloody Slaughter-house nick-named by them a Court of Justice whereby those Enemies of Honour and Loyalty he was Condemned and March 9. aforesaid brought to the Scaffold where he resolutely afferted his own Actions his dead Masters Cause and his present Soveraigns Rights recommending him to the People as the great Example of True English Worth and the only Hope of the distracted Kingdom and so like a True Christian Hero suffered the pains of the Axe sealing his Glorious Cause with his last breath and blood XVII MAster Beaumont a Reverend Divine belonging to the Garrison of Pomfract who for his Loyal Endeavours towards the Restoration of his Majesty in holding Correspondency in Cyphers with some Active Royalists was by those Murdering Miscreants who spared none either for their Age or Function most barbarously murdered Feb. 15. 1648. XVIII COlonel John Morris a Gentleman of an Undaunted Courage and Resolution bred up in the Earle of Straffords's House where he was taught his Duty to God and Obedience to his King whom he Faithfully Served in that time of Rebellion being that Gallant Person that Surprized Pomfract Castle which he Valiantly Defended even to the very pinch of Extremity and was for his Valour and Loyalty being suspected by them to be one of those that sent Rainsbrough's Ghost to trace the Infernal Shades most inhumanly butchered by those Scelerate Villanies at the City of York August 23. 1649. XIX COronet Michael Blackburn Emiently Famous for his Loyalty and Faithfull Service to his Soveraign being also taken at Pomfract Castle and likewise suspected for Rainsbrough's death he was therefore by those sworn Foes to true Valour basely murdered at York August 23. aforesaid XX. DOctor Levens Doctor of the Civil Law a Gentleman well Descended of an Antient Family in Oxfordshire who at the first beginning of these
illustrious Hero's he was also slain in that fatal defeat whereof we spake of last LIV. Colonel Mathew Boynton Sir Francis Gamul Lievtenant Colonel Gallyard and Major Trollop and Chester Men of approved Worth and Loyalty whose gallantry appeared the more conspicuous Engaging in such a time when there was almost a general defection of Loyalty These valiant Hero's Engaging with the foresaid Earle of Derby being over-powered by Lilburn's numerous Forces gallantly fighting were slain at Wiggan August 25. 1651. dying there in the bed of Honour and leaving to posterity a Noble Character of their Worth and Virtues LV. Duke Hamilton unfortunately wounded in the Fight at Worcester of which wounds he shortly after died LVI Colonel Morgan a Gallant Gentleman who Engaged with Sir George Booth for a Free Parliament and to un-yoak the Nation from the slavery of those bloody Canniballs at Westminster who intended to have perpetuated themselves in their Tyranny This magnanimous Loyal Person valiantly fighting against Lambert's numerous Forces which like a violent Torrent over-powered them after a gallant defence and defiance of his Enemies was there mortally wounded and soon after died being the last man whose blood was shed in War against those wicked Tyrants the Kings Restauration hapning quickly after And in the next place we should come to speak of those who suffered in their Estate for their Loyalty those gallant Confessors to whom nothing was more common then Imprisonment and Sequestration but should we reckon them all up it would make a Volume as big as Foxes Martyrologie and tyre the brain of the most sedulous Reader not any one Rich Cavilier that scaped their clutches a great Estate being enough to make them guilty of the most hainous Crimes and how ever their Bodies sped their Purses were sure to pay for it Goldsmiths and Haberdashers Hall was their Exchequer as the High Court of Justice was their Shambles The Good Old Cause devoured more then Bell and the Dragon and it was their main Policy to be maintained by their Enemies Estates Take therefore here a Brief Catalogue of the most Eminent Sufferers reserving those of a lesser magnitude to be recorded by more voluminous Historians A brief Catalogue of the most Eminent of those Loyal Confessors who Suffered by Imprisonment Banishment or Estate for the Cause of his Sacred Majesty And that no Occasion may be taken at this Catalogue for matter of Precedency as nominating the most Eminent Sufferers in the first place we will as near as we can observe the order of time and begin first with I. THe Lord Finch of Fordwich Lord Keeper of the Great Seal a Person whose Abilities and Loyalty to his Sacred Majesty rendred him obnoxious to the unruly rabble and therefore upon their Arbitrary Proceedings against the Life of the most Noble Earle of Strafford he wisely with-drew himself away in time before Popular Fury had seized on him against which Beast Innocency would not then give Protection He lived in Banishment and Exile from his Native