of which place we shall confine and circumscribe all his Glories After that the Parliament by the success of their unlawful Arms had reduced the King his Friends Armies Towns and Forts into their power it was hoped by all men that now they would appear what they had so long fallaciously pretended themselves the Assertors of the publick Peâ—ce and Liberty in order whereunto no other Expedient was visible then by complying with their reiterated Protestations of Loyal Obedience to the King in a present and speedy Resumption of him to the Exercise of his Royal Authority his Majesty having and being willing to grant all that in Honour Justice and Conscience could be expected from him But contrary thereunto they Voted to settle the Kingdom without him as impossible as to have day without the Light of the Sun and so experimented in the dark Confusions that followed those Trayterous Resolves which so much discontented the Generality of the People who were now for the most part undeceived of those principles which had been cunningly spread amongst them of the Kings Averseness to hearken to his Parliaments that after several fruitless Petitions for a Composure and Treaty with the King from several Counties in the delivery whereof to the Houses some of the Petitioners as of Surry were killed and wounded and sent home otherwise unanswered they resolved to try another way and have Recourse to Arms. Col. Langhorn Powel and Poyer rise in Wales the Scots enter England but that which most alarm'd the two Houses was the Kentish Business which lookt full of Terrour the whole County unanimously declaring for a speedy Closure with the King and had formed to that purpose a very considerable Army made up with a numerous Company of Volunteers from London under the command of the Earl of Norwich against these therefore General Fairfax himself was sent with 6000 men as requiring his Presence who was valiantly opposed at Maidstone by part of the Kentish Army but they being not relieved by their Body at Rochester were for the most part cut off and the Town gained whereupon the Earl of Norwich with 3000 men marched hastily to Black heath and from thence ferryed and swam over the greatest part of his Army into Essex side and quartered at Bow and Stratford Being there he met with this Noble Heroe Sr. Charles Lucas and other eminent Persons of Honour and Quality as the Lord Capel Lord Loughborough with a compleat Body of resolved men with whom after they had skirmished with some Parliament Horse at Mile-end they marched to Chelmsford where they seized the Committee and thence to Colchester a Town defenceless and inconsiderable as was generally supposed both by the Enemy and the Adjacent Parts of the Countrey either to receive by a provisional way of Relief any great Force into it or by reason of the untenable Condition of it to hold out any time if they should venture to take up or stay there Yet so constantly couragious vigilant and incredibly industrious were these Loyally disposed Gentlemen as this Town which by reason of the inpreparation of Necessaries could not probably hold out against so potent and terrible an Enemy the space of one week continued 3 Moneths in a most resolute Defiance and resistance of a Victorious Army glutted with such variety of Conquests and supplied with such fresh and continual Recruits to accomplish those unjust Triumphs and Trophies which they had begun to rear upon the Ruines of the whole Kingdom But at length after many stout Endeavours in Sallies Eruptions and perpetual Firings gallantly performed the Loyal Garrison having eaten up all their Horses the Dogs and Cats and whatsoever though most reluctant to Nature being sweetned with Prunes and some other Fruit and Spice whereof some store was found in the Town at their Coming could afford them nourishment was compelled to come to a Capitulation though it was bravely resolved the night before to attempt breaking through which was not unfeasable by which it was concluded the Town should be surrendred upon these hard conditions the Officers at Mercy and the Souldiery upon Quarter for Life The Reason of these hard Conditions and their standing out so long which occasioned them was threefold The first was That not only the County wherein they were besieged but most of the Counties in England had engaged themselves that they would joyn with and Assist them in the business but all those Mountains of Promise came to nothing an inconsiderable Party appearing about Saffron Walden being routed by Major Sparrow The Second and which seemed more probable was the hopes they had from London a great many Persons of Quality and known Royalists therein having listed themselves under the Earl of Holland who had with him in that Action the Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Peterborough the Lord Francis Villers and others these appeared at Kingston in a formidable manner but were presently supprest by Sr. Michael Livesey and the aforesaid Lord Francis bringing up the Rear was there killed refusing the Quarter offered from Rebels the Earl of Holland fled to St. Neats in Bedfordshire where his Quarters were beaten up by Col. Scroops Regiment of Horse where Col. Dalbeir was slain and himself taken Prisoner and carried to Warwick Castle The third and chiefest Reason which induced them to the continuance of the Siege was their daily Expectation of the Advance of the Scotch Army then entred England and to whom were joyned a number of Gallant Persons who had appeared for the King throughout the War Commanded by Sr. Marmaduke now Lord Langdale Over this Kirk-Army Duke Hamilton was made General a Person suspected of all hands and of whom and his success his Majesty it is said very much desponded when first he had notice of his Commanding in Chief And so it fell out for at Preston in Lancashire Lieut. Gen. Cromwel met with this Army and with 1â—000 men totally defeated