touched my eyes have never been blinded with any Reward I never byassed for friendship nor diverted for hatred for all that know me know I was not of a vindicative nature I do not know for what particulars or by what means you are drawn into an ill opinion of me since I had the honour to sit in that place you sit in Master Speaker in which I served you with all fidelity and candor Many witnesses there are of the good Offices I did you and resumed expressions of Thankfulness from this House for it for the last day I had share in it no man expressed more symbols of sorrow than I did After three days Adjournment the King desired me it might be Adjourned for a few days more whether was it then in his Majesty much less in me to Dissolve the House But the King sent for me to Whitehall and gave me a Message to the House and commanded me when I had delivered the Message forthwith to come to him and if a question was offered to be put he charged me upon my Allegiance I should put none I do not speak this as a thing I do now merit by but it is known to divers men and to some Gentlemen of this House All that I say is but to beseech you to consider what you would have done in this strait betwixt the King my Master and this Honourable House The Shipping business lieth heavy upon me I am far from justifying that my opinion if it be contrary to the Judgment of this House I submit I never knew of it at the first or ever advised any other I was made Chief Justice four days before the Writ went out for the Port I was sworn sixteen days after and the Writs Issued forth without my privity The King Commanded the then Chief Justice the now Chief Baron and my self to look on the Presidents and to certifie him our Opinions what we thought of it That if the whole Kingdom were in danger it was reasonable and fit to lay the Charge for the Defence of it upon the whole Kingdom and not upon the Port only And Commanded the then Chief Justice my self and the now Chief Baron to return him our Opinions Our Opinions were and we thought it agreeable to Law and Reason That if the whole were in danger the whole should contribute This was about Iune In Michaelmas following the King but by no Advice of mine Commanded me to go to all the Judges for their Opinions upon the Case and to Charge them upon their Allegiance to deliver their Opinions but this not as a binding opinion to themselves but that upon better consideration or reason they might alter but only for his Majesties satisfaction and that he must keep it to his own private use as I conceive the Judges are bound by their Oaths to do I protest I never used any promise or threats to any but did only leave it to the Law and so did his Majesty desire That no speech that way might move us to deliver any thing contrary to our Consciences There was no Judge that Subscribed needed sollicitations to it there were that Refused Hutton and Crook Crook made no doubt of this thing but of the introduction I am of opinion that when the whole Kingdom is in danger whereof the King is Iudge the danger is to born by the whole Kingdom When the King would have sent to Hutton for his Opinion the then Lord Keeper desired to let him alone and to leave him to himself That was all the ill office he did in that business February 26. upon command from his Majesty by the then Secretary of State the Judges did assemble in Sergeants-Inn where then that opinion was delivered and afterwards was inrolled in the Star-chamber and other Courts at which time I used the best arguments as I could where at that time Crook and Hutton differed in Opinion not of the thing but whether the King was sole Judge Fifteen months from the first they all Subscribed and it was Registred in the Star-chamber and other Courts The reason why Crook and Hutton Subscribed was because they were over-ruled by the greater number This was all I did till I came to my Argument in the Exchequer where I argued the Case I need not tell you what my Arguments were they are publick about the Town I delivered my self then as free as any that the King ought to Govern by the positive Laws of the kingdom and not alter but by consent of the Parliament and that if he made use of it as a Revenue or otherwise that this judgement could not hold him but never declared that money should be raised I heard you had some hard opinion of me about this secret business it was far from my business and occasions but in Mr. 〈…〉 absence I went to the Justice-seat when I came there I did both King and Commonwealth good service which I did with extream danger to my self and fortunes left it a thing as advantageous to the Commonwealth as any thing else I never went about to overthrow the Charter of the Forrest but held it a sacred thing and ought to be maintained both for the King and People Two Judges then were that held the King by the common-Common-law might make a Forrest where he would when I came to be Judge I declared my Opinion to the contrary that the King was restrained and had no power to make a Forrest but in his own Demesn lands I know that there is something laid upon me touching the Declaration that came out the last Parliament it is the King's affair and I am bound without his Licence not to disclose it but I hope I shall obtain leave of his Majesty and then I shall make it appear that in this thing I have not deserved your disfavours and will give good satisfaction in any thing I know that you are wise and that you will not strain things to the uttermost sence to hurt me God did not call David a man after his own heart because he had no failings but because his heart was right with God I conclude all this That if I must not live to serve you I desire I may dye in your good opinion and favour A Speech so franck and clear that it might have removed all suspition so pathetick that it might have melted cruelty into compassion so humbly and submissively managed that they could not but pity him who were resolved to destroy him weeping at the pronouncing of it and when it was over Hyena and Crocodile-like shedding tears and bloud in an instant that day Voting the Author a Traitor and without any regard to the honour of his place and trust the reverence of his years the strictness of his profession and life the many services he did that party of whom he was reckoned one and the many favours he received from them the extent of his charity and the exemplariness of his devotion employ their common Messengers to take
Table-book and Common-place rather than his heart Iulius Caesar said other mens wives should not be loose but his should not be suspected And this great Lord advised the Primate of Ireland that as no Clergy man should be in reality guilty of compliance with a Schism so should not he in appearance Adding when the Primate urged the dangers on all sides as Caesar once said You are too old to fear and I too sickly A true saying since upon the opening of his Body it was found that he could not have lived according to the course of Nature six moneths longer than he did by the malice of his Enemies his own Diseases having determined his life about the same period that the Nations distemper did and his Adversaries having prevailed nothing but that that death which he just paying as a debt to Nature should be in the instant hallowed to a Sacrifice for Allegiance and he that was dying must be martyred and just when he put off his Coronet Put on a Crown Philip the I. of Spain said he could not compass his design as long as Lerma lived nor the Scots theirs as long as Strafford acts and with his own single worth bears up against the Plot of three Kingdoms like Sceva in the breach with his single resolution duelling the whole Conspiracy That now being resolved into two Committees the one of Scots the other of English first impeach him Decemb. 17. of High Treason in the House of Lords though so Innocent and so well satisfied in his own present integrity that when he might have kept with an Army that loved him well at York to give Law to those conspitors he came to receive Law from them and when he might have been secure in his Government and in the Head of an Army in Ireland he came to give an account of that Government and Army in England laying down his own Sword to be subject to others and teaching how well he could Govern by shewing how well he could obey yea when he might have retired and charged his Adversaries as Bristow did Buckingham with that conspiracy for the overthrow of Government wherewith they charged him He being able to prove how P. H. H. K. S. H. S. that thirst most for his blood had correspondence with and gave counsel to the Kings Enemies in Scotland and Ireland and England when they could prove no more for the alteration of the Law against him than that he gave advice to the King according to his place to support them yet he tamely yeilded his whole life to be scanned by those that could not be safe but when he was dead and having mannaged the great trust reposed in him by the Laws of Antient Parliaments was not afraid to submit himself to the censure of this Rather than hide his head in some Forreign Nation that offered him Sanctuary saying That England had but one good head and that was to be Cut off meaning His he would loose in his own scorning for services done his own King to beg protection of another The brave man judging that he deserved death that minute he feared it and that he was fit to be Condemned that day he refused to be Tryed appeared in Parliament and Counsel with that resolution that afterwards he appeared at the Bar with till the Scots thinking their guilt could not be pardoned till his Innocence was Impeached and that their vast Accounts amounting to 514128l 9s could not pass till he was laid up to give up his as he was in Decemb. 1640 and the Scots going with the English first Impeached and afwards Ian. 30. compleated their Charge against him which drawn up in two hundred sheets of paper was brought to the Peers by Pym and how Sir Henry V. short Notes multiplied were read Feb. 24. to the Peers before the King and Feb. 25. to the Commons consisting of 28. Articles to which having Counsel allowed him in matter of Law after three dayes debate about it and they allowed to plead but in matters they were restrained to by the House he answered in Westminster-Hall before the King Queen the Prince and Courtiers in an apartment by themselves and the whole Parliament an Audience equal to the greatness of the Earls Person and the Earl of Lindsey being Lord High Constable for the day the Earl of Arundel Lord High Steward on the 22. of March as to matter of Fact in general and the Court adjourning to the next day then in particular to 13 Articles put to him of a suddain as first that he had withdrawn 24000l out of Exchequer of Ireland for his own use Secondly That the Irish Garrisons had in the years 1635 1636. c. been maintained with English Treasure Thirdly That he had preferred infamous and Popish persons such as the Bishop of Waterford c. in the Irish Church To which notwithstanding the surprize of a Vote wherein the Parliament of Ireland charged him of High Treason a Copy whereof was delivered sealed to the Lords at that very instant with purpose to discompose him An emergency that transported him indeed to say in passion That there was a Conspiracy against him which when the Faction aggravated as if he charged with High Treason by both Houses of Parliaments should charge both Parliaments with a Conspiracy though he execused it as meant of particular and private persons â—raving pardon for the inconsiderateness of the expression He answered with an undaunted Presence of spirit with firm Reason and powerful Eloquence to this purpose that the Money he had taken for himself was no other than what Money he had paid for the King before Secondly That he had eased the Kingdom of those Garrisons wherewith it had been burthened during his Predecessors time Thirdly That the Bishop of Waterford had deceived him and satisfied the Law and the next day after Marchâ— 24. to these Articles all the forementioned 28. Articles being 〈◊〉 urged he replyed thus The First Article insisted on That 31. Aâ—â—â—â—sâ—â—33 â—â—33 he being Lord President of the North and Justice of Peace publickly at the York Aâ—â—â—zes declared that some Justices were all for Law but they should find that the Kings little singer should be heavier than the loines of the Law testified by Sir David Fowls c. The Earles Reply That Sir David Fowls was his profest Enemy that his words were clearly inverted that his expression was That the little â—inger of the Law if not moderated by the Kings gracious Clemency was heavier then the Kings loins That these were his words he verified First by the occasion of them they being spoken to some whom the Kings favour had then enlarged from imprisonment at York as a motive to their thank fulness to his Majesty Secondly By Sir William Pennyman a Member of the House who was then present and heard the words which Sir William declaring to be true the House of Commons required Iustice of the Lords against him because he had Voted the Articles as
conceived it was not more then the hainousness of their Offences deserved yet had they Petitioned and submitted the next day it would wholly have been remitted 15. That he perswaded his Majesty to an offensive War against the Scots declaring that the Demands made by the Scots this Parliament was a sufficient Cause of a War besides that on the 10th of Octob. 1640. he said That the Nation of Scots were Rebells and Traytors adding that if it pleased his Master to send him back again as he was going to England he would leave the Scottish Nation neither Root nor Branch excepting those that took the aforesaid Oath The Earles Reply That he called all the Scottish Nation Traytors and Rebells no one Proof is produced and though he is hasty in speech yet was he never so defective of his reason as to speak so like a mad Man for he knew well his Majesty was a Native of that Kingdom and was confident many of that Nation were of as Heriock Spirits and as Faithful and Loyal Subjects as any the King had As to the other words of his rooting out the Scots Root and Branch he conceives a short Reply may serve they being proved by a single Testimony onely which can make no sufficient faith in case of life Again the witnesse was very much mistaken if not worse for he deposeth that these words were spoken the tenth day of October in Ireland whereas he was able to evidence he was at that time in England and had been so neer a month before 18. That when the Parliament 13 April 1640. entred upon the Grievances in Church and State the Earl to whom with the Arch Bishop of Canterbury the King referred the business of that Parliament advised his Majesty to press the Commons to supply his Majesties occasions against the Scots before they Redressed any Grievances And when they were in debate about the Supplies perswaded his Majesty to dissolve them by telling him they had denyed to supply him Adding after the dissolution of that Parliament that the King having tried the Affections of his people he was loosed and absolved from all Rules of Government and was to do every thing that Power would admit and that since his Majesty had tried all ways and was refused he should be Acquitted both by God and Man and that he had an Army in Ireland which he might imploy to reduce this Kingdom to obedience The Earles Reply That he was not the Principal Cause of Dissolving the last Parliament for before he came to the Council-table it was Voted by the Lords to Demand twelve Subsidies and that Henry Vane was Ordered to Demand no lesse But he coming in the interim he perswades the Lords to Vote it again Declaring to his Majesty then present and them the danger of the Breach of Parliament Whereupon it was Voted that if the Parliament would not grant twelve Subsidies Sir Henry Vane would descend to eight and rather than fail to six But Sir Henry not observing his Instructions demanded twelve only without abatement or going lower That the height of this Demand urged the Parliament to deny and their denial moved his Majesty to Dissolve the Parliament so that the chief occasion of the Breach thereof `was as he conceived Sir Henry Vane He confesseth that at the Council-table he Advised the King to an Offensive War against the Scots but it was not untill all fair means to prevent a War had been first attempted Again others were as much for a Defensive War and it might be as free to Vote one as the other Lastly Votes at a Council-board are but bare Opinions and Opinions if pertinaciously maintained may make an Heretick but cannot a Traytor And to Sir Henry Vanes Deposition he said it was onely a single testimony and contradicted by four Lords of the Iunto-tables depositions viz. The Earle of Northumberland the Marquess of Hamilton the Bishop of London and the Lord Cottington who all affirmed that there was no question made of this Kingdome which was then in obedience but of Scotland that was in Rebellion And Sir Henry Vane being twice Examined upon Oath could not remember whether he said this or that Kingdome and the Notes after offered for more proof were but the same thing and added nothing to the Evidence to make it a double Testimony or to make a Privy-councellors Opinion in a Debate at Council High-treason 19. That after the Dissolution of the Parliament April 5. 1640. The said Earl Advised the King to go on vigorously to Levy Ship-money and other Illegal Payments suing in Star-chamber and Imprisoning several that neglected either to gather or pay those Levies Particularly the Londoners who for not Collecting the Ship-money so vigorously as they should have done and refusing to give in the names of such Citizens as were able to Lend Moneyâ— upon the Loan of an 100000l demanded of them were threatned by him at the Council-table That they deserved to be put to Fine and Ransom and that no good would be done with them till an Example were made of them till they were laid by the Heeles and some of the Aldermen Hanged up The Earles Reply That there was a present necessity for Money that all the Council-board had Voted with yea before him That there was then a Sentence in Star-chamber upon the Opinion of all the Iudges for the Legality of the Tax of Ship-money and he thought he might advice the King to take what the Iudges had declared was by Law his own He consessed that upon the Refusal of so just a Service the better to quicken the Citizenâ— to the Payment of Ship-money he said They deserved to be Fined Which words perhaps might be circumspectly delivered but conceives cannot be a motive to Treason especially when no ill consequence followed upon them And it would render Men in a sad condition if for every hasty Word or Opinion given in Council they should be Sentenced as Traytors But that he said It were well for the Kings Service if some of the Aldermen were hanged up he utterly denieth Nor is it proved by any but Alderman Garway who is at best but a single Testimony and therefore no sufficient Evidence in Case of Life 20. That he had Advised the King to seise upon the Bullion in the Mint and when the Merchants whose Bullion was seized on to the value of 50000l waited upon him at his house to represent to him the consequence of discrediting the Mint and hindering the Importance of Bullion Answered them that it was the course of other Princes in those exigencies to which the undutifulness of London kinder to the Rebells than to his Majesty had reduced the King And that he had directed the Imfusing of money with Brasse Alleadging to the Officers of the Mint when they represented to him the Inconvenience of that Project that the French King had an Army of horse to Levy his Taxes and search mens Estates and telling my Lord Cottington that
and council such Irish as could not endure the strictness and civility of his government In fine such whose frauds and force were met with by his prudence and prowess He whom three Kingdomes agreed against in their Faction indeed so excellent a Personage was not to be ruined but by the pretended hatred of the whole Empire He whom the Mercenary Lawyers and Orators represented so monstrously appeared so innocent that some of his very Enemies said in much anger you may be sure that their Charge of Misdemeanors proved no other than a Libel of Slanders and the disingaged and honest part of the Nation with as much pleasure to find so great faults reflected on the unhappiness of great Ministers whose parts and trust must be their crimes whose happy councils are envied and unsuccesseful though prudent ones severely accused When they err every one condemneth them and their wise advices few praise For those that are benefited envy and such as are disappointed hate those that gave them The Faction thus baffled by his Abilities and Innocence and run down by Master Lane the Princes Atturneys Argument for with much ado they allowed him Master Lane Recorder Gardiner Master Loe and Master Lightfoot for Council though in point of Law in such matters as they would allow them to plead in viz. That these words in the Statute of 25. Edw. 3. Because particular Treasons could not be then defined therefore what the Parliament shall declare to be Treason in time to come should be punished as Treason being the words of a declarative and penal Statute ought to be understood literally and that this Salvo was Repealed 6. Hen. 4. when it was Enacted that nothing shall be esteemed Treason but what is literally contained in the Statute 25. Edw. 3. drew up the Bill of Attainder a Law after the Fact with a shameful Caution that the unparallel'd thing should not be drawn into a Precedent so securing themselves who really designed that alteration of Government they falsly charged him with from the return of the same Injustice on themselves which they Acted on him A Bill that they Passed in two days so eager were they of bloud and so fearful of delays and sober consideration notwithstanding the generous dissent of a fifth part of the Commons men of honest hopes who disdained to administer to the lusts of the Faction in the bloud of so much innocent Gallantry though with the hazard of their lives being Posted and Marked out to the fury of the Rabble And by the Midwifery of a Tumult of 5 or 6000. people instigated and directed by unquiet Members of the House of Commons that were seen amongst them to the great dishonour of their persons and places forced upon as many of the Peers as would or durst Sit and that was scarce a third part in whose thin house after the King had so frankly declared three things May. 1. in the Earles behalf before both House viz. 1. That he was never advised to bring the Irish Army into England 2. That no man ever durst create in him the least jealousie of his English Subjects Loyalty 3. That no man ever dared to move him to alter the least much less all the Laws of England It scarcely Passed after so many hideous Riots raised by the Pulpit Demagogues Sunday May 2. by seven Voices And when brought to his Majesty who had earnestly intreated them by all the Franke Concessions he had made to them that Parliament not to press him in so tender a point and though the Tumults without and the Sollicitations within several Courtiers looking on the Earl as the Herd doth on an hurt Deer hoping his blood would be the lustration of the Court ran high the Gracious King being loath to leave so faithful and brave a man a Sacrifice to popular rage there stuck until 1. The Judges upon whose judgment the Bishops when sent for advised his Majesty to rely in matter of Law they being sworn to declare the Law equally between the King and his People pronounced him guilty of Treason in the general though they confessed he was not so in any particulars the point his Majesty pressed much upon them 2. The Parliament City and Country importuned him his very followers tyring him with that Maxime the weaknesse whereofâ— many of them lived to see and suffer Some talk of a Paper-promise the King gave him wherein was write upon Better one man perish though unjustly than the people be displeased or destroyed And the Parliament wearying him with that clamor rather than reason that their Vote though against his Judgement should satisfie his Conscience 3. The Earl offered himself a Victime like Hurtius for the Kingdomes Peace and the Kings Safety in this Letter to his Majesty The Earl of Strafford's Letter to the King May it please your Majesty IT hath been my greatest grief in all these troubles to be taken as a person who should indeavour to represent and set things amisse between your Majesty and your People and to give council tending to the disquiet of the three Kingdomes Most true it is that mine own private condition considered it had been a great madnesse since through your gracious favour I was so provided as not to expect in any kind to mend my fortune or please my mind more than by resting where your bounteous hand had placed me Nay it is most mightily mistaken for unto your Majesty is well known my poor and humble advises concluded still in this that your Majesty and your people could never be happy till there were a Right Understanding betwixt you and them no other means to effect and settle this happinesse but by the counsel and assent of the Parliament or to prevent the growing evils upon this State but by intirely putting your self in your last resort upon the Loyalty and good Affection of your English Subjects Yet such is my misfortune this truth findeth little credit the contrary seemeth generally believed and my self reputed as something of separation between you and your people under a heavier censure than which I am perswaded no Gentleman can suffer Now I understand the minds of men are more incensed against me notwithstanding your Majesty hath declared that in your Princely Opinion I am not guilty of Treason nor are you satisfied in your Conscience to Passe the Bill This bringeth me into a very great streight there is before me the ruin of my Children and Family hitherto untouched in all the branches of it with any foul Crimes Here is before me the many Ills which may befal your Sacred Person and the whole Kingdom should your self and the Parliament part lesse satisfied one with another than is necessary for the preservation of King and People Here are before me the things most valued most feared by mortal man Life or Death To say Sir that there hath been no strife in me were to make me lesse than God knoweth I am and mine infirmities give
