we the Commanders and Officers of the Ship called the Constant Reformation with the rest of the Fleet have secured the Ships for the service of the King and Parliament and we have refused to be under the Command of Colonell Rainsborow by reason we conceive him to be a man not well-affected to the King Parliament and Kingdome And we doe hereby declare unto you That we have unanimously joyned with the Kentish Gentlemen in their just Petition to the Parliament to this purpose following viz. First that the Kings Majesty may be with all expedition admitted in safety honour and freedome to Treat with his two Houses of Parliament Secondly That the Army now under the Command of the Lord Fairfax their Arreares being paid them be forthwith Disbanded Thirdly That the knowne Lawes of the Kingdome may be re-established and continued whereby we ought to be Governed and Judged Fourthly That the Priviledges of Parliament and the Liberty of the Subjects may be preserved And to this end and purpose we have sent our loving friend Captain Penrose with a Letter to the Earl of Warwick and we are resolved to take in no Commander whatsoever but such as shall resolve to live and die with us in the behalf of the Kingdome and Paliament which is the positive result of us And We humbly desire your speedy Answer Officers of the Constant Reformation Thomas Lisle Licutenant And Michell Boatswain James Allen Gunner Tho Best Carpenter Officers of the Swallow Leonard Harris Captaine Joh London Master Nic Lawrance Licutenant Andrew Jackson Gunner John Short Carpenter Signed also by the Captain of the Roe-Buck Hynde and severall other Officers of these and other Ships This day about night the Articles for the Castles of Deale and Wamer were signed and the one delivered before the other after the Commissioners marched away Their conditions upon surrender were to march away with their baggage leaving their Arms and Ammunition behind them entirely without any imbezelment or diminution The Rendevouze being broke up they marched away and quartered in Sandwich againe that night leaving in Deale Anthony Hamond Esq. and Cap. Bargrave who had been formerly an Officer of the Navie both Justices of Peace and gallant discreet men not according to those of this wise reformation as Commissioners for the managing of the businesse there and in the Fleet having sent away for Sir John Mince Capt. Fogg and some others Officers that had formerly been employed at Sea by the King and for their Loyalties displaced by the Parliament who were also earnestly desired by the Officers and marriners aboarde When they came to Sandwich having beene so prosperous in all these undertakings and done so much in so little time as indeed amazed the whole Country The Mayor and his brethren began to comply and received them with farre more cheerfulnesse then before they had done and that night made them a present of two hundred pounds to the advancement of the Designe who before were so needy they knew not how to subsist amongst themselves much lesse to raise any summe of money for extraordinary service The next morning they hasted their march from thence to Canterbury leaving also behind them two or three Commissioners and five trained companies for the better securing that Town being a place very factious and apt to take the opportunity of the weaknesse of the Country to make a mutinous opposition in case of a retreate That night being Sunday night they quartered in Canterbury not slipping any opportunity or minute of time without an improvement of it to the best advantage and acting something to the furtherance of that Engagement the next day being the appointed limitation for their meeting at Rochester Here there came in many Gentlemen and others to Joyn with them that were not at all Engaged before unlesse against us amongst the rest Sir John Roberts and one or two Deputy Lieutehants more who Signed to the Petition and Subscribed to the Loane of Money although they had before engaged themselves with the rest of the Committee against the Petition But rather like Physitians that out of a private interest are nimble to assist and pleasure others to profit themselves than out of any cordiall affection to so just and honest an enterprize The Dutchmen of the City which indeed are very numerous engaged themselves for the raising and paying of two Companies here also Colonell Hammon compleated his Regiment many more men comming in to him and others that he had raised in the City and neere about fitted themselves for a farther March In this City and Suburbs were three Trained Compaines which were all drawn up to Armes which that they might secure the place with the two Dutch Companies then a raising they left behind some Knights and Gentlemen to manage the Affaires in that part of the County were left there lest some insurrection might happen by the obstructers of the designe who swarmed about that place and by surprizing it not