this pretended Court but also that no Earthly power can justly call Me who am your KING in question as a Delinquent I would not any more open My mouth upon his occasion more than to refer My self to what I have spoken were I alone in this case alone concern'd But the duty I owe to God in the preservation of the true liberty of My People will not suffer Me at this time to be silent For how can any free-born 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 those grounds which hinder Me to answer to your pretended Impeachment but since I see that 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 * * Hereabout I was stopt and not suffered to speak any more concerning reasons 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 dayes proceeding cannot be warranted by Gods Law for on the contrary the authority of 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 lesse 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 Maximes 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 it 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 certaintly you never asked the question of the tenth man of the Kingdom and in this way you manifestly wrong even the poorest Ploughman if you demand not his free consent nor can you pretend any colour for this your pretended Commission without the consent at 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 sharing the power of Government but in living under such Laws such a Government as may give themselves the best assurance of their lives and propriety of their goods Nor in this must or do I forget the Priviledges of both Houses of Parliament which this dayes proceeding 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 this 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 surprised and hurried from thence as a Prisoner upon which I 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 Than 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 lawfulnesse 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 too sensibly evident that the Arms 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 This I intended to speak in Westminster-Hall on Monday 22 January but against Reason was hindred After that horrid Sentence his Majesty was hurried from their Bar As he passed down the stairs the common Souldiers laying aside all Reverence to Soveraignty scoffed at him casting the smoak of their stinking Tobacco in his face no Smell more offensive to him and flinging their foul pipes at his feeâ— But one more insolent than the rest defiled his venerable Face with his spittle for his Majestry was observed with much patience to wipe it off with his Handkerchief and as he passed hearing them cry out Justice Justice Poor Souls said he for a piece of money they would do so for their Commanders That Night being Saturday January 27. the King lodged at White-hall that evening a Member of the Army acquainted the Committee with the desires of the King that seeing they had passed Sentence of Death upon him and the time of his Execution might be nigh that he might see his Children
respect to my family I am now stripping off my clothes to fight a duel with death I conceive no other duel lawful but my Saviour hath pulled out the sting of this mine enemy by making himself a sacrifice for me And truly I do not think that man deserving one drop of his bloud that will not spend all for him in so good a cause The Truth is Gentlemen in this Age Trea on is an individium vagum like the wind in the Gospel it bloweth wher it listeth So now Treason is what they please lighteth upon whom they will Indeed no man except he will be a Traytor can avoid this Censure of Treason I know not to what end it may come but I pray God my own and my Brothers blood that is now to die with me may be the last upon this score Now Gentlemen you may see what a condition you are in without a King you have no law to protect you no rule to walke by when you perform your duty to God your King and Country you displease the Arbitrary power now set up I cannot call it government I shall leave you to peruse my tryal and there you shall see what a condition this poor Nation is brought into and no question will be utterly destroyed if not restored by loyal Subjects to its old and glorious Government I pray God he lay not his Judgements upon England for their sluggishness in doing their duty and readiness to put their hands in their bosoms or rather taking part with the Enemy of Truth The Lord open their eyes that they may be no longer lead or drawn into such snares else the Child that is unborn will curse the day of their Parents birth God almighty preserve my Lawful K. Charles the second from the hands of his Enemies and break down that wall of Pride and Rebellion which so long hath kept him from his just Rights God preserve his Royal Mother and all his Majestys Royal Brethren and incline their hearts to seek after him God incline the hearts of all true Englisâ—men to stand up as one man to bring in the King and redeem themselves and this poor Kingdom out of its more then Egyptian slavery As I have now put off these garments of cloth so I hope I have put off my garments of sin have put on the Robes of Christs Righteousnesse here which will bring me to the enjoyment of his glorious Robes anon Then he kneeled down and kissed the block and said thus I commit my soul to God my Creator and Redeemer Look upon me O Lord at my last gasping Hear my prayer and the prayers of all good people I thank thee O God for all thy dispensations towards me Then kneeling down he prayed most devoutfuly as followeth O Eternal Almighty and most mercifull God the Righteous Judge of all the world look down in mercy on me a miserable sinner O blessed Jesus Redeemer of Mankind which takest away the sins of the world let thy perfect manner of obedience be presented to thy Heavenly Father for me Let thy precious death and bloud be the ransome and satisfaction of my many and heynous transgressions Thou that sittest at the right hard of God make intercession for me O holy and blessed Spirit which art the Comforter fill my heart with thy consolations O holy blessed and glorious Trinity be mercifull to me confirm my faith in the promises of the Gospel reviveâ— and quicken my hope and expectation of joys prepared for true and faithfull servarâ—ts Let the infinite Love of God my Saviour make 〈◊〉 love to him steafast sincere and constant O Lord consider my condition accept my tears aswage my grief give me comfort and confidence in theâ— impute not unto me my former sins but most mercifull Fathâ—r receive me into thy favour for the merits of Christ Jesus Many and grievous are my sins for I have sinned many times against the light of knowledge against remorse of conscience against the motions opportunities of grace But accept I beseech thee the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart in and for the perfect sacrifice oblation and satisfaction of thy Son Jesus Christ O Lord receive my soul after it is delivered from the burthen of the flesh into perfect joy in the sight and fruition of thee And at the general resurrection grant that my body may be endowed with immortality and received with my soul into glory I praise thee O God I acknowledge thee to be the Lord O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world have mercy on me Thou that sittest at the right hand of God hear my prayer O Lord Jesus Christ God and Man Mediator betwixt God and Man I have sinned as a Man be thou mercifull to me as a God O holy and blessed Spirit help my infirmities with those sighs and groans which I cannot expresse Then he desired to see the Axe and kissed it saying I am like to have a sharp passage of it but my Savior hath sweetned it unto me Then he said If I would have been so unworthy as others have been I suppose I might by a lye have saved my life which I scorn to purchase at such a rate I defie such temptations and them that gave them me Glory be to God on high On Earth peace Good will towards Men. And the Lord have mercy upon my poor soul Amen So laying his Neck upon the Block after some private Ejaculations he gave the Heads-man a sign with his hand who at one blow severed his head from his body The true Speech of that Valiant and piously resolved Hugh Grove of Chisenbury in the Parish of Enford and County of Wilts Esquire beheaded the 16th of May 1655. in the Castle at Exon. Good people I Never was guilty of much Rhetorick nor ever loved long Speeches in all my life and therefore you cannor expect either of them from me now at my death All that I shall desire of you besides your hearty prayers for my soul is That you would bear me witnesse I die a true son of the Church of England as it was established by King Edward the sixth Queen Elizabeth King James and King Charls the first of blessed memmory That I die a Loyall Subject to King Charls the second my undoubted Soveraign and a lover of the good old Laws of the Land the just priviledges of Parliaments and Rights and Liberties of the People for the re-establishing of all which I did undertake this engagement and for which I am ready to lay down my life God forgive the bloody-minded Jury and those that procured them God forgive Captain Crook for denying his Articles so unworthily God forgive Mr. Dove and all other persons swearing so maliciously and falsely against me God forgive all my enemies I heartily forgive them God blesse the KING and all that love him turn the hearts of all that hate him God blesse you all and be merciful to you and to
God I have been long in my Race and how I have looked to Jesus the Author and Finisher of my Faith he best knowes I am now come to the end of my Race and here I find the Crosse 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 but I should despise the shame for him I am going apace as you see towards the Red Sea and my feet are now upon 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 sour herbs I shall obey and labour to digest the sour 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 which gathereth 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 I am not in love with this passage through the Red Sea for I have the weaknesse and infirmities of flesh and bloud plentifully in me and I have prayed with my Saviour ut transiret Calix iste that this Cup of Red Wine might passe from me But if not Gods will not mine be done and I shall most willingly drink of this Cup as deep as he pleases and enter into this Sea yea and passe through it in the way that he shall lead me But I would have it remembred good people that when Gods Servants were in this boysterous Sea and Aaron among them the Egyptians which persecuted them and did in a manner drive them into that Sea were drowned in the same waters while they were in pursuit of them I know my God whom I serve is as able to deliver me from this Sea of Bloud as he was to deliver the Three Children from the Furnace and I most humbly thank my Saviour for it my Resolution is now as theirs was then They would not worship the Image the King had set up nor will I the Imaginations which the people are setting up nor will I forsake the Temple and the Truth of God to follow the bleating of Jeroboams Calf in Dan and Bethel And as for this People they are at this day miserably misled God of his mercy open their eyes that they may see the right way for at this day the Blind lead the Blind and if they go on both will certainly fall into the Ditch For my self I am and I acknowledge it in all humility a most grievous sinner many waies by thought word and deed and I cannot doubt but that God hath Mercy in store for me a poor Penitent as well as for other sinners I have now upon this sad occasion ransacked every Corner of my heart yet I thank God I have not found among the many any one sin which deserves death by any known Law of this Kingdom And yet hereby I charge nothing upon my Judges for if they proceed upon Proof by valuable Witnesses I or any other Innocent may be justly condemned And I thank God though the weight of the Sentence lie heavy upon me I am as quiet within as ever I was in my life And though I am not only the first Archbishop but the first man that ever died by an Ordinance of Parliament yet some of my Predecessors have gone this way though not by this means For Elphegus was hurried away and lost his Head by the Danes and Simon Sudbury in the Fury of Wat Tyler and his Fellows Before these St. John Baptist had his Head danced off by a Lewd Woman and St. Cyprian Archbishop of Carthage submitted his Head to a persecuting Sword Many examples great and good and they teach me Patience For I hope my Cause in Heaven will look of another Dye then the colour that is put upon it here And some comfort it is to me not only that I go the way of these great men in their several generations but also that my Charge as foul as 't is made looks like that of the Jews against St. Paul Acts 25.3 For he was accused for the Law and the Temple i. e. Religion And like that of S. Stephen Acts 6.14 for breaking the Ordinances which Moses gave i. e. Law and Religion the holy place and the Temple v. 13. But you will say do I then compare my self with the Integrity of St. Paul and St. Stephen No far be that from me I only raise a Comfort to my self that these great Saints and Servants of God were laid at in their times as I am now And 't is memorable that S. Paul who helped on this Accusation against S. Stephen did after fall under the very same himself Yea but here is a great Clamour that I would have brought in Popery I shall answer that more fully by and by In the mean time you know what the Pharisees said against Christ himself If we let him alone all men will believe in him venient Romani and the Romans will come and take away both our Place and the Nation Here was a causelesse Cry against Christ that the Romans will come And see how just the Judgment of God was they crucified Christ for fear lest the Romans should come and his death was it which brought in the Romans upon them God punishing them with that which they most feared And I pray God this Clamour of venient Romani of which I have given no cause help not to bring them in for the Pope never had such a Harvest in England since the Reformation as he hath now upon the Sects and Divisions that are amongst us In the mean time by honour and dishonour by good and evil report as a Deceiver and yet true am I passing through this world 2 Cor. 6.8 Some Particulars also I think it not amiss to speak of And first this I shall be bold to speak of the King our Gracious Soveraign He hath been much traduced for bringing in of Popery but on my Conscience of which I shall give God a very present account I know Him to be as free from this Charge as any man living and I hold him to be as sound a Protestant according to the Religion by Law established as any man in this Kingdom and that he will venture his Life as far and as freely for it and I think I do or should know both His affection to Religion and His Grounds for it as fully as any man in England The second Particular is concerning this great and Populous City which God bless Here hath been of late a fashion taken up to gather hands and then to go to the Great Court of this Kingdom the Parliament and clamour for Justice as if that great and wise Court before
