THE DECLARATION OF Major Gen. Massey UPON His Death-Bed at LEICESTER: WITH His Protestation, Acknowledgment, and Pro­posals, concerning the King of Scots, Religion, and Covenant; Together with his Remonstrance, or Letter, Written by his own Hand; and subscribed EDWARD MASSEY.

ALSO, The Scots Kings Speech to the said Major Gen. upon his departure from him neer Worcester; the totall routing of the rest of his Forces in Cheshire: Col. Humes, Col. Hambleton Col. Hart, and divers other Officers and Soldiers ta­ken prisoners: With the number killed; and the manner how Charles Stuart forced his pas­sage through forty Club-men, and so escaped towards Scotland.

LIKEWISE, Captain Sympkins Speech at the place of Execution in Chester, who was shot to death on Tuesday last, for assisting the aforesaid Charles Stuart against the Parliament.

London, printed for George Wharton, 1651.

THE Declaration of Major General Massey upon his Death bed in the Newark at Leice­ster: With his Protestation and testimo­ny touching his Master the King, and the Parliament of England.

Honoured Sir,

SInce my last of the 7 instant, it hath plea­sed God to add further Trophies of his Mercy to our late Victory; and hath not onely broken the Bonds and Snares of the Common-wealths Enemies, but also quite dissipated and scatter'd them in seve­ral parts of this Nation; as will manifest­ly appear by the inclosed Papers; But in the first place give me leave, I beseech you, to present you with the Declaration and Speech of Major Gen. Massey on his Death-bed at Lei­cester; [Page 2] For having cast himself into the imbracements of the Right Honorable the Countess of Stamford, Mother to the Lord Grey of Groby, she immediatly interceded for him to her Son, whose Lordship ordered his removal from Broadgate Mannor to the Newark in Liecester, from whence he was guarded by a party of horse; and on Tuesday last was brought into the said Town being very much wounded, and scarce able to sit on his horse back; But all possible meanes was used for his Recovery, and the best Chyrurgions sent for, who dressed his wounds, which lay both in the head, hand, and thigh, but upon their searching the depth thereof, they found them to be not onely putrified, but also mortal; which indeed proved to be so; For this morning it is affirmed that he departed this life, and made a very Christian end; who finding a sudden inward change, declared to those that were resident with him, That his hour was almost come, and desired that a Minister might be presently sent for, which was grant­ed; and according M: Angel had notice thereof, and gave him a visit, making a very pious prayer, and heavenly exhortation: After which, Major Gen: Massey gave him thanks, and decla­red himself as followeth:

That he blessed God his hour was so neer, that he was in a great measure sensible thereof, that his heart was full of joy and peace in believing, that he had pursued those ways for which he blessed God he had no blacknesse upon his Conscience, and that his En­gagement tended onely for the inthroning of his young Master, the settling of Religion, according to the Covenant, which with his hands and heart lifted up to the most high God, he was bound to preserve, and not to violate.

Having ended these Declaratory expressions, M. Angel, took his leave of him, and suddenly after it is advertized that he dy'd. During his life time he was in great misery and an­guish, [Page 3] and meer pain and weariness forced him in to a sur­render of his person; as appears by the insuing Letter to the Countesse of Stamford, writen with his own hand.

Thrice noble and most vertuous Lady,

These are the humble request of your poor servant, whom it hath pleased God at present deeply to afflict; and by his providence being cast into these parts, full of anguish and painly reason of my wounds and weakness got before the defeat at Worcester; I resolved to cast my self upon the favour of my Lord Gray, which by your La­diships intercession (and of which I dare presume, knowing your charity to all men) I hope I shall finde from his noblenesse, That I may have leave as his prisoner to stay and repose my sick body, and refresh my wounds, either herel hr where his Lordship shall please to command, being unable to ride or trave further at present, I shall be afaithfull Prisoner, either under or without a Guard as his Lordship shall please.

Thrice vertuous Madam
This is the most humble request of Your Ladiships most humble and devoted servant Ed. Massey.
To the right honourable and thrice noble, and vertuous Lady, the Countesse of Stamford these humbly.

Immediately upon the receipt of this Letter, notice was given by the Countess to her son my Lord Gray, that care might be taken for the se­curing of his person till farther order be taken by the Parliament or Councel.