onely doe much mischief in the Rear of the Body but in case so much misfortune should befall them as to force them to a Retreat which caution is no whit too soon remembred in the strongest or more prosperous Armies at any time and which indeed most unfortunately fell out to them at the last In this time the noble Peer the Earl of Tha. acted his most Heroick gallantry about Ashford Hotfield and Charing being indeed the first that rose and drew that part of the Country to a resolution of betaking themselves to their Armes by sending his Letters to all Gentlemen he knew had any power and secured above a thousand men in that part to rise in a short time and at the first of any rising at all in the County giving an account of it also to Squire Hales encouraging him thereto who farre more gallantly proceeded than ever he began So now when he had made a fair and hopefull beginning and had assured very large assistance from his purse makes a slovenly exit from this scene of Honour and obscures himselfe behinde the hanging of Apostatisme In so much that when he was sought for by his neighbouring Gentlemen whom he had incited by his forwardnesse and invited by perswasions the Noble Earle was fled not for Religion nor I thinke to any to take councell of his peere the Earle of Pembroke whom after some grave and wise consultation had he Engaged so farre as to goe with him to Derby-house there to plead with the quintessence of his oratory for forgivenesse promising if he might but scape a whipping then never to doe so againe Which he did Where the gallant and doubty Earle after a pause for recovery of breath made what discovery the whole action was lyable to and his capacity could reach Making also severall propositions to the Committee which he assured them was the only way to remove those distempers declaring that he had heard such things from divers Gentlemen in the Engagement that gave assurance to his
County also there being so many Centlemen then met together from every Lath and Hundred a more fitting opportunity could never have been fancied Then on the backside of every Petition was Endorsed this Post-script It is desired that all Copies and Subscriptions be brought into Rochester on Munday the 29. of this Instant May 1648. And that all who intend to accompany this Petition doe meet at Black-heath the day following by nine of the Clock in the morning By this meanes the whole County might unanimously go not only in their Subscriptions but in the presentation of it to the Parliament But there were at the same time some of the Grandees in the City who by no means could swallow it lest it should have choaked their Reputation with the House and indeed being stung with too guilty a Conscience found this pill too harsh a Corrasive to them Amongst the rest Sir Henry Heyman and Sir Michaell Lnsey who posted immediately away to the Parliament to give them a timely notice for prevention of a design so Honourable Conscientious and Religious but absolutely destructive to their Interest and Proceedings or at least that they might by being praemoniti be also praemuniti which two are seldome other then Correlatives the one drawing a usuall consequence from the other as indeed it proved by them as will afterwards appear by their Votes and Stratagems against it But ere they went out of the tender affection his rebellious Bowels yearn'd with towards his true Bretheren in Iniquity went to the Prison where White the Barber lay for his horrid Villany the man not being yet recovered and brought him out with hat in hand giving him thanks for his so good service and extraordinary zeal to the Cause and thus set him at liberty without ever being questioned for his Fact Upon Sunday following Letters were sent from the Speaker of the Lower House to all the Deputy Lieftenants in the County and what Justices of Peace the House thought good that they understood of an intended Petition to be preferred to the House from that County willing them to use their utmost indeavours for the speedy preventing it and suppressing the people in it Never disputing the Justice of it nor injustice of themselves in denying the proceeding of it which was as horrid as might be for any man that knowes how to judge between right and wrong almost in any thing knowes that the intentions of a Kings calling a Parliament are for the speedy redressing the agrievances of his Kingdome and the admitting by him and the choosing by the People the Commons into Parliament never for any other reason then to present the Agrievances of the Commons in generall for what part of the Kingdome they served as Representatives by way of Petition from them to the King and Lords for redresse But they have now so altered the Constitution of Parliament by their new-found Kirk-lawes of Reformation that no man no not the best of Polititians is Physitian good enough to feel its pulse though in a most horrid distraction too of ill humours