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 Tre • ſon.

He hath for his honour and glory a moſt illuſtrious character given him by King Charles of bleſſed memory, in his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 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 requiſi • 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 B • 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 outlaws 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 me • 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, an overture was made by other Lords then about the King for a Peace with the Scots, which ſoon after taking effect, the King returned to Weſtminſter, where he had ſummoned his Parliament according to the advice of this Lord, and the Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, both whom they rendred odious to the People, upon the very account of being Enemies to Parliaments.

The very firſt thing of conſequence done at the firſt Seſſions, was a charge exhibited by the Houſe of Commons againſt this Earl, which conſiſted of 28. Articles of high Treaſon, Feb.16. 1640. The ſubſtance of them all was, That he had endeavoured to ſubvert the fundamental Laws and Governments of the Realms of England and Ireland; that he had done ill Offices betwixt the King and the Scots, and betwixt the King and his Subjects of this Kingdom; that he had adviſed the King to bring up the Army out of the North, and overawe the Parliament, and that he had informed his Majeſty that he had an Army of 10000 men in Ireland ready to be transported for the ſame Service.

His Tryal thereupon April 13. enſued, which was done with all ſolemnity, a Court being made for the purpoſe, with ſeats for both Houſes, and a Canopy for the King, with a Terraſſe before it; The Earl of Arundel was Lord High Steward; his Accuſers were Pym, St. Johns, Whitlock, Sr. Walter Earles, Serjeant Glyn, Maynard, Stroud, Mr. Selden, Hambden, &c. The Lieutenant warded all their blows, defending himſelf bravely and learnedly, ſo that there was no hopes of prevailing againſt his innocence by the Law, before the Lords that were his Judges.

But the implacable fury of the Houſe of Commons, ſince chey could effect nothing this way, put them upon another, which was to draw up a Bill of Attaindor and preſent it to the Lords, whereby the matter of Fact was declared to have been ſufficiently proved, and then as to Law that he had incurred the cenſure of Treaſon, the Lords ſtumbled at this way of proceeding, as a path leading to their own deſtruction, it being a courſe unſuitable to the practice and ſtate of the Kingdom, and their own ſafety, and againſt Common Juſtice. To this it was replied by the Commons, that if the Lords would not joyn with them in this way, they feared a rupture might follow, for that the People would not be ſatisfied without Juſtice done upon the Earl, as the Author of all their grievances.

The Lords ſtood for a while to their firſt determination, and heard the Earl by his Council at their Bar as to matter of Law; this made the Houſe of Commons (though the King in a ſet ſpeech to them, had cleared the Earl, from any deſign of Treaſon or conſulting to any arbitrary Government, nor could he concur to puniſh him as a Traitor) the more eager. Whereupon the Londoners came down in Tumults, crying Juſtice, and threatning the Lords as aforeſaid, ſo that at laſt the ſaid Bill, uſhered in by a Proteſtation, paſſed the whole Houſe of Commons nemine contradicente, but the Lord Darby and one or two more; and preſently after the Houſe of Lords, where were preſent 45, 26 againſt him, and 19 for him, moſt of his friends abſenting themſelves for fear of the multitude. Immediatly the Kings aſſent was required to the Bill, who conſulted with the Biſhops, who, all but the Biſhop of London, now his Grace of Canterbury (and who as the King obſerved in his Book, fared the beſt of all) adviſed him againſt it, but that which moſt ſwayed the King, to ſign it, which he bitterly afterwards repented, was a Letter of the Earls to his Majeſty, which being too long here to inſert, I ſhall only give you that Paſſage wherein he deſires his Majeſty to paſſe the Bill.

And therefore in few words, as I put my ſelf wholly upon the Honour and Juſtice of my Peers, ſo clearly as to beſeech your Majeſty might pleaſe to have ſpared that Declaration of yours, on Saturday laſt, and intirely to have left me to their Lordſhips, ſo now to ſet your Majeſties Conſcience, &c. at liberty, I do moſt humbly beſeech you, for the preventing of ſuch miſchief as may happen by your refuſal to paſs the Bill, by this means to remove praiſed be God, I cannot ſay this accurſed, but I confeſs this unfortunate thing forth of the way towards that bleſſed agreement, which God I truſt ſhall for ever eſtabliſh betwixt you and your Subjects.

Sir, my conſent herein ſhall more acquit you to God than all the World can do beſides; to a willing man there is no injury done, &c.

I have alſo here inſerted for their excellency and elegancy, theſe two following Speeches, the firſt at Weſtminſter Hall to the Lords at the concluſion of his Trial, the other at the Scaffold, which are as follow.

MY Lords! There yet remaines another Treaſon, that I ſhould be guilty of; the endeavouring to ſubvert the fundamental Laws of the Land, that they ſhould now be Treaſon together, that is not Treaſon in any one part of Treaſon accumulative, that ſo when all will not do, it is woven up with others, it ſhould ſeem very ſtrange.

Under favour, my Lords, I do not concieve that there is either Statute Law, nor Common-Law, that doth declare the endeavouring to ſubvert the fundamental Laws, to be high Treaſon.

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 conſ • ired the death of the King, and that particularly, by aſſaſſinating him with a Brace of Piſtols; 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. T • 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.

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 of which place, we ſhall confine and circumſcribe all his Glories.

After that the Parliament, by the ſucceſs of their unlawful Arms had reduced the King, his Friends, Armies, Towns, and Forts into their power, it was hoped by all men, that now they would appear, what they had ſo long fallaciouſly pretended themſelves, the Aſſertors of the publick Pe • ce and Liberty, in order whereunto, no other Expedient was viſible, then by complying with their reiterated Proteſtations of Loyal Obedience to the King, in a preſent and ſpeedy Reſumption of him to the Exerciſe of his Royal Authority, his Majeſty having, and being willing to grant all that in Honour, Juſtice and Conſcience, could be expected from him: But contrary thereunto, they Voted to ſettle the Kingdom without him (as impoſſible, as to have day without the Light of the Sun, and ſo experimented in the dark Confuſions that followed thoſe Trayterous Reſolves) which, ſo much diſcontented the Generality of the People, who were now, for the moſt part undeceived, of thoſe principles which had been cunningly ſpread amongſt them, of the Kings Averſeneſs to hearken to his Parliaments, that after ſeveral fruitleſs Petitions for a Compoſure, and Treaty with the King, from ſeveral Counties, in the delivery whereof to the Houſes, ſome of the Petitioners, as of Surry, were killed, and wounded, and ſent home otherwiſe unanſwered; they reſolved to try another way, and have Recourſe to Arms. Col. Langhorn, Powel, and Poyer riſe in Wales, the Scots enter England; but that which moſt alarm'd the two Houſes, was the Kentiſh Buſineſs, which lookt full of Terrour, the whole County unanimouſly declaring for a ſpeedy Cloſure with the King, and had formed to that purpoſe, a very conſiderable Army, made up with a numerous Company of Volunteers, from London, under the command of the Earl of Norwich; againſt theſe therefore, General Fairfax himſelf was ſent, with 6000 men, as requiring his Preſence; who was valiantly oppoſed at Maidstone, by part of the Kentiſh Army, but they being not relieved by their Body at Rocheſter, were for the moſt part cut off, and the Town gained; whereupon, the Earl of Norwich, with 3000 men, marched haſtily to Black heath, and from thence, ferryed and ſwam over the greateſt part of his Army into Eſſex ſide, and quartered at Bow and Stratford.

