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
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
an overture was made by other Lords then about the King for a Peace with the Scots which soon after taking effect the King returned to Westminster where he had summoned his Parliament according to the advice of this Lord and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury both whom they rendred odious to the People upon the very account of being Enemies to Parliaments The very first thing of consequence done at the first Sessions was a charge exhibited by the House of Commons against this Earl which consisted of 28. Articles of high Treason Feb. 16 1640. The substance of them all was That he had endeavoured to subvert the fundamental Laws and Governments of the Realms of England and Ireland that he had done ill Offices betwixt the King and the Scots and betwixt the King and his Subjects of this Kingdom that he had advised the King to bring up the Army out of the North and overawe the Parliament and that he had informed his Majesty that he had an Army of 10000 men in Ireland ready to be transported for the same Service His Tryal thereupon April 13. ensued which was done with all solemnity a Court being made for the purpose with seats for both Houses and a Canopy for the King with a Terrasse before it The Earl of Arundel was Lord High Steward his Accusers were Pym St. Johns Whitlock Sr. Walter Earles Serjeant Glyn Maynard Stroud Mr. Selden Hambden c. The Lieutenant warded all their blows defending himself bravely and learnedly so that there was no hopes of prevailing against his innocence by the Law before the Lords that were his Judges But the implacable fury of the House of Commons since chey could effect nothing this way put them upon another which was to draw up a Bill of Attaindor and present it to the Lords whereby the matter of Fact was declared to have been sufficiently proved and then as to Law that he had incurred the censure of Treason the Lords stumbled at this way of proceeding as a path leading to their own destruction it being a course unsuitable to the practice and state of the Kingdom and their own safety and against Common Justice To this it was replied by the Commons that if the Lords would not joyn with them in this way they feared a rupture might follow for that the People would not be satisfied without Justice done upon the Earl as the Author of all their grievances The Lords stood for a while to their first determination and heard the Earl by his Council at their Bar as to matter of Law this made the House of Commons though the King in a set speech to them had cleared the Earl from any design of Treason or consulting to any arbitrary Government nor could he concur to punish him as a Traitor the more eager Whereupon the Londoners came down in Tumults crying Justice and threatning the Lords as aforesaid so that at last the said Bill ushered in by a Protestation passed the whole House of Commons nemine contradicente but the Lord Darby and one or two more and presently after the House of Lords where were present 45 26 against him and 19 for him most of his friends absenting themselves for fear of the multitude Immediatly the Kings assent was required to the Bill who consulted with the Bishops who all but the Bishop of London now his Grace of Canterbury and who as the King observed in his Book fared the best of all advised him against it but that which most swayed the King to sign it which he bitterly afterwards repented was a Letter of the Earls to his Majesty which being too long here to insert I shall only give you that Passage wherein he desires his Majesty to passe the Bill And therefore in few words as I put my self wholly upon the Honour and Justice of my Peers so clearly as to beseech your Majesty might please to have spared that Declaration of yours on Saturday last and intirely to have left me to their Lordships so now to set your Majesties Conscience c. at liberty I do most humbly beseech you for the preventing of such mischief as may happen by your refusal to pass the Bill by this means to remove praised be God I cannot say this accursed but I confess this unfortunate thing forth of the way towards that blessed agreement which God I trust shall for ever establish betwixt you and your Subjects Sir my consent herein shall more acquit you to God than all the World can do besides to a willing man there is no injury done c. I have also here inserted for their excellency and elegancy these two following Speeches the first at Westminster Hall to the Lords at the conclusion of his Trial the other at the Scaffold which are as follow MY Lords There yet remaines another Treason that I should be guilty of the endeavouring to subvert the fundamental Laws of the Land that they should now be Treason together that is not Treason in any one part of Treason accumulative that so when all will not do it is woven up with others it should seem very strange Under favour my Lords I do not concieve that there is either Statute Law nor Common-Law that doth declare the endeavouring to subvert the fundamental Laws to be high Treason For neither Statute-Law nor Common-Law written that ever I could here of declareth it so And yet I have been diligent to enquire as I believe you think