no truly Loyal Person ever was brought who was within the reach of their griping talents that ever escaped with his skin so aptly might that Fable of the Fox to the Lyon be rather unmoralized Vestigia cerno Omnia te advorsum spectantia nulla retrorsum It was in vain to move either their Honour Conscience or Duty or to plead ones own their ambiguous salvo's and reserves to themselves and their forward facing of others out of reason by their Janus-like cause which was for and against the King like the Basilisk killed all whom it directly aspected or were brought before them This Gentlemâ—ns fare was huddled up at Essex House before a Council of War held there on the walls whereof any man then might have red the Event The grand pillâ—r raiser and support of that unnatural War being proprietor thereof and at that present personally inhabiting it who was just come from Newbery first Fight where as yet he had left himself unrevenged Without any more adoe therefore but a setting Mr. Kniveton at their Bar as the mark and aim of all their impotent malice he was condemned to be hanged as a Spie for maintaining and managing intelligence with and from the Enemy that was the King whom they said they fought for but on what Article of War I never could tell and I presume the Reader can hardly imagine Little respit was afforded for the time of Execution for the Faction were enraged that any man should presume to tell them that it was Treason to counterfeit the Kings Seal and if such continual Messages upon every of their actions should be brought and declared it might in time open the eyes of the people to understand the Law and leave them in conclusion to its Justice and their due demerit He was brought therefore on the day he suffered as aforesaid on foot from Newgate being accompanied with Mr. Benson a Bookseller his acquaintance in Fleetstreet to a Gibbet erected over against the Exchange where he may most properly be said to have Sealed his Cause with his Blood being sent of another Message to Heaven where his Bliss and Happiness shall have no Terme Captain Burleigh Martyred at Westminster February 10. 1647. THe Execution of this Person was the absurdity of Law the contradiction of Magna Charta the infringment and violation of Nature and if it could be strained higher than an affront and Rebellion against the supreme power of the Universe it would passe with a lesser ignominy than the merit of this Cause will afford it That men tyed by their allegiance by several Oaths of Fealty by the benefit of their protection and advantages they received under the Government of so excellent a Prince were to be dispensed nay must be discharged from that Duty and Obedience they ought him and that the Parliament as they had subdued their Lawful King might give Law to him propound their own insolent terms and demands and rigidly insist on them secure his Person under pretence of publick safety administer the Kingdom themselves sequester and seize their Estates who resisted them in these violent and unheard of outrages all this I say might be as otherwise it could not be helpt as the sad state of the miseries of the Kingdom then was with some kind of patience endured but to see and hear to be upon the place where so many undutiful unchristian contempts after the Votes of Non Addresse were put upon the King in that place which he had chosen for his refuge and Sanctuary I can hardly allow any man in this case the glory of Martyrdom whose frame and temper had but the least ingredients of natural not to pride it in loyal compassion if he durst do that which bravery and courage prompted him to the Law and his obedience required and God commanded Yet I do not the less wonder and stand amazed at this butchery upon several considerations which though they be of different respects yet do center universally in this that they will make the murder of this person prodigiously infamous to all persons concerned in it First not to meddle with the Laws whose Divine stamp was most treasonably defaced in this act we will consider this attempt of Captain Burleighs in the invariable latitude of common humanity His pretended crime was the beating of a Drum in the Isle of Wight upon the news the Islanders had received that the Parliament had rejected the King upon their Votes of Non addresse and had resolved to settle the Kingdom without him when his Majesty was confined a close Prisoner to Carisbrook Castle This was misconstrued according to the left-handed learning of those times for Treason whereas had there been any sympathetical Musick in those Drums they would have made a noyse and Alarm of themselves borrowed from those groans and sighs the captive Prince made to his more compassionate walls who burst to give vent and eccho to those doleful notes And could men not allow that soft and tender-heartedness to men to Christians to Subjects to a Subject too well reputed and esteemed of in his Island as a good and honest man one who out of conscience and integrity and for no other sinister end whatsoever had faithfully served his Soveraign abroad that is had crost the Sea to do his devoir and there having weâ—ried himself and his fortunes had retired to his home as a shelter against his hard pursuing destinie where in privacy he thought to shroud himself No he finds death in the place of it first he is chiefly concern'd in the publick sorrow and distress of his Soveraign those breaths of grief soon pierce his ears and those Royal lamentations heightned by a generous Spirit quickly transport and possess him and by this most laudable and glorious action which signified only a courage to rescue what villany had captivated and hindred their wicked attempts no farther then by affording a brave and imitable example of Loyal magnanimity to all true Subjects in all exigencies and dangers of their Princes be becomes a sacrifice to their Moloch of Anarchycal Tyranny We will view him in the next consideration as his case stood in direct opposition to that of Major Rolfe then an Officer in the Army and of very great trust and intimacy with Cromwell who was tryed at the same time and Assizes by the same Commission Judges and Jury and then certainly nothing can appear more flagitious and hainously arbitrary than this Gentlemans condemnation Contraria juxta se posit a magis elucescunt contraries opposed one to another make each of them appear the clearer and so will it prove in the memory of this Noble Person which will hereby appear in a most venerable splendor Rolfes Crime was this he was accused by one Mr. Osborne and another gentleman then attending on the King in the Isle of Wight where this Rolfe had a Charge to have consâ—ired the death of the King and that particularly by assassinating him with a Brace of Pistols
Country for to clear my self both as an honest man a good King and a good Christian I shall begin first with my Innocency In troth I think it not very needful for me to insist long upon this for all the world knows that I never did begin a war with the two Houses of Parliament and I call God to witness to whom I must shortly make an Account That I never did intend for to incroach upon their Priviledges they began upon me it is the Militia they began upon they confest that the Militia was mine but they thought it fit for to have it from me and to be short if any body will look to the Dates of Commissions of their Commissions and mine and likewise to the Declarations will see clearly that they began these unhappy Troubles not I so that as the guilt of these Enormous crimes that are laid against me I hope in God that God will clear me of I will not I am in Charity God forbid that I should lay it upon the Two Houses of Parliament there is no necessity of either I hope they are free of this guilt for I do believe that ill Instruments between them and me has been the chief Cause of all this bloudshed so that by way of speaking as I find my self clear of this I hope and pray God that they may too yet for all this God forbid that I should be so ill a Christian as not to say that Gods Judgments are just upon me Many times he does pay Justice by unjust Sentence that is ordinary I will only say this that an unjust Sentence * that I sufferred to take effect Strafford is punished now by an unjust Sentence upon me this I have said to shew you that I am an Innocent man Now for to shew you that I am a good Christian I hope there is * Pointing to Dr. Juxon a good man that will bear me witness That I have forgiven all the world and even those in particular that have been the chief causers of my death who they are God knows I do not desire to know I pray God forgive them But this is not all my Charity must go further I wish that they may repent for indeed they have committed a great sin in that particular I pray God with St. Stephen that this be not laid to their Charge nay not only so but that they may take the right way to the peace of the Kingdom for my Charity commands me not only to forgive particular men but my Charity commands me to endeavour to the last gasp the Peace of the Kingdom Turning to some Gentlemen that wrote So Sir I wish with all my soul and I do hope there is some here will carry it further that they may endeavour the Peace of the Kingdom Now Sirs I must shew you both how you are out of the way and will put you in the way first you are out of the way for certainly all the way you ever have had yet as I could find by anything is in the way of Conquest certainly this is an ill way for Conquest Sir in my opinion is never just except there be a good just Cause either for matter of Wrong or just Title and then if you go beyond it the first quarrel that you have to it is it that makes it unjust at the end that was just at first But if it be only matter of Conquest then it is a great Robbery as a Pirat said to Alexander that he was the great Robber he was but a Petty Robber And so Sir I do think the way that you are in is much out of the way Now Sir for 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 regulating rightly his Church according to his Scriptures which is now out of order For 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 that every Opinion is freely and clearly heard For the King indeed I will not then turning to a Gentleman that touched the Ax said Hurt not the Axe that may hurt me * Meaning if he did blunt the edge 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 whosoever but I must tell you that their Liberty and Freedom consists in having of Government those Laws by which their Life and their 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 different 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 now I am come here If I would have given way to an-Arbitrary way for to have all Laws changed according to the power of the Sword I needed not to 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 that you do take those courses that are best for the good of the Kingdom and your own Salvations Dr. Juxon Will Your Majesty though it may be very well known your Majesties Affections to Religion yet it may be expected that you should say somwhat 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 world and therefore I declare before you all That I die a Christian according to the Profession of the Church of England as I found it left me by my Father and this honest man * Pointing to Dr. Juxon I think will witness it Then turning to the Officers said Sirs excuse me for this same I have a good Cause and I have 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 and it please you But then a Gentleman coming near the Axe the King said Take heed of the Axe pray take heed of the Axe Then the King speaking to
righteousnesse and the Holy Ghost fill you with all comforts Coming near the Scaffold he looked up and said God I thank thee I am not afraid to go up here though I am to dye there there are but these few steps to my Eternity Then kissing the Ladder he went up and saluted the people he walked a turn or two upon the Scaffold then went to the East-end of the Scaffold and pulled off his Hat again and saluted the people with a chearful countenance said I am come by the will of my heavenly Father to dye in this place and I thank God I do with all willingnesse and readinesse submit to his most blessed will 'T is a place I desired to see when I was last in the Country both for the mutual Obligations that have been betwixt this Town and my Family as also for your particular respects to me whom I have understood to be ready to clear me from that â—oul imputation That I was a man of blood and that particularly I killed one Bootle here in cold blood I doubt not but there are here many men present both that day this Town was taken and divers other times during this War that can justiâ—ie I preserv'd many lives but I know there is not any one present that can lay the blood of any man whatsoever to my charge unlesse what might casually happen in the fury and heat of a Battel and why I die in this Town I know not unless it be to perswade the Nation that I fall as a Sacrifice for that blood which some said I shed here from which I am acquitted before you and from which I had also cleared my self before my Grand Judges at Westminster had they pleased to hear me before they had destroyed me that 〈◊〉 â—ing hastily brought up among 〈◊〉 by some that I hoâ—e God hath foâ—giâ— and too readily drunk in by others whom I pray God to forgive As for my Crime as some are pleased to term it which was objected against me by the Council of War for Bootle's death was never mentioned against me there that being only secretly used to raise a prejudice against me in the judgements of such as old not know me my Crime I say though I hope it deserves a far better Name was That I came into my own Country with my own lawful King I came in obedience to his Majesties call whom both by the Lawes of God and the Lawes of this Land I conceived my self obliged to obey and according to the Protestation I took in Parliament in the time of that blessed Prince his Father so if it be my Crime I here confess it again before God Angels and Men That I love Monarchy as the best Government and I die with Love and Honour and for the Love and Honour I bear to my Master that now is Charles the Second of that Name whom I my self in this Country proclaimed King the Lord bless and preserve him and encline the hearts of those that have power in this Nation to accept him to his Fathers Throne with Honour and Peace for certainly as I believe this Nations will never be well contented never throughly happy without a King so I believe also that King Charles the Second our now lawfull King were he a stranger to this Crown were the most fit and most accomplisht Prince that this day lives to take the Government of this People his admirable Piety Vertue Justice great Valour and Discretion far above so few years doth now make him in all places he comes highly beloved and will hereafter make him honourable among all Nations and I wish the people of this Nation so much happiness when my eyes are closed that he may peaceably be receiv'd to the enjoyment of his just Right and then they shall never want their just Rights which till then they will alwayes want As for my being in Arms in the beginning of this War I profess here in the presence of my God before whom in a few minutes I must make an account for this profession I only fought for peace setling the late King my Master in his just Rights and the maintenance of the laws of this Land and that I had no other design intent or purpose for my then taking up Arms and for this last engagement I profess here again in the presence of the same God that I did it for the restoring of my lawful Sovereign into that Throne out of which his Father was most unchristianly barbarously taken by the most unjust sentence of a pretended Court of Justice and himself against Law all Justice kept out and disposest of and this was all my reason For as for estate and quality I wanted not a sufficient competency neither was I ever ambitious to enlarge either for by the favor of my Kings Predecessors my family was raised to a condition well known in this Countrey and now it is as well known that by his enemies I am adjudged to die and that by new and monstrous Laws as making me an enemy to my Country as fighting for my Country as a Traitor to the Laws for endeavouring to preserve Lawes But Oh! God give me grace to consider him who suffered such contradictions of sinners and O my God assert the King to his Fathers Throne assert the Laws to their former honour and restore thy own Religion in its purity that all these shadows and false pretences of Religion may vanish away and our childrens posterities may serve thee in Spirit and in Truth Good friends I die for the * At which words King and Laws a Trooper said aloud we will neither have King Lord nor Laws and upon a sudden the souldiers being either surprized with fear at a strange noise that was heard or else falling into mutiny presently fell into a tumult riding up and down the streets cutting and slashing the people some being killed and many wounded his Lordship looking upon this sadâ— spectacle said thus Gentlemen it troubles me more then my own death that others are burt and I fear die for me I beseech you stay your hands I flie not you pursue not me and here are none to pursue you But being interrupted in his speech and not permitted to go on further for which the Officers were much troubled he turn'd aside to his servant and gave him the speech into his hand saying I will speak to my God who I know will bear me and when I am dead let the world know what I would have said Here his Lordship was 〈◊〉 errupted but it was as follows in his own copy under his own band King the Laws of the land and the Protestant Religion maintained in the Church of England all which as I was ready to maintain with my life so I cheerfully suffer for them in this welcome death I am sentenced to death by a Council of War after quarter for life and assurance for honourable and safe usage by Captain Edge I had