and our blessed Reformers have so long faught for the Priviledge of Parliament as that they have both lost that and the Liberty and true Rights of the Subject with the Prerogative of the King to Boot and Metamorposed the Lawes of the Kingdome into the shapelesse monster of an Arbitrary Government and Tyrannous power of the Sword But these Letters also they were ordered and authoriz'd to Seize and Surprize all persons they should find or suspect to to be active in the prosecution of it to secure all Castles Towns and strong holds in the County and by their greatest care to prevent all publick Meetings at any places whatsoever within the County except their own Then began the Committee to thunder abroad their loud menaces with high threats to all such as should dare to prosecute so bold a Villany and tumultuous Seditions as they tearmed it and issued forth a Libellous Order against it and all such as should signe it or any way prosecute the progresse of it amongst the people by any publique or sinister means The Order was as followes By the Deputy Lieutenants of the County of KENT the City and County of Canterbuy at their Generall Meeting at Maidstone the 16. of May 1648. WHereas we understand that diverse persons have given out that they intend to assemble themselves towards the latter end of this Moneth or the beginning of the next at severall dayes and places upon pretence of carrying a Petition to the Parliament which doth concern matter against the Authority of both Houses and tendeth to the raising of Seditions and Tumults within this County We having lately received a speciall Command from the House to use our best endeavours for the preserving the peace of that County doe hereby in order thereunto advise all whom it may concerne to forbear all occasions of publick disturbance by any such pretence whatsoever And if any well-affected persons have beene abused and misled so as to Signe or procure hands to any such seditious Paper under the name of a Petition and upon false-giving out that the Deputy Lieutenants of this County doe approve thereof to the end that such well-meaning persons may be undeceived we having seen a Copie of the said pretended Petition doe hereby signifie our utter detestation of such Seditious practices and doe advise all well-wishers to their Countries peace to take heed thereof and to Counsell and perswade their Neighbours accordingly And if any pretended Copies of such pretended Petition come unto or be in their hands to deliver up the same unto the next Deputy Lieutenant And we doe hereby require the Ministers of severall Parishes publickly to read this signification in their Parish Churches upon the next Lords Day after the receit hereof immediately before they begin their Morning Sermon And the Church Wardens of the severall Parishes are hereby required the next day after the time appointed for the said Publication to certifie what hath beene done therein under their hands unto the next Deputy Lieutenants who is hereby directed forthwith to transmit the said Certificate to the standing Committee at Maidstone that so notice may be taken what Ministers and Church Wardens or other Persons doe their Duty therein And such as shall be found wilfully faulty may be proceeded against accordingly Ant Wilding John Rivers Richard Lee. Thomas Lewis James Oxenden Richard Beale Thomas Syliard Lam Godfrey Will James John Bix Will Keniorash To the Mayor of Gravesend who is hereby required to cause Proclamation hereof to be read in open Market next day after the receit hereof in the height of the Market by the common Cryer and afterwards to deliver it to the Minister of the said Parish to read it in the Church But this violent course of theirs in indeavouring to obstruct added rather a more vigorous life to it and made it fly through the County with a far greater velocity and the more
indeed they might have done according to so grand examples in that kinde as have been shewed by those too they were to deal with the Law now being swallowed up into the unlimited arbitration of the power of a though bloud-drunk yet bloud-thirsty Sword but that they might make their way through all obstructions and have liberty maugre all apposition to present their Agrievances according to the Ancient Custome of this Kingdome to the Houses of Parliament a thing never opposed nor accounted Riotous till this Parliament by their All-powerfull Arbitration voted it so Which being a generall resolve through the County all men betook themselves cheerfully to their Armes the Inferiour sort and Comminalty submitting themselves to the Commands of the Superiours who as Commissioners acted what by a Generall Councell was thought most convenient for the security of so great an Engagement as that was now brought to And that there might be a clear and candid satisfaction given as well to their friends as enemies throughout the Kingdome for their thus Arming themselves