Country for Sixteen years and then returned with more Credit and Honour then he was forced from it dying in the Love and good Opinion of all Honest People His Faithfull Service to his Soveraign being all the Charge and Accusation they had against him II. Master Secretary Windebanck a person of approved Worth and Loyalty against whom the darts of Popular Fury were in those times of Distraction especially aymed at which to avoid he pursued the same course with the Lord Finch and died in the time of his absence abroad III. The Right Reverend Father in God Mathew Lord Bishop of Ely who with Eleven more of that Sacred Function were committed to the Tower in the year of our Lord 1641. The pretensions against them being the same with the Complices of Korah Ye take too much upon you ye Sons of Levi when their Adversaries intentions was to take all for though the grave Rabbies of that prevailing Faction buzzed into the Peoples eares that their Quarrel was against the Litturgy against Ceremonies and the like a yet their after-Actions made it plainly appear that it was more against Bishops Lands and that the Wealth of the Clergy was more in their ayme then the Weal the Subjects and the Riches of the Prelates more indifferent to those strict Disciplinaries then a Reverend decency in holy performances Eighteen years did this Reverend Father suffer Imprisonment in the Tower having in all that time no Charge exhibited against him but in the end of the year 1659. he was restored to his liberty by the means of the Renowned Duke of Albemarle and is since Re-established in his former Diocess to the Honour and Support of this restored Church IV. Religious Doctor Featly one most Eminent for Learning and Piety to whom this Church is much indebted for his grave accurate defences of its Doctrine and Discipline a man of excellent Endowments and surpassing Knowledge being a Divine of the Primitive stamp and temper when the Church by lowliness of spirit did flourish in high examples yet could not this his singular Piety eminent Learning nor those other extraordinary Gifts with which he was Endowed privilege him from the protection of a Prison being by an Order of Parliament committed to Peter-House where he languished in much pain and misery about a year and a half and was afterwards sickness encreasing through much importunity removed to Chelsey Colledge as a more wholesome Aire but he was so far spent by their barbarous misusage of him that within three weeks after his coming thither he died V. Sir Robert Heath Lord Chief Justice of England a person much Honoured for his Integrity and Moderation and as conspicuous for his constant Loyalty as the Sun in the Firmament in a serene day His constant approved service to the King had rendered him so odious to the Rebells at Westminster that he was by them excepted from mercy wherefore towards the expiration of the War he abandoned his Country and fled into France where living in great greef and anxiety of mind to behold the Ruines of his King and Country he fell into a Disease and died thereof at Caen in Normandy not long after the Kings death VI. Judge Bartlet whose innocency defied their threats and like a rock stood in opposition against that torrent of Rebellion but yet was forced at last to yield to their Tyranny in his Body though his Mind they could not conquer He was the first of that Reverend Robe that was committed against whom was brought a Charge fuller of malice then truth and which his integrity made them ashamed of a further prosecution Thus we see by the Imprisonment of this Reverend Judge and others that the pretense of our Grand Reformers was to put out the eyes of the Law that the Subjects might see the clearer VII That heart of Oake and Pillar of the Law Judge Jenkins one of his Majesties Justices in Wales whose Annagram is David Jenkins Kains did Envy He
to partake with them in their horrid Actions swallowing thereby his Name and Honour in this Whirle-pool of Confusion and Royal Blood He deceased before his Majesties Return XIII Sir Thomas Malverer a York-shire Knight whose Family had been raised to that Honour by the Two last Kings which to a Noble Spirit should have been the more oblidging but great Benefits cause Ingratitude and Covetousness to have wherewithall to live answerable to his Title wickedly prompted him for the equalling of it to consent to the Murther of him from whence his Honour was Derived He also died before his Majesties happy restauration XIV Sir John Bourcher another Independant York-shire Knight who making a gain of Godliness under the pretense thereof Acted the most horrid Villanies having God in their mouth and the Devil in their heart Like Water-men looking one way and rowing another being sure alwayes when they had the fearest pretenses they were then hatching the foulest Impieties This Man that he might not be