AS the mercies of God to this Nation in preserving us, have been many and wonderfull; so the mischief and malice of men in plotting and contriving our de­struction have been eminent and [Page 2]notorious; so that we may say with the Psalmist, If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men plotted and contrived our ru­ine, we had been destroyed, but blessed be God in the very pit which our enemy diged for us, they themselves have alwayes been ta­ken: as Job saith out of six troubles, yea, out of seven hath God deli­vered us he hath preserved us from the sword, from destruction by fire witnesse the late intended despe­rate Designe discovered, against this City I need not speake of the Invasion in 88. Nor of that hellish Designe of the Gun-Powder Treason: though these ought never to be forgotten, our owne eyes will produce Examples enough. And, O that this might be the last. To passe by many which might be mentioned, I shall onely mention that of Syndercomb,

[Page 3]still fresh in memory, which was nothing in comparison to this, to wit, the destruction of His High­ness the Lord Protector, the good People of these Nations, and the bringing in of Charles Stuart, and certainly thereby to imbroil us in Blood and ruine. The chief actors in this last Designe were Sir Henry Slingsby, and John Hewet Doctor of Divinity; persons to be pitied for their folly, in ruining them­selves: a Doctor of Divinity, and a mover of Sedition, Treason, and Rebellion; certainly these men were besides themselves, and the Doctor besides his Text, may be seen in this following Relation.

Sir Henry Slingsby being first brought to Trial, was impeached of high Treason, for endeavour­ing to raise a new War, by bring­ing in Charles Stuart into Hull; he at first pleaded, Not guilty, and also [Page 4]excused the matter, pretending it was onely in jeast: but it is not good jeasting with Edge-tooles. After this Doctour Hewet was a­raigned for high Treason, in these particulars: First, In raising For­ces, and traitorously levying War against his Highness, to subvert and destroy the Government. Se­condly, In promoting Charles Stu­art to be King of England, Scot­land, and Ireland; and keeping cor­respondency with the said Charles Stuart; and by giving out Com­missions from the said Charles Stu­art, for the raising of Forces, for to maintain a new War.

The Indictment of high Treason being read, he not onely refused to plead, but began to question the au­thority of the Court, and to give out very seditious speeches to the people, against both the Govern­ment, and the Governours of the [Page 5]Nation; endeavouring to take off the Peoples Affection from the present Government.

The Court after much patience and gentleness towards the Doctor, whose unhandsome carriage might have provoked them to advanta­ges against him, were notwith­standing all inforced to proceed against him to judgement.

Next after him was arraigned one Mr. John Mordant, brother to the Earle of Peterborough, who after examination of Witnesses, and other circumstances, was found Not guilty, and thereupon he was quitted by the Court.

The next day the prisoners, viz. Sir Henry Slingsby, Doctor John Hewet, and Mr. John Mordant, were all three brought to the Bar, where the Judgement of the Court passed against them, as followeth: Sen­tence being to be given by the Lord [Page 6]President, his Lordship was pleased in the first place, to expresse him­self very piously and seriously to the three Prisoners at the Bar, set­ting forth the hainousnesse of the said Treason, exhorting them to repentance for the same, shewing them the sad effects thereof both to themselves and others. Which being done, the finall Sentence and Judgement of the Court was read by the Clerk, as followeth:

That upon consideration of the Treasons by them the said Henry Slingsby, Knight, and John Hewet Doctor of Divinity, the Court be­ing satisfied in Judgement and Conscience, that they the said Sir Henry Slingsby, and Doctor John Hewet, were both guilty of high Treason; for which aforesaid Trea­son, we do adjudge you the said Sir Henry Slingsby and John Hewet, as false Traitors to His Highness [Page 7]the Lord Protector, and the Com­monwealth: to be conveyed back to the Tower, and from thence to be drawn through the City of Lon­don to the Gallows of Tyburn, and there to be hanged, and being alive, to be cut down, and their Bowels taken out and burnt; and their Heads cut off, and their Body di­vided into quarters, and after dis­posed of according to His High­ness the Lords Protectors plea­sure.

