A CHARGE OF High-Treason, Prepared by the London-Apprentices, against Col. Hewson; And the strange Apparitions that appeared unto him, immediatly after his being taken near Plymouth in Cornwal; With his Speech and Confession to the Vision.
London, Printed for C. Gustavus, and are to be sold in Fleetstr [...]
THE Charge of High-Treason exhibited by the London-Prentices against Colonel Hewson, &c.
AMongst the rest of the Grand Traytors taken and committed to Custody, a late and happy Discovery (we hear) hath bin made of Col. Hewson near Plymouth in Cornwal, where the Loyal Party are extraordinary vigilant in the due observing all things whatsoever that may conduce to the peace and tranquility of his Majesties good Subjects; And the London-Prentices (who formerly were as the Leading Guard to other Cities and Countreyes) have demonstrated their Integrity to the Government of his Sacred Majesty; and an absolute detestation against all those who were any ways Abettors or Instrumental in the late Distractions and Troubles; And in pursuance [Page 2]thereof, hath prepared a Charge against Col. Hewson, to this effect; that is to say,
- 1. That he is notoriously guilty of that most horrid and execrable Murder committed upon the Royal Person of our late Gracious Lord and Sovereign King Charles.
- 2. That He voted for the banishing of the Regal Line, and made it to be Treason to give them their proper Titles, or that any one should pray for them in their Pulpits, or aid and assist them with any moneys, or other Necessaries.
- 3. That he hath Trayterouslo put to sale divers of the Crown Lands, besides Bishops, Deans and Chapters; making great spoyl of sundry stately Woods, and likewise demolished seven stately Palaces and Mannors.
- 4. That he was instrumental in the demolishing and taking down of the Royal Arms, and that he did break in pieces the great true Seal of the Land, and caused a new Stamp to be made to coyn money withal, with this circumscription, God with us, when the Devil was in him.
With divers other particulars, which we shall omit till his Arraignment; by reason of some other Discourse here intervening, touching his Lamentation; to wit,
O what will become of me, or whither shall I go? O how am I astonished to think of my horrid and wicked proceedings? I have terrour of Conscience within me, and fear before me, trouble on either side of me, and horrour behind me. My horrid Acts are more then I can bear; for Judas-like my Master I betray'd, and sate in Judgment when he was try'd in that most Tyrannical and illegal High Court of Justice.
Our happy Hate! Would I had never climbed to Dignity: [Page 3]O how was I inriched with a great Estate, Lorldly Titles, great Command, rich Apparel, delicate Fare, magnificent Buildings? I thinking my self indeed no less then a petty King, not considering that Fortune might turn her Wheel the clean contrary way, though now she hath kickt me off.
I must declare my Conscience, that I aimed to be like my Master, and indeed to sit in his Throne, and govern as he did: but this Whore Dame Fortune, whom I am bound to bless for her riches, but to curse her for my Disgraces. O that I could but get away to Graves-End, and ship my self for some Forreign Countrey, and there to end my dayes. But hold, what groans are those that I hear? drawing nearer and nearer to mine Ears, like unto the groanes of a dying man, having his death's Wound, in his full strength, Crying, Cobler, Cobler, Cobler, and now I see a pale Ghostly face drawing near to me; now will I make use of my Rod of Command, for I call to mind the noble Sea-man that was without cause slain to please my envious fancy.
Now have I found thee thou man of sin, thou tyrannous murderer, thou flattering Parasite, thou deceiver of men, and thy Countrey; was it not enough for thee to be mock-honourable, but thou must commit wilfull murther upon thy Brother Cobler?
I dreamed in that little slumber that I had, that I was preferred, but not to my former Dignity; and being in a fainting sweat, and troubled with horrour of Conscience, an ugly Apparition appeared, with two Doctors, who casting my Water, said, Nothing but Death, Nothing but Death.
The Terror whereof proved no small astonishment, especially when I heard a Voyce again crying out, No Mercy [Page 4]for Traytors; the blood of your Soveraign cryes for vengeance.
This being seriously considered, may it not be a sufficient motive to induce all Rebellious Blood-suckers, to lament and cry out, O let that blood of our dear Soveraign, shed by the cruelty, covetousness, and treachery of our hands, be for ever silent.
But the great Cedars never fall alone: When the Sun is turned into bloud, it is no marvail if the Stars fall from Heaven; If the Fountain be dryed up, it is no marvail if the lesser Channels cease their Current; and no man of judgment could expect, but such Rebellious Spirits who rooted out the King, and all the Royal Race, they would likewise have destroyed the Nobles. Protestations to the contrary were not of value with those that changed their principles together with their Fortune: They that thought it their glory to bind Kings in chains, deemed it their honour to bind Nobles in Links of Iron. Where the Scripture, Well is thee, O Land, when thy Princes are the Sons of Nobles, is become Apocryphal, there, in those mens Divinity, no Nobles must be allowed to be the Sons of Princes. The next in honour to the Royal Race are the Noble Families, and therefore they must be next in suffering. No Bishop, no King: No K ng no Nobles, were the undoubted sequences of those times. Those that like Death would level Scepters with the Spade, will teach their Children to presume against the Ancient, and the Vile against the Honourable.
And as for our present Sovereign (whom Divine Providence hath reserved to be the repairer of the breach) let it be the prayer of all true Subjects, that He may be as another Solomon, to sit on the Throne of his Father David, being as eminent for his Wisedom and Excellency of Majestick Power, as his Royall Father was for his Piety and Sufferings.
O let that Sunne which hath now long been muffled in Clouds, break forth with more resplendent Majesty; Let that Tree which hath been bound with Fetters budde forth, and be as the great Tree, which spreads its branches to the four corners of the earth, in whose branches the Fowls of the Aire do nest, and under whose shadow the Beasts of the field do rest themselves. O let all mens hearts, tongues, hands, and prayers, contribute to such a blessing; and let it continue from Generation to Generation, till Time shall be no more, and till all the Kings of the Earth shall cast down their Crowns at the feet of him that is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords: And in the mean time let all good People in the passionate affections of their Souls cry out,
God save King CHARLES the Second.