except they water their beds and couches with tears of Repentence The court gave severe and rash Judgment on my body and sent a pitifull fellow bur a pitiless fellow that gave as rash a Judgment of my soul but that precious Jewel none of them could touch to hurt The souls under the Alter cry loud for vengeance long ago how many more of late years have been added to them to help the cry the cry is loud of those lately whose blood hath been unlawfully spilt but vengeance is Gods and I will leave it to him The Court at my Tryal said I was confident and held it as a fault He also whom they sent to the Tower I know not if to intrap me under pretence to comfort my soul told me also I was confident I say the same and the same confidence I bring with me now and by Gods assistance I hope I shall carry it out of this world with my innocency Gentlemen Souldiers Among the ancient and savage sort of Heathen they had a Law once every three six or twelve moneths to offer up a sacrifice of humane blood to their god and that their god was a Devil Among us whether Heathen or not you best know of late years we have had a fatal custome once in three six or twelve moneths to make not only a sacrifice but many sacrifices of humane Christian blood our Scaffolds have reek'd and smoak'd with the choisest sort of blood But unto what God do you judge What God is he that delights in the blood of man Baal the god of Ekron Bâ—lzebub the god of Flyes Amongst the Primitive Christians that lived nearest the time of our Saviour Christ the greatest Tyrants and persesecutors of the Christians lived the persecution was great and yet the courage of those persecuted Christians was so great that it excelled the fury of the persecutors that they came in faster to be killed then they could kill they offered their bodies and throats so thick unto the slaughter that the hands of Tyrants were weary with killing and yet Sanguis Martirum was Semâ—n Ecclesiâ—e and many Heathens came in with the Christians seeing their chearfull constancy turned Christians and dyed Christians and dyed with them the Christians still encreased the more Of late years here hath been a great persecution in this Nation and yet the sufferers have been so many and present themselves so thick in the vindication of their King Country and Laws that they startled the very enemy himself their constancy so great that the eyes of their Judges dropped tears whether reall or true let the Judge of Judges judge They still stand amazed at their constancy though they exceed the old Heathens are not weary of killing Oh Souldiers How many of you have been brought up and led on by blind principles wronged in your education or seduced by your indiscreet heedless and heady Teachers How many of you young men have for some small discontent departed from your loving Masters dear Friends or tender Parents and fled into the Army how many of you driven by Tyranous oppression poverty or cruelty have left your dear wives and children And some for novelty or wantonness adhere to this employment not considering the great danger of spilling innocent blood How many of you have drawn your Swords you do not know for what How many of you keep drawn your Swords you do not know for what You have put to death a pious and just King and in his stead have reared up even another Jeroboam that makes Israel to sin What his goodnesse is you best know You have put down a good old Law and reared up another of your own to judge the people by my calling for the benefit of the former and for the equity even of your own Law I am in part condemned here to die Be you Judge of the proceedings How many of you have had a hand in putting down the ancient true Church and raised up in your own imaginations a new one But alas You know not what you do if you did you would grieve to see what a glorious Church you have ruind You would never have pulled down the hedges and broken down the fences that the wild beasts of the Forrest should come in that the little foxes should devour and the wild Boar should root out so stately a Vine When the Jewes were led into captivity their goodly and magnificent Temple was burnt but in process of time they obtained favour amongst the Heathen KINGS they dwelt amongst and had liberty therewith to re-build re-build they did and finished a second Temple at which fight all the young men rejoyced to see so gallant a Temple but the old men wept to see how far different and short the second Temple was from the glory of the first So you young men rejoyce at your imaginary Church but the old men methinks I see some weep Oh weep not so me weep for your Country weep to see Religion Liberty and Laws taken from you weep to see so many good men snatcht a way but indeed from the miseries to come and weep for what your unhappy selves will suffer Souldiers however you flourish for atime and perhaps many of you may rejoyce at our deaths but believe it as Sampson pull'd the house of the Philistims down when he fell so shall we give you and your Cause a greater blow by our deaths than living we possibly could have done You may for a time flourish but remember what our Saviour said All you that make use of the sword shall perish by the sword you shall be cut down like the grass and whither away like the green herbs But do you behold yonder glorious place Do you behold the spangled Heavens where the holy Angels dwell where God himselfe is rounded with Thrones Principalities Powers and the Celestial Spirits of just men when the Trump shall blow when the dead shall rise at the dreadful day of Judgment How will you answer all your Rapes and Murthers Do you think your hands that have been bathed in the blood of your King the blood of so many of your eminent Country-men so unjustly that have been bathed in the blood of many of your friends your kindred perhaps your Parents can ever reach yonder glorious place without repentance Oh no! Repent now therefore it is not too late shake off your bloody Protector rescue your ancient Laws and call in your Royal young Prince whom you have long enough wronged Make your Add esses to the great Protector of Heaven and Earth as I now do my self for a Pardon for all your former and present transgressions I dye an obedient Son of the Church of England and with a dutifull heart to the KING and desire that none present that love him will he disheartned by my death but continue faithfull to the end And so farewell I forgive all the world c. Colonel Penrudock Colonel Groves and others are taken at Southmolton in
thus made the unsearchable Providence of God all hands were set to work to demolish and throw down that goodly structure and Fabrick of Government under which this Nation had so long flourished upon the Support and Bâ—sis of the Three Estates The King the Lords Spiritual and Temporal To the Ruine of all which these New Modellers proceeded in this Method most prophetically foretold by that incomparable M. Hooker Hook Eccles Pol. Lib. 8. init under the Embleme of a stately and well-spreaded Tree consisting chiefly of 3 great Boughs to all which it seemed not at first expedient to offer the Edge of the Axe at once but rather to single them and strike at the weakest first making shew that the Lop of that one Dolus Intervalla scelerum poscebat Tacit. shall draw the more abundance of Sap to the other two that thereby they may the better prosper This was put in practice by our Deformers and the Bishops first designed to the Fatal Stroke the weighty Fall of whom was sure to draw down the other two with any the least touch together with them For a Parliament being called in Nov. 1640 with as much Clamour as Impudence did these Factious Incendiaries of the Puritan Party affront and assault the Members of both Houses thrusting their Demands into the Two Houses under the Title of Petitions being backt with armed Force and Violence several tumultuous Rabbles came swarming down to Westminster by the Kings Gates at White-Hall others in Boats and Barges armed likewise by water obtruding their unknown Caprichio's and conceits upon the Parliament many of whom were so far from checking or resisting so dangerous a Torrent which had overflowed the Banks of either Modesty Loyalty or Christianity that they rather abetted sided with and countenanced those treasonable Attempts nor did these Tumults cease till the King was forced to abandon his own House to save Himself His Honour and Conscience But before they began this great Enterprize upon a whole Order so rooted and setled by the Laws their Dignities and Revenues so reverenced and esteemed for their individual Persons and Worth by all men of Wisdom and Honour so supported and defended by the King and his Authority which at first they durst not grapple with his chief Ministers of State his Judges and for the greatest part of the Nobility they cast about how to effect their Tragical Intentions and Designs another more cruel but plausible way and indeed otherwise then so they could not possibly or at least probably have accomplished their Mischiefs Therefore they began with the Terrible Outcries of Justice of calling Delinquents and the Kings evil Counsellers words of course with Traytors to condigne punishment Many there were whom they had put down in their black List for such and many violent Speecâ—es were made by the Faction in the House of Commons concerning them that what they wanted in the matter substance of the Charge or guilt they might make up in the number quality of those whom they pretended to be guilty Divers of them to avoid the popular Fury knowing themselves to be marked out by the chief of the Faction for Ruine and withal that the grearness of their places could not consist without some little Offences which their enemies had opportunity to aggravate withdrew themselves out of a wise confideration of the prevalency and overbearing power of those men But some whose Honour and Innocency could endure no such Eclipses and betwixt whose greatness and Verrue they scorned the Vulgar and hopeless peopâ—es Oblequy should so interpose as to darken and obscure their Glory and Lustre stood still in their Orbs and Stations and shone with the same brightness of Integrity The pretended Crime was a dutiful Observation of the Fifth Commandment which lay in the way to their designed absolutenesse the Faction was engaged against all Power or Authority but that of their own Wils and could allow no render Consciences to the Second Table which having prophaned in the first and most important Command they easily contravened and abrogated the rest in murdering plundering and adulterating the Affections perjuring and insaâ—iably covering the Goods and Lives of their Fellow-Subjects who may deservedly be canonized for Martyrs for Confessing and Maintaining to their death so precious and so commanded a Duty of Loyal Obedience Amongst the first of these was the Earl of Sirafford a Person whom the Faction knew to be a firm Friend to the Bishops and a great Lover of that Sacred Function and Order one that had manifested that Affection to them in his Administration of the Government of Ireland a wise yea the wisest Subject in the Kingdom who stood as a Bulwark and Defence against all Invasions Plots and Conspiracies against either Church or State and without whose Removal they well knew they should effect nothing The King had summoned this very Parliament by his Advice concurring with others of his Council having called him out of Ireland somtime before to assist him in the War against the aforesaid Rebellious Scots as Lâ—Gen to his Army then upon the Borders from whence he was no sooner come to London and at the opening of the Parliament taken his Place in the House of Lords but a Charge of High Treason was exhibited against him by the Commons and thereupon he was committed to the Black Rod and from thence to the Tower of London This was the first Parliament wherein the Faction was predominant not that their particular number made them so but they closed with all Interests that were any way offended at the Government and some well-meaning men there were too that were led by the Nose by these forsooth good Patriots but having by these means got the Vote of the Commons in their own management they resolved noâ— to abate the least Ace of that Power The King in the beginning of the Parliament to remove all Distrust and Jealousie of him had granted them whatever they had demanded had signed the Bill for a Triennial Parliament had Enâ—cted that he would not dissolve this without the Consent of the Lords Commons themselves so that there rested nothing of the Kings part which Reasonable men could desire for him more to grant or they to ask therefore he took it very unkindly that in the midst of these Favours and Grants they should so unhansomly affront him in challenging his Prime Minister of State in so high a manner But they were resolved to passe the Limits of all Duty and Obedience and having the King so engaged as beforesaid and necessitated also for Money to put and impose any thing upon him though never so disagreeable to his honour and Conscience nay to common Reason To this purpose after the Charge was exhibited the Faction in the House and their Agents and Partisans in the City who had their Correspondents also in the Country as appeared afterwards by several Petitions brought out of divers Counties of England drew down a confused Râ—bble