them so that Hamilton was forced to fly and was taken by the Lord Grey of Grooby at Uttoxeter in Staffordshire and brought Prisoner to London where as Earl of Cambridge he was afterwards for this business beheaded But I venture not to Canonize him a Martyr Colchester being thus defeated of all hopes of Relief rendred it self to the Victors and 5 hours after the Surrender according to a Decree of a Council of War ensued the death of these two Noble Persons being destined by them to be shot 〈◊〉 a military Execution The only Reason why they were picked out from among the rest was nothing else but their superlative Courage and their fixedness of Duty towards the King in whose Cause and Defence they assured themselves they would never be wanting as long as their Breath would last were the Difficulties and Dangers of doing it never so greats and so many An Honourable Enemy would have scorned so unwarrantable and impotent revenge and for which the Names of some Persons will stink for ever But never was the Message of
himself upon the Scotch Army then lying at the Siege of Newark The News of his Departure from Oxford was no sooner known to the Parliament but supposing he would come to London and rely upon the Affections of the City who were reclaimed from those wild Exorbitancies by having emptied those veins of Wealth which were expended in the War and at last found themselves never the nearer those things they fought for but were every day affronted both by the Parliament and Army therefore they caused it to be proclaimed that it should be Treason for any to harbour the Kings Person which makes every place of his Residence a Court and a kind of Sanctuary and thereupon the Lord Mayors House was searched as for a Malefactor Oh unheard of Impudence of Subjects to their Soveraign But they were quickly eased of this fear by an Expresse from their Commissioners in the Scotch Army that he was arrived there This put them upon new Counsels so they agree if they could not get him out of their hands by Treaty to obtain him by purchase as our Saviour was sold before by his own And very satyrical if true as it is reported to be was that Saying of Monsieur Bellieure the French Ambassador who came to the King then at Newcastle upon his dismissing the Convoy that brought him into the Parliament Quarters having a half Crown in his hand he asked one of the Souldiers how much it was that Judas sold our Saviour for who replying 30 Pieces of Silver just so much saith he take among you for selling your Lord and Master and therewith gave him the half Crown in conclusion for 200000 Pounds the King was bargained for and brought by the Order of the Parliament who sent Commissioners to attend him to Holmby one of his own Houses where he was so strictly guarded that none of his Friends nor his Servants but who must passe the Allowance of the Two Houses were permitted to wait upon him they were very few and inconsiderable besides Being thus lockt up and waiting the Pleasure of the Parliaments Consideration of him who minded him no more then as if he had been one of their Fellow Subjects he was in the night time hurried away from thence by Cornet Joyce June 4. 1647. to Childersley thence to New-Market thence to Royston to Hatfield to Windsor to Cavesham to Maydenhead to Latimer to Stoke to Oatlands to Sion House and lastly to Hampton-Court being forced to shift his Abode at the pleasure of the Army who near his Person with feigned Overtures of Loyalty and as in order to his Safety and Service kept alwaies their Head Quarters when the Design was meerly by his Presence with them of so great Reverence and Concernment are and ought to be Princes though devoyded of all Power both in Rebels and Subjects esteem as the King himself excellently in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 observed in this juncture to counterbuffe and balance the unlimited usurped Power of the Parliament and to shew them that they might not expect to be absolute or masterless as long as Interest and the Sword could serve them Thus was the King driven about having no place to rest his Head in which presented it not with diversity of sad thoughts and cares till for some time the space of three Moneths he remained and was continued at Hampton Court in some shew of Regality During which time several Contracts and Disputes arose between the Parliament and Army who then appeared as the Kings Friends but in truth were no such matter but used his Name as the Parliament did in the beginning of the War to shrowd their Trayterous designs against him and to strengthen the weak beginning of their Future projected Attempts as the Parliament afterwards in their declination to bring up themselves and that Respect Veneration and esteem they had so wretchedly forfeited the King serving only as the Beam to the Scales and Balances of each Faction and Party which for a while went up and down counterpoysing each other till at last the heavy and sad weight of the Armies Faithlesseness and unparallel'd disloyalty and Rebellion brought him down to his Grave For the King having staid at Hampton Court about the time afore specified debating the Propositions of the Parliament who were instantly and uncessantly called upon by the People for a speedy Composure and Compliance with his Majesty the Grandees of the Army thought it high time to obviate the happy Opportunities of a Settlement which they saw all good men so desirous of by the Kings Residence any longer near the City of London with whom they had lately had a Bickering and through which they had insolently in triumph marched to the Affront and Regret of the Citizens the Grugde whereof they well knew was yet fresh and recent and wanted but the Advantage of the Kings Person and Presence Therefore with devilish Policy by an Instrument and Engine of their own Col. Whaley they give the King a kindly forsooth Notice and Information of an