reall intention to prosecute their Petition and Engagement were likely to have been dispersed in lesse time then they were in coming together Capt. Lin of that Country had once before raised a thousand men which were immediately dispers'd An order of Indempnity being read in the head of them by Colonel Farre which the Committee of the County so pressed to them that they went all quietly home And now were as active in their Indeavours for the ruine of the maine interest of that Designe as indeed it concern'd them enough for they knew the prosperity of Loyalty is destruction of Rebellion I leave them to make the Application They were so active in their Machivilian Stratagems for countermining all policy against them as that Charles Lucas being there urgently tending upon the designe and many other Gentlemen with carefull diligence for the advancement of the King and Countries Liberty it being the sole and generall end both they and we really intended and the sole reward of our actions we all aimed at and consequently prosecuted secuted all circumstantiall opportunities which we conceived conducing to it that at last though by the hazard of a Warre we might generally attaine to the happy blessing of an honourable and lasting Peace thought it their best course in that distraction to depart privately forth the Town lest some unexpected inconveniency might take hold on their persons if once it had over-whelmed the generall interest as now they began to fear would be absolutely dispairing of any good at all But some of the Country Gentlemen then got together in the Town and by chance meeting them desired Sir Charles Lucas that he would not goe away so but let the Committee doe what they would they were sensible enough how they had ruined and undone them and they would be abused no longer by them but if he would be pleased to draw them out into the Field and stay with them they would one and all engage with him and live and die in that Engagement according to the intention of their meeting together having resolved not to returne till they had performed something This suddaine change in a little time proved very violent as it is commonly scene in all things so they immediately drew into the Field and seiz'd on the Committee and were so furiously incenst against them that some of them would have kill'd them immediately had not some Gentlemen rescued them pacified the others fury and afterwards placed a Guard over them for now they were resolved that since they had actively engaged themselves they would be no more obstructed in their prosecution by those grand Opposers who they well understood would be active enough in their endeavours for the destruction of that designe if at liberty and the ruin of the Actors in it being right-becked Committee-men of the Parliaments own bringing up as appeared afterwards by Sir Tho Honywood who being at liberty and at his own house at Coxwell alwayes an Enemy to the King and Kingdome made himselfe appear so really now by raising both Horse and Foot as many as by his power he could draw together either for love or fear and made his house a Garrison to oppose the County as much in him lay in their proceedings in that designe But his party proved so inconsiderable then as it could doe but little injury The businesse comming to this height his Excellence the Lord Norwich sent his orders to Sir William Compton to march away towards Chelmsford so we marched away from Stratford with our whole Party which by this time was well recruited by many of our men that came up and divers Prentices from London who came daily in and listed themselves And about Wensday night we met the Generall at Rumford but the Enemy marching after us so obstructed our march by Alaruming us in the Reare that the whole Body could not get up till the next morning though the Enemy durst not adventure in all the march to fall on upon the Reare guard The next day being the eight of June we marched on towards Burntwood whither Sir Charles Lucas was advanced with a Party both of Horse and Foot to joyne with us And having Intelligence how the Enemy followed us with Alarums in our Reare commanded forth all the Horse that were then in the Towne to assist us so we marched up and quartered that night at Brentwood and the next day being the ninth we marched on to Chelmsford where the Lord Capell the Lord Loughborow and divers Gentlemen of quality 〈◊〉 Hartfordshire and other Counties came in to joyn also with us which gave a great encouragement to our Army There came in a Party also of Gentlemen consisting of about fifty who entering their combination in London made their Rendevouze at Hideparke corner and marching all night the night before intended to beate up a quarter of the Enemies at Epping being in their way But the Party was drawne out by chance hard by the Towne upon some other designe so they were disappointed of their Strategem but though they found them ready drawne up in order yet unexpecting any affront not thinking of any Enemy they marched up and being well Horst charged through them and the next day came up to us having lost only one Man and one Horse but the Horse being a gallant one and taken by a Country-man