whom the Causes come which are unknown to the many could not or would not do Justice but at their appointment A way which may endanger many an Innocent man and pluck his bloud upon their own heads and perhaps upon the Cities also And this hath been lately practised against my self the Magistrate standing still and suffering them openly to proceed from Parish to Parish without check God forgive the setters of this with all my heart I beg it but many well meaning People are caught by it In St. Stephens case when nothing else would serve they stirred up the people against him and Herod went the same way when he had killed St. James yet he would not venter upon St. Peter till he found how the other pleased the people But take heed of having your hands full of bloud for there is a time best known to himself when God above other sins makes Inquisition for bloud and when that Inquisition is on foot the Psalmist tells us That God remembers but that 's not all He remembers and forgets not the Complaint of the Poor that is whose bloud is shed by oppression vers 9. take heed of this 'T is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God but then especially when he is making Inquisition for bloud And with my Prayers to avert it I do heartily desire this City to remember the Prophesie that is expressed Jer. 26.15 The third particular is the poor Church of England It hath flourished and been a shelter to other neighbouring Churches when storms have driven upon them But alas now 't is in a storm it self and God only knows whether or how it shall get out and which is worse than a storm from without it s become like an Oak cleft to shivers with wedges made out of its own body and at every cleft prophanenesse and irreligion is entring in while as Prosper speaks in his second Book De vit a contemptu cap. 4. Men that introduce prophanenesse are cloaked over with the name Religionis Imaginariae of Imaginary Religion for we have lost the Substance and dwell too much in Opinion and that Church which all the Jesuits machinations could not ruine is fallen into danger by her own The last particular for I am not willing to be too long is my self I was born and baptized in the bosome of the Church of England established by Law in that profession I have ever since lived and in that I come now to dye This is no time to dissemble with God least of all in matter of Religion and therefore I desire it may be remembred I have alwaies lived in the Protestant Religion established in England and in that I come now to dye What Clamours and Slanders I have endured for labouring to keep a Uniformity in the external service of God according to the Doctrine and Discipline of this Church all men know and I have abundantly felt Now at last I am accused of High Treason in Parliament a Crime which my Soul ever abhorred this Treason was charged to consist of these two parts An endeavour to subvert the Laws of the Land and alike Endeavour to overthrow the true Protestant Religion Established by Law Besides my answers to the several Charges I protested my Innocency in both Houses It was said Prisoners Protestations at the Bar must not be taken I can bring no witnesse of my heart and the intentions thereof therefore I must come to my Protestation not at the Bar but my Protestation at this hour and instant of my death in which I hope all men will be such charitable Christians as not to think I would dye and dissemble being instantly to give God an account for the truth of it I do therefore in the presence of God and his holy Angels take it upon my death That I never endeavoured the subversion either of Law or Religion and I desire you all to remember this Protest of mine for my Innocencie in these and from all Treâ—sons whatsoever I have been accused likewise as an Enemy to Parliaments No I understand them and the benefit that comes by them too well to be so But I did mislike the misgovernment of some Parliaments many waies and I had good reason for it For Corruptio optimi est pessima there is no corruption in the World so bad as that which is of the best thing in it self for the better the thing is in nature the worse it is corrupted And that being the highest Court over which no other have Jurisdiction when 't is mis-informed or mis-governed the Subject is left without all remedy But I have done I forgive all the World all and every of those bitter Enemies which have persecuted me and humbly desire to be forgiven of God first and then of every man whether I have offended him or not if he do but conceive that I have Lord do thou forgive me and I beg forgivenesse of him And so I heartily desire you to joyn in Prayer with me Oeternal God and merciful Father look down upon me in mercy in the riches and fulnesse of all thy mercies look upon me but not till thou hast nailed my sins to the Crosse of Christ not till thou hast bathed me in the bloud of Christ not till I have hid my self in the wounds of Christ that so the punishment due unto my sins may passe over me And since thou art pleased to try me to the utmost I humbly beseech thee give me now in this great instant full Patience proportionable Comfort and a heart ready to dye for thy Honour the Kings happinesse and this Churches preservation And my zeal to these far from arrogance be it spoken is all the sin humane frailty excepted and all incidents thereto which is yet known to me in this particular for which I now come to suffer I say in this particular of Treason but otherwise my sins are many and great Lord pardon them all and those especially what ever they are which have drawn down this present Judgment upon me and when thou hast given me strength to bear it do with me as seems best in thine own eyes and carry me through death that I may look upon it in what visage soever it shall appear to me Amen And that there may be a stop of this issue of bloud in this more than miserable Kingdom I shall desire that I may pray for the people too as well as for my self O Lord I beseech thee give grace of repentance to all Bloud thirsty people but if they will not repent O Lord confound all their devises Defeat and Frustrate all their designs and endeavours upon them which are or shall be contrary to the Glory of thy great Name the truth and sincerity of Religion the establishment of the King and His Posterity after Him in their just Rights and Priviledges the Honour and Conservation of Parliaments in their just power the Preservation of this poor Church in her Truth Peace
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