caused this ensuing Remonstrance to be Published Having also understood before of the Bloudy answer their neighbours of Surrey had to their peaceable and legall Petition for which unhumane massacre the Butchering Mirmidons being fetcht for the same purpose by some of both Houses had the thanks of the House BEing reduced to this choice whether to deliver up our Lives and Liberties together or die Free We are resolved to act the last scene of this Tragedy with our Swords in our hands which we shall sooner turn upon our own hearts than upon the publique Peace By what necessities exasperated to this resolve let the world determine and understand that a Petition to Religion and Honour if the Parliament may be Judge is by some persons neither Warranted by any Authority from the two Houses nor pretending to it upon their owne Score have audaciously affronted The Petitioners menaced and persecuted into this extremity by spirits so implacably distempered that Sir Anthony Welding vowed he would not crosse the street of Rochester to save one Soul that subscribed to the Petition And it was a proposition of Beales to hang two of the Petitioners of every Parish If this be not enough to admonish others let it suffice that it awakens us into a just sense and scorne of these Indignities We have lost all with patience and if at last it be accounted a crime to Beg we shall prefer to Perish Therefore we doe Solemnly and Religiously oblige our selves with our lives and fortunes to oppose effectually what person or persons soever shall presume to interrupt us in the just and legall presentation of our humble desires to the two Houses of Parliament and to the utmost of our endeavours to save harmlesse and protect each the other in a Priviledge so undoubtedly our own and so not only adjudged but practiced and encouraged by this present Parliament And further in case any single person shall be for this Engagement prosecuted all of us to rise as one man to the rescue this so help us God as we shall respectively perform and resolutely Thus gallantly resolved was the greatest part of the Gentry in the County which animosity encouraged also the Comminalty into as great Bravery and resolute Boldnesse And indeed it was high time as the state of all the Kingdome then stood in so dismall a cloud of dull and sordid Slavery The Tyrants swords having so long time drunk the Bloud of the Loyal-hearted Gentry of the Kingdome that now they were insensible how they went on or upon whom they exercised their Cruelty This Tuesday about noone the Knights and Gentlemen that were intrusted as Commissioners for that part of the County at Canterbury gave Commission to Colonell Robert Hammon for the beating up his Drums to raise a Regiment of Foot and Colonell Hatton for Listing and raising a Regiment of Horse Their Commissions ran thus For the more safe and speedy expedition in preferring the generall Petition of this County we the gentry now Interested and trusted therein do nominate and appoint you R.H. Colonell of one Regiment of Foot c. Having the day before seiz'd on the Magazine of that part of the County then in that City being very great both of Armes and Ammunition of all sorts Colonell Hammon immediately beating up his Drums he had in a short time Listed a considerable number of men more I think than ever were listed by one man in so short a time Then both Colonell Hatton and he had Orders given to Rendezvouz the next day at Barham-Downe where all the Trayned Souldiers of that part of the County were appointed by warrant from the Commissioners to meet But this day proved extraordinary wet which hindred the appearance very much However Colonell Hammon came with about 300. Foot well Accoutred and Armed and Colonell Hatton with about threescore Horse a good Collection for so short a time as one half day to 〈◊〉 them in But there came not in above 〈◊〉 Trayned men by reason of the illnesse of the weather Here met also most of the Knights and Deputy Lieutenants then in that part of the County for now many of the Deputy Lieutenants had joyn'd with the Petitioners although I suppose out of a Politick consideration not a Cordiall 〈◊〉 as indeed did afterwards appear There after some consultations they 〈◊〉 many businesses for the advancement of the Engagement using their utmost endeavours for the raising not onely of Men but Money also for the supporting and encouraging those who were not able to goe through it themselves being off from all their Callings and Imployment Engaging for the constant paying both of Souldiers and Officers whilst they should continue in the Countries Services For the better advancement whereof every Gentleman according to his Ability subscribed to the loan of Moneys some a Hundred pounds some Eighty some Fifty some Forty some more some lesse and sent abroad their Warrants into all parts of the Country for the summoning all such men as had and would engage in that service