of Apprentices Seamen and others intermingled with so me of the leading Grandees who were to instruct this many-headed Monster what they should cry out for or what they should do upon any emergency who coming to Westminster-Hall made a violent cry for Justice against Strafford which continued so many dayes together till at last not seeing the businesse go on with that disparch they wished and being informed by their Members of the Faction in the House that the Bill of Attainder stuck with the Lords and that they refused to passe it they proceeded to that Impudence as to stop the Lords Coaches as they went to the House and threaten them if they would not consent to his Condemnation to hinder them from entring into the House and that they would turn them back withal they posted up the Names of those Lords who would not consent to this cruel and barbarous way of proceeding against the said Earle calling them Straffordians and enemies of their Country with this menacing Subscription This and more shall be done unto them c. If this had been meerly the Rage of the Multitude the Fate of this worthy and Noble Person had been something the lesse lamentable by how much injuries of violence are lesse terrible and imputable then those of Deliberation but here was the bloudy hand of the Puritan Preacher most apparently concerned who now thought to wreak himself of all those Silencings had been put upon their Seditious Mouths by this cry for bloud which no Horseleech ever more greedily sucked so by these Prophets the Word was put into the mouth of the multitude Many Enemies and those the ablest Lawyers of the Kingdom and Eloquent Orators also this Noble Earle was combated with against whom neverthelesse he most rationally politely and learnedly without any the least Passion confidence or Fear being alike distant from them both but in an even and excellent temper of mind so well defended himself that his Peers could not find where to fasten his Charge which because of the extraordinary manage of it and that he is the Protomartyr take a view of in this short Account An Account of the Life Tryal and Death of that Loyal PROTO-MARTYR THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lord Deputy of Ireland Beheaded May 12. 1641. VVHat was tauntingly said by the French concerning this great and prudent Statesman that the English were mad having but one wise Head to cut it off was Truth enough and too sadly experienced All Essaies of describing those great Abilities and comprehensiveness of his mind are therefore unfeasable because none but himself could pourtraict them to any Appearance or Semblance of that Life and Quicknesse which manifested it self even in that unsearchable and profound depth of his Counsels and Actions so that he hath left nothing transmittible to our Imitation but his Loyalty wherein we and his Enemies agree in this that we have nothing else to lay hold on his other superexcellent qualities being above our and their reach and understanding The Reason undoubtedly why he was assaulted with the new Engine of accumulative and constructive Treâ—son He hath for his honour and glory a most illustrious character given him by King Charles of blessed memory in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in these words I look upon my Lord of Strafford as a Gentleman whose abilities might make a Prince rather afraid than ashamed to employ him in the greatest affaires of State c. so that all that can be added to his memory and renown by any other pen will be but a superfluous labour but because that good Prince only considered him in his setting wherein he was as unhappily concernd as he was happily in the raising of him it is thought requisiâ—e to take a farther view of him and deduce him from his Ancestry to whom he hath contributed more honour than he received from them He was born in Yorkshire of the illustrious Family of the Wentworths and educated according to the greatnesse of his Family which had brought forth many famous men As soon as he came of age he was chosen a Parliament Man where he presently gained the reputation of a States-Man and good Patriot by stickling against the Prerogative which mist not the Courts observation By King Charls the First out of honour to his merit and great parts he was made Bâ—ron Wentworth of Raby and soon after other Titles were conferred on him together with places of trust which he discharged to the Kings great content the services he received from him ballancing his favours bestowed on him which he never abused but continued to his death a most prudent Councellour Loyal Subject and faithful Friend being taken into the Kings bosom and most retired secrets Soon after he was created Earl of Strafford he was made also Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in which Government he exceeded in policy and good Laws and careful management in advancing the Kings revenue and ascertaining it for the future all that went before him He did also take care for the Church established the Protestant Religion countenanced learned men and preferred them and setled a constant revenue for them in that Kingdom of which prudent and pious action the now Clergy there do reape the fruit Some offences were taken at him by the Irish whom he kept in a very hard but orderly subjection suppressing their out-laws and Tories and reducing them to a perfect entire obedience to the Kings Authority and the Laws Unlesse the strings be wound up hard we cannot look for good Musick he repressed and beat down the insolent Lordings of the great ones over the Commons whom he sweetned and arctized into the English from their wild and barbarous Customs which caused him no great Love from the Irish Nobility who understood the design was by such artifices to take from them the absolute power they had over their poor Vassals and Tenants when they should find the difference between the English Manners and Laws and those of their own Country Herein notwithstanding the great opposition he meâ— in the obstinacy and indocibility and prejudice of that opinionated Nation he made a good procedure and no doubt had he continued longer in the Government and those times had not fallen out which soon put all into a confusion had obtained his end The Scotch War breaking out first as aforesaid he was called out of Ireland to assist the King with his Counsel in those Exigencies which had so unpreparedly surprized him to which work like a Noble Friend he set his head his hands and his purse advancing by subscription which the rest of the Nobility followed according to their estate twenty thousand pounds with which aid and the large supply of the Clergy who granted the King four shillings in the pound for six years together which was effected by his influence that King raised that Army against the Scots The Earl of Strafford was sick at the Defeat given the English at Newburne under my Lord Conway whereupon
City and upon due hearing of the Answers and defence of the said Robert to the several Articles and also upon Proofs and Examination before them taken upon Oath It is unanimously adjudged by this Court That the said Robert Yeomans is guilty of Trayterous Intelligence and correspondency with the Enemy and of a trayterous and wicked conspiracy to betray this Town into the hands of the Enemy and thereupon this Court doth adjudge and passe Sentence of death upon him as a Traytor and Conspirator and accordingly doth order That the said Robert Yeomans shall be returned to the place of his former Imprisonment and from thence be brought before the main Court of Guard there to be hanged by the Neck till he die Mr. Robert Yeomans being thus most unjustly condemned May the 8th in the same Moneth Mr. George Bowcher was convened before them where were present and sitting in Council 3 or 4 mean rascally Fellows one of whom by name Robert Baugh a Sheep-skin-Dresser who in times of peace durst not come near Mr. Yeomans but uncovered at a distance as his duty was now plucked off Mr. Yeomans Hat he being brought before them again commanding him to stand bare before him the Articles were the same which were exhibited before against Mr. Yeomans and are now not material to be inserted but upon the matter of them drawn out of his own Confession or deposition of others at the Lady Rogers her House he received the like Sentence of Condemnation When the News of this came to Court though many men did not think that their bold Insolency would so far dare as to put the Sentence in execution yet at last considering that they were not in the hands of honourable Enemies but Rebel Sectaries under such a Governour the General of his Majesties Forces resolved to write unto Fiennes and that by way of Threat that by the menace of the like punishment on the Prisoners with him he might deter them from their intended Cruelty on the Kings good Subjects there The Letter was this I Having been informed that lately at a Court of War you have condemned to death Robert Yeomans late Sheriffe of the City of Bristol who hath his Majesties Commission for raising a Regiment for his Service William Yeomans his Brother George Bowcher and Edward Dacres all for expressing their Loyalty to his Majesty and endeavouring his Service according to their Allegiance and that you intend to proceed speedily against divers others in the like manner do therefore signifie unto you that I intend speedily to put M. George Mr. Stevens Capt. Huntley and others taken in Rebellion against his Majesty at Cyrencester into the same condition do further advertize you that if you offer by that unjust Judgment to execute any of them you have so condemned that these now in custody here especially those men afore-specified must expect no Favour or Mercy Directed to the Commander in Chief and Council of War in the City of Bristol Forth Fiennes having received this Letter by a Drum and knowing the great advantage they had by the Meanness and Baseness of the Prisoners in the Kings hands put in the Ballance with those of the Kings in their hands while Earls Barons and the Flower of the Nobility were exposed to Tinkers and Coblers returned a most petulant and sawcy Letter which for the Irreverence and baseness of it we will not daign to insert Whereupon the King pitying the distress of those his Loyal Subjects and perceiving no Reason or Justice could prevail with Fiennes his Bowels yearning over his worst Subjects put him upon a pious consideration of those that were to suffer for him which by a Trumpeter in his Royal Letter he exprest to the Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffes of Bristol in these words CHARLES R. TRusty and Beloved We greet you well Whereas We are informed that by the Power and Authority of certain Factious and Rebellious Persons in that Our City of Bristol divers of Our good Subjects as namely Robert Yeomans George Bowcher William Yeomans Edward Dacres and others of that Our City are imprisoned for preserving their Duty and Loyalty to us and for refusing to joyn in or assist this Horrid and odious Rebellion against Us and that the said wicked and trayterous Persons have presumed to condemn the said Innocent men to die and upon such their Sentence notoriously against the Laws of God and man they intend to execute and murder our said Subjects We have thought fit to signifie to you the Mayor Aldermen Sheriffes and the rest of the Body of Our Common-Council of that Our City That if you suffer this Horrid and Execrable Murder to be committed upon the Persons aforesaid and thereby call the Judgment of God and bring perpetual Infamy upon that Our City We shall look upon it as the most barbarous and Inhumane Act that hath yet been committed against Us and upon you as the most desperate Betrayers of Us and of the Lives and Liberties of your Fellow-Subjects And We do therefore Will and Command you not to suffer any Violence to be done upon the Persons aforesaid but that if any such be attempted against them that you raise all the Power and Strength of that Our City for their Rescue And to that purpose We Command all Our Good Subjects of that Our City to ayd and assist you upon their Allegiance and as they hope for any Grace or Favour at Our Hands And that you and they kill and slay all such who shall attempt or endeavour to take away the Lives of Our said Subjects And for so doing this shall be your Warrant And hereof you may not fail at your utmost Peril Given at Our Court of Oxford May 29. 1643. To Our Trusty and Well-Beloved the Mayor Aldermen Sheriffs and Common Council of Our City of Bristol This Letter arrived at Bristol the very day of the Execution of these Gentlemen but Fiennes either imagining or knowing of such a thing kept the Gates shut all the day so that none could come in or out and when the Murder was perpetrated and the Messenger admitted contrary to the Law of Arms and Nations he was sent to Prison where he continued a long time What could a Gracious Prince do more but having not Power to compel what he could not perswade they persisted in their bloudy Purposes For after Sentence of Death passed on them they pursued them with Threats and used no other Language to them but death and Hanging often menacing what they could but once inflict So that every hour they expected death Having thus languished some dayes under these bloudy Insultations being frequently deprived of their necessary Comforts by the Guards that stood at the Prison doors for no other purpose If Execution had not been hastned Famine would have prevented their publick despight For Mr. Yeomans whom of the Two they most hated being loaden with Irons and stifled with the Nastiness of the Dungeon wasted and consumed through want of Food
the time and place of this Regicide also proved This Information was first made to the House of Lords and avowed by the said two Gentlemen whereupon Rolfe being apprehended in Bishopsgate where he had like to have been torn in pieces by the multitude of people had it not been for their very strong Guards they sent for him was carried in a Sedan to the Gate-house whence he was sent against the Assizes to Winchester where at his Arraignment the whole matter was punctually proved against him yet for all that both by Judges and Jury the then Lord Chief Baron and some packt desperate Wretches of that County he was to the wonder and astonishment of all the world acquitted and freed and soon after set at Liberty Next followed the Inditement and Arraignment of this our Martyr which was layd for levying war against the King to which he duly and of Right and Conscience pleaded Not guilty Tâ—e matter of Fact which was proved against him was that he had beaten up Drums in the Isle of Wight to raise men for to assist the King against the Parliament such a Contradiction in it self that had but Reason and Loyalty been at market there had been no such desperate Chapmen in the Country for without more ado these wretched Fellows bring him in guilty of High Treason and the Judge gave Sentence accordingly which was presently after executed We will consider Thirdly that this manner of Trial was never offered before to the Subjects of this Kingdom those men they murdered upon the Score of Loyalty during the war were either taken away by their Illegal Ordinances or Courts Marshal and Councils of war they not daring to refer their case to the decision of the Law but here assoon as they had reduced the King they thought it an easie work to reduce the Laws and though his Majesty would not comply with their unlimited demands they would bend the Law to their Lusts and most absolute will and Tyranny so that he is the first who suffered as a Martyr of the English Freedom Intercessions were made on all hands for his Life his poor wife even drowned in tears imploring their mercy but there was no Relenting or Compassion to be found among those men So Feb. 10. being come the day of his blessed Exchange he full of Christian Resolution and Comfort with Earnest Prayers to God for the King and Kingdoms Restoration to their former and lasting Happiness willingly resigned his Spirit to God sealing his Glorious Cause with his last Breath and Bloud Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle shot to death at Colchester by a Council of War upon the Rendition of the same Town THese Gemini of Valour and Honour as well as exact Loyalty I could not well divide in this Martyrology being so joyned in their deaths honourable Burial and Funerals and being both of them so equally eminent in their Generation for all true worth and Vertue Sr. Charles Lucas was descended of a very Ancient and Illustrious Family he who knows not the Name of Lucas knows nothing of Gentility but if this Noble Person had derived no Honour from his Ancestors yet his own purchased Glory and the Relative Merits of his two Famous Brethren the Lord Lucas and Sir Gervas formerly Governour of Belvoyr Castle in which three