the Cause and at last produced the overthrow of all their Priviledges they Locked the Door of the House kept the Key thereof in one of their own Pockets held him then Speaker by strong hands in the Chair till they had thundred out their Votes like dreadful Anathemaes against those that should Levy and what was an higher Rant those that should willingly submit to pay it When they check him for admitting the King's Message and move him to put it to the Vote whether their undutiful and ill-natured Declaration about Tunnage and Poundage and what they called Invasion should be carried to the King or no He craved their Pardon being Ordered expressely by his Majesty to leave the House when it was rather a Hubbub than a Parliament and by the noise they made at the close of each Factious Resolve you would take it to be a Moor-fâ—elds Tumult at a Wrestling rather than a Sober Counsel at a Debate when they kept in the Sergeant of the Mace locked the Door shut out the King's Messenger and made a general Out-cry against the Speaker who when the Parliament was Dissolved drew up such a Declaration as satisfied the People that the ground of this Disturbance was not in this or that States-man that they complained but in their own Burgesses who upon removal of those States-men as Duke of B. c. rather increased than abated their Disorders and such an account of the Seditious Party as vindicated the Honour of the King The Ring-leaders of the Sedition Protesting that they came into the House with as much zeal as any others to serve his Majesty yet finding his Majesty offended humbly desired to be the subjects rather of his Majesties mercy than of his power And the wiser sort of their own side censuring them as Tacitus doth Thraseas Paetus as having used a needless and therefore a foolish Liberty of their Tongues to no purpose Sibi Periculum nec aliis Libertatem When he had done so much to assist the Government in Publick Counsels he was not wanting to it in his Private Affairs so obliging he was to the Countrey by an extraordinary Hospitality so serviceable to King and Countrey by his quick and expedite way in all the Commissions of the Peace c. he was intrusted with So happy and faithful in the management of the Queens Revenue so zealous for the promoting of any Design that advanced either the King's Honour or Service that with the unanimous Choice of King and Kingdom then agreeing in few things else he was preferred Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas in place beneath in profit above the Chief Justice of the King's Bench by the same token that some out of design have quitted that to accept of this amongst whom was Sir Edward Mountague in the Reign of King Hen. 8. who being demanded of his Friends the reason of his self-degradation I am now saith he an old man and love the Kitchin above the Hall the warmest place best suiting my age His Writ so much the King confided in him running not Durante bene placito but Quam diu se bene gesserit and his Preferment owed to his Merit not his Purse being the Iudge to use King Iames's speech of Judge Nichols that would give no money because they onely buy justice that intend to sell it he would take none In that Place he had two seemingly inconsistent qualities a great deal of Patience to attend the opening of a Cause he would say He had the most wakening Evidence from the most dreaming speakers and a quick dispatch of it when opened Insomuch that some thought to see in his time in the Common-Pleas and other Courts where he sate what was seen in Sir Moore 's in the High-Court of Chancery That the Courts should rise because there were no more Causes to be tried in them He was very careful to declare the true grounds of the Law to the King and to dispense the exact Justice of it to the People He observed that those who made Laws not onely desperate but even opposite in terms to Maxims of Government were true friends neither to the Law nor Government Rules of State and Law in a well-ordered Common-wealth mutually supporting each other One Palevizine and Italian Gentleman and Kinsman to Scaliger had in one night all his hair changed from black to gray This Honourable Person immediately upon his Publick Imployment put on a publick Aspect such as he who saw him but once might think him to be all pride whilst they that saw him often knew him to have none So great a place must needs raise Envie but withal so great a spirit must needs overcome it Envie and Fame neither his friend neither his fear being compared by him to Scolds which are silenced onely with silence being out of breath by telling their own tales Seriously and studiously to confute Rumors is to confirm them and breed that suspition we would avoid intimating that reality in the story we would deny His supposed Crimes when Chief Iustice as now and upon my Lord Coventry's death when Lord Keeper hear how satisfactorily he answereth in a Speech he made after leave had to speak in the House of Commons in his own defence where indeed there is the account of his whole Life Mr. Speaker I Give you thanks for granting me admittance to your presence I come not to preserve my self and fortunes but your good Opinion of me For I profess I had rather beg my bread from door to door with Date obolum Ballisario your Favour than be never so high and honourable with your displeasure I came not hither to justifie my Words Actions or Opinions but to open my self freely and then to leave my self to the House What disadvantage it is for a man to speak in his own Cause you well know I had rather another should do it but since this House is not taken with words but with truth which I am best able to deliver I presume to do it my self I come not with a set Speech but with my heart to open my self freely and then to leave it to the House but do desire if any word fall from me that shall be misconstrued I may have leave to explain my self For my Religion I hope no man doubts it I being religiously Educated under Chadderton in Emanuel Colledge thirteen years I have been in Grayes-Inn thirteen years a Bencher and a diligent Hearer of Doctor Sibbs who if he were Living would Testifie that I had my chiefest incouragements from him and though I met with many oppositions from many in that house ill-affected in Religion yet I was always supported by him Five years I have been of the King's Counsel but no Actor Avisor or Inventor of any Project Two places I have been preferred unto Chief Justice and Lord Keeper not by any Suit or Merit of my own but by his Majesties free gift In the discharge of those places my hands have never
this Lord Digby and Dunsmore look for the Captainship of the Pensioners Hertford once looked after it but now I believe he expects either to be Treasurer or of my Bed-chamber I incline rather to the later if thou like it for I absolutely hold Cottington the fittest man for the other And in a third as a wise States-man that was not to be abused with umbrages When the Rebellion seized on other mens Estates it looked for a greater Treasure with my Lord Cottington's A B C and Sir F. W. taking all their Papers Indeed this Lord sent such a Reply to some harangues of the House of Commons against him as could not be Answered but by suppressing both their Charge and his Answer an essay of the Spartanes valour who being struck down with a mortal blow used to stop their mouths with earth that they might not be heard to quetch or groan thereby to affright their fellows or animate their enemies And to prepare the way for his ruin the most opprobrious parts of his accusation were first whispered among the populacy That by this seeming suppression men impatient of secrecy might more eagerly divulge them the danger appear greater by an affected silence Besides the calumnies and the suspitions were so contrived as might force him and others to some course in their own defence which they hitherto forbore and by securing themselves to increase the publick fears For the slanders fixed upon the King's Party were designed rather to provoke than to amend them that being provoked they might think rather to provide for their security than to adjust their actions in a time when the most innocent man living was not safe if either wise or honest Indeed he sate among the Faction at Westminster so long as he had any hope of keeping them within any reasonable terms of moderation untill he and others saw that their longer continuance amongst them might countenance their confederacy but neither prevent nor so much as allay their practises And therefore among many eminent examples of loyalty and virtue of the noblest extracts and fairest estates in England of which they could not easily suspect to be divested without an absolute overthrow of all the Laws of right and wrong which was to be feared only by their Invasion on the Kings most undoubted Rights for when Majesty it self is assaulted there can be no security for private fortunes and those that decline upon design from the paths of equity will never rest till they come to the extremity of injustice We find him with the King at York where the King declareth that he will not require any obedience from them but by the Law of the Land That he will Protect them from any illegal Impositions in the profession of the true Protestant Religion the just Liberty of the Subject and the undoubted Priviledge of the three Estates of Parliament That he will not Engage them in any War except for necessary defence against such as invade him on them And he with others subscribing a Protestation to live and dye with the King according to their Allegiance in defence of Religion and Laws together with the prosperity and peace of the kingdom But this Resolution without treasure would not take effect and therefore the Nobility Gentry Clergy and both Universities furnished his Majesty with treasure chusing rather to lay out then estates for the supply of his Majesty than expose them to the lusts and usurpations of a Conspiracy And yet treasure without a Treasurer could not at that time be either preserved or managed and my Lord Cottington had been so good a husband for himself that he was looked on in a time when his Majesties occasions were so craving and suppy so uncertain as the fittest Steward for his Soveraign Being so rich that he would not abuse his Majesty himself and so knowing that he would not suffer others to do it The Souldiery would have their flings at him for being so close in his advises and wary in his place at Oxford But he understood that in vain do the Brows beat and frown the Eyes sparkle the Tongue rant the Fist bend and the Arm swing except care be taken that the Belly be fed But when it pleased God that the best Cause had the worst success and his Sacred Majesty more solicitous for his friends safety than his own chusing to venture himself upon further hazzards rather than expose their resolute Loyalty to all extremities directed his followers to make as good terms of peace as they could since it was in vain to linger out the war This Lord among others whom when fortune failed their courage stood to had the contrivance first and afterwards the benefit of the Oxford Articles so far as the forfeiture of all his estate most part whereof came to Bradshaw's share perpetual Banishment but withal an opportunity to serve his Gracious Master in his old capacity of Ambassador to the Court of Spain in Joint Commission with Sir Edward Hyde since the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon and Lord High-Chancellor of England Two persons whose abilities and experience could have done more than they did had not interest been more with Princes than honour and present accommodations beyond future advantages Considerations that made it more adviseable for this ancient Lord Cum satis naturae satisque patriae gloriae vixisset to prepare himself rather to dye in peace with God than to concern himself in the affairs of men of which he said as it is reported when some English Mercuries were offered him that he would peruse and reflect on them when he could find some of the Rabbines hours which belonged neither to day nor night So much longed he for the grave where the weary are at rest and that world where all are at peace What point of time about 165â— he died in what particular manner he was buried what suitable Monument and Memory he hath hath not come to my knowledge and need not come to the Readers This Lord himself could not endure a discourse that ran into frivolous particulars And it is Lipsius his censure of Francis Guicciardines history Minutissima quaeque narrat parum ex lege aut dignitate historiae Thy want of Tomb's an Ep'taph thou wants a Grave Cottington with more glory than others have The Sun 's Rise and Fall 's no more Spain's hoast Since this Lord 's morn and night was within that Coast. THE Life and Death OF Sir IOHN BRAMSTON SIR Iohn Bramston Knight was born at Maldon in Essex bred up in the Middle Temple in the Study of the Common-law wherein he attained to such eminency that he was by King Charles made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-bench One of Deep Learning Solid Judgement Integrity of Life Gravity of Behaviour above the Envy of his own Age and theâ— candal of Posterity One instance of his I must not forget writes the Historian effectually relating to the Foundation wherein I was bred Serjeant
and bodily pain that the Soul may have time to call its self to a just account of all things past by means whereof repentance is perfected patience is exercised the Joys of Heaven are leisurely represented the pleasures of sin and the vanities of the world are with sound judgement censured Charity hath time to look out fit objects and Prudence to dispose of a mans Estate besides that the nearer we draw to God the more we are oftentimes enlightned with the shining beams of his glorious Presence as being then even almost in sight a leisurable departure may in that case bring forth for the good of them that are present that which will cause them for ever after from the bottom of their hearts to pray Oh let us die the death of the Righteous and let our last end be like theirs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. that is We must all the days of our appointed time wait until our change shall come according to Tertullians Character of the Christians in his time who saith they were expeditum morti genus It was a good resolution of the holy man that was resolved to repent a day before he died and because he was uncertain when he should die repented every day It is reported of Archias by Plutarch that having by fraudulent and unjust courses at length compassed the Government of Thebes he with his Complices kept a riotous Feast when in the midst of his Intemperance a Messenger cometh to him with a Letter from a Friend importuning him speedily to peruse it and he slighting the Admonition and putting it under his Pillow said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Serious things to morrow when as the thing which the Letter concerned was effected that night viz. he died in the midst of his cups It was the policy of Iulius Caesar never to acquaint his Army before-hand with the time of their march ut paratum exercitum momenti omnibus quo vellet educeret We suppose this Gentleman who hath given occasion for this meditation is the Arthur Trevor of the Inner-Temple Esq that Compounded for 05461. 09s 08d They are golden words of a precious man Mentis aureae verba Bracteato I have often prayed that on my side might joyn true Piety with the sense of their Loyalty and be as faithful to God and their own souls as they were to me that the effects of one might not blast the endeavor of the other Sir RICHARD WESTON TO Baron Trevor we might add Baron Weston who was inseparable from him in opinion and would have been so in suffering but that he was called to give an account of himself to God when others were so haled to give an account of themselves to men When we read that Sir Richard Weston died in Trinity Term the fourteenth year of King Charls the First 's Reign 1638 9. with the Character in a grave Reporter of a very Learned Judicious Couragious and Patient man in all his Proceedings and afterward read in the Chronicle of Articles and Impeachment against Sir Iohn Brampston Sir Humphrey Davenport Sir Thomas Trevor Sir Francis Crawley and Sir Richard Weston in Easter Term 17 Carol. I. 1641. We are put in minde of one Archbishop six Bishops and eight Doctors going solemnly to Cambridge to excommunicate the bones of an Heretick that dyed some years before malice would not end where life doth but extend its self to the grave and reach to the other world There were three famous Men of this Name whereof one read as much as the other two remembred practised Sir Francis Weston who preceded him in qualification as well as in place and he had a good Rule viz. That private men should take care to do no wrong themselves but publick men that others under them should do none We have done with our Judges save one we mean Sir Francis Crawley who is reserved for his proper place where we hope the Reader shall finde an exact account of him from his reverend Son Dr. Crawley the learned meek charitable bountiful and religious Rector of Agmondsham in Buckingham-shire who quitted his Fellowship at Trinity for his Allegiance as his Father quitted his Office onely be it remembred that what these Confessors for Law lost by refusing to continue under an usurped Power on the Bench they gained by private Practise in their Chambers the people willingly trusting their Estates in those Worthy Persons hands with whom the King had instrusted the Law being confident of their faithfulness to them who had approved themselves so faithful to their Soveraign And that they would not wrest the Law who suffered so much rather than betray it It is observed that when Sir Iohn Cary Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Richard the Seconds time lost his estate for being that unfortunate Kings Champion at Law his Son Sir Robert Cary had it intirely restored to him for being King Henry the Fifths Champion at Armes For a Knight Errant of Arragon coming into England challenging any to Tilt with him was undertaken by this Sir Robert and overcome for which Sir Robert had that Estate from Henry the Fifth which his Father was adjudged to have forfeited to Henry the Fourth And its observable that whatever any of these Judges lost to the Parliament their Sons and Relations repaired again with the King the Sword making amends for the damages of the Gown the Young Set of Loyalists fighting against that phrenzy which the Elder in vain pleaded against But we had almost forgot Sir Humphrey Davenport that man of memory who to his dying day had the old Year-books and Reports ad ungues but remembred no new ones as Beza when above fourscore could perfectly say by heart any Greek Chapter in St. Pauls Epistles or any thing which he had learned long before but forgot whatsoever was newly told him His memory like an Inn retaining Old Guests but affording no room to entertain New It is pity that he that kept the exact date of every eminent Lawyer in his own time should want an exact account of his own He was Born in Cheshire where are 1. The Most 2. The most Ancient 3. The most Loyal 4. The most Hospitable Gentry in England Iuly 7. 1584. the same day that his Father and Mother died both together within a quarter of one another When my Father and my Mother forsake me for want of natural affection to pity me for want of wisdom not knowing what to do with me for want of power not able to help me or by death being forced to leave me The gracious God that when a Father forgets his bowels cannot forget his love which is his own nature The All-wise God that when we are at a loss ordereth all things by the eternal Counsel of his Will The Almighty God that when we are weak doth whatsoever he pleaseth in Heaven and Earth The Immortal God that Inhabiteth Eternity that when Friends are gone will never leave us never forsake us This Lord will take
they did he was resolved not to betray the Charge committed to him by and confirmed to him by Ancient Descent And answering the pretended Presidents interruption and false suggestion That he was called to an account by the Authority of the People of England by whose Election he was admitted King That the kingdom descended not to him by Election but by Hereditary Right derived from above a thousand years That by refusing an unlawful power he stood more apparently than they for the Priviledges of the People of England whose Authority was shewed in Parliament Assemblies but that there appeared none of the Lords whose presence and not only theirs but the Kings also was required to the Constituting of a Parliament but that neither one nor both Houses nor any Iudicatory upon Earth had power to call the King of England to account much less some certain Iudges chosen by his Accusers and masked with the authority of the Lower House That he could not make his defence unless they shewed their authority since it would be the same offence to acknowledg a Tyrannical power as to resist a Lawful one And upon the prating Fore-mans bold suggestion That they were satisfied in their own authority Replying rationally That it was not his own apprehension nor theirs neither that ought to decide the Controversie Whereupon the most Excellent King was commanded away with Tomlinson and Hackers guard parting with the Conspiracy without moving his Hat with these words Well Sir and saying on the sight of the Sword I do not fear that And nothing else observable save that the Silver Top of his Staffe falling off at the reading of the Charge he wondred at it and seeing none to take it up he stooped for it himself and put it in his Pocket Munday Ian. 22. after three bloudy Harangues at their Fast Ian. 21. on Gen. 9. 6. Mat. 7. 1. Psal. 149. 6 7. Three Texts as miserably tormented that day as his Majesty was the next these men always first being a torment to Scripture the great Rule of Right and then to all that lived according to it They being perplexed with the Kings Demurrer to their unheard of Jurisdiction resolved among themselves after some debate to maintain it as boldly That if the King offer to dispute the same again the President shall tell him That the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament have Constituted the Court whose power may not be permitted to be disputed by him That if he refused to Answer it shall be accounted a Contumacy to the Court. That if he Answer with a Salvo of his Prerogative above the Court he shall be required to Answer possitively Yea or No. Whereupon the King appearing to the no little disturbance of the Spectators and astonishment of the Conventicle its self not without interruption from the desparate Ringleader of the pack insisted on these Heads without any other Answer for their own power than their own authority That he less regarded his Life than his Conscinece his Honor the Laws and Liberties of the People which that they might not all perish together was a sufficient reason why he could not make his defence before these Iudges and acknowledge a new form of Iudicature For what power had ever any Iudges to erect a Iudicature against their King or by what power said he was it ever granted Not by Gods Laws which on the contrary command obedience to Princes nor by the Laws of the Land which injoyn all Accusations to be read in the Kings Name nor do the Laws give any power to the Lower House of judging even the meanest Subject Nor lastly doth their power flow from any authority which might be pretended extraordinary delegated from the people since they had not asked the consent so much as of every tenth man in this matter and that if power without Laws may set up Courts he knew not how any man could be safe in his Life or Estate it being not his own but the whole kingdoms that he stood upon The Traytor in grain still ever and anon interrupting the Kings Speech and telling him That the Court was abundantly satisfied of their authority and would not admit of any reasons that should detract from their power At last prest upon him to be mindful of his Doom But where said the King in all the world is that Court in which no place is left for reason You shall find Sir answered the President that this very Court is such a one Whereupon after several appearances which they had to see whether they could satisfie their dissenting Members or whether they could alter the judgment of the resolved King Remember said he then when he was going away that it is your King from whom you turn away your ear in vain certainly will my Subjects expect justice from you who stop your ears to your King ready to Plead his Cause It s very remarkable how that in this and all other transactions of his Majesty he appeals to the Reason and Law of the world which is impartial to all Mankind His adversaries to themselves vouching both the truth of their Charge and the Jurisdiction of their Court with their own authority being neither able to prove his Majesty guilty except by their own testimony or if guilty to be tried by any Court on earth but by their own Assertion Nay they that alledged the Parliament of England for the Authority against whom the King should transgress and that by which they proceeded would not receive the Kings earnest and reiterated Appeal to the Lords and Commons who made up that Parliament Long were they troubled how they might assert their power longer how they might execute it some would have Majesty suffer like the basest of Malefactors and that in his Robes of Habiliaments of State that at once they might dispatch a King and Monarchy together Others malice proposed other horrid violences to be offered to him but not to be named among men the men were indeed huge ready at inventing torments being a company of Executioners got together rather than Judges and a pack of Hangmen rather than a Court till at last they thought they should gratifie their ambition to triumph over Monarchy sufficiently if they Beheaded him and so waving all his Pleas for himself and the Allegations of Mankind for him after several unworthy Harangues consisting of nothing else but bold affirmations of that power whereof they had no one ground but those affirmations and reflections on the Kings Demurrer as a delay to their proceedings when indeed he hastened them by offering that towards the peace of the kingdom in one hour that was not thought of in several years Notwithstanding his seasonable caution to them That an hasty Sentence once past might be sooner Repented of than Recalled Conjuring them as they loved the Liberty of the People and the Peace of the Kingdom they so much pretended for they would receive what he had to
Soveraign an Argument that Religion Justice or the love of Liberty which are alwayes uniform but unworthy Interests that vary with hopes and fears had the strongest influence upon them Nay they must overcome the Parliament it by whose pretended Authority they had hitherto the City of London at whose charge they had hitherto fought and the first Leaders of the Army by whose Reputation it was first raised and by whose skill and activity it so long prospered The Kings prudence and their own jealousies combinations in crimes conclude in jealousies each party thinking the advantage of the other too great having committed and injealousied them They must Conquer Scotland and their dear Brethren and take the King off from the Presbyterians by their arts and insinuations inveighing him into the pit they had laid for him in the Isle of Wight for his escape from Hampton-Court by the withdrawing of the Centinels from their usual posts appeared to be their design they must oppose the highest reason in the world offered by the King there intent upon the settlement of the Nation for a Personal Treaty agreeable to the sense of the whole kingdom 1. By Preliminary Articles which they knew the King could not yield to and upon his refusal four Votes of No Addresses to him which they could never have compassed had they not sent half the Members away to the Country upon pretence of expediting the Contributions and tired the other half with late Sitting from ten in the morning till twelve at night and withal the Menaces of the Officers that came with Remonstrances to the House and the terror of the Army two Regiments whereof under colour of guarding but indeed for awing the Parliament were quartered at Whitehall They must endure the clamors of an undone people deluded with pretences of avoiding Tyranny into Slavery 1. For an excellent Religion broken into Schismes and Heresies 2. For Prayers and Fasts made to serve impious designs and promote prosperous crimes 3. For Liberty become an empty name the common ways of confinement being too little to secure those that would not break the Law men lingring in strange imprisonment knowing neither their crimes nor their accusers because they had not guilt enough for condemnation thousands forced to be Exiles in strange lands or Slaves at home 4. For Propriety hedged no longer by Law but become a prey to the fraud and violence of the Conspirators 5. For great Virtues become as dangerous as formerly great crimes were 6. For Converse become a snare spies in each company watching mens words and searching into their thoughts 7. For the Parliament become a Conspiracy divided in its self and enslaved to its vassals who made Laws according to their interests and executed them according to their lusts The whole Nation now better understanding their good and wise Prince the publick interest and themselves panted for a return to the obedience of the most incomparable Government and most inestimable Prince in the world Insomuch so admirable were the returns of Divine Justice at that time that the very same Convention that first stirred up this way of tumultuary Petitions against the King were now forced to complain That the honor and safety of Parliaments for so they called the poor remainder of that Assembly was indangered by Petitions They must rescinde the City Petitions and their own Votes that the Kings Concessions were a safe ground for the Parliament to settle the Peace of the kingdom on The King having granted so much as the people might see he was not as he was reported obstinate against his own happiness and the Nations peace and so gratified not his Enemies and yet so discreetly that he deserted not his Friends his wisdom tempering prudently their harsh Propositions and his Reason urging effectually his own They must cast off all obedience to their own Superiors as well as to the King and imprison the Parliament as well as the King Violate their Protestation and renounce their Solemn League and Covenant disown the Lords House and leave not above sixty of almost five hundred Members in the House of Commons In fine they must go against their own Prayers Sermons Engagements and Consciences against the very foundations of Government in the world and the sentiments of Mankind about it against the known Laws of the Land and against truths as clear as the Sun in these unheard-of Propositions I. That the People under God are the Original of all just Power II. That the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament being chosen by and representing the People have the Supream Authority of this Nation III. That whatsoever is Enacted and Declared for Law by the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament hath the force of a Law IV. That all the people of this Nation are concluded thereby although the consent and concurrence of the King and Peers be not had thereunto V. That to raise Arms against the peoples Representative is Treason VI. That the King himself took Arms against the Parliament and on that account is guilty of the Bloud-shed throughout the Civil War and that he ought to expiate the Crime with his own Bloud Bold and ridiculous men That think with one breath to alter the notion of Good and Evil and to make their Usurpations just because they had the face to declare them so Qui amici veritatis esse possent sine labore ut peccent Laborant Greg. de curâ past They who might have been honest with so much ease what pains do they take to be wicked For these and many more restraints they must break through before they came at the Kings Life Towards the taking away of which they pack a Court of Iustice as they called them though it had nothing to do with Justice but that it deserved to be the object of it of such people as the Ring-leader of them O. C. called at the Table of an Independent Lord A Company of Rascals whom he knew to be so and would so serve Invested with a power to Cite Hear Iudge and punish Charles Stuart King of England Reader I know not with what temper thou readest these lines I tremble when I writ them One or two Brewers two or three Coblers many of them Mechanicks all poor Bankrupts one turned out of the House for a Rape another for writing a Blasphemous Book against the Trinity and another a known Adulterer Men so low that no lesser crime could raise them and so obnoxious there was no other way for them to hope for impunity men fitter to stand at a Bar than to sit on the Bench. These though a search was made for a number of men that could not blush at nor fear any guilt yet many of them abhorred the villany and left them others stayed with a design to disturb it went to act the murther not as other Regicides Ravillaic c. used to do privately or as they themselves used to Preach it in a