out of the way when occasion should serve diligently dined at Hell and to compleat his other wicked Actions consented to the Murther of his Soveraign He likewise dyed before his Majesties Return XV. Isaac Pennington a busie stickler of the Faction and a Grand Agent in the perpetration of all our late Troubles He was by the Faction continued Lord Mayor of London for Two Years together though contrary to the Kings Express Command from Oxford by his Authority in the City he contributed largely to the maintenance of Rebellion and added much fuell to that fire of Desention betwixt the King and Parliament and yet notwithstanding he was a great sharer in the spoyle of his Country He broke twice what being got over the Devil 's back being spent under his belly and thinking to make good his broken Fortunes joyned with them in the Murther of his Soveraign After his Majesties Happy Restauration he surrendred himself according to Proclamation and at his Tryal pleaded Ignorance and no Malice and that he signed not the Warrant yet was it made apparent that his Crimes were of a crimson dye but by the Kings Clemency his Execution was respited and died a natural death in the Tower of London XVI Henry Martin Son of Sir Henry Martin Judge of the Prerogative Court a most Wicked Lewd Vicious and Infamous Person whose Actions have rendered him odious to all Posterity He first spoke Treason against the King and his Family in the House of Commons and was in Complement Committed and Suspended for a while proving afterwards a Grand Actor in the Highest of Treasons being one of the Chief of the Caball in taking away the life of the King ordering the Charge against him to go in the Name of The Commons in Parliament Assembled and the Good People of England After his Majesties Return he surrendred himself according to Proclamation using many dilatory evasions at his Tryal afterwards being brought to the Bar of the House of Lords to Answer why Judgement should not be Executed upon him he replyed That he understood the Proclamation extended to favour of life upon rendering himself and withall added That he never obeyed any of his Majesties Proclamations before but this and hoped that he should not be Hanged for taking the Kings Word now XVII William Purefoy a Warwick-shire Gentleman once Governour of Coventry a busie Fellow in their Leger-de-main Jugglings and a great Zealot against Crosses as Superstitious and Crowns as Superfluous This his blind Zeal together with his Covetousness after Church and Crown Lands made him not scruple to embrue his hands in the blood of his Prince but lived not to receive the just reward of such horrid Villany dying before his Majesties Return XVIII Colonel John Berkstead a Man at first of a despicable Fortune keeping a sorry Goldsmiths Shop in the Strand but having learned a little City-Souldiery was made Captain of a Foot-Company under Colonel Ven at Windsor and being in Active Person by Success of Rebellion was made Governour of Reading and continued always a fast Friend to Oliver Cromwel in all his wicked Consultations and Purposes joyning with him in that horrid Murther of the King for which and other his Services to him he was by Oliver made Lievtenant of the Tower where by Extortion and Cruelty he gained a great masse of Wealth but when Loyalty began again to be Predominant his guilty Conscience hurried him beyond Sea lurking a good while in some parts of Germany under feigned Names but divine vengance soon found him out for He Colonel Okey and Miles Corbet having resided for some time in the City of Hannow about the beginning of March they came to Delf in Holland appointing their Wives to meet them there but Sir George Downing his Majesties Resident at the Hague having information thereof they were luckily surprized and sent into England and having remained Prisoners some while in the Tower were brought to the Kings Bench-Bar and there demanded what they could say for themselves why they should not dye according to Law the Act of Attainder being then read unto them to which they Alleadged they were not the same persons mentioned therein but it being proved by Witnesses Sentence of death was pronounced against them and on Saturday April 19. 