way now I have from them all received courtesie the Lord repay them I thank God I am otherwise bred and my Allegiance hath been incorporated embodred into my Religion and besides the great desires of other Gentlemen that I might go out of the World but that the World might see that the Grace of God hath had a perfect Reformation in me and a willing and thankful submission to his Will therefore I repent me not of it but I beseech Almightie God to bless and prosper all people whatsoever that to this Kingdom belong As my Speech is imperfect so is my health I have forced my self in this Discourse to give that satisfaction which I could And I beseech you Mr. Sheriff if you can hear of any Gentlemen that are wronged what I offer here I am to answer it and I beseech you join with me in your Christian prayers that I may have a passage whether I am now going to give an account not only of everie deed but of everie word Then turning to his Man he said Sir H. Hide John which is the Executioner The Executioner being brought to him he said Sir H. Hide Honest Friend I have no quarrel with you you are the welcom instrument do your work only let me set the place that I may fit my self for I have an infirm body Sheriff You shall when you have prayed if you please to pray first Sir H. Hide I desire to see the Block I can pray afterwards Here Mr. Executioner is that mony that is left here is four pounds for you Then being shewed the Block he kissed it saying Sir H. Hide It is unworthie for me to put my head where my Masters was blessed be God blessed be his holy Name putting off his Hat I have an infirmitie in my body but God hath enabled me inwardly Pray Mr. Sheriff let me have a little more room Sheriff Go to prayer and we will clear the room Sir H. Hide I have I thank Almighty God done those Christian Offices belonging to me at home I am come hither only to die Then kneeling down he said the Lords Prayer Then having prayed a short space he stood up and turning to the Executioner said Sir H. Hide Honest Friend I pray give me direction what I am to do and do your Office you will cure all diseases presently pray direct me Then the Executioner going to spread the Scarff over the Block he said Sir H. Hide Put it not on now but by and by D. Hide God Almightie strengthen you Sir H. Hide God reward you all Then the Executioner going to put up his hair under his Sattin Cap he thought he had been taking of it off whereupon he said Sir H. Hide Must I have my black Cap off it is very cold all these diseases will be cured the Lord be thanked Then going to lie down his Man not helping him he said Sir H. Hide John Help me a little I pray Did not I tell you I could neither rise nor fall Lay me down and lift me up again John Then rising again upon his knees he spake to the Executioner having the Ax in his hand Sir H. Hide Pray Sir give me the Ax. And then taking the Ax in his hand he kissed it and returned it to the Executioner again saying Sir H. Hide I will only say Lord Jesus receive my Soul and when I lift up my right-hand do your work And then lying down again after a little space he lift up his right-hand and the Executioner at one stroke severed his head from his body Mr. Benson Executed Octob. 7. at London 1650. THis person was ingaged and trapan'd into the same unfortunate business with Colonel Andrews on purpose by his means to draw in also Sir John Gell of whom before he having been a servant and retainer to the said Knight many years before He had also born office and had a command under him during the time Sir John serv'd the Parliament and numbred himself afterwards amongst these who being uncommissioned were generally known by the name of Reformadoes Upon these accounts he became obnoxious to them especially of the men at Westminster who by their instruments searching into his discontents soon worked him into the Plot. A capacious design it was which comprehended and included all interests Cavalier Presbyterian and Leveller together with those formerly cashier'd Officers under Essex and which had it taken its wicked intended effect would have made them appear so cunning and terrible so disheartned and terrified all men against opposing or endeavouring against the tyranny that their new Common-wealth would have been a solitude or wilderness where like beasts not men we should have been afraid one of another Col. Andrews at his taking was of opinion that this person was of the gang that betrayed him but in appeared to the contrary for Barnard had clearly possest him with the reality and feasibleness of the design into which he was so rationally as he thought and upon such sure grounds engaged such and such great persons being nominated as principal therein that not onely it was his belief but his confidence on which he had raised great hopes of advantage to himself that this meritorious piece of service would take effect Nay so certain was he that in the last trick put upon Colonel Andrews in reserence to the drawing in of Sir John Gell which was a menace that if the Colonel did not procure Sir Johns hand and seal the Confederates would themselves go over to the King in Holland and give such an account of the affair to his Majesty as should tend little to the crediand honour of them both that Mr. Benson was inveigled in the head he should be the man intrusted with the delivery thereof and receive the designed mony for the Colonel to defray the management of that service This conceit was so rooted in him that he quitted it not till he was really surprised and in custody Nay when there so strong was his fancy and so set upon the issue of this businesse that he complained to himself of the Colonel through whose backwardness and slow procedure therein he thought it only miscarried not yet dreaming that he was made the stalkingly-horse to his as well as their destruction It was imagined that they would have contented themselves with that industrious service he did them by so exactly realizing their counterfeit plot as a bird set to chirp others by his merry note into the snare but no such matter having mist the great ones they would be sure of the small to give some satisfaction to their unsatiable thiâ—st of blood and in order to some accomplishment of their design sacrifice one of a sort and interest to their policy and Government and him they marked out for a Reformado of whom by their claim of arrears due to them for service there was some danger and this was the most speedy and easie way of paying them At his Execution he spoke very little
thus made the unsearchable Providence of God all hands were set to work to demolish and throw down that goodly structure and Fabrick of Government under which this Nation had so long flourished upon the Support and Bâ—sis of the Three Estates The King the Lords Spiritual and Temporal To the Ruine of all which these New Modellers proceeded in this Method most prophetically foretold by that incomparable M. Hooker Hook Eccles Pol. Lib. 8. init under the Embleme of a stately and well-spreaded Tree consisting chiefly of 3 great Boughs to all which it seemed not at first expedient to offer the Edge of the Axe at once but rather to single them and strike at the weakest first making shew that the Lop of that one Dolus Intervalla scelerum poscebat Tacit. shall draw the more abundance of Sap to the other two that thereby they may the better prosper This was put in practice by our Deformers and the Bishops first designed to the Fatal Stroke the weighty Fall of whom was sure to draw down the other two with any the least touch together with them For a Parliament being called in Nov. 1640 with as much Clamour as Impudence did these Factious Incendiaries of the Puritan Party affront and assault the Members of both Houses thrusting their Demands into the Two Houses under the Title of Petitions being backt with armed Force and Violence several tumultuous Rabbles came swarming down to Westminster by the Kings Gates at White-Hall others in Boats and Barges armed likewise by water obtruding their unknown Caprichio's and conceits upon the Parliament many of whom were so far from checking or resisting so dangerous a Torrent which had overflowed the Banks of either Modesty Loyalty or Christianity that they rather abetted sided with and countenanced those treasonable Attempts nor did these Tumults cease till the King was