Gods judge­ments a­gainst the Scots.I Will first begin with the Scots in general; for they were the first Pomentors and Ringleaders of the late Rebellion, by raifing not onely an Army against thei [...] natural Prince, but by encouraging our Nation to the like, and afterwards in betraying their Soveraign to a Jewish faction of bloody Independants and Anabaptists, who thirsted after his life: For when the good King upon their deep (but perfidious engagements) thought he might be safe with those his own Native Subjects, he re­solved to go unto them; and thereupon disguising him­self, with a very great hazard of his own person, he ad­ventured to pass through all difficulties, and to commit himself into the hands of those men; who very fai [...]ly, but fasly, made merchandize of his Majestie, and sold him to his enemies, at a far deerer rate then the Traytor Iu­das sold the Saviour of the world, and the King of Kings unto the Jews: And no such wonder neither, for Iudas was but an Ass to Lesley, who had been a Pedlar, or Merchant (as Pedlars are termed in that Countrey) be­fore he became Commander of an Army; and therefore he knew how to sell his ware better then the other; though his sin in one respect was far worse, for Iudas repented of his treachery and brought back the thirty pieces he had received, and cast it down with a penitent confession of his fault: But we finde not that either Lesley, or any other of these Scotish Merchants did repent their treache­ries, con [...]ess their faults, or return one peny of the price they received for their King back again.

But never was any Nation more justly dealt withal for their perj [...]ries towards their Soveraign then those perfi­dious Scots; who having watted against their King, Co­venanted with, and sold him to the Parliament, God was pleased to make the same Parliament that invited them to these their impieties, to become the instruments of [Page 4]their punishment; and that dear Brother of theirs Oliver Cromwel, who not long before made speeches in their commendation, and gratulory orations for that blessed union betwixt these two Nations, at length proved the chiefest Agent (another Attalus, called flagellum Dei) whom the Lord used for the execution of his Fury upon these perjured people: First by fire, in burning and lay­ing waste their strongest Holds: next by the sword, in cut­ting off the chiefest of their Covenanters; and lastly, by famine, in reducing those poor captive Souldiers (that were taken after Dumbar fight) to such an exegent, Dunhar fight, Anno 1656. Sep. 3. that above three thousand of them were at Durham starved to death, and those who survived were by hunger torced to feed upon the dead bodies of their Countreymen, to preserve their own lives: And therefore what Martial saith of the Lyon, which is the Arms of Scotland, I may fitly apply to these treacherous Scots,

Thus you see that God will not suffer any Traytors, or Regecides to go unpunished; as may further appear by that one remarkable example of Hatto late Bishop of Mentz in Germany, who having betrayed his neer Kins­man Allebert Count Palatine of Franconia (to whom he had sworn allegiance) into the Emperors hands, God soon after suffered this Traytor (as you may finde in the Chro­nological Collections of Petreius) to be carried away by Devils, and to be thrown into a burning pit in Mount Gebel, a voyce in the mean time being heard to cry ont in the ayr, [Page 5] ‘Sic peccaudo lues, sic (que) ruendo rues.’

Thus art thou worthily punished for thy wicked deeds.

So heinous are the sins of Treason, and Perjury, and so just is the Almighty in the severity of his punishments for them, that he suffers none who are guilty of such hor­rid deeds, either early, or late to escape unpunished.

Gods judge­ments a­gainst the Irish Rebels.Nor did it happen otherwise with the Irish, then with the beforementioned Scotish Rebels; who having palpa­bly forged several pretended Commissions under his late Majesties Great-Seal, and thereby raised an Army; first impudently slandred Gods anointed, then openly rebel­led against him, and afterward; fell to butchering of his [Page 8]loyal Subjects, women with childe, young infants, aged Matrons, old Fathers, and all others, of what age, sex or condition soever: Insomuch, that their barbarous inhu­manity far exceeded all the cruelties of Phalaris, Busyris, Dionysius, and the rest of those Heathen Tyrants, or bloody persecutors of the primitive Christians, whose bloody slaughters were but merciful punishments, compared with their Tragick acts; so as they who felt them, could hard­ly believe such infernal destruction could be invented, much less executed by any humane Creatures upon earth.

Next for that long Parliament here in England, The Eng­lish Re­bellion in the long Parlia­ment. which first raised up a Rebellious Army against their King, and at last a High Court of Justice to take away his life: Did not God stir up their own General, Oliver Cromwel, a Philistine, amongst these Philistines; and a grand Re­bel, amongst these Rebels; who finding his opportunity, wisely broke in pieces this Brazen Engin, and with a Hero­like courage, dissolved that knot, and scattered those [Page 9]grand Proditors of their King and Countrey; as the Lord dispersed the Jews that were the murderers of his Son (and their own King) over all the parts of this Kingdom. The whole mass of that long Parliament (who thought to remain as Kings for ever) being scattered like chaff with the wind, from the face of the earth; and now made ludibrium, opprobrium (que) vulgi, the mock-game, and laughter of this Nation.