1662. they were Executed at Tyburn the Head of this Grand Regicide being set on a Pole on Traytors Gate in the Tower XIX John Blakeston a Fellow who would not be idle when there was any thing to do especially of Profit He was at first a Shop-Keeper in Newcastle when according to the time he was a Rigid Presbyterian and while the Scots were there chosen a Burgess for that Town but the Market of Independency being up he turned with the Tide and like Judas for the lucre of money consented to the Murther of his Royal Master but enjoyed the gain of his Impiety not long dying before the return of his Majesty when without the greater Clemency he might have received a reward more agreeable to his deserts XX. Gilbert Millington a Lawyer who contrary to all Law sided with those bloody Regicides against his Lawfull Soveraign He was a constant Chair-Man of the Committee for Plundered Ministers by which Trade he filled his Coffers the sweets of which Employment set his teeth on edge and sharpned him to that cruell attempt upon his Soveraigns Life Upon the Kings return he surrendred himself according to Proclamation and at his Tryal confessed the Fact and the guilt of it and was favoured with an acceptance of it from the Court. XXI Thomas Chaloner one who had Travelled far in the World and returned home poysoned with that Jesuitical Doctrine of King-killing which he here put in practise being the great Speech-Maker against the King his Family and Government and a great stickler for their New Utopian Common-Wealth but upon his Majesties Return fled the Land his Actions being so bad as would not endure the Touch-Stone XXII Sir William Constable a York-shire Knight
whose Prodigality brought him to sell his Patrimony in the beginning of the late Troubles to Sir Marmaduke Langdale which he afterwards regained for nothing when that Lord was for his Loyalty Voted a Delinquent and his Estate at the dispose of Rebells who carved fat shares unto themselves He had a principal hand in the Kings death for which Parricide and other his Treasonable Practises he was by the Saints of the new stamp made Governour of Glocester and a great Commander in the North He died before his Majesties return XXIII Edmond Ludlow a Person much endeared to the Fanaticks who by several gradations in the Parliament and Army came at last to be a Lievtenant General and one of the Chief Commissioners for Ireland His Father before him uttered Treasonable words against the King in the House of Commons Anno 1643. no marvel then if the Father were a Rebell that the Son should prove a Traytor since most commonly to what the Parents are affected the Children prove addicted Upon his Majesties return fearing the reward of his deserts he fled the Land like his predecessor Caine living a Vagabond from place to place fearing every one that he meets should slay him XXIV Colonel John Hutchinson who by Cromwell and his prevailing Faction was over-awed to Sign his Majesties Execution but by a timely repentance bewailing with tears the heinousnesse of his Offence he obtained Pardon being onely discharged the House of Commons and all future Trusts and Fined a years Profit of his Estate to the King XXV Sir Michael Livesey a Kentish Knight whose plague he was being Plunder-Master-General of that County for many years towards the repairing of his broken Estate He was a very Active Person during the Progress of the whole War and as nimbly ran away upon the Kings return making good that Proverb That one pair of leggs was worth two pair of hands XXVI Robert Titchburn born in London of good Extraction by Trade a Linnen-Draper coming by degrees to be Mayor thereof whose Counsels he is said to betray to the Rump Hope of Preferment and want of Grace drew him in to be one of the Infamous Tryars of his Soveraign At his Majesties return he surrendred himself according to Proclamation and at his Tryal shewed much penitency for his Offences declaring with much candour his sin and ignorance of the atrocity of the crime protested his Inability of contrivance his raw years and unskilfulness in the Laws Saying He would rather have gone into a hot Oven then into that business if he had known the depth of it instancing That Paul was a Persecutor and found mercy and hoped that he should find the like He was with the other Regicides condemned but by the Kings Great Clemency Execution of Justice was respited on him XXVII Owen Roe formerly a Silkman in London and being an Eminent Independant had a Command of the Militia conferred on him by the Advice of the Devil and Cromwel he came to have a hand in shedding the Kings blood for which after his Majesties return he was condemned but pleading his reluctancy to the Kings Sentence and begging pardon for his Offence which he affirmed was not of malice he was by the Kings Favour Reprieved XXVIII Robert Lilburn a great Enemy to Bishops though come from the Bishopprick of Durham He was Brother to John Lilburn the great Trouble-World who was alwayes opposite to the Predominate Power This Robert Lilburn to raise his Fortunes sided with Cromwell who would never suffer them to want Preferment that were thorow-paced to his Interests By him he was advanced to be a Colonel of Horse a little before the Kings Murther and therefore he thought he could do no less in civility then requite him with having a hand in it and so ran fearlesly into the danger of it He still lives by the Kings clemency a condemned man in the Tower of London XXIX Adrian Scroop a Colonel of Horse a Person very Active against the Kings Parties in 1648. and as violent in the taking away his Majesties Life and Honour in their pretended High Court of Justice which he so little repented of that after his Majesties return in an accidental conferrence with Sir Richard Brown he seemed rather to allow and approve of it by saying Many people did not think it such a heinous matter or that some be of one mind and some be of another He was upon a fair Tryal condemned to dye and accordingly Executed on the Rayled place where Charing-Cross once stood Octo. the 17. 