NOt to aggrauate the sor­row of the liuing in the shame of the dead, but to disswade the idola­trously blinded, from seeking their owne de­struction, in the way to damnation, I [Page]haue here briefely set downe a discourse of the behauiour and cariage of the eight persons afore named, from the time of their imprisonmēt, to the instant of their death: the nature of their offence, the little shew of their sorrow; their vsage in prison, and their obstinacie to their end. First, for their offence, it is odious in the eares of all humaine Creatures, that it could hardlie be belieued, that so many monsters in nature, shoulde carry the shapes of men: Murther, oh, it is the cry­ing sinne of the world, and such an inten ded Murther, as had it taken effect, would haue made a worlde to crie; and therefore the horror thereof, must needes bee hate­full to the whole world to heare of it.

Men that saw them goe to their Execu­tion; did in a sorte grieue, to see such pro­per men in shape, goe to so shamefull an end, but the end was proper to men of so vnproper minds, who to satisfie ablinded conceite, would forget their duties to God and their King, and vnnaturally [Page]seeke the ruine of their Natiue Countrie: They are said to be borne vnhappie, that are not some way profitable to their Countrie, and then, hovv accursed are they borne, that seeke the destruction of the whole Kingdome?

Papistes will perhaps idlely say, it was a bloody execution, but in respect of their desert, in the blood they entended to haue shedde, it was a mercifull punishment; For if Iezabel a Queen for seeking the mur­ther of one priuate man, was throwne out of a window, and fedde vppon by dogs: How can these people bee thought to be cruelly vsed, that could entend and practise so horrible a villany, as the death of so gracious a King, Queene and Prince, so Noble Peeres, & the ruine of so flou­rishing a Kingdome.

But since my entent is chieflie to make report of the manner of their demeanors from the prison to the Arraignement, & from thence to Execution. I will truely set downe, what I haue gathered, touch­ing [Page]the same. After their apprehension in the Countrie, and brought vp to Lon­don, vpon the Apparance of their foule treason, before his Maiesties most Hono­rable Councell, they were by their com­maundement committed to his Maiesti­es Tower of London, where they wan­ted nothing, that in the mercy of a Chri­stian prince, was thought fit, and indeed too good for so vnchristian offenders. For in the time of their imprisonment they seemed to feele no part of feare, ei­ther of the wrath of God, the doome of Iustice, or the shame of sinne; but as it were, with seared Consciences, senceles of grace, liued, as not looking to die, or not feeling the sorrow of their sinnes; and now that no subtill Foxe, or rather Goose, that would faine seame a Foxe, shall haue cause, to say or thinke, that the Iustice of the lawe hath not beene truely ministred, according to the rules of the diuine will, hehold here a true report, as I said before of their behauiour, and carri­riage, [Page]from their apprehension, to their imprisonment, and from condemnation to their execution. In the time of their imprisonment, they rather feasted with their sinnes, then fasted with sorrow for them; were richly apparrelled, fared deli­ciously, and tooke Tabacco out of mea­sure, with a seeming carelesnesse of their crime, as it were daring the Law to passe vppon them: but, the Almightie, and our most mercifull good God first reuealed them. His Maiesties and his Counsailes carefull head apprehended them, the law plainely did discipher them, Iustice gaue iudgement on them, and death made an end of them: but to come to their Araign­ment, and to deliuer the manner of their behauiour, after they went from the Tower by water & come to Westminster before they came into the hall, they made some halfe howres stay, or more in the Star chamber, whether being brought, and remaining til the Court was all ready to heare them, and according to the lawe to [Page]giue iudgement on them, it was strange to note their carriage euen in their verie countenances: Some hanging downe the heade, as if their heartes were full of doggednes, and other forcing a sterne looke, as if they would feare death, with a frowne, neuer seeming to pray, except it were by the dozen, vpon their beades, and taking Tabacco, as if that hanging were no trouble to them; saying little but in commendation of their concei­ted religion, crauing mercy of neyther God nor the king for their offences, and making their Consciences, as it were as wide as the worlde; and to the verie gates of Hell, to be the cause of their hel­lish courses to make a worke merito­rious.