attempt and Assassinate intended against his Person if he should venture to stay any time longer at this his Mannour and therefore out of Duty and Affection earnestly wisht and obtested his Majesty to consult and provide for his safety elsewhere This sudden news weighed with its probable Circumstances and the passionate manner of the Discovery and the King being in the custody of a most perdite sort of men begot a Resolution of speedily withdrawing himself from the Danger Alas how many Vexations and Miseries did this good Prince pass in his way and progress to more These men that resolve to murder him publickly make this impudent Essay of his Courage and Patience by a counterfeited Parricide to be perpetrated privately By this Achitophel the King is wrought out of this secure and advantageous Mansion and by a swift flight in company with Two of his Servants recovered the Isle of Wight where Col. Hammond Brother to the most Loyal and Reverend Dr. Hammond and whose Father was one of the Physitians to Prince Henry and therefore the rather confided in was Governour for the Parliament At his Departure from Hampton Court he left behind him a Paper which for its sad and pensive matter but yet as himself in a Cloud reflected with Majestick Rayes of pietcing Elegance wherewith the Spirit of that good Prince was over-burdened and distrest I have thought fit to insert The Kings Letter left behind him at Hampton Court in his Flight to the Isle of Wight C. R. LIberty being that which in all times hath been but especially now is the common Theam and Desire of all men common reason shews that Kings less then any should endure Captivity And yet I call God and the World to witness with what patience I have endured a tedious restraint which so long as I had any hopes that this sort of my Suffering might conduce to the peace of my Kingdoms or the hindring of more effusion of
Commodity was Security to Us Peace to Our People And We are confident another Parliam would remember how useful a Kings Power is to a Peoples Liberty Of how much We have divested Our self that We and they might meet again in a due Parliamentary way to agree the bounds for Prince and People And in this give belief to our Experience never to affect more Greatness or Prerogative then what is really and intrinsecally for the good of your Subjects not satisfaction of Favorites And if you thus use it you will never want means to be a Father to all and a bountiful Prince to any you would be extraordinarily Gracious unto You may perceive all men trust their Treasure where it returns them Interest and if Princes like the Sea receive and repay all the fresh streams and Rivers trust them with they will not grudge but pride themselves to make them up an Ocean These Considerations may make you a great Prince as your Father is now a low one and your state may be so much the more established as mine hath been shaken For Subjects have learnt We dare say that Victories over their Princes are but Triumphs over themselves and so will be more unwilling to hearken to Changes hereafter The English Nation are a sober People however at present under some Infatuation We know not but this may be the last time We may speak to you or the world publickly We are sensible into what hand We are faln and yet We bless God We have those inward Refreshments that the malice of Our Enemies cannot perturb We have learnt to own our self by retiring into Our self and therefore can the better digest what befals Us not doubting but God can restrain our Enemies malice and turn their fierceness into his Praise To conclude if God give you success use it humbly and far from Revenge If he restore you to your Right upon hard conditions whatever you promise keep Those men which have forced Laws which they were bound to observe will find their Triumphs full of Troubles Do not think any thing in this world worth obtaining by foul and unjust Means You are the Son of our Love and as We direct you to what we have recommended to you so we assure you We do not more affectionately pray for you to whom We are a Natural Parent then We do that the ancient Glory and Renown of this Nation be not buried in Irreligion and Phanatick humour And that all Our Subjects to whom VVe are a Politick Parent may have such sober Thoughts as to seek their peace in the Orthodox Profession of the Christian Religion as it was established since the Reformation in this Kingdom and not in new Revelations And that the ancient Laws with the Interpretation according to known practises may once again be an hedge about them that you may in due time govern and they be governed as in the fear of the Lord. C. R. The Lord Capel beheaded March 9. 1949. in the Palace yard Westminster THis Noble Lord Noble in his Life nobler in his Death and Memory noblest in his Posterity who fill the trumpet of Fame that summons all men to render them their deserved honours though he was not like some of our foregoing Martyrs viz. Sr. Charles Lucas and Sr. George Lisle murthered in the instant of the rendition of Colchester having quarter for life given him by the General yet did not long survive their hard fate being brought with more solemnity more perfidiousness though alike glory to his Death which he suffered with a Christian and no Roman but Colchester Spirit and resolution He was no great Captain nor ever undertook such a charge serving without any signal command in his Majesties Armies though no doubt sufficient thereto yet he is no less to be eternized for his indeavours his courage constancy and faithful adherence to the King when deserted by a great part of the Nobility parting with and hazarding a great and ample Estate which was sequestred from him and in conclusion laying down his life so that he may justly be stiled one of the Worthies of the English Nobility and his name ever to be honourably mentioned according to that of the Psalmist Psal 112.6 The Righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance He was Son and Heir to Sr. Arthur Capel of Hadham Hall in Herefordshire a Gentleman of Great Estate and who loved and followed the old mode of our Nation kept a Noble and bountiful House and shewed forth his Faith by his charity extending it in such abundant manner to the poor that he was bread to the hungry drink to the thirsty eies to the blind and legs the the same so that he might justly be stiled Great Almoner to the King of Heaven As this diffusive charity and bounty spread it self abroad no less did his Relative love and Paternal affection bestow it self on this his Son whom he most liberally educated to a perfection in Learning as his rich expressions and elegant stile in his Book Printed after his death and in other letters do best evidence Sr. Arthur dying as this Noble Lord inherited his Estate so did he his Virtues his pious bounty appearing so conspicuous that some envious persons who hate good works in others because they will do none themselves have maliciously traduced him as inclining to Popery But as such aspersions amongst persons of understanding signifie nothing more than the speakers malice so wrought it in others a deserved commendation of this Noble Person especially in those times and our own are worse when Charity lay bed-rid and Faith only and such hungry notions were talkt of whereas his Faith appeared by his works From the degree of Knight the ancient Dignity of his Family now advanced to the Earldom of Essex he was made Baron Capel of Hadham a little before the time the Earl of Strafford received his Tryal which in this brave Lords conscientious Judgment of himself was his original condemnation in foro coeli During the Rebellion and those differences between the King and Parliament he constantly and faithfully adhered to his Majesty contributing both in purse and person to his aid and assistance being appointed in that time for his eminent wisdom and prudence Councellour to the Prince by the King his Father whom he abandoned not till the disbanding of my Lord Hopton's Army in Cornwall from whence his Highness took shipping to Scilly giving my Lord an honourable but sorrowful dismission and conge to return home and attend though his heroical mind spur'd him on to pursue his most unworthy fate For at his coming home upon those Articles having scarce warmed himself there after his long absence from thence but some hopes appearing of the King's restauration to his former Authority by the coming in of Duke Hamilton with a potent Army as also by the Welch Insurrection and the rising of several Counties who declared for the same purpose he with a select number of his friends acquaintance and
Bloud I did willingly undergoe but now finding by too certain proofs that this my continued Patience would not only turn to my personal ruine but likewise be of much more prejudice then furtherance to the publick good I thought I was bound as well by natural as political Obligations to seek my safety by retiring my self for some time from the publick view both of my Friends and Enemies And I appeal to all indifferent men to judge if I have not just cause to free my self from the hands of those who change their Principles with their condition and who are not ashamed openly to intend the destruction of the Nobility taking away their negative voice and with whom the Levellers Doctrine is rather countenanced then punished And as for their Intentions to my person their changing and putting more strict Guards upon me with the discharging most of all those Servants of mine who formerly they willingly admitted to wait upon me doth sufficiently declare Nor would I have this Retirement misse-interpreted for I shall earnestly and uncessantly endeavour the setling of a safe and well-grounded Peace wherever I am or shall be that as much as may be without the effusion of more Christian Bloud for which how many times have I desired prest to be heard and yet no ear given to me And can any reasonable man think that according to the ordinary course of Affairs there can be a setled Peace without it Or that God will bless those who refuse to hear their own King Surely no Nay I must further add that besides what concerns my self unless all other chief Interests have not only a hearing but likewise just satisfaction given unto them to wit the Presbyterians Independants Army those who have adhered to me and even the Scots I say there cannot I speak not of Miracles it being in my Opinion a sinful Presumption in such cases te expect or trust to them be a safe or lasting Peace Now as I cannot deny but that my personal security is the urgent cause of this my Retirement so I take God to witness that the publick Peace is no less before my eyes and I can find no better way to express this my Profession I know not what a wiser may do than by desiring and urging that all chief Interests may be heard to the end each may have just satisfaction As for example the Army for therest though necessary yet I suppose are not difficult to content ought in my judgment to enjoy the Liberty of their Consciences have an Act of Oblivion or Indempnity which should extend to all the rest of my Subjects and that all their Arrears should be speedily and duly paid which I will undertake to do so I may be heard and that I be not hindred from using such lawful and honest means as I shall chuse To conclude let me be heard with Freedom Honour and Safety and I shall instantly break through this Cloud of Retirement and shew myself really to be Pater Patria Hampton Court Novemb. 11. 