Some of the prisoners taken affirm, That the said Major Gen. rode about 6 miles from Worcester with their King; but not being able to keep pace with any longer, the King took his leave of him, with tears trickling down his cheeks, saying; Farewell my dear and fa [...]thful Friend, the Lord blesse and preserve us both: And so they parted, the King posting on with Scoutmaster Gen. Hind, the grand Thief of England; and the Major Gen. wheeled off by the way of Bromsgrave.

Honoured Sir,

ON Thursday last there marched by our Town about 1000. of the routed Scots, who rande­vouzed on Cangleton Moor, there taking up their quarters for the most part of that night, lying in their close order; but about 3 of the Clock in the morning, Major Cibson (a Countrey Gentleman) with about 300 Club men and others, allarmed them, which the Enemy perceiving, indeavoured to make good his drawing off; but by the great forwardness and gallantry of the said Major, he fel on with his men in their Rear, killed about 300. and took above 100 prisoners with little losse: for indeed so great is the spirit of fear amongst them, that 10 men will chase 100. the rest of the enemy escaped; but we hear since are taken. On Fryday morning, another party consisting of about 500. marched by us, but the Countrey pursued them so close, that the enemy were forced to face about, and dispute the place, which conflict lasted for the space of half an hour, till at last the Countrey men fell in with their Clubs, Sythes, and but end of Musquets, and totally routed them, killing about 60. took divers prisoners of quality: amongst the rest Col. Hamilton, Sir William Hart, and Collo­nel Humes, (Son to the Lord Humes) are taken. Having secured the prisoners, we farther pursued the enemy, and about Diddesbury overtook them, [Page] where we killed, took, and totally routed the whole party, with the losse of 11 men, so that now (bles­sed be God) most of the enemies of this Common­wealth, that got off from the fight at Worcester, are all killed and taken: but Charles Stuart their Captain General hath again narrowly escaped, and out run them all, being habited in mean Apparel, with only four men to attend him: he is gone towards Scotland with a great and pannick fear, by reason of the disaffection of the Countrey to­wards him: for in divers places where he came, the Inhabitants rose both against him and his follow­ers, and fell upon them with their Clubs, and at Diddesbury he was constrained to force his pas­sage through the midst of 40 Club men, who laid at him with their Clubs, and yet could not bring him to the dust. However there is all dilligence u­sed for the way la [...]ing and intercepting of him be­fore he gets over Tweed: In many places where he came where the people were gathered together, He us [...]d these expressions Good people, take commise­ration on him, who is your true & lawful King, but words took these little impression in their hearts, for they made a generall resistance throughout all parts, and unanimously declared against him and his followere, for which, I doubt not, but they wil have a rich reward of mercy with God, &c.

[Page 6] From Chester we heare, That Col. Dackenfield (the Gover­nor) hath sentenced ten of the King of Scots Captaines at a Counsell of War to be shot, and accordingly on Tuesday last they were brought to the place of execution, where most of them deported themselves with much resolutenesse of spirit, and amongst the rest Cap. Man, and Sympkins, seemed not in the least to be daunted, and withall, as they were guar­ded along from the Castle, Cap. Sympkins called the Officers that went on each side of him, his two Bridemen, protesting, That he was filled with as much inward joy to receive the bullets, as if he was to receive a Bride; and when he came to the place of execution, he expressed himself further to the spectators.

Christian Gentlemen, and People,

I Am this day brought hither to die for Treason, and to be cut off from doing any further service for my Master the King: However I am not in the least sorry, and for the cause in which I have now waded, I must need say, my continuance or engagement in it hath laid no scruple upon my conscience, it was upon the interests of Religion and Loyalty; and I hum­bly desire that God would be pleased to honor that side that hath right with it, and that you may enjoy peace and plenty when I shall enjoy peace and plenty beyond all you possesse here: As for my Judges I freely forgive them, being in free peace with all the world, as I desire God for Christs sake, to be at peace with me: And so the Lord blesse you all. Then tur­ning to the Musquetiers, said, Gentlemen when I stretch forth my arms do your office; and so immediately he unbraced his doublet, and stretching forth his arms they all fired, (being 6. in number) and so patiently receiving these tokens of death, he departed this life. Sir, having no more at present, I remain

Your oblibed and faith­full friend, Robert Cotton.
Manchester,
FINIS.

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