But I must now descend from generals to particulars, and shew you the just judgement of God upon the dis­membred parts of this great body, and their adherents, as I finde them worthy of observation.

Oliver Cromwel.But I must not here forget the Arch-Machiavilian Rebel, and prodigious Monster of men, Oliver Cromwel; who adding strength to the wings of his ambition, soared an Eagles height; and striving by a grasp of the Scepter to enoble his Name, and Family to posterity, resolved to put on the purple Robes of Majestie, though deep-dy'd in the blood of his Soveraign, to whom he had sworn al­legiance, [Page 14]and stood engaged (by many solemn oathes, and horrid execrations upon himself and his Family) to pre­serve, and re-settle in his Throne: Nevertheless, con­trary to all his former protestations and promises, he trea­cherously caused the King to be kept close Prisoner in Carisbrook Castle; where he plotted with Rolf to have him secretly made away, though afterwards he was pub­liquely murthered: And that he might palliate the breach of his Faith, Vows, and Allegiance to his Soveraign, he by a printed Declaration, makes God the Author of his wickedness, affirming, he could not resist the motions of the Spirit, which would not suffer him to keep his word with the King, or let his Conscience rest quiet, till he had taken away hife life: Thus, ‘Sua cui (que) Deus fit dira libido.’

This Hob-goblin serves all turns; and Oliver was so perfect a Juggler, that he had got the right knack of Pulpit canting; so as it is was easie for him, under this mask of Religion (that old stalking-horse of Rebel­lion) by deceiving the ignorant sort of people, up to exalt himself up to the usurped Throne of his Mar­tyred Prince: Into which he was no sooner entered, but this Ioshua of the Saints, was prayed for in every Con­venticle, and a day of general Thanksgiving for his en­stallment appointed to God (I think) for his patience in not striking this Atheistical Tyrant with Thunder and Lightning, for making him a stale to his premeditated villanies.

But God permitted not this Son of Belial to raign long in his cruelties, but speedily cut him off, by a miserable, and tormenting sickness; which caused him two days be­fore his death to roar so loud, and make such doleful cla­mors, that his Council being informed, that many per­sons as they passed by his chamber window, took much notice of his crys, thought fit to have him removed from the place where he then lay, to one more private; where [Page 15]with extremity of anguish, and terror of Conscieence having his soul at the parting from his body (accompani­ed with such a hellish tempest, as was by all men judged to be prodigious,) he finished his miserable life; for he dyed mad, and dispairing, as the Author of the fourth part of the History of Independency affirms: Out of whom give me leave to insert this remarkable passage, viz.

That it was believed, and not without some good cause, that Cromwel the same morning he defeated the Kings Army at Worcester fight, had conference personally with the Devil, with whom he made a Contract, that to have his will then, and in all things else for seven years after from that time ( being the third of September, 1651.) he should at the expiration of the said years, have him at his command, to do at his pleasure, both with his soul, and body: Now if any one will please to reckon from the third of September, 1651. till the third of September, 1658. he will finde it to a day just seven years, and no more: Richard Protector. At which time he dyed, declaring his eldest Son Richard his Successor, his Son Henry Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and leaving his Daughter Fleetwood married to the Com­mander in chief of the Army under himself.

This was the end of our English Nero: A person of an unlimitted ambition, and restless spirit; of whom I have heard it credibly reported, by such as attended upon him in his bed-chamber, that after he had em­brewed his hands in the blood of his Soveraign, he was observed to sleep so little, that he scarce took any repose; but oft in the night time would arise out of his bed, take a pistol into his hand, and call to his guard to watch his door, and have a care of sleeping.

Nor was his guilty conscience less terrified in the day time, then in the night; as appears by the testimony of Sir Theophilus Iones; who waiting upon him one morning in his Chamber, the wind on a sudden blowing up the hangings before the door, possessed him with such a Pa­nick fear, that he cryed out Traytors! Traytors! and [Page 16]drawing out his sword, could not be perswaded to disperser his fears, or put up his weapon, till the wind playing the same game again, convinced him of his error.

The like story I find written by Polidore Virgil, of Ri­chard the third; who having caused his two Nephews to be secretly murthered, he could never after (whilest he lived) enjoy any quiet in his mind, but would be still starting, and clapping his hand upon his dagger. Thus do to mented Consciences continually carry a Hell about them; as Lucan saith the wicked man doth.