forced to abandon his own House to save Himself His Honour and Conscience But before they began this great Enterprize upon a whole Order so rooted and setled by the Laws their Dignities and Revenues so reverenced and esteemed for their individual Persons and Worth by all men of Wisdom and Honour so supported and defended by the King and his Authority which at first they durst not grapple with his chief Ministers of State his Judges and for the greatest part of the Nobility they cast about how to effect their Tragical Intentions and Designs another more cruel but plausible way and indeed otherwise then so they could not possibly or at least probably have accomplished their Mischiefs Therefore they began with the Terrible Outcries of Justice of calling Delinquents and the Kings evil Counsellers words of course with Traytors to condigne punishment Many there were whom they had put down in their black List for such and many violent Speecâ—es were made by the Faction in the House of Commons concerning them that what they wanted in the matter substance of the Charge or guilt they might make up in the number quality of those whom they pretended to be guilty Divers of them to avoid the popular Fury knowing themselves to be marked out by the chief of the Faction for Ruine and withal that the grearness of their places could not consist without some little Offences which their enemies had opportunity to aggravate withdrew themselves out of a wise confideration of the prevalency and overbearing power of those men But some whose Honour and Innocency could endure no such Eclipses and betwixt whose greatness and Verrue they scorned the Vulgar and hopeless peopâ—es Oblequy should so interpose as to darken and obscure their Glory and Lustre stood still in their Orbs and Stations and shone with the same brightness of Integrity The pretended Crime was a dutiful Observation of the Fifth Commandment which lay in the way to their designed absolutenesse the Faction was engaged against all Power or Authority but that of their own Wils and could allow no render Consciences to the Second Table which having prophaned in the first and most important Command they easily contravened and abrogated the rest in murdering plundering and adulterating the Affections perjuring and insaâ—iably covering the Goods and Lives of their Fellow-Subjects who may deservedly be canonized for Martyrs for Confessing and Maintaining to their death so precious and so commanded a Duty of Loyal Obedience Amongst the first of these was the Earl of Sirafford a Person whom the Faction knew to be a firm Friend to the Bishops and a great Lover of that Sacred Function and Order one that had manifested that Affection to them in his Administration of the Government of Ireland a wise yea the wisest Subject in the Kingdom who stood as a Bulwark and Defence against all Invasions Plots and Conspiracies against either Church or State and without whose Removal they well knew they should effect nothing The King had summoned this very Parliament by his Advice concurring with others of his Council having called him out of Ireland somtime before to assist him in the War against the aforesaid Rebellious Scots as Lâ—Gen to his Army then upon the Borders from whence he was no sooner come to London and at the opening of the Parliament taken his Place in the House of Lords but a Charge of High Treason was exhibited against him by the Commons and thereupon he was committed to the Black Rod and from thence to the Tower of London This was the first Parliament wherein the Faction was predominant not that their particular number made them so but they closed with all Interests that were any way offended at the Government and some well-meaning men there were too that were led by the Nose by these forsooth good Patriots but having by these means got the Vote of the Commons in their own management they resolved noâ— to abate the least Ace of that Power The King in the beginning of the Parliament to remove all Distrust and Jealousie of him had granted them whatever they had demanded had signed the Bill for a Triennial Parliament had Enâ—cted that he would not dissolve this without the Consent of the Lords Commons themselves so that there rested nothing of the Kings part which Reasonable men could desire for him more to grant or they to ask therefore he took it very unkindly that in the midst of these Favours and Grants they should so unhansomly affront him in challenging his Prime Minister of State in so high a manner But they were resolved to passe the Limits of all Duty and Obedience and having the King so engaged as beforesaid and necessitated also for Money to put and impose any thing upon him though never so disagreeable to his honour and Conscience nay to common Reason To this purpose after the Charge was exhibited the Faction in the House and their Agents and Partisans in the City who had their Correspondents also in the Country as appeared afterwards by several Petitions brought out of divers Counties of England drew down a confused Râ—bble
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
providence can avail nor prevent my destruction Lay aside all humane wisdom and let us rest upon Divine Revelation if you will condemn before you forewarn the danger Oh my Lords may your Lordships be pleased to give that regard unto the Peerage of England as never to suffer our selves to be put on those nice points upon such contractive interpretations and these are where Laws are not clear or known If there must be a tryal of wits I do humbly beseech you the subject and matter may be somewhat else than the lives and honours of Peers My Lords we find that the primitive times in the progression of the plain Doctrine of the Apostles they brought the Books of curious Arts and burned them And so likewise as I do conceive it will be wisdom and providence in your Lordships for your Posterity and the whole Kingdom to cast from you into the fire these bloudy and most mysterious Volumes of Constructive and Arbitrary Treason and to betake your selves to the plain Letters of the Law and Statute that telleth us where the crime is and by telling what is and what is not shews us how to avoid it And let us not be ambitious to be more wise and learned in the killing Arts than our Forefathers were It is now full two hundred and forty years since ever any man was touched for this alledged crime to this height before my self we have lived happily to our selves at home and we have lived gloriously to the World abroad Let us rest contented with that our Fathers left us and not awaken those sleepy Lions to our own destructions by raking up a few musty Records that have lain so many Ages by the walls quite forgotten and neglected May your Lordships be nobly pleased to add this to those other mis-fortunes befallen me for my sins not for my Treasons that a president should be derived from me of that disadvantage as this will be in the consequent to the whole Kingdom I beseech you seriously to consider it and let not my particular Cause be looked upon as you do though you wound me in my interest in the Commonwealth and therefore those Gentlemen say that they speak for the Commonwealth yet in this particular I indeed speak for it and the inconveniencies and mischiefs that will heavily fall upon us for as it is in the first of Henry the Fourth no man will after know what to do or say for fear Do not put my Lords so great difficulties