1647. For the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore c. He was no sooner come into the Isle of Wight but Hammond gave notice thereof to the Parl. who were now overawed by the Army Eleven of their Members being impeached of High Treason as they called it for their Loyalty and Affection to his Majesty many not daring to appear in the House Cromwel and his Faction Jan. 30. the black Forerunner of that his day of Martyrdom the next Year ensuing voted those destructive and cruel Resolves of no more Addresses which were published with a Preface in these words being the hinges on which the sad Revolutions succeeding so direfully turned The Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament after many Addresses to his Majesty for the preventing and ending of this unnatural War raised by him against the Parliament and Kingdom having lately sent four Bils to his Majesty which did contain only matter of Safety and Security to the Parliament and Kingdom referring the Composure of other Differences to a Personal Treaty with his Majesty and having received an absolute Negative do hold themselves obliged to use their utmost Endeavours speedily to settle the present Government in such a way as may bring the greatest security to this Kingdom in the enjoyment of the Laws and Liberties thereof and in order thereunto that the Houses may receive no Delay or Interruptions in so great and necessary a work they have taken their Resolution and passed these Votes following Resolved by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament That no Application or Address be made to the King by any Person whatsoever without leave of both Houses Resolved That the Person or Persons that shall make Breach of this Order shall incur the Penalty of High Treason Resolved That the Lords and Commons do declare that they will receive no more any Message from the King Resolved That no Person whatsoever do presume to receive or bring any Message from the King to both or either of the Houses of Parliament or any other I shall not descant on the unparalelled unreasonableness of these Votes but reflect only on that story of Ahashuerus recorded in Esther to whom no person of what degree soever durst approach or address himself without he held forth his Golden Scepter whereas here were Subjects yeâ— Christian Subjects holding their Soveraign off at the Swords point denying him Access to them and debarting him Converse with any Persons but the Instruments and Officers of their barbarous disloyalty Upon these Votes the Army close with the Parliament declaring that they would live and die with them in the pursuit of their Resolutions and now this Pious recluse Prince all humane hopes failing being shut up a Prisoner and none of his friends admitted to come near him betakes himself to the Divine Assistance spends his sad hours in meditation devotion which heightened and perfected in him that Christian Courage and resolution with which he so nobly triumpht over the utmost malice of his Enemies This sweetned and alleviated those sorrows and unspeakable distresses he went through this afforded him a Calmness and Serenity of mind amidst the Storms and Tempests of his impetuous and angry Fate this made him infinitly more to prize the Crosse then the crown witnesse those most incomparable soliloquies which the Prison wals ecchoed to Heaven such were these I care not to be reckoned among the unfortunate so I be not in the black List of sacrilegious Princes Again As I have leisure so have I cause more then enough to meditate and prepare for my death for I know that there are but a few steps between the Prisons the Graves of Princes But so great and excellent is his variety of divine Consolation and Instruction that I will not lose the Reader in my Maze of Collections but refer him wholly to the Original particularly to what he hath written concerning this very Subject But it may be a
Bernard sometimes a Major under him by reason of his good parts and sober demeanor being in his good opinion frequently visited him and imparted to him such Occurrences as he met abroad in discourse and did intimate the discontents of the Levellers and Agitators and the proceedings of a certain Committee of Officers to which he was Clerk upon a printed charge against some of the Parliament for oppression c. By such discoveries he at last obtruded on the Colonel the acquaintance of one Capt. Helmes who soon after brought with him one Benson who pretended to have served under Sir John Gell who frequently produced Letters transcripts of Letters with the copying whereof he pretended to be intrusted by Mr. Rushworth which appeared to purport matters of State to be delivered to Mr. Bushel to be sent beyond-Sea These two insinuated what interest they had in the Reformadoes and the advantage would be done by them for the Royal Party and magnified Sir John Gells interest in his Country and his regret and reluctancie for what he had done for the Parliament Barnard then propounded that a design formerly in the War laid by him for the taking of the Isle of Ely might by the said assistance and Sir John's aid be revived and executed but this project failed In December 1649. Helmes brought the Col. instructions to draw up a Petition for Sir John Gell for his Arreares this procured a meeting where Sir John took notice of his ill requital for his Services and desired to be represented to his new Majesty as his Loyal Subject for the future and no more passed There coming out soon after an Act commanding Cavaliers to depart the City of London being in treaty about transplanting himself into Sir Edward Plowdens Plantation in New Album He was again visited by Major Barnard and Benson who gave him notice of a câ—nsiderable design laid ond friends and mony to back it and that he should have 200 pound and power to draw more by bills of Exchange if I would go over and promote the said design with the Prince and then in general terms acquainted him that it was an easie matter the Cavaliers going out of Town by correspondence in all Counties to surprize uhe Horse of the Army in their several Quarters the Col. answer was that if the mony were ready he would entertain the motion Next day after they came again