And Pictorius in his Epigram upon the same subject, saith,

But 'tis time to leave him off, and return to his Chil­dren, who have also drank deep of the bitter Cup of Affliction, for their Fathers perjuries, according to that of the Poet:

I could say much of Bradshaw, Bradshaw. that notorious Regi­cide; who being terrified at the turning out of Richard [Page 19]the Protector, the rising of Sr. George Booth, and the mutining of the City against the Army, began to suspect he should soon be called to account for his villanies, in­somuch as he quickly hastened his passage into another world, to prevent his punishment in this. Neverthe­less, God did not long suffer the stinking carcass of this bloody Monster to rest in the grave, but being thence ta­ken out, together with the bodies of his Master Cromwel, and Ireton, they all were drawn, hanged, and buried at Tyburn, a fit Tombe for such egregious Rebels: but their heads were by the Hang-man cut off, and set upon Westminster-Hall, over the same place where they ere­cted their High Court of Justice, and sate in Judgement against His Majesty.

Nor are those memorable Examples of Gods Iudgements against Col. Dean, Rainsborough, Reynolds, White, Dorislaus, Askam, Milton Bond, Marshall, and Love, less eminent than the former.

Rich. Pym.THE next in order is Richard Pym, originally a Shoo-maker, afterwards an Inn-keeper living at the Bull within Bishop gate, a person so egregiously mali­tious, that he could not forbear to vent his passionate [Page 23]treason publickly amongst such guests as were dining with him at an Ordinary kept in his house, saying, that he hoped he should live to see the day, when he should wash his hands in King Charles's blood; which words being taken notice of by one Mr. Grigory an Attorney who was present, were by him related to some Mem­bers of the Long Parliament; who thereupon caused the said Pym to be committed a Prisoner to New-gate: But so prevalent at that time was Cromwels power in the house, that (being a Favourite of his) he speedily ob­tained his releasement without being ever further que­stioned about it. But God would not so release him from punishment.

For in a short while after he visited his house with a violent Pestilence, which suddenly swept away his Wife, two Children, and such Servants as remained in it, who all dyed of the Plague; Hereupon the house being shut up, whether the loss of his Trade, or the Judgement of God upon him for his sins, were the occasion of his fu­ture destruction, I cannot tell, but this I am sure, that he who before the uttering of those words against His Majesty, was possessed of a clear estate in Land, estima­ted at above 300 l. per annam; as also a great Trade con­tinually driving within his house, could no longer (not­withstanding all his care, and industry in the management of his affairs) preserve his estate, or himself from con­suming and mouldering away to nothing, insomuch, as within five year after he became so poor and indebted, that he was forced to flye from his house, and sell all his goods, and at last to betake himself to a Prison; from whence, though he was afterwards released, yet he pe­rished miserably.

The next knot of Traytors, of whose Arraignment, and Condemnation I shall onely give you a brief account; were,

Harrison and CarewFIrst Harrison, and Carew, against whom it was pro­ved that they did often meet, and consult together, [Page 24]with others, how to put the King to Death; that they sate at the time of the Sentence, and signed the War­rant for the Kings Execution, and were found guilty of compassing and imagining his Death, for which they were Condemned to be hang'd, drawn and quartred, which accordingly was done upon Harrison between 9 and 10 of the clock in the morning, Octob. 13th. 1660. and the like upon the Monday following to Carew, at Chairing-Cross, with their faces looking upon the Ban­quetting-house at White-Hall, the fatal place pitched upon by those infernal Regicides, for the solemn mur­ther of our late Soveraign Charles the first, of glorious memory.

Axtel.THese being thus dispatched, and having received the reward of their Treason, Daniel Axtel, and Fran­cis [Page 26]Hacker were brought before the Court, and tryed; against Axtel it was proved, that when His Majesty was brought to be tryed at Westminster-Hall, he bid his Soul­diers cry out Justice, Justice, and Execution, Execution, and bear them till they did it. That he bid shoot a La­dy there for calling Cromwel Traytor, and saying, that not a quarter of the people of England consented to their wicked Charge. That he said to Col. Huncks upon his refusing to sign the Warrant against the King: I am ashamed of you, the Ship is now coming into the Har­bour, and will you strike Sail before we come to Anchor; That he laughted at the Transactions, as applauding them, whilst others sighed; that after the King was murthe­red, he kept guards upon the dead body, and knew who cut off the Kings head, having sent one Elisha Axtel for the Executioner; upon which proof the Jury found him guilty of the said Treason whereof he stood indi­cted.

Hulet.THE last of this Crew, was Will. Hulet; against whom it was proved, that he was one of those which came with a frock on his body, and a Vizard on his face to perpetrate the horrid Murder on the Per­son of the King; that being so disguised upon the Scaf­fold, he fell down before the King, and asked him for­giveness, being known by his voice, that himself said, that he was the man that beheaded King Charles: for which deed he had 100 l. and preferment. That Heu­son said of him, that he did the Kings business upon the Scaffold. That he either did cut it off, or took it up, and said, Behold the head of a Traytor. That being questioned about the said words, he said, Whosoever said it matters not, I say now it was the head of a Tray­tor, with many other things to the like effect. For which most abhorrid Treason, the Jury found him guilty; and he was Condemned to be hang'd at Tyburn: nevertheless, his Execution (for some reasons) is hi­therto suspended.

