will make my conclusion with it that is That God Almighty would confer of his infinite and inestimable Grace and mercy to those that are the causers of my coming hither I pray God give them as much mercy as their hearts can wish and truly for my part I will not accuse any one of them of malice truly I will not nay I will not think there was any malice in them what other ends there is I know not nor will I examine but let it be what it will from my very Soul I forgive them every one And so the Lord of Heaven blesse you all God Almighty be infinite in goodnesse and mercy to you and direct you in those wayes of obedience to his Commands to His Majesty that this Kingdom may be an happy and glorious Nation again and that your King may be an happy King in so good and so obedient a people God Almighty keep you all God Almighty preserve this Kingdom God Almighty preserve you all Then turning about and looking for the Executioner who was gone off the Scaffold said which is the Gentleman which is the man Answer was made He is coming He then said Stay I must pull off my Doublet first and my Wastcoat and then the Executioner being come upon the Scaffold the Lord Capel said O friend prethee come hither Then the Executioner kneeling down the Lord Capel said I forgive thee from my Soul and not only forgive thee but I shall pray to God to give thee all grace for a better life There is five pound for thee and truly for my clothes and those things if there be any thing due to you for it you shall be fully recompenced but I desire my bedy may not be stripped here and no body to take notice of my body but my own Servants Look you Friend this I shall defire of you that when I lye down you would give me a time for a particular short Prayer Lieu. Col. Beecher Make your own sign my Lord. Capel Stay a little Which side do you stand upon speaking to the Executioner Stay I think I should lay my hands forward that way pointing fore-right and answer being made Yes he stood still a little while and then said God Almighty blesse all this people God Almighty slench this blood God Almighty stench stench stench this issue of blood this will not do the business God Almighty find out another way to do it And then turning to one of his Servants said Baldwin I cannot see any thing that belongs to my Wife but I must desire thee and beseech her to rest wholly upon Jesus Christ to be contented and fully satisfied and then speaking to his Servants he said God keep you and Gentlemen let me now do a business quickly privately and pray let mee have your prayers at the moment of death that God would receive my Soul L. Col. Beecher I wish it Capel Pray at the moment of striking joyn your Prayers but make no noise turning to his Servants it is inconvenient at this time Servant My Lord put on your cap. Capel Should I what will that do me good Stay a little it is well as it is now As he was putting up his hair And then turning to the Executioner he said honest man I have forgiven thee therefore strike boldly from my Soul I do it Then a Gentleman speaking to him he said Nay prethee be contented be quiet good Mr. be quiet Then turning to the Executioner he said Well you are ready when I am ready are you not and stretching out his hands he said Then pray stand off Gentlemen Then going to the front of the Scaffold he said to the People Gentlemen though I doubt not of it yet I think it convenient to ask it of you That you would all joyn in Prayers with me That God would mercifully receive my Soul and that for his alone mercies in Christ Iesus God Almighty keep you all Execut. My Lord shall I put up your hair Capel I I prethee do and then as he stood lifting up his hands and eyes he said O God I do with a perfect and willing heart submit to thy will O God! I do most willingly humble my self and then kneeling down said I will try first how I can Lye and laying his head upon the Block said Am I well now Execut. Yes And then as he lay with both his hand stretched out he said to the Executioner Here lie both my hands out when I lift up my hands thus lifting up his right hand then you may strike And then after he had said a short Prayer he lifted up his right hand and the Executioner at one blow severed his head from his body which was taken up by his Servants and put with his body into a coffin I Shall omit Duke Hamilton not only because of another Nation though a Peer of this but because it is in question whether he suffered not for obeying the commands of the Scotch Parliament and Kirk who sent him as General in that Expedition and that the Kings Interest was but collateral Let him therefore rest in his honourable grave while we softly and reverently pass over it to that of the Earl of Holland Henry Earl of Holland beheaded on the Scaffold in the Palace-yard at Westminster at the same time THis Lord in the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the Martyr was his special favourite and peculiar friend so that after that assassinate upon the Duke of Buckingham he was made Chancellor of the University of Cambridge having been newly before from Baron Rich of Kensington raised to the Honour of the Earldom of Holland and sent Colleague with the Earl of Carlisle in that splendid Embassy into France about the marriage of the Queen Mother Notwithstanding all these favours so freely conferred on him so uncertain variable and unobligeable are the minds of men for I cannot impute his siding with the Parliament to have been from any disgust or dislike he received from the King especially when Religion becomes the bone of contention he was one of those Lords that remained at London and made up a House of Peers although he never took up Arms Command or Employment against his good Master and Soveraign About the middle of the War sceing how unreasonably the Parliament persisted in carrying on the War being so often fruitlesly courted by the King to an accommodation he and the Earl of Bedford forsook their part and quarrel and escaped to the King at Oxford where finding not that kind and favourable reception they expected being looked on shily by the Court there especially this Lord he privately departed to London again having left a fair account of himself to the King But when the War was ended and the Parliament had refused to treat with his Majesty and so to settle the Kingdom he then took up Arms in earnest in the Kings behalf being real and cordial on this his last undertaking and engaged with him the Duke of
Buckingham Earl of Peterborough Lord Francis Villers and Lord Peter who with a gallant company of men rendezvouz'd at Kingston where immediately Sr. Michael Livesey set upon them and routed them The Earl fled to St. Neets in Bedfordshire where in his Quarters he was taken by Collonel Scroop's Regiment of Horse where Collonel Dolbier was killed and by order of the Parliament sent Prisoner to Warwick Castle He continued there for the space of six moneths in pretty good health both of body and mind but as soon as he heard of the murther of the King his heart failed him and sickness seized on him so that he never dawed day afterwards nor could endure to stir out of his chamber lamenting the loss of his gracious Master and providing for his own violent dissolution the same way which being condemned by the same High Court of Iustice with my Lord Capel and Duke Hamilton he suffered on the same Scaffold His Lordships Speech on the Scaffold immediatly before his Death March 9. 1649. Holland IT is to no purpose I think to speak any thing here Which way must I speak And then being directed to the Front of the Scaffold he leaning over the Rayls said I think it is fit to say somthing since God hath called me to this place The first thing which I must profess is what concerns my Religion and my Breeding which hath been in a good Family that hath ever been faithful to the true Protestant Religion in the which I have been bred in the which I have lived and in the which by Gods Grace and Mercy I shall die I have not lived according to that Education I had in that Family where I was born and bred I hope God will forgive me my sins since I conceive it is very much his pleasure to bring me to this place for the sins that I have committed The cause that hath brought me hither I believe by many hath been much mistaken They have conceived that I have had ill Designs to the State and to the Kingdom Truly I look upon it as a Judgment and a just Judgment of God not but I have offended so much the State and the Kingdom and the Parliament as that I have had no extream vanity in serving them very extraordinarily For those Actions that I have done I think it is known they have been ever very faithful to the Publick and very particularly to Parliaments My Affections have been ever exprest truly and clearly to them The dispositions of Affairs now have put things in another posture then they were when I was engaged with the Parliament I have never gone off from those Principles that ever I have professed I have lived in them and by Gods Grace will die in them There may be Alterations and Changes that may carry them further then I thought reasonable and truly there I left them But there hath been nothing that I have said or done or professed either by Covenant or Declaration which hath not been very constant and very clear upon the Principles that I ever have gone upon which was to serve the King the Parliament Religion I should have said in the first place the Common-wealth and to seek the Peace of the Kingdom That made me think it no improper time being prest out by Accidents and Circumstances to seek the Peace of the Kingdom which I thought was proper since there was somthing then in Agitation but nothing agreed on for sending Propositions to the King that was the furthest aim that I had and truly beyond that I had no Intention none at all And God be praised although my Bloud comes to be shed here there was I think scarce a drop of Bloud shed in that Action that I was ingaged in For the present Affairs as they are I cannot tell how to judge of them and truly they are in such a condition as I conceive no body can make a judgment of them and therefore I must make use of Prayers rather then of my Opinion which are That God would bless this Kingdom this Nation this State that he would settle it in a way agreeable to what this Kingdom hath bin happily governed under by a King by the Lords by the Commons a Government that I conceive it hath flourished much under and I pray God the change of it bring not rather a Prejudice a disorder and a confusion then the contrary I look upon the Posterity of the King and truly my Conscience directs me to it to desire that if God be pleased that these people may look upon them with that Affection that they owe that they may be called in again and they may be not through bloud nor through disorder admitted again into that power and to that glory that God in their birth intended to them I shall pray with all my soul for the happiness of this State of this Nation that the Bloud which is here spilt may even be the last that may fall among us and truly I should lay down my Life with as much Chearfulness as ever person did if I conceived that there would be no more Bloud follow us for a State or Affairs that are built upon Bloud is a Foundation for the most part that doth not prosper After the Blessing that I give to the Nation to the Kingdom and truly to the Parliament I do wish with all my heart happiness and a blessing to all those that have been Authors in this business and truly that have been Authors in this very work that bringeth us hither I do not only forgive them but I pray heartily and really for them as God will forgive my sins so I desire God may forgive them I have a particular Relation as I am Chancellor of Cambridge and truly I must here since it is the last of my Prayers pray to God that that University may go on in that happy way which it is in that God may make it a Nursery to plant those persons that may be distributed to the Kingdom that the souls of the people may receive a great benefit and a great advantage by them and I hope God will reward them for their kindness and their affections that I have found from them * Looking towards Mr. Bolton I have said what Religion I have been bred in what Religion I have been born in what Religion I have practised I began with it and I must end with it I told you that my Actions my Life have not been agreeable to my Breeding I have told you likewise that the Family where I was bred hath been an exemplary Family I may say so I hope without Vanity of much affection to Religion and of much faithfulness to this Kingdom and to this State I have endeavoured to do those Actions that became an honest man and a good Englishman and which became a good Christian I have been willing to oblige those that have been in trouble those that have been in Persecution and truly
prayed with him almost a quarter of an hour after which the Col. turning himself again to the people spake as followeth One thing more I desire to be clear in There lieth a common imputation upon the Cavaliers that they are Papists and under that Name we are made odious to those of the contrary opinion I am not a Papist but renounce the Pope with all his dependencies when the distractions in RELIGION first sprang up I might have been thought apt to turn from this Church to the Roman but was utterly unsatisfied in their Doctrine in point of Faith and very much as to their Discipline The Religion which I profess is that which passeth under the name of Protestant though that be rather a name of distinction then properly essential to Religion But the Religion which was found out in the Reformation purged from all the errours of Rome in the Reign of Edward the sixth practised in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth King James and King Charles that blessed Prince deceased that Religion before it was defaced I am of which I take to be Christs Catholique though not the Roman Catholique Religion in the profession and practice whereof I will live and die that for my Religion Then he turnd himself unto the Executioner I have no reason to quarrel with thee thou art not the hand that throws the stone I am not of such an Estate to be liberal but there is three pound for thee which is all I have Now tell me what I lack Execut. Your hair 's to be turned up Col. Shew me how to fit my self upon the block After which his doublet being off and hair turned up he turned again to the people and prayed a good while Before he laid down upon the Block he spake again to the people viz. There is not one face that looks upon me though many faces and perhaps different from me in opinion and practice but methinks hath something of pity in it and may that mercy which is in your hearts fall into your own bosomes when you have need of it and may you never find such blocks of sin to stand in the way of your mercy as I have met with I beseech you joyn with me in prayer Then he prayed leaning on the Scaffold with an audible Voyce for about a quarter of an hour having done he had some private conference with Doctor Swadling Then taking his leave of his Friends Sheriffs and Acquaintance saluting them all with a courteous valediction he prepared himself for the Block kneeling down said let me try the Block which he did after casting his eyes up and fixed them very intentively upon Heaven he said when I say Lord Jesus receive me Executioner do thine Office then kissing the Ax he laid down and with as much undaunted yet Christian courage as possible as could be in man did he expose his throat to the fatal Ax. his life to the Executioner and commended his Soul into the Hands of a faithful and merciful Creator through the meritorious passion of a gracious Redeemer saying the forementioned words his head was smitten off at one blow Sir Henry Hide beheaded over against the Exchance March 4. 1650. AFter this Rebellion had assumed its various shapes put all by and made up with its several interests till it had quite outed the manner of true Religion when there was no Law left but the arbitrary Will and Powers of the Grandees at Westminster no man can wonder at this Turkish Example in the sad fate of this Honourable Person The truth is he was the noble Brother to that excellently prudent States-man the Right Honourable Earl of Clarendel Lord Chancellor of England But we must detract from this Martyrs merit if we involve it in his Brothers whose capacious influence upon the Councels and affairs of this Nation hath rescued all honest and loyal men from the brinks of misery and ruin ten thousand times worse then Death It is a sad Subject to Comment on especially because we may repeat nothing here but what has been most favourably and that at his honourable Relations importunity quite forgiven though I hope that pardon extends not beyond the Memory of the sufferer whatever it reaches to in the Oblivion of the Actor He was sent as he avowedly declared at his death as a Messenger only from our Sovereign King Charles the second soon after the murther of his Royal Father to the Grand Seignior that Office he aptly himself termed an Internuncio which to his and the Kindomes Enemies sounded worse then the jealousie of Popery I make use of that term to discover the occasion of this his fate since it hath its diversity of Names according to the customes and Languages of Nations as Envoy c. in the French but throughout the World barbarous or civil unlesse by sinister and bribed Artifices the very name of such persons were feared and had in publique Veneration He was bred a Merchant who traded to the Levant and who by experience had gained not only a considerable Estate therewith but also a Repute and Estimation amongst the Turkish Company who considering him as an intelligent Person in the businesse and management of that Traffique and entercourse made and constituted him their Consul at the Morea which place with what integrity he discharged and how discreetly and advantagiously for the benefit of the said Company he went through and performed we need not offer to the Test since so universally approved For the convenience therefore of that concerning which the King had them at the Port this Gentleman was pitch upon and sent thither but what he would have transacted there if not opposed is not to be ascertained only thus far we may be assured that there was little of publique matter therein especially of prejudice to this Nation or that Commerce in particular as was most falsly and scandalously noised by his Enemies as may appear by a little instance For near the same time the Right Honourable the Lord Wentworth being sent Ambassadour from the King to the Emperour of Russia to acquaint him with the horrid murther of our Sovereign his Royal Father and to desire some assistance from him in order to the reducing of his Revolted Kingdomes whereunto the Emperour frankly offered besides what he would disburse of his own the whole Estates Goods Merchandizes of the English residing in his Dominions my Lord utterly refused the motion acquainting the Emperour that the King never had harboured any displeasure against his Merchant Subjects of whose loyaltie and affection to him he was very well satisfied though it was out of their power and ability to serve him So that it was a groundless and unreasonable calumny framed on purpose to render him odious to the people that his design and errand to Constantinople was upon the Merchants there in relation to their Estates and that he was sent in the room of Sir Thomas Bendish to be his Majesties Leiger there for that
