Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
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A63183
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The triall of Mr Mordaunt, second son to John Earl of Peterburgh at the pretended High Court of Justice in Westminster-Hall, the first and second of June, 1658. With some passages before and after it.
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T. W.
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1661
(1661)
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Wing T2203A; ESTC R221779
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18,091
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51
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THE TRIALL OF M R MORDAUNT Second Son to JOHN Earl of PETERBURGH AT The pretended High Court of Justice in Westminster-Hall the first and second of June 1658. With some Passages before and after it LONDON Printed by JAMES FLESHER 1661. TO The Right Honourable ELIZABETH Countess Dowager of PETERBURGH MADAM HAving the Original of my Lord Viscount MORDAUNT'S Trial by me I believ'd it a Duty to my Country to publish so Signal so great and Generous an Action that in case Our Nation be traduc'd by Strangers for so low and mean a Compliance under that horrid USURPER and TYRANT CROMWELL we may be able to produce upon record as Noble a list of Martyrs and Heroick Spirits as ever the number of years considered suffered for any unfortunate Prince in Europe And Madam although my Lord Your Son appears not in this Calender in Bloudy Letters yet to Your fuller satisfaction he will ever be Registred in Golden ones the declension of Cromwell's Fortune and Family taking its Visible beginning from my Lord Mordaunt's Escape who was mark'd out a Victim for the Nobility as Dr Hewet and Sr Henry Slingsby were for the Gentry and Clergie and his Deliverance had this of singular in it that having set up his rest on his Defence he was clear'd by that bloudy pretended High Court of Justice and remains Recorded the first Precedent of that Nature To whom then can I dedicate this Memorial so properly as to Your Ladyship the Noble Stock from whom this Branch proceeds And indeed this Remarkable Action was an Honour to Your Family though ne're so fertile for high Atchievments as well as to his own and none can say which of Your Houses has more right to the Glory of it the Howard or Mordaunt To be particular in the Relation of this were needless there being thousands of Witnesses and Westminster-Hall scarce ever so throng'd Yet I cannot omit to observe it was manifest to all present he knew to speak as well as how to attempt or die 'T is now Madam visible that God preserv'd Your Son for greater Actions which to Your lasting comfort You will alwaies remember How after his unexpected and almost Miraculous Escape from the Axe he calmly undertook a second worthy attempt the uniting of two long-jarring Parties at the time when the Consternation was so universal upon mens spirits that few though otherwise honest would hear what he design'd so great a regard had men in those daies to what they desir'd should be thought Prudence Vpon which Conjunction he founded the certainty of a Noble Warre or a healing Peace The considerable Rising of Sr George Booth satisfies he was not mistaken in the first and the happy composure of all Our Differences by his Maties Restauration evinces his foresight Prophetick as to the other I protest Madam I cannot without some amazement reflect upon the Providences attended him by Sea by Land in all his Concealments and Negotiations and after he had been so often and publickly proclaim'd Traitor and the Coasts watch'd to take him he never in the least declin'd any Risque or Hazzard whatsoever though he knew Death attended him every Minute if he came to be discover'd but with a quiet Resignation prosecuted what his heart was set upon his Maties Restauration and his Country's Liberty How great and Eminent an Instrument he has been towards His Maties Restauration what Employments and Transactions have been committed to his Prudence and Resolution and how fortunately he has acquitted himself of those great Trusts and what faithful Services he has rendred the Crown is doubtless known to all who pretend to business else I could not but wish all good Fortune and Success to that Merit and Courage which first broke the Ice and gave Reputation to the Counsels and Party of our long-banish'd SOVERAIGN But Madam Your Family will finde greater Rewards from His Maty then I dare express In confidence of which I have no other wish then bumbly to beseech Your Ladyship to look on me as Madam The most Obedient of all your Servants T. W. THE Trial of Mr MORDAUNT AT The pretended High Court of Justice AP ril 1. 1658. Mr Mordaunt was by a Guard of Souldiers taken in his Bed at Berkshire-House and carried directly to the Protector All his Writings were then seiz'd on and never returned He was for that time dismiss'd upon his Honour to appear upon Summons and remained at Berkshire-House till the fifteenth when after some hours Examination he was committed for High-Treason to the Tower During which fourteen daies time Mr Stapeley who was one of the Witnesses against him was never pleas'd so much as to acquaint him with his Danger or his own Examination though he was Prisoner at large and â—ay next door to him This was the reason made Mr Mordaunt so secure believing that a Gentleman could not wrong him so much as to accuse him and not give him notice of it His Imprisonment in the Tower was the severest that ever was heard of for the time He was ever close but the last three weeks had constantly an Officer and a Souldier by his Bed-side locked in with him two Keepers having several Keys so that but by joynt consent no person could be admitted to him and lest this was not sufficient he had two Souldiers at the house doors day and night His Ladie 's being with him made this unheard-of Cruelty unsupportable She being likewise stript and search'd by women sworn to that purpose and her hair pull'd about her ears to find Papers As himself likewise afterward and his Servants had all their Clothes cut and opened yet nothing could be found which extremely enrag'd the Officer His very Prayers were not private nor had he one hour free from disturbance when he was providing for his Trial so insolent were the Souldiers with him Till within two daies of his Trial he was permitted neither Pen nor Ink And to the Lieutenant Colonel whose name was Miller who gave him so short a summons to prepare for such a Defence he express'd his dissatisfaction in point of time for so serious a Work and desired Counsel But the Lieutenant of the Tower refus'd his hand to their Warrant for their safe return so he had none but immediately said he was resolved not to own the Court nor that way of Trial. One usage was so barbarous I cannot omit it The night before his Trial he sate up late to provide his Defence committing himself into the hands of God as verily believing by their Cruelties shewn he was ordained for Death Scarce was this persecuted person asleep by his Lady but a Captain going the round commanded the Souldiers to wake him and make him speak they obeyed the command opened the curtain and stirr'd him His Lady at first feared foul play but compos'd her self again and he waking demanded the reason of such insolence No answer was given but that it was by Command Are ye commanded saies he to keep me