This was the end of such Traytors as were then taken; as for those who surrendred themselves according to the Proclamation set out by the King for that purpose: viz.

• OWen Row.
• Augustine Garland.
• Edmund Harvey.
• Henry Smith.
• Henry Martin.
• George Fleetwood.
• Simon Meyne.
• Will. Heveningham.
• Isaac Pennington.
• Sr. Hardess Waller.
• Robert Tichbourn.
• Iames Temple.
• Peter Temple.
• Tho. Waite.
• Rob. Lilburn.
• Gilbert Millington.
• Vincent Potter.
• Thomas Wogan, and Iohn Downes.

Though they be all attainted, and convicted of High Treason by the Law of the Land, at a fair and legal Tryal, yet are they not to suffer the pains of Death, until His Majesty by the advice and assent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, shall order their Execu­tion by an Act to be passed for that purpose.

John OkeyTHis was one of Olivers Insecta animalia. A Welch Salamander, in plain English, a States Cricker; for he was begot, and bred up in a Brewers Stoke hole. A Maggot of his new Common-wealth: generated out of putrefaction, (like a Docc from a Dunghill:) whose chief subsistance depended upon the destruction of others.

But the States Chronicles speak him of a better ex­traction; affirming the Original of this Babe of Grace was (like that of the Goddess Venus) from such frothy dreggs as were purged, and raked out of the Bung-hole, (of that chosen Vessel of Reformation,) Cromwel the Brewer, by Pride his Dray-man: who afterwards being listed by Scot, the Brewers Clark, in the Muster-roll of the Saints militant, he quickly became a Stout Champion for their Good Old Cause.

A Fellow, indeed (give the Devil his due) of excel­lent courage; full of valour; but empty of brains. A better Conductor, than a Polititian; one whom Crom­wel seldom made other use of, than the Monkey of the Cats foot, to rake Chef-nuts out of the fire, whilst he devoured them: for in all Battails, or desperate at­tempts, the General usually put him in the Van, to break the enemies wings; but reserved the command of the Reer to himself, for the glory of the Victory.

February the 22. 1648, It was debated at a Coun­cel of War (this Okey then being one of the Cabab) to massacre, and put to the Sword all the Kings party; the question was carried in the Negative onely by two voices; doubtless they had otherwise put it in execution.

Nor was he less officious in his combination with some others of the Army (soon after the siege of Colchester) when they petitioned the House, that two or three prin­cipal Gentlemen of the Kings party by name (of every County) might be sacrificed to justice, whereby the land might be freed from blood-guiltiness.

A true Disciple, and Imitator of his hot-headed compa­nion [Page 29] Haslerig, who upon May 14th. 1649. a report made to the House of the Death of Doctor Dorislaus, (formerly a poor School-master, but afterwards the Parliament Agent in the Low-Countreys, notwithstanding upon the examination of his own Servants, it appeared he was nabbed by some Scotch-men in revenge of Homiltons Death yet) upon the occasion of this debate he moved, that six Royalists of the best quality might be put to death, as a revenge for Dorislaus; and to deter men from the like attempts hereafter. Which barbarous motion, though it was then rejected, yet the 18th of May following the House passed this prodigious Declaration;

That if any more Acts of the like nature happened here-after, it should be retaliated upon such Gentlemen of the Kings party as had not yet compounded.

Yet this not satisfying some of the blood-thirsty Gran­dees at White-Hall, they consulted (without them) of a way to diminish the number of their opposites, Royalists, and Presbyterians, by a private massacre in the night time; for which purpose many dark-Lanthornes, and Ponyards were provided against Anno 1649. the Winter ensuing; this (Son of Belial) Okey, and his blind brother Hewson, being designed two of the chief instruments, for effecting it. But the Plot being by one of their conclave timely revealed to the then Lord Major of London, and the City alarum'd with the danger; these Jesuitical Fauxes, were forced to hide their horns, and put up their Daggers, for fear of a further discovery.

Thus you see of what Nature this Canibal Saint was. Ex pede Herculem; by the foot-steps of this Monster you may guess at the proportion of his whole body.

