Selected quad for the lemma: state_n
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A30652
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Colonel Joseph Bamfield's Apologie written by himself and printed at his desire.
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Bampfield, Joseph, fl. 1639-1685.
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1685
(1685)
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Wing B618; ESTC R16264
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58,236
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72
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lost with the Gouverment which then was totally frustrated of the chiefe end for which I had broken with all my former frends by procuring leave contrary to their Councels for my returne into England which was to have gotten my selfe to the head of a Regiment of 2500. Men of my owne Nation in the King of Frances service whereby I Could have subsisted with honour and Gouverned my selfe in other things according to events During my sickness which was violent I fownd my selfe suffiently contented to dye for being ruined with all the world small hopes remayning to recouver my self I Could better have submitted to a quiet death then to have suffered those bitter anxieties of a turbulent and afflicted life which I fore saw I was likely to undergoe as hath befallen me from that very tyme to this day but the periode either of our lives or trowbles comes not as we often desire Haveing recouvered my health I endeavoured to calme my minde which was not without disordre and to bear patiently those calamities which I then felt and to fortify my selfe to suffer those which I foresawe I was likely to undergoe by a decree greater and more souveraigne then solomans which would require a support sublimer then what reason or Philosophy Could afford feeling in my selfe Just cause for what I apprehended when I deeply reflected on the violent passions inordinate affections and to great infirmities of my life past I knew plethorique bodies repleat with vitious humours if there were any hope of cure had need of strong and searching phisick Which preparitories have kept me from being entirely overwhelmed with what I have since undergone I returned no more into England till the death of Cromwell which came to pass neer twoe years after S r. William Lockart whoe was then Cromwels Ambassadour in France and Gouvernour of Dunkirck to whome I had been knowne before he fell into that interest gave me a pass with a letter of recommandation to one of his frends whoe was at that tyme in great credit The factions and divisions in the army the vinversall discontents in all the three-Nations which Could not longer bear the confusions of those tymes being destitute of all Principles of Gouverment either in church or state the weakness of him whoe succeeded and of those whoe followed him that amidst the greatest Anarchy in the world figured to themselves a chimerical Democratie which one of them Called a republique as durable as the sun and moone wherein he vanted himselfe to have more greatness then he wished for which in eight months tyme afterwards terminated in a strict Imprisonment in the Tower of London where he dyed and his republique as usually Anarchies doe ended in Monarchy many of the greatest and wisest men of the three Nations taking occasion of those desorders which underhand some of them increased all they Could opened the way to his Ma ties re-establishment The next day after his arivall at whitehall I was comitted close Prisonner to the Tour of London into the custody of a person whoe had been one of the late Kings Judges whoe was not only pardoned but continued for some tyme as Lieutenant of that place this may deservedly be considered as a wonderfull dispensation to see me whoe had very often hazarded my life for the service of the crowne and especially for the preservation of that King become a prisoner under the care of one whoe had a principal hand in his death because he was cunning enowgh to help to destroy his fellowes but a few days before the late Kings restauration and when he plainly perceaved there was no humane possibility to hinder it I remained under a severe restraint about aleaven months when by order I was browght by S r. John Robinson then Commanding the Tower the former haveing been remouved to whitehall to be examined which I was upon divers Artickles by the Earle of Clarendon at that tyme Lord Chancellour and by the twoe Secretaries of State S r. Edward Nicolas and S r. William Maurits What was true I acknowledged pleading an inevitable necessity for what I had done aleadging that those things Could not amount to the crime mentioned in the warrant for my committment which was upon suspition of misprision of treason my Lord Chancellour told me I was browght thither only to answer cattegorically to what was demanded of me That pleading of my cause was for another place if it should be thowght fit to bring me thither notwithstanding that rebuke upon my further examination as the matter required and Could permit I defended my selfe as reasnably as I Could in soe much that his Lordship told me Colonel Bamfield I can perceave that you have not been alltogether Idle in the Tower seeing you are arrived at soe much knowledg in the law at least as you belive but I must tell you that your wisest and surest refuge will be to have your recourse to the Kings clemency and not to your Justification I answered him I had great need of his Ma ties Grace that I threw my selfe at his feet and Implored it with all humility but was fully persuaded that his LoPP. desired not that I should acknowledge my selfe more guilty then I was he replyed no God forbid but it behouves you to be very Carefull that some things you deny come not to be prouved which the King has been informed of and belives I added no more but if they Could be prouved I desired no Grace This examination lasted longer there then is necessary it should doe here In the conclusion I was commanded to withdrawe into an ante chamber where some of the nobility and divers Gentilemen were standing by the fier and I went alone to a window over against them about halfe an hower after my Lord chancellour and the Secretaries Came out and being ready to pass by me his LoPP. drew a little towards me and I with a profownde reverence neerer to him he sayd aloude in the hearing of all present Colonel Bamfield I am your freind M r. Secretaries and I are sencible of your sufferings and will doe all we can to obtayne you the Kings Grace and to procure your liberty And turning to S r. John Robinson sayd M r. Lieutenant you may let him have the full liberty of the Tower and all his frends whoe desire it the freedome to visit him as we returned back in the barge to the tower amongest other discource for then he was become very civile whoe before had treated me exceeding rudely S t. John Robinson told me that he had conceaved my business to have been much otherwise then he fownd it that my Lord Chancellour had been as moderate in his reflexions on my answers after I was gone out as he had been in the examination and at the end of the debate spake theise following words The somme of all is that Colonel Bamfield has served the Crowne from his youth and when we left him he left us About three