it doth concern me to do It is hard to be questioned for life and honour upon a Law that cannot be shewn There is a Rule which I have learned from Sir Edward Cooke De non aparentitibus non existentibus eadem ratio Jesu where hath this fire lain all this while so many hundred of years without any smoak to discover it till it thus burst out to consume me and my children extreme hard in my opinion that punishment should precede promulgation of Law punishment by a Law subsequent to the Acts done Take it into your considerations for certainly it is now better to be under no Law at all but the will of men than to conforme our selves under the protection of a Law as we think and then be punished for a crime that doth precede the Law what man can be safe if that be once admitted My Lords it is hard in another respect that there should be no token set upon this offence by which we should know it no admonition by which we should be aware of it If a man passe down the Thames in a Boat and it be split upon an Anchor and no booy be ser as a token that there is an Anchor there that party that ows the Anchor by the Maritine Laws shall give satisfaction for the damage done but if it were marked out I must come upon my own peril Now where is a mark upon this crime Where is the token this is high Treason If it be under water and not above water no humane
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
Buckingham Earl of Peterborough Lord Francis Villers and Lord Peter who with a gallant company of men rendezvouz'd at Kingston where immediately Sr. Michael Livesey set upon them and routed them The Earl fled to St. Neets in Bedfordshire where in his Quarters he was taken by Collonel Scroop's Regiment of Horse where Collonel Dolbier was killed and by order of the Parliament sent Prisoner to Warwick Castle He continued there for the space of six moneths in pretty good health both of body and mind but as soon as he heard of the murther of the King his heart failed him and sickness seized on him so that he never dawed day afterwards nor could endure to stir out of his chamber lamenting the loss of his gracious Master and providing for his own violent dissolution the same way which being condemned by the same High Court of Iustice with my Lord Capel and Duke Hamilton he suffered on the same Scaffold His Lordships Speech on the Scaffold immediatly before his Death March 9. 1649. Holland IT is to no purpose I think to speak any thing here Which way must I speak And then being directed to the Front of the Scaffold he leaning over the Rayls said I think it is fit to say somthing since God hath called me to this place The first thing which I must profess is what concerns my Religion and my Breeding which hath been in a good Family that hath ever been faithful to the true Protestant Religion in the which I have been bred in the which I have lived and in the which by Gods Grace and Mercy I shall die I have not lived according to that Education I had in that Family where I was born and bred I hope God will forgive me my sins since I conceive it is very much his pleasure to bring me to this place for the sins that I have committed The cause that hath brought me hither I believe by many hath been much mistaken They have conceived that I have had ill Designs to the State and to the Kingdom Truly I look upon it as a Judgment and a just Judgment of God not but I have offended so much the State and the Kingdom and the Parliament as that I have had no extream vanity in serving them very extraordinarily For those Actions that I have done I think it is known they have been ever very faithful to the Publick and very particularly to Parliaments My Affections have been ever exprest truly and clearly to them The dispositions of Affairs now have put things in another posture then they were when I was engaged with the Parliament I have never gone off from those Principles that ever I have professed I have lived in them and by Gods Grace will die in them There may be Alterations and Changes that may carry them further then I thought reasonable and truly there I left them But there hath been nothing that I have said or done or professed either by Covenant or Declaration which hath not been very constant and very clear upon the Principles that I ever have gone upon which was to serve the King the Parliament Religion I should have said in the first place the Common-wealth and to seek the Peace of the Kingdom That made me think it no improper time being prest out by Accidents and Circumstances to seek the Peace of the Kingdom which I thought was proper since there was somthing then in Agitation but nothing agreed on for sending Propositions to the King that was the furthest aim that I had and truly beyond that I had no Intention none at all And God be praised although my Bloud comes to be shed here there was I think scarce a drop of Bloud shed in that Action that I was ingaged in For the present Affairs as they are I cannot tell how to judge of them and truly they are in such a condition as I conceive no body can make a judgment of them and therefore I must make use of Prayers rather then of my Opinion which are That God would bless this Kingdom this Nation this State that he would settle it in a way agreeable to what this Kingdom hath bin