Yet all these his barbarous actions, fell short of those committed against the pretious life of his Royal Sove­raign, Charles the first. But, Ne fandum scelus, majori scelere ad impletur; every hainous offence, strives to se­cure it self by a more hainous crime; for

This was Machivils rule, and Okeys practice. For Cromwel having before well flesht, this Beagle of his, in cruelties; he is now made one of the pack, (or ra­ther Butcher-row of Judges) for the Tryal of His Maje­sly; and by his Master, hallowed on to hone in full cry after his death. In which he shewed himself so active an instrument; that finding his power; he resolve to improve it to the uttermost; and to deal with the King, as it fareth with a Traveller sallen into the hands of unmer­ciful Thieves; who first seized on his purse, and then (to secure themselves,) take away his life: So he being a Sharer with others in Crown Lands, that he might pre­vent the future revenge of his Treasons, and Rebellions, and preserve his ill-gotten estate, at last determines to seal his anjust Title with the innocent blood of his natu­ral Soveraign.

Not did his implacable Malice against his Majesty rest here: for, when a Committee, consisting of four per­sons, was ordered by the House, to consider of a fit place (as they styled it) to Execute the King. Okey (being appointed one of the number) perswaded them to have the Scaffold erected before the Banquetting house at White-Hall; alledging, it was not onely the most con­venient place to bring him safe to the block; but proba­bly, it would strike the more terrour into His Majesty, to see himself bronght upon the Stage, to suffer before his own Palace-door, and so near that place his Father had built, and He, and his Children formerly enjoyed so much felicity.

In the mean time, to compleat this last tragick act of murdering his Prince; that he might mortifie him by degrees, he caused the King to be laid in a room at White-Hall the Sunday night after the day of his Sentence, so near the place apointed for the separation of his soul from his Body, that he might hear every stroke the Workmen gave upon the Scaffold, (where they wraght all night) thinking by that Stratagem to have daunted his patient, [Page 31]and unconquered Soul, which neither the hellish shapes of his disguised Executioners, nor the Horrour of Death it self, were any wayes able to affright.

Nor can I here let pass in silence, what I have heard reported from very credible persons; That the night be­fore the Kings Death, (having removed him from White-Hall to St. Iames's, he and Axtel caused a guard of disso­lute Souldiers to be placed in his Chamber; who (with tal­king; clinking of Pots; opening, and shutting of Doors; and taking of Tabacco there, (a thing very offensive to the Kings nature) were ordered to keep him waking; that so by distempering and amazing Him for want of sleep, they might not onely disturb his present medita­tions; but so dis-compose his spirits, as he might not the next day be able, by any premeditated speech, to vindicate the innocency of his actions to the People.

O! barbarous! and unheard-of Cruelty! never hi­therto parallel'd by any President in the world! But God at length delivered him up into the hands of his Ma­jesty, to suffer condign punishment for being guilty of the Murther of His Father, and to be made an Example to deter posterity from doing the like. Which Divine vengeance, though he had long escaped; yet he in the end found, that God does usually recompence the slow­ness of his coming, with the severity of his wrath; ac­cording to that of the Poet,

And such was lately the end of this bold and bloody Regecide for being (together with his complices, Bark­stead and Corbet brought to the Kings Bench Bar upon the first day of Easter Term last, they were all by a Legal sen­tense condemned to be hanged drawn and quartered, at Tyburn the Satterday following, which was according-Executed, upon Bark stead and Corbet, but by reason of Okeys penitent acknowledgement of his crimes and hearty prayers for his Majesty, his body was by the Kings clemency ordered to be delivered to his wife, and was buried in the Tower of London.

Miles Cor­bet.TO wright his life, or draw his picture in its proper colonus, were to attempt impossibilities; since nei­ther his actions, or his face can be paralled by any but the Devil: for he is his own Son; and so like his father; that a Major in Ireland meeting him upon the road, and by his looks, suspecting him to be rather a Pursevant of Hell, then one of the Parliaments Judges, forced him to alight from his Horse, set down upon the ground; pull off his bootes, and stockings; and (at last) to shew him his bare feet: which being done, he in a very merry com­plement told him, he might now pass for a man, but be­fore he had searched, whither or not he had Cloven feet, he could not beleive him any other then the Devil.

This is he who was Inquisitor General, to the close Committee of Examinations. An indigent person at the beginning of the Long Parliament, being indebted for himself, and his Mother above three thousand pound more then he was worth. The Prologue to the Hang­man, that looks more like a Hangman, then the Hang­man himself; and may, (like Don Quixote) not un­deservedly be stiled, the Knight of the ill favoured face.

His disposition also holds good intelligence with his looks: you cannot say of him, as Suetonius of Galba, ingeni­um Galae male habitat, for they sute so well the one with the [Page 33]ther, that in my life I never met with a better deco­rum.

Int us Nero: foris Cato; tet sambiguus; monstrum est. A cruel Nero within; a grave Cate without; alwayes distrustful, and a Monster, ‘Astutam vapido servat sub pectore vulpem.’