Being there, he met with this Noble Heroe Sr. Charles Lucas, and other eminent Perſons of Honour and Quality, as, the Lord Capel, Lord Loughborough, with a compleat Body of reſolved men, with whom, after they had skirmiſhed with ſome Parliament Horſe at Mile-end, they marched to Chelmsford, where they ſeized the Committee; and thence, to Colcheſter, a Town defenceleſs, and inconſiderable, as was generally ſuppoſed, both by the Enemy, and the Adjacent Parts of the Countrey, either to receive by a proviſional way of Relief any great Force into it, or by reaſon of the untenable Condition of it, to hold out any time, if they ſhould venture to take up or ſtay there. Yet ſo conſtantly couragious, vigilant, and incredibly induſtrious, were theſe Loyally diſpoſed Gentlemen, as this Town, which by reaſon of the inpreparation of Neceſſaries, could not probably hold out againſt ſo potent and terrible an Enemy, the ſpace of one week; continued 3 Moneths, in a moſt reſolute Defiance and reſiſtance of a Victorious Army glutted with ſuch variety of Conqueſts, and ſupplied with ſuch freſh and continual Recruits, to accompliſh thoſe unjuſt Triumphs and Trophies, which they had begun to rear upon the Ruines of the whole Kingdom: But at length after many ſtout Endeavours, in Sallies, Eruptions, and perpetual Firings gallantly performed, the Loyal Garriſon having eaten up all their Horſes, the Dogs and Cats, and whatſoever (though moſt reluctant to Nature, being ſweetned with Prunes, and ſome other Fruit and Spice, whereof ſome ſtore was found in the Town at their Coming) could afford them nouriſhment; was compelled to come to a Capitulation (though it was bravely reſolved the night before, to attempt breaking through, which was not unfeaſable) by which it was concluded, the Town ſhould be ſurrendred upon theſe hard conditions, the Officers at Mercy, and the Souldiery upon Quarter for Life.

The Reaſon of theſe hard Conditions, and their ſtanding out ſo long, which occaſioned them, was threefold. The firſt was, That not only the County wherein they were beſieged, but moſt of the Counties in England had engaged themſelves, that they would joyn with, and Aſſiſt them in the buſineſs; but all thoſe Mountains of Promiſe came to nothing, an inconſiderable Party appearing about Saffron Walden, being routed by Major Sparrow. The Second, and which ſeemed more probable, was the hopes they had from London, a great many Perſons of Quality, and known Royaliſts therein, having liſted themſelves under the Earl of Holland, who had with him in that Action, the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Peterborough, the Lord Francis Villers, and others; theſe appeared at Kingſton, in a formidable manner, but were preſently ſuppreſt by Sr. Michael Liveſey, and the aforeſaid Lord Francis, bringing up the Rear, was there killed, refuſing the Quarter offered from Rebels, the Earl of Holland fled to St. Neats in Bedfordſhire, where his Quarters were beaten up, by Col. Scroops Regiment of Horſe, where Col. Dalbeir was ſlain; and himſelf taken Priſoner, and carried to Warwick Caſtle. The third and chiefeſt Reaſon, which induced them to the continuance of the Siege, was their daily Expectation of the Advance of the Scotch Army, then entred England, and to whom were joyned a number of Gallant Perſons, who had appeared for the King, throughout the War, Commanded by Sr. Marmaduke, now Lord Langdale. Over this Kirk-Army, Duke Hamilton was made General, a Perſon ſuſpected of all hands, and of whom, and his ſucceſs, his Majeſty, it is ſaid, very much deſponded, when firſt he had notice of his Commanding in Chief. And ſo it fell out; for, at Preſton in Lancaſhire, Lieut. Gen. Cromwel met with this Army, and with 1 • 000 men, totally defeated them; ſo that Hamilton was forced to fly, and was taken by the Lord Grey of Grooby, at Uttoxeter in Staffordſhire, and brought Priſoner to London, where, as Earl of Cambridge, he was afterwards for this buſineſs beheaded. But I venture not to Canonize him a Martyr.

Colcheſter being thus defeated of all hopes of Relief, rendred it ſelf to the Victors, and 5 hours after the Surrender, according to a Decree of a Council of War, enſued the death of theſe two Noble Perſons, being deſtined by them to be ſhot 〈◊〉 a military Execution. The only Reaſon why they were picked out from among the reſt, was nothing elſe, but their ſuperlative Courage, and their fixedneſs of Duty towards the King, in whoſe Cauſe and Defence, they aſſured themſelves, they would never be wanting, as long as their Breath would laſt, were the Difficulties and Dangers of doing it, never ſo greats, and ſo many. An Honourable Enemy would have ſcorned ſo unwarrantable and impotent revenge, and for which, the Names of ſome Perſons will ſtink for ever.

But never was the Meſſage of 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 Swordmen 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.

I Cannot deny this Gentleman a room in this Martyrology (thoſe that came the eleventh hour, ſhall find entertainment) though he was formerly for the Parliament, eſpecially becauſe he was mainly concernd in this aforeſaid buſineſſe of Pembroke. He rendred at mercy, and by order of a Council of War drew lots with the other two for his life, which fell upon him, and thereupon he was ſhot, as aforeſaid.

I Intend not to write the Hiſtory of this Pious Prince, ſo excellently and curiouſly drawn by himſelf, and thoſe who have traced his memorials and remains, not taking a far proſpect of him, which was fair, and beautiful, and pleaſant in the beginning of his Reign, but viewing neerer at hand, the black and diſmal cloud, which wrapt up and enveloped his ſetting glories, now by Divine Juſtice and favour riſen again to their full and radiant luſtre.

We ſhall retroſpect no further than the beginning of the Scotch War, at which time the Symptomes of a general Rebellion firſt appeared. For what the Scots covertly implyed in their undutiful Papers, Declarations and Remonſtrances, was ſoon after avowedly inſiſted on, by the prevailing Faction of the long Parliament. The King was loaded with an heavy imputation of being led by evil Councellors, that their deſign was to introduce Popery, to erect an arbitrary Government, as in the buſineſſe of Ship-money, Patents, and Monopolies. That he declined Parliaments as the boundaries of his unlimited Prerogative, to the great burden and oppreſſion of his Subjects. No ſooner therefore had he compoſed the Scotch War, but to take away and remove all jealouſie and diſtruſt of him in his People (though all along his Reign he had found ſome popular leading Grandees to be the untractable and unſatisfiable Enemies of his Kingdoms Peace) he ſummoned his laſt, the long Parliament in November 1640, which by a gracious Act of his, was not to be diſſolved or prorogued without their own conſent; and if that ſhould ſo determine, a Bill alſo was ſigned by him for a T • iennial or perpetual Parliament, that ſo his Subjects might reſt confident and aſſured in the due manage and adminiſtration of the Government.

But theſe favours gave the Faction no other ſatisfaction, then that they ſaw they might preſume to add other demands; and by how much more gracious his Majeſty was to them, they judged they might be the more impudent towards him; in which they failed not a tittle, daſiring, as their only ſafety from the danger of the Prerogative, the Militia in their own diſpoſal, the only defence, and the unſeparable right of his Crown.

To attain this, they moſt inſolently by their partiſans in the City, tumult him at his Court at White-hall, from which to avoid both the danger and diſhonour that rebel rout threatned, he was compelled to withdraw, to ſee if by his abſence that rage and madneſſe might be allayed, and the two Houſes ſet at freedom, which by his preſence was the more enflamed, and the Priviledge of Parliament proſtituted to the licentious and mad frenzy of the multitude.

But this afforded them their deſired advantage, from hence they calumniate the King, that ſince he could not diſſolve the Parliament, he would invalidate their Authority, and render them uſeleſſe and unſerviceable to thoſe great ends, for which they were called, by refuſing to concur with them, and departing from that his great Council. With theſe and ſuch like ſuggeſtions they ſo filled the minds of men, who were prediſpoſed, by ſome former diſcontents, and who had their Authority (through ſome diſuſe of it) in great reverence, that every where, but eſpecially in London, parties were framed, intelligencies and correſpondencies held; Divers Petitions preſented in the purſute of theſe deſigns to the Parliament, offering to ſtand by them with their lives and fortunes, to the attainment of thoſe ends held forth in their Declarations and Reſolves, which in concluſion were ſummed up in that unhappy Remonſtrance of the State of the Kingdom, by the Lords and Commons remaining at Weſtminſter; divers of both Houſes, either out of fear of the rabble, or conſcience of their duty, abſenting themſeves, and retired home, or followed the King's Fortune, who having traverſed ſome ground about London from one of his Royal Palaces to another, in hope the diſtemper would abate, and the People return to their reaſon and obedience together; at laſt finding his hopes fruſtrated, by more unreaſonable demands, every meſſage to him from the two Houſes came burdened with, he reſolved to go for York, and ſecure his Magazine at Hull. But Sr. John Hotham being newly ſent thither by the Parliament, refuſed the Kings admittance into that Town, unleſs himſelf, with ſome few of his retinue would pleaſe to enter; the King paſſionately complained of this to the Parliament, but with as little redreſs, as his demand of Juſtice againſt the Authors of the Tumults, this was the Inrroduction to thoſe after violences of his Royal Perſon and Authority.