happily governed under by a King by the Lords by the Commons a Government that I conceive it hath flourished much under and I pray God the change of it bring not rather a Prejudice a disorder and a confusion then the contrary I look upon the Posterity of the King and truly my Conscience directs me to it to desire that if God be pleased that these people may look upon them with that Affection that they owe that they may be called in again and they may be not through bloud nor through disorder admitted again into that power and to that glory that God in their birth intended to them I shall pray with all my soul for the happiness of this State of this Nation that the Bloud which is here spilt may even be the last that may fall among us and truly I should lay down my Life with as much Chearfulness as ever person did if I conceived that there would be no more Bloud follow us for a State or Affairs that are built upon Bloud is a Foundation for the most part that doth not prosper After the Blessing that I give to the Nation to the Kingdom and truly to the Parliament I do wish with all my heart happiness and a blessing to all those that have been Authors in this business and truly that have been Authors in this very work that bringeth us hither I do not only forgive them but I pray heartily and really for them as God will forgive my sins so I desire God may forgive them I have a particular Relation as I am Chancellor of Cambridge and truly I must here since it is the last of my Prayers pray to God that that University may go on in that happy way which it is in that God may make it a Nursery to plant those persons that may be distributed to the Kingdom that the souls of the people may receive a great benefit and a great advantage by them and I hope God will reward them for their kindness and their affections that I have found from them * Looking towards Mr. Bolton I have said what Religion I have been bred in what Religion I have been born in what Religion I have practised I began with it and I must end with it I told you that my Actions my Life have not been agreeable to my Breeding I have told you likewise that the Family where I was bred hath been an exemplary Family I may say so I hope without Vanity of much affection to Religion and of much faithfulness to this Kingdom and to this State I have endeavoured to do those Actions that became an honest man and a good Englishman and which became a good Christian I have been willing to oblige those that have been in trouble those that have been in Persecution and truly
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
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
Commodity was Security to Us Peace to Our People And We are confident another Parliam would remember how useful a Kings Power is to a Peoples Liberty Of how much We have divested Our self that We and they might meet again in a due Parliamentary way to agree the bounds for Prince and People And in this give belief to our Experience never to affect more Greatness or Prerogative then what is really and intrinsecally for the good of your Subjects not satisfaction of Favorites And if you thus use it you will never want means to be a Father to all and a bountiful Prince to any you would be extraordinarily Gracious unto You may perceive all men trust their Treasure where it returns them Interest and if Princes like the Sea receive and repay all the fresh streams and Rivers trust them with they will not grudge but pride themselves to make them up an Ocean These Considerations may make you a great Prince as your Father is now a low one and your state may be so much the more established as mine hath been shaken For Subjects have learnt We dare say that Victories over their Princes are but Triumphs over themselves and so will be more unwilling to hearken to Changes hereafter The English Nation are a sober People however at present under some Infatuation We know not but this may be the last time We may speak to you or the world publickly We are sensible into what hand We are faln and yet We bless God We have those inward Refreshments that the malice of Our Enemies cannot perturb We have learnt to own our self by retiring into Our self and therefore can the better digest what befals Us not doubting but God can restrain our Enemies malice and turn their fierceness into his Praise To conclude if God give you success use it humbly and far from Revenge If he restore you to your Right upon hard conditions whatever you promise keep Those men which have forced Laws which they were bound to observe will find their Triumphs full of Troubles Do not think any thing in this world worth obtaining by foul and unjust Means You are the Son of our Love and as We direct you to what we have recommended to you so we assure you We do not more affectionately pray for you to whom We are a Natural Parent then We do that the ancient Glory and Renown of this Nation be not buried in Irreligion and Phanatick humour And that all Our Subjects to whom VVe are a Politick Parent may have such sober Thoughts as to seek their peace in the Orthodox Profession of the Christian Religion as it was established since the Reformation in this Kingdom and not in new Revelations And that the ancient Laws with the Interpretation according to known practises may once again be an hedge about them that you may in due time govern and they be governed as in the fear of the Lord. C. R. The Lord Capel beheaded March 9. 