upon the Ministers of State that men of wisdom honour and vertue may not with chearfulnesse and safety be imployed for the Publick if you weigh and measure them by grains and scruples the publick affaires of the Kingdom will be laid wast and no man will meddle with them that hath honours issues or any fortunes to lose My Lords I have now troubled you longer than I should have done were it not for the interest of those dear pledges a Saint in Heaven left me I should be loath my Lords there he stopped What I forfeit for my self it is nothing but that my indiscretion should forfeit for my child it even woundeth me deep to the very Soul You will pardon my infirmitie something I should have said but I am not able and sighed therefore let it passe And now my Lords I have been by the blessing of Almighty God taught that the afflictions of this life present are not to be compared to the eternal weight of that glory that shall be revealed to us hereafter And so my Lords even so with tranquility of mind I do submit my self freely and clearly to your Lordships judgments and whether that Righteous judgment shall be to life or death The Earl of Straffords Speech on the Scaffold immediatly before his Execution on Tower-hill May 12 1641. My L. Primate of Ireland IT is my very great comfort that I have your Lordship by me this day in regard I have been known to you these many years and I do thank God and your Lordship for it that you are here I should be very glad to obtain so much silence as to be heard a few words but I doubt I shall not the noise is so great My Lords I am come hither by the good will and pleasure of Almighty God to pay that last Debt I owe to sin which is death and by the Blessing of that God to rise again through the Merits of Jesus Christ to Righteousnesse and Life Eternal Here he was a little interrupted My Lords I am come hither to submit to that Judgment which hath passed against me I do it with a very quiet and contented mind I thank God I do freely forgive all the world a forgivenesse that is not spoken from the teeth outwards as they say but from the very heart I speak it in the presence of Almighty God before whom I stand that there is not a displeasing thought arising in me towards any man living I thank God I can say it and truly too my Conscience bearing me witness that in all my employment since I had the honour to serve his Majesty I never had any thing in the purpose of my heart but what tended to the joynt and individual prosperity of King and People although it hath been my ill fortune to be mis-construed I am not the first that hath suffered in this kind it is the common portion of us all while we are in this life to erre righteous Judgment we must wait for in another place for here we are very subject to be mis-judged one of another There is one thing that I desire to free my self of and I am very confident speaking it now with so much chearfulnesse that I shall obtain your Christian Charity in the belief of it I was so far from being against Parliaments that I did alwaies think the Parliaments of England were the most happy Constitutions that any Kingdom or Nation lived under and the best means under God to make the King and People happy For my Death I here acquit all the world and beseech the God of Heaven heartily to forgive them that contrived it though in the Intentions and Purposes of my heart I am not guilty of what I die for And my Lord Primate it is a great comfort for me that his Majesty conceives me not meriting so severe and heavy a punishment as is the utmost Execution of this Sentence I do infinitely rejoyce in this Mercy of his and I beseech God return it into his own bosom that he may find mercy when he stands most in need of it I wish this Kingdom all the Prosperity and Happinesse in the world I did it living and now dying it is my wish I do most humbly recommend this to every one who hears me and desire they would say their hands upon their hearts and consider seriously whether the beginning of the happiness and Reformation of a Kingdom should be written in Letters of Blood consider this when you are at your
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
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
I find a great Reward of it for I have found their Prayers and their kindness now in this distress and in this condition and I think it a great reward and I pray God reward them for it I am a great sinner and I hope God will be pleased to hear my prayers to give me faith to trust in him that as he hath called me to death at this place he will make it but a passage to an eternal Life through Jesus Christ which I trust to which I rely upon and which I expect by the Mercy of God And so I pray God bless you all and send that you may see this to be the last execution and the last bloud that is likely to be spilt among you And then turning to the side-rayl he prayed for a good space of time after which Mr. Bolton said My Lord now look upon him whom you have trusted My Lord I hope that here is your last Prayer there will no more Prayers remain but Praises and I hope that after this day is over there will a day begin that shall never have end and I look upon this my Lord the Morning of it the Morning of that day My Lord You know where your Fulness lies where your riches lie where is your only Rock to anchor on you know there is fulness in Christ If the Lord comes not in with fulness of Comfort to you yet resolve to wait upon him while you live and to trust in him when you die and then say I will die here I will perish at thy feet I will be found dead at the feet of Jesus Christ Certainly he that came to seek and save lost sinners will not reject lost sinners when they come to seek him He that intreateth us to come will not sleight us when we come to intreat him My Lord there is enough there and fix your heart there and fix your eyes there that eye of Faith and that eye of Hope exercise these Grace now there will be no exercise hereafter As your Lordship said here take an end of Faith and take an end of Hope and take a Farewel of Repentance and all these and welcome God and welcome Christ and welcome Glory and welcome Happiness to all Eternity and so it will be an happy passage then if it be a passage here from misery to happiness And though it be but a sad way yet if it will bring you into the presence of Joy although it be a Valley of Tears although it be a shadow of death yet if God will please to bring you and make it a passage to that happiness welcome Lord. And I doubt not but God will give you an heart to tast some sweetness and Love in this bitter Potion and to see somthing of Mercy and Goodness to you and shew you some sign and token of good so that your soul may see that which we have had already experience of blessed be God for it many Experiences many Expressions not only in words nor tears God hath not left us without much Comfort and evidence and I hope my Lord you that have given so many Evidences to us I hope you want none your self but that the Lord will be pleased to support you and bear up your Spirit and if there want Evidence there is Reliance my security lies not in my knowing that I shall come to Heaven and come to Glory but in my resting and relying upon him when the Anchor of Faith is thrown out there may be shakings and tossings but there is Safety nothing shall interrupt Safety although somthing may interrupt Security my safety is sure although I