was recovered againe the Gentleman that lost him comming off afterwards went out with a Party and fetcht that man in and so regained him That afternoone both Parties of Kentish and Essex were drawne out to a Rendevouze in Newhall Parke neere the Towne belonging to the Duke of Buckingham which Generall meeting gave much encouragement to both Parties Where the Generall and Sir Charles Lucas joyning in consultation the Gentlemen of both Counties also that by a unity in the engagement as well as the Interest there might be greater hopes of prosperous successe At which councell it was once a generall result to have marched away Immediately and fallen upon the Party of Sir Tho Honywoods at Coxwell but upon a more serious deliberation otherwise resolved on and orders given out for the quartering in the Towne that night But this Party of Coxwell disincouraged the Country that they began now to be very slack in their apearance to joyne in relation to what they were before not only by reason of Sir Thomas Honywoods activenesse but because of the Enemies entring also into the Country with their whole Body Saturday the tenth we marched on towards Brantree but tooke Leeds house in our march belonging to the Earle of Warwick where we were like to have beene opposed by some people who were purposely placed there and upon the Quartermastergeneralls comming thither to secure it from the violence of the Soldiers refused to open their gates being about twelve or more men with Fire-armes and two Drakes saying that they were placed there for the securing that house and they would rather die then deliver it up
Souldiers so remarkeably gallant before gave a curbe to that couragious spirit that guided their Actions in the honourable obedience and poysoned their disturbed brains into a frenzy of desperate mutiny round the Line In fome places threatning to cast their Officers over the Line So high a mutiny indeed it was grown before day that it was rather likely to end in an immediate ruine to themselves and Officers too than a 〈◊〉 for the Enemy never wanted their incendiaries amongst us to agravate any mischiefe that mightpost forward our destruction and wee might be assured would not only and did adde 〈◊〉 to this unnaturall combustion but give the 〈◊〉 notice thereof that they might make the best use of it Then the Lords and Sir Charls 〈◊〉 Sir William 〈◊〉 and Sir George Lisle expressed themselves indeed in all the proceedings men as active as honourable and beyond expression in both but never more than in the managing of this Businesse the rest of the Officers as diligently bestirring themselves also as could be expected and indeed to admiration so that at the last they had wrought a little mildnesse amongst them by endeavouring to give them all the satisfaction that could be in this their misapprehension Yet notwithstanding all endeavours to pacifie and allay this strangly conjured Devill it proceeded so on till it grew to such a height that many left their guards and got in crouds about the Line and at the last whilst the Councell of War was sitting selected about thirty which they sent to the Councell to know what their intentions were saying That if they would not make conditions for them and such as they should 〈◊〉 of they 〈◊〉 Article for themselves over the Line and leave their Officers to shift for themselves as they understood their Officers would have done by them This put the Councell of War into a great distraction the Souldiers till then never having acted any thing dishonourable or unlike the most gallant Souldiers that ever defended Town and had suffered the greatest inconveniencies that ever I think men did with as extraordinary 〈◊〉 never shewing the least discontent at any thing These comming to the House where the Councell sate sent in two which they supposed to be most able speakers who being called in The Lord Norwich assured them of the falsity of their allegation to confirme which he also gave them a true understanding of the designe telling them-also hat they were so far fro 〈◊〉 them or seeking any good that should not extend in as great a measure to the meanest Souldier amongst them as to themselves That they were resolved to give themselves a prey to their Enemies mercy as it proved indeed and cast 〈◊〉 into the greatest inconveniencies that cruelty of a bloody enemy could 〈◊〉 them with if thereby they might 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Souldiery from suffering and that it was their desires to deliver themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Enemy to purchase them an honourable liberty to which end they were Commissioning Gentlemen to the Lord Fairfax to Treat for it To which the Souldiers returned this Answer that they desired not any liberty that should be purchased at fo dear a rate with many affectionate expressions of their resolutions to serve their Officers again then or at any time when they should be commanded and departed very much satisfied which for the present appeased the Mutiny and so well indeed that through their own folly their misery was like to arise and began to examine how this jealousie began but now it was unseasonable And now it was as much too late to thinke of any thing but the worst of adverse Fortune for the superiours and present delivery the Enemy already knowing as much of our Condition in every respect as we our selves So the Souldiers being thus pacified and and 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it was generally resolved as most convenient in that condition to 〈◊〉 a Gentleman from the Councell to 〈◊〉 with the Enemy for conditions being frustrate of all hopes of longer subsistance or security or possibility of further attempting any designe Whereupon Col. Sam. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Honour and Ingenuity was immediately sent forth with full power to accept of any conditions he could obtein and to conclude before he came back who returned not till very late that night yet time enough to let us know the sad conclusion we were like to have For the General by the instigation ofhis Councel of war was fallen from those conditions which formerly he had offered and now they began to insult over our miseries and the best that could be obtained were to deliver our selves up the Souldiers Prisoners at War with all Officers under Captains and the Lords and other Officers and Gentlemen to submit to Mercy and that we should send the 〈◊〉 forth that were Prisoners with us the next morning if we would have any thing at all with him See a just judgment for disobedience in this reward these Souldiers gained to themselvs for their so tumultuous mutinous disorder their own thraldom 〈◊〉 proved ruine to many of them their 〈◊〉 destruction and for ought I know the ruine of a design that might else have been so prosperous as to give redemption to the whole Kingdome from that Vassalage it is unhappily plunged into The next morning being Sunday the 27 of August the Councell of Warre meeting again and this account given inthere was no refuge nor remedy left nor any thing to trust to but what conditions the Enemy would give us the Committee was therefore immediately dispatched and Col. Tuke with five other Officers sent forth again to the Enemy to confirm and signe Articles for rendition and manner of delivery The Soldiers of the Enemies Army and ours being already mixt on many places of the Line no fire given on either side as if we had been absolute Prisoners long 〈◊〉 any conclusion was made Towards night they came back and brought with them the articles which were to be put in execution the next morning The severall Regiments to lay down their Arms at their severall Posts and there to 〈◊〉 with their Officers under Captains till they should be disposed of The Lords with the rest of the Officers and Gentlemen to be by eight of the Clock in the morning at the Kings-head and 〈◊〉 Horses and Arms without any imbezilment in Saint Maries Church-yard All the Ordnance to be 〈◊〉 on the 〈◊〉 as they were planted all the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Match and Ball to be left in the 〈◊〉 at the Town Hall which was easily don for there was but one barrell and a halfe of powder left many great shot were indeed left in the Lord Capels quarters which the Enemy had shot into the Town and the Souldiers gathering up sold to him for six pence a Bullet But many of our Horses were taken violently out of their Stables by the Souldiers of the Leagure who flockt into the Town before the Gates were opened contrary to the Articles and
plundred every thing they could lay their hands on And now began the last sceene of this Tragedy The Lords and Gentlemen according to the Articles met at the Kings head the rest of the Army at their appointed places and all things ordered according to conditions about two of the clock in the Afternoon the Lord Fairfax entered the Town and rid it round to view our Line and shew himselfe in triumph to the inferior Souldiers but camenot near the Lords where he found a just cause for his admiration how it was possible we could maintaine it so long against him whose very name was as he thought enough to conquer Then he went to his quarters in the Town where a Councell of War immediately met according to his appointment to luxuriate their unsaciable mallice in a collation of Loyall blood and raise their trophees in ruine of Incomparable virtue And after they had insulted upon our conditions 〈◊〉 sported away some Votes of contempt upon us then lying at their unmercifull mercy they concluded their 〈◊〉 and decreed a barbarous sacrifice of innocent virtue and of some prey Then they sent Colonel 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to visit as we thought the Lords and Gentlemen but he brought a sentence of death in his heart though not 〈◊〉 in his mouth which easily discovered it selfe in his death-like 〈◊〉 Comming up into the Chamber first 〈◊〉 the Lords and afterwards came to Sir Charls Lucas and with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 told him That the Generall 〈◊〉 to speake with him at the 〈◊〉 of War with Sir George Lisle Sir 〈◊〉 Gasquoine and Colonell 〈◊〉 if he were there but he was not there so Sir Charls 〈◊〉 as presaging what indeed did afterwards follow took his 〈◊〉 leave of the Lords and the rest of his fellow prisoners that were neer him and calling Sir George Lisle