Nature and Education had summ'd up a Perfection will without any other Additaments transmit him to Posterity as a worthy and English Heroe He was a Person assisted with a resolute Spirit of an active disposition and a surable discretion to manage it strict and severe in his Commands without any pride or surliness free in his Rewards to persons of Desert and Quality in his Society and with his Friends he was affable and pleasant in his Charge serious and vigilant remiss in nothing that might any way improve or expedite his Dispatch in the Affairs of VVar as he is well charactered by a good Pen. We will therefore view him only in the Camp in which he gloriously lived and died excusing his Learning and other rare Endowments from the imputation of Crime and lay all the Load of his miserable Fate aggravated by the Name of an enemy to the Kingdom upon his Loyal carriage and magnanimity abstracted from all other Considerations In the beginning of the Tumults and Preparations for War in Scotland against their Native pious Pr. he raised a Troop of Horse in London and like an Expert and Resolute Commander behaved himself in that uncertain Service being a profest Enemy to the Insolencies and Rebellious Designs of that Nation That Broyl ceasing through the great condescentions of the King to the unreasonable Demands of that Kingdom which kindled the Combustions in this the King being necessitated to take up Arms to defend his Person and the Authority of the Laws against the like Rebellion at home Sr. Charles readily engaged on his Soveraigns side against the pretended 2 Houses The first place where he signally shewed his Valour in that just Cause omitting Exployts of less concernment as not to our purpose was at Auburn Chase and Newberry Field where the first memorable Battel was fought here Sr. Charles Lucas with many other Gallant Gentlemen behaved themselves with undanted courage and Resolution which so far engaged him in that dangerous Business the fight being obstinately maintained that he received some desperate wounds that fatal day but the Blood he lost there was but an Earnest or prognostick stillations drops of that mass of Bloud which was afterwards to flow out with his Life for the same Cause His next Appearance to the terror of his Enemies his Valour having gained him a frighting name amongst them was in his deserting of Cawood Castle assaulted by the Parliaments Forces whence with good conduct and as true Courage he forced his way through their Quarters to such places as he thought convenient and came at last in safety to York His Bravery in charging at Marston Moor and enduring the Brunt of his Enemies when the Fortune of that day declined on the Kings side as it then challenged the Praise of all men so it deserves everlasting Remembrance His discreet and military Management of the Affairs at Newark where he manifested himself an absolute Souldier both in Discipline of war and personal Action to the great satisfaction of the Governour and Garrison which alwaies consisted of Gallant and truly Noble Persons merits a Record to serve as an Example to Future Times His brave and successeful Attempt in his March from Berkly Castle with part of his Regiment betwixt Slymbridge and Beverston Castle upon Col. Masseys Garrisons together with his incomparable Gallantry in the pursuit of his Design at Tedbury was work for noble Imitation But all these Particulars signifie nothing to his Heroick Magnanimity in defence of the Town of Colchester beleaguered by a potent and victorious Army This was as the Corollary the summing up of all his Atchievements in the times and circumvallations
Death entertained by any with more Magnanimity and undaunted Resolution and Bravery of mind both the Roman and Christian confidence striving to Excellency in this harsh Encounter with an unexpected Death Sr. Charles was the first by designation to be sacrificed to their Cruelty who having retired himself a while to offer up his last Prayers to God commending his Soul into his hands presented himself to his Executioners and tearing open his Doublet exposed his naked Breast saying aloud Now Rebels do your worst and so by their murdering Bullets was dispatched in the place Sr. George Lisle was appointed to be next in this Tragedy of whom take this brief Account He was extracted from a Gentile Family in Surrey and from the beginning of the Troubles had strenuously and couragiously assisted the King The most remarkable place saving this of his Death where his great Spirit and military experience most manifested it self was at the second Newberry Battel where he made good his ground being Col. of a Regiment of Foot against several Charges both of Horse and Foot of the Enemy who did all they could to drive him from some Advantages which could they have obtained by subduing that handful of men might have facilitated their way to Victory This he sustained with an Invincible Resolution animating his Souldiers and leading them on without any Supplies or Reserves several times and for the more Encouragement took off his own Doubler and charged in his Shirt bidding them come on once more for the King then for the Prince then for the Duke till such time as night came and quitted him from his hot Service and Enemies together This noble Action was taken notice of by the K. acknowledged so at Court which rendred him deservedly famous among the Sword-men of his own Party and as dreadful to the other so that having him in their hands by this Surrender they resolved to be thus cowardly and basely rid of him It being as was said before his turn to die seeing and beholding that sad Spectacle the dead Body of his dearest Friend he fell upon it and kissed it as if he meant to breath into it another Soul and with a free and full yet true Relation of his Vertues and Endowments he did often repeat these words In how short a moment has a brave Spirit expired well this Priority was due to thee but I shall not be long behind thee my Death which is now at hand shall restore thee to me After this standing up and taking five Pieces of Gold out of his Pocket he gave one to his Executioners and the other four he sent to four Friends in London and then addressing himself to the standers by he said Oh how many do I see here about me whose Lives I have saved in hot bloud and now must mine be taken away most barbarously in cold bloud Sure the like was never heard of among the Goths and Vandals or the very Barbarians in any Age. After which words some short Ejaculations and some few Invocations upon the name of Jesus as he stood in an unconquerable Resolution of mind and in an Heroick Posture he was also dispatched by the same hands Thus these 2 stars of the first Magnitude for valourous Loyalty were put out and extinguished by the malice of their Enemies but though they shine not here in that splendor which their desired Lives would have appeared in yet they shine in a full Lustre in that Region of Glory whither the Violence of their Enemies transplanted them Most certain it is that upon the Ground where Sr. Charles Lucas fell when he was shor there hath grown no grass where the Print of his Body was it remaining still bare though it be green round about an indignation of the unreasonable unjust and cruel usage of so brave a person and if the Earth be punished that groan'd at their untimely end how much more heavy will their punishment be that contrived and rejoyced at it Since the Restitution of his Majesty the corps of these Worthies have been taken up and with all due Magnificence attended by the Gentry thereabouts and the Mayor and other principal persons of Colchester interred in the Repositories of the Right Honourable Family of the Lucas's with a Funeral Oration and other requisite Solemnities the deserved Honour to their precious memory Major Pitcher shot to death in St. Paul's Church-yard London December 29. 1648. THis Gentleman nor his Ancestry being known unto me I will not presume to trace him but as the fruitfulnesse of Nile answers for its original Springs so the Loyalty and gallantry of this person may satisfie our inquisition after his birth and descent till his relations will do him the honour and us the happiness and pleasure of a full account His Death was too lamentably publick but the cause for which he died was not generally known wherefore we will pay these justs and dues to his memory in a brief narative of the latter part of his honourable life In the year 1648 when Major General Langhorne Collonel Poyer and Powel took up Arms in Wales for the King this Gentleman out of his Sense of the Kings and Kingdoms misery the ruine and sacriledge daily committed on the Church freely engaged with the said persons for the restoration of the Laws and his Soveraign But it pleased God not to succeed that enterprise so that at St. Fagon's that Loyal Army of Welch men was defeated by the Parliament Forces under Collonel Horton from whence the remaines of that field betook themselves to Pembroke Town which being well fortified and provided held the Army now recruited with Forces under Cromwell a three-months Siege but seeing no hopes of relief after a hard defence made the Garrison render'd themselves upon Articles the main whereof and to our purpose were that the three Collonels above named should be at mercy all other Officers to depart the Kingdom for three years not to return before upon pain of death and the private Souldiers to go home engaging not to bear Arms against the Parliament In the Article of departing the Kingdom this valarous Gentleman was concernd who seeing the distracted estate of the Kingdom and how odious the Faction at Westminster were to the generality of the people concluded that there might be some occasion of further service and that it was base and ungenerous to desert his Prince at those times of exigence which called for and required every mans helping and assisting hand Being therefore in London upon the same design in defiance of those forced Articles which contrary to all Law banisht a Subject from his Country for doing his duty and would expose him to the mercy of other Climates for his affection to his own he was betrayed and apprehended and presently after condemned by a Council of War for contrarying the said Capitulation and as a preparatory Offering to that great Sacrifice of the King which followed in the next moneth he was shot to death
Question whether their reiterated Proposals which contained alwaies the same unjust and unconscionable Demands even to nauseate any man of Reason or Honour were not more regretful and troublesome to him then this publick Sullenness and dumb Solennity of laying him aside Sure we may be while that Spirit thus possest the Houses his confinement and restraint was enlarged into an Heavenly Oratory wherein he maintained a constant Intercourse with the Divine Majesty who soon after revived his Cause and though it gave him not Victory in the Field yet made him Conqueror over the Affections and Prejudices of many his seduced Subjects For the Loyal Party ceased not still to assert what they had maintained by Arms and the Irregular Illegal Proceedings of the Parliament and Army every day undeceived numbers who first adhered to them Petitions upon Petitions are presented to the houses for a Personal Treaty with the King for the disbanding the Army and for removal of all other grievances Major General Langhorn Collonel Poyer and Powel active men formerly for the Parliament declare themselves for Him several Towns together with the greatest part of the Navy return to their obedience The Scots with a numerous Army wherto joyned Sir Marmaduke Langdale with a considerable party of English entred by Berwick The Kentish men rise in a body of 10000 men part of which afterwards was beleaguered in Colchester The Prince his now Majesty came into the Downs with a Fleet of War well equipped so that the King appeared almost as formidable as at any time during the War But through the unsearchable providence of God who had ordered a more happy and glorious Crown for him free from those cares and discontents which in all probability would have attended his Reign here under the management an administration of his Subjects which was to be the price of his and his Kingdoms Peace all those endeavours and Martial Enterprises succeeded not but in the middle of the year 1648. all things except the fleet were reduced again under the Parliaments power and command These dangers however learnt them this wisdom that it was not safe to trifle longer and rely wholly on the Army the people being generally averse to them wherefore it was concluded by them to null those former Votes of Non Addresse and to make application to his Majesty which was performed by the Earl of Middlesex and two Commoners who acquainted the King with the desires of the Parliament whereupon a Treaty was agreed on to be held in the Isle of Wight whereto five of the House of Peers and ten Commoners were appointed the King declared to be in full liberty and to signifie to the two Houses what place in that Island he would particullarize for the Treaty Here attended him also such persons he sent for and were of use to him in the management thereof September the 18. it began at Newport in the said Isle where the King valuing the peace of his Subjects above all concernments of his own except his indispensable obligations of honour and conscience condescended so far and with reason so prevaild upon the Commissioners that they came to some near conclusion the rest being referred to the Parliament The Treaty ended the 27th of November and on the fifth of December the House of Commons voted the Kings concessions satisfactory whereon to ground the settlement of the Kingdom Hitherto the bright side of that cloud presented it self which with Funeral black soon overcast the three Kingdoms For the Army upon notice of the likely forwardness of the Treity desired by all good men who were sensible of the wicked contrivances and machinations of Cromwell and his Complices drew up a large Remonstrance which was agreed on at Windsor and presented it to the Parliament wherein they desired that the King might be tryed by the Laws and brought to their Justice and all further Treaty with him to be forborn and forthwith divided themselves the main body to London to overcome the Houses and the rest to seize the King and take him into their custody But before that the General gave order by his Letters to Collonel Hammond to render up his command to Collonel Eures who was to take charge of the King but the Parliament countermanded all those orders and voted the Kings person to reside still in that Island Whereupon the very day the Treaty ended of which they had as sure intelligence as the Houses they put on their Pharisaical vizor of piety and kept a Fast by themselves to seek for that they never found a blessing in their Counsels which were in spight of an Oracle to the contrary to murther and destroy sacrilegiously and rebelliously to seize on the goods and Estates of the King the Clergy and all Loyal Subjects The effect of their Prayers shewed to whom they were directed for immediately and violently as if acted by Satanical impulses while the House was considering and debating the Kings condescentions and were but just come to a resolution of acknowledging the Kings Grace and favour in his condescentions in the aforesaid Treaty as may be seen at large in Mr. Prins Speech to his eternalhonour they fall upon the Parliament December 6 1648. seclude above 140 Members drive away through fear of their exorbitancies many others and pack up a Juncto of the remaining Members to serve their own designs and cruel ignorant Ambition Herein how observable is it that God suffered not the Kings most righteous Cause to pass unevidenced and justified by its adversaries that how gloomy soever it were in rising and in its course yet it should set in glory and have some kind of acknowledgment though wrapt up in the ambiguous obscure words of that Treaty from its very Enemies who having their eyes opened would when too late have found the way to our and their common Peace and greater Testimony cannot be given The King as was partly said before was now delivered into the hands of Collonel Ewers Hammond ingratefully as disloyally betraying the bountiful Patron and cherisher of his family and contrary also to the orders of Parliament into the hands of the Army who conveyed him out of the Isle of Wight to Hurst Castle where they first began their barbarous and ruder incivilities From Hurst Castle the King was conveyed to Winchester where the poor loyal Inhabitants according to custom or to hold up the reputation of that Majesty which those fellows so scornfully and spitefully abused caused the bells to be rung the Mayor and his Brethren the Aldermen going out of Town to meet the King being in the midst of a Troop of Horse in the miry way would have presented him the keys of that his City with the usual ceremony but they were soon put from their duty thrown in the dirt and beaten for their affection December 21. From thence he was conveyed next day to Farnam with the same Military Guards and thence to Windsor where they locked him up and kept as strickt