Subject of England call life or any thing he possesseth his own if power without right daily make new and abrogate the old fundamental Law of the Land which I now take to be the present case Wherefore when I came hither I expected that you would have endeavoured to have satisfied me concerning these grounds which hinder me to answer to your pretended Impeachment but since I see nothing I can say will move you to it though Negatives are not so naturally proved as Affirmatives yet I will shew you the reason why I am confident you cannot judge me nor indeed the meanest man in England For I will not like you without shewing a reason seek to impose a belief upon my Subjects There is no proceeding just against any man but what is warranted either by Gods Laws or the Municipal Laws of the Country where he lives Now I am most confident that this days proceedings cannot be warranted by Gods Laws for on the contrary the authority of the obedience unto Kings is clearly warranted and strictly commanded both in the Old and New Testament which if denied I am ready instantly to prove And for the question now in hand there it is said That where the word of a King is there is power and who may say unto him what dost thou Eccles. 8. 4. Then for the Laws of this Land I am no less confident that no learned Lawyer will affirm that an Impeachment can lye against the King they all going in his Name and one of their Maxims is That the King can do no wrong Besides the Law upon which you ground your proceedings must either be old or new if old shew it if new tell what authority warranted by the Fundamental Laws of the Land hath made it and when But how the House of Commons can erect a Court of Judicature which was never one it self as is well known to all Lawyers I leave to God and the World to judge And were full as strange that they should pretend to make Laws without King or Lords House to any that have heard speak of the Laws of England And admitting but not granting that the People of Englands Commission could grant your pretended power I see nothing you can shew for that for certainly you never asked the question of the tenth man of the kingdom and in this way you manifestly wrong even the poorest Plough-man if you demand not his free consent nor can you pretend any colour for this your pretended Commission without the consent at the least of the major part of every man in England of whatsoever quality or condition which I am sure you never went about to seek so far are you from having it Thus you see that I speak not for my own Right alone as I am your King but also for the true Liberty of all my Subjects which consists not in the sharing the power of Government but in living under such Laws Such a Government as may give themselves the best assurance of your lives and propriety of their goods Nor in this must or do I forget the Priviledges of both Houses of Parliament which this days proceedings doth not only violate but likewise occasion the greatest breach of their Publick Faith that I believe ever was heard of with which I am far from charging the two Houses For all the pretended crimes laid against me bear date long before the late Treaty at Newport in which I having concluded as much as in me lay and hopefully expecting the two Houses agreement thereunto I was suddenly surprized and hurried from thence as a Prisoner upon which account I am against my will brought hither where since I am come I cannot but to my power defend the Ancient Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom together with my own just Right Then for any thing I can see the Higher House is totally excluded And for the House of Commons it is too well known that the major part of them are detained or deterred from Sitting so as if I had no other this were sufficient for me to protest against the lawfulness of your pretended Court. Besides all this the peace of the kingdom is not the least in my thoughts and what hopes of settlement is there so long as power reigns without rule of Law Changing the whole frame of that Government under which this kingdom hath flourished for many hundred years nor will I say what will fall out in case this lawless unjust proceeding against me do go on And believe it the Commons of England will not thank you for this change for they will remember how happy they have been of late years under the Reign of Queen Elizabeth the King my Father and my self until the beginning of these unhappy troubles and will have cause to doubt that they shall never be so happy under any new And by this time it will be sensibly evident that the Armes I took up were only to defend the Fundamental Laws of this kingdom against those who have supposed my power hath totally changed the ancient Government Thus having shewed you briefly the Reasons why I cannot submit to your pretended Authority without violating the trust which I have from God for the welfare and liberty of my people I expect from you either clear reasons to convince my judgment shewing me that I am in an error and then truly I will readily answer or that you will withdraw your proceedings With what composedness of Spirit and patience he heard the pretended Charge and all its Slanders and Reproaches smiling at the words Tyrant Traytor c. with what Authority he demanded by what lawful Power grounded on Gods Word or warranted by the Constitutions of the Kingdom they proceeded with what earnestness he admonished them both what Guilt and what Judgments they would bring upon this Land by proceeding from one sin to another against their lawful Sovereign With what resolution he told them He would not betray the Trust reposed in him for his own Prerogative his Peoples Liberty and the Priviledges of Parliament as long as there was breath in his body until they could satisfie God and the Countrey Adding that there was a God in heaven that would call them to an account And that it was utterly as unlawful to submit to a new and unlawful Authority as to resist a lawful one Neither his apprehension nor theirs being likely to end the Controversie How zealously he told them That if the free People of England now secure of nothing when all things were subject to an Arbitrary Power were not concerned as well as himself he would have satisfied himself with one Protestation against any Jurisdiction on earth trying a Supream Magistrate but in a case of so extensive a Concernment it was unreasonable to impose upon men bold Assertions without evident Reasons it being not enough to say The Court assert their own Jurisdiction and you must not be permitted to offer any thing against it it s not
his Grave A carceribus ad metam the consciousness of their guilt in burying him above ground in his Imprisonment could no ways be satisfied but by Imprisoning him under ground by his Burial When they wanted nothing to compleat their guilt but this death concerning which his Majesty in his Letter to the Queen expresseth himself thus Nothing can be more evident than that Straffords Innocent Blood hath been one of the great causes of Gods just Judgment upon this Nation by a Civil War both sides hitherto being almost equally punished as being in a manner equally guilty but now this last crying bloud being totally theirs I believe it s no presumption hereafter to hope that his hand of Justice must be heavier upon them and lighter upon us looking now upon our Cause having passed by our faults they preached and talked that nothing interrupted their success but his death imputing all their disasters to his impunity as the Heathens did all theirs to those like him The first good Christians Then upon any publick misfortune it was Christiani ad Leones and at this time upon any misadventure Execute the Arch-bishop Neither was he offered only to the revenge of the English but likewise of the Scots too whose Covenant was to be Celebrated with this Sacrifice and Union cemented with this bloud Since neither the Law nor Reason neither Religion nor Nature neither the Kings power nor the Subjects innocence could preserve his life the excellent man prepared himself with the comforts of all for death having before setled his Estate in a charitable and pious way he had the better leisure to settle his soul had not the cruelty of some people that thought his very solitude too great an injoyment for him shewed themselves as much enemies to private as publick Devotions disturbed his retirements with contumelies upbraiding those very Devotions that then interceded for them who would have laughed at Christ if he had used his own prayer Now if ever the Lion and the Lamb dwelt together the highest Courage and the sweetest Meekness together inhabiting one Breast The great Pastor of the Church going to die with the innocence and silence of a Lamb in the midst of contumelies speaking not again himself though his bloud doth and did His last nights repose was the Emblem of his last rest his slâ—ep the true image of his death serene and calm Having stripped him of all the Honors of an Archbishop they would have denyed him the priviledge of a Malefactor to have his own woâ—thy Confessor Dr. Sterne since Archbishop of York about him taking it so ill that he would not admit of Marshall that was fitter to be the Executioner than a Chaplain that because he would not die according to the humor of the Presbyterians he should not die in the honorable way of an Archbishop 1. Sheriff Chambers of London bringing over night the Warrant for his Execution and acquainting him therewith he betook himself to his own and desired also the prayers of others and particularly of Doctor Holdsworth his Fellow Prisoner there for a year and a half though all that time there had not been the least converse between them The next morning being brought out of the Tower to the Scaffold he ascended it with an extraordinarily chearful and ruddy countenance he that had been so long a Martyr no doubt thinking it release of misery to be made a Martyr as if he had mounted rather to have beheld a triumph than to be made a sacrifice and came not there to die but to be translated and exchange his Miter for the Crown of Martyrdom The clearness of his Conscience being legible in the chearfulness of his dying looks as the ferenity of the weather is understood by the glory and ruddiness of the setting Sun there desiring to have room to die and declaring that he was more willing to go out of the world than any man to send him he first took care to stop the chinks near the block and remove the people he spied under it expressing himself that it was no part of his desire that his bloud should fall upon the heads of the people in which desire it pleased God he was so far gratified that there remaining a small hole from a knot in the midst of a board the fore-finger of his right hand at his death happened to stop that also and then at once pardoning and over-coming his Enemies many of whom coming thither to insult went away to weep for him who had this peculiar happiness with his Master that he gained that reverence by his Adversity that neither he nor any gained in Prosperity he turned his Scaffold to a Pulpit and Preached his own Funeral in these express words delivered by him to the excellent Dr. Sterne to be communicated to his Fellow-Chaplains His Graces Speech according to the Original written with his own hand and delivered by him upon the Scaffold on Tower-hill Ian. 10. 1644. To his Chaplain Dr. Sterne now Lord Archbishop of York Good People THis is an uncomfortable time to preach yet I shall begin with a Text of Scripture Heb. 12. 2. Let us run with patience that race which is set before us Looking unto Iesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God I have been long in my Race and how have I looked unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of my faith he best knows I am now come to the end of my Race and here I finde the Cross a death of Shame But the shame must be despised or no coming to the right hand of God Jesus despised the shame for me and God forbid that I should not despise the shame for him I am going apace as you see towards the Red Sea and my feet are upon the brink of the very brink of it An Argument I hope that God is bringing me into the Land of Promise for that was the way through which he led his people But before they came to it he instituted a Passeover for them A Lamb it was but it must be eaten with sower herbs Exod. 12. 8. I shall obey and labour to digest the sower herbs as well as the Lamb. And I shall remember it is the Lords Passeover I shall not think of the herbs nor be angry with the hand that gathered them but look up only to him who instituted that and governs these for men can have no more power over me then what is given them from above St. Iohn 19. 11. I am not in love with this passage through the Red Sea for I have the weakness of flesh and bloud plentifully in me And I have prayed with my Saviour Vt transiret calix iste that this Cup of Red Wine might pass from me St. Luke 22. 42. But if not Gods will not mine be done And I shall
and Hopes d â—â—â—eupon he in disdain threw the Cap down and trampled it under fâ—eâ— An Omen said some what an enemy be would he to the Arch-bishops O der which had never since it needed such a better friend though he suspended the Arch-bishop e When the Chaplains received direction from the King not to dispute without great necessity but if they did George should hold the Coâ—clusien and Charles c. f Mr. Vines saying That he was the best Divine in England III His Carriage while Prince g To whom he was very dear h The Q of Bohemia whose Brideman he was i Who might 〈◊〉 plaâ— uites â—b◠〈◊〉 bâ—â—cts of the peoples disconâ—â—nt k As his own Grandmother the Q of 〈…〉 to England l This K. James was not sinsible of â—ill Arâ—hec Clapped his Cap on his head for â—â—â—ting the Prince goe to Spain and saying That if he returned he would take off â—he Cap from â—he King of England 's head and set 〈◊〉 â—n the K. of Spain's Which â—ad the King melanchâ—lly 〈◊〉 heard hâ— Pâ—â—nce was at Sea IV His Carriage when King 1 His Marriage his Chastiâ—y and Gods blessing him with Children m Given the D. of Chevereux n Trinity Sunday 16â—5 o No Subject fought him for injuring â—hem he having by his power and example â—â—â—ured them in all their Relations 2 His first Parliament p Muâ—ining against their Commander the Lord Wimbleton q With a Plaguâ—bred by theâ— Discontent As discontented mâ—n are most subject to that Distemper 3 His Coronation and Frugality 4 His second Parliament V The Benefits of his Government 1 â—â—s dismission of the Insolent French r Besides Land Merigaged for 120000 l. to the Câ—â—â— and 30000 l. borrowed of the East-India Company s In that tryal of â—umbâ—â— which he judâ—â—d unlawful wherein one Rey would have proved that one Ramsey would have hâ—d him serve D. Hamilton to attain the Kingdom of Scotland whose right to it they blazoned abroad t Which his Enemies knew so well that it was bâ—â— effecâ—ing him Propo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 repugnant to his Conscience and thâ—y need not fear a Peace VI The blessing of God 〈◊〉 him and his fortunâ— u Many Arts revived VII His Mercy and Love to his People Humiâ—ity and Patience w Oliver they say could not endure to hear a man speak sence Plato was like to eye because he â—â—med wiser than the Sicilian Tyrant x Being deluded as he said to unworthy thoughts of him but nâ—w convineed to a great reverence of him y There are methodical and siâ—â—wy extracts of his drawâ—â— out of Bishop Laud Mr. Hooker and Bish Andrews therein he draw together all the arguments giving light and strength to them even while he â—â—tomised them z Witness his â—â—um vednass at Prayer when â—he sad News of the Duke of Buckinghams death was brought to him bidding the Chaplain go on when he stopped at the disturbance a Meaning the Bishop of Armagh 〈…〉 IX His Valouâ— Resolution and Conduct b The Senate of Rome thank'd a Consul though he was beaten that he did not despair of the Commonwealth c This was at Edgehill Oct. 13. 1641. a In France a Who had an honest design to undo the whole Conspiracy X What great things the King granted and did for the Nation during the 23 years that he reigned f For which the last Parliament would have given him 600000 l. g At the Isle of Wight XII His Sufferings h As appears by a Letter under Londons handâ— to desire Protection of the French King i And a Lady that formerly had followers for beauâ—y and â—ow for intelligence k â—s Fulke and Ven did a He called them Rebls in the first Speech Oct 3 1640. 〈◊〉 was forced to explain himself afterwards b As he was to that first 1640. by Sir H V. who exâ— asperated them by demanding twice more Subsidies than he had order to d◠〈◊〉 so occasioned their Dissolution And to the Parliament of Scotland by H. and Tra. who under the pretence of being Mediators and Commissioners put the worse constructions they could upon his actions to the Parliament and upon theirs to him a Who after the King death finding their Masters jugglers would have done in much for them as they had done for the King until the Officers would have laid them aside which they could not do till several of them were executed a Where â—nâ— lay with a Sword and Pistal without ready is murder the King if became out while others perswaded him to escape out through that window within b A Vote once before Passed but surreptitiously and repealed by the whole House a And yet neither Lords nor Iudges four hundred fifty of eight hundred Commons confess nor a man in England except twenty Rebels owned it b Villains that overthrowed all the Laws of this Nationâ— to try the King for doing it When he died rather than he would do it c They complain of his Arbitrary Power when there was nothing more Arbitrary than for them First To Vote themselves but twenty in number to be the whole kingdom Secondly To Vote a Conventicle where there were neither Lords nor King nor ten lawfully chosen Commons for a Parliament Thirdly To Vote the Kings defensive war which he made with the assistance of his People a Treason against his People Fourthly To Vote him guilty of that bloud that they shed Fifthly To Vote him a Traytor when there is no Treason but against him And what was more than all the rest to Vote themselves after a Nation had been an hereditary Monarchy for a thousand years the Supream Power of it in an hour d When they began the war against him who with his people was forced to defend himself or be accessary to that overthrow of all Religion and Government which though not believed he saw they aimed at then and all the world saw they designed now e Not till the Traytors had set a force upon the whole Nation those very persons against whom he began the war abhorring the thoughts of calling him in question for it and thinking it a great favour if they could be secured from being called in question for it themselves Observe the impudence of the men these slaves and instruments that durst not fight against the King but in the names of the Lords and Commons yet dare murther him in their own and that for levying war against those Lords and Commons to whom before they could meddle with the King they offered violence themselves f The Parliament as they called it had received such Concessions in order to a peace that this murder could never have been attempted upon the King till these wretches had attempted another violence upon them The Parliament they say delayed this Iudgment when God knows they always abhorred it and these men first turned out of the House for refusing to consent to this murder and then they commit the murder in
their name g Observe all the practices and commotions they talk of as of late raised for the King were but the endeavours of those very men that first employed the Army against the King to rescue the King and themselves from the power of that Army and whereas these wretches say the Parliament Order the Kings Tryal it was the Parliament that encouraged all those tumults and commotions 47 48. to deliver the King from that Tryal a By Dendy the Kings own Serjeant at Arms Son b Not being permitted to breakfast being reviled all the way by P. and â—thers that rid by him the King being put upon a loan 〈◊〉 Iade a He was born so b He was a free Monarch c What his design and theirs were the world hath lately seen d He dâ—ed because he would not allow an Arbitrary Power and they killed him by an Arbitrary Power e He levied war to defend a King and they to murder one f Have dare they take away his life for levying war in his own defence against the Seditious part of the Parliament and 〈◊〉 Army of Rebels when these the Parliaments sworn servants lay violent handâ— on the whole Parliament to take away his life He would have punished two or three rebellious Parliament-men they turn out the whole House he fought the traiterous Army they senâ— against him these Members of that Army turn out those they fought under he must be a Traytor against the Parliament and yet within a fortnight before they set on his assassinatioâ— they break trouble and abuse that Parliament as if it were Treason to be against the Parliament when they were against the King but no Treason to be against them when now they were for him a With the danger of her life b Pointing at Col. Cobbet that brought him from the Isle of Wight where he said be Treated with many honorable Lords Gentlemen and is this the end of the Treaty c Both parts of the impudent Assertion equally â—rue 1. That he was now Iudged by the People and that he was at first chosen by them a On Sunday whâ—n its against all Canons to faâ—t none ever doing so but these and the Scots Prestiâ—â—s who would needs Proclaim a Fast that day because the King designed to Feast the Embassador of Denmark b As they had Voted it Ordering c That ordered that none should make any disturbance on pain of death d C. Downs that thought it fit the King should be heaâ—d by the Lords and Commons a Wherein â—e was earnest not for his own concerns but for those of the kingdom b Though he offered much â—o say for the peace of the kingdom which if the meanest man had offered he should have been heard c This was their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the Commons of England in Parliament appointed them a Court whereas they neither did iâ— nor â—â—uld do it a All dâ—claring for a Peâ—sonal Tâ—â—aty a Secluding 140. Members b Imprisoning the Chief Citizens â—iding triumphâ—nâ—y through the streets of London and seizing the Tower c. c On shipboard in Summer timeâ— others sold slaves d Suffering nasty Confinements and ignominous Tortures The method leading to the Kings death a C. Downs disturbed the their proceedings declaring that what the King offered should be heard b Declaring that it was contrary to the known Laws and Customs of England that the King should be brought to Tryal a I. B. Dr. P. Character of him b Dr. D formerly History Professor of Cambridge set there by F. Brookes where reading in the stift lines of Tacitus he discovered so much of a popular spirit that he was complaiâ—ed of about his dâ—scourses of 〈◊〉 three sorts of government a Set on by the Instructors of their villaâ—ny Hereabouts he was stopped being not permitted to speak any more of Reasons a Telling them that it was not a slight thing that they were about a A motion so reasonable that Colonel Downs could not but presse them to hearken to it so far that they had adjourned not to consider what the King had offered but to check Col. D. into a compliance b They utterly refused his Queen that liberty a After the 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Bishop for his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 man replied that it was not 〈◊〉 but the Churches choice for the dâ—y Whereat his majesty was much comforted b Meaning Col. Thomiâ—son a Strafford b Pointing to Dr. Juxon c Turning to some Gentlemen that wrote d Meaning if he did blunt the edge a Pointing to Dr. Juxon b It is thought to give it to the Prince a They had provided I 〈◊〉 Gâ—appâ—es to pull him down b They sold Chips of the Block and Sands discoâ—â—red with his bloud c Others Proclaimed his Son in the face of his Fathers murtherers a Impâ—isoâ—ing the Bishop of London and searching Pocketâ—s and Cloaths b See M. Iconoclastes a Though they were seign to carry it aâ— fit had been discovered by chance by walking on the hollow part of it b The place exactly answering the designation of his 〈◊〉 in last Will and Testament and lying under an Herse that lay there all Q Elizabeths reign besides that no Subject had newer been buried in that Qâ—ire 1 〈…〉 a at London House 2 The 〈◊〉 it raised him All these passages are transcribed out of his Graces own Diurnal His good works doue a With new Priviledge as large as those in Cambridg since 11. the eighth hâ—s time b Wherein be did intend to hang as great and as tuneable a Ring of Bells as any are in the world a Only the irregular marrying of W. E D. E. M Dec. 26. 1605. St. Stephens day b Printed at Oxford 1666 His sufferings Dr. P. life K. Charles § The crimes laid to his Charge and reasons of his sufferings a And Homil p. 64 65. and Teâ—tul de Oâ—ig errot c. 2. 17. Statuse 3 lid 6. 10. b As ancient at Constancines time sec Polyd Virg. de Invent. ceruâ—â— l. 6. 2. Durand Ration c. a And the Preces privatae in Queen Elizâ—b time b And it was pretly thâ—â— swere 〈◊〉 was offended much the new Crucifix whereas he 〈◊〉 no notice of the old crucifix that wathere many years before See Antiq. Bâ—ic p. 33. 102. c One swore against him that a man bowed to the Virgin Maries Pictures over St. Maries door in Oxon. a Exod. 40 9 10 11. 1 Kings 8. 1 Chron 5 6 â—â— Chron 34. 8 Ezra 6 15 16 17. b Euseb. Eccles. Hist. 10. 3 de vita Coudant â— 4. 40. vid. Câ—â—â—it de Coâ—sect Eccles. Inst. ti cod l. ◠〈◊〉 5. de Sacro saâ—ctâ—â— Ecclesus c Doctor Bound Bradâ—um and Thâ— ashâ— then 〈◊〉 Iewish opâ—â—â—â—s d Iâ—stiâ— l. 2. c. 8. §. 34. e V d. Arâ—â—ii problemata de Encaeniis Grat de Conserev dist 1. f For which trey searched the 〈◊〉 book b Some his