who was in discourse and heard not what was spoke and Sir Bernard 〈◊〉 went 〈◊〉 with him leaving the rest of the 〈◊〉 with sympathizing Souls sighing prayers for them for well they might imagin what evill was intended 〈◊〉 them though they knew them guiltlesse of any thing that might justly bring their lives in question though 〈◊〉 the mercy of the Enemy it being a generall rule that the greatest expression of noble valour appears in the highest civility to an Enemy subjected to 〈◊〉 and was alwaies the practice of the most gallant Enemies in the World So 〈◊〉 Caesar having 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the field his most implacable Enemy pursued him into 〈◊〉 where when he came his head was presented to him treacherously taken off by Theodotus who thought 〈◊〉 that means to ingratiate himselfe into 〈◊〉 extraordinary favour with 〈◊〉 but he no sooner beheld it but 〈◊〉 of rejoycing at the 〈◊〉 of such an Enemy turned away his head and wept and understanding the actors of that 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 an 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 immediately 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be put to 〈◊〉 and had given the 〈◊〉 reward to the other had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Army and opposed him Many examples in 〈◊〉 kind 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 with but never any for men to murder with mercy But what should we expect in a Kingdom so heathenishly reformed but loyall obedience by pretended Law to be made Rebellion and horrid T placed Iudg of the Court whilst innocent Allegiance receives its deadly doome at the Bar. The Lords and Gentlemen sitting thus expostulating with their discontents and still revolving in their distracted minds what would be the event about an hower after came a Messenger from Sir Charls 〈◊〉 to desire a Chaplaine to be immediately sent to him which strook a dead sorrow in to the hearts of all Whereat the Lords desiring that no man might be a particular sufferer in so generall a cause called up one Captain 〈◊〉 an Officer of the Enemies and Intreated him to hasten to the Councell of 〈◊〉 and desire them in the behalfe of the Prisoners that they would not make those Gentlemen they had taken from them any greater sufferers then they intended to all who being all 〈◊〉 concerned in condition desire also to be so in suffering But all this could take no effect in them having past their doom without ever calling the convicted to the Court or Bar. A new unheard of way of condemning men in our Nation The Condemned though not Convicted Knights were immediately conducted to the Castle which was nothing now but a Dungeon and the County Goale Then Col. 〈◊〉 comming to them said they must prepare themselves for death Then Sir 〈◊〉 Lucas asked him by what Law they were to dye or whether by an Ordinance of Parliament by the Councell of Warre or by command of the Generall To which Ireton made this answer That it was by the Vote of the Councell of War according to an Order of Parliament by which Order all that were found in Arms were to be 〈◊〉 against as Traytirs Then Sir Charls Lucas replyed alas You deceive your selves me you cannot but we are conquered and must be what you please to make us with a countenance cheerfull as one going to a banquet rather than death not shewing the least symptome of feare but as it were scorning Death as much as he did the Instruments that gave it Only he desired time till the next morning as to settle some things in this World so especially to prepare and fit his Soul for another but that could not be granted then he went on again Sir Doe 〈◊〉 think I make this request 〈◊〉 of any desir I have to live or escape the death you have doom'd me to for I scorn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 life at your 〈◊〉 but that I might have time to make 〈◊〉 addresses to God above and settle some things below that I might not be thrown 〈◊〉 of this world with all my sins 〈◊〉 me But since it will not be by 〈◊〉 charity I must submit to the mercy of 〈◊〉 whose holy will be done Do your worst I shall soon be readyfor 〈◊〉 Sir George 〈◊〉 said very little only in the like manner desired a little respite that he might have time to write to his Father and Mother but was also denyed True Servants of their old Master and good practitioners in his doctrine thought it not enough to destroy the body but as much as in them lay to kill the Soule also But Colonel 〈◊〉 having taken his leave of them they took an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that poyson and went immediately to prayers Sir Charls Lucas first praying and breathing forth such zealous expressions and heavenly ejaculations that 〈◊〉 seemed translated already into another World while he was yet alive they afterwards prayed with the Chaplain and received the blessed Sacrament This religious devotion being finished they were hastned forth into the Castle-yard to be executed But Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ere they understood what Conntry-man he was and after they had again considered of him was reprieved out of the consideration that he was a stranger to the Kingdome