1660. XXX Richard Dean a Fellow of meane Extraction being at first a Hoymans Servant in Ipswich and at the beginning of the Wars to raise his despicable fortunes betook him to the Army and was a matross in the train of Artillery from whence he rose to be a Captain and was first Famous at the Siege of Exeter and being a cross Fellow fit for any mischief one who cared not to build his own hopes though on a general ruine was thought fit to be one of Cromwel's Complices in the Murther of his Soveraign He was afterwards made one of the Generals at Sea against the Dutch and was slain with a Cannon Bullet being shot almost off in the midle as he stood close by General Monke June 2. 1653. XXXI Colonel John Okey at first a Stoker in a Brew-House then a Chandler neer Bishopsgate where having lived a while he betook himself to the Army the Haven of Hope for all Aspiring Minds where in a short space he passed thorow the several commands to that of a Colonel and being of a daring spirit he was by the Artifice of Cromwell bewitched into the patner-ship of that accursed Murther of his Majesty Upon his Majesties return he fled the Land but divine vengeance pursuing him he was with Colonel Barkstead and Miles Corbet taken in Holland and sent over into England where at the Kings Bench Bar they were Arraigned and Condemned to be Hanged Drawn and Quartered which was Executed on the other two and their Quarters exposed on the City Gates but his Majesty was graciously pleased out of regard to Colonel Okey's Christian and Dutifull carriage to return his Quarters to his Friends to be Interred He dyed with more penitency and greater reluctancy then those of his Fellow-Regicides who suffered in October 1660. acknowledging the Kings Power as of God and exhorting others to the like He was a Person that for his Valour and other good Qualities was pittied by all men for his being so blinded and ensnared in this crime to his destruction XXXII John Hewson who from a Cobler rose by degrees to be a Colonel and though a Person of no Parts either in Body or Mind yet made by Cromwel one of his Pageant Lords He was a Fellow fit for any mischief and capable of nothing else a sordid lump of Ignorance and Impiety and therefore the more fit to share in Cromwell's Designs and to Act in that Horrid Murther of his Majesty
they passed and came into the City without opposition as far as Threadneedle-street with such a confident resoluteness that a Party of the Trained Bands designed to Watch that day being sent out to follow them were forced to Retreat to their Main-Guard when the whole Body advancing towards them they retreated into Bishopsgate-street where some of them took into an Ale-House at the signe of the Helmet where they maintained a sharp Dispute two of them being Killed and two Taken and as many Killed and Wounded of the Trained Bands The next News of them was at Colledge-Hill from whence they marched up into Cheap-side and so into Wood-street as far as the Counter where Venner who Headed them being Armed with a Murrion on his head and a Halbert in his hand commanded the Prisoners to be let out or else he told them they were but dead men But before he could accomplish his designs they were charged by the Life-Guard whom they put to the Retreat but they being seconded by two Companies of the Trained Bands the Dispute was very sharp and desparate untill at last Venner being knockt down and Tuffnel and Crag two of their prime Teachers fled they began to give ground and betook themselves to flight by several wayes the greatest part of them went down Wood-street and so to Criplegate firing in the Rear at a Trained Band of Yellow who closely pursued them at last they took in at the Blew Anchor Ale-House by the Postern which House they maintained with much desparate courage and would not hear of any Termes of Yielding soon after came Lievtenant Colonel Cox with his Company and surrounded all places about it and then some of the Souldiers got up upon the Tilings of the next House which they cast down and fired into the uppermost Room where the Rebells were yet were they so desparately bent in their wickedness that even then they refused Quarter untill a File of Musqueteers got up the Stairs and having shot down the door entered upon them six of them being killed and another