1949. in the Palace yard Westminster THis Noble Lord Noble in his Life nobler in his Death and Memory noblest in his Posterity who fill the trumpet of Fame that summons all men to render them their deserved honours though he was not like some of our foregoing Martyrs viz. Sr. Charles Lucas and Sr. George Lisle murthered in the instant of the rendition of Colchester having quarter for life given him by the General yet did not long survive their hard fate being brought with more solemnity more perfidiousness though alike glory to his Death which he suffered with a Christian and no Roman but Colchester Spirit and resolution He was no great Captain nor ever undertook such a charge serving without any signal command in his Majesties Armies though no doubt sufficient thereto yet he is no less to be eternized for his indeavours his courage constancy and faithful adherence to the King when deserted by a great part of the Nobility parting with and hazarding a great and ample Estate which was sequestred from him and in conclusion laying down his life so that he may justly be stiled one of the Worthies of the English Nobility and his name ever to be honourably mentioned according to that of the Psalmist Psal 112.6 The Righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance He was Son and Heir to Sr. Arthur Capel of Hadham Hall in Herefordshire a Gentleman of Great Estate and who loved and followed the old mode of our Nation kept a Noble and bountiful House and shewed forth his Faith by his charity extending it in such abundant manner to the poor that he was bread to the hungry drink to the thirsty eies to the blind and legs the the same so that he might justly be stiled Great Almoner to the King of Heaven As this diffusive charity and bounty spread it self abroad no less did his Relative love and Paternal affection bestow it self on this his Son whom he most liberally educated to a perfection in Learning as his rich expressions and elegant stile in his Book Printed after his death and in other letters do best evidence Sr. Arthur dying as this Noble Lord inherited his Estate so did he his Virtues his pious bounty appearing so conspicuous that some envious persons who hate good works in others because they will do none themselves have maliciously traduced him as inclining to Popery But as such aspersions amongst persons of understanding signifie nothing more than the speakers malice so wrought it in others a deserved commendation of this Noble Person especially in those times and our own are worse when Charity lay bed-rid and Faith only and such hungry notions were talkt of whereas his Faith appeared by his works From the degree of Knight the ancient Dignity of his Family now advanced to the Earldom of Essex he was made Baron Capel of Hadham a little before the time the Earl of Strafford received his Tryal which in this brave Lords conscientious Judgment of himself was his original condemnation in foro coeli During the Rebellion and those differences between the King and Parliament he constantly and faithfully adhered to his Majesty contributing both in purse and person to his aid and assistance being appointed in that time for his eminent wisdom and prudence Councellour to the Prince by the King his Father whom he abandoned not till the disbanding of my Lord Hopton's Army in Cornwall from whence his Highness took shipping to Scilly giving my Lord an honourable but sorrowful dismission and conge to return home and attend though his heroical mind spur'd him on to pursue his most unworthy fate For at his coming home upon those Articles having scarce warmed himself there after his long absence from thence but some hopes appearing of the King's restauration to his former Authority by the coming in of Duke Hamilton with a potent Army as also by the Welch Insurrection and the rising of several Counties who declared for the same purpose he with a select number of his friends acquaintance and
will make my conclusion with it that is That God Almighty would confer of his infinite and inestimable Grace and mercy to those that are the causers of my coming hither I pray God give them as much mercy as their hearts can wish and truly for my part I will not accuse any one of them of malice truly I will not nay I will not think there was any malice in them what other ends there is I know not nor will I examine but let it be what it will from my very Soul I forgive them every one And so the Lord of Heaven blesse you all God Almighty be infinite in goodnesse and mercy to you and direct you in those wayes of obedience to his Commands to His Majesty that this Kingdom may be an happy and glorious Nation again and that your King may be an happy King in so good and so obedient a people God Almighty keep you all God Almighty preserve this Kingdom God Almighty preserve you all Then turning about and looking for the Executioner who was gone off the Scaffold said which is the Gentleman which is the man Answer was made He is coming He then said Stay I must pull off my Doublet first and my Wastcoat and then the Executioner being come upon the Scaffold the Lord Capel said