and told him that the Gentlemen of Kent Buckingham and Dorset would presently be near the Town and would joyn in an Engagement and raise mony that Sir John Gell would engage likewise and might easily bring in his Friends Sir Andrew Knevela Sir Guy Palmes Mr. Fieqherbert c. and therefore desired the Colonel to draw an Engagement which he did in a loose Paper according to the sense they instructed him and to move Sir John Gell in the business but pressed not the Coll. then to joyn in the same Accordingly he spoke with Sir John who refused to joyn or meddle in the design not daring to trust Benson but renewed his desire to the Col. if he went over to possess the King with a good opinion of him This answer did not altogether unsatisfie Barnards who appointedâ—the same few days after a meeting at the Yhree-crane-Tavern in the Savoy for a meeting where should be present the Gentlemen of the aforesaid Counties but they met not only Barnard and Bâ—nson and one Capt. Ashley Barnard produced Letters that the Kentish Gentlemen were come to Rochester and would come but within 12 miles of London that night he durst go no further that day for fear of Col. Blunt and that they did the mony and had sent for him with a Guide to bring him to them so he departed to take Horse while the other two pressed him again to get Sir John Gell to seal an Engagement which Benson had engrossed which he refused and told them he was able to satisfie any body of Sir John Gel's reality though not actually engaged That same night comes a Messenger unknown to him from Barnard highly blaming the Col. and Sir John Gell of backwardness in with-holding their hands from the Engagement and that thereupon his Kentish friends would proceed no further as this Smith the Messenger took upon him to be informed from them but the Col. insisting that Sir John was not to be urged further This Smith and Ashley departedâ— and promised to pay the mony the next night at the Pals-graves-heads But failing of their promise and the next day the Colonel according to the Act being to depart the Town Ashley delivered him that night a Letter from Barnard pressing him to subscribe the Engagement which Benson engrossed and that done he would go the nextâ—day with him to Graves-end where the Kentish Gentlemen should not fail to meeâ— him Being come to Graves-end alone Barnard as Benson pretended being at Tattenham Court with the Bucking ham shire Gentlemen there were none of the Kentish Gentlemen come thither but two days after comes Barnard and Smith with a Letter from Benson intimating that if Sir John Gell would not engage with those whose names were subscribed they would go over to the King and spoil his Reputation and the Colonels both there and that he had Letters from Sir John to produce which should make him repent his refusal and therefore desired Col Andrews to write to Sir John Gell which he did laying the Case before him so they parted from the Colonel agreeing if they got Sir John's Seal to come down to Gravesend and so to Rochester for the mony and performance of the Confederacy or else to let the businesse fall and return the Col. his Seal and Engagement And while the poor betrayed Gentleman was in this suspense he was seized at his Inn in Gravesend by a party of Horse and brought prisoner to London This Narrative of his own was postilled with this Address to the three that examined him My Lords IN this Narrative you will see a believing Nature wrought upon by treacherous men such who cannot be true to any while false to Parties The pretended Design vanisht as never being more then a Phantasme and not worth the regard the real Design effected so far as they had power and opportunity that is to bring the Game into the Foil and there leave them entangled to be made a Quarry You will finde me passively Astive being prompted and enticed by their insinuation and not once but hearkening to them It lies in your Lordships power to cut me off by extending whereof you can arrive at no honour amongst men and possibly by an Act of Lenity you may do an Office acceptable to God Cujus fiat volunt as modo in mina mea Whosoever shall be present at my Tryal or into whose hands this Narratiue shall fall will easily conclude with me Quoâ— vult perdi Deus hos prius Dementat Euseb Andrews Shortly after he was called again and was confronted with Sir John Gell and avowed
except they water their beds and couches with tears of Repentence The court gave severe and rash Judgment on my body and sent a pitifull fellow bur a pitiless fellow that gave as rash a Judgment of my soul but that precious Jewel none of them could touch to hurt The souls under the Alter cry loud for vengeance long ago how many more of late years have been added to them to help the cry the cry is loud of those lately whose blood hath been unlawfully spilt but vengeance is Gods and I will leave it to him The Court at my Tryal said I was confident and held it as a fault He also whom they sent to the Tower I know not if to intrap me under pretence to comfort my soul told me also I was confident I say the same and the same confidence I bring with me now and by Gods assistance I hope I shall carry it out of this world with my innocency Gentlemen Souldiers Among the ancient and savage sort of Heathen they had a Law once every three six or twelve moneths to offer up a sacrifice of humane blood to their god and that their god was a Devil Among us whether Heathen or not you best know of late years we have had a fatal custome once in three six or twelve moneths to make not only a sacrifice but many sacrifices of humane Christian blood our Scaffolds have reek'd and smoak'd with the choisest sort of blood But unto what God do you judge What God is he that delights in the blood of man Baal the god of Ekron Bâ—lzebub the god of Flyes Amongst the Primitive Christians that lived nearest the time of our Saviour Christ the greatest Tyrants