For the Parliament forthwith raiſed an Army, under the command of the Earl of Eſſex, and the County of York humbly profeſſed themſelves to the Service of his Majeſty; whereupon Auguſt the 22, 1642. he ſet up his Standard at Nottingham, whence, after he had marched into Shrewſbury, and having raiſed a conſiderable Army thereabouts, was on his way to London, he was overtaken by the Earl of Eſſex, at a place called Edge Hill, where enſued a fierce Fight, with equal loſs on both ſides, October 23, 1642. where God was pleaſed to cover the Kings head in the day of Battel, and permit him to fall by their execrable hands, in the time of Peace, to which he ſo often ſolicitouſly woo • d them. In their Generals Commiſſion, they had tyed him up with a limitation, the preſervation of the Kings Perſon, but left their bullets at random. A ſubtil time-ſerving diſtinction between the Cannon and the Axe, which afterwards they trayterouſly lifted up againſt his Annoynted and ſacred Head.

The Parliament, to ſtrengthen their Cauſe, treat with the Scots, and for the better mutual aſſurance, and to difference their abettors and fautors from the Kings Leige People, as well as to lay a baite for all ſacrilegious and covetous minded men, to invite them to ſupplies of money in this rebellion, enter into a Solemn League and Covenant, the main deſign whereof, was the utter extirpation (as previous and neceſſary to the Kings deſtruction) of Epiſcopacy, and the eſtabliſhed Government of the Church of England; Popery being added alſo for the greater colour of this engagement, againſt which the King iſſued forth his Royal Proclamation, laying open the miſchievous deſign thereof, being reſolved to maintain the Religion, ſo long and ſo happily profeſſed, and ſealed by the blood of ſo many Martyrs, in this Kingdom, to which glory and Crown far above all his other Diadems, this Defender of the Faith, was through ſo many future hazards to aſpire.

THis Noble Lord, Noble in his Life, nobler in his Death and Memory, nobleſt in his Poſterity, who fill the trumpet of Fame, that ſummons all men to render them their deſerved honours, though he was not like ſome of our foregoing Martyrs, viz. Sr. Charles Lucas, and Sr. George Liſle, murthered in the inſtant of the rendition of Colcheſter, having quarter for life given him by the General, yet did not long ſurvive their hard fate, being brought with more ſolemnity (more perfidiouſneſs) though alike glory to his Death, which he ſuffered with a Chriſtian and (no Roman but Colcheſter) Spirit and reſolution.

He was no great Captain, nor ever undertook ſuch a charge, ſerving without any ſignal command in his Majeſties Armies, though no doubt ſufficient thereto, yet he is no leſs to be eternized for his indeavours, his courage, conſtancy and faithful adherence to the King, when deſerted by a great part of the Nobility, parting with, and hazarding a great and ample Eſtate, which was ſequeſtred from him, and in concluſion laying down his life, ſo that he may juſtly be ſtiled, one of the Worthies of the Engliſh Nobility, and his name ever to be honourably mentioned, according to that of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 112.6. The Righteous ſhall be in everlaſting remembrance.

He was Son and Heir to Sr. Arthur Capel of Hadham Hall in Herefordſhire, a Gentleman of Great Eſtate, and who loved and followed the old mode of our Nation, kept a Noble and bountiful Houſe, and ſhewed forth his Faith by his charity, extending it in ſuch abundant manner to the poor, that he was bread to the hungry, drink to the thirſty, eies to the blind, and legs the the ſame, ſo that he might juſtly be ſtiled Great Almoner to the King of Heaven.

As this diffuſive charity and bounty ſpread it ſelf abroad, no leſs did his Relative love and Paternal affection beſtow it ſelf on this his Son, whom he moſt liberally educated, to a perfection in Learning, as his rich expreſſions and elegant ſtile in his Book Printed after his death, and in other letters do beſt evidence.

Sr. Arthur dying, as this Noble Lord inherited his Eſtate, ſo did he his Virtues, his pious bounty appearing ſo conſpicuous, that ſome envious perſons, who hate good works in others, becauſe they will do none themſelves, have maliciouſly traduced him as inclining to Popery. But as ſuch aſperſions amongſt perſons of underſtanding, ſignifie nothing more than the ſpeakers malice, ſo wrought it in others a deſerved commendation of this Noble Perſon, eſpecially in thoſe times (and our own are worſe) when Charity lay bed-rid, and Faith only and ſuch hungry notions were talkt of, whereas his Faith appeared by his works.

From the degree of Knight the ancient Dignity of his Family, now advanced to the Earldom of Eſſex, he was made Baron Capel, of Hadham, a little before the time the Earl of Strafford received his Tryal, which in this brave Lords conſcientious Judgment of himſelf, was his original condemnation in foro coeli.

During the Rebellion and thoſe differences between the King and Parliament, he conſtantly and faithfully adhered to his Majeſty, contributing both in purſe and perſon to his aid and aſſiſtance, being appointed in that time for his eminent wiſdom and prudence Councellour to the Prince by the King his Father, whom he abandoned not till the disbanding of my Lord Hopton's Army in Cornwall, from whence his Highneſs took ſhipping to Scilly, giving my Lord an honourable, but ſorrowful diſmiſſion and conge to return home and attend, (though his heroical mind ſpur'd him on to purſue) his moſt unworthy fate.

For at his coming home upon thoſe Articles, having ſcarce warmed himſelf there after his long abſence from thence, but ſome hopes appearing of the King's reſtauration to his former Authority, by the coming in of Duke Hamilton with a potent Army, as alſo by the Welch Inſurrection, and the riſing of ſeveral Counties, who declared for the ſame purpoſe, he with a ſelect number of his friends, acquaintance, and 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.

FOR the everlaſting memory, and the obliging Ruines of this Town and Caſtle, together with the memory of theſe Perſons, we muſt repeat from the beginning, and tell the world how far, and how much beyond all other Fortreſſes and places, this Garriſon continued for the King; and was valiantly defended, prudently maintained, couragiouſly and bravely reſcued and freed; and in concluſion, made its own glorious Sepulcher and Monument.

This place, infamous formerly for the death of King Richard the ſecond, for the Execution of Richard Woodvile Earl of Rivers, and the reſt of thoſe unhappy relations to the Wife of Edward the 4th. hath now redeemed it ſelf by the price current of Loyal Blood, and is conſecrated in its demolitions and ruines to the veneration of an Altar, whereon ſo many acceptable ſacrifices to Heaven have been laid and offered.

Not to ſummon the Genius of that place to an account, we will derive the cruelty of thoſe ſanguinary perpetrations upon the lives of theſe men from asſtrange and hidden Notions. Nothing but moſt unexpiable malice contracted from the hardned guilt of rebellion, could have violenced the inſolent Victor into ſo much inhumanity and baſeneſs, nay, barbarous and deteſtable cruelty; but ſome fierce and moſt compulſive Engines of mercileſs Tyranny and Ambition, who in this noble and moſt loyal Gariſon reared, and diſplayed their compleat Conqueſt.

In the defence hereof many noble perſons were concerned at ſeveral times, as the advantages and difficulties of that place ſucceſſively required; many brave exploits and attempts were often performed to the honour of themſelves, and the terrou • of their Enemies, partic ularly in that memorable buſineſs of Col. Rainsborough, who quartering ten miles from the Leager (Pontefract being then beſieged by Sir Edward Rhodes, and other County Forces:) and being ordered to command in chief, and finiſh that piece of ſervice, was by a reſolute ſmall party of Horſe, who ſallied from thence in ſpight of the Beſiegers, killed in his Inne, having firſt refuſed quarter, and fell as an expiatory victime to the ſlaughter, and murder of Sir Charles Lucas, and Sir George Liſle, ſhot to death a little while before at Colchester.

