County of Nottingham HAs deposed upon Oath that in the summer of 1642. he painted by command of my Lord â—eâ—mant the great Standard of War that was planted upon the high Tower of the Castle of Nottingham and that he often saw the King thereabout at the same time that his Standard was erected and displayed Edward Robert of Bishops Castle in the County of Salop. BEing also examined upon his Oath has deposed that he saw the King in Nottingham whilest his great standard was planted and displayed upon a Tower of the Castle and that he saw the King march at the head of his Army from Shrewsbury to Edge-hill being in the Reer-gard upon the Field where the battle was fought and that also he saw him on Sunday at Brainford after the combat of Saturday-night precedent John Penninger of Hayner in Darby-shire BEing examined upon Oath hath testified that about August 1642. he saw the great standard of War displayed upon one of the Towers of Nottingham Castle that the same day he also saw the King in Thurland-house belonging to the Earle of Clare at Nottingham with Prince Robert Sir Kelam Digby and divers other Lords and people of other condition and that the King had then Canons in the Town that was full of Souldiers Samuel Lawson Brewer of Nottingham HAs deposed upon Oath that about August 1642. he saw the great standard of War brought down from the Castle of Nottingham by divers persons of quality to the next Hill a Herald at Arms marching before them that the said standard was planted upon that hill with great cryes and acclamations with the sound of the Trumpet and Drums that also presently after there was published a Command from the King who was there in person to see his standard Erected adding moreover that the town was full of souldiers And that when the King left the town with the souldiers the Inhabitants were forced to pay a great summe of money to his Army that threatned them plunder if they refused it Thomas Whittington Shoomaker of Nottingham hath deposed upon Oath THat he saw the King in the said Town the same day that his great standard of War was raised on the Castle about the beginning of August 1642. and that the King tooke his journey from Thurland-house towards the said Castle and that he saw him severall times in Nottingham which was full of souldiers who said they were of the Kings army the great standard being then displayed upon the old tower of the Castle Robert Loads of Cottam in Nottinghamshire affirmed upon Oath THat about October 1642. he saw the King in the reere-guard of his Army at Kinton field on a Sunday about which place he saw divers dead bodies on both sides That moreover he saw the King in his Army in Cornwall nigh my Lord Moon 's house in the year 1644. Samuel Morgan Haberdasher of Wellington in the County of Salop deposed upon Oath THat he saw the King on Sunday morning in the field at Kinton upon the highest point of Edgehill at the head of his Army about two hours before the battail began which was after Michelmas 1642. And that afterward he saw at the same place a very great number of dead bodies on both sides and farther that in 1644. he saw the King in his army neere Cropredy bridge put his own men in battaile array James Williams Shoomaker of Rosse in Herefordshire deposed upon Oath THat about October 1642 he saw the King in Kinton-field upon the Hill having his sword drawn in his hand when and where a great battel was fought and many kill'd on both sides Moreover that he saw the King at Brainforâ— on a Sunday before mid day in November the same year whilst his army was all in and about the town Arthur Young Chyrurgion and Burgess of London being examined upon Oath testified THat being in the Battel of Edge-hill that was faught between the Army of the King and that of the Parliament in October 1642. he saw the great Standard brought and displayed in the Kings Army which being taken in the fight it was regained by one Middleton whom the King presently made Colonel John Thomas Labourer in Langellen in the County of Denbigh deposed upon Oath THat he saw the King at Brainford in the County of Middlesex on a Saturday a little after the battle of Edge-hill being followed by a good number of horse and foot and being himself armed a horseback and heard him say to his people passing through the towne Gentlemen you lost your honour at Edge-hill I hope you will recover it here and before the King had ended his speech the two Parties began to skirmish and engaged so far that many were killd on both sides Richard Blomefield Merchant Draper and Citizen of London deposed upon Oath THat he was present at the rout of the Earle of Essex his Army in Cornwall about the end of August or at the beginning of September 1644. where he saw the King on horseback at the head of his army and that he saw divers souldiers of the Parliaments many plundred and dismantled hard by the Kings person against the conditions and Articles agreed upon William Jones Laborour of Vske in Monmouth-shire affirmed upon Oath THat he saw the King coming from Wards Harbrough and marching at the end of his Army towards Naseby where the battle was fought a little after and that the King being advanced towards the Regiment of Colonel t. George he asked of the Officers and souldiers if they were not resolved to fight for him and that upon it they cryed out with great acclamations that they were ready to fight Moreover the Deponent said that he saw the King with his forces in Leicester the same day that it was taken by the Parliament As likewise that he saw him in his Army at the siege of Glocester Humphrey Brown of Witsunday in Rutlandshire HAs deposed that whâ—n Leicester was taken by the Kings Army about June â—645 the Fort of Newark being rendred upon Composition and condition that those that went forth should carry their bagage with freedom without any violence to be offered as soon as the place was rendred notwithstanding this capitulation and against the Articles the Kings souldiers fell upon them plundered them and beat and wounded many of them And that one of their Officers taxing them with their ill usage of these poore people against the law of Arms the deponent heard the King reply who was there in person with his sword drawn at the head of his Army that he would see they should use them worse being his enemies David Evans Marshall of Aburgeny in Monmouthshire testified THat about half an houre before Naseby fight which was at Midsummer June 1645. he saw the King marching himself in battaile at the head of his Army half a mile from the place of the fight Diogenes Edwards Butcher of Carston in the County of Salop. AFfirmed that at the same time he saw the King a mile
and a half from the Camp marching in battaile aray at the head of his Army about an houre and half before the said battaile was fought and that the same day he saw afterwards many bodies dead upon the place Giles Grice of Wellington in Shropshire Gentleman DId depose that he saw the King at the head of his Army at Cropredie Bridge with his sword drawn in his hand the same day that there was a battail fought against Sr. William Waller's Army which was on a Friday 1644. about July as much as he could call to minde That he saw him also at the head of his Army the same summer nigh Lietchfield at the same time that the Earle of Essex was there with his Army Also that he saw the King at the head of his men in the second fight at Newbery And that he saw him Arm'd back and brest at the head of his Army at Naseby The same did testifie that he saw him at the head of his Army at the taking of Leicester at the same time that an assault was given and after enter'd the place on horseback after it was taken and that he saw many men kill'd on both sides and many houses were pillaged in the said Town John Vinson of Damorham in Wiltshire Gentleman affirmed THat he saw the King at the head of his Army at the first Newbery battaile about September 1643. and many people dead on both sides The same hath also deposed that he saw the King at the head of his Army armed Capape with his sword drawn in his hand in the second fight at Newberry about Octob. 