TIs generally obſerved that where God beſtowes the beſt gifts, there, for the moſt part the worſt uſe is made of them: There is ſeldome any vertue that is not attended on, if not over-luld by ſome vice. God beſtowes on ſome wit, learning, knowledge, wiſdome, valour, and many more heavenly gifts in a more ample manner then on others, who being left over to themſelves, theſe graces tend rather to their ruine and deſtruction, then to their comfort here and eternall ſalvation hereafter, as many examples in theſe preſent times ſufficiently teſtifie. I could ſpeake of the Earle of Strafford, who was endued with more then ordinary vertues, and yet that firſt and damned ſinne Ambition did ſo overweigh his good parts in the ſcales of Juſtice, that it rendred him odious and contemptible to three Kingdomes, cut off his life untimely, branded him with the juſt name of Traitor, and corrupted the blood of his innocent poſterity: but it would be needleſſe to inſtance in any other examples then of this Ieſuite, whoſe birth, education, life, and death was as hereafter is expreſſed.

He was the ſonne to one Maſter Robert Ward, a gentleman of good repute, who lived in Cumberland, and though a yonger brother, and borne to ſmall fortunes, he matched with a rich widow, who had a joynture of ſome hundred pounds per annum, on whom he begot this William Ward, who untill he was foureteene yeeres of age he was educated in the beſt Schooles of Religion and Learning that that Countrey afforded, where he profited exceedingly, and ſurpaſſed (if credit may be given to common report) his friends expectations. He was no ſooner foureteene yeeres of age but he was more able and fit to inſtruct then to learne of his Countrey Schoolmaſter; whereupon, his Father ſeeing him ſo capable and induſtrious withall, ſent him to be further edoctrinated in a very famous Schoole at Leeds in Yorkeſhire, where he remained untill he was eighteene yeere of age, by which time he perfectly attained the Latine and Greeke tongues, and could diſcourſe as familiarly in them as in his native tongu. His Father being ſenſible of his admirable ingenuity was very deſirous to make him a Scholler, and he affecting no courſe of life but that, was ſent to Oxford, and there admitted a Student of Brazen-noſe Colledge, where he continued for the ſpace of ſeven yeeres, during which time he was generally accounted the ableſt Diſputant that Colledge contain'd: His fallacies would ſeeme reall Syllogiſmes, and like a true Sophiſter would winde his arguments which way hee pleaſed, to the aſtoniſhment of his antagoniſts: In which time his Father and Mother both dyed, ſo that he was then deſtitute of meanes to maintain him any longer at the Vniverſity: wherupon he was forced to ſeeke his fortunes; and then repaired to London, where he remained in expectation of ſome preferment for the ſpace of halfe a yeer, in which time all his meanes was ſpent, and hee no way advantaged his fortunes. That then by accident he happened into the company of one Maſter Dutton a welch gentleman, who was to travell into Spaine onely for pleaſure ſake, and to ſee the faſhions of thoſe Countries, and promiſed to beare the charges of him the ſaid William Ward, if hee would goe over with him; which profer was moſt gladly accepted of.

That the ſaid William Ward all his life time untill he came acquainted with the ſaid Maſter Dutton was conformable to the Church of England, and a very good Proteſtant. But the ſaid Maſter Dutton being a Roman C • tholick (though at firſt unknown to the ſaid William Ward) in the ſpace of ſeven yeeres converted him from a good member and ſupporter of the Church to be a demoliſher of the ſame. Hee that before could withſtand and oppoſe the arguments of his adverſaries, is now confuted with an erronious reaſon. In briefe, hee is a moſt idolatrous Papiſt, an adorer of Saints and Angels, and a moſt ſuperſticious worſhipper of the Lord in, at, and before Images.

Afterwards he returned into England and came to London, where (as he confeſt) hee lodged at a Prieſts houſe in Saint Giles in the fields, where finding cold entertainment, thought it his beſt courſe to repaire to the Papiſts Sanctuary Rome, and then was admitted into the Popes preſence, who approving his learning and his jelous affectation of idolatry, beſtowes preferments and all the degrees upon him belonging to a Ieſuite, and finding him a fit member for his purpoſe, ſends him againe into England, to ſeduce Proteſtants to his Antichriſtian Religion, promiſeth him rewards for his ſedulity and diligence, diſpenſations and pardons, for any ſinne how hainous ſoever.

He is now returned into England, hee lodged ſometimes in Coventgarden, in Bowſtreet, and reſorted much to all places where there was a generall concurſe of people and diſcourſes with them as he found occaſion, hee would not loſe the leaſt opportunity, but would ſound the affections of people, and learne how they were inclined, and accordingly he would fit his diſcourſe.

By theſe meanes hee ſeduced many, and conſtantly every month changed his name, lodging and habit, ſo that it was almoſt impoſſible to take him tardy in his dangerous enterpriſes; but the quicke eie of the bleſſed Parliament, that like the ſunne ſends it luſtre through the leaſt cranie, and with its vigilancy findes out things intended for obſcurity, amongſt other enormities eſpies this catterpiller, whereupon he was according to Law of this land accuſed and convicted of high treaſon, and found guilty of theſe and many more illegall courſes tending wholly to the ruine of religion, and the prejudice of the common Wealth, which would be too tedious to relate in this ſmal volume, wherefore I referre you to his examination and confeſſion.

For which offences he was executed at Tiburne the ſix and twentieth day of Iuly 1641. in this manner, firſt he was hanged upon the tree, and when he was halfe dead his body was ript, and his heart, his bowells and privy members were throwne into the fire, with a generall acclamation God ſave the King, and then his limbes were ſevered from his body, and order given to bee hanged upon the City gates, to the everlaſting glory of God, joy of good Chriſtians, and ſhame and confuſion of that bloody and ſuperſtitious ſect of Rome.