and persesecutors of the Christians lived the persecution was great and yet the courage of those persecuted Christians was so great that it excelled the fury of the persecutors that they came in faster to be killed then they could kill they offered their bodies and throats so thick unto the slaughter that the hands of Tyrants were weary with killing and yet Sanguis Martirum was Semâ—n Ecclesiâ—e and many Heathens came in with the Christians seeing their chearfull constancy turned Christians and dyed Christians and dyed with them the Christians still encreased the more Of late years here hath been a great persecution in this Nation and yet the sufferers have been so many and present themselves so thick in the vindication of their King Country and Laws that they startled the very enemy himself their constancy so great that the eyes of their Judges dropped tears whether reall or true let the Judge of Judges judge They still stand amazed at their constancy though they exceed the old Heathens are not weary of killing Oh Souldiers How many of you have been brought up and led on by blind principles wronged in your education or seduced by your indiscreet heedless and heady Teachers How many of you young men have for some small discontent departed from your loving Masters dear Friends or tender Parents and fled into the Army how many of you driven by Tyranous oppression poverty or cruelty have left your dear wives and children And some for novelty or wantonness adhere to this employment not considering the great danger of spilling innocent blood How many of you have drawn your Swords you do not know for what How many of you keep drawn your Swords you do not know for what You have put to death a pious and just King and in his stead have reared up even another Jeroboam that makes Israel to sin What his goodnesse is you best know You have put down a good old Law and reared up another of your own to judge the people by my calling for the benefit of the former and for the equity even of your own Law I am in part condemned here to die Be you Judge of the proceedings How many of you have had a hand in putting down the ancient true Church and raised up in your own imaginations a new one But alas You know not what you do if you did you would grieve to see what a glorious Church you have ruind You would never have pulled down the hedges and broken down the fences that the wild beasts of the Forrest should come in that the little foxes should devour and the wild Boar should root out so stately a Vine When the Jewes were led into captivity their goodly and magnificent Temple was burnt but in process of time they obtained favour amongst the Heathen KINGS they dwelt amongst and had liberty therewith to re-build re-build they did and finished a second Temple at which fight all the young men rejoyced to see so gallant a Temple but the old men wept to see how far different and short the second Temple was from the glory of the first So you young men rejoyce at your imaginary Church but the old men methinks I see some weep Oh weep not so me weep for your Country weep to see Religion Liberty and Laws taken from you weep to see so many good men snatcht a way but indeed from the miseries to come and weep for what your unhappy selves will suffer Souldiers however you flourish for atime and perhaps many of you may rejoyce at our deaths but believe it as Sampson pull'd the house of the Philistims down when he fell so shall we give you and your Cause a greater blow by our deaths than living we possibly could have done You may for a time flourish but remember what our Saviour said All you that make use of the sword shall perish by the sword you shall be cut down like the grass and whither away like the green herbs But do you behold yonder glorious place Do you behold the spangled Heavens where the holy Angels dwell where God himselfe is rounded with Thrones Principalities Powers and the Celestial Spirits of just men when the Trump shall blow when the dead shall rise at the dreadful day of Judgment How will you answer all your Rapes and Murthers Do you think your hands that have been bathed in the blood of your King the blood of so many of your eminent Country-men so unjustly that have been bathed in the blood of many of your friends your kindred perhaps your Parents can ever reach yonder glorious place without repentance Oh no! Repent now therefore it is not too late shake off your bloody Protector rescue your ancient Laws and call in your Royal young Prince whom you have long enough wronged Make your Add esses to the great Protector of Heaven and Earth as I now do my self for a Pardon for all your former and present transgressions I dye an obedient Son of the Church of England and with a dutifull heart to the KING and desire that none present that love him will he disheartned by my death but continue faithfull to the end And so farewell I forgive all the world c. Colonel Penrudock Colonel Groves and others are taken at Southmolton in
the time and place of this Regicide also proved This Information was first made to the House of Lords and avowed by the said two Gentlemen whereupon Rolfe being apprehended in Bishopsgate where he had like to have been torn in pieces by the multitude of people had it not been for their very strong Guards they sent for him was carried in a Sedan to the Gate-house whence he was sent against the Assizes to Winchester where at his Arraignment the whole matter was punctually proved against him yet for all that both by Judges and Jury the then Lord Chief Baron and some packt desperate Wretches of that County he was to the wonder and astonishment of all the world acquitted and freed and soon after set at Liberty Next followed the Inditement and Arraignment of this our Martyr which was layd for levying war against the King to which he duly and of Right and Conscience pleaded Not guilty Tâ—e matter of Fact which was proved