1644. at what time he saw him draw up the Regiment of Horse of Colonel Tho. Howard to a Charge and that he heard him make a speech to that Regiment saying that they were to make good to him that day that his Crown was at the point of his Sword and if he lost that Battail he lost his honour and his Crown for ever and that after he saw great number of dead men killd in that fight on both sides The same also testified that he saw the King in the battail at Naseby in Northamptonshire about June 1645. being armed with his Head-piece on his word drawn in his hand where perceiving his people in flight he himself made the horse to rally and staid them at what time he also saw many dead bodies on both sides George Seeley of London Shoomaker deposed THat he saw the King at the siege of Glocester at the head of a Brigade of horse and that he saw him at the first fight of Newberry about September 1643 being at the head of a Regiment of horse and that many were killed on both sides in this fight To which he added that he also saw the King in the midst of his Army in the second Newberry fight about November 1644. John Moor of Cork in Ireland Gentleman did depose THat in the Battel at Newberry second fight in the same month he saw the King in the middle of his horse with his sword drawn that afterwards he saw many killed on both sides in this fight and that he saw him enter on horse-back in the head of a Brigade of horse into Leicester the same day that it was taken by his men about June 1645. he also added that he saw the King in the midst of a Regiment of horse at Copredibridge before Leicester fight and saw the fields covered with dead men killed in that fight where the King was in person that he saw him also at the head of a Regiment of horse in Naseby fight about June 1645. and that there was also many killed and wounded Thomas Grees of Boyset in Northamptonshire Labourer did testifie THat he saw the King at the first Newbury fight in Bark-shire September 1643 and that he there saw many dead bodies having himself received orders amongst others to stop the Parliaments forces till their dead men were taken away that he also saw the King marching with his Army towards Naseby field immediatly before the fight about June 1645. and that his Army being routed he saw him make a retreat with a Brigado of horse and that a great number were killed on both sides in this fight Thomas Rollins of Hanslop in Euekingham-shire Gentleman did depose THat he saw the King nigh Foy in Cornwall about July 1644. at the head of a brigade of horse and that he saw some Parliament-souldiers pilledged nigh the Kings person contrary to the Articles agreed upon on both sides Thomas Read of Maidstone in Kent Gentleman AFfirmed upon Oath that presently after the Parliaments Army had rendred it self in Cornwall upon composition he saw the King at the head of a guard of horse between Lestithiel and Foy about the end of August or the beginning of September 1644. James Grosby of Dublin in Ireland did depose THat at the first Newbury fight about harvest time 16â—3 he saw the King coming on horseback from Newbury accompanied with abundance of great Lords and Noble men and going towards the place where his forces were engaged to the Parliaments Army Samuel Burden of Lyneham in Wiltshire Gentleman testified THat he was at Nottingham about August 1642. at what time he saw the great Standard displayd upon one of the Towers of the Castle and that the next day he saw the King whilst his Standard as they call it was displayd moreover that he saw the King at the head of his Army near Copredy-bridge in a stubble field being in pursuit of Sir William Wallers forces who was routed about July 1644. and that be saw at that time great numbers of dead men in the field he testified farther that towards November following he saw the King in the last Newberry fight galloping up and down from Regiment to Regiment whilst his Army was engaged with that of the Parliament and that he saw afterwards great numbers of men killed fighting on both sides Michael Potts of Sharpeton in Northamberland Vintner deposed THat he saw the King at the head of of his Army in a field about a mile and an half distant from Newberry upon a plain the day before the fight which was about harvest time 1643. and that he saw the King in the field nigh a peice of great Canon during the fight that he also saw him at the head of his Army in the second Newberry fight about Michaelmass 1644. after which he saw great number of men kild on both sides Adding moreover that he did also see him at the head of his Forces nigh Copredy bridge and afterwards the same year towards harvest nigh Lestithiel in Cornwall at what time the Earle of Essex was there with his Army The NAMES of the said Pretended JUDGES who gave Sentence against the Late KING Jan. 27. 1648. JOhn Bradshaw Lord President Oliver Cromwell Henry Ireton Sir Hardress Waller Valentine Walton Thomas Harison Edward Whaley Thomas Pride Isaac Ewer Lord Grey of Grooby William Lord Mounson Sir John Danvers
The severall Depositions of the pretended Witnesses as it is in their Book printed in French William Cuthbert of Patrington in Holdernes Gentleman HAth deposed upon Oath that being at Hull-bridge nigh Beverly he discovered in July 1642. that there were levied about three hundred footmen under the command of Robert Strickland for the Kings guard and that about the second of the said Month which was Sunday he saw about four or five of the clock in the evening a Troop of Horse called the Princes Troop enter Beverly at which time James Nelthorp was Mayor of the Town and that he saw the same day this Troop march from Beverly to Holdernes where he saw ammunition distributed to them which were brought for them from about Humber Moreover the same upon deposition said that the same Sunday night there arrived at the gate of his house called the Bridge of Hull nigh Berverly about three hundred footmen that said they were the Regiment of Sir Robert Strickland under the command of Lieutenant Col. Duncomb and were called the Kings guard who forced open his door and took possession of his house and that the same night my Lord Newport and my Lord Carnarvan came to these souldiers with divers others at which time the Deponent was informed that Sir Thomas Gower Sheriff of that County was present at this rendezvous and had left order and expresse command to stop all Provisions from those quarters and that none should be carried to Sir J. Hotham Governour of Hull for the Parliament which Order was put into the hands of the Deponent being then Constable of that Parish for the said Lieutenant Colonel Duncombe The said William Cutbert has deposed in processe that he was driven out of his house by the soldiers and was forced to retire to Beverly with his Family and that afterward to wit Thursday next as much as he can remember he saw the King come to Beverly and go into my Lady Gees houses in which he saw him severall times with Prince Charls and the Duke of York and that the Militia was raised in Holdernes in the name and by the command of the King and he published himself every where He hath farther deposed that the night following these soldiers that had seized upon his house as was said which was the first act of hostility that was committed in those parts they plundred also the House of Colonel Ledgeers and that after this regiment of Colonel Strickland was gone from the Bridge of Hull where it had quartered ten days Colonel Wynewell seized upon it also with seven huudred foot that lodg'd there Item he deposed that the Order which he shewed the Court is the originall of which we have spoken As also that my Lord Lindsey was made Generall of those Forces and of those that were then levied and that he was brought before him upon report that he held intelligence with Sir J. Hotham Governour of Hull and that notice being given to the said General that the Deponent had provisions of corn to send into Ireland he was prohibited to have them transported or carried to any other place without the Kings command or the said Generals John Bennet in the County of York Glover HAving born arms on the Kings side from the first day that he erected his Standard at Nottingham six years since being examined upon Oath hath deposed that working at his own Trade at Nottingham he had seen the King two or three times after his great Standard of War was erected and at the same time that it was displayd from the highest Tower of the Castle and also that he heard that the King was present the first day and the first time it was erected He said farther that he then received his livery and that Sir William Pennyman gave cloth at that time to the Regiment of which he was and the said Knight was Colonel of it and that cloth was also given to the Regiment of my Lord Lindsey who was also then proclaimed then General of the Army at the head of every Regiment where the King also caused to be published that those forces should fight against all those that should follow his party particularly against the Earl of Essex Generall of the Parliaments Army against my Lord Brooks and divers other Officers of that party all who were declared Traitors by printed proclamations which were dispersed at the same time through all Regiments by their Officers To which he also added that he had often seen the King in Nottingham at the time that his forces quarter'd there which was about a Moneth that the Drum was beaten over all the Country to raise men for the King and that many were listed partly willing and partly forced for fear of being plundred as among the rest was the Deponent the said Sir William â—enniman cryng out aloud that it would be well done to set the Town on fire the Citizens shewing themselves so backward to take up arms for their Kings service He did farther depose that about the Month of October