reason to have expected the Council would have justified my Plea which hath been Ancient Honourable Sacred and Vnviolable until this time that I am made the first suffering Precedent for 1 dare affirm it that never Gentleman before in any Christian Nation was adjudged to death by a Council of War after quarter given I am the first and I pray God I may be the last Precedent in this caâ—e I must die and I thank God I am ready for it Death would now be my choice had I the whole world in competition with it I leave nothing behind me which I much care for but my King my Wife my Children my Friends whom I trust the never-failing mercies of my God will provide for I beseech God shew mercy to those who neither had mercy nor justice for me My blessed Saviour taught him by his example and command both to pray for my enemies and to forgive my enemies I forgive them freely even those that contrived my ruine and pursued to death I thank God never persinally offended them to my knowledge in my life and let me not offend against them at my death I forgive them freely and pray God for Christs sake to forgive them also Of my Faith and Religion I shall not hope need to say much herein I hope my enemies if now I have any will speak for me I profess my faith to be in God onely from whom I look for my salvation through the precious merits and sufferings of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ which merits and sufferings are applied to my soul by the blesâ—ed spirit of comfort the Spirit of God by whom I am assured in my own Soul that my God is reconciled unto me in Jesus Christ my blessed Redeemer I die a dutiful son the Church of England as it was established in that blessed Prince my late Masters Reign which all my of learning and temperance will acknowledge to be the most pure and agreable to the Word of God and primitive Government of any Church within 12. or 1300. years since Christ and which to my great comfort I left established in the Isle of Man God preserve it there and restore it to this Nation And O blessed God I magnifie thy Name that thou gavest me the happinesse and mercy to be born in a Christian Nation and in a Nation where thy truth was professed in purity With honour to thy Name and comfort to thy people I ascribe the comforts of the Holy Spirit which I feel in my bosome to the Ministry of thy Word and Sacraments conveyed unto me in thy Church and made effectual by the operation of the same blessed Spirit In this faith good people I have lived and in this I die pray for me I beseech you and the God of mercies hear your prayers and my prayers for mine and your salvation Presently after the tumult was over Here his Lordship began to speak again his Lordship called for the Headsman and asked to see the Axe and taking it in his hand said Friend I will not hurt it and I am sure it cannot hurt me and then kissing it said Methinks this is as a Wedding Ring which is as a sign I am to leave all the VVorld and eternally to be married to my Saviour Then putting his hand in his pocket said to the Headsman Here Friend take these two pieces all that I have thou must be my Priest I pray thee do thy work well and effectually Then handling the rough furr'd coat the Headsman had on This says he will be troublesome to thee I pray thee put it off and do it as willingly as I put off this garment of my flesh that is now so heavy for my soul then some of the standers by bid the Heads-man kneel and ask his Lordship pardon but he did not but was surly and crabbed but his Lordship said Friend I give thee the pardon thou wilt not ask and God forgive thee also Then turning up his eyes to heaven said aloud How long Lord how long then gently passing over the Scaffold and seeing one of his Chaplains on horseback among the people Good Sir said he pray for me and the Lord return your prayers into your own bosome and I pray remember me kindly to your Brother and God remember him for his love to me and mine Then turning towards his Coffin Thou art said he my bridal Chamber in thee I shall rest without a guard and sleep without souldiers Then looking towards the block he asked if all were ready That said he methinks is very low and yet there is but one step betwixt that and heaven then turning his eyes to the people he saluted them and desired again their prayers then said I see your tears and hear your sighs and groans and prayers the God of heaven hear and grant your supplications for me and mine for you and the Mediation of Christ Jesus for us all Here his Lordship caused the block to be turned that he might look upon the Church saying Whilst I am here I will look towards thy holy Sanctuary and I know that within a few minutes I shall behold thee my God and King in thy Sanctuary above under the shadow of thy wings shall be my rest till this calamity be overpast then he pulled off his blew garter and sent it to his Son and pulling off his doublet with a very religious chearfulness he said I come Lord Jesus and O come thou quickly that I may be with thee for ever upon this he said Pray tell me how must I lie I have been called a bloody man yet truly I never yet had that severe curiositie to see any put to death in peace then laying himself down on the block after a few minutes he rose again and caused the block to be a little removed then said to the Headsman Friend remember what I said to thee and be no more afraid to strike then I to die and when I put up my hand do thy work so looking round about his friends and the people he said The Lord blesse you all and once more pray for me and with me at which words he kneeled down and prayed privately within himself with great sighings about half a quarter of an hour concluding with the Lords Prayer then rising up again he said smilingly My soul is now at rest and so shall my body be immediately The Lord bless my King and restore him to his right in this Kingdom and the Lord bless this Kingdom and restore them to their rights in their King that he and they may joyn hand in hand to settle truth and peace and the Lord bless this County and this Town and this People The Lord comfort my sad wife and children and reward all my friends with peace and happinesse both here and hereafter and the Lord forgive them who were the cause and authors of this my sad end and unjust death for so it is as to mankind though before God I deserve
A New Book OF LOYAL English Martyrs AND CONFESSORS Who have endured the Pains and Terrours of Death Arraignment Banishment and Imprisonment for the Maintenance of the Just and Legal Government of these Kingdoms Both in CHURCH and STATE By James Heath Gent. Psal 112.6 The Righteous shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance LONDON Printed for R. H. and are to be Sold by Simon Miller at the Star in St. Pauls Church-Yard A List of the Martyrs contained in this Volume THomas Earl of Strafford Proto-Martyr M. Yeomans of Bristol Mart. M. Bowcher of Bristol Martyr M. Tompkins of London Mart M. Chaloner of Lon. Martyr M. Kniveton Martyr William Laud L. Archbishop of Canterburie Martyr Sr. Charles Lucas Martyr Sr. George Lisle Martyr Major Pitcher Martyr Our Dread Soveraign KING CHARLES the First the Glorious Martyr Arthur L. Capel Martyr Henrie Earl of Holland Mart. M. Beaumont Minister Mart. Major Morris Martyr Cornet Blackburne Martyr Col. Eusebius Andrews Mart S. Henrie Hide Martyr M. Benson Martyr Capt. Brown Bushel Martyr M. Love Ministe Martyr Capt. Gibbons Martyr James Earl of Darbie Mart. S. Tim. Fetherston Haugh Martyr Col. Benbow Martyr Col. John Gerrard Martyr M. Vowel Martyr Col. Penruddock Martyr Col. Grove Martyr Sr. Henrie Slingsbiâ— Martyr Dr. Huit Martyr Col. Ashton Martyr M. John Bettelie Martyr M. 〈◊〉 Martyr ENGLANDS NEW BOOK of Loyal Martyrs Being a perfect Account of all those Loyal Persons that suffered the pains and Terrours of Death By colour of any Sentence during the Lateâ— Rebellion The Introduction NO sooner was the Marian Persecution ceased and the Flames thereof extinguished in which so many of the most able and faithful Assertors as well as weaker Professors of the Protestant Religion were sacrificed to the Rage and Pride of Romes Revenge by the most happy and auspicious Assumption of Queen Elizabeth of Famous Memory to this Crown and Kingdom whose Blessed Influences enlivened those dying Embers of the Reformation to a most bright Profession but a strange and a new kind of Fire like a subterraneous Conflagration as indiscernably as irresistably smothered and kindled in the minds of some Factious Persons pretending to a more holy and severer Discipline of Life until the Eruption of it in the times of Arthington and Hacket the last of which deservedly suffered in the gainsaying of Corah and persecuted this but just escaped Church like Vertue betwixt two Extreams afresh The Pretence of those men was a Reformation of that which so lately had been reformed taxing it of retaining the Faeces and Dregs of Romish Superstition as being but superficially and slightly purified of those grosse corruptions which yet their own eâ—es had observed to have passed through more then 70 times 7 fires in that hot Martyrdom This Male-contented Opinion and Humour was first vented in secret whispering and murmuring against the Government which amounted in short time after to several Conventicles and Meetings of the dissatisfied Brethren as they were humbly pleased to term themselves into sundry Invectives and publick Expostulations with the Queen her Councils and Parliaments so that the Party grew so formidable that particular Lawes were made against them and the aforesaid Hacket thereupon executed For a while after this Justice the Faction slunk into Corners and hid themselves in the Dens and Retreats of their own shame till the Coming in of King James towards whom they assumed out of some confidence of his present advancement to this Crown to obtrude the same irreverend Postulata complaining among other things chiefly of the Common Prayer and of the extraordinary Power of Bishops in restrayning the Violence and Fury of their Libelling and pragmatical Books and Lectures whose main Design and aim was the same with the Complices of Corah Ye Sons of Levi take too much upon you when their Conspiracy was to take all a Truth most lamentably confirmed in these out Late Reforming Times For from that Conference that King vouchsafed their impertinencies at Hampton-Court where his Learning had the good Fortune of reducing and reclaiming one of their most able but ingenuou Champions by name D. Reynolds they never desisted from underminining the Policy and Government of the Kingdome Nor was that wise King unsensible of their Serpentine waies and Proceedings but yet was loath to discover such a fear of them as might render them confident and bold to attempt any thing You may see in his Character of them by the name of Puritan in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Prince Henry what he thought of them The Lenity and good Nature of his Son and Successor Charles the Martyr afforded them the Advantages they had long expected and waited for It is incredible what a number of Proselytes they had gained by their crosse grain'd Sanctity into how many Families they had insinuated themselves in so short a time so that now they had gain'd almost an equal Voyce in the Parliament where without Petitions or Supplications intermixed with some doubtful Menacings their ordinary style and continued to this day they brought about their long projected Device of Rebellion and Sacâ—edge Omne malum ex Aquilone the wind that first tempested the Calm and Serenity of a long Series and Tract of Peace which this Nation had enjoyed was conjured up by these evil Spirits out of the North from Scotland which had never been freed from such tumultuous Boutefews in the Clergy since their Reformation as our Zealots here but the prize of a Sedition Church-Lands was not competent enough there to the hazard as for the share the Ministers might expect as to engage and embroyl them without some Assurances and Augmentations from abroad to which how industriously and passionately many of our beginning Reformists in this Kingdom consented and contracted 't wil be impertinent to reâ—eat here being so fully cleared by subsequent Proofs of mutual Assistance by several Treaties by the Covenant by advance of Money and joynt Counsels Indeed the Scotch Nobility were mainly concerned for by an Act of Revocation passed in that Kings Reign the Church-Lands were to revert again to the right Proprietors which the Nobility were then possessed of and though the King afterwards out of some prudent Considerations had indulged them a longer tenure yet as there is no security safe enough to a covetous mind they could not rely on that Favour so that the Scotch Rebels fought for that they had sacrilegiously got and the English Rebel for what sacrilegiously he should get The Event of that unlucky War or rather Preparations to it soon inflated and pust up the Non-Conformist in England the Quarrel as the Grave Lecturers deceived and imposed on the people being thought to be the same against Bishops against the Liturgy against Ceremonies and such like but it was clearly against the Bishops-Lands against Loyalty and Obedience and against the indispensable duties of a good Conscience things more indifferent to these strict Disciplinarians then a Reverend Decency in holy Performances Their way being
of Apprentices Seamen and others intermingled with so me of the leading Grandees who were to instruct this many-headed Monster what they should cry out for or what they should do upon any emergency who coming to Westminster-Hall made a violent cry for Justice against Strafford which continued so many dayes together till at last not seeing the businesse go on with that disparch they wished and being informed by their Members of the Faction in the House that the Bill of Attainder stuck with the Lords and that they refused to passe it they proceeded to that Impudence as to stop the Lords Coaches as they went to the House and threaten them if they would not consent to his Condemnation to hinder them from entring into the House and that they would turn them back withal they posted up the Names of those Lords who would not consent to this cruel and barbarous way of proceeding against the said Earle calling them Straffordians and enemies of their Country with this menacing Subscription This and more shall be done unto them c. If this had been meerly the Rage of the Multitude the Fate of this worthy and Noble Person had been something the lesse lamentable by how much injuries of violence are lesse terrible and imputable then those of Deliberation but here was the bloudy hand of the Puritan Preacher most apparently concerned who now thought to wreak himself of all those Silencings had been put upon their Seditious Mouths by this cry for bloud which no Horseleech ever more greedily sucked so by these Prophets the Word was put into the mouth of the multitude Many Enemies and those the ablest Lawyers of the Kingdom and Eloquent Orators also this Noble Earle was combated with against whom neverthelesse he most rationally politely and learnedly without any the least Passion confidence or Fear being alike distant from them both but in an even and excellent temper of mind so well defended himself that his Peers could not find where to fasten his Charge which because of the extraordinary manage of it and that he is the Protomartyr take a view of in this short Account An Account of the Life Tryal and Death of that Loyal PROTO-MARTYR THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lord Deputy of Ireland Beheaded May 12. 