His inside is lined with Fox furt; his outside with Sheeps-wool. One who had deeply engaged himself to live, and dye with his Patron Oliver; for which reason he was appointed to make a scrutiny into the lives, and actions of all such persons as he conceived dis-affected to the Cromwellian party. A strict examiner of every mans carriage but his own. So active, and vigorous in the prosecution of his malice, that when he could not suborne witnesses to take away the life, of that ingenious writer of the History of Independency, Mr. Clmenst Walker, he was permitted to be informer, witness, and judge against him, himself. But finding his defigne at that time fall short of his expectation, he caused him pri­vately in the night to be soon after seized upon in his bed, by a Guard of Souldiers, and conveyed far off from the City, to a close Prison, where being debarred the use of either pen, ink, or Paper, or the liberty of any Friend to visit him, after six years strick confinement, Death put a period to this poor old Gentlemans sufferings.

Philip King of Spain, Lord of the Seventeen Belgick Pro­vinces, sent Duke D' Alva thither (another Cromwel in his cruelties) with a powerful Army; who taking advantage of some new commotions there, erected a new Tribonal Criminal, or High Court of Justice, called by the multi­tude Concilium Sanguinis, or the bloody Conventicle, consisting of twelve Persons of mean extraction, to whom were given full power to inquire into, judge, examine, and determine, all causes whatsoever; and to dispose of the lives and estates of every such person they as thought fit to destroy, at their wills, and pleasures. Which Counsel, or in­quisition, [Page 34]did supersed all other Courts of Judicature, and made void all Laws, constitutions, Iurisdictions, and privi­ledges of that Nation, by making every thing they plea­sed High Treason.

Corbet taking advantage of this President, perswades Haslerigg to move the Parliament to put it in execution here in England; which was accordingly done; and they finding him a fit Agent for such a damnable enterprise, Ordred him (by an Act passed in the House) to be cheif Interpreter to this their State Puppet-play; commonly called the close Committee of Examinations: ere­cted to purge the House of such Loyal Members as stood disaffected with their proceedings. And the first ex­periment he made of this his Tyranical Power, was upon the aforesaid Mr. Walker, Mr. Baynton Mr. Re­corder Glyn, Commissary General Copely, and several o­thers of the House of Commons; who without any le­gal tryal; hearing, or witnesses produced beside himself, (who supplyed the office of a Judge, Prosecutor, Jury, and evidence against them) they were immediately ex­pelled the House of Commons, and soon after (together with the Earles of Suffolke, Lincoln, Middlesex, the Lord Berkley, Willioughly, Hunsdon, and Maynyard) impeached by him of high Treason, in the names of the Commons of England, for leavying a War against the King and Parlia­ment. Wherein this Blood-hound Corbet, (who of an Examiner, was now become an Advocate General) moved for judgement to be pronounced against them; like the greedy Horse-leech, ‘Nec missura cutem, nisi plena cruoris hirudo,’

Still thirsting after blood, but never satisfied. For which bold act, and diligent service, (though it succeeded not) he was afterwards recompenced with a Rich Office of Regester in the Chancery (a place estimated at One thousand six hundred pound per annum; and next made one of the Judges for the Circuit in Ireland, (valued at [Page 35]five hundred pounds more per annum,) where he condem­ned many persons to the Gallowes, whose crimes far less deserved it then his own.

Nor was he less troublesome to the Church, then he had formerly been to the State. For finding Vespatians Motto, Bonus odor lucri ex re qualibet, (that wealth was sweet how ill soever got) he obtained another office from his bountiful Masters at Westminster (worth at least) One thousand five hundred pound more per annum, viz. to be Chair-man for scandalous Ministers. The Preisis Tormentor; or Master Examiner of all such Clergy men, as were either already Beneficed, or to be admitted to a­ny Benefice throughout the Nation. In which place he so well played his Cards, that such of the Kings friends as were before settled in their livings, were forced to compound with him for their continuance; and others who came to him for admittance, if he could not object any thing against their answers to such impertinent que­stions as he usally propounded to them; his next artifice was to render them the new Engagement, to be obedi­ent to Oliver, and maintain the Good Old Cause, against all Kingly power, or House of Lords; in so much as not one of such as were Learned, Loyal, or Orthodox Divines, could ever gain his consent to any living; nor indeed any other (though of his own Tribe and Faction) without giving him a considerable gratuity, to the full value of their first years fruits (at the least) for a Bribe.

A perfect Symonaick; one that was able to devour a whole Church at a Break-fast; and swallow down St. Peters Patrimony after it, instead of a Mornings-draught. Alwaies feeding; yet never filled; like Erisict hons bow­els in Ovid,

This was the man who so much applauded Coronet Ioyce for surprizing the Kings person at Holdenby house, when he was by Cromwel sent to him with Orders to bring his Majesty the same night with all speed and se­crecy to the Army; boasting the next day, that since the Army had gotten the Cavalier Idol (for so he stiled his Soveraign) into their power, they would soon put the Parliament, and all their Enemies, into their poc­kets.