â—642 he saw the King on horseback at Edge-hill in Warwick-shire looking on his Army in battail and heard him command all the Colonells and Officers that passed before him to encourage their soldiers exhort and animate them to fight against my Lord of Essex my Lord Brooks Sir William Waller and Sir William Belford and that after this first fight he saw in the field a great number of dead bodies of which he saw a list brought afterward to the King at Oxford which they said came to the number of 6559. The Deponent hath also testified that about the Moneth of November following he saw the King at the head of his Army upon Hownslo-heath in the County of Middlesex with Prince Robert by him and heard him encourage divers Regiments of thâ—se that were levied in Wales which had been at the battail of Edge-Hill saying to them he hoped they would regain at Brainford the honour they lost at Edge-Hill William Brayne Gentleman of Wixehall in the County of Salop. HAth deposed upon Oath that in August 1642. he saw the King in Nottingham at the time when his Royal Standard was there erected and displaid and that about that time he marched with the Army in which the King was from thence to Darby and that being suspected in September for a spy he was examined before Sir Robert Heath and divers other Commissioners at Shrewsbury where the King was in person Henry Hartford of Stafford upon Avon in Warwick-shire HAs also given in upon Oath that in the year 1642. he saw the King at the Castle of Nottingham when his great Standard was planted and displayed upon a Tower of the Castle and moreover that about November he saw the King at Brainford being a horse-backe with great number of War-Officers on a Sunday morning immediately after that Satturday night in which great number of the Parliaments people had been killed thereabout Robert Large Painter of the Town and
The Oglio of Traytors Including the Illegal Tryall of his late MAIESTY With a Catalogue of their names that sat as Judges and consented to the Judgment With his MAJESTIES Reasons against their usurped power and his late speech To which is now added the severall depositions of the pretended Witnesses as it is Printed in the French Coppy With the whole proceedings against Colonel J. Penruddock of Compton in Wilts and his speech before he dyed As also the speech of that resolved Gentleman Mr. Hugh Grove of Chissenbury Esquire who was beheaded the same day not before Printed London Printed by T. M. for William Shears at the Bible in Bedford street The First Dayes Proceeding of the High Court of Justice c. THe Triall and the Execution of the last King of England being still as much the wonder as the discourse of Christendome I shall endeavour to represent it to you with the exactest faithfullnesse that can possibly be desired and although others have gone before me on the same subject by the benifit of time I doubt not but that I shall exceed them by the advantage of truth In the Supream Tribunall of Justice sitting at Whitehall in Westminster Serjeant Bradshaw being President and about seventy other persons elected to be his Judges being present the Cryer of the Court having proclaimed his O yes to invite the people to attention silence was commanded and the Ordinance of the Commans in Parliament in reference to the Examination of the King was read and the Court was summoned all the Members thereof â—â—â—sing as they were called The King came into the Court his head covered Serjeant Dendy being remarkable by the Authority of his Mace did usher him in Colonel Hatcher and about thirty Officers and Gentlemen did attend him as his Guard The Court being sat the Lord President Bradshaw speak thus unto him Charles Stuart King of England the Commons of England assembled in Parliament being touched with the sense of the Calamities which have happned to this Nation and of the innocent bloud spilt of which you are accused to be the Author have both according to their office which they ow to God this Nation and themselves according to the power fundamental faith intrusted with them by the people Constituted this Supream Court of Justice before which you are now brought to hear your Charge on which this Court will proceed Mr. Crook the Solliciter Generall Sir In the Name of the Commons of England and of all the people thereof I do charge Charles Stuart here present as guilty of Treason and other great defaults and in the name of the Commons of England I require that his charge may be read unto him The King Stay alittle L. President Sir the Court hath given order that the Charge shall be read If you have any thing afterwards to plead for your self you may be heard Hereupon the Charge was read THat the said Charles Stuart being admitted King of England and therein trusted with a limmitted Power to govern by and according to the Laws of the Land and not otherwise And by his trust Oath and Office being obliged to use the Power committed to him For the good and benefit of the People and for the preservation of Kights and Libirâ—ies yet neverthelesse out of a wicked Designe to erect and uphold in himselfe and unlimited and Tyrannical power to rule according to his Will and to overthrow the Rights and liberties of the people Yea to take away and make void the foundations thereof and all the redress and remedy of misgovernment which by the fundamental constitutions of this Kingdome were reserved on the peoples behalfe in the right and power of frequent and successive Parliaments or nationall meetings in Councel he the said Charles Stuart for accomplishment of such his designes and for the protecting of himself and his adherents in his and their wicked practises to the same ends hath traterously and maliciously leavied war against the present Parliament and the people therein represented Particularly upon or about the thirtieth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty and two at Beverly in the County of York and upon or about the 30. day of July in the year aforesaid in the County of the City of York and upon or about the 24. day of August in the same year at the County of the town of Nottingham when and were he set up his Standard of war And also on or about the twenty third â—ay of October in the same year at Edghill and Kenton field in the County of Warwick and upon or aboue the thirtieth day of November in thet same year at Brainchford in the County of Midalesex And upon or about the thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred forty and three at Cavesham bridge neer Reading in the County of Berks and upon or about the thirtieth day of October in the year last mentioned at or neer the City of Gloster and upon or about the thirtieth day of November in the year last mentioned at Newbury in the County of Berks And upon or about the one thirtieth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty and four at Cropredybridge in the County of Oxon And upon or about the thirtieth day of September in the year last mentioned at Boamin and other places near adjacent in the County of Cornwall And upon or about the thirtieth day of November in the year last mentioned at Newbery aforesaid and upon or about the eighth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty and five at the Town of Leicester And also upon the fourteenth day of the same month in the same year at Naseby field in the County of Norhampton At which severall times and places or most of them and at many other places in the Land at severall other times within the year afore mentioned And in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred forty and six he the said Charles Stuart hath caused and procured many thousands of the Free-people of the nation to be slain and by Divisions parties and insurrections within this land by invasions from Forragine parts endeavoured and procured by him and by many other evill wayes and meanes He the said Charles Stuart hath not onely maintained carried on the said War both by land and sea during the year before mentioned but also hath renewed or caused to be renewed the said war against the Parliament and good people of this Nation in this present year One thousand six hundred fourty and eight in the Counties of Kent Essex Surry Sussex Middlesex and many other Counties and places in England and Wales and also by sea and particularly he the said Charles Stuart hath for that purpose given Commission to his Son the Prince and others whereby besides multitudes of other persons many such as were by the Parliament intrusted
