Colonell Rainsborowes Ghost: OR, A true Relation of the manner of his Death, who was murthered in his Bed-Chamber at Doncaster, by three of Pontefract Souldiers who pretended that they had Letters from Leiutenant Generall Cromwell, to deliver unto him.
To the tune of, My bleeding heart with griefe and care.
YOu gallant Blade [...] of Mars his traine.
who serve the State for wealth & [...]ame,
Such by respects will be your baine.
if on [...]ly at such things you aime.
My name was Rainsborow slaine of late.
whose troubled Ghost can take no rest,
Vntill some things I doe relate,
which to the world must be exprest.
Then know frō whence my baine did spring,
vaine-glory and my thirst of blood,
I hated them that lov'd my King,
as by his friends was understood.
Witnesse the bloody fights in Kent,
the Siege at Colchester likewise,
I served well the Parliament,
all deeds of mercy did dispise.
For when the Towne they did surr [...],
I plated all against them then:
I quickly brought unto an end,
the lives of two brave Gentlemen.
I would not give the Generall rest,
till he unto their deaths had seal'd,
My troubled Ghost hath here exprest.
what to the world should be reveald.
Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Li [...]le▪
two worthy men whom I did hat [...],
The glory of the Brittish I [...]e,
whom I did make unfort [...]t [...].
With resolution sto [...]t they di [...]d,
and call'd me Traytor to my face:
It did no whit abaite my Pride,
I saw them fall in little space.
The death of them reveng'd hath b [...]n
on me, by those that lov'd them [...]ell:
Sweet Iesus Christ forgivve my sl [...],
for by my meanes those worthie [...]s fell▪
October last the twenty nine.
it being then the Sabboth Day.
Twenty seven Cabaliers combins,
to Doncaster they t [...]ke their way.
Those were from Pontefract-Castle sent,
which on their Res [...]lution stood:
And feining of a faire intent
to speake with me, but spilt my blood.
The Continell did bid the [...] stand,
and fain would know from whence they came,
From him they said that did command,
they presently this fence did frame,
The second part, to the same tune.
FRom Generall Cromwell we are sent,
with Letters to your Colonell,
This is our businesse and intent,
the truth whereof to you we tell.
The Centinell did them believe,
which was the cause of this my woe,
To three of them they leave did give,
unto my Chamber for to goe.
They entering where I lodged was,
who little thought of any harme,
Nor what so soone would come to passe,
for in my bed I lay full warme.
Where's Colonell Rainsborow quoth they,
I am the man kind friends said I,
What is your businesse I pray▪
that you come in so haste [...]y,
Our businesse you soone shall know,
and wherefore we were put in trust,
As we to you will streight way show,
for Lucas and Lisle dye you must.
At these same words I then did start,
when they to me those men did name:
It then did strike me to the heart,
that I consented to the same.
Rebiling me with v [...]tter words,
to murther me they did intend,
And then they drew their bloody Swords,
I nothing had me to defend.
Then they did [...]ow that I should dye,
for now they had me at command,
Yet I withstood them manfully,
as long as ever I could stand.
Thorough my body eight times they,
with bloody swords they me did gore▪
As it was seene whereas I lay,
being found dead upon the flore.
This being done, the doore they lockt.
and in their pockets put the Key,
Non [...] could come in although they knockt,
to they tooke Horse and rid away.
The Guard mistrusting no such thing,
did let them freely passe along,
Supposing they did Letters bring▪
believing their dessembling tongue.
Ther's none can tel what men those were
nor yet which way that they did ride,
Thems [...]lves they cunningly did beare,
and closely they themselves doe hide.
But blood no doubt for blood doth ary,
as w [...] by daily proofe doe see
Tis true, and pei [...]ceth through the sky,
if that my Ghost believ'd may be.
My Corpes it is to be convey'd
[...]o London on the fourteene day,
Where in the grave it shall be layd
in peace, and have no more to say.
Printed at LONDON 1648.