An insolent slave! whofe Crimes transcending all hopes of Pardon, made him as violent in the prosecution of his Hellish machinations, as he was desperate of Hea­vens mercy in the for giveness of his fins.

But I will not cast any more Ink upon this Aethiopians face, since I find it impossible (whether I reflect upon his crimes, or his countenance) to represent either of them to the view of the world, blacker, or more horrid, than really they are. He is now rewarded for his Trea­son, so as to speak more against him were but to wage War with the Dead; which Italian severity, is as much averse to my nature, as it is contrary to the Principles of Christianity: Therefore no quid gravius dicam; whe­ther I look upon his actions, or his end, I shall be no more invective against him.

John Bark­Read.ROom for this Jack of all Trades. A Congregational Saint. The Holy-sisters Thimble-maker. Crom­wels setting Dog.. The Common-wealths Cerberus; Inferna janitor aulae, The Hellish Gaolor of the Tower, and cruel Tormentor of such Gentlemen as he could get into it. A fellow cut out, and fitted for all Designs, Religions, and Fashions, whatsoever: so as you may say of him, as the Poet of Pretem, ‘Que teneam nodo mutantem Proter a vultum?’ [Page 37]A Devil incarnate in his cruelties. No Fury in Hell ever transcended him in his Tyranny over Prisoners, du­rinst his Lieutenantship of the Tower.

Witnes his inhumane dealings with diverse eminent persons (loyal to His late Majesties interest) into whose favours, (under pretence of Eriendship) having first insi­nuated himself, he next trappan'd into his snare, by forg­ing lyes, and Plots of his own making, against them, and afterwards suborned Witnesses (as formerly Brad­shaew and Mildmay did those two Knights of the Post, Pitts and Bernard, against Sr. Iohn Gell and Colonel An­drews) to take away their lives (by a High Court of In­justice) when he could no longer squeeze any profit out of their bodies.

Witness his private transporting of many hundred of poor Caveliers beyond the Seas, whom this States spirit, barbarously sold, to be made Gally-slaves to Turkes, and Pagans: which miser able servitude they must inevi­tably endure, till Death (more merciful than this Mon­ster,) puts a period to their miseries.

I could instance above two hundred Gentlemen by him clapt in the Tower, without any accusation, or accusor made known; where some of them were detained ma­ny years, without any legal proceedings or charge against them: he, and his Master Oliver (who continually fur­nished him with blanck Warrants for that purpose) sha­ring between themselves in the mean time, their Estates, Offices, and Revenues; whilst these were left to starve, rot, and dye in nasty rooms (purposely provided to de­stroy them,) without any relief, or maintenance whatso­ever. For not one of their Friends dare lend, or send them money, or any of their Kindred come near them, for fear of being committed Prisoners, or (at least) questioned for malignants. So as his Prison was become a private Slaughter-house, and Olivers Court the publick Shambles of injustice.

It was the Custom of King Charles the first, and his Predecessors, to grant all owance to Prisoners in the [Page 38]Tower, during their confinements, according to their several degrees; viz. 51. weekly for an Esquire, &c. and so proportionably for every person suitable to his quality. But so far was this Canibal from giving, or al­lowing any thing towards their subsistance; that he con­verted those Fees to his own use, and caused them to be shut up close Prisoners, in unwholsome Chambers; de­nying them the liberty of the Tower, and b [...]nefit of the fresh air (the Camelious dyet) for their healths, or re­sort of Friends for their accomodations.

The Fable of the Promethean vulture was but an Em­bleme of this Monster: for so long as his power lasted, he continually knaw'd upon the hearts of such persons as were under his custody: his Office resembling that of the Sheep-heards Dog, to worry Sheep first, and af­terwards drive them into his pinfolds.

He was Cromwels Coy-duck whilst he lived. ‘Offitiosa aliu, exiti sa suis,’ ever imployed, and very officious to bring store of game into his Masters nets: one that had learned to give poy­son into a golden cup; and knew well how to deceive, even with Scripture plarases: like her in Claudian,

One who coveted to be rich, and great in power, that his greatness might equal his malice: like him in the Poet,

Base men, when they climb to any height, prove above all others, most proud, and ambitious; as appeared by this man, who being beggarly born, and of contempti­ble Parents, became the most cruel, and fiercest blood­hound of all Olivers pack.

For set but any of these proud Raskals on Horse-back, and they will never rest, till (like their Comerade Pri­de aux) they have made good the Proverb, and ride Post to the Devil.

When Traytors are climbing up Fortunes Wheel, Derrick commonly watches under-neth it to catch them.