and imployed for the safety of the Nation being by him and his agents corrupted to the betraying of their Trust and revolting from the Parliament have had entertainment and commission for the continuing and renewing of war and hostility against the said Parliament and people as aforesaid By which cruel and unnaturall wars by him the said Charles Stuart levied continued and renewed as aforesaid much innocent bloud of the Free-people of this nation hath been spilt many families have been undone the publick treasury wasted and exhausted trade obstructed miserablely decayed vast expence and damage to the Nation incurred and many parts of the land spoiled some of them even to desolation And for further prosecution of his said evill designs he the said Charles Stuart doth still continue his Commissions to the said Prince and other Rebels and Revolters both English and Forraginers and to the Earl of Ormand and to the Irish Rebles and Revolters associated with him from whom further invasions upon this Land are thretned upon the procurment and on the behalfe of the said Charles Stuart All which wicked designes wars and evill practises of him The said Charles Stuart have been and are carried on for the advancing and upholding of the personall Interest of Will and Power and pretended Prerogative to himself and family against the publique intrest Common Right Liberty Justice and peace of the people of this Nation by and for whom he was entrusted as aforesaid By all which it appeareth that he the said Charles Stuart hath been and is the occasioner author and contriver of the said unnatural cruel and bloudy wars and therein guilty of all the treasons murthers rapines burning spoils desolations damage and mischief to this Nation acted or committed in the said wars or occasioned thereby And the said John Cook by protestation saveing on the behalf of the people of England the liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter any other Charge against him the said Charles Stuart and also of the replying to the Answers which the said Charles Stuart shall make to the premises or any of them or any other Charge that shall be so exhibited doth for the said treasons crim's on the behalf of the said people of England impeach the said Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Tration Murtherer and a publick an implacable enemy to the Common-wealth of England And pray That the said Charles Stuart King of England may be put to answer all and every the premises that such proceedings examminations tryals sentence and Judgement may be there aupon had or shall be agreable to Justice The King was often times observed to smile in indignation during the reading of the Charge espacially at the words Tyrant TRATOR MURDERER and publick enemy to the Common-wealth The full Proceedings of the High Court of Justice against King Charls I. In Westminster Hall on Saturday the 20. of Ianuary 1648. L. President Bradshaw SIR You have now heard the Charge read containing such matters as do appear therein you have observed that in the Conclusion thereof It is required of the Court in the Name of the Commons of England that you answer to your charge which the Court doth expect The King I would be satisfied by what power I am called hither It is not long since that I was in the Isle of Wight How I came thither the story is longer than I conceive fitting in this place to declare But I there entered upon a Treaty with both Houses of Parliament with as much publick faith as its possible to be obtained from any people in the World I there treated with a number of honourable Lords and Gentlemen and I treated honestly and faithfully with them I cannot say but they dealt very ingenuously with me and we proceeded so far that the Treaty was even concluded Now I would understand by what Authority I mean lawfull I am brought hither There are many unlawfull Authorities in the world as Thieves and Plunderers in the high-wayes I would know by what authority I was taken from thence and carried from place to place I know not where When I have understood the lawfulnesse of the Authority I will make my Answer In the mean time remember that I am your King your lawfull King and weigh well with your selves what sins you heap on your own heads and the anger and judgements of God which you will bring upon this land I say seriously weigh it before you further do proceed from one sin to a greater Therefore declare unto me by what lawfull Authority I sit here and I will not refuse to Answer you In the mean time I will not betray my trust I have a trust committed to me by God by an ancient and lawfull succession I will not betray that by answering to a new and an unlawfull Authority wherefore satisfie me in this and you shall hear further from me L President Bradshaw If you had but pleased to observe what the Court did suggest unto you when you first came hither you had understood by what Authority you were brought hither which Authority doth require of you in the Name of the People of England by whom you are elected King than you make answer to them King No Sir I deny that L. President Bradshaw If you do not acknowledge the Authority of the Court they ought to proceed against you King I tell them that England was never an elective Kingdom but hereditary for almost these two thousand years Therefore declare unto me by what Authority I am brought hither I labour more for the liberty of my people than any of you who pretend to be my Judges and therefore I say declare unto me by what lawfull Authority I am placed here and I will answer you otherwise I shall make no answer at all L. President Bradshaw Sir how well you have administred the power committed to you is sufficiently known The method of your Answering is to put Interrogatories to the Court which doth not become you in this Condition Twice or thrice it hath been represented to you King There is present here a Gentleman Lieutenant Colonel Cobbet demand of him if he did not bring me from the Isle of Wight by force I come not hither to submit my self in this Court I will do as much for the Priviledges of the House of Commons rightly understood as any other I see not here the House of Lords which is able to constitute a Parliament and the King ought to be the Super-intendent there Is this to bring the King to his Parliament Is this to bring the publick Treaty to an end by the publick Faith of the world Either shew me your Authority established by the Scriptures which are the Word of God or confirmed by the constitutions of the Kingdom and I will answer you L. President Bradshaw Sir you have propounded a question and an answer hath been rendred but if you will not answer to what they do propound the Court will take it into
I can The Reasons for which in conscience and duty which I ow first unto God and afterwards to my people for the preservation of their lives their liberties and their fortunes I believe I cannot answer untill I am satisfied of your legality of it All proceeding against any man whatsoever President Sir I must interrupt you which I would not do but that which you do agreeth not with the proceeding of any Tribunal of Justice you enter into a controversie and dispute against the Authority of this Court before which you appeare a prisoner and are accused as a great Delinquent If you will take upon you to controvert the Authority of this Court we cannot give way unto it neither will any tribunall of Justice admit it you ought to submit unto the Court and to give an exact and direct Answer whether you will answer to your charge or not and what is the answer that you make King Sir I know not the formalities of the law I know the law and reason and although I am no professed Lawyer I know the law as well as any Gentleman in England and I am more eager for the Liberties of the people of England than you are and if I should believe any man without he gives me Reasons what he saith It would be abused but I say unto you that the Reasons which you give is no wayes satisfactory L. President Sir I must interrupt you for it cannot be permitted to you in this manner to proceed you spake of law and reason it is fit that there should be both law and reason and they are both against you Sir the Vote of the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament is the reason of the Kingdome and they ordained this law according to which you ought to Reign Sir It is not lawfull for you dispute against our Authority This again hath been told you by the Court. Sir Notice will be taken that you contemn the Court and this contempt of yours will be recorded King I know not how a King can be interpreted to be a Delinquent but by any law that I ever heard all men whether Delinquent or what you will may lawfully make objections against their Professe this is that which I require and I again desire that my Reasons may be heard If you deny this you deny Reason L. President Sir you have objected something to the Court I will declare unto you their opinion Sir it is not lawfull for you or any man else to dispute against this subject It is Decreed you ought not to dispute against the jurisdiction of this Tribunall If you shall yet do it I must intimate unto you that they are above objections They set here by Authority of the Commons of England and all your Predecessors and you your selfe are bound to be accountable to them King I sdeny that shew me one example L. President Sir you ought not to interrupt but attend whilst the