for the advancing the generall safety of the County and Liberty of the Kingdome Towards night the Rendezvouze breaking up Colonell Hammon and Colonell Hatton Marched off to quarter towards Dover Then Sir Richard Hardres Sir Anthony Aucher and Master Ant. Hammond Justices of the Peace and men as hearty as reall and as indulgently Industrious in the propagation of the Engagement as men could be And Mr. Thomas 〈◊〉 with about seven score Trained men being then by reason of the wetnesse of the weather on horseback as Dragoones marched towards Sandwich having dispatcht a Messenger with a Letter to the Mayor of the Town before to advertise him of their comming and intentions Where when they came they found the Ports all shut and guarded round about the Town then Master Mat. Carter by appointment of the rest of the Gentlemen marching in the head of the men gave a summons to them
little began to take heart againe as thinking themselves secure from any opposition or Inconveniencie being amongst our professed Friends When our condition gave another reverse and was like to change for the worse then ever before For after he had run through so many difficulties and wearied out with so tedious marches our Soldiers ready almost to fall downe in the Street for want of foode to sustaine them we were like to fall into another encounter with adverse fortune The Generall notwithstanding his great age which might easily have dis-inabled him from such toyle yet as if he had beene absolutely Indefatigable or else miraculously nourisht not receiving almost any rest or sleepe for the space of foure daies and three nights and yet not seeming to want any posted immediately away againe to Chelmsford where the Gentry of the Country were met giving order for the Quartering that shattered Army in Stratford till further orders from him But when Quarter-master Generall Carter had sent for the Constable and given him Orders accordingly The Constable seeming to goe about in obedience to his Warrant whilst by some other Gentlemen he was civilly and honourably treated as a stranger makes no long stay ere he returned againe accompanied with three or four burly Gentlemen as I conceive Justices of Peace of that part of the Country who making it their businesse began to question the Quarter-master Generall of his Authority of Quartering an Army in that Country intimating that they were all quiet before and at peace amongst themselves and with the Parliament and that the Parliament had granted them what they desired and had sent them an Act of Indempnity But we bringing an Army into their County should draw down the Parliaments Army upon them and make it a Seat of Warre and they could not any way condescend that we should fix a Quarter there it being no way for their safety but like to prove the readiest way to their destruction Cheerfull expressions to men that had run through so many hazards and confused difficulties Having let our own Country to the Cruelty of a most barbarous and mercilesse Enemy to come as by an abolute associated engagement to their assistance whereby we hoped to be strong enough to break the bonds and tear off the shackles from our most inhumanly imprisoned Soveraign and unnaturally enslaved Country-men and now no sooner entred the Confines of their County from whence so many publick Declarations of their Loyall and sincere Intentions had flowne abroad throughout the Kingdom and so late checked the Insolence of the proud Enemy and beaten them off from forcing a violent incursion upon it and to have such an unexpected welcome was too harsh and severe and might have proved very mischievous if resented by the inferiour sort of the Army whose fury knowes little or no more when enflamed with so just a discontent But the Quarter-master Generall returned them this Answer in short That for the power by which he Quartered that Army it was by Commission from the Generall and that he quartered them in that place by immediate Command also from him But for our comming into that Country it concerned him not to dispute it neither could he give any other account then the Engagement between both Counties and the Generall the Earl of Norwich But if they should desire any further satisfaction to their desires they must receive it from the Lord Generall himselfe But the Generall being gone to Chelmsford Sir Will Compton being Major Generall hearing of this dispute came also to them and gave the like satisfaction but would not long dispute the businesse with them knowing nothing at all of them nor by what Authority they were empowred to make those interrogatories And now our Blouds being hardly coole since the last Affront when heated again by this new and the consideration of the sad successe of our so just and honourable Designes almost boyling to fury resolved to Quarter there till we should againe receive Orders from the Generall and then in case the businesse of the Country should