Now being come into the hall, and vp­pon the scaffold at the barre standing to aunswere to their Inditements, They all pleaded not guiltie, but were all found guiltie, Digby without crauing mercie, or fauour, of either God, or the King made [Page]onely fiue worldly requests, that his wife might haue her lointer, his children the lands intailed, by his father; his sisters their legafies in his hand vnpaid, his debts paide, and for his death, to bee behea­ded, and not hanged.

Robert Winter in like manner thinke­ing himselfe alreadie halfe a Saint for his whole villanie, saide little to any pur­pose, that eyther made shew of sorrow, or sought mercy, but onely made a re­quest to the king for mercy towardes his Brother, in regarde of his offence as he saide, thorough his onely perswasi­on.

His brother sayed little, but with a guiltie conscience, svvallovved vp a cō ­cealed griefe, with little shevv of sor­row for that time.

Graunt stubborne in his idolatrie, see­med nothing penitent for his villa­nie, asked little mercy, but as it vvere [Page]careles of grace receiued the doome of his desert.

The yonger Winter saide little, but to excuse the fovvlenes of his fact, in being dravvne in by his brother, and not of his ovvne plotting, vvith little talke to litile purpose troubled the time the lesser vvhile.

Ruckwood out of a studied speech vvould faine haue made his bringing vppe and breeding in idolatrie, to haue beene some excuse to his villanie, but a faire talke, could not helpe a fovvle deed, and therefore being found guiltie of the treason, had his iudgement vvith the rest of the traytors.

Novv after their condemnation and iudgement, being sent backe to the Tovver, there they remayned till the Thurseday following; vpon sleddes and hurdles they were drawne into Powles Churchyearde; Fowre of them, vz. Euerarde Digble, the elder Winter, Graunt, and Bates, of whome I forgat to speake, [Page]hauing no great matter to speake of, but onely that being a villanie, and hoping of aduancement by the same, he had the rewarde of a traytor.

Now these foure being drawne to the Scaffolde, made one purpose for their execution: First went vp Digbie a man of a goodly personage, and a manly as­pect, yet might a warie Eye in the change of his countenaunce, beholde an inwarde feare of death, for his colour grew pale and his eie heauie, notwith­standing that hee enforced him selfe, to speake as stoutly as hee could, his speech, was not long and to little good purpose onely that his belied conscience, being but indeed a blinded conceit, had led him into this offence, which in respect of his religion alias in deede Idolatrie, hee held no offence but in respect of the law he held an offence for vvhich, hee asked forgiuenesse of God, of the king, and the vvhole kingdome, and so vvith vaine, and superstitious crossing of himselfe betook [Page]him to his Latine prayers, mumbling to him selfe, refusing to haue any prayers of any, but of the Romish Catholicks, vvent vp the Ladder and vvith the helpe of the hangman made an end of his vvicked daies in this vvorld.

After him vvent Winter, vp to the Scaffold vvhére he vsed fevv vvords to anie good effect, vvithout asking mercie of either God or the king for his offence, went vp the ladder, and making a few prayers to himselfe, staide not long for his execu­tion

After him went Graunt, who abho­minably blinded with his horrible ido­latrie, though he confessed his offence to bee hainous, yet would faine haue excu­sed it by his conscience, for Religion: a bloodie religion, to make so bloody a conscience: but better that his bloode and all such as hee was, should bee shed by the iustice of law, then the bloode of many thousandes to have beene shedde by his villanie, without lawe or iustice: [Page]but to the purpose, hauing vsed a fevve i­dle wordes to ill effect, hee was as his Fellowes before him, ledde the way to the Halter: and so after his crossing of himselfe, to the last parte of his tragedie.

Last of them came Bates, who seemed sorie for his offence, and asked forgiue­nes of God, and the king, and of the whole kingdome, prayed to God for the preseruation of them all, and as hee sayed, onely for his loue to his Maister, drawne to forget his duety to God, his king and Countrie, and therefore was now drawne from the Tower to Paules Churchyeard, and there hanged & quartered for his treacherie. Thus ended that dayes busines.

The next day being Friday, were drawne from the Tower to the old Pal­lace in VVestminster, ouer against the Parliament house, Thomas Winter theyon ger brother, Ruckewoode, Cayes & Faulks the Miner, iustly called the Deuill of the Vault: for had hee not beene a Deuill [Page]incarnate, he had neuer conceiued so villa nous a thought, nor beene employed in so damnable an action.