servants joyned himself with the Lord Goring Sr. Charles Lucas and others who with a considerable Army were then in Essex and after a long Siege were forced to surrender their Garrison of Colchester In the Articles of that rendition this right noble Lord was included and had quarter given him for life though it was afterwards unhansomly unsaid again by him that gave it who left him after his Parol given to a High Court of Justice upon this surrender he was committed to the Tower where whilst he remained he endeavoured to escape which he well effected but crossing the water through some discourse he let fall Jones the Waterman conceiving what he was upon his landing discovered him had him retaken and committed again in order to his Tryal In the middle of March 1648 he was brought before the said High Court of Justice where he said enough in reason and justice to have cleared himself insisting upon his Priviledge as a Peer and claiming the benefit of the Laws which owned no such arbitrary Power as this against the life of any Subject especially a Noble Man and in sum denied their Jurisdiction and pleaded his quarter given him as abovesaid but nothing would avail they proceeded to Judgment and with Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland Earl of Norwich and Sr. John Owen sentenced him to be beheaded which was executed accordingly on the ninth of March. We will now take a view of him after the tmie of his Condemnation when he was to encounter and look Death in the face He alwaies kept a very chearful and well composed temper of mind which proceeded from true Christian Principles he would often say it was the good God he served and the good cause he had served for that made him not to fear Death adding that he never had the temptation of so much as a thought to check him for his engagement in this quarrel for he took it for his Crown and glory and wished he had a greater ability and better fortune to engage in it The afternoon before his suffering he was a great while in private with a Minister where bewailing with that sense which became a true and not despairing penitent the sins of his life past the greatest he could remember was his voting my Lord of Straffords death which though as he said he did without any malice at all yet he confessed it to be a very great sin and that he had done it out of a base fear his own words of a prevailing party of which he had very often and very heartily repented and was confident of Gods pardon for it Then he desired to receive the Blessed Sacrament before he dyed After this being afraid of some danger to the Minister that attended him for that work of Love and some Conference in order to his preparation both for his provision and his voyage the Sacrament and his death he desired to go to Prayers which being performed he returned to his private devotions The next morning being the day of his death he desired the Minister who was with him before to hear and joyn with him in Prayers which he did for half an hour in an excellent method very apt Expressions and most strong hearty and passionate affections First confessing and bewailing his sins with strong cries and tears then humbly and most earnestly desiring Gods mercy through the Merits of Christ alone Secondly For his dear Lady and Children with some passion but for her especially with most ardent affections recommending them to the Divine Providence with great confidence and affurance and desiring for them rather the blessings of a better life than of this Thirdly For the King Church and Kingdom And Lastly For his Enemies with almost the same ardour and affection After Prayer ended my Lord of Norwich and Sr. John Owen being sent for the Minister read the whole Office of the Church for Good Friday and then after a short Homily for the occasion he received the Sacrament again in which action he behaved himself with great Humility Zeal and Devotion Being demanded after the receiving thereof how he found himself he replyed very much better stronger and cheerfuller for that heavenly repast and that he doubted not to walk like a Christian through the vale of death in the strength of it But he was to have an Agony before his Passion and that was the parting with his Wife eldest Son now Earl of Essex his Son in Law two of his Uncles and Sr. T.C. especially his parting with his dearest Lady which indeed was the saddest spectacle that could be In which occasion as he could not choose but shew and confesse a little of humane frailty yet even then he did not forget both to comfort and counsel her and the rest of his friends particularly in blessing the yuong Lord he commanded him never to revenge his death though it should be in his power the like he said unto his Lady He told his Son he would leave him a Legacy out of David's Psalms and that was this Lord lead me in a plain path For Boy saith he I would have you a plain honest man and hate dissimulation After this was past with much adoe his Wife and the rest of his Friends were perswaded to begone and then being all alone with the Minister he said Doctor the hardest part of my work in this World is now past meaning the parting with his Wife Then he desired the said Minister to pray preparatively for his death that in the last action he might so behave himself as might be most for Gods Glory for the indearing of his dead Masters memory and his present Masters service and that he might avoid the doing or saying of any thing which might savour either of ambition or vanity This being done he was conveyed with the other two Lords who suffered with him to Sr. Robert Cottons where the Minister staid with him till he was called to the Scaffold whither the Guard of Souldiers permitted him not to come so that my Lord took leave of him there The same day he died he wrote this following Letter to his Wife My dearest Life MY Eternal life is in Christ Jesus my wordly considerations in the highest degree thou hast deserved let me live long here in thy dear memory to the comfort of my Family our dear Children whom God out of mercy in Christ hath bestowed upon us I beseech thee take care of thy health sorrow not afflict not thy self too much God will be unto thee better than an Husband and to my Children better than a Father I am sure he is able to be so I am confident he is graciously pleased to be so God be with thee my most vertuous Wife God multiply many Comforts to thee and my Children which is the fervent Prayer of Thy c. He hath also left behind him an excellent Book of Meditations and some other Miscellaneous things especially an Exhertation to stir up the hearts and endeavours of
prayed with him almost a quarter of an hour after which the Col. turning himself again to the people spake as followeth One thing more I desire to be clear in There lieth a common imputation upon the Cavaliers that they are Papists and under that Name we are made odious to those of the contrary opinion I am not a Papist but renounce the Pope with all his dependencies when the distractions in RELIGION first sprang up I might have been thought apt to turn from this Church to the Roman but was utterly unsatisfied in their Doctrine in point of Faith and very much as to their Discipline The Religion which I profess is that which passeth under the name of Protestant though that be rather a name of distinction then properly essential to Religion But the Religion which was found out in the Reformation purged from all the errours of Rome in the Reign of Edward the sixth practised in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth King James and King Charles that blessed Prince deceased that Religion before it was defaced I am of which I take to be Christs Catholique though not the Roman Catholique Religion in the profession and practice whereof I will live and die that for my Religion Then he turnd himself unto the Executioner I have no reason to quarrel with thee thou art not the hand that throws the stone I am not of such an Estate to be liberal but there is three pound for thee which is all I have Now tell me what I lack Execut. Your hair 's to be turned up Col. Shew me how to fit my self upon the block After which his doublet being off and hair turned up he turned again to the people and prayed a good while Before he laid down upon the Block he spake again to the people viz. There is not one face that looks upon me though many faces and perhaps different from me in opinion and practice but methinks hath something of pity in it and may that mercy which is in your hearts fall into your own bosomes when you have need of it and may you never find such blocks of sin to stand in the way of your mercy as I have met with I beseech you joyn with me in prayer Then he prayed leaning on the Scaffold with an audible Voyce for about a quarter of an hour having done he had some private conference with Doctor Swadling Then taking his leave of his Friends Sheriffs and Acquaintance saluting them all with a courteous valediction he prepared himself for the Block kneeling down said let me try the Block which he did after casting his eyes up and fixed them very intentively upon Heaven he said when I say Lord Jesus receive me Executioner do thine Office then kissing the Ax he laid down and with as much undaunted yet Christian courage as possible as could be in man did he expose his throat to the fatal Ax. his life to the Executioner and commended his Soul into the Hands of a faithful and merciful Creator through the meritorious passion of a gracious Redeemer saying the forementioned words his head was smitten off at one blow Sir Henry Hide beheaded over against the Exchance March 4. 1650. AFter this Rebellion had assumed its various shapes put all by and made up with its several interests till it had quite outed the manner of true Religion when there was no Law left but the arbitrary Will and Powers of the Grandees at Westminster no man can wonder at this Turkish Example in the sad fate of this Honourable Person The truth is he was the noble Brother to that excellently prudent States-man the Right Honourable Earl of Clarendel Lord Chancellor of England But we must detract from this Martyrs merit if we involve it in his Brothers whose capacious influence upon the Councels and affairs of this Nation hath rescued all honest and loyal men from the brinks of misery and ruin ten thousand times worse then Death It is a sad Subject to Comment on especially because we may repeat nothing here but what has been most favourably and that at his honourable Relations importunity quite forgiven though I hope that pardon extends not beyond the Memory of the sufferer whatever it reaches to in the Oblivion of the Actor He was sent as he avowedly declared at his death as a Messenger only from our Sovereign King Charles the second soon after the murther of his Royal Father to the Grand Seignior that Office he aptly himself termed an Internuncio which to his and the Kindomes Enemies sounded worse then the jealousie of Popery I make use of that term to discover the occasion of this his fate since it hath its diversity of Names according to the customes and Languages of Nations as Envoy c. in the French but throughout the World barbarous or civil unlesse by sinister and bribed Artifices the very name of such persons were feared and had in publique Veneration He was bred a Merchant who traded to the Levant and who by experience had gained not only a considerable Estate therewith but also a Repute and Estimation amongst the Turkish Company who considering him as an intelligent Person in the businesse and management of that Traffique and entercourse made and constituted him their Consul at the Morea which place with what integrity he discharged and how discreetly and advantagiously for the benefit of the said Company he went through and performed we need not offer to the Test since so universally approved For the convenience therefore of that concerning which the King had them at the Port this Gentleman was pitch upon and sent thither but what he would have transacted there if not opposed is not to be ascertained only thus far we may be assured that there was little of publique matter therein especially of prejudice to this Nation or that Commerce in particular as was most falsly and scandalously noised by his Enemies as may appear by a little instance For near the same time the Right Honourable the Lord Wentworth being sent Ambassadour from the King to the Emperour of Russia to acquaint him with the horrid murther of our Sovereign his Royal Father and to desire some assistance from him in order to the reducing of his Revolted Kingdomes whereunto the Emperour frankly offered besides what he would disburse of his own the whole Estates Goods Merchandizes of the English residing in his Dominions my Lord utterly refused the motion acquainting the Emperour that the King never had harboured any displeasure against his Merchant Subjects of whose loyaltie and affection to him he was very well satisfied though it was out of their power and ability to serve him So that it was a groundless and unreasonable calumny framed on purpose to render him odious to the people that his design and errand to Constantinople was upon the Merchants there in relation to their Estates and that he was sent in the room of Sir Thomas Bendish to be his Majesties Leiger there for that