1641. VVHat was tauntingly said by the French concerning this great and prudent Statesman that the English were mad having but one wise Head to cut it off was Truth enough and too sadly experienced All Essaies of describing those great Abilities and comprehensiveness of his mind are therefore unfeasable because none but himself could pourtraict them to any Appearance or Semblance of that Life and Quicknesse which manifested it self even in that unsearchable and profound depth of his Counsels and Actions so that he hath left nothing transmittible to our Imitation but his Loyalty wherein we and his Enemies agree in this that we have nothing else to lay hold on his other superexcellent qualities being above our and their reach and understanding The Reason undoubtedly why he was assaulted with the new Engine of accumulative and constructive Treâ—son He hath for his honour and glory a most illustrious character given him by King Charles of blessed memory in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in these words I look upon my Lord of Strafford as a Gentleman whose abilities might make a Prince rather afraid than ashamed to employ him in the greatest affaires of State c. so that all that can be added to his memory and renown by any other pen will be but a superfluous labour but because that good Prince only considered him in his setting wherein he was as unhappily concernd as he was happily in the raising of him it is thought requisiâ—e to take a farther view of him and deduce him from his Ancestry to whom he hath contributed more honour than he received from them He was born in Yorkshire of the illustrious Family of the Wentworths and educated according to the greatnesse of his Family which had brought forth many famous men As soon as he came of age he was chosen a Parliament Man where he presently gained the reputation of a States-Man and good Patriot by stickling against the Prerogative which mist not the Courts observation By King Charls the First out of honour to his merit and great parts he was made Bâ—ron Wentworth of Raby and soon after other Titles were conferred on him together with places of trust which he discharged to the Kings great content the services he received from him ballancing his favours bestowed on him which he never abused but continued to his death a most prudent Councellour Loyal Subject and faithful Friend being taken into the Kings bosom and most retired secrets Soon after he was created Earl of Strafford he was made also Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in which Government he exceeded in policy and good Laws and careful management in advancing the Kings revenue and ascertaining it for the future all that went before him He did also take care for the Church established the Protestant Religion countenanced learned men and preferred them and setled a constant revenue for them in that Kingdom of which prudent and pious action the now Clergy there do reape the fruit Some offences were taken at him by the Irish whom he kept in a very hard but orderly subjection suppressing their out-laws and Tories and reducing them to a perfect entire obedience to the Kings Authority and the Laws Unlesse the strings be wound up hard we cannot look for good Musick he repressed and beat down the insolent Lordings of the great ones over the Commons whom he sweetned and arctized into the English from their wild and barbarous Customs which caused him no great Love from the Irish Nobility who understood the design was by such artifices to take from them the absolute power they had over their poor Vassals and Tenants when they should find the difference between the English Manners and Laws and those of their own Country Herein notwithstanding the great opposition he meâ— in the obstinacy and indocibility and prejudice of that opinionated Nation he made a good procedure and no doubt had he continued longer in the Government and those times had not fallen out which soon put all into a confusion had obtained his end The Scotch War breaking out first as aforesaid he was called out of Ireland to assist the King with his Counsel in those Exigencies which had so unpreparedly surprized him to which work like a Noble Friend he set his head his hands and his purse advancing by subscription which the rest of the Nobility followed according to their estate twenty thousand pounds with which aid and the large supply of the Clergy who granted the King four shillings in the pound for six years together which was effected by his influence that King raised that Army against the Scots The Earl of Strafford was sick at the Defeat given the English at Newburne under my Lord Conway whereupon
an overture was made by other Lords then about the King for a Peace with the Scots which soon after taking effect the King returned to Westminster where he had summoned his Parliament according to the advice of this Lord and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury both whom they rendred odious to the People upon the very account of being Enemies to Parliaments The very first thing of consequence done at the first Sessions was a charge exhibited by the House of Commons against this Earl which consisted of 28. Articles of high Treason Feb. 16 1640. The substance of them all was That he had endeavoured to subvert the fundamental Laws and Governments of the Realms 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 overawe the Parliament and that he had informed his Majesty that he had an Army of 10000 men in Ireland ready to be transported for the same Service His Tryal thereupon April 13. ensued which was done with all solemnity a Court being made for the purpose with seats for both Houses and a Canopy for the King with a Terrasse before it The Earl of Arundel was Lord High Steward his Accusers were Pym St. Johns Whitlock Sr. Walter Earles Serjeant Glyn Maynard Stroud Mr. Selden Hambden c. The Lieutenant warded all their blows defending himself bravely and learnedly so that there was no hopes of prevailing against his innocence by the Law before the Lords that were his Judges But the implacable fury of the House of Commons since chey could effect nothing this way put them upon another which was to draw up a Bill of Attaindor and present it to the Lords whereby the matter of Fact was declared to have been sufficiently proved and then as to Law that he had incurred the censure of Treason the Lords stumbled at this way of proceeding as a path leading to their own destruction it being a course unsuitable to the practice and state of the Kingdom and their own safety and against Common Justice To this it was replied by the Commons that if the Lords would not joyn with them in this way they feared a rupture might follow for that the People would not be satisfied without Justice done upon the Earl as the Author of all their grievances The Lords stood for a while to their first determination and heard the Earl by his Council at their Bar as to matter of Law this made the House of Commons though the King in a set speech to them had cleared the Earl from any design of Treason or consulting to any arbitrary Government nor could he concur to punish him as a Traitor the more eager Whereupon the Londoners came down in Tumults crying Justice and threatning the Lords as aforesaid so that at last the said Bill ushered in by a Protestation passed the whole House of Commons nemine contradicente but the Lord Darby and one or two more and presently after the House of Lords where were present 45 26 against him and 19 for him most of his friends absenting themselves for fear of the multitude Immediatly the Kings assent was required to the Bill who consulted with the Bishops who all but the Bishop of London now his Grace of Canterbury and who as the King observed in his Book fared the best of all advised him against it but that which most swayed the King to sign it which he bitterly afterwards repented was a Letter of the Earls to his Majesty which being too long here to insert I shall only give you that Passage wherein he desires his Majesty to passe the Bill And therefore in few words as I put my self wholly upon the Honour and Justice of my Peers so clearly as to beseech your Majesty might please to have spared that Declaration of yours on Saturday last and intirely to have left me to their Lordships so now to set your Majesties Conscience c. at liberty I do most humbly beseech you for the preventing of such mischief as may happen by your refusal to pass the Bill by this means to remove praised be God I cannot say this accursed but I confess this unfortunate thing forth of the way towards that blessed agreement which God I trust shall for ever establish betwixt you and your Subjects Sir my consent herein shall more acquit you to God than all the World can do besides to a willing man there is no injury done c. I have also here inserted for their excellency and elegancy these two following Speeches the first at Westminster Hall to the Lords at the conclusion of his Trial the other at the Scaffold which are as follow MY Lords There yet remaines another Treason that I should be guilty of the endeavouring to subvert the fundamental Laws of the Land that they should now be Treason together that is not Treason in any one part of Treason accumulative that so when all will not do it is woven up with others it should seem very strange Under favour my Lords I do not concieve that there is either Statute Law nor Common-Law that doth declare the endeavouring to subvert the fundamental Laws to be high Treason For neither Statute-Law nor Common-Law written that ever I could here of declareth it so And yet I have been diligent to enquire as I believe you think it doth concern me to do It is hard to be questioned for life and honour upon a Law that cannot be shewn There is a Rule which I have learned from Sir Edward Cooke De non aparentitibus non existentibus eadem ratio Jesu where hath this fire lain all this while so many hundred of years without any smoak to discover it till it thus burst out to consume me and my children extreme hard in my opinion that punishment should precede promulgation of Law punishment by a Law subsequent to the Acts done Take it into your considerations for certainly it is now better to be under no Law at all but the will of men than to conforme our selves under the protection of a Law as we think and then be punished for a crime that doth precede the Law what man can be safe if that be once admitted My Lords it is hard in another respect that there should be no token set upon this offence by which we should know it no admonition by which we should be aware of it If a man passe down the Thames in a Boat and it be split upon an Anchor and no booy be ser as a token that there is an Anchor there that party that ows the Anchor by the Maritine Laws shall give satisfaction for the damage done but if it were marked out I must come upon my own peril Now where is a mark upon this crime Where is the token this is high Treason If it be under water and not above water no humane
no truly Loyal Person ever was brought who was within the reach of their griping talents that ever escaped with his skin so aptly might that Fable of the Fox to the Lyon be rather unmoralized Vestigia cerno Omnia te advorsum spectantia nulla retrorsum It was in vain to move either their Honour Conscience or Duty or to plead ones own their ambiguous salvo's and reserves to themselves and their forward facing of others out of reason by their Janus-like cause which was for and against the King like the Basilisk killed all whom it directly aspected or were brought before them This Gentlemâ—ns fare was huddled up at Essex House before a Council of War held there on the walls whereof any man then might have red the Event The grand pillâ—r raiser and support of that unnatural War being proprietor thereof and at that present personally inhabiting it who was just come from Newbery first Fight where as yet he had left himself unrevenged Without any more adoe therefore but a setting Mr. Kniveton at their Bar as the mark and aim of all their impotent malice he was condemned to be hanged as a Spie for maintaining and managing intelligence with and from the Enemy that was the King whom they said they fought for but on what Article of War I never could tell and I presume the Reader can hardly imagine Little respit was afforded for the time of Execution for the Faction were enraged that any man should presume to tell them that it was Treason to counterfeit the Kings Seal and if such continual Messages upon every of their actions should be brought and declared it might in time open the eyes of the people to understand the Law and leave them in conclusion to its Justice and their due demerit He was brought therefore on the day he suffered as aforesaid on foot from Newgate being accompanied with Mr. Benson a Bookseller his acquaintance in Fleetstreet to a Gibbet erected over against the Exchange where he may most properly be said to have Sealed his Cause with his Blood being sent of another Message to Heaven where his Bliss and Happiness shall have no Terme Captain Burleigh Martyred at Westminster February 10. 1647. THe Execution of this Person was the absurdity of Law the contradiction of Magna Charta the infringment and violation of Nature and if it could be strained higher than an affront and Rebellion against the supreme power of the Universe it would passe with a lesser ignominy than the merit of this Cause will afford it That men tyed by their allegiance by several Oaths of Fealty by the benefit of their protection and advantages they received under the Government of so excellent a Prince were to be dispensed nay must be discharged from that Duty and Obedience they ought him and that the Parliament as they had subdued their Lawful King might give Law to him propound their own insolent terms and demands and rigidly insist on them secure his Person under pretence of publick safety administer the Kingdom themselves sequester and seize their Estates who resisted them in these violent and unheard of outrages all this I say might be as otherwise it could not be helpt as the sad state of the miseries of the Kingdom then was with some kind of patience endured but to see and hear to be upon the place where so many undutiful unchristian contempts after the Votes of Non Addresse were put upon the King in that place which he had chosen for his refuge and Sanctuary I can hardly allow any man in this case the glory of Martyrdom whose frame and temper had but the least ingredients of natural not to pride it in loyal compassion if he durst do that which bravery and courage prompted him to the Law and his obedience required and God commanded Yet I do not the less wonder and stand amazed at this butchery upon several considerations which though they be of different respects yet do center universally in this that they will make the murder of this person prodigiously infamous to all persons concerned in it First not to meddle with the Laws whose Divine stamp was most treasonably defaced in this act we will consider this attempt of Captain Burleighs in the invariable latitude of common humanity His pretended crime was the beating of a Drum in the Isle of Wight upon the news the Islanders had received that the Parliament had rejected the King upon their Votes of Non addresse and had resolved to settle the Kingdom without him when his Majesty was confined a close Prisoner to Carisbrook Castle This was misconstrued according to the left-handed learning of those times for Treason whereas had there been any sympathetical Musick in those Drums they would have made a noyse and Alarm of themselves borrowed from those groans and sighs the captive Prince made to his more compassionate walls who burst to give vent and eccho to those doleful notes And could men not allow that soft and tender-heartedness to men to Christians to Subjects to a Subject too well reputed and esteemed of in his Island as a good and honest man one who out of conscience and integrity and for no other sinister end whatsoever had faithfully served his Soveraign abroad that is had crost the Sea to do his devoir and there having weâ—ried himself and his fortunes had retired to his home as a shelter against his hard pursuing destinie where in privacy he thought to shroud himself No he finds death in the place of it first he is chiefly concern'd in the publick sorrow and distress of his Soveraign those breaths of grief soon pierce his ears and those Royal lamentations heightned by a generous Spirit quickly transport and possess him and by this most laudable and glorious action which signified only a courage to rescue what villany had captivated and hindred their wicked attempts no farther then by affording a brave and imitable example of Loyal magnanimity to all true Subjects in all exigencies and dangers of their Princes be becomes a sacrifice to their Moloch of Anarchycal Tyranny We will view him in the next consideration as his case stood in direct opposition to that of Major Rolfe then an Officer in the Army and of very great trust and intimacy with Cromwell who was tryed at the same time and Assizes by the same Commission Judges and Jury and then certainly nothing can appear more flagitious and hainously arbitrary than this Gentlemans condemnation Contraria juxta se posit a magis elucescunt contraries opposed one to another make each of them appear the clearer and so will it prove in the memory of this Noble Person which will hereby appear in a most venerable splendor Rolfes Crime was this he was accused by one Mr. Osborne and another gentleman then attending on the King in the Isle of Wight where this Rolfe had a Charge to have consâ—ired the death of the King and that particularly by assassinating him with a Brace of Pistols
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
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