the Suggestions wherewith they had prepossessed his Majesty and the powerful Intercession of many Grandees was much beyond their expectation the King declaring that if that be all the Presbyterians have to say which they said there they should Conform or he would hurry them out of the Land or do worse whereupon another Petition is out of hand carried on and Hands not so much gathered as scraped to it Mr. George Goring afterwards Earl of Norwich being in the right of his zealous Mother one of the Subscribers when he was so young as to know but little and care less for Church-Government and the thing not so much to be presented to his Majesty to incline him as to be scattered up and down the Nation to Enrage and Engage the People some great ones consenting to it and some potent strangers i.e. Scots undertaking to conduct and manage it Insomuch that Arch-bishop Whitgift fearing a stronger Assault of Non-Conformists against Church-Discipline than his Age-feebled body should be able to withstand desired that he might not live to see the Parliament that was to be 1603 4 and indeed he did not for he died before it of a Cold got by going one cold Morning to Fulham to consult with the Bishops and other learned men what was best to be done for the Church in the next Parliament And though after his death wise and resolute Bishop Bancroft secured the Church-government by an hundred fourty one Canons against all Innovations And the Puritans were grown to such a degree of odiousness with King Iames and some Courtiers that the very Family of love made a Petition to King Iames to be distinguished from them as either ashamed or afraid to be of their Number Yea and though the wise King had silenced all the popular Pretensions with his wise Maxime No Bishop no King yet Bishop Bancroft suffered so much in Libels the Squibs and Paper-Guns that made way for the Gunning that followed that a Gentleman bringing him one of them that he had taken up was desired to lay it up in such a place where he said there were an hundred more of that nature and was censured for a Papist while he lived and had the Brethrens good word when he died to this purpose Here lies his Grace in cold Clay clad Who died for want of what he had And upon his altering of his Will He who never repented of doing ill Repented that once he made a good Will An Assembly in Aberdeen made a fearful work in Scotland An Insurrection was made in Warwick-shire under pretence indeed of throwing down the Inclosures of some Fields but indeed to overthrow those of the Church and State There were three days hot Contest 1607. between the Bishops and Judges before the King about the Limitations of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Courts and about Prohibitions Then the dangerous Book called The Interpreter came out And therewith so much fear jealousie and suspition as caused the Lords and Commons and the whole Realm to take anew the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and so many strange Motions were made in the Parliament continued for six years together that the King thought fit by Proclamation to dissolve it The Faction that would forsooth redress Grievances in the Church to make their Party the more take in hand all the Grievances in the State So that no sooner was a man discontented upon any occasion but he was made a Puritan streight some of that Party taking his Cause in hand insomuch that they were looked upon as the Patrons of the Subjects Liberty and the best Patriots and Common-wealths-men all others being esteemed Betrayers of their Country and Court-Parasites And now they were broke in Parliament they trouble the Bishops and others in every Court countenancing Offenders teaching them to elude the Law vexing Ecclesiastical Courts with Prohibitions endeavouring to overthrow his Majesty's Power over the Church in the Star-Chamber and High-Commission Poor Dr. Howson is suspended at Oxford Propter Conciones minus Orthodoxas offensionis plenas Onely for discovering the danger of admitting the Geneva-Notes Mr. Lawd censured both for a Sermon and a Position by the same party Yea and learned Selden le ts fly upon all the Parsonage-Barns the dreadfullest storm that they had endured a long time in a Book called The History of Tythes In the Preface to which Book he lets fly as desperately against the persons of the Orthodox Clergy as he had done in the body of it against their Maintenance Dr. Mocket no sooner published his Politica Ecclesiae Anglicanae to satisfie the World but his Book was burned and his heart broken to satisfie a Faction though very learned and good men were by them set against his Book They like the Cat putting others upon that hot service whereon they would not venture their own paws What ill Offices were done Bishop Laud and Bishop Neale to King Iames by the Lord Chancellour Elsemere upon the Instigation of Dr. Abbot the Archbishop of Canterbury How Bishop Laud was opposed in the matter of his Election to the Headship of St. Iohn's What rancounters there were between him and Bishop Williams whom that Party had incensed against him The Ratling he had from the Archbishop of Canterbury for but procuring poor Vicars some ease in the point of Subsidies the Archbishop pretending that he meddled too much with Publick Affairs though the Duke of Buckingham and Bishop Williams himself confessed that it was the best service that had been done the Church for seven years before These and many more the great sufferings of men well-affected to the Government of the Church are notorious in King Iames his time but not so eminent as those in King Charles his days When the King being engaged by them in a War and other Troubles for it was at their request that Prince Charles moved his Father to declare a War against the Spaniard they being curbed all the Reign of King Iames thought they had the onely opportunity that men could wish in the world for the King could not go to War without Money and Men these they had taught the People could not be raised without their Consent in Parliament where among the discontented and ill-bred Gentlemen whom the Non-Conformists had bred up for when you could hear little of them in the Church in the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's Reign and throughout King Iames they lurked as Schoolmasters and Chaplains in Gentlemens houses They had a great stroke and so great that the Duke of Buckingham by Dr. Preston did a great while court the Puritan Faction and nothing would they graâ—t the King unless he would let them do what was good in their own eyes King Charles having the Care of three Kingdoms intrusted with him by the Laws of God and the Land and finding the danger they were brought into called upon the Parliament to assist him with such Tribute and Contribution as might be proportionable to the greatness of his
Puritan Factions all the discontented ambitious turbulent innovating covetous desperate and most easily-deluded sort of people by the wilde courses of such as had offended beyond all security save in a troublesom time by a general Odium cast upon all Acts of Government and a perverse Spirit of discontent fears and jealousies raised throughout the three Kingdoms and vehemently possessing all sorts of people by the necessities of the King and some forreign troubles by the treachery of some that had the management of the Affairs of Scotland That which was at first but an Opinion after that a Book-controversie and never durst look beyond a Motion a Petition a Supplication a Conference a Disputation and some private murmurings at best became now a War The cause whereof on the one side was an old Schism maintained mens private Interests promoted Rebellion that sin like Witchcraft the overthrow of all Laws and Government the ruine of Learning Religion and Order the piecing up of broken Estates by Rapine and Plunder an ambition to attain to those Honours and Preferments in troublesom times that they despaired of in those more quiet as derived on persons of more worth and deserving A canting pretence for Liberty of Conscience and of the Subject that proved at last nothing but Licentiousness the Umbrage of the publick good when it appeared at last but the project of private persons who no sooner overthrew the Government but they quarrelled one with another till at last instead of one good Government we had so many that we had none at all and instead of an excellent King all the Bloud Treasures and Pretences ended in a sordid base bloudy tyrannical and upstart Usurper raised out of the meanest of the people A Revenge of some particular and personal Wrongs with the ruine of the Publick the setting up of Sects Schisms and Heresies upon the subversion of the established Doctrine and Discipline a perpetual disgrace and dishonour to Christianity and the English Nation occasioning such Burdens and Mischiefs as the Child unborn may rue Burdens and Mischiefs conveyed from them to late Posterity the desolation of the Country the ruine of gallant Churches Castles and Cities the undoing of some thousands of Families the bloud of 80000 killed on both sides and upon all occasions An unnatural division and animosity begun even among Relations that is like to last from Generation to Generation abominable Canting taking of the Name of God in vain hypocrisie perjury against the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy the Protestation yea the Covenant which they took themselves and all the Obligations they owed to God or Man the mocking of God by Fasts Prayers and seeking of his face to wicked and vile purposes the making of him the Author of the Abominations he abhors the making of Religion onely a Cloak to Villanies and all the Ordinances of it especially Sermons and Sacraments the Ministeries of horrid undertakings filling Pulpits with such Non-sence and Lyes as all Ears that heard tingled Such encouragement to loose Fancies and vile Opinions to enlarge and increase their Party as left not unshaken any Foundation in the whole compass of Christian Religion a Sacriledge unheard-of that was to swallow up all Bishops and Dean and Chapters Lands all Tithes and Ministers Maintenance all Universities and publick Schools all Hospitals Colledges and charitable Foundations a Rapine that carried away all the Crown-Revenue and sent a great Royal Family a begging devoured the Estates of above 12000 Noblemen Gentlemen and persons of eminent Quality and indeed left no man so much propriety as to say This is mine there being no other Law or Judicature than that Arbitrary one of the Sword carrying on of the publick good till the Nation was beggered a crying up of the power of Parliaments till the House of Lords was laid by and the House of Commons consisting of almost five hundred Gentlemen reduced to fifty or sixty Mechanicks and poor fellows who are turned out by their own Army as a pack of Knaves and Fools a pretence to make the King glorious till he was murdered and fighting for him against evil Counsellours till they cut off his head the best Counsellour he had The rendring of a Nation once the Envy and Terrour of the World now its Scorn and Contempt and Englishmen once the Glory of Europe now its Shame for doing that which Turks and Pagans and the Barbarous abhorred crying out You fight and judge your King Not to say any thing of the general horrour and consternation that seized all the Christian World upon that horrid Conspiracy The letting loose of all the Jesuitical Principles that had troubled the World but were never before owned by things that would be called Protestants 1. As that Subjects may resist force with force in their own defence 2. That the Law of Nature in case of necessity teacheth men to take up Arms against their Sovereign 3. That a wicked King may be deposed 4. That a Tyrant may be killed by any hand as a wilde Beast and an Enemy of Mankind 5. That they do not break their Oaths of Allegiance that fight against the Kings person if they pretend his power 6. That the King is accountable to the People as made by them in whom resides the Supream Majesty 7. That Success is a signe of Gods blessing and presence with any people in any undertaking 8. That if the King keep not his Oath at the Coronation with the people they are not to keep their Oaths of Allegiance towards him 9. That Arms may be taken by Subjects to promote true Religion 10. That Liberty is to be allowed to all men under any Government to profess what Religion soever they please 11. That nothing is to be established in publick that goeth against any mans Opinion Humour or Conscience in private 12. That if any Court Judicature Form of Worship or Law be abused then it must be presently laid down and not used 13. That any thing that hath been used by the Papists or that is but pretended to be Popish as what that displeased hath not been so must be abrogated A Principle that the Jesuits observing our blinde zeal against Popery have suggested to overthrow all Religion under pretence of avoiding Popery 14. That there must be no Kingdom but that of Christs and that until he comes in person the Saints must reign 15. That Dominion is founded upon Grace and that the wicked have no right to any thing that they enjoy 16. That the Law of the Land was not made for the Righteous but for Sinners so they abused a place of Scripture that sounds that way 17. That all the Prophecies and Revolutions forespoken of concern England and that they may make any stir to fulfil these Prophecies all that they did being as they said nothing but Gods pouring out his Vials on the Beast c. the whole Scripture being understood not according to the inward sense but according to the outward sound and
Gods Holy Word might keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace It being a sad thing in his opinion that three Christian and Protestant Kingdomes under one Christian and Protestant King should have three several Confessions of Faith 4. Abolished several idle and barbarous Customs putting the Natives upon ingenious ways of Improving that rich Land by Flax Hemp c. infinitely to the Advantage of the King and Kingdom 5. Recovering near upon 40000 l. per year to the Church which by ungodly Alienations was made saith a Bishop of their own as low as Poverty it self bringing over with him as great Affections for the Church and all Publike Interests as he had Abilities to serve them 6. Put Ireland Anno 1639. in three moneths by a Parliament he got together in that short time into such a posture for Men and Money as was a Pattern to the following Parliament of England which resented that Service so much that the House of Commons gave him the Thankes of the Kingdome in their own House and waited upon him two of their most eminent Members supporting him to his place in the House of Lords In fine he wrought that wilde and loose people to such a degree of Peace Plenty and Security as it had never been since it was annexed to this Crown and made it pay for the Charges of its own Government which before was deducted out of the English Treasury Their Peace and Lawes now opening accesses to Plenty and Trade he remitted indeed nothing of that Authority Strictness Discipline or Grandieur that might advance the Interest or Honor of his Master yet he admitted so much moderation into his Counsels and Proceedings as that Despair added to former Discontents and the Fears of utter Extirpation to their wonted Pressures should not provoke to an open Rebellion a people prone enough to break out to all exorbitant Violence both by some principles of their Religion and the natural desires of Liberty both to exempt themselves from their present restraints and prevent after-rigors And when the Tumults of Scotland and the Discontents of England called for the same Counsel here that he had with success applyed to the distempers of Ireland how clearly did he see thorow the Mutinies and Pretences of the Multitude into the long-contrived Conspiracies and Designs of several orders of more dangerous men whose Covetousness and Ambition would digest as he fore-saw the rash Tumults into a more sober and solemn Rebellion How happily did he divine that the Affronts offered the Kings Authority on the score of Superstition Tyranny Idolatry Male-administration Liberty words as little understood by the Vulgar as the Design that lay under them were no other than Essays made by certain sacrilegious and needy men to confirm the Rapines upon Church and State they had made in Scotland and to open a door to the same practises in England to try how the King who had already ordered a Revocation of all such Vsurpations in Scotland and had a great minde to do the like in England would bear their rude and insolent Attempts whether he would consult his Power or his Goodness assert his Majesty or yield to their importunity How nimbly did he meet with the Faction by a Protestation he gained from all the Scots in England and Ireland against the Covenant of their Brethren in Scotland at the same time in several Books he caused to be printed discovering that the Scottish Faction that so much abhorred Popery proceeded in this Sedition upon the worst of Popish principles and practises And that this Godly League which was so much applauded by the people was a Combination of men acting over those Trayterous Bloody and Jesuitical Maximes of Mariana Suarez Sa Bellarmine which all good people abhorred Adding that those very persons that instructed the poor populary to quarrel with their Sovereign about Liberty should as it followed afterwards lay a more unsupportable slavery upon them than their most impious slanders could form in the imagination of the Credulous that they might fear from the King The power God had invested him with he intreated the King to own and the ways the Laws of God and the Land allowed him to maintain that power to make use of employing all the able men that pretended to skill either in Law or Government to see if Prerogative had any way yet left to save an unwilling People for knowing how prevailing the Seditious were always to disturb the Counsels of the Parliament he feared that from their proceedings the common Enemies would be encouraged as formerly to higher Insolencies and the envious Demagogues would contemn their own safety to ruine the Kings Honor therefore giving vigorous Orders for raising the Ship-money and a great Example towards Advancing a Benevolence subscribing himself 20000 l. and procuring the Subscription of 500000 l. from the Church the Court the City and Countrey besides some thousands by Compositions with Papists especially in Stafford-shire Lancashire York-shire c. and by Forfeitures observed by him in London Derry and other places held by Patent from His Majesty When he saw a Faction by the diligence of the Kings enemies and the Security and Treason of his pretended Friends who made it their business to perswade His Majesty that there was no danger so long until there was no safety formed into Councels and drawn up into Armies when he saw one Kingdom acting in open Rebellion and another countenancing and inclining to it when he discovered a Correspondence between the Conclave of Rome and the Cardinal of France between the King of France and the Rebels of Scotland between the Leaders of the Scottish Sedition and the Agents of the English Faction one Pickering Laurence Hampden Fines c. being observed then to pass to and fro between the English and the Scottish Brethren and saw Letters signed with the Names though as some of them alledged since without the consent of the Five Members c. when the Government in Church and State was altered the Kings Ships Magazines Revenue Forts and faithful Servants were seized on the Orders of State and Worship of God were affronted by a barbarous multitude that with sticks stools and such other instruments of Fury as were present disturbed all religious and civil Conventions and the Kings Agents Hamilton Traquair and Roxborough pleased no doubt with the Commotions they at first raised and by new though secret seed of Discontents improved increased the Tumults by a faint Opposition which they might have allayed by vigorous punishments all the Declarations that were drawn in the Kings Name being contrived so as to overthrow his Affairs In a word when he saw that the Traytors were got into the Kings Bed-chamber Cabinets Pockets and Bosom and by false representation of things had got time to consolidate their Conspiracy and that the Kings Concessions to their bold Petition about the Liturgy the High-Commission the Book of Canons and the â—ive
the Arch-bishop and Windebanke Sir Henry Vane affirmeth the words I deny them then there remain four for further Evidence viz. The Marquess Hamilton the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Cottington who have all declared upon their honour that they never heard me speak those words nay nor the like Lastly suppose though I granted it not that I spake those words yet cannot the word this rationally imply England because the Debate was concerning Scotland as is yielded on all hands because England was not out of the way of obedience as the Earl of Clare observed well and because there was never the least intention of Landing the Irish Army in England as the foresaid Lords of the Privy Council are able to attest Concluding his defence with a sinewy summary and a close recapitulation of what he had said and a gallant Speech to this purpose My Lords THere yet remains another Treason that I should be guilty of The endeavouring to subvert the Fundamental Laws of the Land That they should now be Treason together that is not Treason in any one part of Treason Accumulative that so when all will not do it is woven up with others it should seem very strange Vnder favour my Lords I do not conceive that there is either Statute-law or Common-law that doth declare the endeavouring to subvert the Fundamental Laws to be High-treason For neither Statute-law nor Common-law written that ever I could hear off declareth it so And yet I have been diligent to enquire as I believe you think it doth concern me to do It is hard to be questioned for Life and Honour upon a Law that cannot be shewn There is a Rule I have learned from Sir Edward Cooke De non apparentibus non existentibus eadem ratio Jesuâ— Where hath this fire lain all this while so many hundreds of years without any smoak to discover it till it thus burnt out to consume me and my Children extreame hard in my opinion that punishment should proceed promulgation of Laws punishment by a Law subsequent to the acts done Take it into your consideration For certainly it is now better to be under no Law at all but the will of men than to conform our selves under the protection of a Law as we think and then be punished for a Crime that doth proceed the Law What man can be safe if that be once admitted My Lords It is hard in another respect that there should be no Token set upon this Offence by which we should know it no Admonition by which we should be aware of it If a man pass down the Thames in a Boat and it be Split upon an Anchor and no Buoy be set as a token that there is an Anchor there that party that owes the Anchor by the Maritine Laws shall give satisfaction for the damage done but if it were markâ— out I must come upon my own peril Now where is a mark upon this crime where is the token this is High-treason If it be under water and not above water no humane providence can avail nor prevent my destruction Lay aside all humane wisdome and let us rest upon Divine Revelation if you will condemn me before you forewarn the danger Oh my Lords May your Lordships be pleased to give regard unto the presage of England as never to suffer our selves to be put on those nice points upon such contractive interpretations and these are where Laws are not clear or known If there must be trials of Wits I do humbly beseech you the subject and matter may be somewhat else than the lives and honours of Peers My Lords We find that the Primitive times in the progression of the plain Doctrine of the Apostles they brought the Books of Curious Arts and burned them And so likewise as I conceive it will be wisdome and providence in your Lordships for your posterity and the whole Kingdomes to cast from you into the fire those bloudy and most misterious Volumes of constructive and arbitrary Treasons and to betake your selves to the plain letters of the Law and Statute that telleth us where the crime is and by telling what is and what is not shews us how to avoid it And let us not be ambitious to be more wise and learned in the killing arts than our forefathers were It is now full two hundred and forty years since ever any man was touched for this alledged crime to this height before my self we have lived happily to our selves at home and we have lived gloriously to the world abroad Let us rest contented with that our fathers have left us and not awaken thâ—se sleepy Lions to our own destructions by taking up a few musty Records that have lain so many Ages by the Walls quite forgotten and neglected May your Lordships be nobly pleased to add this to those other misfortunes befallen me for my Sins not for my Treasons that a President should be derived from me of that disadvantage as this will be in the consequent to the whole Kingdome I beseech you seriously to consider it and let not my particular cause be looked upon as you do though you wound me in my interest in the Commonwealth and therefore those Gentlemen say that they speak for the Commonwealth yet in this particular I indeed speak for it and the inconveniencies and mischiefs that will heavily fall upon us For as it is in the first of King Henry the fourth no man will after know what to do or say for fear Do not put My Lords so great difficulties upon the Ministers of State that men of wisdome honour and virtue may not with chearfulness and safety be imployed for the publick If you weigh and measure them by Grains and Scruples the publick affairs of the Kingdom will be laid waste and no man will meddle with them that hath honours issues or any fortunes to loose MY Lords I have now troubled you longer than I should have done were it not for the interest of those dear pledges a Saint in Heaven left me I should be loath my Lords there he stopped What I forfeit for my self it is nothing but that my Indiscretion should forfeit for my Child it even woundeth me to the very soul. You will pardon my infirmity something I should have said but I am not able and sighed therefore let it pass And now my Lords I have been by the blessing of Almighty God taught that the affâ—iction of this life present are not to be compared to the eternal weight of that glory that shall be revealed to us hereafter And so my Lords even so with tranquillity of mind I do submit my self freely and clearly to your Lordships judgements and whether that righteous Iudgement shall be to life or death Te Deum Laudamus A defence every way so compleat That he whom English Scots and Irish combined against in their Testimonies such English as cavied his virtues and power such Scots as feared his wisdom