bitter Cup which by the triumphant malice and revenge of his enemies was given him bâ—im full to drink But that which chiefly conduced to the quiet and composure of his spirit was the lense and acknowledgement of Gods determination and good pleasure in the disposing of him and bringing into that sad condition which he meekly and humbly underwent submitting to that hand which so afflicted him And questionless great was that heavenly support which God ministred unto him many the alterations of those contumelies intended against him as we may see in the time and in his way to his Execution of which I shall say no more but onely insert an omission in the black cribunal and which I had from unquestionable credit that the souldiers themselves who were upon the Scaffold could not refrain from weeping but shed rears abundantly and that this other passage also that having laid down his head and given the sign the Executioner being not ready he lift up his head again and with a soul-piercing accent said to the Headsman Thou hast done me a great deal of wrong thus to disturb and delay my bliss and then submitted it to the fatal stroke and was received into glory A true Copy of the Speech of the Right Honourable James Earl of Derby upon the Scaffold at Bolton in Lancashire together with his Deportment and Prayer before his death on Wednesday the 15. day of October 1651. THe Earl of Derby according to the order of the Court-Marshal held at Chester by which he was sentenced to die at Bolton in Lancashire was brought to that Town with a Guard of Horse Foot of Col. Jones's commanded by one Southley who received his Order from Col. Robert Duckeâ—field betwixt 12 and 1 of the clock on Wednesday the 15 of October the people weeping praying and bewailing him all the way from the Prison at Chester to the place of his death He was brought to a House in the Town near the Crosse where the Scaffold was raised and as he passed by said VENIO DOMINE I am prepared to fulfil thy will O my God this Scaffold must be my Cross Blessed Saviour I take it up willingly and follow thee From thence going into a Chamber with some Friends and servants he was advertised by the Commander in Chief that he had till three a clock allowed him to prepare for death for indeed the Scaffold was not ready the people of the Town Country generally refusing to carry so much as a plank or strike a nail or to lend any assistance to that work their cry being generally in the streets O sad day O woful day shall the good Earl of Derby die here Many sad losses have we had in this War but none like unto this for now the Ancient Honour of our Country must suffer here And to add to his trouble most of the Timber that built the Scaffold was of the ruines of Latham-House but nothing could alter his Lordships resolution and courage for with a stedfast composed countenancy and a chearful he called the company which were present to prayers with him wherein he shewed admirable servence and a kind of humble importunity with Almighty God that he would pardon his sins be merciful to his Soul and be gracious to this Land in restoring the King Laws and Liberty and that he would be a Husband to his Wife a Father to his Children and a Friend to all those that suffered by his Losse or that had been Friends to him Rising from prayer he sat down with a very pleasant countenance and assured the standers by that God had heard his prayers which the blessed Spirit of God witnessed unto him in the present Comforts he now felt in his Soul Then he entered into a discourse of his life and beseecht God to forgive him the dayes and time he had mis-pent and said it was his Comfort that although he had not walked so circumspectly as he ought to have done yet he ever had a sense of his sins and a tender respect to all the Services Servants and Ordinances of his God and that he knew God had mercy for him that he had strengthened and comforred him against all the terrours of death After these and some other words to this purpose he desired his Friends and the people by to pray with him again which when he had ended rising from his knees he appeared fully satisfied of a gracious return to his prayers and never after shewed any sadness in his countenance His next business was with his Son the Lord Strange whom he publiquely charged to be dutiful to his sad Mother affectionate to his distressed Brothers and Sisters and studious of the Peace of his Country But especially said he Son I charge you upon my blessing and upon the Blessings you expect from God to be ever dutiful to your distressed Mother ever obedient to her Commands and ever tender how you in any thing grieve or offend her She is a Person well known to the most eminent Personages of England France Germany and Holland noted for Piety Prudence and all Honourable Vertues and certainly the more you are obedient to here the more you will encrease in favour with God and Man Then desired to be private in the room himself where he was observed to be about half an hour upon his knees with frequent interjections of groans and sighs before his God Then when he called the company in again his eyes witnessed to us that he had abundantly mixed Tears with his Prayers he told us that he was very willing to leave the World bering assured by the Testimony of Gods Spiit that he should be carried from Troube to Rest and Peace from Sorrow to Joy from Life to Death and that Death had no other bitterness in it to him but that it took him from his dear Wife and Children whom he humbly commended to the Protection and Providence of a better Husband and a better Father and that he did not doubt but that the General and they who sat in the Seat of Authority would make provision for them hoping that his death might satisfie all those who sought his life whom he freely forgave and desired God to do the like Then calling for his Son he took his leave of him and blessed him which indeed would have grieved any ones heart though never so hardened to see the parting of him now with his Son and with his two Daughters the Lady Katherine and the Lady Amely Stanley upon the Road betwixt Chester and Bolton the day before This ended he called the Officer and told him he was ready In his way to the Scaffold the people prayed and wept and cryed aloud to whom his Lordship with a chearful countenance and courteous humbleness said Good people I thank you and I beseech you still pray for me and our blessed God return your prayers back into your own bosomes The God of Mercies blesse you the Son of God establish you in
said He was ready to submit or words to like purpose Then he addressed himself to private prayer again and kneeling down to the Block he prayed privately for a short space Then laid his head upon the Block and at the sign given the Executioner severed His Head from his Body at one Blow And his Friends put his Body into a Coffin and removed it into a close Coach prepared neer the place Doctor Hewyt THis Venerable Doctor was next brought upon the Stage and baited to Death by their Belial President Lisle His objected Crimes were for conspiring against the Government with divers others and holding intelligence with the King branched out into several Articles After the Charge exhibited he demurted to their Jurisdiction citing divers Law-Cases and Presidents to back the Reasons he alledged against their Authority but withal prayed the Court he might not be taken upon the nicety punctilio of their Law that if they would please to evince the legality of their Court to him he would instantly plead to his Charge and leave himself to them While he thus disputed with them they took advantage of three times demanding his Plea after which they would not admit of it though he thrice petitioned them that they would please to accept thereof but it seems they were more contented without it being not able to prove their Charge their Witnesses failing them as it appeared after wards in other mens cases whom they had appointed for the slaughter They were also the more peremptory and untractable to this reverent person because of his great Esteem and Abilities which he had a long while employed at St. Gregories in the service of this Church King and Kingdom whose cause he forbore not to plead in the worst of those times till he was taken from his Ministry by the Tyrant and his Eloquent Tongue silenced in the Grave And if Cromwel had any particular malice to any person in the contrivance of their death this good Doctor was one whom he upbraided with railing and unbecoming language at his Examination before him as may appear in the Doctor 's Speech on the Scaffold to which we refer the Reader and with the rest of this Taper-light now expiring bring him down to his Monument He prayed very fervently earnestly for the space of almost half an hour and then sealed his Martyrdom by having his head severed from his body with much Christian Magnanimity where we leave him till his appearance with the Lamb with his white Robes and Crown of Martyrdom The Horrid Execution of the reverend Doctor John Hewyt D. D. on the same Scaffold on Tuesday the same 8. of June 1658. with his speech before his Death AS soon as Sir Henry Slingsby's body was removed as is aforesaid Dr. Hewyt was brought upon the Scaffold whether being come together with Dr. Wild Dr. Warmstry and Mr. Barwick he fell upon his knees and prayed privately for the space of a quarter of an hour After that he prayed audibly for a good space After which prayer he addressed himself to the people in a speech which continued above the space of an hour the substance of which speech was as followeth I am now become a publick Spectacle to Men and Angels I hope God who is Omniscient is now beholding me with much pity and great mercy and compassion and the more because I am now come to that end that his own Son came into the world to To bear witness to the truth he himself said For this end was I born for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness to the Truth I was brought into the world the Christian world for to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel as a common Christian I was brought into the world the Church as a Minister of his blessed Word and Sacraments Blessed be his name for that great honour and dignity and I came into the world to die more immediately for the testimony of JESUS which God hath now called me to I came into this world this Common-wealth to be a member thereof to bear witnesse to the truths of the Customes the Laws the Liberties and Priviledges thereof So I am a member of the Common-wealth And me thinks it seems to me a strange thing that in as much as we all plead for Liberty and Priviledges and I pleading for the Priviledges the Laws the Statutes and the Customes of this Land yet I should die by those that should stand for the Laws the Statutes and Priviledges of the Land And I am here beheld by those that plead for their Liberties and I hope I am pitied because I here give up my self willingly and freely to be a State Martyr for the publick good and I had rather die many deaths my self than betray my fellow freemen to so many inconvences that they might be like to suffer by being subject to the wills of them that willed me to this death And it is worthy remembrance that Mr. Solicitor having impeached me of Treason to the Commissioners of the Court against his Highnesse I did often when brought before those Commissioners plead for the Liberties of the people of England though I had not the knowledge of the Law yet I had instruction from those that were learned in the Law and had several Law-Cases and presidents put into my hand though not by them and urged several Law-Cases and made my Appeal First for the Judicature that I was to be tryed by whether it were according to Law whether it were according to the Act and whether it were according to the words of the said Act I did appeal to have the said Act argued by learned Lawyers on both sides and then to be resolved by his Highnesse own Councel which was denyed me This by the by I pressing the Argument made a second appeal that those Judges if they would give singly their several judgments that it was a just and lawfull Court of Judicature I would answer to my Charge I did make another Appeal to those that were his Highness's Council and pleaded against me That if they would deliver it to me under their hands to be according to Law I would then go on to plead and answer to the Charge What was then said further my spirits being faint I shall not say much but only this I was taken in three defaults upon formality of the Court It seems it is a custome in all Courts which I did not know before that if they answer not the third time speaking by the Clerk that then they are guilty of three defaults and proceeded against as mute I had no such knowledge of the Law So they found me guilty of those defaults and when I would have pleaded and resolved to begin to plead I was taken from the Bar. I did the next day make my Petition to the Court in the Painted-Chamber two Petitions were presented the same in effect the former the Title was mistaken Yet because
information I thought fit to propose and do humbly crave their pardon if this weak and mean endeavour cannot reach that grandeur of Spirit with which they constantly endured their fiery tryals and dreadful and doleful sufferings I observe the order of time and not of Dignity and shall begin with the right Honourable the Lord Finch of Fordwich who being Lord Keeper of the Seal upon their arbitrary proceedings against the life of the Earl of Strafford wisely withdrew himself and endured banishment and exile from his own Country for sixteen years and then returned and died in Honour His faithful serving his Soveraign in that great employment being all his charge and accusation Mr. Secretary Windebanke who pursued the same course to avoid the Popular fury and died abroad The Right reverend Father in God Matthew Lord Bishop of Ely who with eleven more of his Sacred Order were committed to the Tower in 1641 from which imprisonment he never â—irred till the end of the year 1659 at which time by the means of the ever renowned Lord General the Duke of Albemarle he was set at liberty from thence in kind remembrance of those fatherly counsels and happy advice the said noble Duke had during his restraint in the same place for the same account of Loyalty received from this reverend Bishop who is now reestablished in this same Diocesse to the Honour and support of this restored Church Doctor Featly a very Learned Religious and grave Divine to whom this Church oweth much for his accurate defences of its Doctrine and Discipline being for no other cause committed to Peter House by an Order of Parliament languished there a year and a half and with much importunity was at last removed to Chelsey Colledge for the aire but he died there within three weeks after his coming being too far spent by his barbarous misusage Sir Robert Heath Lord Chief Justice of England known so well for his integrity and moderation and as famous for his constant Loyalty of whom quarrelsome John Lilburn a sworn Enemy to the Royal Party gave so noble a character before his Judges at Guild-hall forced to abandon his Country fled over towards the expiration of the War into France being by the bloody prevalent Faction at Westminster excepted from mercy not long after the Kings death with grief and anxiety of mind to see the miseries and ruines of the King and his Country he himself died at Caen in Normandy and was received no doubt into mercy Judge Bartlet who weathered the same Storm being the first committed of that reverend Robe and long survived their high and insignificant charge and accusation This gives us an Evidence of the intended Justice of the Reformers who would first put out the eyes of the Law that the Subject might see the better Sir Ralph afterwards Lord Hopton who so couragiously and prudently and as an Expert Captain commanded for the King in the West and had so many notable successes after his disbanding in Cornwall he took Shipping with the Prince our now Soveraign into the Island of Scilly and from thence into France following the Kings hard Fortune in all his peregrinations till Death arrested him at Paris and put an end to his Travel Judge Jenkins one of his Majesties Justices in Wales brought to the Chancery Bat for some misdemeanours of Loyalty where he denied the Authority of the Court for that the Seal was contrary to Law as well as the Commissioners whereupon he was sent to the Tower where he persisted in his integrity published several Presidents and Statutes and argued them Rebels and owned the same again at other bars did what he could to set the Army and the Parliament together by the ears desied them and their threats and asserted the King and the Laws against their usurpation was continued a close Prisoner till they were weary of him and then was sent to Windsor in the same quality where he continued of the same mind till without thanks he was permitted the liberty of the Town This brave stout person is yet living but when dead his memory shall endure for evermore Mr. Secretary Sir Edward Nicolas who