Death entertained by any with more Magnanimity and undaunted Resolution and Bravery of mind both the Roman and Christian confidence striving to Excellency in this harsh Encounter with an unexpected Death Sr. Charles was the first by designation to be sacrificed to their Cruelty who having retired himself a while to offer up his last Prayers to God commending his Soul into his hands presented himself to his Executioners and tearing open his Doublet exposed his naked Breast saying aloud Now Rebels do your worst and so by their murdering Bullets was dispatched in the place Sr. George Lisle was appointed to be next in this Tragedy of whom take this brief Account He was extracted from a Gentile Family in Surrey and from the beginning of the Troubles had strenuously and couragiously assisted the King The most remarkable place saving this of his Death where his great Spirit and military experience most manifested it self was at the second Newberry Battel where he made good his ground being Col. of a Regiment of Foot against several Charges both of Horse and Foot of the Enemy who did all they could to drive him from some Advantages which could they have obtained by subduing that handful of men might have facilitated their way to Victory This he sustained with an Invincible Resolution animating his Souldiers and leading them on without any Supplies or Reserves several times and for the more Encouragement took off his own Doubler and charged in his Shirt bidding them come on once more for the King then for the Prince then for the Duke till such time as night came and quitted him from his hot Service and Enemies together This noble Action was taken notice of by the K. acknowledged so at Court which rendred him deservedly famous among the Sword-men of his own Party and as dreadful to the other so that having him in their hands by this Surrender they resolved to be thus cowardly and basely rid of him It being as was said before his turn to die seeing and beholding that sad Spectacle the dead Body of his dearest Friend he fell upon it and kissed it as if he meant to breath into it another Soul and with a free and full yet true Relation of his Vertues and Endowments he did often repeat these words In how short a moment has a brave Spirit expired well this Priority was due to thee but I shall not be long behind thee my Death which is now at hand shall restore thee to me After this standing up and taking five Pieces of Gold out of his Pocket he gave one to his Executioners and the other four he sent to four Friends in London and then addressing himself to the standers by he said Oh how many do I see here about me whose Lives I have saved in hot bloud and now must mine be taken away most barbarously in cold bloud Sure the like was never heard of among the Goths and Vandals or the very Barbarians in any Age. After which words some short Ejaculations and some few Invocations upon the name of Jesus as he stood in an unconquerable Resolution of mind and in an Heroick Posture he was also dispatched by the same hands Thus these 2 stars of the first Magnitude for valourous Loyalty were put out and extinguished by the malice of their Enemies but though they shine not here in that splendor which their desired Lives would have appeared in yet they shine in a full Lustre in that Region of Glory whither the Violence of their Enemies transplanted them Most certain it is that upon the Ground where Sr. Charles Lucas fell when he was shor there hath grown no grass where the Print of his Body was it remaining still bare though it be green round about an indignation of the unreasonable unjust and cruel usage of so brave a person and if the Earth be punished that groan'd at their untimely end how much more heavy will their punishment be that contrived and rejoyced at it Since the Restitution of his Majesty the corps of these Worthies have been taken up and with all due Magnificence attended by the Gentry thereabouts and the Mayor and other principal persons of Colchester interred in the Repositories of the Right Honourable Family of the Lucas's with a Funeral Oration and other requisite Solemnities the deserved Honour to their precious memory Major Pitcher shot to death in St. Paul's Church-yard London December 29. 1648. THis Gentleman nor his Ancestry being known unto me I will not presume to trace him but as the fruitfulnesse of Nile answers for its original Springs so the Loyalty and gallantry of this person may satisfie our inquisition after his birth and descent till his relations will do him the honour and us the happiness and pleasure of a full account His Death was too lamentably publick but the cause for which he died was not generally known wherefore we will pay these justs and dues to his memory in a brief narative of the latter part of his honourable life In the year 1648 when Major General Langhorne Collonel Poyer and Powel took up Arms in Wales for the King this Gentleman out of his Sense of the Kings and Kingdoms misery the ruine and sacriledge daily committed on the Church freely engaged with the said persons for the restoration of the Laws and his Soveraign But it pleased God not to succeed that enterprise so that at St. Fagon's that Loyal Army of Welch men was defeated by the Parliament Forces under Collonel Horton from whence the remaines of that field betook themselves to Pembroke Town which being well fortified and provided held the Army now recruited with Forces under Cromwell a three-months Siege but seeing no hopes of relief after a hard defence made the Garrison render'd themselves upon Articles the main whereof and to our purpose were that the three Collonels above named should be at mercy all other Officers to depart the Kingdom for three years not to return before upon pain of death and the private Souldiers to go home engaging not to bear Arms against the Parliament In the Article of departing the Kingdom this valarous Gentleman was concernd who seeing the distracted estate of the Kingdom and how odious the Faction at Westminster were to the generality of the people concluded that there might be some occasion of further service and that it was base and ungenerous to desert his Prince at those times of exigence which called for and required every mans helping and assisting hand Being therefore in London upon the same design in defiance of those forced Articles which contrary to all Law banisht a Subject from his Country for doing his duty and would expose him to the mercy of other Climates for his affection to his own he was betrayed and apprehended and presently after condemned by a Council of War for contrarying the said Capitulation and as a preparatory Offering to that great Sacrifice of the King which followed in the next moneth he was shot to death
so many Martyrs in this Kingdom to which glory and Crown far above all his other Diadems this Defender of the Faith was through so many future hazards to aspire And the better to clear his innocency from those malicious aspersions it suffered under though the Sun at noon-day never was brighter or clearer than his entire profession of the Protestant Religion of his being in heart a Papist his Majesty being at Christ-Church in Oxford in 1643 and prepared to receive the Sacrament from the hands of the Lord Arch-Bishop of Armagh used these publick expressions just before the receiving of the blessed Elements My Lord I Espy here many resolved Protestants who may declare to the World the resolution I now do make I have to the utmost of my power prepared my Soul to become a worthy receiver and so may I receive comfort by the blessed Sacrament as I do intend the establishment of the true Protestant Religion as it stood in its beauty in the happy dayes of Queen Elizabeth without any connivance of Popery I bless God that in the midst of these publick distractions I have still liberty to communicate and may this Sacrament be my damnation if my heart do not joyn with my lips in this Protestation But even this most sacred asseveration and then which nothing can more oblige belief and confidence was by these profaners of all holy things rejected and slighted and measured by their own perjurious Oaths and Covenants wherefore the King to undeceive the Forein Reformed Churches since he could not convince his own Subjects with whom their Emissaries had tampered and insinuated the same detestable falshood and who seemed to be otherwise affected to this their noble Defender than their duty required in those his times of affliction published a Declaration in Latin and sent it abroad the tenour whereof being of main concernment to our purpose is in English as followeth CHARLES by the special Providence of Almighty God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith To all those who profess the true reformed Protestant Religion of what Nation condition and degree soever they be to whom this present Declaration shall come Greeting Whereas we are given to understand that many false Rumours and scandalous Letters are spread up and down amongst the Reformed Churches in Forein parts by the politick or rather the pernicious industry of some ill affected persons that we have an inclination to recede from that Orthodox Religion which we were born baptized and bred in and which we have firmly professed and practised through the whole course of our life to this moment and that we intend to give way to the introduction and publick exercise of Popery again in our Dominions which conjecture or rather most detestable calumny being grounded upon no imaginable foundation hath raised these horrid Tumults and more than barbarous Wars throughout these flourishing Islands under pretext of a kind of Reformation which would not prove only incongruous but incompatible with the Fundamental Laws and Government of this our Kingdom We desire that the whole Christian World should take notice and rest assured that we never entertained in our imagination the least thought to attempt such a thing or to depart a jot from that Holy Religion which when we received the Crown and Scepter of this Kingdom we took a most solemn Sacramental Oath to profess and protect Nor doth our most constant practise and daily visible presence in the exercise of this sole Riligion with so many asseverations in the head of our Armies and the publick attestation of our Lords with the circumspection used in the education of our Royal Off-spring besides divers other undeniable Arguments only demonstrate this but also that happy alliance of mariage we contracted between our eldest Daughter and the illustrious Prince of Aurange most clearly confirms the reality of our Intentions herein By which nuptial engagement it appears further that our endeavours are not only to make a bare profession thereof in our own Dominions but to enlarge and corroborate it abroad as much as lieth in our power This most Holy Religion with the Hierarchy and Liturgy thereof we solemnly protest that by the help of Almighty God we will endeavour to our utmost power and last period of our life to keep entire and immovable and will be careful according to our Duty to Heaven and the tenour of the aforesaid most sacred Oath at our Coronation that all our Ecclesiasticks in their several stations and incumbencies shall preach and practise the same This came very seasonably into the World as to the Protestant part of it who never imagined or thought Subjects of their perswasion would take up Arms or resist without some grievous alteration in Religion though they condemn it in any case whatsoever and therefore the Protestant States abroad did wholly decline their owning of them though they did nothing positively for the Kings assistance which by this means he could not rationally promise to himself from the Catholick Princes who would not engage without some great advantages for his Popish Subjects against which his Majesty was so religiously resolved though he were most dutifully and cordially served by them throughout the War To resume our narrative the Kingdom was all in a flame the Sectaries every where finding Friends to their specious Cause and having the City of London for their inexhaustible Magazine and supplies of men money and Arms. Divers fields were fought in the chief whereof the King himself was personally present with various success till the year 1645 where at Naseby he received that fatal overthrow which ushered in so many succeeding calamities most unworthy of his great virtues and piety I cannot but observe before I come to repeat the perpetration of all their complicated mischief in his murder how gradually his enemies forsook their allegiance and how the paint of their religious and loyal pretences wore off by time which will leave their fair-faced impiety indelible First their General must go fight with the Kings Army and rescue him from his evil Councellors but preserve his Person this Riddle was resolved in my Lord Fairfaxes Commission when they had so far engaged their partakers that there was no way of receding from those dangerous courses where there was not such a word but kill and slay without exception During the War all their importunate desires were that he would be graciously pleased to disband his Army and return to his most dutiful Subjects at Westminster afterwards towards the expiration of the War when he urged what they had so vehemently obtested they were most ungraciously displeased at the proposal and so proceeded in conclusion to that heighth of impiety as Tacitus speaks of another cursed caytiffe Ferox scelerum quia prima provenerant their successe in one wickednesse provoking them to more For the King being every where worsted and besieged in his Chief Garrison the University of Oxford was advised and resolved to cast
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
Question whether their reiterated Proposals which contained alwaies the same unjust and unconscionable Demands even to nauseate any man of Reason or Honour were not more regretful and troublesome to him then this publick Sullenness and dumb Solennity of laying him aside Sure we may be while that Spirit thus possest the Houses his confinement and restraint was enlarged into an Heavenly Oratory wherein he maintained a constant Intercourse with the Divine Majesty who soon after revived his Cause and though it gave him not Victory in the Field yet made him Conqueror over the Affections and Prejudices of many his seduced Subjects For the Loyal Party ceased not still to assert what they had maintained by Arms and the Irregular Illegal Proceedings of the Parliament and Army every day undeceived numbers who first adhered to them Petitions upon Petitions are presented to the houses for a Personal Treaty with the King for the disbanding the Army and for removal of all other grievances Major General Langhorn Collonel Poyer and Powel active men formerly for the Parliament declare themselves for Him several Towns together with the greatest part of the Navy return to their obedience The Scots with a numerous Army wherto joyned Sir Marmaduke Langdale with a considerable party of English entred by Berwick The Kentish men rise in a body of 10000 men part of which afterwards was beleaguered in Colchester The Prince his now Majesty came into the Downs with a Fleet of War well equipped so that the King appeared almost as formidable as at any time during the War But through the unsearchable providence of God who had ordered a more happy and glorious Crown for him free from those cares and discontents which in all probability would have attended his Reign here under the management an administration of his Subjects which was to be the price of his and his Kingdoms Peace all those endeavours and Martial Enterprises succeeded not but in the middle of the year 1648. all things except the fleet were reduced again under the Parliaments power and command These dangers however learnt them this wisdom that it was not safe to trifle longer and rely wholly on the Army the people being generally averse to them wherefore it was concluded by them to null those former Votes of Non Addresse and to make application to his Majesty which was performed by the Earl of Middlesex and two Commoners who acquainted the King with the desires of the Parliament whereupon a Treaty was agreed on to be held in the Isle of Wight whereto five of the House of Peers and ten Commoners were appointed the King declared to be in full liberty and to signifie to the two Houses what place in that Island he would particullarize for the Treaty Here attended him also such persons he sent for and were of use to him in the management thereof September the 18. it began at Newport in the said Isle where the King valuing the peace of his Subjects above all concernments of his own except his indispensable obligations of honour and conscience condescended so far and with reason so prevaild upon the Commissioners that they came to some near conclusion the rest being referred to the Parliament The Treaty ended the 27th of November and on the fifth of December the House of Commons voted the Kings concessions satisfactory whereon to ground the settlement of the Kingdom Hitherto the bright side of that cloud presented it self which with Funeral black soon overcast the three Kingdoms For the Army upon notice of the likely forwardness of the Treity desired by all good men who were sensible of the wicked contrivances and machinations of Cromwell and his Complices drew up a large Remonstrance which was agreed on at Windsor and presented it to the Parliament wherein they desired that the King might be tryed by the Laws and brought to their Justice and all further Treaty with him to be forborn and forthwith divided themselves the main body to London to overcome the Houses and the rest to seize the King and take him into their custody But before that the General gave order by his Letters to Collonel Hammond to render up his command to Collonel Eures who was to take charge of the King but the Parliament countermanded all those orders and voted the Kings person to reside still in that Island Whereupon the very day the Treaty ended of which they had as sure intelligence as the Houses they put on their Pharisaical vizor of piety and kept a Fast by themselves to seek for that they never found a blessing in their Counsels which were in spight of an Oracle to the contrary to murther and destroy sacrilegiously and rebelliously to seize on the goods and Estates of the King the Clergy and all Loyal Subjects The effect of their Prayers shewed to whom they were directed for immediately and violently as if acted by Satanical impulses while the House was considering and debating the Kings condescentions and were but just come to a resolution of acknowledging the Kings Grace and favour in his condescentions in the aforesaid Treaty as may be seen at large in Mr. Prins Speech to his eternalhonour they fall upon the Parliament December 6 1648. seclude above 140 Members drive away through fear of their exorbitancies many others and pack up a Juncto of the remaining Members to serve their own designs and cruel ignorant Ambition Herein how observable is it that God suffered not the Kings most righteous Cause to pass unevidenced and justified by its adversaries that how gloomy soever it were in rising and in its course yet it should set in glory and have some kind of acknowledgment though wrapt up in the ambiguous obscure words of that Treaty from its very Enemies who having their eyes opened would when too late have found the way to our and their common Peace and greater Testimony cannot be given The King as was partly said before was now delivered into the hands of Collonel Ewers Hammond ingratefully as disloyally betraying the bountiful Patron and cherisher of his family and contrary also to the orders of Parliament into the hands of the Army who conveyed him out of the Isle of Wight to Hurst Castle where they first began their barbarous and ruder incivilities From Hurst Castle the King was conveyed to Winchester where the poor loyal Inhabitants according to custom or to hold up the reputation of that Majesty which those fellows so scornfully and spitefully abused caused the bells to be rung the Mayor and his Brethren the Aldermen going out of Town to meet the King being in the midst of a Troop of Horse in the miry way would have presented him the keys of that his City with the usual ceremony but they were soon put from their duty thrown in the dirt and beaten for their affection December 21. From thence he was conveyed next day to Farnam with the same Military Guards and thence to Windsor where they locked him up and kept as strickt