me And to call a destruction upon my self and young Children where the intentions of my heart have been innocent at least of this great offence may be believed will find no easie content to flesh and bloud But with much sadnesse I am come to a resolution of that which I think best becomes me to look upon that which is most principal in its self which doubtless is the prosperity of your Sacred Person and the Commonwealth infinitely beyond any private mans interest And therefore in few words as I put my self wholly upon the honor and justice of my Peers so clearly as to beseech your Majesty might be pleased to have spared that Declaration of yours on Saturday last and intirely to have left me to their Lordships So now to set your Conscience at liberty I do most humbly beseech you for the preventing of such mischief as may happen by your refusal to Pass the Bill by this means remove I cannot say praised be God this Accursed but I confesse this Unfortunate thing out of the way towards that blessed Agreement which God I trust will establish for ever between you and your Subjects Sir my Consent herein shall more acquit you to God than all the world can do besides To a willing man there is no injury done And as by God's grace I forgive all the world with all chearfulnesse imaginable in the just acknowledgement of your exceeding Favours And onely Beg that in your goodnesse you would be pleased to cast your Gracious regard upon my poor Son and his Sisters lesse or more and no otherwise than their unfortunate Father shall appear more or lesse guilty of his death God long preserve your Majesty Tower May 4. 1640. Your Majesties most humble and faithful subject and servant STRAFFORD And then with much reluctancy the King being overcome rather than perswaded Passed by Proxies In hane formam The Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford extorted by a prevailing Faction by force from the Parliament 16 and 17. CAR. 1. Repealed by a Free and Full-Parliament 13 and 14. CAR. 11. WHereas the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons in this present Parlament Assembled have in the names of themselves and all the Commons of England Impeached Thomas Earl of Strafford of High-treason for indeavouring to subvert the Ancient and Fundamental Laws and Government of his Majesties Realms of England and Ireland And to Introduce a Tyrannical and Arbitrary Government against Law into those Kingdoms and for exercising a Tyrannous and Exorbitant Power over and against the Laws of the said Kingdoms over the Liberties Estates and Lives of his Majesties Subjects and likewise for having by his own Authority commanded the Laying and Assessing of Souldiers upon his Majesties Subjects in Ireland against their Consent to Compel them to obey his unlawful Commands and Orders made upon Paper-Petitions in Causes between Party and Party which accordingly was executed upon divers of his Majesties Subjects in a warlike manner within the said Realm of Ireland and in so doing did Levy War against the Kings Majesty and his Leige People in that Kingdom And also for that he after the unhappy Dissolution of the last Parliament did slander the House of Commons to his Majesty and did Counsel and Advise his Majesty That he was loose and absolved from Rules of Government and that he had an Army in Ireland c. For which he deserves to undergo pains and forfeiture of High-Treason And the said Earl hath been an Incendiary between Scotland and England All which Offences have been sufficiently proved against the said Earl upon his Impeachment Be it therefore Enacted c. that the said Earl of Strafford for the heinous Crimes and Offences aforesaid Stand and be Adjudged and Attainted of High-treason And shall suffer such Pain of Death and Incurr the forfeitures of his Goods Chattels Lands Tenements and Hereditaments of any Estate of Freehold or Inheritance in the said Kingdomes of England and Ireland which the said Earl or any other to his use or in trust for him have or had the day of the first Sitting of this present Parliament or at any time since Provided that nothing be Declared Treason hereafter but what might have been Declared for had this Act never been Passing Saving to all Persons and Bodies Corporate excepting the Earl and all Rights Titles Interests they did injoy the first day of this Parliament Any thing herein Contained to the contrary notwithstanding Provided That the Passing of this present Act determine not this Session of Parliament c. A Bill 1. So false in the matter of it grounded on the Evidence of Papists sworn enemies to the English Name and State that wanted only the death of this great Instrument of Government to commit those mischiefs they accused him of the Faction Carressing those very Rebels to assist them in shedding my Lord of Strafford's bloud that afterwards imbrued their hands in the bloud of so many innocent Protestants in Ireland 2. So shameful in the manner of it that as the Devil upbraids unhappy souls with those very crimes they tempted and betrayed them to so those very men made use of it to pollute the King's honour that had even forced him to it though the heaviest Censure was himself Who never left bewailing his Compliance or Connivance with this Murder till the issue of his bloud dried up those of his tears A Bill which might well accompany the other Bill about the Parliaments Sitting during pleasure this passing away the King's Honour and the other his Prerogative Neither was the Bill sooner Passed than his Execution was Ordered The King's intercession in a Letter sent by his own Son the Prince for so much intermixture of mercy with the publick Justice as to permit the Earl either to live out his sad life in a close Imprisonment or at least that his soul that found so much Injustice on earth might have a Week to prepare it's self for the mercy of Heaven Rather quickening the bloudy mens Counsels who thought not themselves safe as long as he was so and whose fears and jealousies created or entertained stories every minute of his escape or rescue than mitigating them And therefore the second day after a great man must be surprized secured as soon as accused tried as soon as secured condemned as soon as tried and executed as soon as condemned the very day Sir Henry Vane the Younger that contributed so much to this Murder was Executed afterwards After six months Imprisonment and twenty one whole days Trial wherein he answered the whole House of Commons for six or seven hours each day to the infinite satisfaction of all impartial Persons He was brought with a strong and solemn Guard to the Scaffold on Tower-hill In his passage thither he had a sight of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury whose prayers and blessings he with low obeysance begged and the pious Prelate bestowed them
him though he either upon his friends intimation or his own observation of the danger he was in among those who are prone to insult most when they have objects and opportunities most capable of their rudeness and petulancy escaped in a disguise wearing a Vizard lawfully to save himself as others did then to destroy him and the kingdom that night or next morning betimes in a Skuller the Sea being less tempestuous than the Law to Holland where he safely heard himself charged with High-treason in four particulars 1. For not Reading as the Faction would have him the Libell Sir Iohn Clue drew up against the Lord Treasurer Weston in the Parliament 4. Caroli 2. For threatning the Judges in the matter of Ship-money 3. For his judgment in the Forrest business when he was Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas 4. For drawing the Declaration after the Dissolution of the last Parliament And staid so long until he saw 1. The whole Plot he indeavoured to obviate in the buds of it ripened to as horrid a Rebellion as ever the Sun saw 2. The Charges against Buckingham Weston Strafford himself c. ending in a Charge against the King himself whose Head he would always affirm was aimed at through their sides 3. The great grievance of an 120000l in the legal way of Ship-money redressed and eased by being commuted for a burden of 60. millions paid in the Usurped ways of Assessements Contribution Loans Venturing Publick Faith Weekly Meals the Pay of the three Armies Sequestrations Decimations those Bells and Dragons of the Wealth and plenty of England 4. The great fear that the King would make a great part of the kingdom Forrests turned into greater that the Conspirators would have the whole kingdom into a Wilderness 5. And the Declaration he drew about the evil Complexion of the last Parliament made good with advantage by the unheard of and horrid outrages of this In a word he lived to see the Seditious act far worse things against the King and kingdom than his very fear and foresight suspected of them though he gave shreud hints and guesses And to see God do more for the King and kingdom than his hope could expect for he saw the horrid Murder of Charles I. and the happy Restauration of Charles II. enduring eight years Banishment several months Confinement and Compositions amounting to 7000l THE Life and Death OF Sr FRANCIS VVINDEBANK WHEN neither sincerity in Religion which he observed severely in private and practised exemplarily in publick nor good affections to the Liberties of the Subject in whose behalf he would ever and anon take occasion to Address himself to his Majesty to this purpose Your poor Subjects in all humbleness assure your Majesty that their greatest confidence is and ever must be in your grace and goodness without which they well know nothing that they can frame or desire will be of safety or value to them Therefore are all humble Suiters to your Majesty that your Royal heart will graciously accept and believe the truth of theirs which they humbly pretend as full of truth and confidence in your Royal Word and Promise as ever People reposed in any of their best Kings Far from their intentions it is any way to incroach upon your Soveraignty or Prerogative nor have they the least thought of stretching or enlarging the former Laws in any sort by any new interpretations or additions The bounds of their desires extend no further than to some necessary explanation of that which is truly comprehended within the just sence and meaning of those Laws with some moderate provision for execution and performance as in times past upon like occasion hath been used They humbly assure Your Majesty they will neither loose time nor seek any thing of your Majesty but that they hope may be fit for dutyful and Loyal Subjects to ask and for a Gracious and Iust King to grant When neither the Services he performed in publick not the Intercessions he made in private in behalf of the People of England could save so well-affected religious able active publick-spirited charitable and munificent a Person as Sir Iohn Finch Baron Finch of Foreditch It s no wonder Sir Francis Windebank was loath to hazzard his life in a scuffle with an undisciplined Rabble which he freely offered to be examined by any free and impartial Courts of Justice where the multitude should receive Laws and not give them and reason should set bounds to passion truth to pretences Lawes duly executed to disorders and charity to fears and jealousies when the sacredness of some great Personages and the honour of others when the best Protestants and the best Subjects were equally obnoxious to the undistinguished Tumults which cried out against Popery and Ill-counsel but struck at all men in power and favour Sir Francis rather ashamed than afraid to see the lives and honours of the most eminent persons in the Nation exposed to those rude Assemblies where not reason was used as to men to perswade but force and terror as to beasts to drive and compel to whatsoever tumultuary Patrons shall project left the kingdom as unsafe where Factions were more powerful than Laws and persons chose rather to hear than to see the miseries and reproaches of their Country waiting for an Ebbe to follow that dreadful and swelling Tide upon this Maxime That the first indignation of a mutinous multitude is most fierce and a small delay breaks their consent and innocence would have a more candid censure if at all at distance Leave he did his place and preferment like those that scatter their Treasure and Jewels in the way that they might delude the violence of their greedy pursuers troubled for nothing more than that the King was the while left naked of the faithful ministry of his dearest Servants and exposed to the infusions and informations of those who were either complices or mercenaries to the Faction to whom they discovered his most Private Counsels Those aspersions laid upon him by those that spoke rather what they wished than what they believed or knew he would say should like clouds vanish while his reputation like the Sun a little muffled at present recovered by degrees its former and usual luster Time his common saying sets all well again And time at last did make it evident to the world that though he and others might be subject to some miscarriages yet such as were far more repairable by second and better thoughts than those enorminous extravagancies wherewith some men have now even wildred and almost quite lost both Church and State The event of things at last demonstrating that had the King followed the worst counsels that could have been offered him Church and State could not have been brought into that condition they were presently in upon the pretended Reformation Among the many ill consequences whereof this was not the least remarkable viz. that those very slanderers reputation and credit I mean that little
would bear the charge of his Suit with his Adversary which being over-heard by the Noble-man he sent presently to the Brewer resolving he would no longer go to Law with him who upon such easie and cheap terms could manage his part of the Suit And when some ill-minded people thought to disturb the peace of his soul by the confluence that attended his Neighbour's Ministry and the solitude of his he would at once please himself and displease them with this Repartee That to one Customer you will see in a substantial Whole-saleman's Ware-house you will meet with twenty in a pedling Retailer of Small-wares Shop A man would wonder how so good a nature could have an enemy but that as Culpitius Severus noteth of Ithacius that he so hated Priscillian that the very Habit which good men used if it were such as Priscillian had used made him hate them also so it was observed in those times that any thing that was Episcopal was so odious that some men whose Callings were much indeared by the excellent endowments of their persons had yet their persons much disrespected by the common prejudices against their Callings Ah shall I be so happy as to be taken away from the evil to come They are his dying words as Augustine before the taking of Hippopareus before the Siege of Heidelbergh and the good Christians before the Siege of Ierusalem Shall I go as old Gryneus said ubi Lutherus cum Zwinglio optime jam convenit If they knew what it was to dye they would not live so When Bees Swarm a little dust thrown in the Air setleth them and when People are out of order a little thought of their mortality would compose them And since they are mortal their hatred would not be immortal O set bounds to our zeal by discretion to tumults by law to errours by truth to passion by reason and to divisions by charity And so this good man went up to that place that is made up of his Temper Mirth and peace For all we know of what is done above By blessed Souls is that they Sing and Love THE Life and Death OF Sir ROBERT BERKLEY THE two great Boundaries that stood in the way of the late Sedition were Religion and Law which guide and regulate the main Springs that move and govern the affections of reclaimed nature Conscience and Fear by the first of which we are obliged as we live in the communion of those that hope for another world And by the second as we live in society with those that keep in order this Ministers and Lawyers are the Oracles we depend upon for Counsel and Instruction in both those Grand Concerns so far as that we think it our duty to submit to the reason of the one and to believe the doctrine of the other without scruple or argument unless in matters most notoriously repugnant to the Elements of Policy and Religion These two professions the Conspiracy endeavoured to make sure of either by cajoling or persecuting drawing the one half of them to sin with them oh what a case the Nation was in when Juglers and Impostors took up its Benches and Pulpits and marking out the other half for persecution by them miserable kingdom where the Law is Treason and Gospel a Misdemeanor One of those that could better endure the Injuries than the Ways of the Faction was Sir Robert Berkley a person whose worth was set in his Pedigree as a rich diamond in a fair Ring his extraction not so much honouring his parts as his parts did illustrate his extraction When a Pippin is planted on a Pippin-stock there groweth a delicious fruit upon it called a Renate When eminent abilities meet with an eminent person the product of that happy concurrence is noble and generous The Heveninghams of Suffolk reckon twenty five Knights of their Family the Tilneys of Norfolk are not a little famous for sixteen Knights successively in that House and the Nauntons have made a great noise in history seven hundred pounds a year they have injoyed ever since or even before the Conquest And this person took a great pleasure in reflecting on the eight Lords forty two Knights besides a great number of Gentlemen that amongst them possess nine thousand pounds a year for five hundred years together When he came to Study the Law he knew that though to have an Estate be a sure First yet to have Learning is a sure Second skill being no burthen to the greatest men that being often in his mouth in effect which I find in another Judges Book in express terms Haec studia adolescentiam alunt senectutem oblectunt secundas res ornant adversis persugium praebent delectant domi non impediunt foris pernoctant nobiscum Peregrinantur Rusticantur He observed it a great happiness that he fixed on a profession that was as Aristotle saith among the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suited to his genius and inclination The reason of his considerable proficiency in his Profession being judged the greatest Master of Maximes in his time and therefore his only fault was that being made Serjeant 3. Caroli with great Solemnity and at the same Term sworn the King's Majesties Serjeant at Law he argued against the factious Members of the Parliament 4. Caroli Sir Iohn Aliot c. so shrewdly that Sir G. C. said of him Prerogative and Law will not be over-run while Serjeant Berkley lives A testimony of him suitable to the inscription on his ring when made Serjeant Lege Deus Rex Two things he abhorred 1. The impudence of those men that by misconstruction of Laws misapplying of Presidents torturing or embezzeling of Records turn the point of the Law upon its self Wounding the Eagle with a feather from his own wing and overthrowing the power of Princes by their authority 2. The uncharitableness of others void of the ingenuity either of Scholars or indeed of men who charged him and others with opinions which they heartily disclaimed meerly because they think such an opinion flowed from his Principles an uncharitableness that hath widened the breach irreconcilably among both Lawyers and Divines in this Nation This was the reason why when the other Judges were Charged with Misdeamenors when the Parliament was upon the business of Ship-money this Judge was Accused of Treason and why when his fellows got off with a check and a small Fine he suffered three years Imprisonment and afterwards was released upon no lower terms than a Fine of two thousand pounds an incapacity of any Dignity or Office in the Common◠wealth and to be a Prisoner at large during pleasure After having been eleven years a good Justice in the Kings bench he died heart-broken with grief Anno 1649. Aetatis 63. Hard indeed were this Gentleman's Arguments against the times but soft his words often relating and its seems always reflecting on Mnemon's discipline who hearing a mercenary Souldier with many bold and impure reports exclaiming against Alexander lent
us up then the Lord took him up not immediately Miracles being ceased but in and by the hands 1. Of Generous and Noble Guardians that much improved his Estate as well as himself 2. Of two Excellent School-Masters and Tutors in Memory of whom he kept his own Birth-day as the Athenians did that of Theseus doing alwayes some thing in Memory of his Teachers as they sacrificed a Ramme in Memory of his having designed we know not whether performed the endowment of a School where because 1. Raw Youths took Sanctuary in this Profession furnished only with a Rod and a Serida 2. Hopeful men slur it over in their way to a more profitable Employment 3. Indiscreet men meddle with this that understand Books but not Tempers well 4. Men undertake it against their Genius neither with delight nor dexterity who had as lieve be School-boys as School-Masters being ticed to the School as Coopers Dictionary or Scapulaes Lexicon is chained to the Desk or if good School-Masters they grow Rich and neglect it or if poor they are Masters to the Children and slaves to their Parents He intended an able discreet grave and dexterous man should be competently incouraged while he was able and provided for when not able to follow the School at the place either where he was born or which he valued more at the place where he was bred He would bless God that he had staid so long at the Gate of Wisdom supported like Wisdoms House in the Scripture by seven Pillars meaning the seven Liberal Sciences before he entred the Temple of it meaning the Profession of the Law That he might not be reckoned among those Sir Iohn Dodderidge calleth Doctum quoddam Indoctorum hominum genus natural abilities have gone far but Ingenious Education goeth further to understand our Law of which Sir Henry Finch observeth That the sparks of all other Sciences in the world are raked up under the ashes of the Law Which when admitted at the Temple he plied with 1. Reading 2. Hearing 3. Conference 4. Meditation 5. Recollection and 6. A good Common-place of Axioms Principles Rules and Aphorisms Apes debemus Imitori quae ut vagantur flores ad mel faciendum Idoneum Idoneos corpunt deinde quicquid attulere disponunt ac per favos digerunt Ita debemus quaecunque ex diversa Lectione congestimus separare melius enim distinct a servantur Sen. Epist. untill his Country-man Sir Randolph Crew and the great observer of Young men took special notice of him And likewise adorned with a grave Aspect vultu non destruens verba not contradicting that to the subtile eyes of those that dwell on Faces and from the workings of the Countenance discern the Intrigues of the minde which he spake to the Judicious Ear A sober and patient temper a reserved minde Modestus Incestus compositus ac probus vultus conveniens prudenti viro gestus And what was more practised with so much success and integrity that he had insinuated himself into the best acquaintance and most profitable practises of his time having been Steward to sixteen several Persons of Quality Executor to above three hundred Wills Feoffee in trust for fifty several considerable Estates Guardian to forty three several Orphans twice Reader of Grayes-Inn called to be Sergeant Term Mich. Anno 21. Iacobi Regis made Judge of the Common-Pleas 5. Caroli 1. upon Sir Henry Yelvertons Death and 7. Caroli 1. was preferred Chief Baron of the Exchequer in the place of Sir Iohn Walter then discharged 5. Car. and dead 8. Novemb. 6. Car. in the right though not in the exercise of which place he died 164 ... Receiving the Absolution and Communion when sick according to the Common-Prayer and ordering his burial when dead so too as did Judge Hutton Baron Denham Sir Iohn Brampston and all the Eminent Lawyers of that time by particular Clauses in their Wills being observed many of them to have wept their Common-Prayers left behinde in their Closets into bluts and blots all over A Monument for the Iudges that suffered about Ship-money P. M. S. Uno sub Monumento claudantur unanimes reliquiae quibus olim una anima unicus Calculus Quos conjunxit ostracismus nec dividat Epitaphium Erudite pertinax Trevor Mansuete magnanimus Davenport prudentissimo patiens Westonus tria Legum Anglicanarum Oracula Quibus regi pio servire summa videbatur Libertas ruente Regno cecidere-Divinae legis tam devote observantes quam tantos Patriae exacte callidi Ne tantos viros longa temporum Injuriâ vel Sacrilegiâ sequioris saeculi Incuria oblivioni traditos Perpetuae Vel fuisse Laboraret Annalium fides sacram saltem eorum memoriam in Epitaphio superstitem voluit D. W. Onely let us add to Sir Humphrey Davenport a relation of his we suppose thus dealt with Will. Davenport of Boom-hall Chester Esq compounded for 0745 l. THE Life and Death OF Sir GEORGE RATCLIFFE THIS Gentleman might say as one of the fore-going Judges did That he had been a very happy man had it not been for that he was born in that age wherein it was fatal to give good counsel He was Born Anno 1587. at ... in York-shire most of his relation taking to the Sword that gives laws whereof 3. slain at Museleburgh-field 2. died in the suppression of the Northern Rebellion 63 in 88. and 2. whereof that excellent person Sir Iohn Ratcliffe who when with Sir Charles Rich being sick and desired by the Duke of Buckingham to retire into the Ships returned No they came to fight and leaning on their Pikes challenged death its self at the Isle of Rhee He was bred to the Laws that were made by the Sword so earnest was he in the behalf of those laws when there was a suspicion that they should be made void by an Arbitrary power and Prerogative that I find Sir Thomas Wentworth removed from York-shire to Essex and Sir George Ratcliffe to Hertford-shire to be confined for stickling in the Parliaments Anno 1625 1626. and yet so zealous he was for the Kings Prerogative and just Power when it was in a real hazard to be over-born with tumults and combinations in the behalf of pretended Laws that I find Sir George Ratcliffe involved in all the Earl of Straffords troubles None will question his worth that considereth him as the great Consident of that Earl in his affairs and all persons must needs confess his faithfulness that observeth him that excellent persons companion in all his sufferings The Lord Viscount Wentworth understood men and therefore when he was advanced President in the North he made him Atturney General at York and he was so sensible of serviceableness there that when he was called to the Leiutenancy of Ireland he carried him as his chief favourite over thither Where his contrivance was so good that Cardinal Mazarine gave 10000. Pistols for a Copy of a model pretended to be Sir George Ratcliffes Intituled A model for
the improvement and safeguard of Ireland So happy his faculty of perswading that it was said of his Speeches as it was of Ciceroes That the longest was the best And so nimble his activity that though sometimes he permitted a design to be matter of discourse before it was finished to see how it relished with the vulgar and try how it appeared to the wise generally he thought not an affair well done unless it was done before others thought of it So subtile his wit that a Reverend Judge upon his proceeding Barrister in the Inns of Court Pronounced Likely to prove either the best or the worst Instrument in the Common-wealth And that he would see through and unravil the intrigues of the most intangled business or the most reserved man that he had to do with And of so comprehensive a brain that besides the Customs the Manufactue the Products and the Trade of Ireland wherein he had a great share He managed 4. of the 25 Cole-mines 6. of the 86. Mills and had in his hand 12. of the 275. Woods in York-shire that Country of which Hoornuis reports its bigger than his Masters seven Provinces and as much under Gods blessing though not so much under the warm Sun as other parts of England by the same token that when the Earl of Crawford looked upon it as the Garden of Brittain the Earl of Traquaire answered It might be a Garden but that it was too far from the House meaning London The Gagites is a precious stone to be found only in the Eagles nest and this Gentleman was a man of such choice parts as could be expected only in the sharp-sighted Earl of Straffords Cabinet who would not entertain your fine but useless wits which he compared to Jet the Northern Commodity that could draw straw to it only having no power over more weighty bodies But liked this person the better for another quality It is remarkable that hardships raised his spirit as water inflames Jet and easiness allayed it as oil quenches that When Sir Thomas Challoner Tutor to Prince Henry had found Alum near Gesburgh in this County On this occasion they are the words of an eye-witness transcribed by my worthy friend he observed the leaves of trees thereabouts more deeply green than elsewhere the Oakes broad-spreading but not deep rooted with much strength but little sap the earth clayish variously coloured here white there yellow there blew and the ways therein in a clear night glistering like glass symptomes which first suggested unto him the presumption of Minerals and of Alum most properly Some Gentlemen of the neighbour-hood burying their estates under the earth before they could get any Alum above ground until Sir George contrived the bringing over of forraign Work-men in Hogsheads to prevent discovery from Rochel in France which advanced the discovery to a Mine Royal Rented by Sir Paul Pinder who paid yearly To the King 12500 the Earl of Mulgrave 01640 to Sir William Pennyman c0600 Besides a constant salary to 800 Men at a time until the good people at Westminster that were designing one Monopoly of three kingdoms to themselves were pleased to Vote this and above 40. more of this Gentlemans pulblick discoveries Monopolies to the respective Proprietors As he noted of his beloved Horses for plenty and excellency of which he and his Country were both very eminent that they had a mediocrity of necessary properties being neither so Slight as the Barbe nor so Slovenly as the Flemming nor so Fiery as the Hungarian nor so Aeiry as the Spanish Gennets nor so Earthy and heavy as the German-horse these are his words transcribed by another Author without any thanks to him so I may character him not so Nimble as a French-man not so Slow as a Spaniard not so Reserved and Observant as the Italian not so Fierce as a German not so Patient as a Dutch-man but a collection of all indowments into one man like that of all the beauties of Greece to form one Venus Sir George was hugely pleased to reflect that as those they are Melchior Canus his words who out of curiosity and novelty oppose antiquity teach posterity how they may contradict them So those that were so perverse in disparaging the actions of their Superiors did but chalk out the way for their inferiors to disparage theirs especially since it was too obvious how easily the people might be exasperated against them whom they had raised against others The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the many running into opinions of men and things as Calderinus in Lud. Vives did to Masse Eamus ergo said he quia sic placet in communes errores And that he thought it not more unpardonable in him to dissent from them than it was in them to differ from their Superiors and Ancestors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist. Eth. 1. 6. The one rendring him only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ingeniously bold the other them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 audaciously presumptuous Refreshing himself with that of Mimnermus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In that time which he might call infoelix seculum as well as Bellarmine calleth that Age between 900 and 1100. when men of the same character that Vives gives Iames Arch-bishop of Genoa commonly called Iames de Voragine for devouring books as these people did men Homines ferres oris plumbis cordis of three Nations conspired the ruin of one man of whom we may say as Claudian did of Ruffinus offensis Ruffinus divide terris though all that they could do was to charge him home and Calumniari fortiter that something might stick though his Litchfield Adversary like a Coventry-man did his best worst at first for the Earl of Strafford his Patron since he setled a perplexed conveiance for him at London acquainted him with so many serviceable men that were at his devotion in the North for the observing of and acquainting himself with choice men was his peculiar faculty and was so active both on the Popular and the Royal account being Charged November 13. Sir George Ratcliffe was sent for the same day by a Serjeant at Arms dispatched into Ireland who accordingly December 4. came in and yielded himself to the Speaker from whence he was Committed to Custody and an Impeachment drawn up against him consisting of these Articles First That he had conspired and joyned with the Earl of Strafford to bring into Ireland an Arbitrary Government and to subvert the Fundamental Laws Secondly That he had indeavoured to bring in an Army from Ireland to subdue the Subjects of England Thirdly That he joyned with the Earl to use Regal Power and to deprive Subjects of their Liberty and Property Fourthly That he joyned with him to take out forty thousand pounds out of the Exchequer of Ireland and bought Tobacco therewith and converted the profit thereof to their own uses Fifthly That he hath traiterously Confederated with the Earl to countenance Papists and built Monasteries to alienate
