came to Westminster with the number of five or six thousand having Weapons and Battoons in their hands at the entring of every Coach some cried Justice others Execution a third man told his Fellows that both were to be conjoyned and that Justice and Execution was the noble Word upon which quasi dato-signo all the Rabble cried aloud with one voice Justice and Execution with a wonderful strange noise Some went to the Coach side and told the Lords that they must and would have Justice done upon the Deputy In particular above 1000 of them beset the Lord Steward's Coach and demanded Justice and Execution of him Justice said they we have gotten already and we only desire and must have it Execution The Lord Steward replied they should have Justice and Execution and desired them only to forbear and have patience a while No said they we have had too much patience we will not suffer longer and therefore my Lord before you go from us you must grant us Execution The Lord Steward told them he was going to the House to that effect and that they should have all content But whilst they were about to detain him longer some of the greatest Power amongst them said We will take his word for once and with difficulty enough made passage for him The Lords stayed within 'till twelve of the Clock nor was there any course taken in the mean time for dissolving of the multitude the greatest part of them went home the back way by Water only when the Lord Holland Lord Chamberlain and Bristol came out to their Coach all of them called Justice and Execution but when they perceived that Bristol was in the Coach they drew near the Coach side and told him For you my Lord Bristol we know you are an Apostate from the Cause of Christ and our mortal Enemy we do not therefore crave Justice from you but shall God willing crave Justice upon you and your false Son the Lord Digby Let a man cast his Eyes back now but for some few Months past and he shall see what trust may be reposed in the favour of the giddy multitude unless a man shall resolve to quit all Religion and Honesty and to mould and fashion his Conscience to the present distemper and fancy of the people neither can he do so safely when so much hazard lies in the Inconstancy of their Conceptions After this they drew up all the Names of those either in the House of Commons or the House of Lords whom they imagined to favour the Lieutenant and gave them the Title of Straffordians with this close That all those and all other Enemies to the Common-wealth should perish with him and did post up the Paper at the Gate of Westminster as if the old Democracy of Rome and the Tribunitial Power thereof in Cippo proscribere were now renewed and revived A Copy of the Paper posted up at the corner of the Wall of Sir William Brunkard's House in the Old Palace-Yard in Westminster Monday May 3. 1641. The Names of the Straffordians posted 1. Lord Digby 2. Lord Compton 3. Lord Buckhurst 4. Sir Robert Hatton 5. Sir Thomas Fanshaw 6. Sir Edward Alford 7. Sir Nicholas Slanning 8. Sir Thomas Danby 9. Sir George Wâ—ntworth 10. Sir Peter Wentworth 11. Sir Frederick Cornwallis 12. Sir William Carnaby 13. Sir Richard Winn. 14. Sir Carvis Clifton 15. Sir William Withrington 16. Sir William Pennyman 17. Sir Patrick Curwent 18. Sir Richard Lee. 19. Sir Henry Slingsby 20. Sir William Portman 21. Mr. Garvis Hollis 22. Mr. Sydney Godolphin 23. Mr. Cooke 24. Mr. Coventry 25. Mr. Benjamin Weston 26. Mr. William Weston 27. Mr. Selden 28. Mr. Alford 29. Mr. Floyd 30. Mr. Herbert 31. Captain Digby 32. Serjeant Hide 33. Mr. Taylor 34. Mr. Griffith 35. Mr. Scowen 36. Mr. Bridgeman 37. Mr. Fettâ—plass 38. Dr. Turner 39. Captain Charles Price 40. Dr. Parry Civilian 41. Mr. Arundell 42. Mr. Newport 43. Mr. Hâ—lbâ—râ— 44. Mr. Noell 45. Mr. â—irâ—on 46. Mr. Pollard 47. Mr. Price 48. Mr. Travanniâ—n 49. Mr. Jane 50. Mr. Edgerombe 51. Mr. Chiâ—â—eley 52. Mr. Maltery 53. Mr. Porter 54. Mr. White Secret E. D. 55. Mr. Warwick This and more shall be done to the Enemies of Justice afore-written Nor stayed they here one of them in the height of his fury cryed out Hornesco Referens if we get not satisfaction of the Lieutenant we will have it of the King or as some say worse If we have not the Lieutenant's life we will have the King 's Oh impious Mouth Oh un-natural Miscreant This Man was marked by a Gentleman of the Inns of Court and four or five requested by him to bear witness of the Words Nor did he stay here but the Gentleman with fidelity and courage enough went to the fellow and kindly invited him to drink a Pint of Wine the Fellow suspecting nothing went along with him but in the mean time he sent for a Constable in whose hearing he asked how he durst speak such Words as those he like a mad-man replied That he would maintain them Whereupon he was apprehended by the Constable and committed to the Gate-house where he was three or four times examined yesternight some report that he freely confessed his Words and withall threatned to shew great Authority for them even within the Gates of the Court This day I hear little of him but some say the business will be slubber'd over with this That he said only If we get not satisfaction of the Lieutenant we will go to the King And it is likely this will be the Issue of the business lest this zeale should be quenched in the breeding and beginning whose surcharge and excess is laudable yea necessary in a time of Reformation Add to this that if this man should suffer it might settle and calm the