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
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
passe upon me The Jury found me guilty if I should go about to make a defence now it would signifie no more then as if my friends should petition for my pardon after I am excuted could have offered you articles here but I thought them inconsistenâ— with this Court. When I look upon my offence as to the Protectour I conclude myself a dead man but when I reflect upon the favour he hath shewed to others of my condition and the hopes I have of your intercession me thinks I feel my spirits renewed again My Lords death is a debt due from Nature has now the keeping the bond and has put it in suit by his Attorny if he please to forbear the serving me with an execution and let me keep it a little longer I will pay him the interest of thanks for it as as long as I live and engage my posterity and a numerous allyance to be bound for me So the Lord direct you all for the best If I have found favour I shall thank you if not I shall forgive you This being done Serjeant Glyn after a most bitter and nonsensicall speech gave sentence against us viz to be drawn hanged and quartred A prety exchange for unworthy Crooks Articles for life liberty and estate which I can prove and will die upon My triall held at least five hours This is as much as at present I can remember of it excuse the errours One of the Jury being asked by a Gent. why he found me guilty answered He was resolved to hang me before he did see me I observe treason in this age to be an individuum vagum like the wind in the Gospel which bloweth where it listeth for that shall be treason in me to day which shall be none in another to morrow as it pleaseth Mr Attorny The Judges are sworn to do justice according to the Laws of the Land and therefore have miserably perjured themselves in condemning me contrary to Law And not so contented must cause the Jury so wise they were through their false and unjust directions to destroy their own rights and properties and set up a new Arbitrary and Tyrannicall government The Judges would not give me their advice in point of Law as was their duty because they said they were parties yet could sit still on the Bench in their Robes to countenance and approve of my Sentence No man can be a Judge where he is a Party in the same cause therefore my tryall was contrary to Law The Judges being parties ought not to sit upon the bench but stand by therefore my triall was illegall the rest being no Judges but the Protectours immediate servants so could not be my Judges in case of High Treason for none but the sworn Judges of the Land are capable of it by Law One thing of Colonel Dove the reverend Sheriff of Wilts who that the Jury might be sufficiently incensed complaining of the many incivilities he pretended were offered him by our party being upon his Oath said that one of our men did run him through the side with a Carbine Surely it was a very small one for the wound was not discernable A great deal of paines every man in his place took for the carrying on their Masters work Be mercifull unto me O Lord be mercifull unto me under the shadow of they wings will I hide my selfe till this Tyranny be overpast Glory be to God on High in earth peace good will towards men and so have mercy on me O Lord. JOHNN PENRVDDOCK Mrs. Penruddock's last letter to her honourable and dear Husband My dear heart MY sad parting was so far from making me forget you that I scarce thought on my self since but wholy upon you Those dear embraces which I yet feel and shall never loose being the faithfull testimonies of an indulgent husband have charmed my soul to such a reverence of your remembrance that were it possible I would with my own blood cement your dead limbs to life again and with reverence think it no sin to rob heaven a little while longer of a Martyr Oh my dear you must now pardon my passion this being my last oh fatall word that ever you will receive from me And know that untill the last minuit that I can imagine you shall live I will sacrifice the prayers of a Christian and the grones of an afflicted wife And when you are not which sure by sympathie I shall know I shall wish my own dissolution with you that so we may go hand in hand to heaven T is to late to tell you what I have or rather have not done for you how turned out of doores because I came to beg mercy the Lord lay not your blood to their charge I would fain discourse longer with you but Passion begins to drawn my Reason and will rob me of my devoire which is all I have left to serve you Adieu therefore ten thousand times my dearest dear and since I must never see you more take this prayer May your Faith be so strengthened that your Constancy may continue and then I know that heaven will receive you whether grief and love will in a short time I hope translate May the 3. at 11 at clock at night My dear Your sad but constant wife even to love your ashes when dead Arundel Penruddock Your children beg your blessing and present their duties to you The last letter from the honourable Colonel Penruddock in answer to his vertuous Lady MY DEAREST HEART I Even now received thy farewell letter each word whereof represents unto me a most lively Embleme of your affection drawn with thy own hand in water colours to the figure of a deaths head My dear I imbrace it as coming first from God and then from Man for what is there done in this City that the Lord hath not permitted I look upon every line of thine as so many threads twisted together in to that of my life which being now woven my meditations tells me will make a fit remnant for my winding sheet Upon the reading thereof I may say with the Prophet I should have utterly fainted but that I believe verily too see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living As this is mine my dear so let it be thy consolation When I think what a wife and what children I go from and look no further I begin to cry O wretched man that I am But when my thoughts soar higher and fix them selves upon those things which are above where I shall find God my Creatour to my Father and his Son my Redeemer to my Brother for so they have vouchsafed to term themselves then I lay aside those relations and do of all love my dear desire thee not to look towards my grave where my Body lies but toward the heaven where I hope my Soul shall gain a Mansion in my Fathers house I do stedfastly believe that God hath heard the prayers of my friends and