of the Right of calling Assemblies on Numbers 10. 12. nor chosen by the Clergy and because there was a legal Convocation in being that superseded this Illegal Assembly wherein it was in vain for few Oxthodox men to appear being overvoted by their numerous Antagonists But since he could not serve the King and Church with his parts he did with his Interest chearfully sending the Colledge Plate to the King and zealously when the Committee of the Eastern Association was setled there protesting against any Contribution to the Parliament as against true Religion and a good Conscience for which he was Imprisoned Plundered and tormented and as high winds bring some men to sleep so these storms brought this good Doctor to rest whose dying words as if the cause of his Martyrdom had been Ingraven on his heart breathed up with his Divine Soul Now God bless the King though the worst word that came out of his mouth was to Cromwell That when they destroyed the Church Windows you might be better Imployed A Pupil of his compares him and Dr. Collings Professor to Peter and Iohn running to our Saviors Grave in which race Iohn came first as the youngest and swiftest and Peter entred into the Grave Dr. Collings had much the speed of him in quickness of parts the other pierceth the deeper into under-ground and deep points of Divinity neither was the Influence either of Loyalty or Sufferings confined to his own Person but was effectual upon all his Relations for we finde Richard Ward of London Gentleman Compounding for 0234 l. 00 00 And Henry Ward for 0105 l. 00 00 Besides Mr. Seth Ward the Ornament not only of his Family but of his Countrey expelled Sidney Colledge for his Loyalty tossed up and down for his Allegiance till his incomparable temper and carriage recommended him to the Family of my Lord Weinman at Thame-Parke in Oxfordshire his great skill in Mathematicks opened his way in those sad times to the Astronomy Professorship in Oxford they thought there would be no danger in his abstracted and unconcerned discourses of the Mathematicks his extraordinary worth commanded Respect and Incouragement from Worthy men of all perswasions excepting O. C. who told him when he stood for the Principality of Iesus Colledge in Oxford That he heard he was a deserving Person but withall a Malignant his great Ability especially for Discourse and Business commended him to the Deanery first and afterwards to the Bishoprick of Exeter no Imployment a Clergy-man ever was capable of being above his capacity who writes to the eternal honor of this Doctor his Unkle in the Preface to his Lectures set out with Bishop Brownrigg's his Overseers consent and Dr. Ward Mr. Hodges Mr. Mathewes and Mr. Gibsons pains thus Ille me puerum quandeconnem a Schola privata ubi me tune aegre habui ad Academiam vocavit ille me valetudinarium recreare solitus est omni modo refocillore ille mihi animum ad studia ad motis lenitur Calcáribus praemiisque ante oculos positis accendere solebat ille mihi Librorum usum suppeditavit ille me in Collegii Societatem quam primum Licebat cooplavit ille mihi Magister unicus erat Patronus Spes Ratio studiorum With whole words we will finish this poor account of him whose worth might be guessed by the method of his Study the exactness of his Diary the excellency of his Lectures Novit haec omnia Collegium Sidneianum cui plus quam 30 annorum spatio summa cum prudentiae Integritatis sanctitatis Laude praefuit novit atque admirata est Academia Cantabrigientis ubi Cathedram Professoram D. Margarete tot annos summo cum honore tenuit errorum malleus atque hâ—resum norunt Exteri testantur haec opera quae nunc Edimus ista certe ut non nescires tui meique interesse existam abam caetera norunt Et Tagu Ganges forsan Antipodes Here after these Noble and Loval Ushers comes in the King himself not the exact time he was beheaded on but yet the very minute he suffered for though Charles was Martyred 1648. the King was killed 1644. For it is not the last blow that fells the Oak besides that the lifting up of some hands in the Covenant now inforced was to strike at his life according to the most refined sense of that solemn snare declared by Sir Henry Vane who best understood it having been in Scotland at the contrivance of it at his death Iune 14. when he was most likely to speak sincerely what he understood His Person was in danger when they aimed at his Prerogative The Conclusion is to a discerning person wrapped up in the premises for I reckon his life was in danger when their was nothing left him but his life to lose The Life Reign and Death of the Glorious Martyr CHARLES I. of Blessed Memory I May Praeface this sad Solemnity as the Romans did their more joyful ones that were to be seen but once in an hundred years Come and see what none that is alive ever saw none that is alive is ever like to see again See a King and all Government falling at one stroke A Prince once wished that his People had but one Neck that he might cut them off at one blow here the People saw all Princes with one Neck which they cut at one attempt a stroke levelled not at one King but Monarchy not at one Royal Person but Government See England that boasted of the first Christian King Lucius the first Christian Emperour Constantine the first Protestant Prince Edw. 6. glorieth now in the first Martyr'd King Charles I. A Martyr to Religion and Government The Primitive Institutes of the first of which and the generally owned Principles of the second of which other Princes have maintained with their Subjects blood he with his own Others by Laws and Power kept up both these while they were able he with his Life when he was not able supporting that very Authority it self that supports other Princes throwing himself the great Sacrifice into the breach made upon Power to stop popular fury and choosing rather not to be himself in the World than to yield that that World by his consent should be Lawless or Prophane A Martyr who stood to the Peoples Liberty though with his own Captivity that held up their Rights with the loss of his own had a care of their Posterity with the ruine of his own Family that maintained the Law that secures their lives with his own that could suffer others to distress him but not to oppress his People that could yield to dye but not to betray his Subjects either as Christians or as Englishmen See the last Effort of Virtue Reason Discipline Order bearing up against that of Villany Disorder Licenciousness and things not to be named among men See a King that had deserved a Crown in all mens judgement had he not worn one that other Nations wished theirs
doth God ordinarily work by them for his own glory I am sure the event or success can never state the justice of any cause nor place of mens Consciences nor the eternal fate of their Souls Those with me had I think clearly and undoubtedly for their justification the Word of God and the Laws of the Land together with their own Oaths all requiring obedience to my just commands but to none other under Heaven without me or against me in the point of raising Arms. Those on the other side are forced to fly to the shifts of their pretended fear and wild Fundamentalls of State as they call them which actually overthrow the present Fabrick both of Church and State being such imaginary Reasons for self-defence as are most impertinent for those men to allege who being my Subjects were manifestly the first assaulter of me and the Laws first by unsuppressed Tumults after by listed Forces The same Allegations they use will fit any Faction that hath but power and confidence enough to second with the sword all their demands against the present Laws and Governours which can never be such as some side or other will not find fault with so as to urge what they call a Reformation of them to a Rebellion against them some parasitick Preachers have dared to call those Martyrs who dyed fighting against me the Laws their Oaths and the Religion established But sober Christians know That glorious Title can with truth be applyed only to those who sincerely preferred Gods truth and their duty in all these particulars before their lives and all that was dear to them in this World who having no advantagious designes by any innovation were religiously sensible of those tyes to God the Church and my self which lay upon their souls both for obedience and just assistance God could and I doubt not but he did through his mercy crown many of them with eternal life whose were lost in so just a cause the destruction of their bodies being sanctified as a means to save their souls Their wounds and temporal ruine serving as a gracious opportunity for their eternal health and happiness while the evident approach of death through Gods grace effectually disposing their hearts to such humility faith and repentance which together with the rectitude of their present engagements would fully prepare them for a better life than that which their enemies brutish and disloyal fierceness could deprive them of or without repentance hope to enjoy They have often indeed had the better against my side in the field but never I believe at the barr of Gods tribunal or their own Consciences where they are more afraid to encounter those many pregnant Reasons both from Law Allegiance and all true Christian grounds which conflict with and accuse them in their own thoughts than they oft were in a desperate bravery to fight against those forces which sometimes God gave me Whose condition conquered and dying I make no question but is infinitely more to be chosen by a sober man that duly values his duty his soul and eternity beyond the enjoyments of this present life than the most triumphant glory wherein their and mine enemies supervive who can hardly avoid to be daily tormented by that horrid guilt wherewith their suspicious or now convicted Consciences do pursue them especially since they and all the World have seen how false and un-intended those pretensions were which they first set forth as the only plausible though not justifiable grounds of raising a War and continuing it thus long against me and the Laws established in whose safety and preservation all honest men think the welfare of their Country doth consist For and with all which it is farr more honourable and comfortable to suffer than to prosper in their ruine and subversion I have often prayed that all on my side might joyn true piety with the sence of their loyalty and be as faithful to God and their own souls as they were to me that the defects of one might blast the endeavours of the other Yet cannot think that any shews or truth of piety on the other side were sufficient to dispence with or expiate the defects of their Duty and Loyalty to me which have so pregnant convictions on mens Consciences that even prophaner men are moved by the sense of them to venture their lives for me I never had any Victory which was without my sorrow because it was on mine own subjects who like Absalom dyed many of them in their sins And yet I never suffered any Defeat which made the despair of Gods mercy and defence I never desired such Victories as might serve to conquer but only restore the Laws and Liberties of my People which I saw were extremely oppressed together with my Rights by those men who were impatient of any just restraint When Providence gave me or denyed me Victory my desire was neither to boast of my power nor to charge God foolishly who I believed at last would make all things to work together for my good I wished no greater advantages by the War than to bring my Enemies to moderation and my friends to peace I was afraid of the temptation of an absolute Conquest and prayed for victory over others then over my self when the first was denyed the second was granted me which God saw best for me The different events were but the method of Divine Iustice by contrary Winds to winow us that by punishing our sins he might purge them from us and by deserting peace he might prepare us more to prize and better to use so great a blessing My often Messages for peace shewed That I delighted not in War as my former concessions sufficiently testified how willing I would have prevented is and my total unpreparedness for it how little I intended it The Conscience of my Innocency forbad me to fear a War but the Love of my Kingdoms commanded me if possible to avoid it I am guilty of this War of nothing but this That I gave such advantages to some men by confirming their power which knew not to use with that modesty and gratitude which became their Loyalty and my confidence Had I yielded less I had been opposed less had I denyed more I had been more obeyed 'T is now too late to review the occasions of War I wish only a happy conclusion of so unhappy beginnings the inevitable fate of our sins was no doubt such as would no longer suffer the Divine Iustice to be quiet we having conquered his patience are condemned by mutual conquerings to destroy one another for the most prosperous successes on either side impair the welfare of the whole Those Victories are still miserable that leave our sins unsubdued flushing our pride and animating to continue injuries Peace it self is not desirable till Repentance have prepared us for it When we fight more against our selves and less against God we shall cease fighting against one another I pray God these may all meet
I do so again Neither was he thus exceedingly religious as a man only but as a King Neither was Religion only his private Devotion but his publick Government wherein he aimed at 1. The peace of the Church wherein those parts and abilities that he saw lost in malice and dissentions might be very useful to the promoting of Religion and Godliness And 2. the honour maintenance and splendour of the Church For the first of which he consulted sufficiently in his favours to Arch-bishop Laud Bishop Neile Bishop Iuxon For the second by his endeavour to recover the Patrimony of the Church in England Ireland and Scotland where his religious intentions gave occasion to their rebellion who rather than they would part with their private sacrileges resolved on the publick ruine And for the third by his great charge in the repair of St. Pauls and other places To say nothing of his godly resolution to buy all Lands and Tythes alienated from the Church with his own Estate by such degrees as his other expences would give him leave the greatest testimonies of a design to make Religion as universal of his Empire next those from his own mouth First Before God The Kings Protestation at Christ-Church when he was to receive the Sacrament at the Bishop of Armaghs hands MY Lord I espy here many resolved Protestants who may declare to the World the resolution I now do make I have to the utmost of my power prepared my Soul to become a worthy receiver and so may I receive comfort by the blessed Sacrament as I do intend the establishment of the true Protestant Religion as it stood in its beauty in the happy daies of Queen Elizabeth without any connivance of Poperie I bless God that in the midst of these publick distractions I have still liberty to communicate and may this Sacrament be my damnation if my heart do not joyn with my lips in this protestation Secondly Before the VVorld The Kings Declaration to the Reformed Churches CHARLES By the special providence of Almighty God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith To all those who profess the true Reformed Protestant Religion of what Nation condition and degree soever they be to whom this present Declaration shall come Greeting Whereas We are given to understand that many false rumours and scandalous Letters are spread up and down amongst the Reformed Churches in foreign parts by the politick or rather the pernicious industry of some ill affected persons that We have an inclination to recede from that Orthodox Religion which We were born baptized and bred in and which We have firmly professed and practised through the whole course of Our Life to this moment And that We intend to give way to the introduction and publick exercise of Popery again in Our Dominions Which conjecture or rather most detestable calumny being grounded upon no imaginable foundation hath raised these horrid Tumults and more than Barbarous Wars throughout these flourishing Islands under a pretext of a kind of Reformation which would not prove only incongruous but incompatible with the Fundamentall Laws and Government of this our Kingdom We desire that the whole Christian World should take notice and rest assured that we never entertained in our imagination the least thought to attempt such a thing or to depart a jot from that Holy Religion which when we received the Crown and Scepter of this Kingdome we took a most Solemn Sacramentall Oath to Profess and Protect Nor doth our most constant Practice and daily visible Presence in the Exercise of this sole Religion with so many asseverations in the head of our Armies and in the publick attestation of our Lords with the circumspection used in the education of our Royall Offspring besides divers other undeniable arguments only demonstrate this but also that happy Alliance of Marriage we Contracted between our eldest Daughter and the Illustrious Prince of Aurange most clearly confirmes the realty of Our intentions herein by which Nuptial engagement it appears further that Our endeavours are not only to make a bare profession thereof in Our own Dominions but to enlarge and coroborate it abroad as much as lyeth in Our power This most holy Religion with the Hierarchy and Liturgy thereof We solemnly protest that by the help of Almighty God We will endeavour to Our utmost power and last period of Our life to keep entire and immoveable and will be careful according to Our duty to Heaven and the tenour of the aforesaid most saCRed Oath at Our Coronation that all Our Ecclesiasticks in their several Stations and Incumbencies shall preach and practice the same Thirdly Before the Kingdom The Kings Declaration and Protestation before the whole Kingdom I Do promise in the presence of Almighty God and as I hope for his blessing and protection that I will to the utmost of my power defend and maintain the true Reformed and Protestant Religion established in the Church of England and by the grace of God in the same will live and dye I desire to govern by the known Laws of the Land and that the liberty and propriety of the Subject may be by them preserved with the same care as mine own just Rights And if it please God by his blessing upon this Army raised for my necessary defence to preserve me from this Rebellion I do solemnly and faithfully promise in the sight of God to maintain the just privilege and freedome of Parliament and to govern by the known Laws of the Land to my utmost power and particularly to observe inviolably the Laws consented unto by me this Parliament In the mean while if this time of War and the great necessity and straits I am now driven unto beget any violation of these I hope it shall be imputed by God and man to the Authors of this War and not to me who have so earnestly laboured for the peace of this Kingdom When I willingly fail in these particulars I will expect no aid or relief from any man or protection from Heaven But in this resolution I hope for the chearful assistance of all good men and am confident of Gods blessing Sept. 19. The Result of all which Holy Designs was these his own brave words viz. Though I am sensible enough of the danger that attends my Care of the Church yet I am resolved to defend it or make it my Tombestone A Prince of so much resolution and conduct that as he feared not a private man lodging Hamilton in his own Chamber all that time he was accused by Rey of Treason and saying to those that admired his confidence That Hamilton should know he as little feared his power as he distrusted his Loyalty and that he durst not notwithstanding the advantages of Night and solitariness attempt his life because he was resolved to sell it so dear It was his goodness that he desired not war and his fortune that he prospered not in it but his
Isle of Wight upon the faith of a kingdom for his honor and life in the face of that kingdom bereaved of both A King that had the Oaths and Protestations of three Kingdoms to secure his life loosing it in one of them where the the Rebels like the thieves that sate on Shuters-hill upon the honest man for felony impeach him of that treason they themselves were guilty of Fond men that when neither Rolfs Pistols B's Dagger E's Poison nor other instruments of Assassination laid about his doors and windows could dispatch a Majesty that a great while they durst not against so many obligations of heaven and earth put to death and yet durst against their own fears and guilt suffer to live They durst judge and condemn him aggravating a horrid treason with a more horrid pretence Hereby Law and Justice were forced like Queen Anne Bulloigns Father being Judge at his Daughters death to assist in a Parricide against their own Father and Author Why these ceremonies formalities and circumstances of Villany why doth Treason chuse the Bench rather than the Vault and to Sentence rather than to Blow up but that the Traytors within being more Villains than those without had a design to render Justice it self as ridiculous as the great Master of it and assassinate Law it self as well as the Law-giver First they lay violent hands on themselves threatning the Lords they should Sit no longer if they concurred not and reducing the House of Commons to forty of the reproach of that Assembly and then on his Majesty It was necessary first that they should murder the Parliament by excluding vexing and abusing above four hundred of the Commons and laying aside all the Lords before they could come at the King and leave not a sober man in power before they robbed that good Man of his life This contemptible forty of whom yet twenty dissented Vote with their Mercenary and Fanatick Army with whom they hoped to share in their spoils and power no more Addresses to the King nor any more Peace and what was more ridiculous adjust their own Crimes by their own Vote Votes so daringly overturning Foundations that all men seeing all Law and Government cut off by them at one blow looked to their Throats Estates and Children when all that secured these was at one breath overturned Here is a power ascribed the people that they never owned and a power derived from them that they never granted here are the People brought in to judge their King that abhorred it and the King tried for war against his People when all the People were ready to lay down their lives in a war for him Here are the Commons of England pretended when the whole House of Commons was almost excluded and none but such persons as were known Adulterers Cheats two Coblers one Brewer one Goldsmith one Indicted for Committing a Rape another for writing Blasphemy against the Trinity another having said that Diodorus Seculus was a better Author than Moses first asserting to themselves this new authority and then exercising it These that were to be brought to the Bar themselves bring the King in whose name all Malefactors were tried to the Bar himself Those that had been eight years indeavouring to murder the King in a war are made his Judges now that war is over A pretty sight to have seen Clement Ravillaic Faux Catesby and Garnet one day indeavouring to dispatch a King and the next advanced to be his Judges After prayers and fasts the great fore-runners of mischief whereby they indeavoured as impudently to ingage God in the villany he forbid as they had done the people for the Remonstrance framed by Ireton for questioning the King was called the Agreement of the people in a Treason they all abhorred When all the Ministry of England and indeed of the world cryed down the bloudy design contrary to Oaths and Laws and common reason as the shame and disgrace of Religion These Assassinates were satisfied with the preaments of one Pulpit Buffoon Peters a wretched fellow that since he was whipt by the Governors of Cambridge when a youth could not endure government never after and the Revelation of a mad Herfordshire woman concurring with the proceedings of the Army for which she was thanked by the House her Revelations being seasonable and proceeding from an humble spirit All the Nation abhorred their proceedings therefore they hasten them and in five hours draw up such an horrid Act as was not heard of in five thousand years An Act of the Commons of England when not one in five hundred approved it Assembled in Parliament when the Parliament by the Army destroyed for Erecting of an High Court of pretended Iustice for the Trying and Judging of Charles Stuart King of England of that Treason they should have been tried for themselves WHereas it is notorious That Charles Stuart the now King of England not content with those many incroachments which his Predecessors had made upon the People in their Rights and Freedoms hath had a wicked design totally to subvert the Ancient Laws and Liberties of this Nation And in their place to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government with Fire and Sword Levied and Maintained a cruel War in the Land against the Parliament and Kingdom whereby the Country hath been miserably wasted the publick Treasury exhausted Trade decayed and thousands of People murthered and infinite of other mischiefs committed For all which High and Treasonable Offences the said Charles Stuart might long since be brought to exemplary and condign punishment Whereas also the Parliament well hoping that the restraint and imprisonment of his person after it had pleased God to deliver him into their hands would have quieted the disturbers of this kingdom did forbear to proceed judicially against him But found by sad experience that such their remissness served only to incourage Him and his Complices in the continuance of their evil practises and in raising of new Commotions Designs and Invasions for prevention therefore of the like greater inconveniencies and to the end that no Magistrate or Officer whatsoever may hereafter presume traiterously and maliciously to imagine or contrive the inslaving or destroying of the English Nation and to expect impunity in so doing Be it Ordained and Enacted by the Commons in Parliament Assembled and it is hereby Ordained and Enacted by the Authority thereof That Thomas Lord Fairfax General Oliver Cromwell Lieutenant General Henry Ireton Commissary General Phillip Skippon Major General Sir Hardress Waller Colonel Valentine Walton Col. Thomas Harrison Col. Edward Whalley Col. Thomas Pride Col. Isaac Ewers Col. Rich. Ingoldsby Col. Rich. Dean Col. John Okey Col. Robert Overton Col. John Harrison Col. John Desborow Col. William Goffe Col. Robert Duckinfield Col. Rowland Wilson Col. Henry Martin Col. William Purefoy Col. Godfrey Bosvile Col. Herbert Morley Col. John Barkstead Col. Matthew Tomlinson Col. John Lambert Col. Edmund Ludlow Col.
