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
strength of thy grace I have both kept the true faith and have fought for my King the Lora's Anointed's cause without any wavering for which and in which I die I do willingly resign my flesh I despise the World and I defie the Devil who hath no part nor share in me And now what is my hope my hope Lord Jesu is even in thee for I know that thou my Redeemer livest and that thou wilt immediately receive my soul and raise up my body also at the last day and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes and none other And now O Lord let thy Spirit of comfort help mine infirmities and make supplication for me with sighs and groans that cannot be expressed I submit my self wholly to thy will I commit my soul to thee as my faithful Redeemer who hast bought it with thy most precious blood I confess to all the world I know no name under heaven by which I may be saved but thine my Jesu my Saviour I renounce all confidence in any merits save thine I thank fully acknowledge all thy blessings I unfeignedly bewail all my sins I stedfastly believe all thy promises I heartily forgive all my Enemies I willingly leave all my Friends I utterly loath all earthly comforts and I entirely long for thy coming Come Lord Jesus come quickly Lord Jesus receive my Spirit The private were to himself his Hat being before his eyes After this he put up divers short Ejaculations As I know my Redeemer liveth Father into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed it O God thou God of truth Lord Jesus receive my spiriâ— and many of the like and so he yielded to Death The Speech of Coronet Michael Blackbourn immediately before his death August 23. 1649. It is expected I should say somethingâ— and indeed it is my desire to say something and but a little I Am not a Gentleman by birth but my Parents are of an honest quality and condition I was brought up in the Protestant Religion and in that Religion I have lived and in that I now dy I have some five or six years since engaged in this War wherein I had no other end or intention but to do my King true and faithful service according to my duty and the dictate of my Conscience I have not done so much service as I desired but I have been always faithful to him and wish I could have done him more and for his Son the King that now is I wonder any man of this Kingdom should have the boldness or impudence to life up his hand against him to keep him from his Crown whereof he is Heir apparent and hath as good right and title to it by his Birth-right as any man living hath of his Inheritance or Possession I pray God bless him forgive all my Enâ—mies and Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Dr. Levens executed at the Old Exchange London the 18. of July 1650. THis learned Gentleman was descended of an antient family in Oxford-shire whose chief seat and residence was near Botley within a mile of the Universitie His education was truly generous his profession the Civil Law wherein he was graduated a Doctor and in which he was excellently known before these Wars But when these uncivil broils began he laid aside the practice of that Law which was not onely silenced by the depression and annihilation of the Hierarchy in whose Courts it is most generally used but also despair'd of for any future resuscitation during the Troubles and he took himself to the service of his Sovereign then most unlawfully and uncivilly assaulted and affronted by the Members at Westminster He continued most part of the War in the Garâ—ison at Oxford and his own adjacent dwelling till such time as the surrender of the said City into the hands of the Parliament where he had the same terms and was concluded in the Articles of that Capitulation which being forced to accept and lay down his arms he again resumed his wonted studies From these he was again avocated by those monstrous and horrid actions of those times which indulged not any man his private concerns in the danger and trouble of the publick nor could he forsake or desert his first cause with its fortune and serve the times by a base and abject indifferency He had to the infinite distraction of his mind and trouble of his soul seen the barbarous Regicide perpetrated upon the life of his Sovereign the Royal Family renounced and banished all the friends thereof in most eminent danger to be destroyed and undone for adhehering to them and the Laws in the late War the Church and State renversed and a sad confusion and ruine of the Kingdom unless obviated by Providence and means therewith used to be impendent and unavoidable Upon these and the like considerations this Gentleman very considerable in his numerous acquaintance prudence and integrity became engaged for the Son our present Sovereign as before for his Royal Father several consultations and private meetings were held by him and others in order to this service to which purpose he also received Commissions from the King then in France for several Officers of these Forces designed to be raised and other Instructions as the affair proceeded The Common-wealth as it was then called was in its infancy which made its politick Guardians very cautious and jealous of attempts upon it the Kings interest was no whit the less formidable because his person was beyond the Sea the just indignation and noble anger of his Subjects being ready to boil over upon any sudden motion they had also so oppressed the generality of the people with grievous insupportable Taxes that they might well fear and suspect some more forcible and prosperous enterprise against them by how much their impâ—eties and high provocations had further incensed both heaven and earth Therefore they employed their Emissaries and Spies to give them intelligence if any such designs were on foot and so to countermine all plots against them Their sagacious industry in this soon answered their expectation for these flies prying up and down engaging in all companies assimulating themselves to their complexion opinion and study light at last upon some glimpses of this business which they followed so close that at last they made a perfect and full discovery of the main businesse and that this Doctor Levens was the chief Agitator and manager thereof in whose breast the Cabal was principally lodged and entrusted and upon whose apprehension they might be informed and satisfied in every circumstance An Order was thereupon made by the Council of State and a Warrant signed by Bradshaw the President to seize and bring him before them and to search his Chamber and break up his Trunks for papers he then being at London the place most expedient for the design which accordingly was done a file or two of Musketeers guarding and securing the house where the said Papers were among which
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
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