Court speakes unto you This subject is not to be disputed by you neither will the Court permit that you should object against the jurisdiction of it they have considered of their jurisdiction and do approve it King Sir I say that the Commons of England were never a Court of judicature and I would fain know how they came to be made so now President Sir it is not permitted to you to proceed in those discourses Then the Secretary of the Court did read as followeth Charles Stuard King of England you have been accused in the Name of the people of England of High Treason and other grievous Crimes The Court hath determined that you shal answer to your charge King I will answer as soon as ever I shall understand by what authority you do these things President If this be all that you will speake Gentlemen you who brought the prisonner hither take him back again King I demand that I may be permitted to exhibite my Reasons why I answer not unto the Charge and give me time to perform this President Sir it is not for prisoners to demand King Prisoners Sir I am no ordinary prisoner President The Court hath considered of their own jurisdiction and they have also confirmed their jurisdiction If you will not answer we will give order that your Default be recorded King You have not yet heard my Reasons President Your Reasons are not to be heard against the Supreme Jurisdiction King Shew me that jurisdiction in the world where Reason is not to be heard President Sir we shew it you here the Commons of England and the next time you are brought hither you shall understand further of the pleasure of the Court and peradventure their finall sentence King Shew me where the House of Commons was ever a Court of Judicature in that kind President Serjeant take away the Prisoner King Sir Remember that the King is not suffered to declare his Reasons for the Libertie and Immunities of his subjects President Sir That Freedome of speech is not permitted to you how great a friend you have been to the laws and the Liberties of the people let England and all the world judge King Sir by your leave I have alwayes loved the Liberty the Immunities Laws of the subjects If I have defended myself by Arms I have not taken them up against the people but for them President You must obey the Decree of the Court you give no answer to the Charge against you King Well Sir And so was he brought to the House of Sir Robert Cotton and the Court was adjourned to the Painted Chamber untill Wednesday following at twelve of the clock at what hour they intended to adjourn again to Westminster-hal where all whom it doth concern are commanded to be present The third dayes proceedings against the late King at the High Court of Justice Tuesday Jan. 23. 1648. THe Cryer according to the Custome having with his Oyes commanded silence and attention the King being sate Mr. Atturney Genrall turning to the L. President spake in these words May it please your Lordship This is now the third time that by the great grace and favour of this High Court the Prisoner hath been brought to the Bar and yet by reason of his refusall to put in his Answer there is yet no issue joyned in the cause My Lord I did at the first exhibit a Charge against him containing the highest practices of Treason that were ever wrought on the Theater of England That a King of England trusted to keep the Lawes of England and who had taken an Oath so to do had tribute paid him for that end should be guilty of so wicked a design as to subvert our Laws and introduce an arbitrary and tyrannical Government and set up his standard of warre against his Parliament and his people and I did humbly pray in the behalf of the people of England that he might speedily be required to make an answer to his charge But my Lord instead of making an answer he
I would not say any more nor interrupt you at all President Sir you have heard the pleasure of the Court and notwithstanding you will not understand it you are to finde that you are before a Court of Justice The King going forth Proclamation was made that all persons who then appeared and had further to doe with the Court might depart into the Painted Chamber to which place the Court adjourned being resolved to meet again in Westminster-hall by ten of the Clock the next morning Wednesday January 24. The Court being this day imployed upon Examinations of witnesses and other things in order to their next proceedings did appoint one of their Vshers to give notice to the people there assembled to appear on further summons The last proceedings against the King wherein they pronounc'd Sentence upon him on Saturday January 27. 1648. SIlence being commanded by the Crier the Court was called and Serjeant Bradshaw the Lord President was that day in a scarlet Gown There were present that day sixty and eight Members of the Court. The King turning to the Lord President said I shall desire to be heard some few words and I shall give no occasion of interruption President You may answer in due time heare the Court first King If it please you Sir I desire to be heard and I shall not give any occasion of interruption and it is only in a word A sudden Judgement President Sir you shall be heard as I have told you in due time but you must hear the Court first King Sir What I am to speake will be in order as I conceive to what I believe the Court will say and therefore Sir I desire to be heard A hasty judgement is not so soon recalled President Sir you shall be heard before judgement be given and in the mean time you ought to forbear King Well Sir I shall be heard before the judgement be given President Gentlemen it is well known to all or the greatest part of you here present that the prisoner at the Bar hath been several times convented and brought before this Court to make answer to a charge of Treason and other high Crimes exhibited against him in the Name of the people of England to which charge being oftentimes commanded to answer he hath been so far from submiting to the Court as he hath under tooke to object against dispute the Authority of this Court of the High Court of Parliament who constituted this Court to try and judge him but being over-ruled in that and commanded to make answer he was still pleased to persevere in his contumacie and refused to submit to answer whereupon the Court that they may not be wanting to themselves and to the trust reposed in them nor that any mans wilfulness shall prevent the course of Justice have considered of the contempt and of that consequence which in Law doth arise on that contempt They have likewise considered of the notoriousness of the Fact charged upon the prisoner and upon the whole matter are resolved and have agreed upon a Sentence to be now pronounced against him but in regard he hath desired to be heard before Sentence he read and pronounced the Court is resolved to heare him yet Sir thus much I must tell you before hand of which also you have been minded at the other Courts that if what you are to propose shall tend to dispute the Jurisdiction of the Court you are not to be heard therein you have offerd it formerly and you have indeed struck at the root which is the power and Supream Authority of the Commons of England of which this Court will admit no debate and indeed it would be an unreasonable thing in them so to do being a Court which doth act upon that Authority which they have received from them they will not presume to judge upon their Superiours from whom there is no appeal But Sir If you have any thing to say in defence of your selfe concerning the matter with which you are charged the Court hath given me command to let you know they will hear you King Since I perceive you will not hear any thing of Debate concerning that which I confess I thought most material for the peace of the Kingdom and the Liberty of the Subject I shall wave it and speake nothing of it only I must tell you that these many daies all things have been taken from me but that I call more dear unto me than my life which is my conscience and my Honour and if I had respect to my life more than to the peace of the Kingdom and the Liberty of the Subject I should certainly have made a particular defence for my self for by that at least I might have deferred an ugly sentence which I expect to pass upon me Therefore undoubtedly Sir as a man that hath some understanding some knowledge of the world if that my true zeal to my Countrey had not over-born the care of my own preservation I should have gone another way to work than now I have done Now Sir I conceive that a hasty sentence once passed may sooner be repented then revocked and truly the same fervent desire I have for the peace of the Kingdom the Liberty of the Subject more than my own particulars doth make me now at last move that having something to say concerning both I may be heard before my Sentence be pronounced before the Lords and Commons in the Painted Chamber This delay cannot be prejudicial to you whatsoever I shall utter If I speake not reason those that heare me must be my Judges but if it be Reason and really for the welfare of the Kingdome and the Libertie of the subject I am sure of it it will be well worth the bearing Therefore I conjure you as you love that which you pretend I hope it is real the Libertie of the Subject and the peace of the Kingdom that you will grant me the hearing before sentence be past I onely desire this that you will take this into your consideration It may be you have not heard of it before hand If you thinke well of it I will retire and you may thinke of it but if I cannot get this Libertie I do here protest that so fair shews of Libertie and peace are but pure shews and no otherwise if in this you will not hear your King President Sir you have now spoken King Yes Sir President And this which you have spoken is but a further declining of the Jurisdiction of this Court which is the thing wherein you were limited before King Pray excuse me Sir for my interruption because you do mistake me It is not a declining of it you do judge me before you heare me speake I say I will not I do not decline it although I cannot acknowledge the Jurisdiction of it in this give me leave to say that though I would not though I did not acknowledge it in this yet I protest this is not to