apprehend it not and what if I go to God in the dark What if I come to him as Nicodemus did staggering in the night It is a night of trouble a night of darkness though I come trembling and staggering in this night yet I shall be sure to find comfort and fixedness in him And the Lord of Heaven be the strength stay and support of your soul and the Lord furnish you with all those Graces which may carry you into the besom of the Lord Jesus that when you expire this life you may be able to expire it into him in whom you may begin to live to all Eternity and that is my humble Prayer Holland M. Bolton God hath given me long time in this world he hath carried me through many great accidents of fortune he hath at last brought me down into a condition where I find my self brought to an end for a dis-affection to this State to this Parliament that as I said before I did believe no body in the world more unlikely to have expected to suffer for that cause I look upon it as a great Judgment of God for my sins And truly Sir since that the death is violent I am the less troubled with it because of those violent deaths that I have seen before principally my Saviour that hath shewed us the way how and in what manner he hath done it and for what cause I am the more comforted I am the more rejoyced It is not long since the King my Master passed in the same manâ—er and truly I hope that his purposes and intentions were such as a man may not be ashamed not only to follow him in the way that was taken with him but likewise not ashamed of his putposes if God had given him life I have often disputed with him concerning many things of this kind and I conceive his sufferings and his better knowledge and better understanding if God had spared him life might have made him a Pr. very happy toward himself this Kingdom I have seen and known that those blessed souls in Heaven have passed thither by the gate of sorrow and many by the gate of violence and since it is Gods pleasure to dispose me this way I submit my soul to him with all comfort and with all hope that he hath made this my end and this my conclusion that though I be low in death yet nevertheless this lowness shall raise me to the highest glory for ever Truly I have non said much in publick to the People concerning the particular Actions that I conceive I have done by my Counsels in this Kingdom I conceive they are well known it were somthing of vanity methinks to take notice of them here I 'le rather die with them with the comfort of them in my own bosom that I never intended in this Action or any action that ever I did in my life either malice or bloudshed or prejudice to any creature that lives For that which concerns my Religion I made my Profession before of it how I was bred and in what manner I was bred in a Family that was looked upon to be no little notorious in opposition to some liberties they have conceived then to be taken and truly there was some mark upon me as if I had some taint of it even throughout my whole
Grace And this is certain the riches of his Grace he throweth amongst men that the Glory of his Grace might be given to himself if we can give him but the Glory of his Grace we shall never doubt to partake of the riches of it and that Fulness My Lord that fulness be your Comfort that fulness of Mercy that fulness of love that fulness of righteousness and power be now your riches and your only stay and the Lord interpose himself between God and you as your Faith hath endeavoured to interpose him between God and your soul so I doubt not there he stands my Lord to plead for you and when you are not able to do any thing your self yet lie down at the feet of him that is a merciful Saviour and knows what you would desire and wait upon him while you live trust in him when you die â—here is riches enough and mercy enough if he open not yet die at his door say there I 'le die there is Mercy enough Holland And here is the place where I lie down before him from whence I hope he will raise me to an eternal glory through my Saviour upon whom I relie from whom only I can expect Mercy into his Arms I commend my Spirit into his bleeding Arms that when I leave this bleeding body that must lie upon this place he will receive that Soul that ariseth out of it and receive it into his eternal mercy through the Merits through the worthiness through the Mediation of Christ that hath purchased it with his own most precious Bloud Bolton My Lord though you conclude here I hope you begin above and though you put an end here I hope there will never be an end of the Mercy and goodness of God and if this be the Morning of Eternity if this be the rise of Glory if God pleaseth to throw you down here to raise you up for ever say Welcome Lord welcome that death that shall make way for life and welcom any condition that shall throw me down here to bring me into the possession of Jesus Christ Hodges My Lord if you have made a Deed of Gift of your self to Jesus Christ to be found only in him I am confident you shall stand at the day of Christ my dear Lord we shall meet in happiness Holland Christ Jesus receive my soul my soul hungers thirsts after him clouds are gathering and I trust in God through all my heaviness and I hope through all impediments he will settle my Interest in him and throw off all the claim that Satan can make unto it and that he will carry my soul in despight of all the calumnies and all that the Devil and Satan can invent will carry it into eternal mercy there to receive the blessedness of his Presence to all Eternity Hodges My Lord it was his own by creation it is his own now by Redemption and purchase and it is likewise his own by resignation O my Lord look therefore up to the lamb of God that sits at the right hand of God to take away the sins of the world O that lamb of God! Holland That Lamb of God into his hands I commit my soul And that Lamb of God that sits upon the Throne to judge those 24 that fall down before him I hope he will be pleased to look downward and judge me with mercy that fall down before him and that adore him that only trusts upon his Mercy for his compassion and that as he hath purchased me he would lay his claim unto me now and receive me Bolton My Lord think of this there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ who is it that can condemn it is Christ that justifies and therefore look now upon this My Lord upon this Christ upon this Christ that justifies Hell Death Sin Satan nothing shall be able to condemn it is Christ that justifies you Holland Indeed if Christ justifie no body can condemn and I trust in God in his justification though there is a confusion here without us and though there are wonders and staring that now disquiet yet I trust that I shall be carried into that mercy that God will receive my Soul Bolton I doubt not my Lord but as you are a Spectacle of Pitty here so you are on Object of Gods mercy above Holland Then the Earl of Holland looking over among the People pointing to a Souldier said This honest man took me a Prisoner you little thought I should have been brought to this when I delivered my self to you upon conditions and espying Captain Watson on horse-back putting off his hat said to him God be with you Sir God reward you Sir Bolton My Lord throw your self into the arms of mercy and say there I will Anchor and there I will die he is a Saviour for us in all conditions whither should we go he hath the words of eternal life