forwardness of the people before the whole business be ended about the Earl of Strafford They have further threatned that after Wednesday they will shut up their shops and never rest from petitioning till not only the Liuetenants matter but also all things else that concern a Reformation be fully perfected The house of Commons sat all that day Monday till 8 at â—ight nor were they Idle all that time but brought forth that Protestation or band of Association as they term it which is now in print it was then drawn up and without further process or delay before they came out subscribed by the whole House except the Lord Digby and an Uncle or Friend of his It is thought by some whose heads are not green that it is very like a Covenant in Scotland but that must be left to further time and wiser heads if that Comment that perhaps will follow be not worse then the â—ext it may in probability happen out to be canonical enough but the too general Phrase in it lyes very open to have sences pro re natâ— thrust upon them which may be very justly suspected to have been intended where
one way or other 4. Because he removed his Brother Sir George from having hand in the Proces in regard of interest of Blood The third Charge was That he proceeded summarily in the matter of the Lord Mount-Norris He Replied First that he was not Judge in it and that the Councel of War was to be answerable in the Justification of their own Proceedings That after a long reasoning he had heard them say that no delay could safely be granted in Martial Courts The fourth Charge was That he had not heard the Exceptions made by Mount-Norris against his Witnesses To this he answered as before That he was not Judge in the Case and that he remembers no Exceptions made against any Witnesses To which he added that as he had been regulated in his Proceedings so he had been moderate in the Execution of that Sentence For though the Lord Mount Norris justly deserved to dy yet he had obtained him the Kings Pardon for the saving of his life and protested that he intended nothing by that Sentence but in some measure to repair his own Honour and to give Mount-Norris fair reproof who was known to be of an exorbitant and licentious Tongue and Spirit Adding that if the House of Commons would go on the same way with him and assure him that the Issue of his Charge should be nothing else but to admonish him for the time to come he would thank them heartily for it and study amendmant in all pretended oversights And whereas Mount-Norris complained that he had jeeringly told him when the Sentence was passed and pronounced against him That ere he lost his head himself would lose his Hand He answered that he had been thought to be very insolent and haughty yet he was never so impertinent to use this expression If any fault were it was for undervaluing himself in saying that ere a hair of Mount-Norris should perish he would lose his hand And truly said he if Mount-Norris would say so to me now even in the worst sence that can be conceived that ere I died he would lose his hand I would take it very kindly from him For the other man he avouched that he himself had voiced to hang him both because he was an arrant Thief and also had fled from his Colours which by the Common-Law and to this effect he cited a Statute 20. Hen. 6. and 7. Hen. 7. That to fly from their Colours is Fellony He concluded that seeing he was not accessary to the Sentence against Mount-Norris had not sate there as Judge had a power to keep Martial-Courts by his Commission had not exercised the same till a new Command came from his Majesty had done no more than ever was practised in Ireland before his time and had at least obtained Mount-Norris his Pardon he hoped there was nothing accusable in him but his too remiss and too moderate Proceedings Master Glin bitterly Replied That he knew the time when the Earl of Strafford was no less active and stirring to enlarge the liberty of the Subject and advance the Petition of Right than now he is for extending his own Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government To this he Replied without the least semblance of Passion that if at any time he had done the least service to the House of Commons he thought his whole life well spent nor could they ever so graciously reward him as to give Commission to that Gentleman to express so much before that Honourable Assembly But withall if ever any such thing was done by him he intreated it might now be remembred and might now serve to over ballance some sleight and mean oversights committed by him which he hoped should never make him guilty of Treason unless it were Treason for a Man to have no more wit and Prudence than God and Nature had bestowed upon him And so much for Saturday Upon Monday he was charged with the sixth Article That he had used a Tyrannical Government not only over the Lives as appeared by the last but also over the Lands and Goods of the Kings Subjects as appeared by this Article wherein he was Charged to have dispossessed the Lord Mount-Norris of a Tenure of Lands by a Summary Process before himself contrary to all Law and therefore had failed 1. Against the Act 7 Hen. 6. which provides all matters to be determined by the ordinary Judges 2. Against the Cautions sent to Ireland by King James expresly forbidding such power hereafter to be exercised 3. Against the Kings late Proclamation 4. Against the practice of all Deputies before that time Withal they added That it was a Tyranny