The next day being Friday were drawn from the Tower to the olde pallace in VVestminster, Thomas Winter, Rookewoode Caies and Faulkes, where Winter first be­ing brought to the Scaffolde, made little speech, but seeming after a sort as it were sorry for his offence, and yet crossing him selfe, as though those were wardes to put by the Deuils Stoccadoes, hauing already made a wound in his soule, of which, he had not yet a full feeling, protesting to die a true Catholicke as hee said; with a very pale and dead colour went vppe the lad­der, and after a swing or two with a hal­ter, to the quartering block was drawn, and there quickliedispatched.

Next him came Ruckwood, vvho made a speech of some longer time, confessing his offence to God, in seeking to shedde blood, and asking therefore mercy of his diuine Maiestie, his offence to the King, of whose Maiestie hee likevvise humbly [Page]asked forgiuenes, his offence to the whole state of whome in generall he asked for­giuenesse, beseeching God to blesse the king, the Queene, and all his royall Pro­genie, and that they might long liue to raigne in peace, and happinesse ouer this kingdom, but last of all to marre all the pottage with one filthy weede to mar this good prayers with an il conclusion: he praied God to make the king a Catho­like, otherwise a Papist, which God for his mercy euer forbid: and so beseeching the King to bee good to his wife and children, protesting to die in his Idolatry, a Romish Catholicke, hee went vppe the ladder, and hanging till hee was almost dead, was drawne to the blocke, where he gaue his last gaspe.

After him came Caies, who like a des­perate villaine vsing little speech, with small or no shew of repentance, wente stoutelie vp the ladder, where not staying the Hangmans turne, turned himselfe of with such a leape, that vvith the svving, [Page]he brake the Halter, but after his fall, was quicklie drawne to the blocke, and there was quicklie deuided into foure partes.

Last of all came the great Deuill of all, Faulkes alias Iohnson, who shoulde haue put fire to the powder: His body being weake with torture and sicknes, he vvas scarse able to goe vp the ladder, but yet vvith much adoe, by the helpe of the Hangman, vvent hie enough to breake his necke vvith the fall: vvho made no long speech, but after a sort, seeming to be sor­rie for his offence, asked a kinde of forgiue­nes, of the King, and the State, for his bloodie intent, with his crosses & his idle ceremonies, made his end vpon the gal­lowes, and the blocke, to the great ioy of the beholders, that the land vvas ended of so vvicked a villanie.

Thus haue I ended my discourse vppon the Arraignement, and execution of these eight traitors executed vpon thursdaie, and friday last past in paules church-yard [Page]and the old pallace at westminster.

Now there is certaine report of the exe­cution done on mundaie being the 27. of Ianuarie in the citie of worcester, vpon one Perkins and his man, for the receiu­ing of traitors. God be blessed for it and continue the Iustice of law to be executed vpon all such rebellious and traitorous wretches as either plot such villanies, conceale such treasons, or relieue such traitors, for since the betraying the Lord of heauen and earth, was there euer such a hellish plot practised in the world? if the Pope were not a verie Diuill, and these Iesuites, or rather Iebusites; and Sa­tanicall Semenaries, verie spirites of wick­ed nesse, that whisper in the eares of Euah to bring a world of Adams to distruction how could nature be so senceles or reason so graceles as to subiect wit so to wil, as to run all headlong to confusion? is this a rule of religion? or rather of a legiō, where the Sinagogue of Sathan sat in counsaile for the worlds destruction, for the satisfactiō [Page]of a lowzie humor or bloudy deuotion, or hope of honor, or to make waie to some mad fury to bring the most florishing kingdome on the earth to the most de­solation in the world, to kil at one blow or with one blast, King, Queene, Prince and Peere Bishop, Iudge, and Magistrate to the ruine of the land, and vtter shame to the whole vvorld, and left naked to the inuasion of anie enemie: is this a holy father that begets such vvicked children? is this religion, vvhere is no touch of cha­ritie? or is there anie sparke of Grace, in these priestes? that so poison the soules, & breake the neckes of so many people.