and upon him do you rest wait while you live and even trust in Death Holland Here must now be my Anchor a great storm makes me find my Anchor and but in storms no body trusts to his Anchor and therefore I must trust upon my Anchor Upon that God said Mr. Bolton Upon whom your Anchor trusts yeâ— God I hope will Anchor my Soul fast upon Christ Jesus and if I die not with that clearnesse and heir inesse that you speak of truly I will trust in God though he kill me I will relie upon him and in the Mercy of my Saviour Bolton There is mercy enough my Lord and to spare you shall not need to doubt they shall never go begging to another door my Lord that come to him Then the Earl of Holland speaking to Mr. Hodges said I pray God reward you for all your kindness and pray as you have done instruct my Family that they may serve God with faithfulness and holiness with more diligence than truly I have been careful to presse them unto you have the charge of the same place you may do much for them and I recommend them to your kindnesse and the goodnesse of your Conscience Dr. Sibbald standing upon the Scaffold in his passage to Col. Beecher expressed himself thus to his Lordship Dr. Sibbald The Lord lift up the light of his Countenance upon you and you shall be safe Holland Then the Earl of Holland embraced Lieutenant Col. Beecher and took his leave of him After which he came to Mr. Bolton and having embraced him and returned him many thanks for his great pains and affections to his Soul desiring God to reward him and return his love into his bosom Mr. Bolton said to him The Lord God support you and be seen in this great extremity the Lord reveal and discover himself to you and make your death the passage unto eternal life Then the Earl of Holland turning to the Executioner said here my friend let my Cloathes and my Body alone there is Ten pounds for thee that is better than
there were blank Commissions signed by the King to the purport aforesaid were found with him and carried to the Council who thereupon ordered him to be proceeded against as a spie and referred him to a Council of War Accordingly he was soon afterwards tried by a Court Martial where he did not excuse himself or extenuate his fault but very modestly handsomly acknowledged their allegations against him and the justice of his cause of which he told them he was no way ashamed but if it must be so would willingly lay down his life in the owning of it He told them moreover that he was bound indispensably by the Laws of God and this Kingdom to do what he did and so referred himself to them They very earnestly pressed him to reveal the other parties engaged with him and gave him some fallacious hopes of life if he would freely declare them but those offers prevailed not with him being resolved to suffer and take all upon himself rather then to ruine others whom they could not fasten upon without his discovery So the Court proceeded to Sentence which was that he should be hanged over against the Exchange in Cornhill in Exchange time which after some little preparation was executed he being brought in a Coach from the Mews with the Executioner vizarded with him and a Troop of Horse to guard him to the said place where the Sheriffs received him into their charge After he alighted and some words passed between them concerning the said discovery he told them they should not expect it and desired them to forbear any further trouble to that purpose and so ascended that ladder which reached unto heaven wherein he prayed very fervently for the King and the Church and commended his soul into the hands of the Redeemer and so concluded his last breath which at the falling of his body mounted his soul to heaven in whose blissful mansions he nows sings Hallelujah for ever Colonel Eusebius Andrews beheaded on Tower-hill August 22. 1650. THis Gentleman a most sincere and religious Protestant being by profession a Counsellour of Grays-Inn and who during the War had followed the Kings fortune out of Conscience of his obedience and duty was most wickedly trapand by the said Council of State and their Officers to his lamentable death a Narative of the whole take as followeth On Monday the 24 of March 1649. Collonel Andrews was taken prisoner at Graves-end by Major Parker and by a Troop of Horse that night conveighed to the George in Kings-street Westminster The next day he was convented before the President Bradshaw Sir Henry Mildmay and Thomas Scot three members of the said Council delegated by them for the taking of the Examination of him and of Sir Henry Chichley Doctor Henry Edwards and Mr. Clark casually found in the same Inne with Mr. Andrews These Gentlemen examined him so punctually to every action and circumstance that had passed on his part since he took up Armes and especially since the render of Worcester and his return from thence to London and also concerning his several Lodgings Names Acquaintances Removes Abodes in the Country correspondencies by Letters and interests in places and persons as if they had kept a Diary for him Which considered and that Sir John Gell Baroner Major Bernard Captain Smith Captain Benson and Capt. Ashley with whom he had the last and most questionable correspondency were all in custody he found himself to be betrayed but could not at present guesse by whom but well saw that he had better be fair in his Confession then to deny what he saw by the perfectness of his Examiners would be proved against him by the discovery of those formerly secured and examined before his coming up and so resolved to bear the worst and not so much to shame himself or the matter as to deny things evident or easily proveable but rather to cast himself upon God and come off as well as he could with a truth in his mouth In his Answers he would have been circumstantial but was kept close to the Question At his departure he desired he might set down his own Narrative according to his own sense which was granted him to prepare and to send or bring them as there was opportunity And having totally and as much as in him lay excused his fellow-prisoners as to any thing related to his Delinquency he was with them committed to the Gate-house Wednesday following he was re-convented and re-examined and on Friday again convented and delivered in his Narrative to the Lord President and by him without further words returned On Saturday he was re-called and then as at all times before used and treated with civility being only much pressed to discover some great Persons his supposed Confederates their aym being as he supposed at Sir Guy Palms Sir John Curson and Sir Thomas Whitmore c. But it was a great blessing in his unhappiness that it was not cumulative nor fatal to any of his friends and familiars who yet knew nothing of the reason of his imprisonment more then by common same On Sunday next he was called out of his bed and by two Messengers his keeper and his man brought into a Boat at Kings-bridge Westminster and thence carried to the Tower The Warrant which was read at the Lieutenants house imported That he was committed close prisoner for high Treason in endeavouring to subvert the present Government to be kept till delivered by Law He was designed for a Prison-lodging by Col. West the Lieutenant but upon notice of his quality he was put into the custody of Mr. Slaidon one of the Warders in his house equally convenient with the best At his first coming to the Tower he had but two shillings