wounded yet one of them still refused Quarter who being knockt down with the But end of a Musquet was afterwards shot the rest yielded who being demanded why they craved not Quarter before Answered They durst not for fear their owne Fellows should shoot them of such a desparate resolution was the temper of their Spirits In this Rebellious Insurrection were slain alike of both sides Twenty Two of the Kings Leige People and Twenty Two of the Traytors Twenty One more besides were taken whose Names were as followeth viz. Thomas Venner their Chief Ring-leader the Captain of this Rebellious Rout The Second to Venner were one Tuffnel a Carpenter living in Grays-Inn-lane a desparate Fellow who after He and his Party were forced over the Houses through More-lane they fled into the Fields and he having four or five Pistolls about him discharged them all before he could be got down but at last he was so mortally wounded that they brought him in a Chair to Newgate and so they sent him to Christ-Church Hospital where after three dayes space he dyed of his wounds and was carried into Christ-Church-Yard for to be viewed to see if any body would own him but a hole being digged the Blew Coat Boyes covered him with the Earth and he was never further lookt after The next was Roger Hodgkins a Button-Sellor in St. Clements Lane neer Lumbard street Giles Pritcherd a Cow-keeper Leonard Gowler Jonas Allen John Pym William Orsingham William Ashton Stephen Fall John Smith William Corbet John Dod Iohn Elestone Thomas Harris Iohn Gardener Robert Bradley Richard Marten Iohn Patshall Robert Hopkins and Iohn Wells These Twenty and One were all brought to the Bar together Tuffnel excepted their Tryal succeeding soon after their Desparate Engagement where the wounded Men had Chairs allowed them to sit down in and after the Indictment was read which was laid both to Treason and Murther Thomas Venner was first called who being asked Guilty or not Guilty ran out into a wild Discourse about his Conversation in new-New-England and concerning the Fifth Monarchy and the Testimony within him above these Twenty years He confessed He was in the late Rising but was not Guilty of Treason intending not to Leavy War against the King and again ran out into impertinent Stories and Discourses as before but being pressed by the Court to Answer to his Indictment he pleaded Not Guilty and for his Tryal put himself upon God and the Country In the like manner all the rest used many rambling diversions from the business but at last pleaded to their Indictments Whereupon the Witnesses were sworn who made it appear that Venner Tuffnel and Crag the two last being killed in the business Did several times perswade their Congregation to take up Arms for King Iesus against the Powers of the Earth which were his Majesty the Duke of York the General c. That they were to Kill all that opposed them That they had been Praying and Preaching but not Acting for God That they Armed themselves at their Meeting-House in Coleman-street with Blunder-busses Musquets c. Marten Hopkins Wells and Patshall the Witnesses being not so clear against them were acquitted by the Jury the other Sixteen were found Guilty and being brought to the Bar were demanded to shew cause why Sentence of Death should not pass upon them which they not doing they were all Sixteen Condemned to be Hanged Drawn and Quartered The Lord Chief Justice Foster charging Venner with the blood of his Complices by his Seduction and Leading of them he Answered He did not to which the Witnesses being produced again he blasphemously evaded it with this quible and said It was not He but Iesus that Led Them According to the Sentence pronounced on them Ianuary 19. 1661. Venner and Hodgkings both desparately wounded in the Rebellion and as yet uncured were Drawn on Sledges from Newgate through Cheap-side over against their Meeting House in Swan-Alley in Coleman-street where they were Executed according to the Sentence pronounced against them Venner according to the nature of most desparate Traytors vindicating Himself and his Fact being confident he said That the time was at hand when other judgement would be reflecting much upon the Government But if the one was mad the other raved Hodgkins in way of Praying Calling down Vengeance from Heaven upon the King the Iudges and the City of London nor would he leave until the Hangman by the Sheriff's order turn'd him off the Ladder so that as they lived in a mad Religion they died as madly in the same Their Quarters were set upon the Four Gates of the City by the late Executed Regicides whose quarrel and revenge they undertook in this desparate attempt and their Heads upon Poles as lovingly by some of them on London-Bridge The same day Giles Pritchard a Cow-keeper and another of them were Executed in Cheap-side and on the Munday following being the 21. of Ian.