Ignorance in the simple and Idolatrie in the subtil, take ceremonies for certainties superstition for religion enuie for zeale, and murther for charitie, what can that church be but hell where the diuill sings such masses: seruus seruorum saies hee that would be Dominus dominorum seruant of seruants, that would be maister of maisters; is not he a cunning heards-man, [Page]that can make one painted cow, or prin­ted Bull giue him more milke, then ma­ny a Heard of better kine: are not these sweete Notes to bee taken in the na­ture of the Popish gouernment, kill prin­ces; sowe seditions, maintaine bawdie houses, blinde the simple, abuse the ho­nest, bereaue the innocent, sweare and forsweare, so it be for the popes profite, the Church will absolue you, and if you misse the marke to hit the mischiefe you shooteat, you shall bee a hanging Saint, till you bee taken downe to the Deuill. Oh fine perswasions, that in­finite sinnes by numbred prayers, inward curses, by outward crossings, an offence against God by a pardon from man, should be beleeued to be helped. A child cannot conceiue it, a wise man cannot disgest it, and surely none but either blind women or mad men can beleeue it. If a man would but a little looke into their Idolatries, hee should see a worlde of such mockeries, as would make him [Page]both laugh at their fooleries, and abhor their villanies. Their kissing of babies, their kneeling to wodden Ladies, their calling to Saintes that cannot heare them, their praying by the dozen, their taking of penance, their pilgrimages to Idols, their shauings and their washings, their confessions and their crossinges, and their diuelish deuises to deceiue the simple of their comfort. These with a worlde of such trickes, as would make Iacke an Apes a fine Iugler: He that coulde see them with that cleare eye, that can iudge betwixt light and darkenes, woulde, if they were his friendes, be sorry for them, if his enemies, laugh at them, and how­soeuer, or whatsoeuer leaue them, & say as he may say, that Papistrie is meere Jdo­latrie, the Pope an incarnate Deuill, his Church a Synagogue of Satan, and his priestes the verie locustes of the earth.

But let vs leaue them to their loathsome puddles, and let vs bee thankefull to Al­mightie God, for the cleare water of life, [Page]that in his holy worde, wee receiue from the fountaine of his gracious mercie, & let vs a little looke into the difference betwixt the Traiterous Papist, that dieth for his villanie, and the faithfull Prote­stant that dyeth for the truth of his con­science in the beliefe of the worde of God.

The trayterous Papist will pull downe princes, and subuert Kingdoms; murther and poyson whome they can­not commaund; The faithfull prote­stant praieth for princes, and the peace of the people, and will endure banish­ment, but hate rebellion: The proud papist will shewe intemperancie in pas­sion, while the humble protestant will embrace affliction with patience: The Protestant cries to GOD for mer­cie for his sinnes, the Papist giues autho­ritie to sinne, when before the offence the pardon is purchased.

I say, was it not a strange speech of Dig­bie, through the blindnesse of his bewit­ched [Page]witte, that to bring the kingdome into the popish Idolatrie, hee cared not to roote out all his posteritie.

Oh the misery of these blinded people, forsake the true God of heauen and earth to submit their seruice to the Deuill of the world, be Traitours to their gratious Princes to serue a proude vngratious pre late, loose their lands, goods, begger their wiues and children, loose their own liues with an open shame, and Ieaue an infamy to their name for euer, onely to obey the command of a cunning Foxe, that lying in his denne praieth on all the geese that he can light on, and in the proude beliefe to be made Saints will ha­zard their soules to goe to the Deuill.

But how many millions hath this De­uill inchaunted, & how many kingdōes hath he ruinated, and how many massa­cres hath he plotted, and how many soules hath he sent to damnation? God for his mercy cut him off or open the eies of all them Christian princes, that they [Page]may agree together and pull him down. For during his pride, Princes that are of his Religion, will bee but as Copieshol­ders to his Countenance, Souldiers that fight not vnder his banner, shall bee as shake-rags to his Armie; Lawyers except they pleade in his right, shall haue but curses for their fees: Diuines, if not of his opinion, shal be excommunicate out off his Church, Merchantes that bring not him commodities shall keepe no shops, in his Sanctuarie, nor Beggars that pray not for his Monarchie, shall haue any almes in his Basket: and therefore I hope, that God will so wipe off the skales from the eyes of the blinde, that both one and other, Souldier and Law­yer, Diuine and Laye man, rich and poore, will so lay their heades, their heartes and handes, and their purses together, that where as hee hath beene long in rising, and could not sitte fast, when hee was vppe, shall take a fall [Page]of sodaine, and neuer rise againe, when hee is downe: to which praver, I hope all true Christians will say Amen.