this pretended Court but also that no Earthly power can justly call Me who am your KING in question as a Delinquent I would not any more open My mouth upon his occasion more than to refer My self to what I have spoken were I alone in this case alone concern'd But the duty I owe to God in the preservation of the true liberty of My People will not suffer Me at this time to be silent For how can any free-born Subject of England call Life or any thing he possesseth his own if power without Right daily make new and abrogate the old fundamental Law of the Land which I now take to be the present case Wherefore when I came hither I expected that you would have endeavoured to have satisfied Me concerning those grounds which hinder Me to answer to your pretended Impeachment but since I see that nothing I can say will move you to it though Negatives are not so naturally proved as Affirmatives yet I will shew you the Reason why I am confident you cannot judge Me nor indeed the meanest man in England for I will not like you without shewing a reason seek to impose a belief upon My Subjects * * Hereabout I was stopt and not suffered to speak any more concerning reasons There is no proceeding just against any man but what is warranted either by Gods Laws or the municipal Laws of the Country where he lives Now I am most confident that this dayes proceeding cannot be warranted by Gods Law for on the contrary the authority of obedience unto Kings is clearly warranted and strictly commanded both in the Old and New Testament which if denied I am ready instantly to prove and for the Question now in hand there it is said That where the word of a King is there is power and who may say unto him what dost thou Eccles 8.4 Then for the Laws of this Land I am no lesse confident that no learned Lawyer will affirm that an impeachment can lye against the King they all going in His Name and one of their Maximes is That the King can do no wrong Besides the Law upon which you ground your proceedings must either be old or new if old shew it if new tell what Authority warranted by the fundamental Laws of the Land hath made it and when But how the House of Commons can erect a Court of Judicature which was never one it self as is well known to all Lawyers I leave to God and the World to judge And it were full as strange that they should pretend to make Laws without King or Lords-House to any that have heard speak of the Laws of England And admitting but not granting that the People of Englands Commission could grant your pretended power I see nothing you can shew for that for certaintly you never asked the question of the tenth man of the Kingdom and in this way you manifestly wrong even the poorest Ploughman if you demand not his free consent nor can you pretend any colour for this your pretended Commission without the consent at least of the major part of every man in England of whatsoever quality or condition which I am sure you never went about to seek so far are you from having it Thus you see that I speak not for My own right alone as I am your KING but also for the true liberty of all My Subjects which consists not in sharing the power of Government but in living under such Laws such a Government as may give themselves the best assurance of their lives and propriety of their goods Nor in this must or do I forget the Priviledges of both Houses of Parliament which this dayes proceeding doth not only violate but likewise occasion the greatest breach of their publick Faith that I believe ever was heard of with which I am far from charging the two Houses for all the pretended crimes laid against Me bear date long before this late Treaty at Newport in which I having concluded as much as in Me lay and hopefully expecting the two Houses agreement thereunto I was suddenly surprised and hurried from thence as a Prisoner upon which I account I am against My will brought hither where since I am come I cannot but to My power defend the ancient Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom together with My own just right Than for any thing I can see the higher House is totally excluded And for the House of Commons it is too well known that the major part of them are detained or deterred from sitting so as if I had no other this were sufficient for me to protest against the lawfulnesse of your pretended Court. Besides all this the Peace of the Kingdom is not the least in my thoughts and what hopes of settlement is there so long as Power reigns without rule of Law changing the whole frame of that Government under which this Kingdom hath flourished for many hundred years nor will I say what will fall out in case this lawless unjust proceeding against me do go on and believe it the Commons of England will not thank you for this change for they will remember how happy they have been of late years under the Reign of Queen Elizabeth the King my Father and My Self until the beginning of these unhappy Troubles and will have cause to doubt that they shall never be so happy under any new And by this time it will be too sensibly evident that the Arms I took up were only to defend the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom against those who have supposed My power hath totally changed the ancient Government Thus having shewed you briefly the Reasons why I cannot submit to your pretended Authority without violating the trust which I have from God for the welfare and liberty of my People I expect from you either clear Reasons to convince my judgment shewing me that I am in an Error and then truly I will readily answer or that you will withdraw your proceedings This I intended to speak in Westminster-Hall on Monday 22 January but against Reason was hindred After that horrid Sentence his Majesty was hurried from their Bar As he passed down the stairs the common Souldiers laying aside all Reverence to Soveraignty scoffed at him casting the smoak of their stinking Tobacco in his face no Smell more offensive to him and flinging their foul pipes at his feeâ— But one more insolent than the rest defiled his venerable Face with his spittle for his Majestry was observed with much patience to wipe it off with his Handkerchief and as he passed hearing them cry out Justice Justice Poor Souls said he for a piece of money they would do so for their Commanders That Night being Saturday January 27. the King lodged at White-hall that evening a Member of the Army acquainted the Committee with the desires of the King that seeing they had passed Sentence of Death upon him and the time of his Execution might be nigh that he might see his Children
servants joyned himself with the Lord Goring Sr. Charles Lucas and others who with a considerable Army were then in Essex and after a long Siege were forced to surrender their Garrison of Colchester In the Articles of that rendition this right noble Lord was included and had quarter given him for life though it was afterwards unhansomly unsaid again by him that gave it who left him after his Parol given to a High Court of Justice upon this surrender he was committed to the Tower where whilst he remained he endeavoured to escape which he well effected but crossing the water through some discourse he let fall Jones the Waterman conceiving what he was upon his landing discovered him had him retaken and committed again in order to his Tryal In the middle of March 1648 he was brought before the said High Court of Justice where he said enough in reason and justice to have cleared himself insisting upon his Priviledge as a Peer and claiming the benefit of the Laws which owned no such arbitrary Power as this against the life of any Subject especially a Noble Man and in sum denied their Jurisdiction and pleaded his quarter given him as abovesaid but nothing would avail they proceeded to Judgment and with Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland Earl of Norwich and Sr. John Owen sentenced him to be beheaded which was executed accordingly on the ninth of March. We will now take a view of him after the tmie of his Condemnation when he was to encounter and look Death in the face He alwaies kept a very chearful and well composed temper of mind which proceeded from true Christian Principles he would often say it was the good God he served and the good cause he had served for that made him not to fear Death adding that he never had the temptation of so much as a thought to check him for his engagement in this quarrel for he took it for his Crown and glory and wished he had a greater ability and better fortune to engage in it The afternoon before his suffering he was a great while in private with a Minister where bewailing with that sense which became a true and not despairing penitent the sins of his life past the greatest he could remember was his voting my Lord of Straffords death which though as he said he did without any malice at all yet he confessed it to be a very great sin and that he had done it out of a base fear his own words of a prevailing party of which he had very often and very heartily repented and was confident of Gods pardon for it Then he desired to receive the Blessed Sacrament before he dyed After this being afraid of some danger to the Minister that attended him for that work of Love and some Conference in order to his preparation both for his provision and his voyage the Sacrament and his death he desired to go to Prayers which being performed he returned to his private devotions The next morning being the day of his death he desired the Minister who was with him before to hear and joyn with him in Prayers which he did for half an hour in an excellent method very apt Expressions and most strong hearty and passionate affections First confessing and bewailing his sins with strong cries and tears then humbly and most earnestly desiring Gods mercy through the Merits of Christ alone Secondly For his dear Lady and Children with some passion but for her especially with most ardent affections recommending them to the Divine Providence with great confidence and affurance and desiring for them rather the blessings of a better life than of this Thirdly For the King Church and Kingdom And Lastly For his Enemies with almost the same ardour and affection After Prayer ended my Lord of Norwich and Sr. John Owen being sent for the Minister read the whole Office of the Church for Good Friday and then after a short Homily for the occasion he received the Sacrament again in which action he behaved himself with great Humility Zeal and Devotion Being demanded after the receiving thereof how he found himself he replyed very much better stronger and cheerfuller for that heavenly repast and that he doubted not to walk like a Christian through the vale of death in the strength of it But he was to have an Agony before his Passion and that was the parting with his Wife eldest Son now Earl of Essex his Son in Law two of his Uncles and Sr. T.C. especially his parting with his dearest Lady which indeed was the saddest spectacle that could be In which occasion as he could not choose but shew and confesse a little of humane frailty yet even then he did not forget both to comfort and counsel her and the rest of his friends particularly in blessing the yuong Lord he commanded him never to revenge his death though it should be in his power the like he said unto his Lady He told his Son he would leave him a Legacy out of David's Psalms and that was this Lord lead me in a plain path For Boy saith he I would have you a plain honest man and hate dissimulation After this was past with much adoe his Wife and the rest of his Friends were perswaded to begone and then being all alone with the Minister he said Doctor the hardest part of my work in this World is now past meaning the parting with his Wife Then he desired the said Minister to pray preparatively for his death that in the last action he might so behave himself as might be most for Gods Glory for the indearing of his dead Masters memory and his present Masters service and that he might avoid the doing or saying of any thing which might savour either of ambition or vanity This being done he was conveyed with the other two Lords who suffered with him to Sr. Robert Cottons where the Minister staid with him till he was called to the Scaffold whither the Guard of Souldiers permitted him not to come so that my Lord took leave of him there The same day he died he wrote this following Letter to his Wife My dearest Life MY Eternal life is in Christ Jesus my wordly considerations in the highest degree thou hast deserved let me live long here in thy dear memory to the comfort of my Family our dear Children whom God out of mercy in Christ hath bestowed upon us I beseech thee take care of thy health sorrow not afflict not thy self too much God will be unto thee better than an Husband and to my Children better than a Father I am sure he is able to be so I am confident he is graciously pleased to be so God be with thee my most vertuous Wife God multiply many Comforts to thee and my Children which is the fervent Prayer of Thy c. He hath also left behind him an excellent Book of Meditations and some other Miscellaneous things especially an Exhertation to stir up the hearts and endeavours of
waies that I have taken every body knows what my Affections have been to many that have suffered to many that have been in troubles in this Kingdom I endeavoured to relieve them I endeavoured to oblige them I thought I was tied so by my Conscience I thought it by my Charity and truly very much by my Breeding God hath now brought me to the last instant of my time all that I can say and all that I can adhere unto is this That as I am a great sinner so I have a great Saviour that as he hath given me here a Fortune to come publickly in a shew of shame in the way of this suffering truly I underst and it not to be so I understand it to be a Glory a glory when I consider who hath gone before me and a glory when I consider I had no end in it but what I conceive to be the Service of God the King and the Kingdom and therefore my heart is not charged much with any thing in that particular since I conceive God will accept of the intention whatsoever the Action seems to be I am going to die and the Lord receive my Soul I have no Reliance but upon Christ For my self I do acknowledge that I am the unworthiest of sinners my Life hath been a vanity and a continued sin and God may justly bring me to this end for the sins I have committed against him and were there nothing else but the iniquities that I have committed in the way of my Life I look upon this as a great Justice of God to bring me to this Suffering and to bring me to this Punishment and those hands that have been most active in it if any such there hath been I pray God forgive them I pray God there may not be many such Trophies of their Victories but that this may be as I said before the last shew that this People shall see of the Bloud of persons of Condition of Persons of Honour I might say somthing of the way of our Trial which certainly hath been as extraordinary as any thing I think hath ever been seen in this Kingdom but because that I would not seem as if I made some complaint I will not so much as mention it because no body shall believe I repine at their Actions that I repine at my Fortune it is the will of God it is the hand of God under whom I fall I take it entirely from him I submit my self to him I shall desire to roul my self into the Arms of my blessed Saviour and when I come to this * Pointing to the Block place when I bow down my self there I hope God will raise me up and when I bid farewel as I must now to Hope and to Faith that Love will abide I know nothing to accompany the Soul out of this world but Love and I hope that Love will bring me to the fountain of glory in Heaven through the Arms Mediation and the Mercy of my Saviour Jesus Christ in whom I believe O Lord help my Unbelief Hodges The Lord make over unto you the Righteousness of his own Son it is that Treasury that he hath bestowed upon you and the Lord shew you the light of his countenance and fill you full with his Joy and Kindness O my dear Lord the Lord of Heaven and Earth be with you and the Lord of Heaven Earth bring you to that Safety Holland I shall make as much hast as I can to come to that Glory and the Lord of Heaven and Earth take my Soul I look upon my self entirely in him and hope to find Mercy through him I expect it and through that Fountain that is opened for sin and for uncleanness my soul must receive it for did I rest in any thing else I have nothing but sin and Corruption in me I have nothing but that which in stead of being carried up into the Arms of God and of Glory I have nothing but may throw me down into Hell Bolton But my Lord when you are cloathed with the Righteousness of another you will appear Glorious though now sinful in your self The Apostle saith I desire not to be found in my own Righteousness and when you are cloathed with another the Lord will own you and I shall say but thus much Doubt not that ever God will deny Salvation to sinners that come to him when the end of all his death and sufferings was the Salvation of sinners when as I say the whole end and the whole Design and the great work that God had to do in the world by the death of Christ wherein he laid out all his Counsels and infinite wisdom and goodness beyond which there was a non ultra in Gods thoughts when this was the great design and great end the salvation of poor sinners that poor souls should come over to him and live certainly when sinners come he will not reject he will not refuse And my Lord do but think of this the greatest work that ever was done in the world was the bloud of Christ that was shed never any thing like it And this Bloud of Christ that was shed was shed for them that come if not for them for none it was in vain else You see the Devils they are out of capacity of good by it the Angels they have no need of it wicked men will not come and there are but few that come over but a few that come over and should he deny them there were no end nor fruit of the Blond and Sufferings of the Lord Jesus and had your Lordship been with Christ in that bloudy Agony when he was in that bloudy sweat sweating drops of Bloud if you had asked him Lord what art thou now a doing art thou not now reconciling an angry God and me together art thou not pacifying the wrath of God art thou not interposing thy self between the Justice of God and my soul Would he not have said Yea and surely then he mill not deny it now My Lord his Passions are over his Compassions still remain and the larger and greater because he is gone up into an higher place that he may throw down more abundance of his mercy and grace upon you and my Lord think of that infinite love that abundance of riches in Christ I am lost I am empty I have nothing I am poor I am sinful be it so as bad as God will make me and as vile as I possibly can conceive my self I am willing to be but when I have said all the more I advance that Riches and honour that Grace of God And why should I doubt when by this he puts me into a capacity into a disposition for him to shew me Mercy that by this I may the better advance the riches of his Grace and say grace grace to the Lord to all Eternity that God should own such a Creature that deserves nothing and the less I deserve the more conspiâ—uous is his