that could not be expressed to exercise this power over the Persons of the Peers of the Land and their Goods To this he replied That for his part in matter of Justice under favour he spake it he thought there was no distinction to be made betwixt a Peer of the Land and one of the Commons except they did think that either Fear or Faction should do somtehing which had no place in him To the Particulars 1. That the Act of Hen. 6. answered it self sufficiently both because it excepted the Court of Requests and that his proceedings were nothing else in Ireland and also makes an express Reservation of the Kings Prerogative which he said was his strength because he derived his Commission from the King and that the Act was the most express warrant in the world for him 2. That he had not failed against the Cautions given by King James 1. Because they were not Charged upon him 2. Because they were never observed nor could be by the Deputies to whom they were given which he proved both by Witnesses and Writings 3. Because the Caution made rather for him than against him in that it contained the Word Hereafter which manifestly implyed that the Power had been somtimes before exercised in Ireland and not only by himself and therefore thanked them for that Testimony and hint 4. That though the Cautions had been given to him yet he had received an express Command from the King his Master to put that Power in use causing the Kings Letter for that purpose to be read and professing withal that he was tender to exercise that Power till the King induced by the humble Remonstrance of the meaner sort of people had most peremptorily and upon most just Reasons commanded him 3. That he could not obey the Kings Proclamation five years before it came out and that he wished from his heart that they would but respect the Kings Commands and Commissions with that tenderness of Affection and Obedience as he did his Proclamations 4. He proved it to be the constant practise of all Deputies that went before him It was Objected That other Deputies had indeed upon Suits of Equity determined themselves and matters of Debt but never of Land He Replied First That the same Authority reacheth as well to the one as to
Monarchical Government and were only to be answered by the Sword Thirdly That he had caused some Scottish Goods and Ships to be seized on in Ireland Fourthly That he had engaged the Irish Parliament by their Declaration in that War against the Scots Fifthly That by all possible means he had put had thoughts and Suspicions into his Majesty against his Scottish Subjects and laboured to make a National quarrel between them and England which if the Kings Piety and the Prudence of better affected States-men had not prevented could not have been sâ—erd up again without much Blood Concerning England his Speeches were either before or after the Parliament First Before his Creature and Bosom friend Sir George Ratcliff he had said to Sir Robert King when he was doubting how the King might have Monies to pay his Armies that the King had four hundred thousand pounds in his Purse thirty Thousand Men in the Field and his Sword by his side and if he wanted Money afterwards who will pitty him Secondly That his Brother Sir George Wentworth had said to Sir Robert Beâ—ington upon the dissolution of the last Parliament that seeing the English would not grant supply to the King it seems they were weary of their Peace and desired to be conquered a second time Thirdly That he himself upon a discourse with the Primate of Ireland had said that he was much of the mind of those English Divines who maintained it lawful for a King having tried the affection and benevolence of his People and then denied their help upon an inevitable necessity and present danger of the Kingdom that he might use his Prerogative for his own supply and the defence of his Subjects Fourthly To the Lord Conway in a Discourse he had said That if the Parliament meaning the last Parliament should not grant a competent Supply that then the King was Acquitted before God and Man and might use the Authority put into his hands Fifthly That he did say at the Council Board If the Parliament should deny to help the King he would take any other way be could for his Majesties Service and Assistance His Expressions after the Parliament were two First That the Parliament had forsaken the King and that the King should not suffer himself to be over-mastered by the frowardness obstinacy and stubbornness of his People Secondly That if his Majesty pleased to employ Forces he had some in Ireland that might serve to reduce this Kingdom The Proofs for the Scots Particulars were these First The Lord Traquiere who was indeed very favourable to the Lord Lieutenant and spake nothing to his Disadvantage but what was scrued from him with much difficulty he told them That when he gave in the Demands he heard him say that it was high time for the King to put himself into a posture of War but that first all the Council of England said the same as well as he secondly That it was a double Supposition 1. That the Demands were truly given in 2. That there was no other Remedy left but Arms to reduce them Secondly The Earl of Morton's Testimony being sick himself was produced and it was one and the same with the Article Thirdly Sir Henry Vane was examined who declared That he had heard the Lieutenant to advise the King to an Offensive War when his own Judgment was for a Defensive Fourthly The Testimony of the Earl of