John Hutchinson Col. Robert Tichborne Col. Owen Roe Col. Robert Mainwaring Col. Robert Lilburn Col. Adrian Scroop Col. Algernoon Sidney Col. John Moor Col. Francis Lassells Col. Alexander Rigby Col. Edmund Harvey Col. John Venn Col. Anthony Staply Col. Thomas Horton Col. Thomas Hammond Col. George Fenwyck Col. George Fleetwood Col. John Temple Col. Thomas Wait Sir Henry Mildmay Sir Thomas Honywood Thomas Lord Grey Phillip Lord Lisle William Lord Mounson Sir John Danvers Sir Thomas Maleverer Sir John Bourchier Sir James Harrington Sir William Brereton Robert Wallop William Heveningham Esquires Isaac Pennington Thomas Atkins Aldermen Sir Peter Wentworth Thomas Trenchard Jo. Blackstone Gilbert Millington Esquires Sir William Constable Sir Arthur Hasilrigg Michael Livesey Richard Salway Humphrey Salway Cor. Holland Jo. Carey Esquires Sir William Armin John Jones Miles Corbet Francis Allen Thomas Lister Ben. Weston Peter Pelham Jo. Gurdon Esquires Francis Thorp Esq. Serjeant at Law Jo. Nutt Tho. Challoner Jo. Anlaby Richard Darley William Say John Aldred Jo. Nelthrop Esquires Sir William Roberts Henry Smith Edmund Wild John Challoner Josias Berneâ—s Dennis Bond Humphrey Edwards Greg. Clement Jo. Fry Tho. Wogan Esquires Sir Greg. Norton Jo. Bradshaw Esquire Serjeant at Law Jo. Dove Esquire John Fowke Thomas Scot Aldermen Will. Cawley Abraham Burrel Roger Gratwicke John Downes Esquires Robert Nichols Esquire Serjeant at Law Vincent Potter Esquire Sir Gilbert Pickering Jo. Weavers Jo. Lenthal Robert Reynolds Jo. Lisle Nich. Love Esquires Sir Edward Baynton Jo. Corbett Tho. Blunt Tho. Boone Aug. Garland Aug. Skenner Jo. Dixwel Simon Meyne Jo. Browne Jo. Lowry Esq. c. Neither were they only bold enough to Vote among themselves this horrid murther but likewise to try the pulse of the people they Proclaim it first at White-hall Gate and when they saw the people indured that afterwards upon Peters motion who said they did nothing if they did it not in the City at Temple-barr and the Exchange Indeed all was hushed and silent but with a dreadful silence made up of amazement and horror the very Traytors themselves not daring to own their new Treason perswaded the Nation that they would not do even what they were most busie about most people being of opinion that they might fright none thinking they durst against all the reason and religion in the world and the great and dreadful obligations of their own Oaths and Protestations murder Him Yet these aforesaid Assassinates meet in the Painted-chamber become now the Jesuits Chamber of Meditation to consult about the slaughter and being heated by one or two of their Demagogues that perswaded them that the Saints saying that there were 5000. as good Saints in the Army as any were in Heaven should Bind the Kings in Chains and the Nobles with Fetters of Iron beseeching them with bended knees and lift up eyes and hands in the peoples name who yet were ready to have stoned them not to let Benhadad go They dare but guarded strongly by a set of Executioners like themselves to Convene before them Ian. 19. 1648. Charles King of England c. hurried against the Publick Faith given him for his Honor and Safety first to Hurstcastlt to see whether he might be poisoned by the unwholesomness of that place and thence with several affronts not to be indured by any man much less a Prince to a place more unwholesom than Westminster and now to be deprived of his life as he had been before of his kingdoms Here the conspiracy might be seen in a body having lost most of its parts save a few villains that would needs take away the Kings life because they would not beg their own life being one of those courtesies we are unwillingly beholding for so hard it is for a man to trust another for his life who he knoweth is conscious that he deserveth not to injoy it contemptible and little A poor Pettifogger Bradshaw that had taken the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy but three Weeks before leading the Herd as President and the whole Plot in his draught Which after a traiterous Speech of Bradshaws opening their pretended authority and resolution to make inquisition for bloud and the Kings laying his Staffe thrice on brazen-faced Cooks back to hold the Libel was read by a Clerk The Traytors Charge of Treason against their Soveraign consisting of sixteen Traiterous Positions THat the said Charles Stuart being admitted King of England and therein trusted with a limited 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 their Rights and Liberties Yet nevertheless out of a wicked design to erect and uphold in himself 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 of all redress and remedy of Mis-government which by the Fundamental Constitutions of this Kingdom were reserved on the Peoples behalf in the Right and Power of frequent and successive Parliaments or National meetings in Counsel He the said Charles Stuart for accomplishment of such his designs and for the protecting of himself and his adherents in his and their wicked practises to the same end hath traiterously and maliciously levied war against the Parliament and People therein represented Particularly upon or about the thirtieth day of Iune in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty and two at Beverley in the County of York and upon or about the thirtieth day of Iuly in the year aforesaid in the County of the City of York and upon or about the twenty fourth day of August in the same year at the County of the Town of Nottingham when and where he set up his Standard of war and upon or about the twenty third day of October in the same year at Edge-hill and Keinton field in the County of Warwick and upon or about the thirtieth day of November in the same year at Brainford in the County of Middlesex 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 near Reading in the County of Berks and upon or about the thirtieth day of October in the year last mentioned at or near the City of Gloucester 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 and thirtieth day of Iuly in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty and four at Cropredy-bridge in the County of Oxon and upon or about the thirtieth day of September in the year last mentioned at Bodmin and other places adjacent in the County of Cornwall and upon or about the thirtieth day of November in the year
But if it be only matter of Conquest then it is a great Robbery as a Pyrate said to Alexander that he was the greater Robber himself but a petty one And so Sir I think the way you are in is much out of the way Now Sir to put you in one way believe it you will never do right nor God will never prosper you until you give God his due the King his due that is my Successors and the People their due I am as much for them as any of you you must give God his due by rightly regulating his Church according to his Scriptures which is now out of order To set you in a way particularly now I cannot but only this A National Synod freely called freely debating among themselves must settle this when every opinion is freely and clearly heard For the King indeed I will not then turning to a Gentleman that touched the Axe said Hurt not the Axe that may hurt me For the King the Laws of the Land will clearly instruct you for that therefore because it concerns my own particular I only give you a touch of it For the People and truly I desire their Liberty and Freedom as much as any body whatsoever but I must tell you that their Liberty and Freedom consists in having of Government those Laws by which their Life and Goods may be most their own It is not for having share in Government Sir that is nothing pertaining to them A Subject and a Soveraign are clean contrary things and therefore until they do that I mean that you do put the People in that Liberty as I say certainly they will never enjoy themselves Sir it was for this that I am now come here If I would have given way to an Arbitrary way to have all Laws changed according to the power of the Sword I needed not have come here and therefore I tell you and I pray God it be not laid to your charge that I am the Martyr of the People Introth Sirs I shall not hold you much longer for I will only say this to you that in truth I could have desired some little time longer because I would have put this that I have said in a little more order and a little better digested then I have done and therefore I hope you will excuse me I have delivered my Conscience I pray God you may take those courses that are best for the good of the Kingdom and your own salvations Dr. Iuxon Will your Majesty though it may be very well known your Majesties affections to Religion yet it may be expected that you should say somewhat for the worlds satisfaction King I thank you very heartily my Lord for that I had almost forgotten it Introth Sirs my Conscience in Religion I think is very well known to all the word and I declare before you all that I dye a Christian according to the profession of the Church of England as I found it left me by my Father and this honest man I think will witness it Then turning to the Officers said Sirs Excuse me for this same I have a good Cause and a gracious God I will say no more Then turning to Col. Hacker he said Take care they do not put me to pain and Sir this if it please you Then a Gentleman coming near the Axe The King said Take heed of the Axe pray take heed of the Axe Then speaking to the Executioner said I shall say but very short prayers and when I thrust out my hands Then the King called to Dr. Juxon for his Night-cap and having put it on he said to the Executioner Do's my Hair trouble you who desired him to put it all under his Cap which the King did accordingly by the help of the Executioner and the Bishop Then the King turning to Dr. Juxon said I have a good Cause and a gracious God on my side Dr. Juxon There is but one Stage more this Stage is troublesome and turbulent it is a short one but you may consider it will soon carry you a very great way It will carry you from Earth to Heaven And there you shall find a great deal of cordial Joy and Comfort King I go from a Corruptible to an Incorruptible Crown where no disturbance can be no disturbance in the world Dr. Iuxon You are Exchanged from a Temporal to an Eternal Crown a good Exchange The King then said to the Executioner Is my Hair well Then the King took off his Cloak and George and giving his George to Dr. Juxon said Remember Then the King put off his Doublet and being in his Wastcoat put his Cloak on again and looking on the Block said to the Executioner You must set it fast Executioner It is fast Sir King When I put my hands out this way stretching them out then ... After that having said two or three words as he stood to himself with Hands and Eyes lifted up immediately stooping down laid his Neck upon the Block And then the Executioner again putting his Hair under his Cap the King said thinking he had been going to strike Stay for the Sign Executioner Yes I will and please your Majesty Then the King making some pious and private Ejaculations before the Block as before a Desk of Prayer he submitted without that violence they intended for him if he refused his Sacred Head to one stroke of an Executioner that was disguised then as the Actors were all along which Severed it from his Body In the consequence of which stroke great villanies as well as great absurdities have long sequels the Government of the world the Laws and Liberties of three Kingdoms and the Being of the Church was nearly concerned So fell Charles the First and so expired with him the Liberty and Glory of three Nations being made in that very place an instance of Humane Frailty where he used to shew the Greatness and Glory of Majesty All the Nation was composed to mourning and horror no King ever leaving the world with greater sorrows women miscarrying at the very intimation of his death as if The Glory was departed Men and women falling into Convulsions Swounds and Melancholy that followed them to their graves Some unwilling to live to see the issues of his death fell down dead suddenly after him Others glad of the least Drop of Bloud or Lock of Hair that the covetousness of the Faction as barbarous as their Treason made sale of kept them as Relicks finding the same virtue in them as with Gods blessing they found formerly in his person All Pulpits rung Lamentations and the great variety of opinions in other matters were reconciled in this That it was as horrid a fact as ever the Sun saw since it withdrew at the sufferings of our Saviour and the King as compleat a man as mortality refined by industry was capable to be Children amazed and wept refusing comfort at this even some of his Judges could not
but understand the truth in this point as it was declared by the Laws either of God or Men truly It restrained the people that they might not be debauched from their Christian sobriety to Heathenish loosness but practise their duty on this day as it was taught by the Laws of God and Men orderly 20. His next Charge is his preferring of 1. The great Scholar Critick and Antiquary Dr. Mountague though it was Sir Dudley Carleton that preferred him 2. The profound Divine and honest man Dr. Iackson 3. Charitable Meek and Learned Dr. Christopher Potter 4. Acute Pious and Rationable Bishop Chapple 5. Pious Publick-spirited and Learned Dr. Cosins preferred indeed by the Arch-bishop of York 6. The very Learned and Industrious Bishop Lindsey deservedly preferred indeed by Bishop Neile 7. The worthy A. B. Neile who was so far from being preferred by my Lord of Canterbury that in truth my Lord of G. was advanced by him 8. The smart discreet and understanding man Bishop Wren Chaplain to Bishop Andrews 9. He is charged with the Incouragements he gave Dr. Heylm who was raised by the Earl of Denby Dr. Baker Bray Weekes Pocklington who were recommended by the Bishop of London c. 10. It is reckoned his fault that he interposed with His Majesty for such worthy men as Bishop Vsher recommended to him in Ireland and that upon a difference between the Lord Keeper and the Master of the Wards about Livings in the Kings Gift he moved the King to remove the occasion of those differences by presenting to him immediately himself and that if he recommended a worthy man to the King as Chaplain he trespassed upon my Lord Chamberlains Office 21. Some hundred Books are produced out of which some indiscreet passages had been expunged by Dr. Heywood Dr. Baker Dr. Weekes Dr. Oliver c. and these purgations are laid upon him and because the forementioned Gentleman suffered not bitter expressions that tended to the raising of old and legally silenced Controversies to pass the press as the expressions of the Church of England the Arch-bishop must come to the Block as an enemy of the Church of England 22. Because a Jesuite contrived a Letter wherein Arminianism is said to be planted in England to usher in Popery therefore the Arch-bishop preferring some worthy men who were of the same minde with Arminians had a design to introduce Popery 23. The High Commission called in many Books and punished Authors Printers or Booksellers and the poor Arch-bishop therefore indeavored the subversion of the Government 24. The Kings Declaration to silence the Controversies of the Church and his care to check those that endeavored to renew them The King and Councels Order at Woodstock about the tumult 1633. at Oxford the Kings perswading of Bishop Davenant and Bishop Hall to leave out some passages in their writings that might disturb the Peace and imprisoning their Printer for daring after they were purged to insert them in His Majesties approving Bishop Harsenets considerations about the Controversies and sending them to every Bishop and his Deputies reversing the Articles in Ireland make up his 21 th Charge 25. The Star-Chamber Order Iuly 1. 1637. about Printing whereby the Geneva Bibles were prohibited here and by Sir William Boswell suppressed in Holland Mr. Gellibrands new Almanack in Mr. Foxes his way burned Beacon Palsgraves Religion c. and other Books against the Kings Declaration for laying down Controversies stifled through the actions of other men must be this good mans fault 26. If Popish Books crept in either by imposing on his Chaplains or being printed without license though innocent ones too he must be guilty of a design against the Protestant Religion 27. The Kings Command to him to alter the form of Prayer for the fifth of November Dr. Potters request to him to review his Book called Charity mistaken must be another branch of his Charge as was his Majesties Order about sending the Common-Prayer upon D. H. request The Scottish alterations of it another the Bishops Chaplains presuming to alter the least Syllable in a conceited Authors Work a third The Importation of unlawful books by stealth against his will and without his knowledge a fourth Considerations about Lectures written by Bishop Harsenet and sent to every Diocesse by Arch-bishop Abbot a fifthâ— Attorney General Noy's suppressing the Puritane Corporation foâ— buying in of Impropriations as illegal and dangerous a sixth The alteration of the Letters Patents for the Palatinate Collection by the Kings Order who would not have such expressions pass the Great Seal as determined some Controversies as that the Pope was Antichrist which neither the Schools nor the Church had decided a seventh His very favourable dealing with the Walloon the French and Dutch Church for which they thanked him upon some incroachments of theirs upon the Parishes where they lived an eighth 28. 1. The Jesuits whispering into the ears of some fond people to raise suspicions of him and so oppositions against him which was the sum of Sir H. M. Mr. A. M. and Mr. Ch. hear-says of him produced at the Bar. 2. Rumors raised upon him because of his acquaintance with one Louder Brown and Ireland reputed Papists because his supposition in Oxford concurred in some things with Bellarmine where Bellarmine himself concurred with the Primitive times 3. Because Bishop Hall writ a Letter to one W. L. not to halt between two Religions 4. Because a Doctor in the University preached against those who were severe against the Puritans the then predominant Faction and moderate against the Catholicks at that time kept under and that he was pointed at by the University as one of those discreet men which indeed moved him but yet so that in a business of that kinde he thought fit in a Letter to Bishop Neal to be swaged to a patient course The Treaty for the Spanish Match which began before he was so much as Bishop and ended before he was Privy-Counsel the Duke of B. breaking it off to the great contentment of the Kingdom as appeared by the Parliaments thanks to him 1624. with whom he is accused to be so familiar and the Treaty with France which was managed with the Parliaments approbation His civilities to the Queens Majesty which was his duty and to win upon her his prudence His dislike of some scandalous passages in some mens prayers to her disparagement The Preface to the Oxford Statutes not written by him wherein Queen Maries days are extolled beyond Queen Elizabeths not for the state of our Church and Religion but for the Laws and Government of the University The printing of Sancta Clarae's book at Lyons and the maintaining of St. Giles by the King against the Archbishops will at Oxford The increase of Papists and Popery in Ireland without his privity The Lord Deputy Wentworths actions in Ireland not within his power The Queens sending Agents to Rome and receiving Nuncio's from thence against his advice
quo nemo unquam vel mussitavit male THE Life and Death OF Mr. HENRY COMPTON OUT of respect to the Right Honorable the Earl of Northampton I have put together the distant Lives and Deaths of his three Brothers and to keep on in the name I annex Henry Comptons Son of Sir Henry Compton of Surrey I think the very same Sir Henry Compton of whom I find this Note in Haberdashers-hall Sir Henry Compton of Brambleton Com. Sussex with 300 l. per annum settled 1372 02 00 A sober and a civil person this Henry Compton was unhappy only in bad Company which are apt to ensnare good natures that like the good fellow Planet Mercury is much swayed by neighbor Influences No Company is uncomfortable gladness its self would grieve for want of one to express its self to joy like heat looseth strength for want of reflection but bad Company is infectious unless a man had the art when with them not to be of them Like the River Dee in Merionith-shire which running through Pimblemcer remains intire and mingleth not her streams with the water of the Lake But it were Tyranny to trample on him for those infirmities he so often lay prostrate before God for and what God hath graciously forgotten let no man despightfully remember His fall was as much the triumph of the Rebels as his life was their shame doing even when Religion was nothing but discourse better than they could speak his heart being better than their very tongues The occasion of his death was the same with that of the Nations ruin Iealousies and a strange suspicion that because a Lady my Lord Chandois Courted for him his intire Friend and constant Bed-fellow had a greater kindness for my Lord himself than for him that my Lord spoke two words for himself for one he spoke for him Jealousie the rage of this good man that shot vipers through his soul not to be pacified with the arguments urged the mediations used the protestations made though the most rational and the best natured man living after three days interposal especially upon some mad fellows suggesting to his relenting thoughts That it would be Childrens play to Challenge and not to Fight How passion diverts reason and lust overcomes and that unhallowed heat towards a Mistress the more sacred respect towards a Friend through whose heart he must needs make a way to the other heart that scorned him Fond men that undervalue themselves so much as to kill a man that they may injoy the pleasures of a beast fond hope to expect satisfaction in the injoyment of that person whom we cannot see without a guilt that will make a Bed of Doun a torment when each blush of the woman puts in minde of the bloud shed for her when each embrace recollects the last parting of dearest friends when we cannot feel the wound love makes without a greater from the thoughts of that hatred it gave Blind love indeed that killest the choicest friends for the deadliest foes a strange way really to hate out of suspicion that we may be hated to be miserable for fear of being miserable But see the hand of God to whom they appealed he that would needs fight falls and be that would not conquers though the oddes of Mr. Comptons side was five to one Duels those exercises that become neither men for men should reason and beasts fight nor Christian whose honor it is to suffer injuries but neither to give nor retaliate any generally favor the most unwilling as honor the thing they fight for being a shadow followeth him most that flyeth it THE Life and Death OF GEORGE Lord CHANDOIS THE flames of Eteocles and Polynices who had been at variance in the Field when they lived divided in their Urnes when they were dead Not so here but as a little dust thrown over them reduceth Bees that swarm to a settlement so a little earth cast upon them compose the most mortal enemies to a reconciliation our Passing Bells duely extinguishing our heats and animosities as the Curfue-Bell rung in William the Conquerors time every night at eight of the clock put out all Fires and Candles These noble persons divided in their death shall be united in their history as they were in their lives the great patterns of friendship agreeable in their tempers infinitely obliging in their converse for though they were always together yet such the great variety of their accomplishments every hour they injoyed one another had its fresh pleasures pleasures not allayed but increased by injoyment open and clear in their carrage mutually confident in their trusts faithful in their reproofs and admonitions tender in each others weaknesses and failings ready to serve one anothers occasions impatient of absence for they lived and dwelt together careful and jealous in each others concerns in a word observing the exact measures of the noblest relation in the world Friendship Bruges Lord Chandois Baron of Sudely in the County of Glocester descended from Gâ—â—â— Daughter of Ethrelred a Saxon King of this Land and Walter de Main a Nobleman of Normandy His Ancestor Sir Io. Bruges created Baron Chandois of Sudely 1 Mariae 1553. being under God the instrument of saving Queen Elizabeths life as he was one of the many Noblemen that would have saved King Charles For when the great part of the Peers who were of the most Ancient Families and Noblest Fortunes and a very great number of the House of Commons persons of just hopes and fair Estates withdrew to weaken those designs which though they discovered they durst not in London oppose my Lord retired with the first Witnessing the justice and honor of the Kings proâ—eedings Iune 15. and engaging to defend his Majesties Crown and Dignity together with his just and legal Prerogative the true Protestant Religion Established by Law the lawful Liberties of the Subjects of England with the just Priviledges of his Majesty and both his Houses of Parliament against all Persons and Power whatsoever not obeying any Orders or Commands whatsoever not waranted by the known Laws of the Land Iune 13. 1644. at York under his Hand and Seal And according to this Declaration he hastened into Glocester-shire first to disabuse the people 1. Concerning the Idle and Seditious Scandals raised upon the King and his Government 2. Touching Illegal Levies made and Forces raised by a pretended Ordinance of the Militia without the Kings Authority against the known Laws of the Land being as active in dispersing his Majesties Proclamations and Declarations as others were in carrying about the Factious Pamphets and when those courses wanted their just effects because of the judicial infatuation and delusion poor people were given up to to stop these horrid beginnings of a Civil War by arming Tenants and Servants raising with Abraham an Army out of his own house and by Garrison his house which by the Law is every mans Castle at Sudeley near Winchcomb in Glocester-shire seated on the