strength of thy grace I have both kept the true faith and have fought for my King the Lora's Anointed's cause without any wavering for which and in which I die I do willingly resign my flesh I despise the World and I defie the Devil who hath no part nor share in me And now what is my hope my hope Lord Jesu is even in thee for I know that thou my Redeemer livest and that thou wilt immediately receive my soul and raise up my body also at the last day and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes and none other And now O Lord let thy Spirit of comfort help mine infirmities and make supplication for me with sighs and groans that cannot be expressed I submit my self wholly to thy will I commit my soul to thee as my faithful Redeemer who hast bought it with thy most precious blood I confess to all the world I know no name under heaven by which I may be saved but thine my Jesu my Saviour I renounce all confidence in any merits save thine I thank fully acknowledge all thy blessings I unfeignedly bewail all my sins I stedfastly believe all thy promises I heartily forgive all my Enemies I willingly leave all my Friends I utterly loath all earthly comforts and I entirely long for thy coming Come Lord Jesus come quickly Lord Jesus receive my Spirit The private were to himself his Hat being before his eyes After this he put up divers short Ejaculations As I know my Redeemer liveth Father into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed it O God thou God of truth Lord Jesus receive my spiriâ— and many of the like and so he yielded to Death The Speech of Coronet Michael Blackbourn immediately before his death August 23. 1649. It is expected I should say somethingâ— and indeed it is my desire to say something and but a little I Am not a Gentleman by birth but my Parents are of an honest quality and condition I was brought up in the Protestant Religion and in that Religion I have lived and in that I now dy I have some five or six years since engaged in this War wherein I had no other end or intention but to do my King true and faithful service according to my duty and the dictate of my Conscience I have not done so much service as I desired but I have been always faithful to him and wish I could have done him more and for his Son the King that now is I wonder any man of this Kingdom should have the boldness or impudence to life up his hand against him to keep him from his Crown whereof he is Heir apparent and hath as good right and title to it by his Birth-right as any man living hath of his Inheritance or Possession I pray God bless him forgive all my Enâ—mies and Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Dr. Levens executed at the Old Exchange London the 18. of July 1650. THis learned Gentleman was descended of an antient family in Oxford-shire whose chief seat and residence was near Botley within a mile of the Universitie His education was truly generous his profession the Civil Law wherein he was graduated a Doctor and in which he was excellently known before these Wars But when these uncivil broils began he laid aside the practice of that Law which was not onely silenced by the depression and annihilation of the Hierarchy in whose Courts it is most generally used but also despair'd of for any future resuscitation during the Troubles and he took himself to the service of his Sovereign then most unlawfully and uncivilly assaulted and affronted by the Members at Westminster He continued most part of the War in the Garâ—ison at Oxford and his own adjacent dwelling till such time as the surrender of the said City into the hands of the Parliament where he had the same terms and was concluded in the Articles of that Capitulation which being forced to accept and lay down his arms he again resumed his wonted studies From these he was again avocated by those monstrous and horrid actions of those times which indulged not any man his private concerns in the danger and trouble of the publick nor could he forsake or desert his first cause with its fortune and serve the times by a base and abject indifferency He had to the infinite distraction of his mind and trouble of his soul seen the barbarous Regicide perpetrated upon the life of his Sovereign the Royal Family renounced and banished all the friends thereof in most eminent danger to be destroyed and undone for adhehering to them and the Laws in the late War the Church and State renversed and a sad confusion and ruine of the Kingdom unless obviated by Providence and means therewith used to be impendent and unavoidable Upon these and the like considerations this Gentleman very considerable in his numerous acquaintance prudence and integrity became engaged for the Son our present Sovereign as before for his Royal Father several consultations and private meetings were held by him and others in order to this service to which purpose he also received Commissions from the King then in France for several Officers of these Forces designed to be raised and other Instructions as the affair proceeded The Common-wealth as it was then called was in its infancy which made its politick Guardians very cautious and jealous of attempts upon it the Kings interest was no whit the less formidable because his person was beyond the Sea the just indignation and noble anger of his Subjects being ready to boil over upon any sudden motion they had also so oppressed the generality of the people with grievous insupportable Taxes that they might well fear and suspect some more forcible and prosperous enterprise against them by how much their impâ—eties and high provocations had further incensed both heaven and earth Therefore they employed their Emissaries and Spies to give them intelligence if any such designs were on foot and so to countermine all plots against them Their sagacious industry in this soon answered their expectation for these flies prying up and down engaging in all companies assimulating themselves to their complexion opinion and study light at last upon some glimpses of this business which they followed so close that at last they made a perfect and full discovery of the main businesse and that this Doctor Levens was the chief Agitator and manager thereof in whose breast the Cabal was principally lodged and entrusted and upon whose apprehension they might be informed and satisfied in every circumstance An Order was thereupon made by the Council of State and a Warrant signed by Bradshaw the President to seize and bring him before them and to search his Chamber and break up his Trunks for papers he then being at London the place most expedient for the design which accordingly was done a file or two of Musketeers guarding and securing the house where the said Papers were among which
saving of his regret that he had ever served such Masters wished prosperity to the King and Kingdom and so was thrown off the ladder a spectacle more of their shame then his own Captain Brown-Bushel beheaded on Tower-hill April 29. 1651. NOw their hand was in all went to the stake The High Court of Justice proceeded in their blood-bound track and their huntsmen rowzed their game An old sault which had been remedied long ago was brought into play again that these journey men Butchers might not want work for the preparation whereof they had so often adjourned about this time their terrible Session Captain Brown-Bushel was the next criminal for his Loyalty being secured in the Guard at White-hall in 1648. and from custody to custody till this time when he was brought from the Tower to his Trial. The objected offence made up into a Charge of high Treason was his delivering of Scarborough where he had some kind of Command from the Parliament to the King being himself a sea souldier and then a Captain of a man of War He was a very expert and valiant person well esteemed of by all sea-men as he was well reputed by all honest loyal people for this his last service being not inconsiderable for his fortune At the revolt of the Fleet to their due obedience under Sir William Butten to the Prince in the Downs this Gentleman was in London the War being finished and like to renew again where he lay waiting his opportunity of doing further service to his Majesty The rancour of that business festred in the minds of the party at Westminster so that not having any of those Commanders and Captains who were actively diligent in that businesse in their hands they resolved to wreak their fury and displeasure upon this Gentleman and to quit scores with him for the trespasses and fractures of others He had lain so long under restraint that he was hard put to it for sustenance and necessaries of life his poor wife running twice a day from Coven Garden to the Tower to bring and provide his daily meat besides a hundred jaunts to the Parliament and Council of State with Petitions to obtain his liberty or at leastwise get him blotted out of that roll wherein the just number of those who were to be tried at that high Court was before ascertained But all availed nothing they had designed more for the slaughter then they or their Engines could bring into the snare and therefore be must die for number that whatever else they wanted they might not fail in that so that after some adjournments of the Court as before is specified they called him to the Bar and for that crime aforesaid condemned him he in vain obtesting and imploring their favour as in a matter wherein the State and their cause had received little prejudice or disadvantage but seeing their severity could not be mitigated by words he frankly told them he was not afraid to die for his cause and composed himself for his sentence which was pronounced against him after some aggravations of his fact with more then usual acerbity Much stir there was made for a reprieve for him by his wife and friends of hers then in Authority but reason of State as they told her prevailed against all pleas and arguments for mercy though she was flattered but the day he died he should be reprieved and finally pardoned which glad tidings the poor overjoyed woman carried him about noon to the Tower where they were merry and solacing together in which pleasantness of mind about two a clock she left him and at four came the Warrant for his present Execution a most devilish cruelty which as is supposed for fear of the sea-men by whom he was well beloved was executed at six of the clock the night aforesaid upon the ground under the Scaffold where he fearlesly and Christianly suffered and resigned his soul into the hands of his Creator Mr. Love and Mr. Gibbons beheaded on Towerhill August 20. 1651. I Know some scruple will be made against these persons as Presbyterians and sufferers upon another account then of the fifth Commandement as having their own and the Kings interest interwoven with it but all things considered without much reconcilement of the different opinions in this case we may venture to Register and enroll them in this Martyrologie For without all doubt the bottom of their design was the Kings Restauration and however it was clog'd with Salves and Conditions for themselves and their Partie which abates something of the lustre though not of the worth of this Crown yet the main was Loyaltie which they hoped to vindicate and evince to the World who had hard thoughts of them in the matter of the Kings Death in the previous Method thereunto This Confederation was therefore begun just upon the conclusion of that horrid murther that what they could not remedy in that they might compensate in this and by a timely application to his present Majestie redeem themselves into his good opinion and favour forfeited by their former aversenesse to their dutie towards him To this purpose most of the eminent Ministers of that way in London had several meetings and Conferences in consultation and debate of the manner of their proceeding in this Affair Among them Mr. Love appeared to be most active and stirring whether out of Conscience of some unwarrantable undutifull demeanour towards the King duâ—ing the War I take not upon me to determine The rest were Mr. Jenkins Mrâ— Robinson Doctor Drake Mr. Watson and others Of the Lay-part Captain Titus Mr. Potter an Apothecary in Black-fryers Mr. Gibbons and some else These held intelligence both with the King and the Parliament of Scotland then not agreed but in expectation of a Treaty which was the first thing endeavoured by these men here to be promoted and with desired Effect Concluded Their chief meeting-place was Mr. Love's where their intelligence was communicated Letters read and advice given upon the several Emergencies of that Businesse which proceeded so far that the King and his Subjects of Scotland having ended the Treaty and his Majestie arrived in Scotland whether Cromwel with the English Armie was also advanced and had worsted the Kirks Armie at Dunbar They concluded of raising an Armie in this Kingdom to the assistance of that Nation and the recovery of this from the slavery and Tyrannie it suffered under This passed through so many hands engaged in it and was so publiquely owned that the Council of State had very early notice of the whole Design so that they dained most part of the while in the Net information being given of every daies proceedings and of what additions or accesses of persons to the Design which soon after when they had let it run as far as without danger they might trust it they drew the Curtain and apprehended most of the aforesaid persons and brought them to Trial before a High Court of Justice which was yet
in to comfort him and to pray God to strengthen him whom with like gracious and Christian expressions he chearfully thanked At the Gibbet there was no Ladder set not any for that purpose brought so retrograde and averse had Providence disposed of things to the most abominable murther as if it had indignitated its detestation thereof nor could any be procured from the Neighbours thereabouts or any other place all men denying to be the least accessary to that infamous business thereupon a Joyn-stoo was fought from the Mews and upon that he was put that by how many degrees he was nearer the Earth at his fall by so many degres he might be higher in glory in Heâ—ven at his ascending by an equal parallel Having devoutly prayed for himself the King Church and Kingdom and for the consummation of this life into bliss he addrest some few words to the people which were too harsh for the eares of the Souldiers to whom they were principally directed but was soon silenced and not suffered to speak out the remainder Then after a short permission of some few Ejaculations wherewith he recommended his departing Soul to God the stool was drawn from under him and so he quietly past hence to a glorious state of Immortality Major Henshaw now Major of the City Regiment of Horse was said to be concerned in this business Much discourse there was then about him but he timely withdrew himself beyond the Sea and escaped that storm that would have overwhelmed him and now honourably survives to reap the fruit and reconpence of those Services he hath done his King and Country Nothing can better express the noble gallantry and Christian bravery of these two men then what is left behinde of their own recorded by some of their worthy and intimate Friends to whom I should have rendred the obligation if I could have had a perfect account from them which so nearly concerns my design as it doth their deceased Friends Memory and Honour I do therefore willingly refer the Reader to what followes extracted from such Copies as are true and Authentique where he may be more fully satisfied The Speech and manner of putting to death Col. John Gerhard who was beheadon Tower-hil July 10. 