Northumberland was produced which was the very same with Sir Henry Vane's Fifthly The Treasurer of England deposed the same with Traquiere Sixthly One Beane from Ireland told That he had known Ships seized on there but by whose Procurement or Warrant he knew not To the Articles about England First Sir Robert King and the Lord Renelaugh deposed the same that Sir Robert King and the Lord â—enelaugh had heard Sir George Ratcliffe speak those words in the Article Secondly Sir Robert Barrington of Sir George Wentworth Thirdly The Primate's Testimony who is sick was the same with the Article Fourthly The Lord Conway deposed the same with the Article Fifthly Sir Henry Vane deposed He had heard those Words spoken at the Council-Board For the Words spoken after the Parliament To the first Sir Tho. Jermyne Lord Newburg Earl of Bristol Earl of Holland were Examined Bristol did mince the Matter but Holland's Testimony was express because of the exceeding great Love he carried to the Man For the last which were the most dangerous Speeches about the reducing of this Kingdom there was only Sir Henry Vane's Testimony who declared only thus That he had either those Words or the like Here some of the Lieutenants Friends shewed themselves 1. The Lord Savil who desired of Sir Henâ—y Vane to know whether he said their or this or that Kingdom and withal said it was very hard to condemn a man for Treason upon such petit Circumstances 2. The Earl of Southampton desired to know whether Sir Henry Vane would swear those words positively or not Sir Henry Vane said positively either them or the like The Earl replied that under favour those or the like could not be positive 3. The Earl of Clare desired to know what could be meant by this Kingdom for his part he said he thought it meant of the Kingdom of Scotland to which the Word this might very well be relative that Kingdom being only mentioned in the preceding Discourse And that he was the more ready to be of that Opinion because he could not see by what Grammatical Construction it could be gathered from his words that he meant to reduce England which neither then was neither is now God be thanked out of the way of Obedience nor upon Rebellious Courses They at last concluded the Charge That the Words were so monstrous that to aggravate them was to allay them and therefore they would simply leave them to the Judgment of the Lords The Lieutenant's Reply was That though the heaping up of those Articles had put him to a great Confusion yet he would endeavour to bring his Answer into the best Method he could and first he would reply to the Prooâ— then add something in general for himself in what a hard taking and lamentable Condition he was to have his private Discourses his most intimate and bosome friends search'd and sisted to the least Circumstance that he might seem guilty of that which by God's assistance he should never be To the Lord Traquieres and the Deputies Depositions he thought their Proofs did not much stick upon him for upon the Suppositions first That the Demands were true secondly That they were not justifiable thirdly That no other Course could prevail He could not see what other Advice he could possibly give the King than to put himself into a posture of War especially seeing then there was frequent Reports of the Scots invading or entring into England nor was he of any other mind than all the rest of the Council-Board For that of Morton's he doth not positively remember the
Words but if the Demands were read perhaps they would imply nothing less and if so how otherwise to be answered but by the Sword all other Means being first assayed which is ever to be supposed For Sir Henry Vane's and Northumberland's Testimony about perswading of an Offensive War he said he remembred it very well and thought it as free for him to give his Opinion or an Offensive as they for a Defensive War Opinions said he if they be attended with Obstimacy or Pertinacy may make an Heretick but that they ever made a Traytor he never heard it till now nor under favour should I be an Heretick either said he for as I was then so am I now most willing to acknowledge my Weakness and correct my Errors whereof no man hath more or is more sensible of them than I my self yet if that Opinion of mine had been followed it might perhaps have spared us some Money said he and some Reputation too of which we have been prodigal enough For the last about the Ships it proves nothing but he would willingly confess that some Ships were there detained and that by himself and his own Direction as Vice Admiral of Connaugh but it was at the Command of the Lord Admiral the Earl of Northumberland and produced his Letter to that purpose To the English Proof He marvelled much how Sir George Ratcliff's Words could be put upon him Sir George though alledged to be his Bosom Friend yet had thoughts of his own and might have some other thoughts in his Bosom and be to some other Expressions than Sir George Ratcliffe No man said he can commit Treason by his Attorney and should I by my Friend Sir George as by a Proxy For his Brother He never knew him before so rash but that was nothing to him except they could prove a nearer Identity than Nature had instituted and that his Brother's Words and his were â—ll one yet withal he conceived that his Brother's Words might be very well understood of the Scots conquering England but not at all of the Irish and so he wished with all his heart that he had not spoken something which is like