in his Purse and supposing he should be provided for at the States-charges he sent to the Lieutenant to know what he would order for him who returned that if he had money he might have what he would but at his provision nothing His keeper was upon his delivery to his charge commanded to keep him safe and if he escap'd threatned to be hanged and a Sentinel set immediately at his door and that day two Gentlewomen coming to see him were all imprisoned in the Round-house and next day carried to the Council of State and strictly examined His Waterman that week brought him some money for which and some affectionate words spoken of him he was brought before the President examined rebuked and dismissed and a Centinel set at Mr. Andrew's window that he might not speak to any without His Case was this His Engagement for his late Majesty began in 1642. and continued until the surrender of Worcester 1645. He compounded not for his Delinquency not having a considerable and not willing to own an inconsiderable Estate He took neither Protestation Solemn League and Covenant Negative Oath nor subscribed Engagement At his return to London to a private practice in his Calling for his necessary support John
what he did neither directly deny nor was troubled that he did aver And then declared to Bradshaw that he looked upon Sir John Gell as upon himself a betrayed man and so was dismist that time The noble Colonel understanding those Gentlemen taken with him were in restraint writ to Sir Henry Mildmay concerning them in these words Honour'd Sir The past Noblenesse I am sensible at your hands as civilly treating me when before the State though a great Delinquent gave me this encouragement and you the trouble of this Address It is no small encrease of my proper misfortune that I see such who were taken with me as Companions to my Person to share so deep in the punishment as do those Gentlemen Mr. Edwards and Mr. Clark persons so free from the guilt of my evil that I am confident they cannot give account for what cause I am deservedly a prisoner though it were made the price of their liberty I am an humble Suitor to you that you would take them into your favourable consideration and mediate their enlargement and that you would not let them have a worse place in your thoughts for that they are recommended to your Favour by c. The Colonel several times took upon him to aver to the Council of State that they had Spies upon him for some years and particularly that infamous fellow Barnard which Bradshaw denyed not but justified the State by the practice of all Governments to set Watches upon persons of ill affection to them Being in this condition he was advised to Petition the Tyrannical Council which according to some of their own Directions was this To the Right Honourable the Lord President and Council of State The Humble Petition c. Shews THat your Petitioner is deeply sensible and humbly acknowledgeth that for his high Delinquency against the State he is become forfeited to their Justice That he hath not in the least prevaricated with your Lordships in the confession of his proper faults and follies nor hath kept ought reserved concerning himself or any person or they which may satisfie your Lordships and more secure the State and is not hopeless to be look'd upon as capable of your present favour and future mercy which he now and shall always implore That his present deserved Condition is made more uncomfortable by his wants and the exclusion of his Friends and Relations without a supply in which life it self becomes a punishment Your Petitioner casting himself at your Lordships feet humbly prays That his being prosecuted before the High Court of Justice may be suspended that by your order his past and future charges of necessaries may be discharged while he remains your prisoner That his Friends and Kinrea may have recourse to him and that he may have the freedom of his Pen. And in case your Petitioner shall be found in the lâ—ast to misapply these favours he shall adjudge himself worthy of a total deprivation of them and your future goodness towards him And Your c. These were seconded with several other Petitions especially one to the Parliament and back'd with Letters to the Speaker and the Lieutenant of the Tower in referrence to maintenance and freedom of persons coming to him which with great difficulty and by express order too of the Council was hardly obtain'd by a Gentlewoman of quality his friend Having endured a tedious imprisonment of sixteen weeks having nothing altered from those cruel Statesmen he was at last in the Month of August brought to his tryal before a High Court of Justice against whose Jurisdiction and Authority he learnedly and bravely spoke and a large denyed their power of trying and condemning any Freeman of England their Erection being contrary to all the Laws of the Kingdom the beginning of his first argument from not pleading to his Charge was this My Lords and you Gentlemen Members of this Honourable Court. I Have as becomes me been attentive to the Charge which hath been read against me It appears in that dress that it is put alreadly though I presume it shall be clad in other Apparrel by Mr. Attourny so specious and great as that my friends if I have any here begin to fear the indifferent to doubt and the partial to defire and joyn in my condemnation my self I hope I am not partial to my self believe that it will be no more then the Mountains labour and when it shall come to be opened will prove inane aliquod like the Apples of Sodom that however they take the first sense the eye as this the ear do rather foul the fingers that touch them then satisfie the appetite in expectation upon them My Lord I am at an unusual Bar engaged in a great Cause of a far and extendible Concernment my fee is life and my dutie is self-preservation which in it self were less considerable if by a president of my suffering the Consequence would not prove mischievously Epidemical I do not refuse to plead to the Charge but humbly crave leave to offer my Reasons for the suspending of my Plea And if I be importunate yet within the bounds of civility I beg Your pardon that I may have a free full and uninterrupted hearing He proceeded with admirable Elegance and strength of Argument and Reason throughout his Tryal But that bloody Court and cruel Attourney Gen. Prideaux over-ruled them all telling him that the Court was not at leisure to take notice of those Law-Cases but of his Confession that he had an affection to it though nothing acted and that was sufficient Treason and for that affection he deserved Death and thereupon the Court pronounced sentence against him that he should be beheaded Thus was the Birth-right of a Freeman of England denyed by wicked Murtherers whose will was their only Law Between Sentence and Execution he received a preparatory Letter to Death from a Dear friend to which he returned this answer Friend Your words sent to me were such and so seasonable that I have given them the same entertainment as becomes me to afford to Apples of Gold and Pictures of silver and if I be after my decollation dissected you may finde them in my heart where you always have had a Mansion If fear were absolutely a necessary passion by which to denote a man I must as yet be accounted among some other Species of Animality The fear of Isaac hath banish'd all other dreadings I look upon Death as upon that Rod in the hand of God with which he would not have corrected me if less correction would have serv'd turn and which he doth now exercise upon me because he is resolved not to let me be less then a Son beloved and I am content to bear the stripes and kiss the Instrument I am sorry that my Rod is bound together with the sin of my Betrayer and wish him Repentance that when the Rod comes to be burned he suffer not in the flame I am proud and covetous to be released from