decline it since I say If that which I shall propound be not for the peace of the Kingdome and the Liberty of the subject then the shame is mine Now I desire that you will take this into your consideration if you will I will withdraw President Sir This is not altogether new that you have offered unto us I say it is not altogether new unto us although it be the first time that in person you have offered it to the Court Sir you say you do not decline the Jurisdiction of the Court. King Not in this that I have said President I understand you well enough Sir Nevertheless that which you have propounded seems to be contrary to that which you have said for the Court are ready to proceed to sentence It is not as you say that they will not hear their King For they have been ready to hear you they have patiently waited your pleasure for three Court daies together to hear what you would answer to the peoples charge against you to which you have not vouchsafed to give any answer at all Sir this doth tend to a further delay and truly Sir Such delays as these neither may the Kingdom nor Justice admit You have had the advantage of three several dayes to have offered in this kind what you were pleased to have propounded to the Lords and Commons This Court is founded upon the Authority of the Commons of England in whom resteth the Supream Jurisdiction That which you now tender to the Court is to be tried by another Jurisdiction a co-ordinate Jurisdiction I know very well how you have expressed your self and that notwithstanding what you would propound to the Lords and Commons yet neverthesess you would proceed on here I did hear you say so but Sir That which you would offer there whatsoever it be must needs be in delay of Justice here so as if this Court be resolved and prepared for the sentence they are bound in Justice not to grant that which you so much desire but Sir according to your desire and because you shall know the full pleasure of the Court upon that which you have moved the Court shall withdraw for a time King Shall I withdraw President Sir you shall know the the pleasure of the Court presently The Court withdraws for half an hour into the Court of Wards Serjeant at Arms the Court gives you command that the prisoner withdraw and that about half an hour hence the prisoner be returned again The time being expired the Court returned and the Lord President commanded the Serjeant at Arms to send for his prisoner The King being come attended with his Guard The Lord President said unto him Sir you were pleased to make a motion here to the Court concerning the desire you had to propound something to the Lord◠and Commons in the Painted Chamber for the peace of the Kingdome Sir you did in effect receive an Answer before the Court adjourned Truely Sir their adjournment and withdrawing was pro formâ tantum for it did not seem to them that there was any difficulty in the thing they have considered of what you moved and have considered of their own Authority which is grounded as it hath been often said upon the Supream Authority of the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament The Court doth act according to their Commission Sir I have received an express Order from the Court to acquaint you that they have been too much delayed by you already and that this which you have now offered hath occasioned some little further delay they are Judges appointed by the highest Judges and Judges are no more to delay than they are to deny Justice they are good words in the old Charter of England Nulli negabimus nulli vendemus nulli deferremus justitiam There must be no delay but Sir the Truth is and so every man here observes it that you have much delayed them by your contempt and default for which long since they might have proceeded to judgement against you therefore notwithstanding what you have offered they are resolved to proceed to punishment and to judgement and this is their unanimous resolution King Sir I see it is in vain for me to dispute I am no Sceptick to doubt or to deny the power that you have I do know that you have power enough Sir I confess I do believe it would have been advantagious to the peace of the Kingdom if you would have been pleased to take the pains to shew the lawfulness of your power As for this delay which I have desired I do confesse it is a delay but it is a delay that is important for the peace of the Kingdom It is not my person that I look on alone It is the welfare of the Kingdom the peace of the Kingdome It is an old saying that we should think on long but perform great matters suddenly Therefore Sir I do say again I do put at your doors all the inconveniences of a hasty sentence I have been here now a full week this day eight dayes was the day in which I made in this place my first appearance The short respite but of a day or two longer may give peace unto the Nation whereas an hasty jugdement may bring such a perpetual trouble and inconvenience upon it that is the Child unborn may repent it And therefore once more out of the duty I owe to God and to my Country I do desire that I may be heard by the Lords and Commons in the painted Chamber or any other place that you will appoint me President Sir you have been already answered to what you have moved it being the same motion which you made before for which you have had the resolution and the judgement of the Court in it and the Court would now be satisfied from you whether you have any more to say for your selfe then you have yet said before they proceed to sentence King I say this Sir that if you will but hear me and give me this delay I doubt not but I shall give some satisfaction to all that are present and to my people that are absent and therefore I require you as you will answer it at the dreadfull day of Judgement that you will once again take it into your consideration President Sir I have received instructions from the Court. King Well Sir President If this must be reinforced or any thing of this nature your answer must be the same as it was before and they will proceed to sentence if you have no more to say King Sir I have nothing more to say onely I desire that this may be entred what I have said President The Court Sir then hath something else to say to you which although I know will be very unwelcom yet notwithstanding they are resolved to discharge their duty Sir you have spoken very well of a precious thing that you call a peace and it were much to be wished that God had put it