a Prophesie To the Primate's Testimony with all Reverence to his Integrity be it spoken he is but one Witness and in Law can prove nothing Add to this said he that it was a private Discourse between him and me and perhaps spoken by me Tentandi gratia and how far this should be laid to a mans Charge let your Lordships judge Yea this seems to me against Humanity it self and will make the Society of men so dangerous and loathsom to us that our Dwelling Houses will be turned to Cells and our Towns to Defarts That which God and Nature our Tongues have bestowed upon us for the greater comfort of venting our own Conceptions or craving the Advice of Wiser and Learnecer men should become Snares and Burdens to us by a curious and needless Fear yet if my Words be taken said he with all that went before and followed after I see no danger in it To the Lord Conway I may reply the same with this Addition That it is a very Natural Motion for a man to preserve himself every Greature hath this Priviledge and shall we deny it to Monarchy provided this be done in a lawful though in an extraordinary way This grain of Salt must be added to season all my Discourse To that of Sir Henry Vane of offering my Service to the King I thank him for the Testimony and think he hath done me much honour thereby but if he or any body else do suspect that his Majesty will employ me in unlawful Enterprizes I shall think them more liable to the Charge of Treason than my self To the subsequent Testimonies I shall not need to wrestle about them much only the last of Sir Henry Vanes pinches and lies sore upon me but to that which the Earl of Clare and I thank him for it hath said already give me leave to add this that the Testimony of one man is not a sufficient Witness nor can a man be Accused much less Condemned of Treason upon this and for that read the Stat. of Hen. 7.12 and of Edw 6.5 Now my Lords said he to give you further satisfaction I shall desire all the Lords of the Councel which were then present only to the number of eight may be examined whether they heard these words or not for the Archbishop and Sir Francis Windebank they cannot be had Sir Henry Vane gives the Testimony I deny it four only remain First The Earl of Northumberlands Testimony which was read had declared expresly that he had never heard those words nor any like them from the Lord Strafford but he spake with great Honour and regard to the Kingdom of England Secondly the Marquess Hamilton who declared upon his Oath that he had never heard such words but that he had heard the Lieutenant often say that the King was to rule his Royal Power Candidè Castè that it would never be well for this Kingdom till the Prerogative of the Crown and the Priviledge of the Subject went in one pace together and that Parliaments were the happiest way to keep a correspondency between the King and People The very same was delivered by the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Cottington Now my Lords you may mervail how these words rested only on the ears of Sir Henry Vane but my Lords said he that I may remove all scruple from you I will make it evident that there was not the least intention that the Irish Army should set a foot in England and then I hope you will conceive that I had no meaning to reduce this Kingdom This he made clear by the Testimony of Northumberland the Oaths of Marquiss Hâ—milton Lord Cottington Lord Treasurer Sir Thomas Lucas who only were private to that matter For other of my words my Lords said he I desire you would not take them by halves if so who should be free from Treason Certainly if such a precident take sooting Westminster-hall shall be more troubled with Treason then with Common-Law look therefore to the Antecedents and Consequents of my Speeches and you shall find the state of the question clearly altered the Antecedents were upon an absolute or inevitable necessity upon a present Invasion when the remedy of a Parliament cannot be expected the Consequents for the defence of the Kingdom which acompts afterward to the Parliament The qualifications too in a lawful convenient and ordinary way so far as the present necessity can permit Add but these and which of you are not of my mind Is the King endowed with no power from the Lord Is he not publicus inspector Regni Stands it not him in hand to do something on present necessities And that these were his words he often proved over and over again by the Marquess by the Lord Treasurer Cottington Sir Tho. Jermine My Lords what I have kept to the
Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament at Westminster 1641. Sheweth THat seeing it is the good Will and Pleasure of God that your Petitioner is now shortly to pay that duty which we all owe to our frail Nature He shall in all Christian Patience and Charity conform and submit to that Justice in a comfortable assurance of the great hope laid up for us in the Mercy and Merits of our Saviour Blessed for ever Only he humbly craves to return your Lordships most humble thanks for your noble Compassion towards those Innocent Children who now with his last Blessing he commits to the protection of Almighty God beseeching your Lordships to finish your pious Intentions towards them and desiring that the reward thereof may be given you by him who is able to give above all that we are able either to ask or think wherein I trust the Honourable House of Commons will afford their Christian assistance And so beseeching your Lordships charitably to forgive