prove so contrary to our hopes and the expectations of the whole Kingdome as to answer the expressions of those men of Beliall to March on forcing our way through all obstructions till we should find a party to joyne with or be destroyed in the Field that we might thereby win an Honourable Liberty or Tombe Here we Quartered till Wednesday in the afternoon it being Sunday morning when we came thither still keeping the Enemy in some play who lay with their Guards within half a mile of us and their Scouts still pekiering with us at Bow Townes end All which time the Earl of Norwich continued at Chelmsford agitating the businesse with the Gentlemen of the County and minding to what it would turne there who had not long before put forth this declaratory Engagement The Engagement or Declaration of the Grand Jury Free holders and other Inhabitants of the County of Essex in prosecution of their late Petition presented to both Houses WE the Grand Jury Free-holders and other the Inhabitants of the said County in the prosecution of the said Petition doe Engage our selves one to another and Declare 1. That we will not pay any more Exoise or other Taxes till all the desires expressed in our said Petition be obtained by us 2. That we will admit of no Souldiers to come into our County but such as agree with us in our said Petition and in this Engagement 3. That we will imploy our utmost endeavours to preserve and defend our Royall King Charles His Kingly Government the Subjects Liberty and the known Lawes of this Kingdome That is to say the Common and Statute Lawes and will never submit our selves to any other kind of Lawes much lesse to any Arbitrary power whatsoever 4. That we will protect and defend one another and all that shall adhere to us in the pursuance performance and keeping of this Engagement And that if any Inhabitant of our County shall refuse to joyne with us herein we shall esteeme him a person dis-affected to the Peace and welfare of the same But notwithstanding this Engagement they were yet backward enough in prosecuting any thing to the purpose in answer to their Petition or Association here When his Excellency came he found the greatest part of the Gentry of the County met but all business so dis-joyn'd and so strangely confused as there seemed almost an impossibility of any good to proceed from that so high Engagement and mountainous Conception And our party consequently left as inconsiderable to be cut in pieces by a most cruell Enemy who had already possessed themselves of our whole Country ruin'd our Friends made lavish havock of our Estates and having proclaimed us Traytors for comming thither for their assistance would prove as undoubtedly prodigall of our lives if ever we should fall under their power The distraction indeed was so great that the Gentlemen and Commoners who came there with
plundred every thing they could lay their hands on And now began the last sceene of this Tragedy The Lords and Gentlemen according to the Articles met at the Kings head the rest of the Army at their appointed places and all things ordered according to conditions about two of the clock in the Afternoon the Lord Fairfax entered the Town and rid it round to view our Line and shew himselfe in triumph to the inferior Souldiers but camenot near the Lords where he found a just cause for his admiration how it was possible we could maintaine it so long against him whose very name was as he thought enough to conquer Then he went to his quarters in the Town where a Councell of War immediately met according to his appointment to luxuriate their unsaciable mallice in a collation of Loyall blood and raise their trophees in ruine of Incomparable virtue And after they had insulted upon our conditions 〈◊〉 sported away some Votes of contempt upon us then lying at their unmercifull mercy they concluded their 〈◊〉 and decreed a barbarous sacrifice of innocent virtue and of some prey Then they sent Colonel 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to visit as we thought the Lords and Gentlemen but he brought a sentence of death in his heart though not 〈◊〉 in his mouth which easily discovered it selfe in his death-like 〈◊〉 Comming up into the Chamber first 〈◊〉 the Lords and afterwards came to Sir Charls Lucas and with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 told him That the Generall 〈◊〉 to speake with him at the 〈◊〉 of War with Sir George Lisle Sir 〈◊〉 Gasquoine and Colonell 〈◊〉 if he were there but he was not there so Sir Charls 〈◊〉 as presaging what indeed did afterwards follow took his 〈◊〉 leave of the Lords and the rest of his fellow prisoners that were neer him and calling Sir George Lisle who was in discourse and heard not what was spoke and Sir Bernard 〈◊〉 went 〈◊〉 with him leaving the rest of the 〈◊〉 with sympathizing Souls sighing prayers for them for well they might imagin what evill was intended 〈◊〉 them though they knew them guiltlesse of