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
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
information I thought fit to propose and do humbly crave their pardon if this weak and mean endeavour cannot reach that grandeur of Spirit with which they constantly endured their fiery tryals and dreadful and doleful sufferings I observe the order of time and not of Dignity and shall begin with the right Honourable the Lord Finch of Fordwich who being Lord Keeper of the Seal upon their arbitrary proceedings against the life of the Earl of Strafford wisely withdrew himself and endured banishment and exile from his own Country for sixteen years and then returned and died in Honour His faithful serving his Soveraign in that great employment being all his charge and accusation Mr. Secretary Windebanke who pursued the same course to avoid the Popular fury and died abroad The Right reverend Father in God Matthew Lord Bishop of Ely who with eleven more of his Sacred Order were committed to the Tower in 1641 from which imprisonment he never â—irred till the end of the year 1659 at which time by the means of the ever renowned Lord General the Duke of Albemarle he was set at liberty from thence in kind remembrance of those fatherly counsels and happy advice the said noble Duke had during his restraint in the same place for the same account of Loyalty received from this reverend Bishop who is now reestablished in this same Diocesse to the Honour and support of this restored Church Doctor Featly a very Learned Religious and grave Divine to whom this Church oweth much for his accurate defences of its Doctrine and Discipline being for no other cause committed to Peter House by an Order of Parliament languished there a year and a half and with much importunity was at last removed to Chelsey Colledge for the aire but he died there within three weeks after his coming being too far spent by his barbarous misusage Sir Robert Heath Lord Chief Justice of England known so well for his integrity and moderation and as famous for his constant Loyalty of whom quarrelsome John Lilburn a sworn Enemy to the Royal Party gave so noble a character before his Judges at Guild-hall forced to abandon his Country fled over towards the expiration of the War into France being by the bloody prevalent Faction at Westminster excepted from mercy not long after the Kings death with grief and anxiety of mind to see the miseries and ruines of the King and his Country he himself died at Caen in Normandy and was received no doubt into mercy Judge Bartlet who weathered the same Storm being the first committed of that reverend Robe and long survived their high and insignificant charge and accusation This gives us an Evidence of the intended Justice of the Reformers who would first put out the eyes of the Law that the Subject might see the better Sir Ralph afterwards Lord Hopton who so couragiously and prudently and as an Expert Captain commanded for the King in the West and had so many notable successes after his disbanding in Cornwall he took Shipping with the Prince our now Soveraign into the Island of Scilly and from thence into France following the Kings hard Fortune in all his peregrinations till Death arrested him at Paris and put an end to his Travel Judge Jenkins one of his Majesties Justices in Wales brought to the Chancery Bat for some misdemeanours of Loyalty where he denied the Authority of the Court for that the Seal was contrary to Law as well as the Commissioners whereupon he was sent to the Tower where he persisted in his integrity published several Presidents and Statutes and argued them Rebels and owned the same again at other bars did what he could to set the Army and the Parliament together by the ears desied them and their threats and asserted the King and the Laws against their usurpation was continued a close Prisoner till they were weary of him and then was sent to Windsor in the same quality where he continued of the same mind till without thanks he was permitted the liberty of the Town This brave stout person is yet living but when dead his memory shall endure for evermore Mr. Secretary Sir Edward Nicolas who constantly abode with the King from the beginning of his troubles and afterwards continued the same Service and Office to his present Majesty in all his troubles abroad by no less trouble than Honour having faithfully and prudently managed that employment to the happy effect of his Majesties Restitution Sir Edward Hide now the Right Honourable Earl of Clarendon Lord Chancellour of England the Counsel-Favourite of his late Martyr'd Majesty and therefore no wonder so hated by the Faction at Westminster and traduced by their scandalous Votes being excepted likewise out of their mercy He not only continued the same advice but also saw it in conclusion attain that successe to which it had alwaies been directed but had missed of approbation till the general applause and shouts of our Deliverance The Lord Wilmot afterwards by King Charles the Second made Earl of Rochester who throughout the War particularly at Roundway Down neer the Devizes so valiantly behaved himself passed over with the Prince and my Lord Hopton into Scilly and accompanied his Highnesse in all those difficulties he passed more especially at Worcester and in his Majesties happy conveyance from thence which he principally managed And here I must not omit the Duke of Buckingham with an honourable reference also to his noble Brother my Lord Francis Villers who young at Kingston as in the primitive times gave early testimony to this cause the valiant Earl of Cleveland the Lord Wentworth his Son and other Gentlemen in that Expedition who suffered for their assistance and obedience to his Majesty in those commands As also my Lord Gerard now Captain of his Majesties Life-guard who bore part afterwards as well as before in the calamity and misfortune of the Kings adventures in forrein parts My Lord Wilmot unhappily died a little before the Kings restitution and hath left behind him the sweet favour of a most Loyal affection to his Majesty Nor without due observation can I pass by the Earl of Norwich my Lord Loughborough Bernard Gascoign Col. Far Squire Hales and the rest engaged in that design at Colchester nor Sr. John Owen for the same endeavour in Wales being condemned with the said Earl of Norwich by the High Court of Justice but must give their names and memories their veneration Nor likewise the right reverend Dr. Shelden now Lord Bishop of London and the famous Dr. Hamond who were a long while in restraint and threatned with more cruelties at the same time expecting to have been transported to some forreign plantations Dr. John Berkenhead who so hazardously and in so very great dangers and several imprisonments asserted his Majesties cause in its lowest extremities this Gentleman is so deservedly well reputed that this mite will signifie nothing Sr. Marmaduke Langdale now Lord Langdale a Person not inferiour to any of his Majesties