they intend to do yet wee do here declare that we shall not decline or forbear the doing of our duty in the administration of Justice even to your selfe and that according to the merit of your offence although God should permit those men to effect all their bloody designs in in hand against us Sir we will say and will declare it as those Children in the fiery furnace who refused to worship the Golden Image that Nabuchadonazer had set up That their God was able to deliver them from the danger they were neer unto but if he did not deliver them yet they would not fall down and worship the golden Image We shall make this application of it That though we should not be delivered from those bloody hands hearts who conspire the overthrow of the Kingdom in generall and of our selves in particular for being actors in this great work of Justice though I say we should perish in the work yet by the grace in the strength of God we are resolved to go on with it And those are the intire resolutions of us all Sir I say for your selfe that we do heartily wish and desire that God would be pleased to give you a sense of your sins that you may see wherein you have done amisse and that you may cry unto him that God would deliver you from bloody-guiltinesse A good King David by Name was once guilty of that particular guilt he was otherwise upright saving in the matter of Vriath Truly Sir the History doth represent unto us that he was a repentant King and he had died for his sinne but that God was pleased to be indulgent to him and to grant him his pardon Thou shalt not die saith the prophet but the child shall die Thou hast given cause to the Enemies of God to blaspheme King I would onely desire to be heard but one word before you give sentence and it is that to satisfie the world when I am dead you would but heare me concerning those great Imputations which you have laid unto my charge President Sir you must now give me leave to proceed for I am not far from your Sentence and your time is now past King I shall desire you that you will take these few words into your consideration For what soever sentence you shall pronounce against me in respect of those heavy imputations which I finde you have laid to my charge yet Sir It is most true that President Sir I must put you in minde I must Sir although at this time especially I would not willingly interrupt you in any thing you have to say which is proper for us to admit but Sir you have not owned us as a Court and you looke upon us as a sort of people huddled together and we know not what uncivill language we receive from your party King I know nothing of that President You disavow us as a Court and therefore for you to addresse your selfe to us whom you do not acknowledge to be a Court for us I say to judge what you shall speake is not to be permitted and the truth is all along from the to disavow and disown us The Court needed not to have heard you one word for unless they be acknowledged a Court and ingaged it is not proper for you to speak Sir We have given you too large an indulgence of time already and admitted so much delay that we may not admit of any more If it were proper for us we should heare you very freely not decline to hear the most that you could speake to the greatest advantage for your self whether it were totall or but in part excusing those great and hainous charges which are laid upon you But I shall trouble you no longer your sins are of so large a demension that if you do but seriously think of them they will drive you into a sad consideration and we wish that they may improve in you a sad and serious repentance And it is the desire of the Court that you may be so penitent for what you have done amisse that God may at least have mercy on your better part As for the other it is our part and duties to doe that which the law prescribeth we are not now here jus dare but jus dicere we cannot be unmindfull of what the word of God tels us To acquit the guilty is of an equall abomination as to condemn the Innocent we may not acquit the guilty What sentence the law pronounceth to a traytor a tyrant a murtherer and a publike enemy to the Country that sentence you are now to hear read unto you and that is the Sentence of the Court. Hereupon the Lord President commanded the Sentence to be read whereupon M. King who was Cryer of the Court having commanded silence by his Oyes the Clerke read the sentence which was drawn up in Parchment and did run in these words Whereas the Commons of England in Parliament had appointed them an High Court of Justice for the tryall of Charls Stuart King of England before whom he had been three times convented and at the first time a Charge of High Treason and other Crimes and Misdemeanors was read in the be halfe of the Kingdome of England which Charge followeth in these words This Charge being read said the Clerk Charls Stuard was required to give his answer which he refused to do but expressed these passages and many more such as these are in refusing to answer The Clerk having repeated many passages during the time of his triall in which the King shewed an aversenesse to acknowledge the Court did proceed to read the Sentence which was in these words For all which Treasons and Crimes this Court doth adjudge that the said Charls Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and a publike Enemy shall be put to death by severing his Head from his Body The Sentence being read the Lord President said This Sentence now read and published is the Act Sentence Judgement and resolution of the whole Court Hereupon the Court stood up as assenting to what the President said King Will you hear me one word Sir President Sir you are not to be heard after the Sentence King No Sir President No Sir by your favour Sir Guard withdraw your Prisoner King I may speak after the sentence By your favour Sir I may speak after Sentence ever The Guard drawing to him he said unto them by your favour hold and turning to the President he said the Sentence Sir I say Sir I do but being not permitted to proceed he said I am not suffered to speak expect what Justice other people will have Cryer All manner of persons that have any thing else to do are to depart at this time and to give their attendance in the Painted Chamber to which place this Court doth forthwith adjourn it self Then the Court arose and the Kings guard did bring him to Sir Rohert Cottons house and he was afterwards conducted to Saint Jameses
men believe falsehoods to be truth too At. Gen. Sir You interrupt me you said but now you were a gentleman Col. Pen. Sir I have been thought worthy heretofore to sit on the bench though now I am at the bar Mr. Attorny then proceeded in his speech and called the witnesses Then I said Sir You have put me in a bears skin and now you will bait me with a witnesse But I see the face of a gentleman here in the Court I mean Captain Crook whose conscience can tell him that I had articles from him which ought to have kept me from hence Captain Crook hereupon stood up and his guilty conscience I supposed advised him to sit down again after he had made this speech that is to say he opened his lips and spake nothing The severall witnesses now come in Mr Dove the Sheriff of Wilts and others my charity forbids me to tell you what many of them swore I shall therefore omit that and onely tell you that one of our own party and indeed I think an honest man being forced to give his evidence I said My Lords it is a hard case that when you find you cannot otherwise cleave me in pieces that you must look after wedges made of my own timber The vertuous Cryor of Blandford being asked what were the words I used in proclaiming King Charles at the market he said I declared for Charles the Second and setling the true Protestant Religion for the liberty of the Subject and Priviledge of Parliaments Then I said unto the Attorny Generall and the whole Court you said even now that I had learned of the King my Master the Popish religion and endeavoured to bring him in your own witness tells you what and whom I would bring in and it was the true Protestant and not the Popish Religion his Majestie is of and intends to settle I urged divers cases to make the businesse but a Riot as my Lord of Northumberlands pretending it was for the taking of Taxes and that the power was not declared to be where they say it is I required the Judges to be of Councell for me told them it was their duty Commissioner Lisle told me I should have no wrong but he meant Right but Judge Rolls and Nicholas confessed themselves parties therefore would say nothing Then I told the Court if I had seen a Crown upon the head of any person I had known what had been Treason the Law of England would have taken hold of me out of the respects it has to Monarchy There was no such land-marks before me therefore I conceive I cannot be guilty of what I am charged with And my Lord and Mr. Atturney you here indict me for a Treason committed at Southmoulton in Devonshire and gentlemen ye swear witnesses against me for facts done in other Counties Sarum Blanford and Southmoulton are not in a parish You puzzle the Jurors with these circumstances pray go to the kernell and you Gent of the Jury save your labour of taking those notes Mr. Atturney then addressed himself to the Jury and to be short after the space of halfe an houre long gave them directions to bring me in guilty this being done I craved the favour from the Court that I might speak to the Jury which being allowed I said to them as followeth or to the same effect Gent. You are called a Jury of life and death and happy will it be for your souls if you prove to be a Jury of life You have heard what hath been said to make my actions Treason and with what vigor many untruths have been urged to you I have made appear to you that there can be no Treason but against the King that the Law knowes no such person as a Protector Mr. Atturney pretends a Statute for it but refuseth the reading thereof either to me or you vilifies me at pleasure and tells you I am a Papist and would bring in the Popish Religon and that if I had not been timely prevented I had destroyed you I hope you are al so satisfied of the contrary from the mouth of