Among the reſt of ſuch gallant Spirits related to that Gariſon this Mr. Beaumont, a Miniſter of the Orthodox Proteſtant Religion, was much noted for his loyal, reſolute and conſtant adherence, and maintenance of the Royal Cauſe. This his loyaltie was employed as well without as within that Gariſon; being by the venerable reſpect to this Order (not ſo rudely profaned then in thoſe parts of the Nation) more freely permitted, and unſuſpectedly ſuffered to entertain, and harbour and tranſact with all manner of men according to the unbounded and unlimited uſe of his Function: but neither his heart, nor his houſe were open to any but faithfull Subjects, with ſuch, of whom upon the ſurprizal of Pontefract the third of July 1648. by Major Morris & others, this Gentleman held correſpondency.

All this time every good man put to his helping hand to the reſtoring of the King; and this being an Important Service, making the Royal Intereſt conſiderable in the North, much care was taken by the well-affected people adjacent thereto for a ſupply of that place with all manner of proviſion of Arms and ſuſtenance.

The care whereof Mr. Beaumont reſointely took upon himſelf, and before any formal ſiege, the Parliament-Forces being otherwiſe employed, had ſeveral recourſes thereto, maintained a ſtrict intelligence, was often out upon Parties with them, and had regulated and ſtated the Contribution from the places thereabouts, which was either freely paid, or as couragiouſly forced, till after the defeat of Duke Hamilton at Preſton in Lancaſhire, they were wholly ſurrounded, and block'd up.

This diſtreſs of his Friends further obliged him to their aſſiſtance, ſo far was the danger from detering of him, therefore he adventured in his own perſon to go and ſee in what condition they were, and to take a view of the likelieſt means of relief, and give an account of the Enemies ſtrength, and advantages, or weakneſs, and moſt attemptible place of their Lines and entrenchment.

But in this deſign he was ſurprized and taken, and immediately brought before a Council of War, who enraged at the death of Rainsborough, and inſolenced by their late many Victories, & Fleſh'd with the carnage and blood of ſo many preceding Sacrifices, eſpecially that of the King's, they made no bones of him, but condemned him to the Gibbet with ſuch fury and haſt, that they would ſcarce afford him time to recommend himſelf from their mercileſs Bar to the merciful and juſt Tribunal of Heaven, which would ere long judge righteouſly in his cauſe between his Enemies and himſelf.

He was not long in preparation for his diſſolution, having as well learned as taught the neceſſity of Death; improved to him into an eaſie ſuffering, & undergoing of it by the glory of his cauſe, ſo that he quietly ſubmitted to their Sentence; and with Chriſtian reſolution, owning his actions in order to his duty, laid down his life the day and year aforeſaid, and will therefore deſervedly among the reſt of his glorious Company be had in precious and everlaſting remembrance.

THis Gentleman, a moſt ſincere and religious Proteſtant, being by profeſſion a Counſellour of Grays-Inn, and who during the War had followed the Kings fortune out of Conſcience of his obedience, and duty, was moſt wickedly trapand by the ſaid Council of State and their Officers to his lamentable death; a Narative of the whole take as followeth.

On Monday the 24 of March, 1649. Collonel Andrews was taken priſoner at Graves-end by Major Parker, and by a Troop of Horſe that night conveighed to the George in Kings-ſtreet Weſtminſter. The next day he was convented before the Preſident Bradſhaw, Sir Henry Mildmay, and Thomas Scot; three members of the ſaid Council delegated by them for the taking of the Examination of him, and of Sir Henry Chichley, Doctor Henry Edwards, and Mr. Clark, caſually found in the ſame Inne with Mr. Andrews.

Theſe Gentlemen examined him ſo punctually to every action and circumſtance, that had paſſed on his part ſince he took up Armes, and eſpecially ſince the render of Worceſter, and his return from thence to London, and alſo concerning his ſeveral Lodgings, Names, Acquaintances, Removes, Abodes in the Country, correſpondencies by Letters, and intereſts in places, and perſons, as if they had kept a Diary for him. Which conſidered, and that Sir John Gell Baroner, Major Bernard, Captain Smith, Captain Benſon, and Capt. Aſhley (with whom he had the laſt and moſt queſtionable correſpondency) were all in cuſtody; he found himſelf to be betrayed, but could not at preſent gueſſe by whom: but well ſaw, that he had better be fair in his Confeſſion, then to deny what he ſaw by the perfectneſs of his Examiners would be proved againſt him by the diſcovery of thoſe formerly ſecured, and examined before his coming up, and ſo reſolved to bear the worſt, and not ſo much to ſhame himſelf, or the matter, as to deny things evident, or eaſily proveable, but rather to caſt himſelf upon God; and come off as well as he could with a truth in his mouth.

In his Anſwers he would have been circumſtantial, but was kept cloſe to the Queſtion, At his departure he deſired he might ſet down his own Narrative according to his own ſenſe, which was granted him to prepare, and to ſend, or bring them as there was opportunity. And, having totally, and as much as in him lay excuſed his fellow-priſoners as to any thing related to his Delinquency, he was with them committed to the Gate-houſe.

Wedneſday following he was re-convented and re-examined; and on Friday again convented, and delivered in his Narrative to the Lord Preſident, and by him without further words returned. On Saturday he was re-called, and then as at all times before uſed and treated with civility, being only much preſſed to diſcover ſome great Perſons his ſuppoſed Confederates; their aym being, as he ſuppoſed, at Sir Guy Palms, Sir John Curſon, and Sir Thomas Whitmore, &c. But it was a great bleſſing in his unhappineſs, that it was not cumulative, nor fatal to any of his friends and familiars, who yet knew nothing of the reaſon of his impriſonment, more then by common ſame.

On Sunday next he was called out of his bed, and by two Meſſengers, his keeper, and his man, brought into a Boat at Kings-bridge Weſtminſter, and thence carried to the Tower, The Warrant which was read at the Lieutenants houſe, imported, That he was committed cloſe priſoner for high Treaſon, in endeavouring to ſubvert the preſent Government, to be kept till delivered by Law.

He was deſigned for a Priſon-lodging by Col. Weſt the Lieutenant; but upon notice of his quality he was put into the cuſtody of Mr. Slaidon, one of the Warders in his houſe, equally convenient with the beſt. At his firſt coming to the Tower he had but two ſhillings in his Purſe, and ſuppoſing he ſhould be provided for at the States-charges, he ſent to the Lieutenant to know what he would order for him; who returned, that if he had money he might have what he would, but at his proviſion nothing.

His keeper was upon his delivery to his charge commanded to keep him ſafe, and if he eſcap'd threatned to be hanged, and a Sentinel ſet immediately at his door; and that day two Gentlewomen, coming to ſee him, were all impriſoned in the Round-houſe, and next day carried to the Council of State, and ſtrictly examined.

His Waterman that week brought him ſome money, for which, and ſome affectionate words ſpoken of him, he was brought before the Preſident, examined, rebuked, and diſmiſſed, and a Centinel ſet at Mr. Andrew's window that he might not ſpeak to any without.

His Caſe was this:

His Engagement for his late Majeſty began in 1642. and continued until the ſurrender of Worceſter 1645. He compounded not for his Delinquency, not having a conſiderable, and not willing to own an inconſiderable Eſtate. He took neither Proteſtation, Solemn League and Covenant, Negative Oath, nor ſubſcribed Engagement.

At his return to London to a private practice in his Calling for his neceſſary ſupport; John Bernard, ſometimes a Major under him, by reaſon of his good parts, and ſober demeanor, being in his good opinion frequently viſited him, and imparted to him ſuch Occurrences, as he met abroad in diſcourſe, and did intimate the diſcontents of the Levellers and Agitators, and the proceedings of a certain Committee of Officers, to which he was Clerk, upon a printed charge againſt ſome of the Parliament for oppreſſion, &c. By ſuch diſcoveries he at laſt obtruded on the Colonel the acquaintance of one Capt. Helmes, who ſoon after brought with him one Benſon, who pretended to have ſerved under Sir John Gell, who frequently produced Letters, tranſcripts of Letters (with the copying, whereof he pretended to be intruſted by Mr. Ruſhworth) which appeared to purport matters of State, to be delivered to Mr. Buſhel to be ſent beyond-Sea.