any thing that might justly bring their lives in question though 〈◊〉 the mercy of the Enemy it being a generall rule that the greatest expression of noble valour appears in the highest civility to an Enemy subjected to 〈◊〉 and was alwaies the practice of the most gallant Enemies in the World So 〈◊〉 Caesar having 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the field his most implacable Enemy pursued him into 〈◊〉 where when he came his head was presented to him treacherously taken off by Theodotus who thought 〈◊〉 that means to ingratiate himselfe into 〈◊〉 extraordinary favour with 〈◊〉 but he no sooner beheld it but 〈◊〉 of rejoycing at the 〈◊〉 of such an Enemy turned away his head and wept and understanding the actors of that 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 an 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 immediately 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be put to 〈◊〉 and had given the 〈◊〉 reward to the other had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Army and opposed him Many examples in 〈◊〉 kind 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 with but never any for men to murder with mercy But what should we expect in a Kingdom so heathenishly reformed but loyall obedience by pretended Law to be made Rebellion and horrid T placed Iudg of the Court whilst innocent Allegiance receives its deadly doome at the Bar. The Lords and Gentlemen sitting thus expostulating with their discontents and still revolving in their distracted minds what would be the event about an hower after came a Messenger from Sir Charls 〈◊〉 to desire a Chaplaine to be immediately sent to him which strook a dead sorrow in to the hearts of all Whereat the Lords desiring that no man might be a particular sufferer in so generall a cause called up one Captain 〈◊〉 an Officer of the Enemies and Intreated him to hasten to the Councell of 〈◊〉 and desire them in the behalfe of the Prisoners that they would not make those Gentlemen they had taken from them any greater sufferers then they intended to all who being all 〈◊〉 concerned in condition desire also to be so in suffering But all this could take no effect in them having past their doom without ever calling the convicted to the Court or Bar. A new unheard of way of condemning men in our Nation The Condemned though not Convicted Knights were immediately conducted to the Castle which was nothing now but a Dungeon and the County Goale Then Col. 〈◊〉 comming to them said they must prepare themselves for death Then Sir 〈◊〉 Lucas asked him by what Law they were to dye or whether by an Ordinance of Parliament by the Councell of Warre or by command of the Generall To which Ireton made this answer That it was by the Vote of the Councell of War according to an Order of Parliament by which Order all that were found in Arms were to be 〈◊〉 against as Traytirs Then Sir Charls Lucas replyed alas You deceive your selves me you cannot but we are conquered and must be what you please to make us with a countenance cheerfull as one going to a banquet rather than death not shewing the least symptome of feare but as it were scorning Death as much as he did the Instruments that gave it Only he desired time till the next morning as to settle some things in this World so especially to prepare and fit his Soul for another but that could not be granted then he went on again Sir Doe 〈◊〉 think I make this request 〈◊〉 of any desir I have to live or escape the death you have doom'd me to for I scorn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 life at your 〈◊〉 but that I might have time to make 〈◊〉 addresses to God above and settle some things below that I might not be thrown 〈◊〉 of this world with all my sins 〈◊〉 me But since it will not be by 〈◊〉 charity I must submit to the mercy of 〈◊〉 whose holy will be done Do your worst I shall soon be readyfor 〈◊〉 Sir George 〈◊〉 said very little only in the like manner desired a little respite that he might have time to write to his Father and Mother but was also denyed True Servants of their old Master and good practitioners in his doctrine thought it not enough to destroy the body but as much as in them lay to kill the Soule also But Colonel 〈◊〉 having taken his leave of them they took an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that poyson and went immediately to prayers Sir Charls Lucas first praying and breathing forth such zealous expressions and heavenly ejaculations that 〈◊〉 seemed translated already into another World while he was yet alive they afterwards prayed with the Chaplain and received the blessed Sacrament This religious devotion being finished they were hastned forth into the Castle-yard to be executed But Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ere they understood what Conntry-man he was and after they had again considered of him was reprieved out of the consideration that he was a stranger to the Kingdome