constantly abode with the King from the beginning of his troubles and afterwards continued the same Service and Office to his present Majesty in all his troubles abroad by no less trouble than Honour having faithfully and prudently managed that employment to the happy effect of his Majesties Restitution Sir Edward Hide now the Right Honourable Earl of Clarendon Lord Chancellour of England the Counsel-Favourite of his late Martyr'd Majesty and therefore no wonder so hated by the Faction at Westminster and traduced by their scandalous Votes being excepted likewise out of their mercy He not only continued the same advice but also saw it in conclusion attain that successe to which it had alwaies been directed but had missed of approbation till the general applause and shouts of our Deliverance The Lord Wilmot afterwards by King Charles the Second made Earl of Rochester who throughout the War particularly at Roundway Down neer the Devizes so valiantly behaved himself passed over with the Prince and my Lord Hopton into Scilly and accompanied his Highnesse in all those difficulties he passed more especially at Worcester and in his Majesties happy conveyance from thence which he principally managed And here I must not omit the Duke of Buckingham with an honourable reference also to his noble Brother my Lord Francis Villers who young at Kingston as in the primitive times gave early testimony to this cause the valiant Earl of Cleveland the Lord Wentworth his Son and other Gentlemen in that Expedition who suffered for their assistance and obedience to his Majesty in those commands As also my Lord Gerard now Captain of his Majesties Life-guard who bore part afterwards as well as before in the calamity and misfortune of the Kings adventures in forrein parts My Lord Wilmot unhappily died a little before the Kings restitution and hath left behind him the sweet favour of a most Loyal affection to his Majesty Nor without due observation can I pass by the Earl of Norwich my Lord Loughborough Bernard Gascoign Col. Far Squire Hales and the rest engaged in that design at Colchester nor Sr. John Owen for the same endeavour in Wales being condemned with the said Earl of Norwich by the High Court of Justice but must give their names and memories their veneration Nor likewise the right reverend Dr. Shelden now Lord Bishop of London and the famous Dr. Hamond who were a long while in restraint and threatned with more cruelties at the same time expecting to have been transported to some forreign plantations Dr. John Berkenhead who so hazardously and in so very great dangers and several imprisonments asserted his Majesties cause in its lowest extremities this Gentleman is so deservedly well reputed that this mite will signifie nothing Sr. Marmaduke Langdale now Lord Langdale a Person not inferiour to any of his Majesties
whom the Causes come which are unknown to the many could not or would not do Justice but at their appointment A way which may endanger many an Innocent man and pluck his bloud upon their own heads and perhaps upon the Cities also And this hath been lately practised against my self the Magistrate standing still and suffering them openly to proceed from Parish to Parish without check God forgive the setters of this with all my heart I beg it but many well meaning People are caught by it In St. Stephens case when nothing else would serve they stirred up the people against him and Herod went the same way when he had killed St. James yet he would not venter upon St. Peter till he found how the other pleased the people But take heed of having your hands full of bloud for there is a time best known to himself when God above other sins makes Inquisition for bloud and when that Inquisition is on foot the Psalmist tells us That God remembers but that 's not all He remembers and forgets not the Complaint of the Poor that is whose bloud is shed by oppression vers 9. take heed of this 'T is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God but then especially when he is making Inquisition for bloud And with my Prayers to avert it I do heartily desire this City to remember the Prophesie that is expressed Jer. 26.15 The third particular is the poor Church of England It hath flourished and been a shelter to other neighbouring Churches when storms have driven upon them But alas now 't is in a storm it self and God only knows whether or how it shall get out and which is worse than a storm from without it s become like an Oak cleft to shivers with wedges made out of its own body and at every cleft prophanenesse and irreligion is entring in while as Prosper speaks in his second Book De vit a contemptu cap. 4. Men that introduce prophanenesse are cloaked over with the name Religionis Imaginariae of Imaginary Religion for we have lost the Substance and dwell too much in Opinion and that Church which all the Jesuits machinations could not ruine is fallen into danger by her own The last particular for I am not willing to be too long is my self I was born and baptized in the bosome of the Church of England established by Law in that profession I have ever since lived and in that I come now to dye This is no time to dissemble with God least of all in matter of Religion and therefore I desire it may be remembred I have alwaies lived in the Protestant Religion established in England and in that I come now to dye What Clamours and Slanders I have endured for labouring to keep a Uniformity in the external service of God according to the Doctrine and Discipline of this Church all men know and I have abundantly felt Now at last I am accused of High Treason in Parliament a Crime which my Soul ever abhorred this Treason was charged to consist of these two parts An endeavour to subvert the Laws of the Land and alike Endeavour to overthrow the true Protestant Religion Established by Law Besides my answers to the several Charges I protested my Innocency in both Houses It was said Prisoners Protestations at the Bar must not be taken I can bring no witnesse of my heart and the intentions thereof therefore I must come to my Protestation not at the Bar but my Protestation at this hour and instant of my death in which I hope all men will be such charitable Christians as not to think I would dye and dissemble being instantly to give God an account for the truth of it I do therefore in the presence of God and his holy Angels take it upon my death That I never endeavoured the subversion either of Law or Religion and I desire you all to remember this Protest of mine for my Innocencie in these and from all Treâ—sons whatsoever I have been accused likewise as an Enemy to Parliaments No I understand them and the benefit that comes by them too well to be so But I did mislike the misgovernment of some Parliaments many waies and I had good reason for it For Corruptio optimi est pessima there is no corruption in the World so bad as that which is of the best thing in it self for the better the thing is in nature the worse it is corrupted And that being the highest Court over which no other have Jurisdiction when 't is mis-informed or mis-governed the Subject is left without all remedy But I have done I forgive all the World all and every of those bitter Enemies which have persecuted me and humbly desire to be forgiven of God first and then of every man whether I have offended him or not if he do but conceive that I have Lord do thou forgive me and I beg forgivenesse of him And so I heartily desire you to joyn in Prayer with me Oeternal God and merciful Father look down upon me in mercy in the riches and fulnesse of all thy mercies look upon me but not till thou hast nailed my sins to the Crosse of Christ not till thou hast bathed me in the bloud of Christ not till I have hid my self in the wounds of Christ that so the punishment due unto my sins may passe over me And since thou art pleased to try me to the utmost I humbly beseech thee give me now in this great instant full Patience proportionable Comfort and a heart ready to dye for thy Honour the Kings happinesse and this Churches preservation And my zeal to these far from arrogance be it spoken is all the sin humane frailty excepted and all incidents thereto which is yet known to me in this particular for which I now come to suffer I say in this particular of Treason but otherwise my sins are many and great Lord pardon them all and those especially what ever they are which have drawn down this present Judgment upon me and when thou hast given me strength to bear it do with me as seems best in thine own eyes and carry me through death that I may look upon it in what visage soever it shall appear to me Amen And that there may be a stop of this issue of bloud in this more than miserable Kingdom I shall desire that I may pray for the people too as well as for my self O Lord I beseech thee give grace of repentance to all Bloud thirsty people but if they will not repent O Lord confound all their devises Defeat and Frustrate all their designs and endeavours upon them which are or shall be contrary to the Glory of thy great Name the truth and sincerity of Religion the establishment of the King and His Posterity after Him in their just Rights and Priviledges the Honour and Conservation of Parliaments in their just power the Preservation of this poor Church in her Truth Peace
and Patrimony and the settlement of this distracted and distressed People under their ancient Laws and in their native Liberties And when thou hast done all this in meer mercy for them O Lord fill their hearts with thankfulnesse and with Religious dutiful-obedience to thee and thy Commandments all their daies So Amen Lord Jesus Amen and receive my Soul into thy Bosome Amen Our Father which art c. The Speech and Prayers being ended he gave the Paper which he red unto Dr. Sterne his Chaplain now Lord Bishop of Carlisle desiring him to shew it his other Chaplains that they might know how he departed out of this World and so prayed God to shew his mercies and blessings on them And noting how one Hinde had employed himself in taking a Copy of his Speech as it came from his mouth he desired him not to do him wrong in publishing a false or imperfect Copy Which as Hinde promised him to be â—areful of calling for punishment from above if he should do otherwise so hath he reasonably well performed his promise he next applied himself to the fatal Block as to the Haven of his rest But finding the way full of people who had placed themselves upon the Theatre to behold the Tragedy he desired he might have room to dye beseeching them to let him have an end of his miseries which he had endured very long All which he did with so serene and calm a mind as if he had been rather taking order for another mans funeral then making way unto his own Being come near the Block he put off his doublet and used some words to this effect Gods will be done I am willing to go out of this World no man can be more willing to send me out of it And seeing through the chinks of the boards that some people were got under the Scaffold about the very place where the Block was seated he called on the Officers for some dust to stop them or to remove the people thence saying it was no part of his desires that his bloud should fall upon the heads of the People Never did man put off mortality with a braver courage not look upon his bloudy and malitious Enemies with more Christian charity And thus far he was gone in his way towards Paradise with such a Primitive magnanimity as equalled if not exceeded the example of ancient Martyrs Then he turned towards his Executioner and gave him money saying without the least distemper or change of countenance here honest friend God forgive thee and do thy office upon me with mercy and having given a sign when the blow should come he kneeled down upon his knees and prayed as followeth The Lord Arch-Bishops Prayer as he kneeled by the Block LOrd I am coming as fast as I can I know I must pass through the shadow of death before I can come to see thee But it is but umbra mortis a meer shadow of death a little darknesse upon nature but thou by thy merits and passion hast broke through the jaws of death So Lord receive my Soul and have mercy upon me and blesse this Kingdom with Peace and Plenty and with brotherly love and charity that there may not be this effusion of Christian blood amongst them for Jesus Christ 's sake if it be thy will Then laying his head upon the Block and praying silently to himself he said aloud Lord receive my Soul which was the signal given to the Executioner who very dextrously did his office and took it off at a blow his Soul ascending on the wings of Angels into Abrahams bosome and leaving his Body on the Scaffold to the care of men after he had lived 71 years 13 weeks and 4 dayes which was interd in Alhollows Barkin Church with the decent Ceremonies of the Church of England On the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury I Need no muse to give my passion vent He brews his tears that studies to lament Verse chymically weeps that pious raine Distill'd with Art is but the sweat o' th brain Who ever sob'd in numbers can a groan Be quaver'd out by soft division T is true for common formal Ellegies Not Bushels Wells can match a Poets eyes In wanton water-works hâ—e'l turn his tears From a Geneva Jig up to the Sphears But when he mourns at distance weeps aloof Now that the Conduit-head is our own roof Now that the fate is publick we may call It Britaines Vespers Englands Funeral Who hath a Pensil to express the Saint Put he hath eyes too washing off the paint There is no learning but what tears surround Like to Seths Pillars in the Deluge drown'd There is no Church Religion is grown From much of late that she 's increast to none Like an Hydropick body full of Rheumes First swells into a bubble then consumes The Law is dead or cast into atrance And by a Law dough-bak't an Ordinance The Lyturgie whose doom was voted next Died as a Comment upon Him the Text. There nothing lives life is since he is gone But a Nocturnal Lucubration Thus have you seen Deaths Inventory read In the sum total Canterburies dead A sight would make a Pagan to baptize Himself a Convert in his bleeding eyes Would thaw the rabble that fierce beast of ours That which Agena like weeps and devours Tears that flow brackish from their Souls within Not to repent but pickle up their sin Mean time no squallid grief his look defiles He guilds his sadder fate with noble smiles Thus the worlds eye with reconciled streams Shines in his showers as if he wept his beams How could success such villanies applaud The State in Strafford fell the Church in Laud The twins of publick rage adjudg'd to dye For Treasons they should act by Prophecy The facts were done before the Laws were made The trump turn'd up after the game was plaid Be dull great spirits and forbear to climbe For worth is sin and eminence a crime No Church-man can be innocent and high 'T is height makes Grantham steeple stand awry Master Robert Yeomans and Master George Bowcher Citizens of Bristol murdered there May 30 1643. THere were few cities in the Kingdom for all the Artifices and popular cheats of those at Westminster who had debauched a great number of the Kings good Subjects wherein his Majesties Cause had not an equal share in the Affection and Opinion of the Inhabitants if in some places it went lesse in others it was paramount as the Difference was visible in the neighbouring Cities of Glocester and Bristol In the last whereof we shall present you with a very sad and deplorable example of Loyalty and cruelty in the persons of Mr. Yeomans and Mr. Bowcher intending it as a sweet Oyntment to embasm their Funerals that though with their Saviour the Ignominy of whose Crosse sanctified even the death of that accursed Tree in their death they were numbred among the Transgressors yet Loyalty being their Epitaph they may make their Graves amongst the