Theſe two inſinuated what intereſt they had in the Reformadoes, and the advantage would be done by them for the Royal Party, and magnified Sir John Gells intereſt in his Country; and his regret and reluctancie for what he had done for the Parliament. Barnard then propounded that a deſign formerly in the War laid by him for the taking of the Iſle of Ely might by the ſaid asſiſtance, and Sir John's aid be revived and executed, but this project failed.

In December 1649. Helmes brought the Col. inſtructions to draw up a Petition for Sir John Gell for his Arreares: this procured a meeting, where Sir John took notice of his ill requital for his Services, and deſired to be repreſented to his new Majeſty as his Loyal Subject for the future, and no more paſſed.

There coming out ſoon after an Act, commanding Cavaliers to depart the City of London, being in treaty about tranſplanting himſelf into Sir Edward Plowdens Plantation in New-Album; He was again viſited by Major Barnard and Benſon, who gave him notice of a c • nſiderable deſign laid, ond friends and mony to back it; and that he ſhould have 200 pound, and power to draw more by bills of Exchange, if I would go over and promote the ſaid deſign with the Prince, and then in general terms acquainted him that it was an eaſie matter, the Cavaliers going out of Town, by correſpondence in all Counties, to ſurprize uhe Horſe of the Army in their ſeveral Quarters; the Col. anſwer was, that if the mony were ready, he would entertain the motion.

Next day after they came again, and told him that the Gentlemen of Kent, Buckingham and Dorſet, would preſently be near the Town, and would joyn in an Engagement, and raiſe mony; that Sir John Gell would engage likewiſe, and might eaſily bring in his Friends Sir Andrew Knevela, Sir Guy Palmes, Mr. Fieqherbert, &c. and therefore deſired the Colonel to draw an Engagement (which he did in a looſe Paper, according to the ſenſe they inſtructed him) and to move Sir John Gell in the buſineſs, but preſſed not the Coll. then to joyn in the ſame.

Accordingly he ſpoke with Sir John, who refuſed to joyn, or meddle in the deſign, not daring to truſt Benſon, but renewed his deſire to the Col. if he went over to poſſeſs the King with a good opinion of him. This anſwer did not altogether unſatisfie Barnards, who appointed • the ſame few days after a meeting at the Yhree-crane-Tavern in the Savoy, for a meeting where ſhould be preſent the Gentlemen of the aforeſaid Counties, but they met not, only Barnard and B • nſon, and one Capt. Aſhley. Barnard produced Letters that the Kentiſh Gentlemen were come to Rocheſter, and would come, but within 12 miles of London, that night he durſt go no further that day for fear of Col. Blunt; and that they did the mony, and had ſent for him with a Guide to bring him to them, ſo he departed to take Horſe, while the other two preſſed him again to get Sir John Gell to ſeal an Engagement which Benſon had engroſſed; which he refuſed, and told them, he was able to ſatisfie any body of Sir John Gel's reality, though not actually engaged. That ſame night comes a Meſſenger unknown to him from Barnard, highly blaming the Col. and Sir John Gell of backwardneſs in with-holding their hands from the Engagement, and that thereupon his Kentiſh friends would proceed no further; as this Smith the Meſſenger took upon him to be informed from them; but the Col. inſiſting, that Sir John was not to be urged further. This Smith, and Aſhley departed • , and promiſed to pay the mony the next night at the Pals-graves-heads.

But failing of their promiſe, and the next day the Colonel according to the Act being to depart the Town. Aſhley delivered him that night a Letter from Barnard, preſſing him to ſubſcribe the Engagement which Benſon engroſſed, and that done he would go the next • day with him to Graves-end, where the Kentiſh Gentlemen ſhould not fail to mee • him.

Being come to Graves-end alone, Barnard, as Benſon pretended being at Tattenham Court with the Bucking ham ſhire Gentlemen, there were none of the Kentiſh Gentlemen come thither: but two days after comes Barnard and Smith with a Letter from Benſon, intimating, that if Sir John Gell would not engage with thoſe whoſe names were ſubſcribed, they would go over to the King and ſpoil his Reputation, and the Colonels both there; and that he had Letters from Sir John to produce which ſhould make him repent his refuſal, and therefore deſired Col: Andrews to write to Sir John Gell, which he did, laying the Caſe before him; ſo they parted from the Colonel agreeing, if they got Sir John's Seal to come down to Graveſend, and ſo to Rocheſter for the mony, and performance of the Confederacy, or elſe to let the buſineſſe fall, and return the Col. his Seal and Engagement. And while the poor betrayed Gentleman was in this ſuſpenſe, he was ſeized at his Inn in Graveſend by a party of Horſe, and brought priſoner to London. This Narrative of his own was poſtilled with this Addreſs to the three that examined him.

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.

THis perſon was ingaged and trapan'd into the ſame unfortunate buſineſs with Colonel Andrews, on purpoſe by his means to draw in alſo Sir John Gell, of whom before, he having been a ſervant and retainer to the ſaid Knight many years before. He had alſo born office, and had a command under him during the time Sir John ſerv'd the Parliament, and numbred himſelf afterwards amongſt theſe, who being uncommiſſioned, were generally known by the name of Reformadoes.

Upon theſe accounts he became obnoxious to them, eſpecially of the men at Weſtminſter, who by their inſtruments ſearching into his diſcontents, ſoon worked him into the Plot. A capacious deſign it was, which comprehended and included all intereſts, Cavalier, Presbyterian, and Leveller, together with thoſe formerly caſhier'd Officers under Eſſex, and which had it taken its wicked intended effect, would have made them appear ſo cunning and terrible, ſo diſheartned and terrified all men againſt oppoſing, or endeavouring againſt the tyranny, that their new Common-wealth would have been a ſolitude or wilderneſs, where like beaſts, not men, we ſhould have been afraid one of another.

Col. Andrews at his taking, was of opinion that this perſon was of the gang that betrayed him, but in appeared to the contrary, for Barnard had clearly poſſeſt him with the reality and feaſibleneſs. of the deſign, into which he was ſo rationally as he thought, and upon ſuch ſure grounds engaged, ſuch and ſuch great perſons being nominated as principal therein, that not onely it was his belief, but his confidence, on which he had raiſed great hopes of advantage to himſelf, that this meritorious piece of ſervice would take effect.

Nay, ſo certain was he, that in the laſt trick put upon Colonel Andrews in reſerence to the drawing in of Sir John Gell, which was a menace, that if the Colonel did not procure Sir Johns hand and ſeal, the Confederates would themſelves go over to the King in Holland, and give ſuch an account of the affair to his Majeſty, as ſhould tend little to the crediand honour of them both; that Mr. Benſon was inveigled in the head he ſhould be the man intruſted with the delivery thereof, and receive the deſigned mony for the Colonel to defray the management of that ſervice. This conceit was ſo rooted in him, that he quitted it not till he was really ſurpriſed and in cuſtody.

Nay, when there, ſo ſtrong was his fancy, and ſo ſet upon the iſſue of this buſineſſe, that he complained to himſelf of the Colonel, through whoſe backwardneſs and ſlow procedure therein, he thought it only miſcarried, not yet dreaming that he was made the ſtalkingly-horſe to his as well as their deſtruction.

It was imagined that they would have contented themſelves with that induſtrious ſervice he did them, by ſo exactly realizing their counterfeit plot, as a bird ſet to chirp others, by his merry note, into the ſnare; but no ſuch matter, having miſt the great ones they would be ſure of the ſmall, to give ſome ſatisfaction to their unſatiable thi • ſt of blood, and in order to ſome accompliſhment of their deſign, ſacrifice one of a ſort, and intereſt to their policy and Government, and him they marked out for a Reformado, of whom by their claim of arrears due to them for ſervice, there was ſome danger, and this was the moſt ſpeedy and eaſie way of paying them.

At his Execution he ſpoke very little, ſaving of his regret, that he had ever ſerved ſuch Maſters; wiſhed proſperity to the King and Kingdom, and ſo was thrown off the ladder, a ſpectacle more of their ſhame then his own.