with himself he was translated to the See of Coventry and Litchfield void by the Translation of his old friend Bishop Overal to Norwich And here his trouble was not so great as at Chester though his Diocesse was larger because the common sort of people were better principled by the care and vigilance of his Predecessor But yet he abated nothing of his former pains and industry both in Writing Preaching and Conferring with them that were not wilfully obstinate in his Diocesse besides Visitations and exact Confirmations Among the works of Charity performed by this Bishop while he was at that See memorable is the Education he bestowed upon one George Canner who like another Didimus of Alexandria or Fisher of Westminster was born blindâ— This youth he brought up first at School and afterwards sent him to Cambridge where he maintained him and his Uncle to look to him at St. Iohns Colledge After he had the Degree of Bachelor of Arts he sent for him to his own Family and instructed him in the whole body of Divinity and then admitted him into Sacred Orders placed him in a Cure in Stafford-shire which Cure the blind man discharged diligently and laudably being a very good Preacher and being able also to perform the whole office of the Church as it is appointed in the Book of Common-Prayer only by the strength of his admirable Memory Anno 1632. He was translated to the See of Duresm void by the death of Bishop Howson a place of great Trust and Honor as well as of greater Emolument For besides the Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Affairs as before he had now the care and management of all the Temporal Affairs within the County Palatine of Duresm by virtue of the Palatinate annexed for many hundred years to the Episcopal See in so much that it passed a Maxim there Quicquid potest Rex extra Episcopatum potest Episcopus intra And in the same he carryed himself with so much Iustice and Equity for ten years together before these late Troubles put a disturbance in the exercise of his Government that no complaint was made against him to the Parliament except onely the case of Mr. Smart which yet had no relation to the County Palaâ—ine neither could the Charge be made good against him who was but one of the High-Commission How great his fatherly care was for the Spiritual care of the Bishoprick will appear by his pious endeavors in setling Augmentations upon the smaller Benefices he had given a good example long before while he was Bishop of Lichfield in abating a good part of his Fine to increase the portion of the Vicar of Pichley in Northampton-shire as you may see in Mr. Stephens his Preface to Sir Henry Spelmans Book and now in a Work of so much importance he applyed himself for Counsel to three of the most Learned in the Laws Lord Keeper Coventry Mr. Noy Sir Henry Martin who all concurred that the Bishops Authority over Churches appropriate was neither taken away nor any way infringed but that he may now appoint a competent Augmentation having thus fully informed hâ—mself of his just power in a matter of so high Concernment for the advancement of Christian Religion and the good of Souls he resolved to put it in practice as far as God should enable him and trust God with the event He began at home with the Parish of Bishop-Aukland Here he augmented the stipend of the Mother-Church from 16 l. per annum to fourscore and the Chappels belonging from six pounds per annum to thirty intending to extend the like Episcopal care in some proportion over all the rest of his Diocesse but so Pious Heroical a Work became Abortive by the Scotch Invasion c. We are now come to the precipice of this Reverend Bishops outward splendor though neither his glory nor happiness incurred the least diminution by his future sufferings For he was never more happy in his own thoughts nor more glorious in the eyes of all good men then in being exercised in those troubles whereof the continual series of publick Affairs afforded him a perpetual opportunity from this time till his death In one of the Tumults after the beginning of the Long-Parliament this Reverend Bishop was in hazard of his life by the multitude that were beckened thither by the Contrivers of our late Miseries whereof some cryed Pull him out of his Coach others nay he is a good man others but for all that he is a Bishop And he hath often said he believed he should not have escaped alive if a Leading-man among the Rabble had not cryed out Let him go and hang himself Upon this and the like Violations of the Liberty and Freedom essential to all the Members of Parliament when the twelve â—ishops whereof this was one Remonstrated the just Fears they were in and protested their dissent from all Laws which should be enacted till they might attend the service of the House with Freedom and Safety as any one Peer unjustly detained â—rom Sitting may they were all Charged with High-Treason by the House of Commons and Committed to Prison with the Bishop of Coventry and Leichfield at the Usher of the Black-rods house when the other ten went to the Tower Our Bishop being after four months discharged from this his first Imprisonment returned to his Lodgings in Duresm-house and there attended his Devotions and Studies till such time as his adversaries thought fit to give him another occasion to exercise his patience under a second Captivity upon occasion of Baptizing a Child of the Earl of Rutlands according to the Orders of the Church and in custody he remained six months before he could obtain his inlargement After this he staid in Duresm-house till he was thrown out chence by the Souldiers that came to Garrison it a little before that horrid Fact was committed upon the Person of our late Gracious King and after that being importuned by his honourable friend the Earl and Countess of Rutland he became part of their care and family at Exceter-house for some short time but being loath to live at the charge of others while he was able to subsist of himself and thinking the air of the Country might better suit with his declining years he betook himself to sojourn first with Captain Saunders in Hartfordshire and after with Mr. Thomas Rotheram in Bedfordshire till by the great civility and earnest importunity of that noble young Baronet Sir Henry Yelverton he went with him to his house at East-Manduit in Northamptonshire where he found all the tender respect and care from the whole family which a Father could expect from his Children till after a few months he rendred up his happy soul into the hands of his heavenly Father When the House of Commons had Voted for the Dissolving of Bishopricks some prevailed for a Vote of Yearly Allowance to present Bishops during their lives Our Bishop had 800 l. a
Penruddock proclaimed the King in his own person and thence to Southmoulton in Devon-shire where being overpowered by Captain Vnton Crâ—â—ke Sir Io. Wagstaffe Sir R. Mason Esquire Clarke Mr. Thomas Mompesson escaping in the dark as Major Hunt did afterwards in his Sisters cloaths they yeilded upon quarter for life which being unworthily denied after a close imprisonment at Exeter and strict examinations before O. P. at London to discover the Maâ—quesses of Hertford and Winchester Mr. Freke Mr. Hasting and Mr. Dorrington where they desired and had the prayers of several Congregations they were tried at Exeter where Mr. Grove knowing that the Judges were prepossessed addressed himself to the Jewry shewing them by the known Laws of the Land that this Loyal Attempt was Duty and not Treason which being over-ruled as the whole current of the Law was according to their Sentence having prayed for the King the Church and the Nation and forgiven Sheriff Dove his false-swearing against him and Crookes breach of Articles with him beheaded in Exeter Castle yard and buried in the Chancel of Saint Sidwells with this honest Epitaph considering those times Hic jacet Hugo Grove in Comitatu Wilts Armiger in restiâ—uendo Ecclesiam in Asserendo Regem in propugnando Legem ac Libertatem Anglicanum Captus Decollatus May 6â— 1655. Colonel Iohn Penruddock the third Brother of that Ancient and Gentile Family that died in and for his Majesties service in whom Virtue Religion and Learning for he was a choice compound of all these three was not Frowning Auster Servile Sad Timerous and Vulgar but Free Chearful Lofty Noble and generous grounded neither upon that Delicate and Poetical Piety made up of pretty conceits which prevailed lately in France and since in the more generous part of England nor upon that Enthusiastical imagination that obtains among the lower sort of people amongst us but upon solid reason that might satisfie the judgement and rational principles and maximes according to the Analogy of Faith professed in ours and in the ancient Church as he declared at his death to Dr. Short and others attending him at his death that might comfort his conscience reducing all things by Philosophy exalted with Religion to these two Heads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what was not in his power was not in his care what was in his power was within his injoyment so in the great alterations he saw without him injoying peace within Right the good man Prov. 14. 14. that is satisfied with himself submitting to God in the things without him and conforming himself to God in the things within This brave temper with his vigorous parts and obliging carriage made him capable of making this Attempt for his Majesty and able to go bravely through the disasters that followed it not yielding but upon honorable Articles which were not kept with him and when he had yielded offering nothing but good security that he would be more a Gentleman than to use his life afterwards against those that saved it to O. P. and others which was not accepted from him because he would not betray others to save himself and so redeem his life with the price of his conscience He proved irrefragably and very ingeniously at the Bar with as much Law Reason and Will as ever Gentleman spake with that the Treason he was charged with was his loyalty and duty and declaring at the Block the sad condition of people that instead of known Laws were subject to arbitrary Injunctions where forgiving his enemies with an extraordinary charity praying for his Majesty the Church and Realm with an heroick zeal comforting his Relations with this consideration that this disaster was so far from pulling down that it was likely to build it a story higher acknowledging the civilities of the always Loyal City of Exeter to their whole party and to him in particular and saying that he deserves not one drop of bloud that would not spend it in so good a Cause He died by Beheading as generously as he lived Quid nempe martinum nisâ— beneficium malo animo datum J. P. May 6. 1667. With him fell 1. Mr. Io. Lucas of good quality in Hungerford Beheaded on the same account a plain and a wise man of a Loyal name Io. Lucas of Axminster Devon paying in way of Composition 125 l. Sir Robert Lucas of Leckstone Essex 637 l. who puts me in minde of a notable person who finding the first admission to Court to be the greatest difficulty appeared in an Antick Fashion till the strangeness of the shew brought the King to be a spectator then throwing off his disguize Sir said he to the King thus I first arrive at your notice in the fashion of a Fool who can do you service in the place of a wise man if you please to imploy me 2. Mr. Kensey a Gentleman as they say of the French in a manner born with his sword by his side a modest man that understood the world and loved himself too well to be ambitious to go out of that vale where is least agitation and most warmth 3. Mr. Thorpe Iohn Friar and Iohn Laurence murthered at Salisbury besides eleven more at Exeter whose names we hope are in the Book of Life thought not in ours persons that were a great instance of Charrons Tenet viz. that Nobility is but there being mean persons of the noblest extractions and noble persons of the meanest who have this honor that the chief of their Judges lived to beg his pardon and life with tears for condemning them when the most inconsiderable of them scorned to beg their lives of him Two of whom indeed Mr. Iones and Mr. Dean owed their lives to them who usurping mercy as well as majesty disparaged the kindness so far that these Gentlemen would say they had not a good tenure of their till his Majesty pardoned them the fault of holding them of Tyrants Colonel Iohn Gerard Brother to the Right Honorable Sir Gilbert Gerard who had eight of the name Colonels in the Kings Army viz. the Lord Gerard Colonel Edward Gerard both the b Sir Gilbert Gerards Colonel Ratcliffe Gerard Colonel Richard Gâ—rard Colonel C. Gerard and himself and these of the same name Sequestred viz. Thomas Gerard of Ince Lanc. paying 209 l. Thomas Gerard of Angton Lanc. 280 l. Richard Gerard of Brin Lanc. Esq 10â—l Sir Gilbert Gerard London 200 l. William Gerard of Penington Lanc. 30 l. A Gentleman of so much loyalty and spirit that it was but employing a few emissaries to cast out a word or two in his company in the behalf of his Majesty and his tender nature presently took the occasion for which being convented on the testimony of his young Brother Charles then but nineteen years old frighted to what he did as the Colonel said on his death sending him word that he loved him notwithstanding with all his heart he cleared himself of all the imputations of a design to
or governed he did it exactly according to the old Injunctions of the Realm the Canons of the Church and the Laws and Statutes of the place of all which his Visitation Articles were an exact Collection For which by men ignorant and impatient he was cried down into Prison without ever being heard for fifteen years together by a Parliamentary power and by the same power as St. Paul Act. 16. 39. was intreated out of his bonds by them that put him in discharged out out-living by a strong constitution used to hardship never seeing Fire in the coldest time nor bating the hardest Meat in his weakest years seldome a bed till eleven a clock at night and always up at five in the morning at his hours walk without either Fire or Candle and continual Study diverting his thoughts whereof his Accurate and Critical Vindication of the Scripture against the Socinian Glosses is a very great instance Printed at the end of the Critica Sacra a small part of a vast Treasure of such choice observations If he discoursed he did it to his last with a vast comprehension and memory of particular and minute circumstances though at never so great a distance of time or place If he had relation to any Colledge as he had to Peter-house and Pembroke-hall and I think St. Iohns Cambridge as Visitor and Charter-house as Governor he looked to the concernments of each place narrowly he incouraged hopeful men in them bountifully and kept up the interest of the Church as he did every where strictly if it was a time of Parliament or Convocation he attended them carefully and constantly for he knew that a Vote may sometimes save or loose a kingdom This Eminent Prelate dying 1667. above 80. years of age was buried in a Chappel erected at his own charge in Cambridge with the greatest solemnity seen in the memory of man performed by the whole University ordered by an Herald Dr. John Pearson Master of Trinity-colledge and Margaret Professor making an excellent Funeral Oration upon the occasion and all the Company besides that they laid the rich Miter and Crosier upon the Altar making the greatest offering that ever was seen in the University I wish him so good an Historian of his life as he had been of the Church if he had undertaken what Bishop Andrews imposed upon him before he understood Sir Henry Spelman was about it viz The Collection of Counsels and so good an Epitaph David LLoyd Dr. of Law born in Mongomeryshire or Shropshire bred in All-souls Oxon sometime Comptroller of the Earl of Derbies house and Chaplain to his Family Warden of Ruthen Denbighshire and Dean of St. Asaph an ingenious Gentleman of greater spirit than estate well esteemed of by the neighbour Gentry where he lived and not understood by the populacy a great agent and sufferer for his Majesty well understanding how to take off his enemies and ingage his friends He died 1662 3. Dr. Iohn Barneston born of a good Family in Cheshire to which he was an ornament bred Fellow of Brasen-nâ—se-colledge in Oxon to which he was a benefactor founding there a Lecture for Hebrew where he had been an excellent Proficient in Greek that that Colledge which is so eminent for Philosophy should be as excellent for the Tongues Chaplain to Chancellor Egerton to whom he was Counsellor and Residentiary of Salisbury where he was an hospitable House-keeper a chearful Companion and a peaceable Man by the same token that a Church-warden being brought before him by the Parish in a Consistory for having lost the Chalice out of his House which should have been kept in the Church he perceiving that the Church-warden had carried it home with an honest intent not to Imbezzle but to scoure it ended the controversie thus Well I am sorry that the Cup of Vnion and Communion should be the cause of difference and discord among you Go home and live lovingly together and I doubt not but either the Thief out of remorse will restore the same or some other as good will be sent you Which by a charity as secret as the offer was prudent was performed not only on the Doctors motion but his charge too who rested in that peace he lived when the whole Nation was imbroiled in a war 1642. About which time died Mr. Io. Bois who credited Elesmeth in Suffolk by his Birth Hadley School and Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge by his Education Boxworth in Cambridgeshire where he was Parson and Ely-church where he was Prebendary by his preferment His voluntary Greek Lecture read a Bed early in the morning to young Scholars whereof Mr. Gataker was one improved him much and the young men of those times more King Iames his Translation of the Bible wherein he was an eminent instrument Sir Henry Savils Chrysostome whereof he was the Supervisor and the choice Notes and Criticisms that go up and down among learned men whereof he was the Author will preserve his memory in the world as long as it is either religious or learned Bishop Andrews who made it not his business to finde preferment for men but men for preferment stole those they had upon him and Mr. Nicholas Fuller in a way equally agreeable to their modesty and merit As Bishop Laud did for Mr. Edward Symonds a native of Cottered in Hertsordshire Scholar of Peter-house in Cambridge and Minister of Little Rayne in Essex before the wars so strict his life and so plain piercing and profitable his preaching whereof some very pertinent Sermons extant are instances that he was looked upon as a Puritan yet in the wars so early his care in vindicating his Majesty in a Book bearing that Title in principling his Country against Rebellion in some controversies with Stephen Marshall whom he after visited in his Bed at Westminster telling him That if he had taken him for a Wild Beast he would not have rouzed him in his Den and afterwards in being instrumental to set forth his late Majesties true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he was Sequestred of his Living and forced first to Worcester then to Exeter and Barnestable after that to France and at last to London where he died 1649. being buried in St. Peters Pauls-wharfe where he often preached and elaborately for being requested once to Preach upon a small warning and told that the plain Auditors would be best pleased with his plain performance he answered I can content them but not mine own Conscience to preach with so little preparation The Earl of Kildare being accused before Henry the eighth for burning the Cathedral Church of Cassiles in Ireland professed ingeniously That he would never have burned the Church if some body had not told him that the Bishop was in it Several persons being urged with their severity to this good man answered He had never suffered so had he not been a stubborn Kingling and Prelatist Tanti non est bonum quanti est odium Christianorum Dr. Edward Simson born
resign when his Conscience and Imployment could not consist together and much troubled between his unhappiness that he could not serve his Generation and his temper that would have its liberty having quitted his place 1653 4. he injoyed not long his life Dr. Lambert Osbaston suffering more for his Conscience by the Faction than he had done for his waggery by the Government he went beyond Canterbury but he could not go beyond Westminster where many of his own Scholars that he made not onely Scholars but men teaching his charge not only their Books but themselves breeding them to Carriage and Address as well as Learning and infusing a spirit with his notion were as severe to him as he had been to them Some favour they shewed his Person for his former services which he repented but Sequestred all his Preferments for his present integrity in pressing all those he had an interest in even Bradshaw himself upon his Death-bed to repent He was turned out of one Living in the Country for insufficiency and yet employed at most examinations at Westminster for his parts where he made boys do that which men durst not tell truth to Oliver then their Nose and Face he being not pedantick in his carriage and discourse was by some not thought rich in Learning because he did not Jingle with it in his discourse He gave the best alms to the poor learning never paying boys because their Parents did not pay him encouraging poor Children to be painful in School but never poor Scholars idly begging before it Mr. Bust the admirable Greek School-master of Eaton never suffered any wandring Scholar Rogues in the front of the Statute to come to his School privately relieving and publickly chiding such left his boys might be discouraged to those that had taken pains at School for maintenance come beggars out of the University He never dulled a quick head by mawling it nor awed a fluent tongue into stuttering by affrightment nor commuted correction into money nor debased his Authority by contesting with the obstinate turning such out when he could do them no good and they might do others much hurt studying the Childrens dispositions as they did their books the invincibly dull he pityed consigning them over to other Professions Ship-wrights and Boat-makers will chuse those crooked pieces of Timber which other Carpenters refuse The dull and diligent he encouraged he had been a Child himself if he had corrected nature as a fault in Children the ingenious and idle he quickned the ingenious and industrious he doted on not only pardoning but being infinitely pleased with a well-humored fault that discovered parts as well as youth and was an ingenious error Mr. Iohn Cleaveland owing his Birth and School-breeding to Hinckley in Leicester-shire the heaving of his natural fancy by choicest Elegancies in Greek and Latine more elegantly Englished an exercise he improved much by to Mr. Vines then Schoolmaster His University Education to Christs Colledge where he was Scholar and St. Iohns where he was Fellow besides his being an exquisite Orator and a pure Latinist The first recommending him to the honor of making those publick Speeches of his to his late Majesty the Prince the Prince Palatine c. lately published and the other preferring him to the place of Rhetorick-Reader he was a general Artist and universal Scholar that had the patience to squeeze all the proper Learning that had any coherence with it into each fancy which ran like the soul it dwelled in in a minute through the whole Circle both of Sciences and Languages by the strength of an exercised memory that conned out of book all it read Mr. Cleaveland reckoned himself to know just so much as he remembred his fancy in his elaborate Pieces of Poetry wherein he excelled summing whole books into a Metaphor and whole Metaphors into an Epithite walked from one height to another in a constant level and Champion of continued elevation he ventured his Person and Preferment for his Majesty at Newark where he handled his Sword in the quality of Advocate and his life at Oxford where he managed his Pen as the highest Panegyrist witness his Rupertismus his Elegy on my Lord of Canterbury c. on the one hand on the one side to draw out all good inclinations to vertue and the smartest Satyrist witness the Rebell Scot the Scots Apostacy the Character of a London Diurnal and a Committee-man blows that shaked triumphing Rebellion reaching the soul of those not to be reached by Law or Power striking each Traitor to a paleness beyond that of any Loyal Corps that bled by them the Poet killing at as much distance as some Philosophers heat-scars lasting as time indelible as guilt-stabs beyond death on the other to shame the ill from Vice sinking in the common ruine of King and Kingdom he was undone first and afterwards secured at Norwich because he was poor and had not where withall to live whereupon he composed an Addresse to the Pageant Power at Whitehall of so much gallant Reason and such towring Language as looked bigger than his Highness shrinking before the Majesty of his Pen the only thing that ever I heard wrought upon him that had been too hard for all Swords representing that of his Master and Cause like Faelix trembling Paul flattered one of the meanest of three Nations that he Ruled and ominously sent him to study the Law which he saw would prevail it being in vain to suppress that was supported by the two greatest things in the World Wit and Learning This great Wit great in his easie veins and elaborate strein no less to be valued by us because most studyed by him dyed at Grays-Inn April 29. 1658. and being carryed from thence to Hunsdon-House was buryed on May-day at Colledge-hill Dr. Iohn Pearson his good friend preached his Funeral Sermon who rendred this reason why he cautiously declined all commending of the party deceased because such praysing of him would not be adequate to any expectation in that Auditory seeing some who knew him not would think it far above him while those who knew him must needs know it far below him Mr. Richard Crashaw his Father had done so well in the Temple where he was Preacher and he promised so much where he was a Scholar that two great Lawyers I think Sir Henry Yelverton and Sir Randolph Crew took him to their care the one paying for his Diet the other for his Cloaths Books and Schooling till he was provided of both in the Royal Foundation at Charter-House where his nature being leisurely advanced by Art and his own pretty conceits improved by those of the choicest Orators and Poets which he was not onely taught to understand but imitate and make not only their rich sense his own but to smooth his soul as well as fill it for things are rough without words their expressions too the essays Mr. Brooks his worthy Master still alive whose even constant and pursuing