1654. IT was thought needle sse by the friends of Col. Gerhard to declare any thing concerning his sufferings unto the World more then in their sight had not the sacrilegious malice of the last weekly Pamphlet thrown some stains upon his name and so incensed them to a vindication as pious as his death was 'T is most certain that there can no blots stick upon true honour which such weak fellows endeavour against it These are cursed beasts but their horns are short sepulchral dogs that scrape up graves and violate the dead and are fierce and ravenous but yet dogs still And all worthy people will call their railing praise and what they intend a barking infamy the greatest merit Yet because every understanding is not of the same brightness and those putrid libels may by ill chance fall into some innocent hand hereafter and yet sure such vermine should not be endured long therefore let wise and good men pardon him that hath undertaken this justice for that Gentleman and be pleased to read this sad story not for their satisfaction sake but their sorrows It may dry up a friendly tear perhaps and still a murmuring groan to see the comely posture of his passion how well all was carried by him and how honourably and the honest circumstances may not improbably take off from the sadnesse Why should I grieve that death which had such a living glory in it Or dishonour that blood with feeble tears which was shed so like the holy Martyrs All that knew this person cannot but witnesse his generous resolution and whether his great courage fell lesse then it self as that viper hisseth or did not rather rise greater now when the Christian was twisted with the Gentlemen let this faithful relation witness In which though all terms and syllables may not be exactly the same yet if there be a material falshood or a wilfull flattery may his neck that wrote it feel a viler destiny then axes or halters Amicus Gerardus sed magis amica veritas From the first day of his imprisonment he foresaw the heavy sentence hovering upon him and therefore gave all diligence to secure himself against it that however he underwent a temporal condemnation he might escape an eternal But after that sad doom was pronounced then he bestirred himself amain and made double hast for heaven it was for his life and therefore he would loose no minute but the same night gave directions to a dear friend for a Minister whom he knew to have long honoured his family to be brought unto him early next morning and it pleased Authority to gratifie him in this great desire so that an order was sent freely for the quiet admission of any such person to him With this spiritual friend he spent some hours every day in prayer and other ghostly refreshments which God be praised were not without sweet effect and impressions upon his soul There were some other Ministers of great observation for gravity and godlinesse who visited him and who I am confident will put their seal to this truth with me that they found him meek humble modest penitent comforted not far from the Kingdom of God if not already in it but I have good hope he was in possession and so had he through grace Upon the morning which was the last he must see till that of the Resurrection he submitted to some wholsome orders of the Church and received her comforts by them That done he proceeded to the highest enjoyment of grace that can be administred upon earth the holy Communion whereof with his brother Sir Gilbert Gâ—rhard he was a partaker with as much reverence zeal thankfulnesse holy sorrows and holy joys as a devout soul could evidence He wept as if he would have washed his Saviours wounds which his faith presented in his tears and yet he said he was admirably ravished with all inward peace and comfort in his own conscience This passed he had now noâ—ing to do but to die which he expected that morning very speedily But by the pleasure of Authority both the time and the place of his execution was altered so that he was to wait a little longer untill evening for his release Many friends and persons of Honour came to take their last leave of him who can gladly witness his undisturbednesse and civill chearfulnesse to every one of them His brother tarryed continually with himâ— and though some eruptions of passion could not be restrain dâ—now and then where nature was so much concerned yet they were generally pleasant and at last parted about half an hour before he was led forth to death with as much calmnesse and placednesse as if they had been to meet again anon sase and unhurt as they had
if the heart be clean aliâ—s well enough Being thus prepared he calls for the Block and viewing it as with delight laid himself down upon it to see how it would fit and was so far from sinking at the sight of it that he almost play'd with it and rising quickly pulls a little paper-book out of his pocket which he gave to the Minister willing him to find that particular Prayer which was proper for that occasion but the crowd being great he could not quickly find it so that he kneeled down with the book open a while in his hand as if he had read but quickly shut it and prayed with great expressions of fervency by himself When he had done the Lieutenant said something to him as it seems concerning his Brother Charles that had witnessed against him I know not what the Lieutenant said for he spake low but Mr. Gerhard spake aloud and replyed passionatly O Christ Sir I love my poor brother with all my heart he is but a youth and was terrified I know how he was dealt with tell him I love him as well as ever I lov'd him in my life And commend me to my brother Sir Gilbert whose release I beseech you Sir to assist there being no more cause that I know of for imprisonment then only that he was found in the same bed with me which sure is no capital crime Having said this he took his leave of him and the Sheriff and all he knew on the stage and turning about once more to the people desired them to pray for him himself kneeling down with the Minister laid his hand in his bosom and they prayed together the last time After this he bids them all farewell again and besought them to remember they had a poor Soveraign abroad who deserved to be remembred Then forgiving the Executioner and saluting the Minister with his last embrace and kisses he bow'd himself to the stroak of death with as much Christian meeknesse and noble courage mix'd together as I beleive was ever seen in any that had bled upon that Altar And this all the people that were Spectators did seem to understand and acknowledge beholding his fatal blow with an universal sadness and silence whereas when the other Gentleman fell quickly after upon another score of blood and ryot they gave a great and general shout as applauding the Justice of the Portugals death but pittying and bewailing the untimely fall of so brave and magnanimous a spirit as did through all the clouds of death shine gloriously in this unfortunate Gentleman His Speech Gentlemen AS this kind of spectacle is no new entertainment to your eyes for you havhad a late glut of such objects So is it no strange thing to me to be made such a spectacle for I have been bred upon the Theatre of death and have learned that part so well though I confess a very hard one as to perform it pretty handsomly both as becomes a Gentleman and a Christian Only I must desire you to expect no fine Prologue or Speech from me I never studied to make Orations a very unfit man to lay plots against a State who am scarce able to lay a few lines of plain English together as I ought But though I cannot speak happily I doubt not but I shall die happily I confesse my self a great sinner Who is innocent God be mercifull to me a miserable sinner I adore the justice of God in all this that is come upon me I have deserved to die long since and blessed be God who hath given me such time to prepare But for this Crime I stand condemned for to day I do protest mine own innocency as to any consent or ingagment to act in it I hope you will believe me when you consider upon what slender proofs and testimonies I suffer none of them legal or positive but circumstantial For my brother Charles Alas poor youth how he was wrought upon but I desire all my friends to think honour ably of him For my Brother Sir Gilbert This imagination of a Plot is said to be hatched in France but I fear the nest was at Whitehall As for the King so far from concurring to such a Deed that I am only unsatisfied in this whether I shall dye right in his favour because suspected of any thing so unworthy of him I fear he lost his Kingdom by such practices but whether he would recover them so is a question God hath better ways when it shall be good in his sight to plead his cause I was lately in France but on my own score for I have commanded there and probably might For my past life it hath been but a troublesome one but now I hope I shall rest Since I was any thing I have served the King as I was bound And I wish all that did so had done it as faithfully He was condemned for a tyrant but God For my Religion though a Souldier I am able to profess I am a Christian souldier a true Son of the Church of England as constituted under Queen Elizabeth K. James and K. Charles of blessed memory Her Doctrine and Government I embrace Her Truth and Peace I pray God to restore I humbly give thanks to God Almighty for providing me the comfort of a Minister on whose fidelity I might repose my soul And I pray God to bless the poor faithfull Ministers of this Church and give you hearts to esteem them the want whereof is no small cause of our misery My dayes have been few and evil yet God be blessed in all the vanities and folly of youth I have been far from Atheism or concempt of Gods worship I had always awfull impressions of Gods honour and service which is now my comfort And now dear Countrymen fare you well I pray God blesse you all his whole Nation Alas poor England When will these black days be over When will there be blood enough I wish mine might fill up the measure I forgive all Once more fare you well Commend me to all my friends Pray for me I pray God make you as faithfull and loyal as I have lived and as happy as I shall be by and by when I am dead Come Lord Jesus come quickly Father of mercies have mercy on me Saviour of the world save my soul O lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world hear my prayers Into thy hands O Lord I commend my pâ—irit Lord Jesus receive my soul The last Speech of Mr. Peter Vowell which he intended to have delivered had he been permitted upon Munday the 10th of July 1654. on which day he suffered death in the place where Charing Crosse stood as from the Original paper written with his own hand appeareth Gentlemen AT this earthly Bar from them that pretend to have a great measure of sanctity I had hard measure but to that Bar I am now going the Bar of heaven I shall have Justice yea one day Justice against them
respect to my family I am now stripping off my clothes to fight a duel with death I conceive no other duel lawful but my Saviour hath pulled out the sting of this mine enemy by making himself a sacrifice for me And truly I do not think that man deserving one drop of his bloud that will not spend all for him in so good a cause The Truth is Gentlemen in this Age Trea on is an individium vagum like the wind in the Gospel it bloweth wher it listeth So now Treason is what they please lighteth upon whom they will Indeed no man except he will be a Traytor can avoid this Censure of Treason I know not to what end it may come but I pray God my own and my Brothers blood that is now to die with me may be the last upon this score Now Gentlemen you may see what a condition you are in without a King you have no law to protect you no rule to walke by when you perform your duty to God your King and Country you displease the Arbitrary power now set up I cannot call it government I shall leave you to peruse my tryal and there you shall see what a condition this poor Nation is brought into and no question will be utterly destroyed if not restored by loyal Subjects to its old and glorious Government I pray God he lay not his Judgements upon England for their sluggishness in doing their duty and readiness to put their hands in their bosoms or rather taking part with the Enemy of Truth The Lord open their eyes that they may be no longer lead or drawn into such snares else the Child that is unborn will curse the day of their Parents birth God almighty preserve my Lawful K. Charles the second from the hands of his Enemies and break down that wall of Pride and Rebellion which so long hath kept him from his just Rights God preserve his Royal Mother and all his Majestys Royal Brethren and incline their hearts to seek after him God incline the hearts of all true Englisâ—men to stand up as one man to bring in the King and redeem themselves and this poor Kingdom out of its more then Egyptian slavery As I have now put off these garments of cloth so I hope I have put off my garments of sin have put on the Robes of Christs Righteousnesse here which will bring me to the enjoyment of his glorious Robes anon Then he kneeled down and kissed the block and said thus I commit my soul to God my Creator and Redeemer Look upon me O Lord at my last gasping Hear my prayer and the prayers of all good people I thank thee O God for all thy dispensations towards me Then kneeling down he prayed most devoutfuly as followeth O Eternal Almighty and most mercifull God the Righteous Judge of all the world look down in mercy on me a miserable sinner O blessed Jesus Redeemer of Mankind which takest away the sins of the world let thy perfect manner of obedience be presented to thy Heavenly Father for me Let thy precious death and bloud be the ransome and satisfaction of my many and heynous transgressions Thou that sittest at the right hard of God make intercession for me O holy and blessed Spirit which art the Comforter fill my heart with thy consolations O holy blessed and glorious Trinity be mercifull to me confirm my faith in the promises of the Gospel reviveâ— and quicken my hope and expectation of joys prepared for true and faithfull servarâ—ts Let the infinite Love of God my Saviour make 〈◊〉 love to him steafast sincere and constant O Lord consider my condition accept my tears aswage my grief give me comfort and confidence in theâ— impute not unto me my former sins but most mercifull Fathâ—r receive me into thy favour for the merits of Christ Jesus Many and grievous are my sins for I have sinned many times against the light of knowledge against remorse of conscience against the motions opportunities of grace But accept I beseech thee the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart in and for the perfect sacrifice oblation and satisfaction of thy Son Jesus Christ O Lord receive my soul after it is delivered from the burthen of the flesh into perfect joy in the sight and fruition of thee And at the general resurrection grant that my body may be endowed with immortality and received with my soul into glory I praise thee O God I acknowledge thee to be the Lord O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world have mercy on me Thou that sittest at the right hand of God hear my prayer O Lord Jesus Christ God and Man Mediator betwixt God and Man I have sinned as a Man be thou mercifull to me as a God O holy and blessed Spirit help my infirmities with those sighs and groans which I cannot expresse Then he desired to see the Axe and kissed it saying I am like to have a sharp passage of it but my Savior hath sweetned it unto me Then he said If I would have been so unworthy as others have been I suppose I might by a lye have saved my life which I scorn to purchase at such a rate I defie such temptations and them that gave them me Glory be to God on high On Earth peace Good will towards Men. And the Lord have mercy upon my poor soul Amen So laying his Neck upon the Block after some private Ejaculations he gave the Heads-man a sign with his hand who at one blow severed his head from his body The true Speech of that Valiant and piously resolved Hugh Grove of Chisenbury in the Parish of Enford and County of Wilts Esquire beheaded the 16th of May 1655. in the Castle at Exon. Good people I Never was guilty of much Rhetorick nor ever loved long Speeches in all my life and therefore you cannor expect either of them from me now at my death All that I shall desire of you besides your hearty prayers for my soul is That you would bear me witnesse I die a true son of the Church of England as it was established by King Edward the sixth Queen Elizabeth King James and King Charls the first of blessed memmory That I die a Loyall Subject to King Charls the second my undoubted Soveraign and a lover of the good old Laws of the Land the just priviledges of Parliaments and Rights and Liberties of the People for the re-establishing of all which I did undertake this engagement and for which I am ready to lay down my life God forgive the bloody-minded Jury and those that procured them God forgive Captain Crook for denying his Articles so unworthily God forgive Mr. Dove and all other persons swearing so maliciously and falsely against me God forgive all my enemies I heartily forgive them God blesse the KING and all that love him turn the hearts of all that hate him God blesse you all and be merciful to you and to