O friend prethee come hither Then the Executioner kneeling down the Lord Capel said I forgive thee from my Soul and not only forgive thee but I shall pray to God to give thee all grace for a better life There is five pound for thee and truly for my clothes and those things if there be any thing due to you for it you shall be fully recompenced but I desire my bedy may not be stripped here and no body to take notice of my body but my own Servants Look you Friend this I shall defire of you that when I lye down you would give me a time for a particular short Prayer Lieu. Col. Beecher Make your own sign my Lord. Capel Stay a little Which side do you stand upon speaking to the Executioner Stay I think I should lay my hands forward that way pointing fore-right and answer being made Yes he stood still a little while and then said God Almighty blesse all this people God Almighty slench this blood God Almighty stench stench stench this issue of blood this will not do the business God Almighty find out another way to do it And then turning to one of his Servants said Baldwin I cannot see any thing that belongs to my Wife but I must desire thee and beseech her to rest wholly upon Jesus Christ to be contented and fully satisfied and then speaking to his Servants he said God keep you and Gentlemen let me now do a business quickly privately and pray let mee have your prayers at the moment of death that God would receive my Soul L. Col. Beecher I wish it Capel Pray at the moment of striking joyn your Prayers but make no noise turning to his Servants it is inconvenient at this time Servant My Lord put on your cap. Capel Should I what will that do me good Stay a little it is well as it is now As he was putting up his hair And then turning to the Executioner he said honest man I have forgiven thee therefore strike boldly from my Soul I do it Then a Gentleman speaking to him he said Nay prethee be contented be quiet good Mr. be quiet Then turning to the Executioner he said Well you are ready when I am ready are you not and stretching out his hands he said Then pray stand off Gentlemen Then going to the front of the Scaffold he said to the People Gentlemen though I doubt not of it yet I think it convenient to ask it of you That you would all joyn in Prayers with me That God would mercifully receive my Soul and that for his alone mercies in Christ Iesus God Almighty keep you all Execut. My Lord shall I put up your hair Capel I I prethee do and then as he stood lifting up his hands and eyes he said O God I do with a perfect and willing heart submit to thy will O God! I do most willingly humble my self and then kneeling down said I will try first how I can Lye and laying his head upon the Block said Am I well now Execut. Yes And then as he lay with both his hand stretched out he said to the Executioner Here lie both my hands out when I lift up my hands thus lifting up his right hand then you may strike And then after he had said a short Prayer he lifted up his right hand and the Executioner at one blow severed his head from his body which was taken up by his Servants and put with his body into a coffin I Shall omit Duke Hamilton not only because of another Nation though a Peer of this but because it is in question whether he suffered not for obeying the commands of the Scotch Parliament and Kirk who sent him as General in that Expedition and that the Kings Interest was but collateral Let him therefore rest in his honourable grave while we softly and reverently pass over it to that of the Earl of Holland Henry Earl of Holland beheaded on the Scaffold in the Palace-yard at Westminster at the same time THis Lord in the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the Martyr was his special favourite and peculiar friend so that after that assassinate upon the Duke of Buckingham he was made Chancellor of the University of Cambridge having been newly before from Baron Rich of Kensington raised to the Honour of the Earldom of Holland and sent Colleague with the Earl of Carlisle in that splendid Embassy into France about the marriage of the Queen Mother Notwithstanding all these favours so freely conferred on him so uncertain variable and unobligeable are the minds of men for I cannot impute his siding with the Parliament to have been from any disgust or dislike he received from the King especially when Religion becomes the bone of contention he was one of those Lords that remained at London and made up a House of Peers although he never took up Arms Command or Employment against his good Master and Soveraign About the middle of the War sceing how unreasonably the Parliament persisted in carrying on the War being so often fruitlesly courted by the King to an accommodation he and the Earl of Bedford forsook their part and quarrel and escaped to the King at Oxford where finding not that kind and favourable reception they expected being looked on shily by the Court there especially this Lord he privately departed to London again having left a fair account of himself to the King But when the War was ended and the Parliament had refused to treat with his Majesty and so to settle the Kingdom he then took up Arms in earnest in the Kings behalf being real and cordial on this his last undertaking and engaged with him the Duke of