all his omissions and infirmities he doth heartily and truly recommend your Lordships to the Mercies of our Heavenly Father that for his goodness he may protect you in every good work Amen There was a foolish ridiculous and scandalous Speech Printed which was pretended to have been spoken by the Earl of Strafford to certain Lords before his coming out of the Tower which is protested against and avowed to be false by the Lord Primate of Ireland Earl of Cleveland Earl of Newport Lord Rich Sir William Balfoure Sir William Wentworth Sir George Wentworth Dr. Carre Dr. Price De Moriuis nil nisi verum The Paper containing the Heads of the Lord Strafford 's last Speech written with his own hand as it was left upon the Scaffold falling out of his Bosom 1. Come to pay the last Debt we owe to sin 2. Rise to Righteousness 3. Dye willingly 4. Forgive all 5. Submit to justice but in my Intentions Innocent from subverting c. 6. Wishing nothing but good Prosperity to King and People 7. Acquit the King constrained 8. Beseech to Repent 9. Strange way to write the beginning of Reformation and settlement of a Kingdom in Blood 10. Beseech that demand may rest there 11. Call not blood on themselves 12. Dye in the Faith of the Church 13. Pray for it and desire their Prayers with me A true COPY of his SPEECH delivered on the Scaffold My Lord Primate of Ireland IT is my great comfort that I have your Lordship by me this day in regard I have been known to you these many years and I do thank God and your Lordship for it that you are here I should be very glad to obtain so much silence as to be heard a few words but I doubt I shall not the noise is so great My Lords I am come hither by the good will and pleasure of Almighty God to pay that last Debt I owe to Sin which is Death and by the blessing of that God to rise again through the Merits of Jesus Christ to Righteousness and Life Eternal Here he was a little interrupted Mr Lords I am come hither to submit to that Judgment which hath passed against me I do it with a very quiet and contented mind I thank God I do freely forgive all the World a forgiveness that is not spoken from the Teeth outward as they say but from the very Heart I speak it in the presence of Almighty God before whom I stand that there is not a displeasing thought arising in me towards any man living I thank God I can say it and truly too my conscience bearing me witness that in all my Imployment since I had the Honour to serve His Majesty I never had any thing in the purpose of my heart but what tended to the joint and individual prosperity of King and People although it hath been my ill fortune to be misconstrued I am not the first that hath suffered in this kind it is the common Portion of us all while we are in this life to err Righteous Judgment we must wait for in another place for here we are very subject to be mis-judged one of another there is one thing that I desire to free my self of and I am very confident speaking it now with much chearfulness that I shall obtain your Christian Charity in the belief of it I was so far from being against Parliaments that I did allways think the Parliaments of England were the most happy constitutions that any Kingdom or Nation lived under and the best means under God to make the King and People happy For my Death I here acquit all the World and beseech the God of Heaven heartily to forgive them that contrived it though in the intentions and purposes of my heart I am not guilty of what I dye for And my Lord Primate it is a great comfort for me that His Majesty conceives me not meriting so severe and heavy a punishment as is the utmost Execution of this Sentence I do infinitely reioyce in this mercy of his and I beseech God return it into his own bosom that he may find mercy when he stands most in need of it I wish this Kingdom all the prosperity and happiness in the World I did it living and now dying it is my wish I do most humbly recommend this to every one who hears me and desire they would lay their hands upon their hearts and consider seriously whether the beginning of the happiness and reformation of a Kingdom should be written in Letters of Blood consider this when you are at your homes and let me be never so unhappy as that the last drop of my Blood should rise up in Judgment against any one of you but I fear you are in a wrong way My Lords I have but one word more and with that I shall end I profess that I dye a true and obedient Son to the Church of England wherein I was born and in which I was bred Peace and prosperity be ever to it It hath been objected if it were an Objection worth the answering that I have been inclined to Popery but I say truly from my heart that from the time that I was one and twenty years of Age to this present going now upon forty nine I never had in my heart to doubt of this Religion of the Church of England nor ever had any man the boldness to suggest any such thing to me to the best of my remembrance And so being reconciled by the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour into whose bosom I hope I shall shortly be gathered to those Eternal happinesses which shall never have end I desire heartily the forgiveness of every man for any rash or unadvised words or any thing done amiss and so my Lords and Gentlemen farewel farewel all things of this World I desire that you would be silent and Joyn with me in Prayer and I trust in God we shall all meet and live Eternally in Heaven there to receive the accomplishment of