This proved at last his reward, for his horrid villa­nies, treasons, and murdering his Soveraign. A Legacy long since given and bequeathed to him by his fellow­sufferers and Brethren in iniquity, Harrison, Scot, Axtel, and Hugh Peters; who made the Hang-man. Exe­cutor to their last Wills, and Testaments, To whose mer­cy I leave him and Corbet, concluding with this Epi­taph;

William Munsun, Henry Mildmay, and Rob. Wallup.As for that female Town-top (and great devourer of of buttered Peason) William (late Lord) Mun­son, (formerly a Page, but now a close Prisoner in the Fleet;) Harry (once Sr. Henry) Mildmay, and Ro­bert Wallup, who did all actually sit as Judges upon the Tryal of their lawful Soveraign King Charles the first; by reason it appeared that they were absent from the pretended Hight Court of Justice at such time as Sen­tence passed to take away the Kings life; His Masesty was g [...]atiously pleased to refer the manner of their punishments to His High Court of Parliament who soon after (upon a Serious debate in both Houses) passed an [Page 41]Act (too merciful for such ingrateful Traytors, though in some sort suitable to the quality of their Crimes) viz. That their Estates should be Confiscated, and their persons drawn upon Sledges from the Tower to Tyburn, with Ropes about their Necks, and to be degraded of their Honours and Titles, &c. which was accordingly Executed upon the 27th of Ianuary following, An. 1661. (it being the same day that the King was Condemned to death) many thousands of people being Spectators of their infamy; who, not onely at the Gallows, but as they passed in the streets, bitterly cursed and reviled them; insomuch; that Wallup (being of that shameful punishment more sensible than the other of the horrid sin he had committed, as well as of the eternal ignominy, and general Odium of the people upon him, for being guilty of so barbarous a Crime) was suddenly after vio­lently surprized with such tormenting passions of Grief & Despair, that they soon made a separation between his soul and his Body, so as he finished his miserable life in the Tower, within a few dayes after his Procession to Tyburn.

Capt. Tho­mas.NOR was the late strange, but just Judgement of God less observable upon Captain Thomas, that notorious Quaker, and violent Agitator in Cromwels Ar­my; who having poysoned his Fellow-souldiers with Heresie, and Rebellion, and perswaded many of them to joyn with him in promoting the Armies Remonstrance, for bringing King Charles the first to a speedy Tryal; it at length pleased the Almighty in a miraculous manner, to revenge the innocent blood of that Blessed Martyr, upon this Phanatick Rebel; for in the beginning of April last past 1661. he (then being in the City of Hereford) went to an Apothecaries Shop, where he bought some quan­tity of Acouitum, or Rats-bane, which having put into Milk, he drank it up privately in his Chamber, but find­ing it not of so quick operation as was expected, he went back to the Apothecary to be satisfied, whether it was [Page 42]right Rats-bane or not, that he had sold him? He an­swered, it was; whereupon he replyed, Then I have what I desired; and departing back to his Lodging, the poyson began to work so violently upon him, that within few hours after he in great torment ended his wretched life, whose dead body the Magistrates of that City, (con­sidering the quality of the person, and the Lawes against self-murder) would not permit to be buried in Christian burial.

Thus Reader you may see how many several wayes God hath hitherto pleased to execute his vengeance, upon the persons, and posterity of such men who without any cause, nay contrary to Reason, Lawes both Divine, and Humane, yea, even in defiance of Heaven, dipped their hands in the sacred blood of their lawful Soveraign according, to that of the Wise Man, The eye that mocketh his Father (viz. the King, who is stiled Pater Patriae) and despiseth his Mother (that is the Church, called Reg­ni pia Mater) the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out. Which judgement we see hath befallen many of the be­fore-mentioned Regicides, their heads in several places being become a Spectacle both to Angels and Men, and a prey to the Birds of the Air.

I shall conclude all with this Exhortatory Advice, That though God hath been pleased in his wrath to deprive this Nation of the best, and most pious King that ever before raigned over it, Yet hath he fince in mercy re­stored (even to admiration) His Son to the Throne of His Blessed Father; (a Prince of such accomplisht Ver­tues, Piety, Wisdom, and Magnanimity, that render Him the delight of his Subjects, and a terrour to his Ene­mies;) let us therefore lay aside all animosities, one against the other: and render (without grudging) unto Caesar the things that are Caesars; acknowledging Him Gods immediate Vicegerent; without being so impu­dent as to prescribe Him in what manner or by what means we will be ruled; or so Rebellious, as to [Page 43]draw our Swords against Gods Annointed under pre­tence of Religion, or publique good; But rather with Obedience, and Humility, submit to His Commands, and confess with the Children of Israel, Because the Lord hath delighted in us, therefore He hath made Him King over us.

And finally, let every good Subject pray, that God would send us Peace, and Truth; preserve His Sacred Majesty, and his Posterity; and confound the wicked Councels of all such as are Enemies to Peace, Piety, and Monarchy. Amen.