Mr. FLower, the unhappy Subject of this discourse, was a Gentleman of a good Family, and one who wanted none of those Ornaments which a civil and generous Education could accom­plish him with: he after some time apply­ed himself more particularly to Arms which he had always a natural inclination too; and so well improv'd himself in Martial Discipline that at length he received a Commission from his present Majesty to be Ensign in one of the Companys of the Foot Guards, in which Command he always behaved him­self [Page 2] like a Gentleman, and a Soldier some­time since Mr. Powney Purvior to his sacred Majesty, and a Gentleman otherwise of a very considerable estate and quality bought a Commission for a Captain in the same com­pany where Mr. Flower was Ensign, and be­ing at Windsor in company with Captain Pots Deputy Governour under his Grace the Duke of Norfolk; the present Constable of the Castle, & Mr. Flower, he observed some little Annimosities passed betwen Capt. Pots and Mr. Flower, which like a true Friend and good Christian, he endeavoured to com­pose, perswading Mr. Flower to abate of that heat and passionate temper which he too much indulged, & upon those grounds which perhaps vvere false, however uncertain, and that 'tvvould better become him to seal a per­fect friendship and amity with that worthy person Capt. Pots than suffer his Blood to ferment into rage and disorder, which might be the occasion of future mischiefs vvhich vvere sooner committed than either repented of or redressed.

This sober advice from Capt. Powney made at present some impression on Mr. Flower, considering the Captain both as his friend & that duty and respect he stood more parti­cularly obliged to render him, as his Superi­or Officer, so that during their stay together the Storm which before had too violently raged in his outward expressions seemed wholly allayed, at least confined to his own [Page 3] Breast. After sometime they went out to­gether from the three Tun Tavern into the Street Capt. Pots and Mr. Flower being some paces before, on a sudden Capt. Powney heard the clashing of Swords, and making haste after his company, saw Capt Pots and Mr. Flower engaged with their Swords dravvn and vigorously passing at one another, when coming up to them he called to Mr. Flower and desired him to put up his Sword, which he taking no Notice of, Capt Powney, told him he must not see Mur­ther committed in his company & by those he esteemed his friends that he was his captain and commanded him to desist. Upon which 'tis said Mr. Flower replyed, be who you will, if you come within the reach of my Sword I will run you thorow: the Captain more friendly than cautiously throwing himself in betvveen them with a design to part them; Flower ran him through the Body, vvhich proving mortal he soon after died of it.

Mr. Flower had wounded Cap. Pots in se­veral places, but upon the fall of Cap. Pow­ney, the people came in and apprehended Mr: Flower, who was committed to Reading Goal, and on February the 28th at the As­sizes there held, arraigned and condemned.

Great intercession was made by Mr. Flow­er's Mother to obtain his Pardon, vvith ve­ry great offers for saving his Life, or at least changing his Sentence of Death into Trans­portation, [Page 4] but all endeavours proved unsuc­cessful, he having formerly, as 'tis said, tasted of his Majestys gracious favour, and the vvhole Action appearing at his Tryal so much to his disadvantage he was this, Day Executed at Auckland End near Reading.

During his Imprisonment he behaved himself with all the marks of Penitence and Contrition, which gained him the favour of some few days respit, that he might the better prepare himself for his latter end which was so fast approaching. But the great God, who is often pleased to sanctifie our greatest afflictions to us, and by his infinite mercy sweeten that cup of sorrow which by our own sins we have dashed with Gall, was pleased to give this Re­pentant Criminal a true sight of all his misdeeds, and by the power of his Gracious Spirit an utter abhorrence of those Evil ways, which the World, the Flesh, and the Devil too often insnare us with.

On the eighth of this Instant, atten in the Morning, he was conducted by the Sheriff to Auckland End the place of his Execution, where after the singing of a psalm he went to his Devotion, and takeing solemn leave of his Friends, after some short Ejaculatory prayers the sentence of Death was executed upon him.