After this, severall godly and reverend Ministers, viz. Doctor Reynolds, Mr. Joseph Caryd, Mr. Ed­mund Callamy, and Mr. Marton, were ordered by the Commissioners, to repair forthwith to the said Sir Henry Slingsby, and Doctor Hewet, to fit and prepare them for death.

Saturday the fifth of this in­stant June was the Day appointed for the Execution or Sir Henry [Page 8]Slingsby, and Dr. Hewet, according to the foresaid Sentence, and ac­cordingly Warrants were issued forth for the Execution of the said Sentence; but His Highnesse the Lord Protector, upon addresse made to His Highnesse, was graci­ously pleased to grant a Reprieve for the said Sir Henry Slingsby and Doctor Hewet, untill Tuesday the Eighth day of this instant June; and to revoke the said Sentence pronounced against them, doing them this honour, as to Order, That they the said Sir Henry Slings­by, and John Hewet, should be put to death, by having their Heads se­vered from their Bodies on Tower-Hill, and all other Circumstances in the said Sentence to be remitted.

And according to this Order of His Highness the said Sir Henry Slingsby, and John Hewet Doctor of Divinity were both brought to [Page 9]the Scaffold on Tower-Hill, on Tuesday the Eigth day of this In­stant June. The Scaffold being prepared about ten of the clock, the Lieutenant of the Tower of London delivered into the hands of the Sheriffs of London the prisoner Sir Henry Slingsby, who immediately conveyed him unto the Scaffold; there being severall Companies both of Horse and Foot, besides the Officers belonging to the said Sheriffs, attending to that purpose, where in the presence of many thousands of people, who were there to behold this woefull Tra­gedy, they ascended the Scaffold. Sir Henry Slingsby being mounted the Scaffold, immediately began to take leave of his Friends there pre­sent, and to prepare himself for the stroke of death: he spake but little, being not above half an hour upon the Scaffold: severall eminent Mi­nisters [Page 10]being there present, they all went to Prayers; which being done, he freely forgave the Execu­tioner: Then laying downe his Head upon the Block, commending his Soul to God; gave the signe to the Executioner by spreading forth his Hands, who at one blow sever­ed his Head from his Body. Which being done, his Corps was present­ly conveyed away in a Coffin pre­pared for that purpose.

After this, the Sheriff descend­ing from the Scaffold, went down to the Tower, where the Lord Lieutenant of the Tower delivered into their custody the other Priso­ner Dr. John Hewet; who being at­tended by several learned Divines, to wit. Dr Wilde, Dr. Reeves, and several others: they likewise also conveighed towards the Scaffold, where being come, they presently ascended. The Dr. being upon the [Page 11]Scaffold kneeled down to prayers several times, and for the space of some two hours continued speak­ing, first to the Sheriff, after to the people there assembled, carried himself with much courage and re­solution, exhorting all men there present to prepare themselves for death. Having ended his Speech, (the Particulars whereof are too large to be inserted here) only these he insisted on, to clear himself, That he had no hand in the late Plot of Firing the City. He denyed that the Marquess of Ormond lay at his House: or that he was at Bruges with Charles Stuart. He excused his ignorance in the Law, for not plea­ding to his Charge. He prayed particularly for Charles Stuart, and that Family. Which done, he again kneeled down to prayer, recom­mending himself to God, he rose up again, and put on his cap, the Exe­cutioner [Page 12]put up his hair, who he freely forgave: then laying down his head upon the Block, he prepa­red himself for the dismal Stroak, and the sign being given, as before, by stretching forth his hands, the Executioner at one blow severed his head from his body: which be­ing done, his Corps was likewise put into a Coffin, being at the Scaffold very ready for that pur­pose, and so was conveighed away by his friends, by whom great pre­paration is made for his Funeral, at Gregory's near Pauls.