against him was that he had beaten up Drums in the Isle of Wight to raise men for to assist the King against the Parliament such a Contradiction in it self that had but Reason and Loyalty been at market there had been no such desperate Chapmen in the Country for without more ado these wretched Fellows bring him in guilty of High Treason and the Judge gave Sentence accordingly which was presently after executed We will consider Thirdly that this manner of Trial was never offered before to the Subjects of this Kingdom those men they murdered upon the Score of Loyalty during the war were either taken away by their Illegal Ordinances or Courts Marshal and Councils of war they not daring to refer their case to the decision of the Law but here assoon as they had reduced the King they thought it an easie work to reduce the Laws and though his Majesty would not comply with their unlimited demands they would bend the Law to their Lusts and most absolute will and Tyranny so that he is the first who suffered as a Martyr of the English Freedom Intercessions were made on all hands for his Life his poor wife even drowned in tears imploring their mercy but there was no Relenting or Compassion to be found among those men So Feb. 10. being come the day of his blessed Exchange he full of Christian Resolution and Comfort with Earnest Prayers to God for the King and Kingdoms Restoration to their former and lasting Happiness willingly resigned his Spirit to God sealing his Glorious Cause with his last Breath and Bloud Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle shot to death at Colchester by a Council of War upon the Rendition of the same Town THese Gemini of Valour and Honour as well as exact Loyalty I could not well divide in this Martyrology being so joyned in their deaths honourable Burial and Funerals and being both of them so equally eminent in their Generation for all true worth and Vertue Sr. Charles Lucas was descended of a very Ancient and Illustrious Family he who knows not the Name of Lucas knows nothing of Gentility but if this Noble Person had derived no Honour from his Ancestors yet his own purchased Glory and the Relative Merits of his two Famous Brethren the Lord Lucas and Sir Gervas formerly Governour of Belvoyr Castle in which three Nature and Education had summ'd up a Perfection will without any other Additaments transmit him to Posterity as a worthy and English Heroe He was a Person assisted with a resolute Spirit of an active disposition and a surable discretion to manage it strict and severe in his Commands without any pride or surliness free in his Rewards to persons of Desert and Quality in his Society and with his Friends he was affable and pleasant in his Charge serious and vigilant remiss in nothing that might any way improve or expedite his Dispatch in the Affairs of VVar as he is well charactered by a good Pen. We will therefore view him only in the Camp in which he gloriously lived and died excusing his Learning and other rare Endowments from the imputation of Crime and lay all the Load of his miserable Fate aggravated by the Name of an enemy to the Kingdom upon his Loyal carriage and magnanimity abstracted from all other Considerations In the beginning of the Tumults and Preparations for War in Scotland against their Native pious Pr. he raised a Troop of Horse in London and like an Expert and Resolute Commander behaved himself in that uncertain Service being a profest Enemy to the Insolencies and Rebellious Designs of that Nation That Broyl ceasing through the great condescentions of the King to the unreasonable Demands of that Kingdom which kindled the Combustions in this the King being necessitated to take up Arms to defend his Person and the Authority of the Laws against the like Rebellion at home Sr. Charles readily engaged on his Soveraigns side against the pretended 2 Houses The first place where he signally shewed his Valour in that just Cause omitting Exployts of less concernment as not to our purpose was at Auburn Chase and Newberry Field where the first memorable Battel was fought here Sr. Charles Lucas with many other Gallant Gentlemen behaved themselves with undanted courage and Resolution which so far engaged him in that dangerous Business the fight being obstinately maintained that he received some desperate wounds that fatal day but the Blood he lost there was but an Earnest or prognostick stillations drops of that mass of Bloud which was afterwards to flow out with his Life for the same Cause His next Appearance to the terror of his Enemies his Valour having gained him a frighting name amongst them was in his deserting of Cawood Castle assaulted by the Parliaments Forces whence with good conduct and as true Courage he forced his way through their Quarters to such places as he thought convenient and came at last in safety to York His Bravery in charging at Marston Moor and enduring the Brunt of his Enemies when the Fortune of that day declined on the Kings side as it then challenged the Praise of all men so it deserves everlasting Remembrance His discreet and military Management of the Affairs at Newark where he manifested himself an absolute Souldier both in Discipline of war and personal Action to the great satisfaction of the Governour and Garrison which alwaies consisted of Gallant and truly Noble Persons merits a Record to serve as an Example to Future Times His brave and successeful Attempt in his March from Berkly Castle with part of his Regiment betwixt Slymbridge and Beverston Castle upon Col. Masseys Garrisons together with his incomparable Gallantry in the pursuit of his Design at Tedbury was work for noble Imitation But all these Particulars signifie nothing to his Heroick Magnanimity in defence of the Town of Colchester beleaguered by a potent and victorious Army This was as the Corollary the summing up of all his Atchievements in the times and circumvallations