Captain Brown-Buſhel was the next criminal for his Loyalty, being ſecured in the Guard at White-hall in 1648. and from cuſtody to cuſtody till this time, when he was brought from the Tower to his Trial. The objected offence made up into a Charge of high Treaſon, was his delivering of Scarborough, where he had ſome kind of Command from the Parliament to the King, being himſelf a ſea ſouldier, and then a Captain of a man of War.

He was a very expert and valiant perſon, well eſteemed of by all ſea-men, as he was well reputed by all honeſt & loyal people for this his laſt ſervice, being not inconſiderable for his fortune. At the revolt of the Fleet to their due obedience under Sir William Butten to the Prince in the Downs, this Gentleman was in London: the War being finiſhed, and like to renew again, where he lay waiting his opportunity of doing further ſervice to his Majeſty.

The rancour of that buſineſs feſtred in the minds of the party at Weſtminster, ſo that not having any of thoſe Commanders and Captains, who were actively diligent in that buſineſſe in their hands, they reſolved to wreak their fury and diſpleaſure upon this Gentleman, and to quit ſcores with him for the treſpaſſes and fractures of others.

He had lain ſo long under reſtraint, that he was hard put to it for ſuſtenance and neceſſaries of life, his poor wife running twice a day from Coven Garden to the Tower, to bring and provide his daily meat, beſides a hundred jaunts to the Parliament and Council of State with Petitions to obtain his liberty, or at leaſtwiſe get him blotted out of that roll, wherein the juſt number of thoſe who were to be tried at that high Court, was before aſcertained.

But all availed nothing, they had deſigned more for the ſlaughter then they or their Engines could bring into the ſnare, and therefore be muſt die for number, that whatever elſe they wanted, they might not fail in that, ſo that after ſome adjournments of the Court, as before is ſpecified, they called him to the Bar, and for that crime aforeſaid condemned him, he in vain obteſting and imploring their favour, as in a matter wherein the State and their cauſe had received little prejudice or diſadvantage, but ſeeing their ſeverity could not be mitigated by words, he frankly told them he was not afraid to die for his cauſe, and compoſed himſelf for his ſentence, which was pronounced againſt him after ſome aggravations of his fact with more then uſual acerbity.

Much ſtir there was made for a reprieve for him by his wife, and friends of hers, then in Authority, but reaſon of State, as they told her, prevailed againſt all pleas and arguments for mercy, though ſhe was flattered but the day he died, he ſhould be reprieved and finally pardoned, which glad tidings the poor overjoyed woman carried him about noon to the Tower, where they were merry and ſolacing together, in which pleaſantneſs of mind about two a clock ſhe left him, and at four came the Warrant for his preſent Execution (a moſt deviliſh cruelty) which, as is ſuppoſed, for fear of the ſea-men, by whom he was well beloved, was executed at ſix of the clock the night aforeſaid, upon the ground under the Scaffold, where he fearleſly and Chriſtianly ſuffered, and reſigned his ſoul into the hands of his Creator.

I Know ſome ſcruple will be made againſt theſe perſons, as Presbyterians and ſufferers upon another account then of the fifth Commandement, as having their own, and the Kings intereſt interwoven with it: but all things conſidered, without much reconcilement of the different opinions; in this caſe we may venture to Regiſter, and enroll them in this Martyrologie.

For without all doubt, the bottom of their deſign was the Kings Reſtauration and however it was clog'd with Salves and Conditions for themſelves and their Partie (which abates ſomething of the luſtre, though not of the worth of this Crown) yet the main was Loyaltie, which they hoped to vindicate and evince to the World, who had hard thoughts of them in the matter of the Kings Death in the previous Method thereunto.

This Confederation was therefore begun juſt upon the concluſion of that horrid murther, that what they could not remedy in that, they might compenſate in this, and by a timely application to his preſent Majeſtie; redeem themſelves into his good opinion and favour, forfeited by their former averſeneſſe to their dutie towards him.

To this purpoſe, moſt of the eminent Miniſters of that way in London, had ſeveral meetings and Conferences: in conſultation and debate of the manner of their proceeding in this Affair. Among them Mr. Love appeared to be moſt active and ſtirring, whether out of Conſcience of ſome unwarrantable, undutifull demeanour towards the King du • ing the War, I take not upon me to determine. The reſt were Mr. Jenkins, Mr • Robinſon, Doctor Drake, Mr. Watſon, and others. Of the Lay-part Captain Titus, Mr. Potter, an Apothecary in Black-fryers, Mr. Gibbons, and ſome elſe.

Theſe held intelligence both with the King and the Parliament of Scotland, then not agreed, but in expectation of a Treaty, which was the firſt thing endeavoured by theſe men here to be promoted, and with deſired Effect Concluded.

WHoſoever ſhall look upon the ſad Hiſtorie of this Princely perſon muſt be armed againſt all humanitie; if he condole not this miſerable Traggedie: every circumſtance whereof is a Scene of ſorrow, which alike moves indignation and compaſſion.

If we deduce him from his glorious originals, we ſee him deſcended from a moſt ancient and illuſtrious Family, in which Loyaltie was one of the Gentilitions in herent vertues, derived in the ſucceſſion of thoſe Heroes, who to this day adorn'd the noble name of Stanley, ſo memorated and famed in our Annals, eſpecially in the Reign of Henry the 7th. direct Ancreſtor to his preſent Majeſtie.

The ſignal Services done at that time to this Crown and Kingdom, both by Victorie and Advice in the bleſſed union of the Houſes of York and Lancaster; were ſo placed, that they ſeem to have directed only the imitation of their moſt Honourable Poſteritie, without the affectation of any thing but duty. For thoſe Heroick actions have been ever ſince as Spurs and Incentives to the ſame Grandeurs of Loyaltie, manifeſted in all occaſions and Affairs of the Crown through the whole current of Succeſſion.

But this Noble Earl, whoſe unworthie Fate we now deplore, came neareſt that great Pattern; the Times, concurring with the activity of his mind, afforded him the advantage of employing and exerciſing that ſtock of Prudence and Valour, which had ſo long been treaſured up in the loines of his Princely Progenitors; and yet to the ſcandal and reproach of that Age, rewarding all his Honourable Attchievements with a moſt lamented Catastrophy.

If we alſo conſider therefore his great and perſonal merit and obligations upon this Kingdom, we ſhall find his Services, not to come ſhort of thoſe of his Anceſtors, (though clog'd with the burdenſome glory of giving a Crown) in deſignment and attempt; however they failed of their moſt probable effects.

But to mitigate the Envy of his Fate to innocent Poſteritie, I will not preſume with ſo rude a Pen to write their Monument, and at large relate them. He that hath heard of a Latham-Houſe, and Marſton-Moor (as I ſuppoſe all men have) will eaſily confeſs his glories, which ſhone brightly in the Sphear of all Military worth to the ſetting of Charles his Wain.

In thoſe gloomy and black dayes, he withdrew himſelf to a ſhelter in his Royaltie of the Iſle of Man, awaiting a new opportunity of ſerving his preſent Majeſtie, which not long after offered it ſelf, and was with all readineſs of duty encertained by him.

For the King having reſolved (Cromwel being gotten into Fife in Scotland) to paſs into England over Sterling-bridge by the advantage of three daies march, gave preſent intimation thereof to the Earl, who in order to ſome other deſign had ſome forces in readineſs: with theſe according to his inſtructions upon the Kings advance that way he landed, in Lancaſhire where his Intereſt and Power lay, and joined with his Majeſtie, who leaving him ſome forces to aid and aſſiſt him in his new Levies, againſt the Parliaments Forces then marching thitherward to ſuppreſs them, marched directly for Worceſter.

HAving nothing but the Hiſtory of the War for my direction to this Gentlemans memory, I will confine my ſelf within the compaſs of that diſcovery, and venture not to derive him any further, hoping his honourable Relations, will for their own, as well as his ſake be pleaſed to vouchſafe a full and perfect account of him hereafter to the embalming his fame to Poſterity.