said He was ready to submit or words to like purpose Then he addressed himself to private prayer again and kneeling down to the Block he prayed privately for a short space Then laid his head upon the Block and at the sign given the Executioner severed His Head from his Body at one Blow And his Friends put his Body into a Coffin and removed it into a close Coach prepared neer the place Doctor Hewyt THis Venerable Doctor was next brought upon the Stage and baited to Death by their Belial President Lisle His objected Crimes were for conspiring against the Government with divers others and holding intelligence with the King branched out into several Articles After the Charge exhibited he demurted to their Jurisdiction citing divers Law-Cases and Presidents to back the Reasons he alledged against their Authority but withal prayed the Court he might not be taken upon the nicety punctilio of their Law that if they would please to evince the legality of their Court to him he would instantly plead to his Charge and leave himself to them While he thus disputed with them they took advantage of three times demanding his Plea after which they would not admit of it though he thrice petitioned them that they would please to accept thereof but it seems they were more contented without it being not able to prove their Charge their Witnesses failing them as it appeared after wards in other mens cases whom they had appointed for the slaughter They were also the more peremptory and untractable to this reverent person because of his great Esteem and Abilities which he had a long while employed at St. Gregories in the service of this Church King and Kingdom whose cause he forbore not to plead in the worst of those times till he was taken from his Ministry by the Tyrant and his Eloquent Tongue silenced in the Grave And if Cromwel had any particular malice to any person in the contrivance of their death this good Doctor was one whom he upbraided with railing and unbecoming language at his Examination before him as may appear in the Doctor 's Speech on the Scaffold to which we refer the Reader and with the rest of this Taper-light now expiring bring him down to his Monument He prayed very fervently earnestly for the space of almost half an hour and then sealed his Martyrdom by having his head severed from his body with much Christian Magnanimity where we leave him till his appearance with the Lamb with his white Robes and Crown of Martyrdom The Horrid Execution of the reverend Doctor John Hewyt D. D. on the same Scaffold on Tuesday the same 8. of June 1658. with his speech before his Death AS soon as Sir Henry Slingsby's body was removed as is aforesaid Dr. Hewyt was brought upon the Scaffold whether being come together with Dr. Wild Dr. Warmstry and Mr. Barwick he fell upon his knees and prayed privately for the space of a quarter of an hour After that he prayed audibly for a good space After which prayer he addressed himself to the people in a speech which continued above the space of an hour the substance of which speech was as followeth I am now become a publick Spectacle to Men and Angels I hope God who is Omniscient is now beholding me with much pity and great mercy and compassion and the more because I am now come to that end that his own Son came into the world to To bear witness to the truth he himself said For this end was I born for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness to the Truth I was brought into the world the Christian world for to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel as a common Christian I was brought into the world the Church as a Minister of his blessed Word and Sacraments Blessed be his name for that great honour and dignity and I came into the world to die more immediately for the testimony of JESUS which God hath now called me to I came into this world this Common-wealth to be a member thereof to bear witnesse to the truths of the Customes the Laws the Liberties and Priviledges thereof So I am a member of the Common-wealth And me thinks it seems to me a strange thing that in as much as we all plead for Liberty and Priviledges and I pleading for the Priviledges the Laws the Statutes and the Customes of this Land yet I should die by those that should stand for the Laws the Statutes and Priviledges of the Land And I am here beheld by those that plead for their Liberties and I hope I am pitied because I here give up my self willingly and freely to be a State Martyr for the publick good and I had rather die many deaths my self than betray my fellow freemen to so many inconvences that they might be like to suffer by being subject to the wills of them that willed me to this death And it is worthy remembrance that Mr. Solicitor having impeached me of Treason to the Commissioners of the Court against his Highnesse I did often when brought before those Commissioners plead for the Liberties of the people of England though I had not the knowledge of the Law yet I had instruction from those that were learned in the Law and had several Law-Cases and presidents put into my hand though not by them and urged several Law-Cases and made my Appeal First for the Judicature that I was to be tryed by whether it were according to Law whether it were according to the Act and whether it were according to the words of the said Act I did appeal to have the said Act argued by learned Lawyers on both sides and then to be resolved by his Highnesse own Councel which was denyed me This by the by I pressing the Argument made a second appeal that those Judges if they would give singly their several judgments that it was a just and lawfull Court of Judicature I would answer to my Charge I did make another Appeal to those that were his Highness's Council and pleaded against me That if they would deliver it to me under their hands to be according to Law I would then go on to plead and answer to the Charge What was then said further my spirits being faint I shall not say much but only this I was taken in three defaults upon formality of the Court It seems it is a custome in all Courts which I did not know before that if they answer not the third time speaking by the Clerk that then they are guilty of three defaults and proceeded against as mute I had no such knowledge of the Law So they found me guilty of those defaults and when I would have pleaded and resolved to begin to plead I was taken from the Bar. I did the next day make my Petition to the Court in the Painted-Chamber two Petitions were presented the same in effect the former the Title was mistaken Yet because
of Community where on behalf I have been speaking I cannot but do as our Saviour himself did for his Disciples when he was to be taken from them he blessed them and ascended up to heaven My trust is in the mercy of the most High I shall not miscarry and however my daies are shortned by this unexpected doom and shall he brought untimely to the Grave I cannot go without my prayers for a blessing upon all the people of this land and cannot but blesse them all in the name of God and beseech God to blesse them all the blessing of the Almighty be upon them Colonel Edward Ashton John Bettely and Edward Stacy Executed July 2. 1658. THese persons being all Arraigned together at the same High Court with four more being concerned in one Sentence and one pretended Crime I have put together and briefly will give you an account of them They were charged to have conspired the raising of a new War the firing of the City and the Death of Cromwel to which they all pleaded not guilty as all the World did judge them who sensibly understood the detestable practice against them Colonel Ashton was then a prisoner for Debt in Newgate but by the Keepers favour having liberty to go abroad one day fell into Company with some of Cromwel's Trapan's who finding or perhaps knowing him to be a Cavalier uttered in his Audience such dangerous words as those and without amy more ado delated him to the Secretary as conscious and partaker to the design which was all his guilt as he justified it upon his Death which he suffered in Tower-street by being hanged drawn and quarrered where he declared his Loyalty to the King but took it upon his approaching salvation he was innocent of any the Crimes charged against him John Bettely suffered next being brought from the Tower to Cheapside in the same Sledge that drew Colonel Ashton from Nawgate their Executions being divided into several quarters of the City as their pretended Plot was of firing it the old Cheat of picking out places to attend the guilt and to collogue with the City by the dissembled care thereof and near the Crosse Executed in the same manner where he likewise protested his Innocency being meerly betrayed by those Ruffian Emissaries of Cromwels After he had hung a long while that every one concluded him dead in a strange miraculous way as might serve to the confusion of his Blood-thirsty Enemies he pulled off his Cap and held it in both hands staring with his eyes as if alive but the Executioner quickly after dispatcht him and concluded his Martyrdom Mr. Edward Stacy was hanged onely two dayes after where he said the like and suffered with patience the losse of this temporal to enjoy with unspeakable happinesse Life Everlasting The others Were Reprieved and by the Death of Cromwel soon after set at Liberty which was consummated at the Restauration of his Sacred Majesty whose benign Rayes of Peace and Security have dryed up all our Teares of sorrow and mourning into Teares of Joy and is leaving us to forget our past miseries and losses of our Liberties Estates and Relations CAROLO SECVNDO TER Maximo Britanniarum Franciae Regi Precibus Martyrum Revocato restituto Restitutori In sacrosanctam Beatissimam Memoriam TAM Pientissimi Patris ac Principis QUAM Fidelium Heroum ac Procerum Caeterorumque Subditorum Qui pro Rege Lege mortem sunt perpessi HOC OBLATUM Humillime vovet Dicatque F. H. To the most Illustrious TRIUMVIRATE The Heirs of Martyr'd LOYALTY and HONOUR Charles Earl of Derby c. William Earl of Strafford Knight of the most Honourable Order of the Garter c. and Arthur Earl of Essex c. My Lords THis Piece directs it self into your hands for without a greater presumption it could not pass them Your Noble Families were the resplendent Triones that accompanied the Devex of Charles his Wain his Morning and Evening attendants that portended and extended his Declination for in two of them He suffered beyond His own Fate being plunged with Him in the depths of the same Red Sea and are now risen again in a full and most radient lustre They were that Constellation that directed three wandring Kingdoms into their way of Loyalty and pointed out the due veneration to the King their Redeemer It was their all-powerful Influence of Duty and Obedience that hath serened these Times The dark Obscurity of that Cloud that hid them in their death soon revealed it self in Glory This storm which tempested these Kingdoms being laid by their Bloud which was poured out like water in the streets hath brought again our Halcyon dayes and turned our Miseries into Jubilees This is the supererrogated Merit of your Illustrious Parents whom this Age and Posterity shall reverence and admire That your Lordships may surmount their Vertues as well as their difficulties as you have exceeded their Titles that you may as the Branches of those Vines which being made to bleed produce more generous and abundant Fruits that you may be the delight and Joy of these Nations and flourish for ever is and shall be the incessant prayers of My Lords Your Honours most obedient and Devoted Servant James Heath THE AUTHOUR TO THE READER THis is only to inform you that I have used my best endeavors to be punctually true in these Collections but in such Distractions of the times and Divisions of the mind and opinion in which they were registred I hope to be excused if there be any uncertainty found therein If I have omitted any out of this Martyrology or have slightly passed them over it is for want of fuller Information I likewise desire all the Persons Related to them would be pleased to give me a better Account then our Re-searches could arrive at and I shall insert rectifie and enlarge their Narrative as occasion shall offer For the Confessors I acknowledge I have not been nice nor yet have I been uncurious in their Catologue I suppose I have set down the most Noted and Publick Persons but if there be more to add I shall be very ready to do their Memory the Honours that duly appertain to them Vale. Courteous Reader BE pleased to pass by the Errours of the Press where-ever you meet with them and Pag. 119. Title for Wesiminster read Winchester A CATALOGUE AND Brief Account of the Confessors of the Royal Cause I Should undertake a volumenous and as difficult a labour were it my purpose here to register all those gallant persons that have suffered in their liberty estates for their Loyalty But I confine my self to the chief of those only who by particular Orders of Parliament their pretended Courts of Law and High Courts of Justice were vexed oppressed and persecuted even to the brinks of death leaving the other to the reward of a good Conscience and the faithful record thereof in Heaven These ensuing illustrious and Noble Patterns as well for imitation as
against St. Faith's Door a good and suitable prop to such constant Loyalty which he resolutely maintained to his last and so bravely exposed himself to their bullets Collonel Poyer shot to death in Covent Garden I Cannot deny this Gentleman a room in this Martyrology those that came the eleventh hour shall find entertainment though he was formerly for the Parliament especially because he was mainly concernd in this aforesaid businesse of Pembroke He rendred at mercy and by order of a Council of War drew lots with the other two for his life which fell upon him and thereupon he was shot as aforesaid The execrable and horrid Murther of our late Martyred Soveraign King Charls the First of ever blessed memory I Intend not to write the History of this Pious Prince so excellently and curiously drawn by himself and those who have traced his memorials and remains not taking a far prospect of him which was fair and beautiful and pleasant in the beginning of his Reign but viewing neerer at hand the black and dismal cloud which wrapt up and enveloped his setting glories now by Divine Justice and favour risen again to their full and radiant lustre We shall retrospect no further than the beginning of the Scotch War at which time the Symptomes of a general Rebellion first appeared For what the Scots covertly implyed in their undutiful Papers Declarations and Remonstrances was soon after avowedly insisted on by the prevailing Faction of the long Parliament The King was loaded with an heavy imputation of being led by evil Councellors that their design was to introduce Popery to erect an arbitrary Government as in the businesse of Ship-money Patents and Monopolies That he declined Parliaments as the boundaries of his unlimited Prerogative to the great burden and oppression of his Subjects No sooner therefore had he composed the Scotch War but to take away and remove all jealousie and distrust of him in his People though all along his Reign he had found some popular leading Grandees to be the untractable and unsatisfiable Enemies of his Kingdoms Peace he summoned his last the long Parliament in November 1640 which by a gracious Act of his was not to be dissolved or prorogued without their own consent and if that should so determine a Bill also was signed by him for a Tâ—iennial or perpetual Parliament that so his Subjects might rest confident and assured in the due manage and administration of the Government But these favours gave the Faction no other satisfaction then that they saw they might presume to add other demands and by how much more gracious his Majesty was to them they judged they might be the more impudent towards him in which they failed not a tittle dasiring as their only safety from the danger of the Prerogative the Militia in their own disposal the only defence and the unseparable right of his Crown To attain this they most insolently by their partisans in the City tumult him at his Court at White-hall from which to avoid both the danger and dishonour that rebel rout threatned he was compelled to withdraw to see if by his absence that rage and madnesse might be allayed and the two Houses set at freedom which by his presence was the more enflamed and the Priviledge of Parliament prostituted to the licentious and mad frenzy of the multitude But this afforded them their desired advantage from hence they calumniate the King that since he could not dissolve the Parliament he would invalidate their Authority and render them uselesse and unserviceable to those great ends for which they were called by refusing to concur with them and departing from that his great Council With these and such like suggestions they so filled the minds of men who were predisposed by some former discontents and who had their Authority through some disuse of it in great reverence that every where but especially in London parties were framed intelligencies and correspondencies held Divers Petitions presented in the pursute of these designs to the Parliament offering to stand by them with their lives and fortunes to the attainment of those ends held forth in their Declarations and Resolves which in conclusion were summed up in that unhappy Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom by the Lords and Commons remaining at Westminster divers of both Houses either out of fear of the rabble or conscience of their duty absenting themseves and retired home or followed the King's Fortune who having traversed some ground about London from one of his Royal Palaces to another in hope the distemper would abate and the People return to their reason and obedience together at last finding his hopes frustrated by more unreasonable demands every message to him from the two Houses came burdened with he resolved to go for York and secure his Magazine at Hull But Sr. John Hotham being newly sent thither by the Parliament refused the Kings admittance into that Town unless himself with some few of his retinue would please to enter the King passionately complained of this to the Parliament but with as little redress as his demand of Justice against the Authors of the Tumults this was the Inrroduction to those after violences of his Royal Person and Authority For the Parliament forthwith raised an Army under the command of the Earl of Essex and the County of York humbly professed themselves to the Service of his Majesty whereupon August the 22 1642. he set up his Standard at Nottingham whence after he had marched into Shrewsbury and having raised a considerable Army thereabouts was on his way to London he was overtaken by the Earl of Essex at a place called Edge Hill where ensued a fierce Fight with equal loss on both sides October 23 1642. where God was pleased to cover the Kings head in the day of Battel and permit him to fall by their execrable hands in the time of Peace to which he so often solicitously wooâ—d them In their Generals Commission they had tyed him up with a limitation the preservation of the Kings Person but left their bullets at random A subtil time-serving distinction between the Cannon and the Axe which afterwards they trayterously lifted up against his Annoynted and sacred Head The Parliament to strengthen their Cause treat with the Scots and for the better mutual assurance and to difference their abettors and fautors from the Kings Leige People as well as to lay a baite for all sacrilegious and covetous minded men to invite them to supplies of money in this rebellion enter into a Solemn League and Covenant the main design whereof was the utter extirpation as previous and necessary to the Kings destruction of Episcopacy and the established Government of the Church of England Popery being added also for the greater colour of this engagement against which the King issued forth his Royal Proclamation laying open the mischievous design thereof being resolved to maintain the Religion so long and so happily professed and sealed by the blood of