one of the best witnesses You are now judges between me and these judges Let not the majesty of their looks or the glory of their habits betray you to a sinne which is of a deeper dye then their scarlet I meane that sinne bloud which calls to heaven for vengence Gent. you doe not see a hair of my head but is numbred neither can you make any one of them much less can you put breath into my nostrils when it is taken out a sparrow doth not fall to the ground without the providence of God much lesse shall man to whom he hath given dominion and rule over all the creatures of the earth Gent. look upon me I am the Image of my creatour and that stamp of his which is in my vizage is not to be defaced without an account given wherefore it was I have here challenged as I am a Gentleman and free-born man of England the right which the law allowes me I demanded a copy of my Indictment and Councell but it is denied me The Law which I would have been tried by is the known Law of the land which was drawn by the wise consultation of our Princes and by the ready pens of our Progenitours The Law which I am now tried by is no Law but what is cut of by the poynt of a rebellious sword and the sheets in which they are recorded being varnished with the moisture of an eloquent tongue if you look not well to it may chance to serve for some of your Shrouds If the fear of displeasing others shall betray you to find me guilty of any thing you can at the most but make a riot of this Pray by the way take notice that the last Parliament would not allow the Legislative power to be out of themselves seventeen of twenty in this very County were of that opinion and deserted the house they were your Representative if you finde me guilty you bring them in danger and in them your selves Have a care of being drawn into a snare Gent. your bloud may run in the same channel with mine If what I have said do have been tried by is the known not satisfie you so as to aquint me if you bring me in a speciall verdict you do in some measure acquit your selves and throw the bloud that will be spilt upon the Judges Consider of it and the Lord direct you for the best The Jury after a quarter of an houres retirement brought me in guilty the Lord forgive them for they knew not what they did Upon Monday the 23 of April we were again called to the bar being then in number twenty six Serjeant Glyn asked of me first what I could say for my self that I should not have sentence according to the Law Then I said My Lords Gentlemen you askeâ— what I can say for my selfe that I should not have sentence
I could tell you of some souldiers which are turned out of his troup for defending those conditions of ours but let that pass and hence forward instead of life liberty and estate which were the Articles agreed upon let drawing hanging and quartring bear the Denomination of Captain Crooks Articles However I thank the Protectour for granting me this honourable Death I should now give you an accompt of my Faith But truly gentlemen this poor Nation is rent into so many several opinions that it is impossible for me to give you mine without displeasing some of you However if any be so criticall as to inquire of what Faith I die I shall refer him to the Apostles Athanasius and the Nicene Creed and to the testimony of this Reverend gentleman Dr. Short to whom I have unbosomed my self and if this do not satisfie look in the thirty nine Articles of the Catholick Church of England to them I have subscribed and do own them as authentick Having now given you an account concerning my self I hold my selfe obliged in duty to some of my friends to take off a suspicion which lyes upon them I mean as to some persons of Honour which upon my examination I was charged to have held correspondency with The Marquesse of Hartford the Marquesse of Winchester and my Lord of Pembrook were the persons nominated to me I did then acquit them and do now second it with this protestation That I never held any correspondence with either or any of them in relation to this particular businesse or indeed to any thing which concerned the Protectour or his Government As for the Marquesse of Winchester I saw him some twelve years since and not later and if I should see him here present I believe I should not know him And for the Earle of Pembrook he was not a man likely to whom I should discover my thoughts because he is a man of a contrary judgment I was examined likwise concerning my Brother Freke my Cousin Hastings Mr Dorrington and others It is probable their estates may make them lyable to this my condition but I do here so far acquit them as to give the world this farther protestation that I am confident they are as innocent in this businesse as the youngest child here I have no more to say to you now but to let you know that I am in charity with all men I thank God I both can and do forgive my greatest persecutors and all that ever had any hand in my death I have offered the Protectour as good security for my future demeanour as I suppose he could have expected if he had thought fit to have given me my life certainly I should not have been so ungratefull as to have imployed it against him I do humbely submit to Gods pleasure knowing that the issues of life and death are in his hand My bloud is but a small sacrifice if it had been saved I am so much a Gentleman as to have given thanks to him that had preserved it and so much a Christian as to forgive them which take it But seeing God by his providence hath called me to lay it down I willingly submit to it though terrible to nature but blessed be my Saviour who hath taking out the sting so that I look upon it without terrour Death is a debt and a due debt and it hath pleased God to make me so good a Husband that I am come to pay it before it is due I am not a shamed of the cause for which I die but rather rejoyce that I am thought worthy to suffer in the defence cause of Gods true Church my lawfull King the liberty of the subject and Priviliege of Parliaments Therefore I hope none of mine alliance friends will be ashamed of it it is so far from pulling down my Family that I look upon it as the raising it one story higher Neither was I so prodigall of nature as to throw away my life but have used though none but honourable and honest means to preserve it These unhappy times indeed have been very fatall to my family two of my Brothers already slain and my self going to the slaughter it is Gods will and I humbly submit to that providence I must render an acknowledgment of the great civilities that I have received from this City of Exon and some persons of quality and for their plentiful provision made for the prisoners I thank Mr. Sheriff for his favour towards us in particular to my self and I desire him to present my due respects to the Protectour and though he had no mercy for my self yet that he would have respect to my family I am now striping off my cloaths to fight a duell with death I conceive no other duell lawfull but my Saviour hath puld out the sting of this mine enemy by making himself a sacrifice for me And truly I do not think that man deserving one drop of his bloud that will not spend all for him in so good a cause The truth is Gentlemen in this age Treason is an Individuum vagum like the wind in the Gospell it bloweth where it listeth So now treason is what they please and lighteth upon whom they will Indeed no man except he will be a Traitour can avoid this Censure of Treason I know not to what end it may come but I pray God my own and my brothers bloud that is now to die with me may be the last upon this score Now Gentlemen you may see what a condition you are in without a King you have no law to protect you no rule to walk by when you performe your duty to God your King and Countrey you displease the Arbitrary power now set up I cannot call it government I shall leave you to peruse my triall and there you shall see what a condition this poor Nation is brought into and no question will be utterly destroyed if not restored by Loyal Subjects to its old and glorious Government I Pray God he lay not his Judgement upon England for their sluggishnesse in doing their duty and readiness to put their hands in their bosomes or rather taking part with the Enemy of Truth The Lord open their eyes that they may be no longer lead or drawn into such snares else the Child unborn will curse the day of their Parents birth God Almighty preserve my lawful King Charles the second from the hands of his Enemies and breake down the wall of Pride and Rebellion which so long hath kept him from his just Rights God perserve his Royal Mother and all his Majesties Royall Brethren and incline their hearts to seek after him God incline the hearts of all true English men to stand up as one Man to bring in the King and Redeem themselves and this poor Kingdome out of its more then Egyptian slavery As I have now put off these garments of cloth so I hope I have put off my garments of sin and have put on the