He was engaged in the unhappy Defeat at Wiggan with theafore ſaid noble Earl, to whoſe aſſiſtance, whether he came with the King, and was left by him there with thoſe ſmall Forces could be ſpared, or that he voluntarily joyned, or came from the Iſle of Man with that Party I cannot determine; this is for certain, he was taken priſoner at that unlucky overthrow in Lancaſhire, and ſecured afterwards till the Grand Buſineſs was over at Worceſter.

I Muſt confeſs my ſelf at a loſſe here but though I could receive nothing elſe but his Name; yet to that there is ſo much due on this account of Martyrdome that I durſt not omit him, putting hereby an occaſion into the hands of this Gentlemans Relations, to reſcue his, and perpetuate their Name to after Ages.

I conceive him to be one of thoſe loyal Gentlemen, who came in with the Earl of Shrewsbury, then Lord Talbot, or Colonel Howard, my Lord Howard of Eſericks Son to the King at Worcester; and, who for his former Services done the King in the War before, was obnoxious to their malice.

Moſt certain it was, he was taken notice of, and obſerved to be very active in that Engagement at Worceſter, in the flight from whence he was taken, though moſt of the other Engliſh eſcaped by the favour and concealment of the Country; (nor did ever the Scots finde civiller uſage after a Defeat) ſave thoſe who through their glorious valour fell, and eſcaped the better way to Heaven.

After he was taken he was conveighto Shrewsbury, a place which the King from Worceſter had ſummoned by a Letter to Colonel Mackworth the Governour, which Royal Command they thought fit to queſtion with loyal Blood: as they pretended to expiate the ſtorming of Bolton by Prince Rupert with the murder of the Earl of Derby.

Whatever the reaſons of their proceedings there againſt him might be, I cannot aſcertain; thus much from all hands we have, that he went not leſſe in his death then in his life, maintaining his Religion to God, his Duty to the King, and his Innocency to the World, to the laſt minute of his breath: which found ſeveral wayes to expire by their Bullets, and to aſcend with his Soul to Heaven with a Quinque Domine, &c.

OLiver Cromwel, that Monſter of Engliſh production, had but newly invaded the Magiſtracy over theſe Nations, when, as the Hydra before him had done; he commenced his Tyrannical Regiment with a Sacrifice of Loyal blood, which all along cemented the frame of his five yeares Uſurpation, as the Walls of Babylon were ſaid to be mortar'd.

A curſed Rule it was among thoſe State-Innovators, that there was no ſurer way of eſtabliſhing their Tyrannie, and bring their Models to any ſound conſtituon, but by profuſely letting blood, eſpecially in the Pluriſie of ſo many dangers, which their evil and abominable actions did daily threaten them.

This they termed Preventional Cure; for ſuſpecting all hands to be about their eares, they reſolved to be before hand with ſome: that the terror of the Example, being contrary to all reaſon, Juſtice and Law, and a perfect avowing of their Tyranny, might reach to every man, that who with the ſenſe of ſo apparent danger and deſtruction out of which, once engaged, there was no reſcue or deliverance but by death, might be ſtupified into a degenerous fear, and abject ſervility of mind, to endure whatever their inſupportable Domination ſhould load upon them.

To this purpoſe His Engines were emptied at once upon all ſorts of men, though finding it impoſſible to engage or ſet any of the Nobility who had a ſmall taſt of what uſage they might expect by the Death of 4 eminent Lords: they at Laſt confined themſelves to the middle rank of the people, Gentry and Citizens, and of thoſe, not the puny and weak, but the reſolute, learned and couragious, whoſe blood being of price and value might be of ſome religſh to them, howſoever bitter and abominable ſoever to all the World beſides, being the thing they intended.

A High Court of Justice is therefore erected by the novel Authority of a Prorector, and to keep even pace, with the ſetting of it up, divers perſons are apprehonded and Committed; amongſt others this Noble Gentleman, Colonel John Gerhard, his Brother Mr. Charles Gerhard, Brothers to the Honourable Sir Gilbert Gerhard; Mr. Vowel a Schoolmaſter of the Free-School at Iſlington, Mr. Somerſet Fox, and others; theſe were brought before that Bar of the High Court, where bloody Liſle was then Preſident.

Their Crime was an offence counted in one of thoſe forty two Articles of the Inſtrument of Government, which Oliver ſwore to at Weſtminſter-Hall at his firſt ſeizure of the Government, being a deſign againſt the Life of that Uſurper. This was feizible to the belief of all men, for few there were that owed him not that kindneſſe, and therefore the colour of Truth was enough, and onely requiſite to blanch out the deformities and odiouſneſſe of the illegall proceedings and other barbarous dreſſe of miſchief and villany.

But theſe Gentlemen were no way concerned in any ſuch deſign, ſave only as they were prompted, and had ſome tranſient ſuggeſtions which they never entertained by ſome trapanning words to that purpoſe, which had their danger not recalled to their memory, had been utterly forgot by them, though made records againſt them by thoſe who were hired deeply to ſwear againſt them, what they had by the by, but whiſpered to them. See more in Mr. Gerhards Speech.

But to ſtrengthen and ſecond this Device, and to ſix their plot upon them, they do not onely relye on their Witneſſes for evidence, but with promiſe of life and pardon to one of the pretended Complices in the buſineſſe, they undermine his integrity, and blow up the lives of the other. They tell him they can ſufficiently prove it, and that the onely way to ſave himſelf is by a free Confeſſion and deſiring the clemency of the Court; thereupon Mr. Somerſet Fox acknowledgeth the pretended Crime, and referred himſelf to them for mercy, and Mr. Gerhard the younger, being not above the age of nineteen yeares gives ſome ſuch like Teſtimony againſt his own Brother, being not of that mature reſolution to withſtand the fear of Death, which menaced himſelf; whereupon this Noble Colonel was condemned by the ſaid pretended Court for Treaſon in conſpiring the death of Cromwel, which he undauntedly (having made a very excellent Defence againſt the ſuppoſed Fact, and at laſt denyed their Authority) and very chearfully received.

Mr. Vowel was the next, againſt whom they had ſuborned a blind Miniſter, one that had been fed and ſuſtained by the charity of this Martyr. The frequent converſe this man uſed with him, gave Cromwel's Spies a fit opportunitie of effecting their projected Deſign upon him; for ſeeing the indigence and neceſſity of that blind, wretched man, they forthwith cloſed with him, and with great promiſes of Penſions and ſuch like proditory Reward, drew the unwary man into the guilt of a moſt ſhamefull Treachery.

For having ſounded the mind of his Benefactor and good Friend in reference to the Fines, and particularly about the Protectors Uſurpation, by which the Commonwealth being now reduced to a kind of Monarchical Government, and the people diſcerning thereby the Cheats put upon them by the Reformation; it was not to be doubted, but if the Tyrant were removed, or otherwayes laid aſide, the Royal intereſt would be gladly embraced, and without any difficulty reaſſumed to its Authority; he caught hold of ſome words by way of diſcourſe, which as the judgement and inclination of Mr. Vowel led him, were ſomething to the purpoſe of their Deſign.

Theſe words were preſently taken hold of, and upon this blind mans Examinations more enlarged, with ſeveral Circumſtances inſerted, which their Inſtruments had furniſhed them with out of their ſtrict watch and obſervation of all his Company, Wayes and Actions, which at his Trial were inſtanced, and the Examinations produced to prove them.

At the recitals whereof, the blind man, whether prickt in conſcience for his deteſtible ingratitude, or ſome preſent courage infuſed into him for to evidence the oppreſſed innocence of the priſoner at Bar, who had a ſad and numerous Family at home, denyed and diſowned the ſad Examination, and the words or Narrative therein ſet down to be his, but that he was abuſed thereby, and ſo perſiſted, to the great confuſion and puzzle of the Court, till ſuch time as Frontleſſe Liſle averred it was his voluntary Act, and that it appeared he had been ſince tampered withal, and that the Court would take no notice of ſuch prevarication.

So this proceeded to Sentence againſt him, which was, that for his Treaſon, &c. he ſhould be hanged, and ſo was removed to priſon again.

On the 10th. day of July, 1654. Colonel Gerhard was brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill, where immediately after Don Pantaleon Sa the Pörtugal Embaſſadours Brother (for a Riot committed at the new Exchange in London, where this unfortunate Gentleman valiantly oppoſed him, and his aſſiſtance to the hazard of his life) was executed. They both agreed in this fatal determination of their lives, though not in the manner of parting with them, the Portugal with ſome kind of reluctancy; this with the braveſt and moſt Chriſtian willingneſſe imaginable, which he manifeſted in his dying geſture and words, ſubjoyned hereunto,

Mr. Vowel, on the 10th. day of July was likewiſe brought to Charing-Croſſe, where he was readier for his death then that for him; the Gibbet being not fixed he was conveighed to the Charing-Croſs Tavern, where he like a true Chriſtian Souldier behaved himſelf, (having before prepared himſelf for his departure) freely diſcourſing of the Kings indubitable and unconquerable Right to his Crownes; and that though for a time it might be ſuppreſſed, yet moſt certainly God in his righteous Judgement would not long delay his vindication to the Mind and confuſion of his rebellious Enemies; and that they could take no ſpeedier courſe to bring it down upon their heads then by murthering his Subjects; and that though it were a ſad infliction on him in regard of his diſtreſſed Family, yet he doubted not but it would prove to his everlaſting glory, and a better ſupport of his Relations then he could provide for them. [And I hope his words with the latter part thereof be as happily verified as in the former]

Being called again to his Execution, he took leave of a number of people, who preſſed in to comfort him, and to pray God to ſtrengthen him; whom with like gracious and Chriſtian expreſſions he chearfully thanked. At the Gibbet there was no Ladder ſet, not any for that purpoſe brought: ſo retrograde and averſe had Providence diſpoſed of things to the moſt abominable murther, as if it had indignitated its deteſtation thereof; nor could any be procured from the Neighbours thereabouts, or any other place, all men denying to be the leaſt acceſſary to that infamous buſineſs; thereupon a Joyn-ſtoo was fought from the Mews, and upon that he was put; that by how many degrees he was nearer the Earth at his fall by ſo many degres he might be higher in glory in He • ven at his aſcending, by an equal parallel.

Having devoutly prayed for himſelf, the King, Church and Kingdom, and for the conſummation of this life into bliſs, he addreſt ſome few words to the people (which were too harſh for the eares of the Souldiers, to whom they were principally directed) but was ſoon ſilenced, and not ſuffered to ſpeak out the remainder. Then after a ſhort permiſſion of ſome few Ejaculations wherewith he recommended his departing Soul to God, the ſtool was drawn from under him, and ſo he quietly paſt hence to a glorious ſtate of Immortality.

Major Henſhaw, now Major of the City Regiment of Horſe, was ſaid to be concerned in this buſineſs. Much diſcourſe there was then about him, but he timely withdrew himſelf beyond the Sea, and eſcaped that ſtorm that would have overwhelmed him, and now honourably ſurvives to reap the fruit and reconpence of thoſe Services he hath done his King and Country.

Nothing can better expreſs the noble gallantry and Chriſtian bravery of theſe two men, then what is left behinde of their own recorded by ſome of their worthy and intimate Friends, to whom I ſhould have rendred the obligation, if I could have had a perfect account from them, which ſo nearly concerns my deſign as it doth their deceaſed Friends, Memory and Honour. I do therefore willingly refer the Reader to what followes, extracted from ſuch Copies as are true and Authentique, where he may be more fully ſatisfied.

THis was the laſt Act of Cromwel's Tragedies; Death putting ſoon after a period to his Uſurpation, and Epilogizing other mens fate with his own, his life had been attended, and his hours meaſured with ſtillation of blood; now they were determined: this full pomp of ſlaughter went before, and uſhered his long deſired Funerals to his uſurped Grace.

He never ſtirt'd a Plot, but money ſtuck at the bottom. He had an Army of Janizaries, which without conſtant pay could never be kept at his beck and obedience, and all the deſign he practiſed could not raiſe him money without the tricks of Jealouſies and Fears; that State-Device, ſerving by fondneſs and force to bring in mony for the Cauſe from the beginning to the very ending; and this was the original of this horrid Plot.

For nothing elſe can be made out; he had lately ſo frighted all men by his known intelligence at the Kings Court, that none but mad-men, except the condition of the Tyrannie were altered, would venture upon any new Contrivance; the Uſurper being ſtronger and farther ſeated in his Domination then ever before, and the ſeverity of his Revenge againſt thoſe whom he took in ſuch practices was ſo freſh and recent in memory, that nothing but Deſperation could thruſt men upon ſuch Pikes.

Therefore ho had recourſe to his old Artifices, and becauſe no body would be dealing with him, he would be dealing with others, to make the people believe and apprehend danger, and afterwards pay for the delivery from, (that is to ſay, for the perpetration of) it.

The Deſign was laid in all quarters, North, Eaſt, West and South, but centred in the City of London; 'twas a General Conbination betwixt him and his Secretary, and ſo • e not dive in it further, but leave thoſe parties who are concerned in the death's of theſe and ſome preceding perſons, to conſider of the reſt, and proceed to the Narrative.

The firſt man that was produced in this Plot (which was to ſubvert the Uſurpation, till the Tyrant introduce and reſtore our Sovereign, with a particular kind reference to the City, which ſhould be fired (by its former Incendiaties) was Sir Henry Slingsby, a Gentleman of a very Noble Family in York ſhire, of an ample and large Revenue and Eſtate in York ſhire, but exhauſted and waſted in the Kings Service, and afterwards wholly ſequeſtred for the Parliament.

This Knight, for ſome time before had been a priſoner in Hull, in order to the ſecurity of the Peace, as their Tyrannie termed it, but for manyyeares together no ſtranger to ſuch demeurances. In that Garriſon he became acquainted, as the ſolace of miſery, and life neceſſirated him, with ſome of the Officers; they likewiſe inſinuating and ingratiating with him, but more particularly, when inſtructions were given them of trapanning him into ſome deſign, againſt their Sultan Cromwel.

This engaged them into a nearer famiſiarity, Sir Henry's caſe and hard uſage is lamented, the ſtate of the Kingdome laid open, and the oppreſſion of the people aggravated, with many the like overtures, to feel if the pulſe of Sir Henry would beat an Alarm to an inſurrection, which for their part truly they feared, but ſhould not draw a Sword againſt any, who ſhould ſo attempt the regaining and recovery of their liberty.

To theſe Diſcoveries Sir Henry gave ſome pleaſant, but not ſerious eare, though he did not utterly disbelieve the diſcontents of thoſe men: knowing, if it was abſolute truth they ſpoke, and might in time be accompliſhed, and therefore let fall ſome words tending to that purpoſe; on which they replying, and profeſſing their ſerious ſervice to the King if occaſion preſented it; drew ſome further matter from Sir Henry; which was, the offering of a Commisſion to them to ſecure that place for the King.

This was an old Commisſion, and which had lain by him a long while: • oremote and diſtant were his thoughts from effecting any thing; Before they had thus brought him on, and had then produced upon the ſudden and unexpected hopes of gaining that Town.

The producing of this Commisſion was enough for their Tyrants ſatisfaction, who ſtraight gave Order that he ſhould be ſent up to London, who after ſome Examination, he was ſent to the Tower, and finally brought before a High Court of Justice, where he manifeſted the Juggle by which he was brought into the ſnare; and demonſtrated the imposſibility of his doing any prejudice to the State, but that was no Argument there; ſo that he was ſentenced to be beheaded, by vertue of a late Act of one of Olivers Conventions, whereby it was made Treaſon to hold intelligence with the Kings Majeſty.

Much application was made to ſave his life by the Lord Viſcount Fauconbridge his Nephew, who had lately married one of the Uſurpers Daughters; but as Sir Henry ſaid at the Scaffold, he was inexorable; the truth is, the Tyrant ſuppoſed, that his not ſparing a perſon ſo related to him, would make all the World believe there was a reality of ſome horrid deſign, which could not be diſpenſed with, without extream danger to the publique.

He ſaid very ſittle at his death, not caring to buſy the world with his concerns, having ſpoken largely to his Charge at his Trial, before the ſaid High Court, the ſubſtance on the Scaffold was this.